Cold Weather Is Coming: Here's One Way to Help Outdoor Dogs

We’ve all witnessed dogs left to the elements during the cold winter months. You can allow frustration, anger, and a sense of helplessness to drag you down. Or, you can do something positive. The topic of outdoor dogs is a thorny one to be sure. Families struggle with a variety of issues from allergies to ignorance, and you’re never going to convince every last dog owner to see things your way. But, that doesn’t mean groups like Fences For Fido aren’t making a difference. This Oregon nonprofit caters to dogs chained outdoors by providing much-needed fencing, insulated dog houses, and free spay/neutering services. So what’s one way you can help dogs left out in the cold? Find an organization like this one in your area and volunteer! A little bit of your time can go a long way toward keeping dogs warm this winter.

To read more on this story, click here: Cold Weather Is Coming: Here's One Way to Help Outdoor Dogs

7 Reasons Why Pets Make Terrible Holiday Gifts

As we approach the holiday season, many of us will begin to brainstorm gift ideas for our friends and loved ones. Some of us are drawn to unique home goods; others are inclined to purchase electronics, books, or clothes for the special people in our lives. Still others consider a much more controversial gift: that of an animal, such as a puppy, kitten, hamster, baby chick or rabbit. Of course, when animals are given as gifts, they are usually purchased with the best of intentions. Who doesn’t want to see their child rejoice at the sight of a cute and cuddly puppy or kitten?

To read more on this story, click here: 7 Reasons Why Pets Make Terrible Holiday Gifts

How to Ask Dog Owners to Keep Their Pets Out of Stores

What's the correct way to ask someone to remove their dog from a store?

That's a question I'm still being asked in response to an earlier Ask Laz about whether dogs are allowed in businesses, especially businesses that sell food.

I acknowledged that I had been guilty in the past of taking my own dog into the supermarket.

After looking at the relevant federal, state and local laws, I concluded that "the impression you get is that non-service dogs aren't allowed in grocery stores or any other place that sells food."

To read more on this story, click here: How to Ask Dog Owners to Keep Their Pets Out of Stores

"Hopeless" Cleft Palate Puppy Now Has A Fantastic Life

When Ruby was born in December of 2013, she wasn’t given much hope for any kind of a future.  She was born with a cleft lip and palate, which made it virtually impossible for her to nurse.  Vets had advised she be put down.

After an attempt to care for her over the first five days of her life, the breeder she was born to had surrendered Ruby to the Utah Animal Advocacy Foundation in Salt Lake City.  She was very malnourished.



To read more on this story, click here: "Hopeless" Cleft Palate Puppy Now Has A Fantastic Life

These Mutts Show Us That Amazing Dogs Come In All Shapes And Sizes

There are many dog breeds out there, and then there are the mutts. We're talking about those that are part retriever, part poodle, part German shepherd and part mystery pup. Though mutts can sometimes get a bad rap, these mixed breeds are just as smart, playful and lovable as pure bred dogs. In fact, there are tons of reasons to adopt a mutt instead of buying a pure bred puppy.

To read more on this story, click here: These Mutts Show Us That Amazing Dogs Come In All Shapes And Sizes

Following in His Father's Footsteps, Steve Irwin's Son Robert Doing Dad Proud by Carrying on His Animal Loving-Legacy

He was one-month old when wildlife expert Steve Irwin cradled his son in his arm while dangling a slab of meat over a crocodile waiting to be fed.

But Robert was just three years old when his father was tragically killed after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef in an underwater documentary film titled Ocean’s Deadliest.

Eight years on, Robert, now aged 10, has been following his father’s footsteps and carrying on his animal-loving legacy.

To read more on this story, click here: Following in His Father's Footsteps, Steve Irwin's Son Robert Doing Dad Proud by Carrying on His Animal Loving-Legacy

Don't Make This Tragic Mistake With Dog Training

This is a sickening story I'd rather not repeat, but there's an important message in it, so I hope you'll bear with me.

The owners of a 1-year-old German Shepherd dog brought their pet into a veterinary clinic for incoordination (loss of muscle coordination) and circling to the left behavior.

The owners were honest in admitting the dog had been "disciplined" a few hours earlier by being suspended off the ground with a choke collar for almost a full minute. When the owner lowered the dog to the ground, the poor animal was panicked and soon lost consciousness.

To read more on this story, click here: Don't Make This Tragic Mistake With Dog Training

Man Calls Animal Shelter Reporting That He Had Duck Taped A Feral Cat's Mouth That Had Gotten Into His Home

It's a story guaranteed to anger anyone with compassion for those who can not speak. A sweet, friendly cat was dropped off at the Humane Society of Forsyth County in Georgia with her four feet cruelly duct taped. The cat couldn't walk and trembled in terror as she tried to remove the tape from her paws.

The egregious story of animal cruelty began last weekend when the man called the shelter reporting a feral" and "vicious" cat had gotten through his car door into his house and was terrorizing his own cat. He told us that he had put "duct tape" over its mouth so it wouldn't bite him."

An agent told the man to remove the duct tape from the cat; she would not "tear him up" and if the cat was truly feral, he would not have ever caught the cat. The man refused and stated he would bring the cat to Animal Control. One hour later, the man showed up with the cat:

"Poor Ducky. Not feral, not vicious- actually very sweet but very scared. His four feet were wrapped in duct tape. He was terrified."

The authorities have been contacted and are investigating this evil deed. For now, Ducky is doing better, and is expected he will soon be available for adoption.

For more information on Ducky and how you can adopt him, click HERE.

The Humane Society of Forsyth County is located at 4440 Keith Bridge Road in Cumming, Georgia. Phone: (770)-887-6480.