Monday, October 22, 2012
Maverick went from stray on the streets to safe in a no-kill shelter. Now he's in training to be of service to a veteran with PTSD--Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that as of October 5, they would no longer cover the costs involved with assigning service animals to war veterans with mental disabilities. In an announcement made in September, they stated the VA would continue to provide service dogs for people with visual, hearing or mobility impairments, but cited lack of data that service animals supply any real medical benefit to vets battling mental issues, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "Real world" data would tend to contradict the new VA policy on this subject, but nevertheless, if a veteran with PTSD wants or requires a service dog, they are now responsible for the cost themselves. However, in Atlanta, for one vet battling a …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The appeal of the mutt is undeniable, and in practical concerns such as cost and health, they often come out ahead of purebreds.
You won't see a single one in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show but then again, you will seldom see any two that are exactly the same. Talking about mutts here, people. "Mutt" is another term for mongrel, or mixed-breed dog. Mutts include many favorite family pets and some well-known movie stars as well. Old Yeller was a mutt, as was Benji and Bingo. Even Pluto, the famous Disney cartoon character, is a mutt. LifeLine Animal Project has seen their share of mutts and the staff there sing their praises as special and highly adoptable dogs. "We have some in our no-kill shelter right now," said Debbie Setzer, LifeLine's community outreach director. "They are happy and completely ready to take home. Mutts often have fewer health problems …
Monday, July 9, 2012
Three adorable puppies infected with the deadly parvo virus were nursed back to health by LifeLine Animal Project. Now they are healthy and looking for homes.
It's hard to believe that a trio of bright-eyed, mischievous puppies rolling around all over the room and begging everyone for attention were so close to death a week ago. It was only through exhaustive, around-the-clock care from Debbie Setzer, Community Outreach Director at LifeLine Animal Project, that the now-bouncing baby pit bulls survived. With guidance by LifeLine's veterinary staff, she was able to save them. The puppies are five weeks old and had contracted the deadly canine parvovirus infection because a breeder didn't know anything about the disease or how it can be prevented. Often just referred to as "parvo," this highly contagious illness mostly affects and kills younger dogs. PetMD online explains the virus this way: The …
Friday, July 6, 2012
Petco on North Decatur Road hosts the first event on Saturday.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, July 6, 2012
Harley is happy to announce DeKalb County Animal Services' first off-site adoption at Petco - located at 2115 North Decatur Road - tomorrow, Saturday, July 7, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. We need volunteers to help with handling dogs and answering questions. Additionally, we desperately need martingale collars and leashes for the off-site dogs. We appreciate any help & support!!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
She was found stray and is now in need of a new home.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
This beautiful cat is now available for adoption from the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. She is described as a large, friendly and young cat. If you are interested in adopting this precious cat, please call the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter at 770-339-3200 and ask about animal ID# 24918. To see more pets available for adoption, visit the Gwinnett County Animal Control website. Interested in volunteering at the shelter? Complete the Gwinnett Animal Shelter volunteer form. Volunteers can help at the shelter by walking dogs, handling cats and kittens, cleaning and sanitizing animal areas and assisting citizens.
Monday, June 11, 2012
DeKalb County Animal Services has a discount $60 adoption fee starting today through Friday, June 15.
DeKalb County will join a nationwide effort on Monday, June 11 to increase the number of pet adoptions and ensure cages and pens are emptier than when the day starts. During today's Just One Day adoption event, set for 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., DeKalb County Animal Services will focus efforts on adoptions only for the day and discount the adoption fee to $60 through Friday, June 15. Adorable puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs will put their best paws forward to encourage residents to open their hearts and homes and adopt at 845 Camp Road, Decatur. In U.S. animal shelters, an average of 10,411 are euthanized in one day. To further underscore the importance of adoption, DeKalb County has taken the pledge to not engage in euthanasia on June 11. For …
Friday, May 25, 2012
In this week’s Moms Talk we discuss kids and dogs. What’s the right age for a child to have a pup? How much pet care responsibility should the child take on?
My daughter wanted a dog for years, but she had a big obstacle in her way. Me. I am highly allergic to dogs and cats, so I never had a deep, intense friendship with an animal as I was growing up. I just didn’t like them. They’re smelly and have moist noses and shed and make me very, very sick. I told people I didn’t like dogs until my husband told me I should really stop saying that, as it made me seem unlikeable. When she was seven or eight, we bought my daughter a fish. I have to admit I felt pretty terrible when she had to fill out a “My Pet and Me” worksheet at school that asked what her favorite thing to do with her pet was. She answered, “Look at it.” So we bought her a guinea pig. She was pacified for a while. Then something …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Photographs don't completely reveal the beauty and charm of Tessa, the cross-eyed pit bull.
At one point during this year's Art B Que, Avondale's signature street party, there was a small crowd gathered around a particular dog crate in the adoption tent manned by LifeLine Animal Project. "Oooooh, look at that face!" one woman squealed. "Omigod, she is so cute," another one commented. A young child of about five years scooted around the group to see what everyone was looking at and came face to face with Tessa the pit bull terrier. He hesitated for a second as their eyes met, then stuck his hand in the crate and stroked one of her large ears. He then yelled for his parents, "I want this one!" His mom and dad gently reminded him of the two dogs they had at home and lured him away with a promise of a treat from King of Pops. As they…
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Community task force says the shelter is underfunded and understaffed.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Think again, says a local vet, and make sure that everyone involved is ready for the responsibility.
This time of year, pet stores, breeders and animal shelters are being bombarded with people who want to get a pet for themselves or as a gift for someone else. If this is you, have you really thought everything through before taking on this major commitment? Before you give or get a pet as a gift, be sure that the person that you are getting it for really wants one and is willing to take on the responsibility. If you are getting it for a child, be sure that he or she is old enough and mature enough to care for a living, breathing creature. I can't tell you how many pets are abandoned at animal hospitals or turned into shelters after all the excitement of the holiday season is over and the new owners get over their cuteness and cuddliness. …
Kay Clark
7:16 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
This is a great story. Thank you. It's nice to see pit bulls get a rare dose of postive press! more ›