No More Homeless Pets
Weekly News

October 10, 2004
From super adoptions to spay/neuter successes, people working together to bring about a time when there will be No More Homeless Pets.

• Spay/Neuter News
• Adoption News
• Feral Cat News
• Fabulous Fundraisers
• In Your Communities
• International News

National Feral Cat Day
Spread the word and join us all in a celebration of alley cats across the country. This Saturday, October 16. Read more.

Utah's Week for the Animals
How one state puts the focus on homeless pets. A week of events -- from the high-society "Lint Roller Party" to a fun-filled celebration for "Kids and Critters." October 10 to 16. Read more.

SPAY/NEUTER NEWS

Bristol, Virginia -Margaret Mitchell from Bristol, Virginia lived a world away from the Margaret Mitchell who wrote Gone With the Wind, but she has her own enduring legacy. When Mitchell died in December, she left $650,000 to the Bristol Humane Society, which she helped found. In turn, the society donated $250,000 to Spay Virginia, which plans to open a $750,000 spay/neuter clinic in Bristol in December. The clinic will be named after the generous donor. Read more in the Bristol News.

Jackson County, Oregon - An all-volunteer force has been spreading the word about low-cost spay/neuter programs in Jackson County, and educating the public regarding the dangers of pet overpopulation. Their efforts have proven so successful that the Spay and Neuter Your Pets program has been credited with getting more than 12,000 animals sterilized. For a profile of SNYP leader Sally Mackler, read the "Hometown Hero" feature in the Jackson County Mail Tribune.

ADOPTION NEWS

Lee County, Florida - The minimum security section of the Lee County Stockade has six new residents -- homeless dogs who are part of the Lee County Cell Dogs Program. Following the model of an increasing number of "cell dog" programs, the animals are paired with inmates who serve as their trainers and companions. Selected inmates learn new skills and benefit from the constant companionship of the dogs, while the dogs get lots of affection and learn some skills of their own -- becoming more adoptable in the process. Read more about these cell dogs in the News-Press.

Leopold, Indiana - Students in Kim Strobel's fourth-grade class at Perry Central Community School are not only learning how to write, they are learning to care about animals. As a class project, the students are practicing their persuasive writing skills by making information sheets for each animal at the Perry County Animal Shelter. Each sheet includes a digital photo and a student composition urging people to adopt the animal. At the same time, Strobel is teaching her students about the reality of animal overpopulation, and is coordinating student fundraising and a grant-writing campaign for the shelter. For more on this unique project, read the Perry County News.

Sacramento, California - The two-day Super Adoption 2004, sponsored by No More Homeless Pets in Sacramento County, was a smashing success. More than half of the animals participating -- including dogs, cats, birds and rabbits -- found homes. In fact, so many pets were placed that some participating groups needed to make a second trip to bring more animals to the event. In addition to sending 52 animals to loving homes, the event raised money for future adoption events through raffles and silent auctions. Learn more about No More Homeless Pets in Sacramento County.

Wichita Falls, Texas - Officials at the Wichita County Humane Society have learned that there's more to good grooming than meets the eye. When the Pampered Pets Grooming Salon started grooming some shelter dogs for free, it quickly became clear that a well-groomed dog was a more adoptable dog. Read about the effects a nice haircut, bath, and nail trim can have on adoption rates in the Times Record News.

FERAL CAT NEWS

People around the country are gearing up to celebrate National Feral Cat Day on October 16. Learn more about what you can do to help.

FABULOUS FUNDRAISERS

Barstow, California; New York, New York - Animal lovers across the country celebrated a day of remembrance for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. In California, the Desert Lutheran Church put on an Animal Lover's Fair and Blessing of the Animals, which raised money for the Barstow Humane Society and the Recycled Treasure Ranch. Meanwhile, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City also held its annual blessing of the animals, bringing out large numbers of dogs, some sheep, and even a camel. New York City's Animal Care and Control used the event as an opportunity to find new homes for some homeless pets -- and to procure a blessing for all those who remain in city shelters. Read more in the Barstow Desert Dispatch and the New York Daily News.

New York, New York - New York City's homeless animals will have a stake in this year's ING New York City Marathon. Runners from the ASPCA are forming the "A" team to tackle the 26.2-mile course through the city's five boroughs on Nov. 7. Proceeds received from sponsors of the "A" team will be used to fund the ASPCA's support of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. Learn about how to help the "A" team from Out of the Cage!, the new e-newsletter from the Mayor's Alliance.

St. George, Utah - Art lovers also had a chance to be animal lovers when the Bean Scene Coffee and Art Café/Gina Jrel Gallery opened its Second Annual Angels for Animals Art Benefit Show. A portion of sales from the opening day of the show went to Angels for Animals, a no-kill shelter in Veyo, Utah. Sales of some of the artists' works will continue to benefit the shelter throughout the two-month exhibit. Read more in the Spectrum.

Jacksonville, Florida - Dog trick-or-treating in a haunted forest, a pet costume contest, and assorted dog games on a carnival midway will be among the highlights in the first annual Dogtoberfest, to be held in Jacksonville's Dogwood Park on Oct. 16. The event will raise funds for First Coast No More Homeless Pets.

Marshfield, Missouri - An evening featuring down-home music and silent and live auctions left the no-kill Webster County Animal Rescue some $10,500 to the good. The event featured 67 auction items and entertainment from folk singer/auctioneer Judy Domeny-Bowen, who sang such old favorites as "Keep on the Sunny Side," "Redwing," and "Coat of Many Colors" -- when she wasn't wielding her auctioneer's gavel. A PowerPoint presentation of pictures of rescued animals was set to the singer's rendition of "Lean On Me." Read more about the success of this first-ever annual event in the Marshfield Mail.

IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

Redwood City, California - After successful showings in Chicago and Washington, D.C., the Best Friends Art Project will be on display at the San Mateo County History Museum from Oct. 15 through Oct. 29. The project, part of Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign, features the works of artist Cyrus Mejia and photographer Clay Myers.

Mejia's paintings explore the perspective of animals, viewed from above, looking up at us, while Myers' photographs are "captured moments," showing the strong bond between people and their pets. The exhibition will also feature works from Mejia's "575 Project." The number 575 represents the animals killed every hour in shelters across the county, and Mejia uses dog and cat collars, rabies tags, and shelter cage cards from euthanized animals to symbolize this tragedy. Read more about the art exhibit.

Gainesville, Texas - Gainesville city officials joined with members of the all-volunteer Noah's Ark for groundbreaking ceremonies for a new shelter that will mark a unique public/private partnership. The city has budgeted $200,000 for the construction of the concrete block building, to be known as Noah's Ark/CARE (Community Animal Rescue Effort). Noah's Ark has raised funds for the first year's operating expenses and will provide volunteer staffing, freeing up the city's two animal control officers for other work. More information on the building project can be found in the Gainesville Daily Register.

St. Marys, Pennsylvania - The cat adoption center in downtown St. Marys has adopted a no-kill policy, thus ending its affiliation with the Elk County Humane Society. The all-volunteer organization has taken on a new name -- Animal Friends of Elk and Cameron Counties -- and is also considering a move to a larger facility. It will work hand in hand with other area organizations, plans to focus on spay/neuter programs, and hopes someday to expand its efforts to include dogs. Read more in the Ridgway Record.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan - The Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) organization on the Yokosuka Naval Base marked its eighth anniversary with a recent fundraiser, featuring an auction, hors d'oeuvres and music. There was little hope for stray animals found on the U.S. base until the all-volunteer organization began, but now the group finds new homes for scores of cats and dogs, and has also operated a TNR program for feral cats. Read more in the Stars and Stripes.


No More Homeless Pets Conference, October 22-24, 2004
Join this gathering of  people creating life-saving changes for animals around the country. Get practical advice, inspiration, and ideas from leading experts. Conference Details and Registration.