Many shelters/rescues shut their doors during the holidays- fearful people will “impulse” shop for animals.

BUT- this is the time when most “Puppy stores and backyard breeders” do the most business which means people are going to get their animals from somewhere!  Why not promote adoption? 

When surveyed about why people don’t go to a shelter or rescue there are two common reasons most given:

1. It makes me sad to go to a shelter knowing the animals I don’t take could (and will) be killed. It’s a depressing place.

2. The interview process is worse than trying to adopt a child!

This must change!

Mike said, “The public can be trusted! Give them credit and keep your doors open! Make adoption a fun and loving experience, inviting and happy.  Not the Spanish Inquisition!

Last year 17 million people looked to adopt animals but if your doors are closed where are they going to go? Close to 5 million animals will be killed this year in shelters in the US alone- but wait- if 17 million people want to adopt why is that happening?  With stats like this we are doing a poor job of getting animals into their Forever Homes!

Pet stores and backyard breeders are in the retail business and “sell” thousands of animals every year! Guess what? Rescues and shelters are also in the retail business but often look at themselves differently and let emotions run the show.  This must change, not for us but for the animals!

Mike gave us some great tips for successful holiday adoptions.

Here are just a few:

Stop thinking: “what’s wrong with this person” when you interview them.  Be happy they are looking to adopt and not shop.

Remember what you are trying to do- Get pets into loving homes!

You aren’t screening families- you are “matching”

Be a match maker based on personality and lifestyle- not appearance (of person or pet)

Mike helped start the Iams Homes for the Holidays program and every year hundreds of thousands of animals find Forever Homes because of this! Their goal this year is to find Forever Homes for 1.5 million animals and I bet they will do it!  Visit and become part of the program at http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-adoption.html?gclid=COGK8N2jl54CFQhV2god0UGBlw

Promote adoption this holiday season- let’s get the almost 5 million dogs and cats off death row and into Forever Homes!

Please spread the word, education and awareness is the key!

Thanks for reading! Remember- We do this for them!

Happy 25th b'day Best Friends!

Every once in a while you experience a moment in life when you’re so connected to the people around you and the environment you are in that it is then you realize you are living a purposeful life – the life you were meant to lead. A moment such as this happened to me this past weekend while attending the No More Homeless Pets Conference, hosted by Best Friends Animal Society. If you have never heard of this wonderful organization- celebrating it’s 25th year of saving animals, you must visit their website and at some point in your lifetime you need to spend time at the sanctuary in Kenab, Utah.  If you have ever watched Dogtown on National Geographic- that  is Best Friends! Many people came to know them after that cruel Michael Vick was convicted of unspeakable acts against  40+ precious dogs.  BF had the privilege of taking over 20 of the survivors to their sanctuary to give them the love and healing time they needed after such abuse.  Getting an update on all the wonderful success stories of the Vicktory dogs made my weekend!- a few have become therapy dogs and some are adopted into loving Forever Homes! The rest are enjoying happy days at BFAS.

This is the second year I have attended the 3 day conference in Las Vegas and to be surrounded by over 650 like minded animal advocates left me so full of emotion that I found myself crying throughout the entire event!

The founder’s of the group including Francis Battista, Faith Maloney, Samantha Robson and Gregory and Julie Castle were fabulous hosts, not to mention the dozens of volunteers keeping us in check!  Our mornings started at 8am but no one complained- sitting in a conference room at 8am in Vegas???

Going alone made it hard for me to pick just the right workshops.  I quickly made friends attending other classes so we could share notes.

Wow! Is all I can say about the high quality information presented in every session- my hand ached from taking so

One of many invaluable Panel Discussions

 many notes! Not only did we get tons of useful info from the many classes but also at every keynote presentation of panel speakers.

Topics included: Adoption policies, TNR (trap-neuter-return) for community cats, saving America’s dog- the Pit Bull Terrier from breed discrimination, First home-Forever home, and putting an end once and for all to puppy mills!

The tweet up was great! (have you been to one yet?)

Yappy Hour - Great Networking!

The Yappy Hour was awesome!

But best of all was the networking, I made so many friends- from California to Canada, Australia to Alabama and everywhere in between.  It was so inspiring to hear what people are doing in their communities to help animals in need.

Over the next few weeks I will share with you specific content learned at this conference. In the meantime I

 would highly recommend you join Best Friends Animal Society, become a network member, a Guardian Angel- anything!  Just do it!  Their website is filled with invaluable material that you can use in your communities, schools and neighborhood!

Together, let’s create a world with No More Homeless Pets!

No More Homeless Pets

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Some of the over 50 guests at our kick-off

Thanks to the 50+ people and quite a few pets who joined MarrVelous Pet Rescues tonight for what turned out to be a fun time for all!  Our Woofstock kick off party was filled with fun, food, and fur!  A special thank you to Snapper’s Restaurant for hosting us and our canines.  So here is what went down for anyone unable to make it:

• Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the development of Woofstock, A Day of Peace, Paws & Music please contact me. This ICE sponsored event will be March 6, 2010 from 11am to 9pm at Founder’s Park in Islamorada.  Proceeds to benefit Marrvelous Pet Rescues.
• We have fabulous vendor and sponsorship opportunities and by the great turn out tonight I can only imagine what the big day will bring!
• If you or anyone you know wants to have a booth or be a sponsor I can email packages anytime. It is going to be a huge event profitable for vendors and wonderful media exposure for sponsors.
• Committees were formed tonight and there are a few spots left for those of you wanting to help us with any of these very important groups.  Within the next couple weeks I will schedule them to meet.  We have 6 and they are as follows:
  • Sponsorship
  • Vendor
  • Marketing/Advertising
  • Logistics
  • Events
  • Merchandise
    • Not sure which one to be on?  Contact me for details.
• A Facebook Fan page has been formed- become a fan now: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Woofstock-A-Day-of-Peace-Paws-Music/167724232360
• Local Rescues, Shelters and non-profit animal organizations are invited to take part in Woofstock.  They will be contacted soon.
• Bark out for VIP’s- if you know anyone that might make a real headliner- either an actor, animal advocate, musician, all or none of the above- please shoot me an email.  Invitations are being sent out in the next week to many who would make great additions to an already great event!
• Please feel free to share this info with anyone you think interested in taking part in Woofstock.

Presenting to the guests at the Woofstock Kick off party

A special bark-out to all the MarrVelous Pet Rescues- volunteers who helped with our evening, THANKS!

Once again, thanks to everyone who attended and helped tonight- you are awesome and because of your dedication, Woofstock will be too!

What an absolutely pawtastic night!

Michele Beach

Event Coordinator

Michele@MarrVelousPetRescues.org

Click here to read all about it!

Mexico: From Trash to Treasure

Don’t forget to subscribe to my site- receive notice everytime we post a new happy news animal story!

In five days my manuscript and book proposal will be submitted to Hay House Publishing.  What was just a dream for me over twenty years ago- to be an author, to promote humane education, to be an animal advocate- to do it all— is finally happening!

Lying next to me as I type this is my puppy, Hooper.  Taking his mid-afternoon nap he is dreaming.  You know those puppy dreams.  Feet are flicking back and forth, eyes fluttering, nose bouncing up and down, and with this one he’s even growling a bit.  I can only imagine- is he chasing a squirrel again?  Maybe another lizard.

I smile as I realize it has been almost a year since I adopted him from the Key Largo Animal Shelter.  Wow, a year! Hooper has been with me on the last leg of my journey to get the first book in my Animal Angels series to life.  Does he even understand why I’ve spent so many long nights in front of the computer while he snuggled in my bed? Maybe, maybe not.

Dreaming Puppy

But I do.  I write for him.  I write for all of them- every animal that has suffered and endured cruelties no creature deserves.  

I write to edutain and inspire- to create a generation of animal advocates, one tween at a time!

Five days!

Woofstock Kick-Off Party

Wednesday, October 14

5:30pm-7:30pm

Snapper’s Restaurant

If you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring, or being a vendor at Woofstock 2010 Please join us for this informational get-together!

Questions?

Contact Michele Beach Michele@MarrvelousPetRescues.org or 305.619.1354

Woofstock

March 6, 2010

Founder’s Park, Islamorada, Village of Islands

An ICE Sponsored Event

Join us for a Musical Mutt Mingle

 Music, Animal Adoption Village, Food, Vendors, Contests, Demonstrations

WOOFSTOCK Merchandise, and much, much, more!

ALL Local Rescues and Shelters are invited to be part of the Animal Adoption Village!

Thanks to lots of mediation, and Hemi-Syncs at bed time, amazing ideas have run through my fingers and onto my keyboard. 

My editor now has my baby in her hands again.   So tonight I sit in front of my laptop and breathe.  Life is as it should be!

~Margaret Mead

I am reminded of this quote from time to time after stepping into a new group endeavor.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a board meeting for Marrvelous Pet Rescue, a local non-profit organization here in the Florida Keys.  I was asked to attend because I am going to coordinate for them WoofStock 2010, a mega day of howling good fun!  But more on that in another post.  Today I wanted to share with you my experience with Marrvelous.  

Dusty & Dexter

This fabulous group of volunteers spends countless hours fostering, loving, and finding forever homes for our furry friends.  Being an animal advocate myself I was immediately drawn to their dedication to animals and volunteered to support their noble efforts.  My first role was foster mom for pups Dusty & Dexter.  I love having them in my life.  My face was sore at the end of each day from the constant smiling.  They were adopted in two weeks!  I cried the day they went to their forever homes, my tears a mixture of joy and sadness.  Not sadness because they were leaving me, on the contrary the fact they were going home elated me.

My sad tears streamed for the animals stuck in shelters in the United States that never go home- 4 million every year! 

What is going on here people?  I want to bark it from the rooftops! 

Why are we allowing these precious creatures to be destroyed? 

Who are we to decide that fate for them?

 If not for groups like Marrvelous Pet Rescue, those outrageous numbers would be even higher.  This tragedy must be stopped- we are better than this! 

Okay, back to the board meeting.  Lady, a long haired, short legged, absolutely adorable muttigree, was found darting in and out of traffic on a very busy road.  Now safe and being fostered by a Marrvelous board member Lady attended our meeting.  I, actually we, enjoyed her antics, sitting on laps, playing with her toy, barking to get at a chicken wing (don’t worry she didn’t get it!).  Throughout the board meeting, Lady, reminded us why were there.  For her and the others needing homes.

One of many great things I learned at the board meeting is how desperate the group is to find volunteers to answer the abundant phone calls from prospective pet parents.  Might sound trivial but so vital in starting the relationship with a new family.  A volunteer to simply answer phone calls- and they can get the calls forwarded directly to them, could it be any easier?  It warmed my heart to hear they get that many calls.

After working at various jobs all day, one small group of eleven came together for one reason:

To make a difference in the lives of animals.

So today I ask you to stand up for our fellow animals.  Say, “enough is enough! I am going to make a difference on this planet and become part of the solution.”

Now you are probably asking yourself- how?

What can I, one person, do? 

To that I say PLENTY!

Find a shelter or rescue group in your area and volunteer- somehow. 

See what they need and simply bring it to them

Spread the word about them- tell everyone, send out emails, post of FB, tweet!

Donate money

Foster

ADOPT!!

There are so many ways to help.  Come back to visit my site as I share with you my ideas.  In the meantime, take that first baby step, I did!  You won’t regret it, I promise.

p.s. Be sure to visit Marrvelous Pet Rescue online

Island Animals Adore Una Mujer!

Making a difference one animal at a time

by: Michele Beach, Best Friends Network Volunteer and International Coordinator for Latin America and Caribbean

Alison and Fox, he found a forever home in Denver, CO

Alison Current is una mujer (one woman) making a difference. In 2001, she and her husband, Jeff, relocated to Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. Soon after settling into their custom built home in the old fishing village, Alison realized that Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) was overrun with homeless animals. The island, with its sandy white beach, is a popular vacation spot. Unfortunately, packs of wild dogs roamed the beach, threatening tourists. Cruel exterminations of these homeless dogs were common and Alison realized something needed to be done.

“Amigos de los Animales was started in 2000 by Molly Fisher (who now runs PEACE in Puerto Villarta) and Genevieve Pritchard who is still on Isla Mujeres but doing other work. I originally worked with them until they both left the island in 2003 and then I turned it into Isla Animals,” reported Current.

Isla Animals’ five-tiered mission is to: provide free spay/neuter clinics to help control the animal population, provide free or reduced-cost veterinary services and vaccinations, offer animal foster care and promote adoptions in Mexico, USA and Canada, educate pet owners about humane animal treatment, care and responsibility, and do it all in the most humane, compassionate way possible.

Wow! This group is succeeding in all five areas. Alison, now lovingly referred to as the Dog Lady, in collaboration with veterinarian Pepe Vega, and island volunteers, are improving the lives of the dogs and cats living on Isla Mujeres.

In 5 years nearly 2000 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered.
Over 1,500 animals have been adopted worldwide.
Isla Animals collaborates with six rescue groups around the world. These include: www.petprojectrescue.com in Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.uptownvetsnyc.org and www.ny.petrescue.org in New York, www.candiinternational.org in British Columbia, Canada, Alex West CVT in Denver, Colorado, a group of animal advocates in Tampa Florida, and www.dobierescue.org in Fillmore, California.

Island residents can now been seen walking their healthy pets with donated leashes and collars. School children are given coloring book showing them how to take care of their pets.

This family lives at the dump and helps Alison aid "dumped" dogs.

Their tireless efforts are paying off and no good deed goes unnoticed. Current was honored with the 2005 Doris Day Animal Kindred Spirit Award and she has been consulted by Mexico City animal rescue organizations about animal overpopulation in the country. PEOPLE magazine recently recognized the group and Alison’s success with a wonderful online article (https://www.peoplepets.com/news/hero/meet-a-member-isla-animals-is-saving-mutts-in-mexico/1).

Isla Animals relies on donations. Alison has written a book available for purchase on Amazon titled No Urn for the Ashes. Much of the money earned will be spent on keeping Isla Animals operating.

For more information about Current’s organization, go to http://www.islaanimals.org/ or contact Alison directly at bayfirestd@aol.com