Why spend Black Friday in long, boring lines at retail stores when you can visit the Humane Rescue Alliance and add a new furry friend to your family! Adoption Fees Waived Nov. 25 – 27 - Courtesy of Zappos’ “Home for the Pawlidayz” Program Beginning Friday, November 25h through Sunday, November 27th, the Humane Rescue Alliance will be waiving adoption fees for all available animals at our two adoptions centers and through our foster program. All available animals can be seen at our website: www.humanerescuealliance.org/adopt. (Washington, DC dog licenses fees still apply and normal adoption procedures will be in place). The Humane Rescue Alliance is teaming up with Zappos and Best Friends Animal Society to help 9,000 pets nationwide find forever homes this holiday season. Adoption fees during this promotion are being covered by Zappos at all participating adoptions facilities across the country. Animals adopted from the Humane Rescue Alliance have been spayed/neutered and micro chipped. DOGS To take a look at some of the dogs currently available for adoption click HERE. Then click on: Search for a dog by location, then click search. CATS To take a look at some of the cats currently available for adoption click HERE. Then click on: Search for a cat by location, then click search.
OTHER ANIMALS They also have a variety of small animals available for adoption. To take a look at some of these animals, click HERE. Then click on: Search for a small animal by location, then click search. Humane Rescue Alliance Adoptions Centers:
71 Oglethorpe Street, NW Washington, DC Adoption hours: Noon – 7 p.m. 1201 New York Avenue, NE Washington, DC Adoption hours: Noon – 7 p.m. About the Humane Rescue Alliance: The Humane Rescue Alliance (formerly the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League) has protected and served the animals of the community for more than 145 years and serves more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care and control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others. The organization is dedicated to ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals, bringing people and animals together, and working with all communities to support these relationships. HRA is based in Washington, DC, the only major urban area in the country that has all of its animal protection programs and services unified in one organization, making the Humane Rescue Alliance a model for the nation.
“We already love him!” George W. Bush, his wife Laura adopt a puppy named Freddy! George W. Bush made a very important announcement on Facebook Monday — he adopted a puppy. The 43rd President posted on Facebook that he and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, adopted a dog from the SPCA of Texas and named him Freddy Bush. “We already love him, and even our cats Bob and Bernadette are finding Freddy’s charm futile to resist,” Bush wrote on his Facebook. It’s no secret that the Bush family adores their dogs. Barney Bush was the famous Scottish Terrier who was at the White House during Bush’s administration. The pup even had his own White House website and was often referred to as “First Dog” while Bush was in office. Barney died at age 12 in 2013, after Bush left the White House. Miss Beazley, the Bush’s other Scottish Terrier, died in 2014 at age nine. In the Facebook post, Bush advocated for adopting or rescuing dogs from shelters. “If you could use a little extra joy in your life, consider adopting a pet from an animal shelter or rescue group,” he wrote.
Frederick, Maryland - A bear was shot and killed Thursday morning after a woman in Frederick, Maryland was attacked the evening before, the Department of Natural Resources confirmed.
According to officials, around 9:30 p.m. 63-year-old Karen Osborne was walking to her son-in-law's house next door to check on their dog that was barking when she was attacked by the bear on Irongate Lane, in between Baltimore National Pike and Shookstown Road. It appears the woman got in between the bear her cubs. The bear weighed 200 pounds. "It was not a bear that was sort of laying in wait for the homeowner. The best we can tell is she went down a dark driveway with a dog. There was another dog in the driveway off leash and the sow had her cubs there and she reacted to what she believed was a threat."
Police reported, Osborne suffered a broken arm, cuts to her head, and puncture wounds to both arms.
Okeechobee, Flordia - There is encouraging news for a miniature horse found abandoned in Okeechobee. The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Animal Control says it believes it has identified the owner of the mini horse, named "Little Sammy." Animal Control is now trying to locate the owner. The extremely adorable mini pony was found abandoned roaming on various properties. The Sheriff's Office said it escaped its pen. Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Animal Control officers took the pony into their possession. Officials said if the above livestock is not claimed by the 18th of November, "it shall be offered for adoption, auction, or disposed of humanely." For information: Okeechobee County Sheriff Animal Control HOURS: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1480 NW 25th Dr Okeechobee, FL 34972 (863) 357-3225
Everyone loves an optical illusion, but the latest visual tease to leave the internet confused is something a little different. Furry pet Atchoumfan has left Twitter baffled after a user posted a picture of him saying: 'Her - "do you have a dog or a cat?" Me - "I don't know". The image of the enigmatic creature has been retweeted over 12,000 times and liked over 22,00 times as users tried to figure out what kind of animal they were looking at. Barb Leflar Jackson couldn't figure it out at all, saying: “Yeah, what IS that?” while FreebieBean joked it was an owl, adding: “Whatever it is I want it.” Stillchip was sure they were looking at a feline, saying: “While the ears are barely visible, the eyes are a dead giveaway. The pupil shape is cat all the way.” Noonefollowsme agreed making the point that “the eyes never lie”, adding: “Those are cats eyes”. Summersanz joked “it's a Cog Dat” while JulieCTaylor said: “Definitely a dog. Very cute!” Eventually, the person behind the Twitter account revealed that the creature is in fact a cat. The pet is already internet famous in its own right, not just for being half-cat-half-dog. He has over 162k followers on hisInstagram page https://www.instagram.com/atchoumfan/ where he is described as a “young male Persian with hypertrichosis. I'm hairy not scary!” The owner of Atchoum regularly keeps followers up-to-date with what the feline is doing and he can often be seen wearing a funky-colored bow tie. He also appears to have been featured in magazines, campaigns and has even been in shows. Atchoum also has a website dedicated to him. It says: “Hello and bonjour! I'm Atchoum, the hairy but not scary Persian kitten from Quebec, Canada. I purr with a French accent.” “Some people say my wild furs and intense amber eyes make me look like a dog, an owl, a mad scientist, a Gremlin, Lorax or the Grinch but I'm happy to be me. I love life and love sharing my adventures every day with you!”
When you’re a cat and you’re famous, everyone else falls beneath you. Even Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, is a simple serf in the eyes of famed felines. Bob the Cat was formally introduced to Kate Middleton at his movie premiere yesterday. And Bob was, well, underwhelmed. Bob plays himself in the film A Street Cat Named Bob, the true story about James Bowen, a recovering addict who finds solace in a stray cat. Being the star that he is, Bob arrived to the red carpet in style, wearing his signature red scarf. One of those excited fans was Kate Middleton, who also arrived in style. The Duchess donned a simple, yet elegant, white gown, reminiscent of her wedding dress. The crocheted lace top and sleeves are classy yet casual. Her red poppy pin, a symbol of recognition for those who have fought in war, proudly stands out against the lace. We’re loving the contrast between the modest neckline and the thigh-hight slit in the skirt. Being the much-admired Duchess, Kate must stick to a demure dress code. But showing a little leg once in a while won’t hurt anyone, right? To read more on this story, click here:This Cat’s Reaction to Kate Middleton is Making Our Day
Horses are majestic creatures and the subject of many stories, both fanciful and realistic. Something about a horse just appeals to mankind, and Big Jake is no different, though he tends to generate greater awe and excitement than most horses. Holding the Guinness World Record for the tallest horse in both 2010 and 2013, Big Jake stands 6 feet 10.75 inches tall. People tend to be speechless when they catch their first glance of the mighty Belgian. A native of Nebraska, Big Jake was bought and moved to Poynette, Wis., where he currently lives on Smokey Hollow Farm with his owner Jerry Gilbert. Big Jake is a Belgian draft horse. According to PetBreeds, the Belgian draft horse was bred in the country of Belgium to do heavy work. Being the strongest breed of draft horse, the Belgian is ideal for work in forestry and logging as well as agriculture. Some people even use the Belgians for riding since these massive horses can carry a heavier load. Of course, sustaining the massive size of a draft horse isn't cheap. In his YouTube interview, Gilbert says that Big Jake eats 1.5 bales of hay a day and 32 quarts of oats. That's a lot of food! Besides being a big horse with a big appetite, Big Jake has a big heart. According to his website, Big Jake is also a supporter of the Madison, Wis., Ronald McDonald House. What an amazing horse! He truly takes your breath away!
This week, trainers from around the world will arrive at SeaWorld for the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association conference. The event is likely to draw controversy, as the Chicago-based IMATA has come under recent fire for its policy allowing trainers to participate in the violent Taiji dolphin hunts. A change in this policy is long overdue. But as a former trainer myself, I can attest that IMATA’s stance is symptomatic of a much deeper culture of turning a blind eye to cruelty - one that runs throughout the marine park industry, including SeaWorld. For 12 years, I worked alongside Smooshi, an 800-pound walrus, as a marine mammal trainer at Marineland. In that time I saw a lot of bad things, from repeated animal neglect to mass graves. Even though the conditions were shocking, nothing could have prepared me for the cult-like work environment that rewarded employees for staying quiet in the face of clear cases of abuse. If you speak out, there’s hell to pay. I found this out the hard way. When I blew the whistle on Marineland’s dodgy practices, they sued me for $1.5 million. And I am just one of 15 whistleblowers, along with others from parks like SeaWorld, who finally said enough is enough. Though it may look fun from the outside, working as a marine animal trainer is a tough gig. I loved Smooshi like family and wanted to protect her, but I also knew I was part of the problem. When she first arrived at Marineland in a small wooden box, Smooshi was just 18 months old. The vet came to take her blood for a health check and she was terrified. She ran to me looking for help and we instantly bonded. The two of us became inseparable. Smooshi would follow me around the park and bark incessantly when she couldn’t see me. Television shows like Jimmy Kimmel even ran stories about us, with the headline “Walrus in love”. I did worry about Smooshi and the other animals’ living conditions, but my concerns were ignored by management. Even though I was paid to look the other way, the realities of captivity were difficult to ignore. At times, the water was so caustic with chlorine it caused blindness to the animals and gave Smooshi chemical burns. I’d run my hand over dolphins and watch as their skin literally flaked off. Six of the park’s seven seals were blind or had serious eye problems due to the high levels of chlorine. Some days there would be mysterious bloodstains on the floor I’d have to mop up, no questions asked. One time I even found myself in a mass animal grave, digging up Kandu, a wild-caught orca from Iceland, because his necropsy wasn’t done properly the first time around. Another cruel aspect trainers are forced to look the other way on, is how wild animals are collected. Marine parks often promote their animals as “rescues” when really they are deliberately captured from the wild and stolen from their families. I am guilty of shying away from this reality myself, because Smooshi didn’t come to Marineland as a rescue walrus. She was captured in the Black Sea in Russia. Since leaving the park, I can see the truth: Smooshi should never have been in captivity in the first place. Capturing marine animals like walruses, beluga whales and dolphins is a violent and cruel process. And putting them in sterile, unnatural environments is torture, even with the so-called “best” care there is. It’s terrible how many marine parks and trainers are still involved in the wild capture of marine animals, even though reaction to movies like Blackfish and The Cove show the general public clearly don’t agree with it. Perhaps the most shocking thing is that the peak body for trainers in the United States, IMATA, still actually allows their trainers to be involved in the Taiji dolphin hunts. This is one of the most controversial wild capture operations in the world, yet IMATA gives its trainers permission to participate and select dolphins for sale to marine parks. For many young people, a job at a marine park is an all-access pass to touch and play with animals. It’s a reward every young child wants - until they learn the truth.
