During a recent press conference, president-elect Obama said: “With respect to the dog, this is a major issue. I think it’s generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything.”

“We have … two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So … whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household.”

While it is true that the majority of dogs in shelters are mixed breeds, a surprising 1 out of every 4 shelter dogs are purebreds.

Addressing the misconception

According to a search of Petfinder carried out today by Best Friends Animal Society, there are more than 300 poodle and poodle-mix puppies available for adoption across the country.

Anyone looking for a dog of any kind (regardless of breed, age, sex, or color) should take the following steps.

1. Get online
2. Get to Petfinder.com
3. Use the search function to find the kind of dog you are looking for
4. Find your perfect match, and contact that rescue group or shelter!

It’s just that easy!

Over the summer, Best Friends Animal Society launched the website http://obamafamilydog.com, along with a petition that urged the Obamas to choose adoption. In just two weeks more than 50,000 signatures sent a strong message that Americans believe in second chances!

Voters in California approved an historic ballot measure to halt the inhumane confinement of animals on factory farms—by an overwhelming margin.

Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, said, “California voters have taken a stand for decency and compassion and said that the systemic mistreatment of animals on factory farms cannot continue. All animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food.”

Americans are becoming more aware of how and where food is raised.

With that awareness should come real concern. The mantra of industrial farming has always been efficiency, but efficiency has come to mean a pregnant cow — millions of them — confined in crates barely 2 feet wide and only as long as she is. It means veal-calves rendered virtually immobile in crates barely large enough to contain their bodies. It means endless rows of laying hens kept in battery cages so small that the birds cannot even stretch their wings.

The goal of the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act — Proposition 2 on the state’s November ballot would ban the confinement of animals in a way that keeps them from being able to stand, sit, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs. The fact that such fundamental decencies have to be forced upon factory farming says a lot about its horrors.

I urge California voters to pass Proposition 2. I hope Maryland will enact something similar.

The Humane Society of the United States has launched a grant program for shelters and rescue groups that will help keep families and pets together during tough financial times. Over the past six months, there have been countless articles about the plight of the pets of families facing the loss of their homes. Shelters are reporting that many families are struggling to care for the pets and they are seeing increased numbers of owner surrenders.

The HSUS is offering grants ranging from $500 to $2000 to shelters, rescues, and agencies to help establish, expand or publicize programs and services designed to assist families in caring for their pets during economic crisis. Preference for grants will be given to organizations that establish a cooperative agreement with other community organizations such as food banks or meals-on-wheels programs. Other programs that would be eligible for funding from HSUS include partnerships with local veterinarians to develop pet service vouchers for distribution to people in need of basic medical care for their pets and special funds to provide financial support to families to cover pet care expenses.

Shelters and rescue groups interested in applying for a grant can complete an application online at AnimalSheltering.org. Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or a municipal animal control agency eligible to receive restricted funds. The HSUS website has additional information for shelters and rescue groups including the grant guidelines.

How you can help:
• Click here to make a donation to the HSUS Foreclosure Pets Fund.
• Contact your local shelter or rescue group and find out about the needs in your community. Help organize pet food and supply drives. Help educate pet owners on the options available when facing foreclosure.
• Contact your local food bank or meals-on-wheels program to find out if they have programs to help feed the pets of their clients.

We need your help.

This has been a tough year for Kasey’s Cure with the number of requests for veterinary assistance up by almost half from last year.  We have been able to meet the needs for care but in the process have drawn down our funds considerably. Contributions are needed.

Let me briefly tell you about one cat who owes her recovery to your donation.

Smokey, a 7 year old Tabby mix, came to vet and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory disease.  She had flu like symptoms caused by a bacterial infection. 

Smokey’s owner could not afford to treat her and was considering giving her cat to the animal shelter instead of going into to debt to pay for her care.  This is where we were able to help.

Kasey’s Cure, through your donations, were able to pay for both Smokey’s treatments and medications.  She is now home with her family and doing well.

Smokey is just one of many pets that we have helped this year.  Help us continue our work and donate today either through our website (and PayPal) or send a check to:

Kasey’s Cure

606 A North Talbot Street

Suite 303

St. Michaels, MD  21663

Thank you.

Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and John McCain’s vice presidential running mate, is an enthusiastic hunter who has proposed legislation and cash incentives to encourage aerial wolf gunning, the controversial practice of shooting wolves from an aircraft.

There are numerous videos on the internet detailing the aerial hunt – let’s just say that is beyond disturbing and completely inhumane.  One video shows a pack of wolves scared into a cave as the hunters hover above in a helicopter.  Upon emerging from the cave, the adult wolves are shot and killed leaving the young pups in the den.

There is federal legislation banning this practice but it appears Palin has found a loop hole.  Palin is hoping to boost the number of wolves killed this year by announcing that the state would pay $150 for each kill.  

Since it was launched less than 24 hours ago by Best Friends Animal Society, the ObamaFamilyDog.com web site has surpassed 20,000 signatures on a petition to urge the Democratic presidential candidate to adopt a dog rather than purchasing from a commercial breeder or pet store.

Utah-based Best Friends, which operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for adoptable companion animals, hopes the web site will help convince the Obamas to join thousands of other Americans who believe that adoption from a shelter or breed rescue organization is the way to add a companion animal to the family.

When Michelle Obama, wife of the senator, mentioned weeks ago that the Obamas had promised their kids a dog following the presidential campaign, the American Kennel Club was quick to offer suggestions for purebred dogs. But Best Friends, countered with the adoption option.  Encouraging the Obamas to adopt the next first dog instead of buying from a breeder.

HSUS estimates that 6 to 8 million dogs and cats entered animal shelters each year in the United States.  6 to 8 million — surely there is room in the White House for just one.

If you agree, log on and cast your vote!

I have good news to report.  After several weeks of treatment, Sugar is returning to the farm.  She will need a corrective boot to protect her hoof from further damage but other than a new fancy shoe, she will be sound. 

Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions and advice — it was helpful and appreciated.  A special thank you to Robin and her husband who sent in a donation to assist with her care.  Your kindness, support and friendship mean the world to us.  A shout out to Carrie (our farrier) and Steve Harris (our vet) who nursed her back to health and were patient with all of my questions.

I will try and upload video of her return, so you can see for yourself her recovery.

There’s been a lot of talk in the media over the past week or two about Senator Obama’s promise that, once the election is over, the family will get a new dog.

The American Kennel Club quickly jumped on this, and weighed in with a list of “pure” breeds that would be good for the Obama family to buy from a pet store or breeder.

Best Friends would like to propose that the Obamas NOT buy a dog – instead, that they adopt their next dog from a shelter or rescue group.

Go to – www.obamafamilydog.com – where you can sign a petition encouraging the senator to save a life by adopting a homeless pet.

Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, left-wing or right-wing, please sign the petition, and encourage all your friends and family to sign it, too.

Congratulations to our friends at Best Friends for the amazing rehabilitation work they are doing for several of the Michael Vick pit bulls at their sanctuary in Utah.  Here is an update in today’s Washington Post:

At Best Friends’, McMillan, the veterinarian, has developed a “personalized emotional rehabilitation plan” for each dog and measures how they exhibit such traits as aggression, fearfulness, calmness or friendliness. True to their “people soft” nature, all but two of the Vick dogs are on “green collar,” meaning they are open and friendly to human visitors. About nine have begun to have supervised play dates with other Vick dogs.