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| July Newsletter |
Puppy Madness
July 2008
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 Happy 4th of July!
The animal population is exploding just like the Fourth of July fireworks! In the United States, seven puppies and kittens are
born for every one human. There are just not enough homes for these
animals. As a result, four to five million dogs and cats are euthanized
every year -- that is 13,800 every day or 575 every hour, 24 hours, seven days a week!
Paws 4 You Rescue is committed to
being a part of the solution through the promotion of spaying and
neutering. Prevention is the answer: if pets can't breed, they don't produce offspring that end
up at County Shelters only to be euthanized.
If these statistics don't move you, please know that spaying and neutering is also good for your pet. It can prevent health problems, and also eliminate unwanted behavior, such as 'marking their territory', going into heat, and other undesirable behaviors. It also dramatically increases the life expectancy of your pet. Spaying a female eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces the risk of both prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Neutering also will make your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost (another reason why Miami Dade Animal Services can't keep up with the intake).
It is the healthy and good thing to do for your pet and can prevent more unwanted pets from being put to sleep. You can also make a difference by considering adopting your next animal from the County Shelter or another local rescue organization. The more animals adopted to great families like yours, the more dogs (and cats) we can save from being destroyed.
Dogs and puppies of ALL ages, sizes and breeds are available at Paws 4 You Rescue. The best part of adopting a mixed breed is watching the puppy grow into a unique dog! And giving the gift of companionship is a fantastic idea but it is important to be responsible about the decision - a certificate is a terrifc way.
Please remember to be aware of your dog's surroundings during the fireworks. All to often, dogs will try to run away when spooked by all the noise. Be Safe.
Carol Caridad, President
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Oh, puppy!
Giving the gift of animal companionship
We've all seen this scene played out on TV before: a child is eagerly waiting to open his or her birthday present when the parent brings in a box with holes on the side and a big bow. When the child opens the box, there is an adorable puppy jumping out to lick his new best friend's face. What the camera doesn't show us, is the responsibility that comes with the gift of a new pet.
While pets can certainly make a wonderful present, they are also one of the top reasons animals are surrendered to shelters. To avoid getting a headache from something that is supposed to bring joy, the gift-giver should evaluate if the person is really prepared to become responsible for a new pet.
Even then, try to match the personality and lifestyle needs of the animal to its new owner. Talking to an expert, like one of our Paws 4 You Rescue volunteers, can help you make a better decision about which pet is right for your gift recipient.
If you're still not sure which pet is the right one, a great alternative is to give the person an IOU or a pet adoption voucher. In light of this, Paws 4 You Rescue has teamed up with our friends at Bissell to offer the PET PROMISE PROGRAM to offer gift givers the PET PROMISE CERTIFICATE.
The certificate acts as a voucher allowing the gift-giver to present a certificate stating that they are promising the recipient the chance to adopt a pet. Once the gift-recipient is ready, the gift-giver can bring the new pet-parent-to-be to their local shelter or adoption event where they can pick out the perfect pet together. This option allows the gift-receiver to have the freedom to adopt a pet that best suits their lifestyle and personality, while also ensuring peace-of-mind for the gift-giver.
The financial commitment of owning a pet is significant and should also be considered by the gift-giver. The PET PROMISE CERTIFICATE is also beneficial in this respect because it allows the gift giver to wrap some necessary pet-care items such as a bowl, collar, a leash, and a carrier into the gift.
Adopting a pet can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Yes, puppies and dogs are adorable, but they are also a lot of work because after all, they are animals. It is easy and fun to gift someone with a pet, but the novelty of getting a new animal will eventually wear off. This is when we see animals surrendered to shelters, which, as a pet rescue organization, is ultimately what we try to avoid and why we suggest looking into programs such as the PET PROMISE CERTIFICATE.
For more information on the PET PROMISE CERTIFICATE please visit, www.petfinder.com/petpromise. |
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Fixed on the Mix:
Reasons to Adopt a Mixed Breed Dog
There's no dispute that out of thousands of homeless dogs, you're more
likely to find the face of a mutt behind a shelter wall than you will a
purebred dog. Many people would prefer to have a purebred dog because
of the predictability in temperament, color, size and energy level that
a specific breed can offer. However, anyone who has ever lived with a
purebred dog and a mixed breed dog at the same time will be the first
to tell you that there is something special about their mix breed. A
few thoughts to consider before dropping your hard earned dollars on an
AKC registered pooch.
Adopting
a dog from a shelter is easier on the wallet than buying a dog from a
breeder. You might as well save your money to pay for vet care (among
other costs like toys!) throughout the animal's lifetime than spending
up to $1,000 or more on a champion blood line puppy. In our county,
shelter or rescue organizations fees start at $60 and often include
vaccinations, a general health exam, and sterilization
(spaying/neutering). "Shelter and rescue dogs most of all really need
homes because they are often not the first pick of first time dog
owners" says Dr. Mary Chavez of Galloway Animal Clinic. Because the
parents of mixed breed pups are unknown, as a first time dog owner you
may be hesitant to adopt a dog type that you know little about. Chavez
reassures that "mixed breed dogs can have many good attributes of the
individual breed, but without many of the common breed related
problems." Wouldn't it be great to have a shepherd mix without the
worry of hip dysplasia? Also, most mix breeds tend to be less "high
strung" says Chavez.
In addition to the health benefits of
having a mixed breed dog, including a longer life span, stronger immune
system, and more genetic diversity -- there aren't any rules against
having a mixed breed dog participate in sporting competitions and other
activities. The American Kennel Club extends its Canine Good Citizen
program to mixed breed dogs. The United Kennel Club includes spayed and
neutered mixed breed dogs in its obedience and agility events through
the American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry, giving these pets the
opportunity to earn even advanced obedience and agility titles.
Coincidence that the winners of agility contests are often mixed breed
herding dogs? We think not! The intelligence of a Border Collie plus
the endurance of the Australian Sheppard equals one killer competitor
in the agility ring! Mix breed dogs can also train as search and rescue
dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs.
So, next time you're
considering adding a new furry member to the family, why not go
"natural" and get mixed breed! The only thing they were 'bred' for was
to be a loyal companion to you. Plus, no one in the entire world will
have a dog just like yours. You can't beat unique! Whatever the
background of the mix, its value as a pet ultimately should be based on
its health, temperament, and how it interacts with people. Those who
automatically disregard a mixed breed dog as a pet may be passing up a
chance at the relationship of a lifetime." I have often thought of
having a pure breed dog, " says Chavez, "but whenever we are looking
for a new dog, there has always been a mixed breed dog that has found
their way into our family!" Dr. Mary Chavez sees hundreds of dogs
throughout her work week, but even she is fixed on the mix.
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Puppy Madness
Sadie, a Chihuahua/Terrier mix, gave birth to FOUR adorable puppies just 7 weeks ago - one girl and three boys...Sylvester, Sherlock, Scarlett and Sport.
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------And Bean, a gorgeous shepherd mix, has NINE puppies that will need homes by the end of this month (7 girls and 2 boys). Check out some candids of Bean's litter....
We are currently taking applications for our young, rescued puppies hoping to find their forever homes at an early age.
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Puppy Madness, part two...
Available sweethearts from 3 months to under a year old:
Trixie, April, Kenny, Sue, Precious, Rae, Charlotte and Rascal
Check out our website for more info on each one of these cuties!
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Adoption Events
Remember to visit us and our adoptable dogs EVERY weekend
Saturdays at PetSmart in Kendall on 16514 SW 88 Street
Sundays at PetSmart within Colonial Palms: 13621 S. Dixie Hwy
11 am - 4 pm
Volunteers are the heart of Paws 4 You Rescue
as everyone who serves in the organization is a volunteer. We are
professionals from many walks of life, graduate and college students,
and high school and middle school students. Volunteers have their
choice of various activities in which to participate - being part of
the adoption team at PetSmart on teh weekends, getting bubbly with the
dogs at bath time, fostering puppies and dogs during the week,
participating in special events, and sponsoring or participating in
fundraising activities.
Volunteering with an animal rescue
organization is a gratifying experience that is difficult to match! It
warms our hearts to see homeless and neglected pets become beloved
members of families. We know that the dogs appreciate their new homes
-- letters, e-mails, visits, and phone calls from adoptive families are
constant reminders of the good will spread by pet rescue groups such as
Paws 4 You Rescue.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact chris@paws4you.org for additional information. Or visit the volunteer page on our website.
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For more information:
Visit our website www.paws4you.org
Call 786.242.RESQ
Email info@paws4you.org |
 A SPECIAL THANK YOU
Paws 4 You would like to thank Alec for his weekly donations.
Alec recently celebrated his Bar Mitzvah and for his Mitzvah project he asked that his guests donate items to give to the local dog and cat rescues instead of buying him a gift.
Bowls, red leashes, towels, toys, treats, food and a variety of other useful items were donated.
When we asked Alec why he decided to do this for his project he said "I love animals. I decided to help them because they can't help themselves."
We want to thank Alec and his parents for their donations and support!
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