Meet Humane Society of West Texas Volunteer Kiki with a puppy looking for a home
Meet Humane Society of West Texas Volunteer Deanna holding one of our cats (Mary) who is looking for a home.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Some of our cats and dogs looking for a home
I will post more information about our volunteers as well as the animals up for adoption here in Lubbock. But for now, here are some pictures of animals from our weekend adoptions at Petsmart and the wonderful people who are helping find them a home.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Toby the Hero
Here is a wonderful story about a black lab pup who defended his family, By Jaya Narain.
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When Toby the young black labrador heard a burglar breaking into his home, he did not hesitate.
With his family upstairs, he leapt into action.
Barking, growling and snarling, he went for the knife-wielding intruder who lashed out and stabbed him several times.
Despite his serious injuries, eight-month- old Toby held his ground and the petrified burglar was forced to flee.
When owner Jonathan Morton arrived downstairs, a bloodied Toby had his paws on the back fence, barking as the would-be thief fled into the night.
Minutes later he collapsed with severe stab wounds to his chest and a punctured lung.
Thankfully he made a full recovery and has just received the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals’ gold award for bravery.
Mr Morton, 23, from Barnoldswick, Lancashire, said: ‘ Normally Toby would not hurt a fly and is great with children.
‘But that night he was protecting his territory. He has fully recovered now, but still wakes up at the least little thing.’
Toby the Labrador puppy received serious stab wounds as he tried to defend his family from an intruder
The engineer with Silver Cross Prams added: ‘The lad who broke in told police he didn’t know what was coming at him and he just lashed out.Toby was certainly looking after us.’
The botched burglary happened in June 2007, when Mr Morton and his wife Samantha were staying in Leconfield Barracks, near Beverley, North Yorkshire.
The couple, who now have a five-month-old daughter, Megan, heard a noise which they thought was two dogs fighting.
Mr Morton said: ‘I looked out of the bedroom window and I could see a lad climbing over the fence, so I ran downstairs.
Toby, pictured with owners Jonathan and Samantha Morton and baby Megan, received a bravery award for his actions
‘I saw blood on the walls, and all the way down the carpet, then went outside to find Toby with his paws on the back fence, still trying to get him. He could have saved our lives. We think he is a proper hero and worthy of all the fuss.’
Toby spent a week being treated at the vet’s, but the £3,000 bill was covered by pet insurance.
The offender was jailed for three-and-a-half years for aggravated burglary.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Got my puppy fix... *sigh*
This is a guest post from Heather Cherry' blog (great blog, so be sure an check it out!). Heather is helping to rescue animals in her neck of the woods, read on:
______________
I helped with a rescue transport this weekend. That's where an adoptable dog or group of dogs makes their way across the country from a high-kill shelter to a rescue or forever home by means of a not-so-underground doggie railroad of sorts. One person drives a leg of the route, hands the dogs off to the next and so on. Since I drive the World's Smallest Car Ever TM and, therefore, can't transport crates, I try to help out with overnights as much as possible. So I had 3 extra pibble kids stay with me last night. They arrived after 10 p.m. and then left for Minnesota this morning around 9 a.m.
One of them, Heidi, was only about 4 months old and so shy and fearful. She was so sweet and it made me sad to see that at some point humans have done something to make her so afraid of them. As soon as I put her on the ground to potty, she just cowered. So I plopped myself down on the grass next to her and just gave her some time to get used to me. Eventually she was crawling into my lap and climbing up my chest to give me kisses on my mouf. Sadly, I had a cold and couldn't smell anything so I didn't get to partake in the sniffing of puppy breath. :o( But all in all it was a rewarding 12 hours and I was sad to see the babies go but excited for them to go to their new homes.
Yea for rescue! And yea for MARS. They rule.
Posted by Heather Cherry
______________
I helped with a rescue transport this weekend. That's where an adoptable dog or group of dogs makes their way across the country from a high-kill shelter to a rescue or forever home by means of a not-so-underground doggie railroad of sorts. One person drives a leg of the route, hands the dogs off to the next and so on. Since I drive the World's Smallest Car Ever TM and, therefore, can't transport crates, I try to help out with overnights as much as possible. So I had 3 extra pibble kids stay with me last night. They arrived after 10 p.m. and then left for Minnesota this morning around 9 a.m.
One of them, Heidi, was only about 4 months old and so shy and fearful. She was so sweet and it made me sad to see that at some point humans have done something to make her so afraid of them. As soon as I put her on the ground to potty, she just cowered. So I plopped myself down on the grass next to her and just gave her some time to get used to me. Eventually she was crawling into my lap and climbing up my chest to give me kisses on my mouf. Sadly, I had a cold and couldn't smell anything so I didn't get to partake in the sniffing of puppy breath. :o( But all in all it was a rewarding 12 hours and I was sad to see the babies go but excited for them to go to their new homes.
Yea for rescue! And yea for MARS. They rule.
Posted by Heather Cherry
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The story of Ruby and William Wallace
This is a guest post from Brooke, one of our volunteers with the Humane Society for West Texas. She tells the story of two of the many animals she has helped save.
_________________________________
In late January of 2009 I was driving to pick up my two girls from daycare. They go to a great school, it’s just not in the best part of town! I was turning on to Broadway from MLK and I glanced over and saw a beautiful Australian Shepherd wandering around the Kwik-O-Food convenience store. I didn’t see her again for a few days and then saw her again, wandering down the block behind the convenience store. I pulled over to her and offered her a cereal bar. She came right up to me and just started licking me.
She led me through a gate into a backyard. I went to knock on the front door but no one answered. When I was getting ready to leave, I went to check on her to see if she had any food. She didn’t have anything, not even a dog house! Then I noticed something was peeking out from underneath a hole on the side of the house.
It was her 8 week old puppy, a little fur ball!
I left a note on the front door before I left, explaining to the “owner” that I found their dogs and to please call me since it looked like they weren’t being cared for. I never got a return call.
I came back the next day with food and water and decided I would take care of them at the house (it turned out to be an abandoned house), since the Humane Society of West Texas didn’t have any foster homes open at the time. I went there everyday for 2 weeks, playing with the mom who I named Ruby, and trying to get the puppy use to humans. Finally a foster home opened and they were able to have the proper shelter and food they needed! They received baths, flea/tick treatment, vaccination, microchips, and a loving home all in one day. They both have been adopted to great homes. Ruby (the mom) was adopted the first day she went to Petsmart.
William Wallace, the puppy, was pretty much a feral dog until 12 weeks of age. He went to 3 different homes but finally found a loving teenager to take great care of him. I love being able to help an animal in need and, with the help of the Humane Society of West Texas, we are able to do that for thousands of homeless animals.
Brooke Ham
Volunteer for the Humane Society of West Texas
_________________________________
In late January of 2009 I was driving to pick up my two girls from daycare. They go to a great school, it’s just not in the best part of town! I was turning on to Broadway from MLK and I glanced over and saw a beautiful Australian Shepherd wandering around the Kwik-O-Food convenience store. I didn’t see her again for a few days and then saw her again, wandering down the block behind the convenience store. I pulled over to her and offered her a cereal bar. She came right up to me and just started licking me.
She led me through a gate into a backyard. I went to knock on the front door but no one answered. When I was getting ready to leave, I went to check on her to see if she had any food. She didn’t have anything, not even a dog house! Then I noticed something was peeking out from underneath a hole on the side of the house.It was her 8 week old puppy, a little fur ball!
I left a note on the front door before I left, explaining to the “owner” that I found their dogs and to please call me since it looked like they weren’t being cared for. I never got a return call.
I came back the next day with food and water and decided I would take care of them at the house (it turned out to be an abandoned house), since the Humane Society of West Texas didn’t have any foster homes open at the time. I went there everyday for 2 weeks, playing with the mom who I named Ruby, and trying to get the puppy use to humans. Finally a foster home opened and they were able to have the proper shelter and food they needed! They received baths, flea/tick treatment, vaccination, microchips, and a loving home all in one day. They both have been adopted to great homes. Ruby (the mom) was adopted the first day she went to Petsmart.
William Wallace, the puppy, was pretty much a feral dog until 12 weeks of age. He went to 3 different homes but finally found a loving teenager to take great care of him. I love being able to help an animal in need and, with the help of the Humane Society of West Texas, we are able to do that for thousands of homeless animals.Brooke Ham
Volunteer for the Humane Society of West Texas
Friday, April 17, 2009
More Fun Critter Pics
Fox Hunt
When you are in deep trouble, look straight ahead, keep your mouth shut and say nothing!
This should be in a Doritos commercial:
What's that over there?
Doesn't look too healthy
So cheesy!
When you are in deep trouble, look straight ahead, keep your mouth shut and say nothing!
This should be in a Doritos commercial:
What's that over there?
Doesn't look too healthy
So cheesy!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Puppy in Chief
The Obama's finally picked a dog that is just right for them. They finally selected a black and white Portuguese water dog puppy. This breed is suppose to be one of the least allergenic dogs which was an important criteria given Malia's allergies. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts gave them the puppy. The Kennedy's own several Portuguese water dogs. The puppy is named Bo after Michele's father, whose nickname was Diddley, after Bo Diddley the musician .
The presidential choice had a lot to do with Malia's allergies but it may have unintended side effects with more and more puppy mills emerging to produce Portugese water dogs in response to a potentially growing demand as more and more people will want one. This happened back when Disney's 101 Dalmatians was released and a demand for Dalmations skyrocketed and genetic disorders in the breed equally rocketed. Often puppy mills over-bred, not taking care to avoid genetic disorders. See this article in the Calgary Herald and the Humane Society of the U.S. Wayne Pacelle's blog for more information on some of these issues.
Still, Bo is really cute. Here is a video on CNN if you haven't seen enough of Bo yet
[Photo source is the Dallas News]
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Healing Power of Animals, Part 2
In a post a few days ago, I talked about the animals that are being trained by prisoners and how this has had a profound impact on changing these individuals outlook on life. Now I want to mention therapy animals who are helping heal people in medical situations, both with mental and physical ailments, and they are helping those in retirement and nursing homes who are in great need of love and attention.
Therapy animals come in many species and sizes. They include dogs, horses, cats, rabbits, birds, and other creatures. Some notable ones
are baby kangaroos and miniature ponies. All of these animals are special since they have to be trained and/or have the right personality for this kind of job. The animal must be able to calmly accept unusual circumstances so not just any animal can be a therapy animal. A lot of the animals that work in this industry are dogs, but cats are common as well.
One inspiring story, and there are so many, is the story of Toby and his impact on Veronique, whose recovery was so enhanced by Toby she founded the Hearts and Hooves Foundation. Toby is a miniature horse and is incredibly tiny and was somewhat unique when he was providing therapy for Veronique. Now at Hearts and Hooves, they have a whole tiny herd of therapy horses who travel to help those in need.
The therapeutic use of animals is becoming more popular. We have therapy animals who visit in the Lubbock hospitals. The benefits of these animals are simple and yet profound . . . they uplift people's spirits in hospitals as well as in retirement and nursing homes and this helps in improving or maintaining good health. The presence of constant love and attention from these animals does wonders.
Some animal therapy is considered to be a kind of physical therapy and helps individuals improve the physical or emotional performances of patients. All animal therapy provides motivational and educational improvements for the participants. They help individuals who are mentally challenged learn to be responsible for something other than themselves and to be more independent, simply by feeding and caring for these animals. With autistic people, animal therapy has been very effective, especially dogs and horses, because they calmly introduce sensory experiences to these individuals who are very sensitive to stimuli.Animals are really amazing and help us in so many ways, from pet owners who are supported by the constant affection of their pet to those with mental or physical illness. They are invaluable part of our society. Hopefully we will see more and more of them in our hospitals, retirement homes and elsewhere.
[for information and photo sources see these sites Therapet, myhealthcollection, Black Mountain Miniature, and ]
Therapy animals come in many species and sizes. They include dogs, horses, cats, rabbits, birds, and other creatures. Some notable ones
are baby kangaroos and miniature ponies. All of these animals are special since they have to be trained and/or have the right personality for this kind of job. The animal must be able to calmly accept unusual circumstances so not just any animal can be a therapy animal. A lot of the animals that work in this industry are dogs, but cats are common as well.One inspiring story, and there are so many, is the story of Toby and his impact on Veronique, whose recovery was so enhanced by Toby she founded the Hearts and Hooves Foundation. Toby is a miniature horse and is incredibly tiny and was somewhat unique when he was providing therapy for Veronique. Now at Hearts and Hooves, they have a whole tiny herd of therapy horses who travel to help those in need.
The therapeutic use of animals is becoming more popular. We have therapy animals who visit in the Lubbock hospitals. The benefits of these animals are simple and yet profound . . . they uplift people's spirits in hospitals as well as in retirement and nursing homes and this helps in improving or maintaining good health. The presence of constant love and attention from these animals does wonders.
Some animal therapy is considered to be a kind of physical therapy and helps individuals improve the physical or emotional performances of patients. All animal therapy provides motivational and educational improvements for the participants. They help individuals who are mentally challenged learn to be responsible for something other than themselves and to be more independent, simply by feeding and caring for these animals. With autistic people, animal therapy has been very effective, especially dogs and horses, because they calmly introduce sensory experiences to these individuals who are very sensitive to stimuli.Animals are really amazing and help us in so many ways, from pet owners who are supported by the constant affection of their pet to those with mental or physical illness. They are invaluable part of our society. Hopefully we will see more and more of them in our hospitals, retirement homes and elsewhere.
[for information and photo sources see these sites Therapet, myhealthcollection, Black Mountain Miniature, and ]
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