Saturday, August 20, 2011

International Homeless Animal Day

Hello Everybody!
All of us here in Blogville are very lucky cuz we have da bestest furever homes we could ever ask fur but dere are SO many animals who don't have a home and dat makes me very sad.  
Here is some more information from


5 Ways to Observe International Homeless Animal Day



by Stephanie Feldstein · August 20, 2010


In 1992, the International Society for Animal Rights kicked off International Homeless Animal Day to raise awareness about the  pet overpopulation epidemic in the U.S., with  a focus on spay/neuter programs to reduce the number of unwanted animals. On the third Saturday of August, organizations around the world hold candlelight vigils, rallies, adopt-a-thons, microchip clinics, blessings of the animals, and other events to draw attention to animals in shelters.
At the heart of the matter, International Homeless Animal Day isn't unlike SpayDay USA, Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, and several other similar awareness holidays. But with millions of pets dying in shelters every year, the heart of the matter is still broken and could use all the attention it can get. So, today is as good a day as any to start changing the future for homeless animals.
Here are five ways you can get involved:
  1. Join an International Homeless Animal Day candlelight vigil in your area. Nothing in your neighborhood? You can still join the virtual vigil to show your support, or organize a rally with your friends to help raise awareness. I'm still amazed at how many people don't know if their own community has an animal shelter, or where to find it.
  2. Help someone get their pet spayed or neutered. With so many animals who need homes, accidental litters and careless backyard breeding only makes the problem worse. You can find a low-cost spay/neuter program in your area to support, or help a local rescue group or neighbor in need pay for the surgery. (And if your own dog or cat hasn't been snipped yet, change starts at home.)
  3. Volunteer at your local shelter. Any help you can provide frees up more resources for the animals. Tasks like dog walking not only improve the animals' quality of life while they're locked up, but the interaction, exercise and training that happens on the walks makes them infinitely more adoptable. And, if you're lucky, maybe you'll find your next companion while you're at it.
  4. Speak up for homeless animals. Maybe you live in a community where there's Grand-Canyon-size room for improvement in how homeless animals are treated. Or maybe your town is a pretty decent place to be an animal, but you've a got great idea to help neighboring communities, or get even more local pets adopted into good homes. Contact your local officials, write a letter to the editor, start a petition on Change.org, get on your local animal shelter's board of directors ... The animals need us to speak for them.
  5. Be the Change. The worldwide food drive, created by a group of activist pet bloggers, runs through the end of August. Find a local animal shelter or rescue, find out what they need — whether it's specialized food, bedding or toys — and start a collection. The animals (and the staff) will thank you.
These are all little things that can make a big difference. The homeless pet problem won't disappear overnight, but by the end of the day, we can be one step closer ... and one step means lives saved.

Let's all try and do something to help out, no matter what you do it will make a difference!
Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae


20 comments:

  1. Maggie Mae - you are the perfect icon for such a worthy cause.

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  2. Thanks Maggie Mae. We have lots of doggies and cats in Oz that need homes too. They all need our help. No worries, and love, Stella

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  3. My Mom's Olive Garden puts together stuff for a animal shelter. Poor puppies and kittys. We wish they all could find good homes like we have! Puppy kisses, Miss Mindy

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  4. Miss Maggie! What a wonderful reminder. The orphan dogs who live near us are having a yard sale today. I will endeavor to get mom to go in honor of homeless dog day.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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  5. What a very kind and thoughtful post, Maggie
    Mae - and chock full of great advice!!! We do try to make regular contributions to some of our local shelters, every little bit helps.

    Happy Saturday.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  6. Hi,Maggie Mae! I haven't been by in a long time so I thought I'd stop in. You're as gorgeous as ever...

    Thanks for sharing these great ways to help on International Homeless Animal Day! So many animals need our help so badly.

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  7. Maggie Mae... this is just a WONDERFUL POST!!
    THANK YOU... for thinkin of those that are in such need.

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  8. Thanks for spreadin' the word!

    Licks,
    Otis

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  9. Thanks for this post! It's so sad that there are so many animals in need of a good home :(
    Wags,
    Maddy and Owen

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  10. Those are very good ideas and it's important to help our homeless brothers and sisters.
    Morgan, Tsar and the Porties

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  11. How very kind of you to post this. I did not even know there was such a thing as IHAD!! But now I do!

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  12. What a great post, Maggie Mae!

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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  13. Thanks for posting about this, Maggie Mae! I wish all dogs would find happy furever homes.

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  14. Maggie Mae this is a very informative post....we blogging pets are indeed very fortunate. In today's paper Mom read that a local animal shelter had 165 cats up for adoption for just $10.00 (they have been spayed/neuter, and vaccinated)normally the charge is 95.00 but they have too many kitties and not enough space for them. We hope they find homes for lots of them today so that the remainder can stay at the shelter a little longer.
    Hugs from your BFFF,
    madi

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  15. What a great post, Maggie Mae!

    Love ya lots
    Maggie and Mitch

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  16. Great ideas there Maggie. We think we might go get some special treats for the animals at our shelter.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  17. Thank you for all da information, Maggie. Every homeless animal deserves love, security, and a forever home to call dere own! Yes, we in Blogville are very lucky. We even have computers to blog on.

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  18. We hope they all get homes! Don't forget to stop by our bloggy and get Jimmy's Birthday Bash Badge to be entered into our giveaway! :)
    Licks & Puppy Kisses,
    Kylie & Jimmy

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  19. What a beautiful post and such an important day!

    Your pal, Pip

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