Ready, Set, Go Adopt: October Is Adopt A Dog Month

We wanted to give everyone in Happy Dog Land time to gear up: The American Humane Association has designated October as "Adopt A Dog Month."

American Humane is asking everyone to be a superhero and find a "faithful companion" to share life's adventures at a local shelter or a breed rescue group. Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com are good resources too. If you can't adopt a new furry friend, then spread the word about adoption. American Humane has compiled a handy tip list to show you how.

So many dogs need homes right now due to poor economic conditions. In fact, many shelters have a plethora of purebred pooches. Over the weekend, we groomed dogs at Chicago Animal Care and Control. Among the pooches we made over were a Poodle, a beautiful black Lab and a Polish Lowland Sheepdog.

Jill adopted Shadow, a purebred Miniature Poodle from Small Dog Adoption in Plantation, Florida. Billy's dogs Zeke, A Portuguese Water Dog, and Arthur, a Cocker Spaniel, were re-homed from breeders. Our first two Show Us Your Happy Dog Contest winners, Chubee and Samuel were adopted from local shelters. There are so many ways to be a superhero to a homeless pet!

So, grab your cape and tights and go adopt!

Kids And Dogs: A Natural Pair

To us, children and dogs are a natural fit. We both grew up surrounded by pets and learned early on about the joys, friendship and love they bring. The American Humane Association, the only national organization dedicated to protecting children and animals, has a plethora of information of its website about the human-animal bond.

Kids who grow up with dogs and pets learn empathy, responsibility and respect for nature. For many of us, helping care for the family dog is our first experience with chores and leaning to take care of others. A child who nurtures a dog, also learns to appreciate, not fear animals and nature and takes these important lessons into adulthood. In addition, your child will have a natural exercise partner. Having Sally and Tom running around and playing with a dog sure beats having them watch TV and gorge on junk food!

Moreover, kids who grow up with pets may have stronger immune systems and may be less likely to develop allergies, asthma and other problems. Here's another relevant article.

If you can't have a dog or cat, don't fret. Get creative and figure out ways to expose the kids in your life to animals. Although not as cuddly as a dog (or even a cat), a fish is a fine introduction to animals. Alternatively, take your kids to visit homes with pets and talk about the importance of respecting nature and being kind to animals.

Visit the dog park or stop someone walking a dog and ask if your child can pet the pooch. (Be sure to verify that the dog is child-friendly and teach the child to allow the dog to smell his/her hand before petting.) Read books about animals and watch movies staring our four-legged friends. Many animal welfare organizations have websites and educational programs specifically for kids, such as the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society also has a site specifically aimed at teens.

Ask at a local shelter or animal rescue about programs for kids. Some may allow you to bring an older child along to walk dogs or volunteer in the shelter. A group of kids in Chicago have raised over $19,000 for animal shelters selling homemade jewelry and crafts. Many of these kids have dogs or other pets and some do not. But, all of them have learned that it feels good to help animals.

All this exposure to animals is a good thing. And who knows, your son or daughter may become a veterinarian or a top pet stylist or even write a particularly interesting, informative and well-written must-have future best seller about caring for a dog's body, mind and spirit.

Photo of Ian and Arthur by Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs

The American Humane Association: An Organization You Should Know

We are so excited to be partnering with the American Humane Association to help improve the care and well-being of dogs and the relationship between people and their pets. When you buy Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog's Body, Mind and Spirit though our website, Barker and Meowsky will donate $1 per book to American Humane.

American Humane is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Its mission is to create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals. To that end, American Humane advocates for legislation to protect children and animals, raises public awareness, develops and provides training programs to child- and animal-welfare professionals and community members, and performs direct services, such as animal emergency services and animal-assisted therapy.

For decades, American Humane has celebrated and promoted the special bond between people and animals, including establishing the annual observance of Be Kind to Animals Week^® in 1915. American Humane helps people care for their dogs (and other pets) and spreads a message of compassion.

Headquartered in Denver, American Humane raises awareness about The Link^® between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane’s office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”^® end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington, D.C. is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. In addition, the American Humane^® Certified farm animal program is the nation’s original independent certification and labeling program for humanely raised food.

Check out American Humane's website, there's so much to see and learn!

Be Kind to Animals Week

From May 3 to 9, it's American Humane's Be Kind to Animals Week. This yearly celebration of the role animals play in our lives has been a tradition since 1915.

Through Be Kind to Animals Week, American Humane promotes the human-animal bond and encourages humane treatment of animals. Many of the events teach children how to treat animals with respect and care. Last year, Jill's son Ian won the Kind Kid award in the 6-12 year old category for his craft business, which has raised over $18,000 for animal shelters. Read about this year's Kind Kids here.

Whether you're 5 or 105, everyone can help animals. Check out these ideas on how to be kind to animals and then visit American Humane's website for more information.

• Speak out for animals. Tell family, friends, strangers and law makers that it's important to take care of our furry friends.
• Report animal abuse. Often the presence of abused animals indicates other forms of abuse like domestic violence.
• Help dogs in need. Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue or volunteer your time or donate money.
• Appreciate wildlife. Learn how protecting the environment helps all critters.
• Take good care of your pets, which of course means more than providing food, shelter and grooming. Show your pooch how much you love him by tending to his body, mind and spirit.

Now, treat your pooch to a little extra TLC today in honor of Be Kind to Animals Week.

Nominate a Kind Kid for Be Kind to Animals Week

The American Humane Association has been celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week since 1915. The annual event "commemorate(s) the role animals play in our lives, promote(s) ways to continue to treat them humanely, and encourage(s) others, especially children, to do the same."

As part of the festivities, American Humane recognizes a kid and a teen who has demonstarted extraordinary kindness to animals. Last year, Jill's son Ian won for his work with Ian's Bead Company, which has raised $18,000 for Chicago animal shelters.

Find out how to nominate a kid or teen here. Nominations must be postmarked by April 15, 2009.

They've Got Benji's Back

Did you ever wonder who is behind the "no animals were harmed in the making of this film" statement that pops up on the screen at the end of a movie? American Humane, a national non-profit organization that advocates for children and animals, that's who. American Humane’s Film & Television Unit supervises the use of animals on movie sets in Hollywood and around the world.  American Humane also monitors television shows, commercials and student films. 

American Humane's Certified Animal Safety Representatives observe the animal actors and monitor their safety according to strict guidelines. The Film and TV unit then rates the movie based on what they observed.  

Before you buy a movie ticket, search the film by name and check to see whether it earned an outstanding, acceptable or unacceptable rating.  Look here for recently released movies. Click here to search the archives for older releases.