Washington, DC - Love Turtles? Come Adopt Red, Teal, Orange, Blue, Slippy or Philly Today – Washington Humane Society

Radical news! We have a bunch of totally tubular turtles waiting for forever homes at our New York Avenue Adoption Center right now. Adopt Red, Teal, Orange, Blue, Slippy, or Philly today!

Blue

Animal ID: 28599041

Species: Reptile

Age:  

Sex: Unknown

Color: Brown/Black

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Teal

Animal ID: 29312140

Species: Reptile

Age:  

Sex: Female

Color: Green/Brown

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Orange

Animal ID: 29569011

Species: Reptile

Age:  

Sex: Male

Color: Green

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Slippy

Animal ID: 29791299

Species: Reptile

Age:  

Sex: Female

Color: Black/Green

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Nam

Animal ID: 30209351

Species: Reptile

Age: 2 years 28 days

Sex:  Unknown

Color: Brown/Yellow

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Comet

Animal ID: 30285226

Species: Reptile

Age: 1 year 17 days

Sex: Male

Color: Brown

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Vixen

Animal ID: 30285230

Species:  Reptile

Age: 1 year 17 days

Sex: Male

Color: Brown

Declawed: No

Site: Washington Humane Society

Red

Animal ID: 29289234

Species:  Reptile

Age: 1 year 4 months 10 days

Sex: Male

Color: Green

Declawed: No

Site:  Washington Humane Society

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Shelter Animals Count: The National Database Project is Now Online

Los Angeles, California - Millions of dogs and cats end up in animal shelters or rescues every year, but there are no comprehensive statistics on how many, how they got there, if they were adopted, if a rescue saved them or if their time ran out and they were euthanized. But a new website is aiming to remedy the lack of data.

Animal welfare workers talked about creating a database for years. Now, four years after the work began, "Shelter Animals Count: The National Database Project" is online.

When enough information is input, "we should have a sense of how dogs and cats move in and out of these rescues and shelters that are dedicated to their care," said Jodi Lytle Buckman, board chair for Shelter Animals Count. Data organization is modeled on the U.S. Census, so comparisons will be possible at the county level, she said.

Until now, individual agencies have used estimates when statistics were needed. As a result, figures often varied from group to group and state to state. Even the precise number of shelters and rescues is not known.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, often cited by The Associated Press, estimates there are 13,600 shelters across the country taking in 7.6 million companion animals a year. Of those, 2.7 million are euthanized, 2.7 million are adopted and 649,000 are returned to their owners (with the other 1.5 million including animals besides cats and dogs, feral animals and other categories).

For every dog or cat relinquished to a shelter by an owner, two strays were brought in, according to ASPCA estimates.

Rescues are usually dedicated to saving one breed and can be operated out of a home, so they are even harder to count than shelters, which are most often run by counties or cities.

The new database at www.shelteranimalscount.org is incorporated as an independent non-profit. Two employees will be hired, one to look at the data and one to recruit shelters and rescues to sign up.

"This database is precisely what the animal welfare world needs to guide good decision-making and help enable a greater understanding of the issues facing rescues and shelters in this country," Buckman said.

The database is funded entirely through grants from board members. Board members include: Animal Assistance Foundation; Animal Humane Society in Minnesota; the ASPCA; Association of Shelter Veterinarians; Best Friends Animal Society; Humane Society of the Pike's Peak Region; The Humane Society of the United States; Maddie's Fund; National Animal Care & Control Association; National Council on Pet Population; Petco Foundation; PetSmart Charities; Society of Animal Welfare Administrators; University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine; University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine; and Wisconsin Humane Society.

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Meet Lady, a Beautiful 8-Year-Old Senior Dog Looking for Her Forever Home: Can You Give Her a Home for the Holidays? – Washington Humane Society

Washington, DC - Meet Lady, a beautiful 8-year-old senior dog looking for her forever home for the Holidays.

Through no fault of her own, Lady has been in and out of our adoption centers since August. Can we get her a home for the holidays?

Your next question is going to be why? :

She is not a fan of other dogs, but that's not why she has been returned. She was returned because she looks like a pit bull and she was banned from her adopter's apartment complex. She is currently in foster care.

Does she get along with cats?:

Lady hasn't met a cat while she has been in our care, but we always suggest bringing your resident animal in for a meet-and-greet before adopting.

From Lady:

Hey there, I'm Lady. Just like my name suggests, I am an older gal who is over the puppy stage of life. I was brought to WHS when my family could no longer care for me and although I am really bummed about it, I am doing my best to stay strong and hold out for my new forever family. The people here tell me I am really smart and I am learning new tricks and commands every day! The one thing I really miss about having a home of my own is cuddling with my humans, I reaaaalllly love leaning into people - it just makes me feel so loved! In fact, I love people so much that I would prefer to be your one-and-only pet - more attention for meeee! So if you're looking for your new best friend and someone to cuddle up and watch TV with, come meet me at the New York Ave shelter.

Please share Lady to help her get a loving home for the Holidays.  If you can not adopt Lady, the Washington Humane Society has other dogs, cats and small animals available for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting Lady:

She is at our New York Avenue location at 1201 New York Avenue NE. To meet her, either drop by the adoption center or call 202-576-6664. Here is a link to her online profile: LADY

Take a look at her video and adorable pictures below:

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Woman Knits Colorful Sweaters For Rescue Chickens

In Cornwall, England, Nicola Congdon and her mother, Ann, are really getting into knitting. After all, it’s the season for it.

But instead of knitting human-size sweaters, their projects are a bit smaller…

That’s because their sweaters aren’t made for humans at all! They’re for about 30 of the 60 hens that live on Nicola and Ann’s property.

These 30 chickens are rescued battery hens, meaning they spent much of their lives in tiny cages producing eggs.

These hens, raised in captivity indoors, have trouble acclimating to living outside. Many of them also lack the feathers they need to keep warm, which puts them at risk during the cold months.

So to help them stay cozy in the winter, Nicola and Ann decided to help them out by knitting chicken-size sweaters in all different colors. And they really help, just like how on the other side of the world, one kindly man creates sweaters for penguins in need.

See how these two women are helping chickens, as well as humans, and let them inspire you to help someone in need today!

The chickens that have come out of captivity are ill-prepared for the cold, and many of them lack feathers entirely.

“We are doing it for the ex-battery hens for when they come out of their poor conditions for them to put on in the cold weather,” Nicola explains.

She and Ann, her mother, have been knitting chicken sweaters for the past six months.

“It’s important to make people aware of the poor conditions the hens live in and the fact that they have no feathers when they are retired,” Nicola says, but she’s also pleased with the practical aspects of the sweaters: “They keep them warm and makes the chickens easy to identify.”

As for the chickens, they seem to like the sweaters, too. Nicola says that they have no issues getting the sweaters onto the chickens, and that the chickens don’t try to remove them.

She and Ann have an extensive collection of the tiny, sleeveless sweaters. As the world has taken notice of their creations, chicken owners all over the world have sent in requests — and are willing to pay for them.

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Why Don't Cats Go Gray?

Why don’t cats go gray like dogs do? Betsy Joliat

I’m jealous of my brown-and-black tabby, Fergie. When I adopted her as a 1-ish-year-old she sported a cute little white patch around her mouth and chin. I was in my mid-20s and my hair was blond. Eighteen years later, Fergie’s white patch is the same size and shape as the day we met — I have photos to prove it — but my blond hair now has gray highlights. She’s a super senior, but I’m only middle-aged and her lack of gray hair seems unfair.

One of my favorite dog friends is a black Labrador that started showing his age with lots of white hairs on his muzzle and around his eyes.

To read more on this story, click here: Why Don't Cats Go Gray?

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This Picture Has Gained a Lot of Attention on Social Media this Week: Military K9 Wearing a Purple Heart Lying on His Side Recovering Under a Patriotic Blanket

Fort Hood, Texas - A picture shared on Facebook by the 89th Military Police Brigade, which is based out of Fort Hood, Texas, has gained a lot of attention on social media this week.

The image shows a military K9, wearing a Purple Heart, lying on his side recovering under a patriotic blanket. According to the post, military working dog “Rocky” and his handler were injured this week during operations in Afghanistan.

“Rocky and his handler are staying in the same room right now as they are receiving treatment for their injuries,” the Facebook post said. “Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they recover during the holiday season.

The image, posted on Wednesday, has been shared more than 55,000 times and has more than 45,000 likes.

Facebook user Breanna Katsonis commented on the photo stating Rocky’s handler is her brother-in-law.

“He and his wife have 2 young children and this is a difficult time for them all,” Katsonis said. “I know they are so grateful for all of the prayers so please keep them coming!”

Friday, the Facebook page Malinois Nation shared another photo of Rocky and his handler. It said they are headed back to the United States for the remainder of their treatment and rehab.

The 89th Military Police Brigade is a combat ready, deployable Military police force assigned to the United States Army Third Armored Corps “Phantom Warriors.”

Please join us in thanking Rocky and his handler for their service. Here's to wishing both a speedy recovery!

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Why Dogs Growl

Sharing from: NSPCA - National Council of SPCA's 

Today we will focus on how to read dogs in order to prevent being bitten. Dogs communicate with us and other animals in various ways and we will look at some of these.

It is human nature to tell the dog off when it growls at your child or new puppy. However if we teach them not to provide a warning before they bite, they will bite without warning. "If you take the growl out of the dog it is just like taking the batteries out of a fire alarm", was quoted at a recently Dog-Bite Prevention conference.

When a dog growls at a child or new puppy it is probably because the dog has had enough or its space has been invaded. It is important to teach children not to play with a dog that is eating or chewing a toy, when it is in its kennel or lying on its bed, sleeping, etc. The reason for this is that dogs also need privacy and we should respect that.

When a child or new puppy are becoming too much for the dog it is best to remove them from the situation and keep them occupied elsewhere. The growl was a warning to stop and if this warning is not heeded the next step would be for the dog to snap or bite to make the warning clear.

Teach your children to be safe around dogs whether they be your own, a friend’s, family members’ or strange dogs. Respect their space and if they hear a growl to stop doing what they are doing and move away from the dog. Be safe!

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Thanks To New Law: Every U.S. Military Dog Will Be Brought Home

The heroic pups who courageously serve and paw-tect our country are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law last month that guarantees the safe return of all retired military dogs to the United States after serving abroad. In the past, some of these animals were left to retire overseas because they were no longer considered service dogs, and were therefore ineligible for military-funded transportation home, The Washington Times reported.

The American Humane Association estimates that a military dog saves between 150 to 200 service members during his tenure by detecting improvised explosive devices and hidden weapons caches. Upon return from combat, these animals, if given the chance, often continue to protect their humans and help them transition back into society.

“[The bill] will ensure that our four-legged veterans will finally have their chance to come home and live a comfortable, quiet life, hopefully with a handler they deployed with or a fellow veteran,” retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung, who was reunited with his war dog, Cena, said in a press release. “These dogs have so much love to give…it’s time we show some in return.”

This pooch-protecting measure was part of the $607 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by the Senate on Nov. 10.

There are an estimated 2,500 dogs currently serving overseas, according to the American Humane Association. To get retired dogs home in the past, humanitarian organizations, like the American Humane Association, or the handlers themselves, would front the transportation costs involved, according to The Times.

And the canines who were left behind faced uncertain futures.

“In some cases they’ve been kept in kennels for indeterminate lengths of time until someone wanted them,” Mark Stubis, spokesman for the American Humane Association, told The Washington Times. “In the best cases, some have been adopted by U.S. military personnel living abroad. In others, they were adopted by local people and, we have heard, in some cases, abused.”

Experts say that even after retirement, these dogs actually still have a lot to give, especially to veterans living with post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health issues.

“When they come back suffering from those invisible wounds of war, we’re hoping that their four legged battle buddy will help them heal from PTS,” Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Association, told The Washington Free Beacon. “We know it works. We’ve seen it work.”

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Washington Animal Rescue League: Dogs Once Suffering on S. Korean Dog Meat Farm Arrived in the DC Area - Media is Invited to Cover the Transfer of Dogs on Monday, Dec. 14

Washington, DC - Humane Society International rescue dogs and shut down fourth farm; partners with Washington Animal Rescue League and Washington, DC metro shelters to find dogs loving homes.

(Dec. 9, 2015) ― Twenty six dogs rescued from a dog meat farm in South Korea by Humane Society International begin arriving at the Washington Animal Rescue League on Dec. 11, on their way to new lives. Once the animals are evaluated by WARL staff, the dogs will be divided among them and four other Emergency Placement Partner shelters including the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Fairfax County Animal Shelter and Washington Humane Society to find the dogs homes. Emergency Placement Partners is a program of The Humane Society of the United States, HSI’s U.S. affiliate.

WHAT:       Media is invited to cover the transfer of dogs on Monday, Dec. 14 at WARL.

WHERE:    Washington Animal Rescue League, 71 Oglethorpe Street, NW, Washington,     D.C., 20011

WHEN:       Monday, Dec. 14 at 11:00 a.m. EST

WHO:        

Robert Ramin, president and ceo of WARL

Kelly O’Meara, director of companion animals and engagement for HSI

Representatives from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Fairfax County Animal Shelter and Washington Humane Society

Background:  HSI worked with the farm owner to remove the dogs from miserable conditions and close its doors for good. As part of the plan, he signed an agreement with HSI to shut down the property. HSI will follow the farmer’s progress to ensure compliance. HSI will demolish the cages once all the dogs are safely removed.

HSI is working to reduce the dog meat trade in Asia, including in South Korea where dogs are farmed for the trade – and where the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held. HSI will work with other dog farmers who agree to get out of the inhumane dog meat trade permanently and transition into trades like crop growing.

**Photos and video of the Korean dog meat farm, and their arrival at Dulles are available by request.

Media Note: Credentialed media interested in attending should RSVP to a contact below.

Media Contacts:

HSI: Raul Arce-Contreras, 240-620-3263, rcontreras@humanesociety.org

WARL: Matt Williams, 202-280-9412, matt.williams@warl.org

About Humane Society International

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. For more than 20 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide – on the Web at hsi.org.

About the Washington Animal Rescue League

For 100 years, the Washington Animal Rescue League has rescued the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that had nowhere else to go.  As the oldest animal shelter in the Nation’s Capital, the Washington Animal Rescue League has rescued, cared for and adopted more than 100,000 animals in its history.  The only area shelter with a full service medical center, the Washington Animal Rescue League’s mission continues to evolve as conditions change and animals face new and different challenges, but the core of that mission remains unchanged:  to honor and strengthen the human-animal bond by providing the best quality care for homeless dogs and cats, and supporting companion animals in their homes through affordable veterinary care, community outreach, and education. For additional information, visit www.warl.org.

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Did You Know That Cats Use Cardboard Boxes for Stress Relief?

If you have a cat, or have even been around a cat, you know they have a propensity for trying to fit into spaces far too small for them. Many a box has been ruined by a cat with a misguided sense of her size. From shoe boxes to refrigerator boxes, cats zero in on cardboard and make it their own. The question is, why? Is it because they know how adorable it is? Or do they get a thrill from making sure we have to keep climbing over whatever random box they have made their home for the day? Well, science has finally (possibly) found the answer!

It turns out, according to a new study from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, that cats use boxes for stress relief. Researches took 19 cats that were new to shelters and gave 10 boxes, while the other 9 did not. Over a 14 day period, the felines with boxes showed far less stress on the Kessker and Turner Cat-Stress-Score (CSS), and adjusted to the shelter environment far better than their box-less cohorts.

Cats are also awful at resolving conflict. If you have more than one cat, pay attention to where they go after a squabble, or to avoid one. Chances are, they are hitting an enclosed space, most likely a box. Hiding out in them helps them ignore whatever is stressing them out. That’s assuming your other cats don’t try to follow into the same box.

Outside of stress relief, boxes also provide something every cat needs: extra warmth. Cats prefer to stay between 86 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit, about 20 degrees higher than the average temperature of homes. Since cardboard is such a great insulator, curling up in boxes helps them maintain their comfort temperature. The same goes for cats curling up in a sink, or in a corner of the basement when they are too hot. They don’t do it simply to be cute.

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Dozens of Sickly Snakes Removed from an Apartment in Baltimore, Maryland

Animal control officers have removed dozens of sickly snakes from an apartment in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sharon Miller, Baltimore's director of animal services, says officers rescued 56 snakes from the apartment on Tuesday. She says the reptiles were dehydrated and were infested with mites, and three had to be put down.

Miller says the snakes, which included ball pythons, reticulated pythons and boa constrictors, were removed after officers found them in squalid conditions.

The snakes were taken to an animal shelter.

Miller says an investigation is under way and citations or charges could result. A permit is required to own any kind of snake in Baltimore.

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