Petfinder Blog

I recently posted a Happy Tail from Christine in New Haven, CT, about Russell, the dog she'd adopted from F.O.B.A.S. in Trumbull, CT.

Russell had been rescued from an abandoned dog-fighting facility in Georgia, where he was used as a bait dog.

Then I received an email from Virginia, who had fostered Russell for F.O.B.A.S. She sent along the above photo of how Russell looked when he was seized from the dog-fighting facility. F.O.B.A.S. paid to transport Russell from Georgia to Connecticut and then posted him on Petfinder so he could find a wonderful home. After the jump, see what Russell looks like now.

I would like to invite everyone to visit our message board this week! We're hosting a special moderated forum on co-exisiting with wildlife. Katherine Uhler of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center can answer your questions about keeping yourselves, your pets and your wild neighbors safe and healthy.

This topic hits home for me, as I live in the beautiful mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, where it is not uncommon to look out my window and see deer, turkey, squirrels and the occasional bear roaming past our home.

It seemed only fitting that on Monday morning I walked outside and saw a baby porcupine waddling his way across the lawn and up a small maple tree to enjoy a morning snack of leaves. So of course I grabbed my video camera to capture this rare opportunity. Enjoy! And remember to join us in the forums!

Here's a fine, feathered tale from Margaret and Jeff in New York:

We found Petfinder after seeing a commercial on Animal Planet. We put in our information and selected two lovebirds that were at Companion Critters, Inc., in Clark, N.J.

We later found out that they had been rescued from a hoarder's house, and it made us even more inclined to give these birds the happy home they deserve.

Let me tell you, they are spoiled rotten now. They have a bird pool connected to their cage and all the fresh fruit and veggies they could want. We keep one of those musical birthday cards next to their cage because they just go crazy when they hear the song "The Chicken Dance" when it's opened.

Linda C. Greenberg from Marblehead Animal Shelter in Marblehead, Mass., has written a book called No Fleas on Us about her years as adoption coordinator at the shelter and the many animals she and her colleagues have saved.

Petfinder even gets a mention! Linda tells us, "Petfinder is mentioned in chapter six, titled 'My Favorite Day,' in the segment subtitled 'A Huge Miracle.' The miracle was Petfinder. I can't tell you how positively it changed our shelter for the best."

Check out Linda's book -- and if you live in the Boston area, check out Marblehead's adoptable pets!

Nikki Moustaki, author of Dogfessions, is a great friend of Petfinder. Now she and her Miniature Schnauzer, Pepper (with her at right), have set sail aboard the Queen Mary 2 for a trip to Europe to celebrate their 10 years together.

What a riot! In honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (June), the ASPCA had a contest to find the year's best cat photos.

Singer Michael Feinstein judged the hundreds of entries and came up with these adorable winners.

You hear about hero dogs, and even hero cats. But here's a new one: A hero bunny! According to Britain's Times Online:

A pet rabbit has been credited with saving an Australian couple from a fire that started in their house while they slept. The rabbit woke its owners, Michelle Finn and her partner Gerry Keogh, by scratching on their bedroom door when smoke poured through the house in the Macleod area of Melbourne.

That's Michelle, above, holding her rabbit amid the ruins of her home. Read the rest of this amazing story, then check out the 6,000+ adoptable rabbits on Petfinder for a bunny of your own.

You may remember that in an earlier post I mentioned Jodi Geschickter and JTG Racing. In addition to co-owning this team, Jodi volunteers for the Animal Adoption League in Charlotte, NC.

Well up until now, JTG Racing has only fielded entries in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series, two "lower" levels of NASCAR racing. This weekend, JTG is trying for the big time -- the NASCAR Sprint Cup (formerly Winston Cup, formerly Nextel Cup) Series!

This is a big, bold move and their driver, Marcos Ambrose (right, with his foster dog Max, who's since been adopted), will need to qualify to get in the race.

Animal lovers, cross your fingers for Marcos. He generously donated his time and autographs to us when we were at the race in Texas earlier this year and has also fostered dogs for Jodi (and even taken them through the Starbuck's drivethrough for treats!)

Marcos will be driving the 147 Little Debbie Ford. Qualifying is 10 a.m. EST on Saturday on ESPN. GO MARCOS!

I recently wrote about how Barack Obama reportedly promised his daughters a dog after the election. Since then, Best Friends Animal Society has gotten 45,000 signatures on its petition urging the Obamas to adopt.

Now we'd like you to nominate a Petfinder dog for the Obamas! Just leave a comment with a link to that dog and an explanation of why you think he or she would be a good fit.

My candidate? Pride (right), an American bulldog-pit mix at Chicago Canine Rescue. Why? He's from Chicago, like the Obamas. He's a pit, so he knows what it's like to be misunderstood. His last family lost their home -- so he can help Obama stay in touch with the common person's financial troubles. He misses being part of a family with small children. And Pride -- you can't ask for a more American name than that!

I recently moved from a house to a two-bedroom apartment, which I now share with two adopted kittens. I'm learning how to live in a close-packed community with lots of other people and their pets.

Here are some rules -- both unwritten and written -- that I've learned so far:

Outraged New Yorkers freed seven dogs who'd been left in a sweltering car on Monday; when the dogs' owner returned, she was issued a summons for animal cruelty and the dogs were taken to Animal Care & Control of NYC.

(WABC7 Eyewitness News has the full story, as well as video of the brawl that nearly erupted when the woman returned to her car to find angry neighbors walking and watering her dogs.)

It was unbearably hot on Monday, and it's quite likely the dogs would have died in the car had the neighbors not intervened. But I am not sure the ending to this story is entirely happy. 

Kristen Powers, 14, is the daughter of Petfinder VP Ed Powers. She is the founder of the environmental group Green Teen Clubs.

I was recently working as a counselor-in-training for Piedmont Wildlife Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
It amazed me at the dedication kids there have for learning how they can respect and learn about the nature around them.

These kids, ages 4 to 11, have a desire to learn about anything and everything related to animals. Watching them was brilliant because I knew that I could make a difference in their lives.

While I was at the summer camp, I was carrying my Petfinder.com lunch bag. A little girl in my group came up to me and looked at my lunchbox. Suddenly, her eyes popped and she exclaimed, "I have that same lunch box. Petfinder is awesome!" It's always a wonderful feeling to know that Petfinder has not only reached people looking to adopt, but it is helping to mold the way young children are seeing animal adoptions.

The New York Times ran an op-ed piece yesterday about one of my pet peeves: the use of chimps in entertainment.

Images of grinning chimps in commercials and movies make the public think our primate relatives "have a safe and comfortable existence," writes Steve Ross of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

Here's a heartwarming Happy Tail from Christine in New Haven, CT:

Russell is a Boxer mix. We came across him on Petfinder and instantly fell in love with him from the video that was posted. He is 3 years old and comes from a troubled past. He was rescued from an abandoned dog-fighting facility in Georgia where he was used as a bait dog.

A bait dog is tied up and used to train fighting dogs. Russell came to us in the typical condition of an abandoned bait dog: starved, badly scarred and injured. The details of his story are too disturbing to repeat. If it weren't for Virginia Marconi of F.O.B.A.S. in Trumbull, CT, he would not be with us today.

Today Russell is a healthy 64 lbs. He goes out for three walks a day and spends free time in the yard or lounging around the house. He is a perfect gentleman, and we are convinced that he belonged to a family at one point in his life because of his manners and his love of children.

We are grateful to have him in our lives and can't imagine what life was like before he joined us. He is in a loving and safe home. Russell is a true "happy tail." We love him.

This new ad from Verizon promoting the LG Dare phone is sparking controversy online. What do you think?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Fifth Annual Animal Law Conference, which Petfinder co-sponsored.

Topics included recently passed and pending animal welfare legislation, developing an animal cruelty case, laws regarding assistance animals, ethical issues for shelter/rescue boards and estate planning.

It was really great to meet so many attorneys dedicated to changing and enforcing the laws that protect our companion animals. Many of the attorneys, I learned, volunteer and work in rescue themselves. A huge "thank you" for all that they do.

Last month, we asked subscribers to our newsletter: What healthy human foods do you prepare for both you and your pet?

The replies ran the gamut from A (steamed artichoke leaves) to Z (zucchini). Besides meats, raw carrots were mentioned most often.

As for fruit, bananas were a favorite, although Cheryl C.'s potbellied pig, Harley, loves to eat papaya. "I cut it in chunks and he eats it with a smile on his face, smacking as he eats," she writes.

Here's another fun answer we received:

Kirby, our little Pomeranian mix, loves raw baby carrots. Our Chow Chow tried them, only because she saw Kirby eating them with such gusto. Afraid that she might be missing out on a good thing, she decided to beg for one; she really, really tried to like it, but the faces she made reminded me of a little kid trying to eat Brussels sprouts. Just too funny! But she at least tried a healthy snack; that's more than I can say about my husband.

Since the passing of my beloved dog Kobie late last year, I've been keeping an eye out for a suitable friend for my dog Sophie.

Sophie requires a companion of just the right temperament and understanding. Goofy, playful, funny-looking and loving were the things she adored about Kobie, and when I saw Alan, I knew she and I would like him.

A 2-year-old flat-coated retriever mix, he had been taken in by the kind folks at My Loveable Rescues in Queens, NY, more than a year ago and needed a good home. On Saturday we drove out and met him.

Alan and Sophie quickly assumed an attitude of peaceful coexistence. I knew this was a good sign, and that with a little time and opportunity, they would become tight companions. And so I returned yesterday, completed the adoption and took Alan to his new home on my horse farm in New Jersey. 

Adopter Wendy Roy writes:

I have a new love in my life. Her name is Stella.

Being a Glam-Granola girl, I have always believed in rescuing a dog as opposed to the breeder and pet store options -- the whole "Don't breed or buy while homeless animals die" philosophy. 

So when I was ready, I went straight to Petfinder and looked for dogs in my zip code that matched my criteria. Up came my "options," one being a Schnauzer mix named Stella who was 5 years old and blind.

After double checking on some logistics via a few questions to the rescue group, American Lab Rescue in Willington, CT, it was a no-brainer. She was mine to rescue, and I hers.

The New York Post has the story of Rocco, a beagle who was reunited with his family after escaping from his Queens backyard five years ago -- and ending up in Georgia!

The heroes of the story? Randy Durrence, supervisor at Petfinder member Liberty County Animal Control in Hinesville, Ga., who contacted the Villacis family after scanning Rocco's microchip, and Jorge Villacis, who flew 850 miles to Georgia to pick up the dog that his daughter Natalie, 11 (pictured at right with Rocco), had never given up on.

If only every family would go to such lengths to retrieve their lost pets! This story is also a great reminder to keep your pet's microchip up to date. Your vet can scan your pet's chip and you can update your contact info online.

I'm so happy! At long last, I got to the tipping point in my debate about whether or not to adopt a cat and whether to adopt a kitten (or two?) or an adult cat.

This weekend, after much searching on Petfinder, I finally took the plunge and adopted two unrelated kittens. I had been meeting various kittens and cats at adoption fairs and through their foster moms, but there was something totally magical about these two kittens' online photos -- and then, too, my meet and greets with them.

New pet parent Martha writes:

Hello! We recently adopted two terrific mixed breed dogs, Jake and Tycho, and can now, more than ever, appreciate all the wonderful work you do. We have produced a public service announcement video starring Jake and Tycho that we want to share with you.

Thanks Martha!

(You can also check out the video on the Petfinder.com Foundation YouTube channel!)

Here's a Happy Tail from Caroline in Deerfield Beach, Fla.:

I bought a pet-friendly condo and started looking on Petfinder for the perfect dog to adopt -- even though my move-in date was a year away!

I wanted an adult medium-to-large mixed breed and saw a picture of a beautiful Shepherd mix named Ellie. She was found abandoned at just five weeks old.

Her ear was mutilated and her foot was barely attached and needed to be amputated. When I discovered her on Petfinder, she was already about a year old and still waiting for a forever home. She was being fostered by Gulfstream Guardian Angels Rottweiler Rescue in Miami.

The cover story of the New York Times magazine on Sunday was this fascinating article about pets and antidepressants.

The main question: Is it a good thing that we're treating our pets' aggression, obsessive-compulsive behavior and separation anxiety with medication, when in the past those behaviors often led to euthanasia or surrender to shelters?

Or are we using a "magic pill" solution when we should be taking the time to train our pets, not to mention providing them with more natural lifestyles than sitting home alone doing nothing all day?

I don't have an answer. (Full disclosure: My cat has a prescription for Prozac to help with compulsive grooming, but I've never given it to her, since she's not, to put it mildly, easy to medicate.)

What do you think? Have you ever given your pet a psychoative drug, and how did it work out?

If you or someone you know (like the person who pet sits for you) provides a service to pet owners, Petfinder's new Local Services & Supplies Directory is the perfect place to advertise.

Visitors can search by keyword and location, so whether you're a dog trainer in Duluth or a pet photographer in Petaluma, you can grow your client base by advertising to Petfinder's millions of pet-loving visitors.

A listing with your business name, address, phone number, ratings and reviews is free.

You can also upgrade to a basic ($9.90/month), premium ($19.90/month) or showcase ($29.90/month) listing with additional features. But if you sign up with the coupon code pflist40, you'll get 40% off any upgraded listing.

To sign up, go to https://resources.petfinder.com/advertise.php.

Please feel free to cross post this message and please share this discount code with any pet service provider you know!

With all the news about the recent Tennessee puppy mill bust, I remembered the first time I'd ever heard about puppy mills; it was from my friend Andrew Weinstein, a colleague and a dedicated animal welfare activist who used to work as a corporate communications executive at AOL. I asked him to write a post about how he came to care so much about puppy mills. This is his story:

I had actually heard very little about puppy mills until about 10 years ago. My former wife and I had adopted a Rhodesian Ridgeback from a local rescue league here in DC, so we had a good relationship with the woman who ran the local chapter. One afternoon, I got a call from her asking if we might have any interest in adopting a second dog from them.

The dog we were presented with (pictured here) had a tragic story.

I was struck by a recent L.A. Times article about how Last Chance for Animals and Best Friends Animal Society are organizing protests of pet stores that sell puppy-mill puppies in Los Angeles.

What struck me wasn't the news about the protests (to which I say, hooray!), but this sentence about one pet-store manager, Jamie Katz of Pets of Bel Air:

She says Pets of Bel Air is adopting shelter dogs and placing two or three a week for sale out of the store (which is something animal activists encourage pet stores to do).

Huh? I've never heard of animal activists encouraging pet-store owners to adopt and sell shelter pets -- rescue groups that I know of work hard to ensure their adopters plan to make their new pet part of the family.

But let's play devil's advocate.

Renee called yesterday to tell me that the kittens she adopted had taken a sudden and totally unexpected turn for the worse. Smudge, aka Clover, died at the veterinary ER yesterday morning; his brother Smitty, aka Boris, passed away in the afternoon, both victims of feline panleukopenia virus.

I was in tears all day yesterday, and I still get choked up when I look at their pictures. But I don't regret rescuing them. These kittens had short lives, but they spent the end of those lives clean, safe, well-fed, free of fleas and, most importantly, loved. I wonder whether, after fighting for so long, they finally felt that they'd found a safe place where they could let go in peace.

Last night, I left work early-ish and drove to meet one of the kittens I was considering for adoption: Chloe, a bobtailed Manx tabby at Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Arlington, VA.

I got lost seven times trying to negotiate the spaghetti labyrinth of Beltway and feeder highways in Maryland, but finally got to the lovely home of Chloe's foster mom.

Talk about dedication: this woman has three adopted dogs (who were fosters before their new lives as family members), and she's fostering four kittens, including Chloe. 

I told the foster mother I was impressed with her menagerie, and asked her if she often fostered animals. "I've fostered over 100 animals so far," she smiled.

To add to the list of celebrities who support pet adoption: British pop singer Lily Allen posted on her MySpace blog on Monday about her plan to adopt a dog.

She writes:

I'm getting a dog from Battersea dogs home, i found her on the weekend, and after a visit from a rehoming officer hopefully, i'll have her by next week. She's called Honey and she's quite fat (insert dogs like their owners joke here), but very sweet, she's a mongrel.

There were so many Staffordshire Bullies there it was so sad. People should really think about getting puppies from breeders or breeding them for that matter, if you saw all those poor dogs without a home with their sad little faces, you wouldn't even think about buying dogs from people who profit.

Hooray for Lily! A celebrity who saves a life by adopting a pet is a real star in my book!

I mentioned in an earlier post about how wonderful adopters are. Here's a Happy Tail we received recently (it's in the Happy Tail database) that proves what I said and just makes me teary-eyed. It's from Anne at MSPCA Cape Cod.

I used to work In a small animal shelter in Massachusetts. At the height of "kitten season," a woman brought in a severely deformed kitten she had found wandering loose downtown. The kitten, whom I named Molly, had one side of her face very pushed in and was missing one eye.

Despite her ugly face, she was very sweet and outgoing, snuggling into the arms of her rescuer, happy to be inside, warm and fed. No one was sure what had caused her deformity, but the shelter vet believed it happened in utero, perhaps because the mother cat was kicked or physically abused.

I've been a little delinquent about updating you on the kittens I found in a tree last week.

On Saturday, my friend Rachel and I spent the entire morning playing with the boys and taking unbelievably adorable photos of them (after the jump -- Rachel's the talented photographer, not me!).

I also wrote to a number of rescue groups, but they all have kittens coming out of their ears -- it is kitten season, after all, and the little ones are not "flying off the shelves," as one told me.

On a long shot, I sent some of the too-cute photos to my friend Renee, whose beloved cat from Animal Care & Control of NYC passed away a few months ago from a congenital heart defect.

My most-recent addition (and Petfinder alumna!) has not had an easy life. Adopted from Friends of Homeless Animals of Northern NJ, 10-year-old Gretel is missing an eye and part of an ear, is FIV positive and had been shifted through several homes due to unforeseeable tragedies. 

Gretel joined my senior-focused household in March and shares the space with a tabby named Lucy (adopted at the age of 18) and a 13-year-old German Shepherd mix named Dexter (adopted at age 10).

 

While Gretel seemed to fit in seamlessly (she LOVES Dexter), something was brewing underneath. Her blood work kept coming back anemic and finally two ultrasounds determined she had mast cell tumors in her spleen. Shortening a very long story, off we went to see the fine folks at NYC Veterinary Specialists.

One of the most important things a volunteer can do at a shelter is to photograph the pets and write their bios for Petfinder.

At high-intake shelters, a compelling bio and eye-catching photo can literally mean the difference between life and death for a homeless pet.

To that end, photographer Jamie Pflughoeft at Cowbelly Pet Photography in Seattle has posted some excellent tips on her blog. I'm including a sampling but you can read the entire post here.

(PS-This post includes Jamie's photos of Matahari, shown here, and Ebony (who is no longer listed on Petfinder), after the jump, photographed at the Seattle Animal Shelter.

1. Always photograph dogs outside if at all possible. Shoot in shade if it's bright and sunny. Allow them to explore their surroundings for several minutes before diving into your photography. Only start once they have sufficiently explored their immediate area. Keep in mind the disparity between outdoor time and kennel time for these animals. You can't blame them for wanting to explore!

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, recently wrote on his blog that Barack Obama has promised his daughters they can get a dog once the election is over.

Pacelle notes that the American Kennel Club has nominated a number of "hypoallergenic" breeds for the girls -- one of whom reportedly has allergies -- including the bichon frise, poodle, Chinese crested, miniature schnauzer and soft-coated wheaten terrier.

We applaud Pacelle for urging the Obamas to choose adoption, whatever breed they opt for. And, as Pacelle notes, there are plenty of purebreds (such as wheaten terrier Maggie at TAILS Humane Society in DeKalb, IL, pictured here) waiting for loving homes -- in the White House, or any house -- on Petfinder!

We receive hundreds of adoption stories each month, and now you can read them to your heart's content by clicking on "Read More Happy Tails" on our home page. You can play around with searching -- check to see if there are any pets with the same name as your pet, for example. Or if you have submitted a story, you can find it by your name, your pet's name, your city or another keyword. Reading the stories will make you feel really good about the wonderful folks who adopt pets. And the photos are great!

Here's a touching Happy Tail we received from Kat Wamba of Federal Way, WA:

When our Chihuahua Sigurd passed away in the fall of 2007, everyone, including our remaining dog, Tika, was sad. I didn't want to rush into getting another pet, but after six months our yard seemed too big for one dog, and Tika still seemed lonely.

However, Tika was always shy with other dogs, and I knew that we would have to think carefully before adopting a new one. Enter Petfinder. We scrolled through dog after worthy dog, knowing that Tika would be terrified of most of them.

And then -- we saw Abena from The Big Dog Project in Silverdale, WA. Three years old and shy, she had been living in a park in Taiwan when she was tricked into eating a firecracker. She was found by a wonderful woman who brought her to the vet's office, where they reconstructed her muzzle and eye socket, before transporting her to the States through The Big Dog Project.

We knew, we just KNEW, that we had to meet her. She's been with us for almost two months now. Still shy with strangers, she follows me everywhere and lets my son spoil her with treats. She runs and plays shyly with Tika, and they both curl up at my feet as I work. Our yard seems less empty when Abena (which means "beautiful" in Gaelic) is in it. Tika is happy to have a friend. And we are grateful to have the opportunity to be with such a loving and forgiving soul.

 

Bay Area pit bull group BAD RAP pointed out this great article and audio slideshow in the Washington Post about the Michael Vick dogs in their new homes. It's a great antidote to the recent news about the sad death of female Vick dog 7.

I took the kittens to the vet Thursday night. She  weighed them (1.7 lbs. each), dewormed them and gave me ointment for Smudge's conjunctivitis. They were basically healthy but COVERED with fleas.

We took them home and washed them in the tub with a diluted dishsoap solution, then picked their fleas off one by one with tweezers. The kittens did NOT enjoy this process, but it was quite satisfying to rinse the little bloodsuckers down the drain. Yuck.

On Friday the kittens look much, much better -- white, not gray, and clean and fluffy. They also have noticeably more energy, and I let them out of their cage to explore the office and play. Whereas they had hissed at me on Thursday, they now let me pick them up and purr when I cuddle them. Unfortunately, my cat Molly has realized they're here and is hiding under the bed, on an apparent hunger strike.

Previous entry:

A kitten rescue adventure

Happy 4th of July! This Independence Day, you can do a good deed by telling someone you know that their ideas about pit bulls are all wrong -- and that these loving, loyal, happy dogs were once considered symbols of all-American values.

(You can find more information on this Web site, which also has a great gallery of vintage pit bull photos and prints, including the World War I-era poster at right, and in our breed directory.) 

This holiday weekend comes on the heels of some sad news about one pit bull: A female pit named 7, one of the dogs seized from Michael Vick's property, died recently after being hit by a car (read the press release from All or Nothing Pit Bull Rescue in Atlanta, which had been caring for 7).

But dogs' lives are not defined by their final moments, and I'm glad to know that 7 got to experience love and happiness for some portion of her life.

I know we have all been missing our baby bunny fix now that they no longer live in Kim's yard, but today I found something that might help fill the void.

While I was watering my hanging geranium plants this morning I found the most perfect, round bird's nest with three tiny eggs in it. I am hoping they hatch and we can watch them grow up!!

This morning when my husband and I headed to Prospect Park with our dog for our morning walk, we immediately saw an unusual sight: Two tiny, snow-white kittens clinging to a tree.

Another man stopped at the same time and mentioned that he had a carrier at his house across the street. He left to get it and I shooed away the dog walkers who had gathered to watch -- including my husband!

Then one of the kittens started to slip down to where I could reach him. I gently plucked him off the tree, trying not to hold him too tight -- big mistake! He wriggled out of my arms and skittered under a bush. Great -- now I had to keep an eye on kittens in two separate places until the man returned with his carrier.

Barely six months ago, the Humane Society of the United States released an undercover video of "downer" cows, those who are unable to stand or walk, being abused by slaughterhouse workers.

And last week, the HSUS released yet another undercover video of horrific abuse. (A warning: the video is tremendously upsetting and sickening.)

I watched the whole video. I forced myself to watch it because being ignorant of something doesn't let me off the hook, doesn't put my mind at ease. What I saw made me cry, and made me sick to my stomach. It also made me take action immediately (again), joining with the HSUS to call my representatives in Congress, to demand not just punishment of the workers involved, and the slaughterhouse that permitted such cruelty to happen.

A Happy Tail from Patti Hill of Secane, PA:

My adopted Border Collie of 14 years died in April. To say I was forlorn is an understatement. I am 49 years old, live alone with no partner or children. The empty space was devastating. After researching many avenues, I found Jess, another border collie, on your Web site.

She had been transported by seven cars, getting here from West Virginia. After being approved for the adoption, I drove three and a half hours to meet this shy but stunning girl. After committing to adopting her we are now having the time of our lives. She is happy, happy girl, which makes two of us.

Now, once again my life feels full, and I look forward to the years ahead with a new sense of purpose and joy. Petfinder is easy to use and a highly effective tool in finding the right pet that's perfect for anyone looking. All my gratitude to Petfinder, the rescues, volunteers and all the people who touch the lives of these pets getting them to safe, happy homes.

Jess was adopted from NJ Puppy Rescue.

The amazing photographer and travel writer Lorraine Chittock blogs about her travels across South America with her two dogs at On a Mission from Dog.

She also sends out regular e-mail updates about her adventures, and recently reported on some positive news for street dogs in Chile:

I'm now in the north of Chile, camping by the Pacific Ocean. It's glorious. It's also a refreshing change to be amongst the Chilean people, who I found friendly when I flew here almost two years ago for a writing conference. They have not changed. What's interesting is their relationship with their dogs. At the first gas station I came to, there were six street dogs, all very friendly. In other countries, they've largely been scared. One man said to me, "We have a saying. Sometimes a better friend for a man, is a dog."

This was made by one of the folks I do rescue transport with. This frame of mind is what keeps so many of us going. Have to warn you, it's a tear jerker, but I am so happy she did this.

I have a transport to do tomorrow and I couldn't be happier that I am involved. Well, I could be -- if no one needed to be pulled from these shelters. But for now, I am happy to help.

This past weekend, I got closer to adopting living, breathing creatures, bringing them into my fairly sedate and austere life.

I had searched Petfinder for weeks and had found two kittens I thought would be fun to share my life and apartment with: Hope (right) and Jesse (below). They were both being fostered by Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, Inc. in Arlington, VA, where I now live.

Why them? I don't exactly know except that I had had a cat named Sooty when I was growing up and she was a tabby like Hope and Jesse.

And there was something about the faces of the two kittens, angular and small, with big ears and almond-shaped eyes. It seems totally insane to "pick" an animal based on their color and the shape of their eyes, but that's what I did. (I knew I would meet them in person before anything was final, so doing a pre-sort was not only practical but also efficient.)

I was looking for the fairy-tale ending for the nest of baby bunnies in my yard. I worked hard, walking the dogs on leashes so as to leave the yard a bunny-safe zone.

Momma Bunny was supposed to come back and care for the brood until they were old enough to hop away and live happily ever after. But as we all know, in real life, sometimes your prince doesn't come -- and as it turns out, sometimes neither does Momma Bunny.

When I last posted, I had checked in with the experts, wildlife rehabilitators, who are trained and experienced in dealing with many wildlife issues, including the inevitable bunny-nest in the yard. They explained that sometimes Mom slips in at dusk or dawn and you may not be able to tell she was there. Don't panic, they said! I strategically placed very light twigs in a crossed pattern over the nest the next evening, hopeful that Mom would show and my fairy-tale would be preserved. Sadly, the next morning, all was exactly how I'd left it.

With summer here, I begin to hear the call of the wild. I used to love hiking with my dogs (that's my Lab-Shepherd mix, Annie, pictured) -- but when I first began traveling with them, I was surprised to learn how many national parks, wilderness areas, and campgrounds were dog unfriendly. It didn't seem democratic ... or American to keep dogs out of the wilderness!

I did some research about camping with dogs and here's what I found:

Not all national parks welcome dogs. The National Park Service has a great interactive map where you can search for parks by state and check out their pet policies. (When you find a park, click "Plan Your Visit," then "Things to Know Before You Come.")