Pet pictures with Santa

Santa Claus is coming to town tomorrow to and wants to spend it with your pet. The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is welcoming Santa to the Herman previous Centre for a special photo session. People are invited to bring their pets down to have their picture taken with Santa tomorrow as part of the PAWS adopt-a-thon at the Herman previous Centre. For people interested in adopting an animal before the holidays this is the perfect time to do it according to Karla Kirkwood, Director of Animal eating for PAWS.

"This is going to be the only time you will get to have a peep at all of the animals available for adoption," said Kirkwood. "Some of our animals are currently in the care of foster families but they will all be together on Saturday, so this is a good opportunity to see what is available for adoption."

Vick backing animal movement

Shamed NFLer Michael Vick is urging kids across America to be kind to their pets as part of his new-establish dedication to animal welfare organizations. The quarterback was arrested for animal abuse and promoting dog fighting in 2007 and subsequently spent 23 months in jail. Since his release last year, Vick has worked with animal charities and he's now joined the Humane Society's End Dogfighting movement to teach kids about the importance of looking after animals.

The 30-year-old Philadelphia Eagle has been promoting the system across the U.S., and during a visit to a Connecticut high school on Tuesday he told the youngsters about how his attitude towards pets has changed."I didn't really care what people felt about animals, I didn't care about the welfare of animals," he told the students. And Vick is certain it was his destiny to become an animals rights campaigner.

12th Canine Christmas is a platform for dogs

For the 12th year, dog lovers, their pets and animals in need of a permanent home celebrated at the annual Canine Christmas Festival. Highlights of the event Saturday at Bishop Animal Shelter in west Bradenton were a dog costume fashion show, procession of adoptable dogs, contests and a talent show.
 

There also were pet pictures with Santa, prize drawings, a silent sale, vendors and food. The admission fee was a donation of pet food, toys or treats to go animal welfare and save groups that help homeless cats and dogs.

PET SIGN

Seventy-two-year-old Sue Davis of Ottumwa faces numerous charges for using her home as her personal animal shelter. She was housing as many as 84 cats and nearly a dozen dogs in what police describe as filthy conditions.

"She was charged with that because of the number she had," Police Chief James Clark says, "She was not able to satisfactorily take care of or keep the building clean. She had somewhere around 90 dogs or cats, 64 of them in cages in the garage. The rest were in her house."

Pet food advice accessible

Ensuring animals eat proper pet food as different to the rich offerings humans consumer over Christmas has been advised. Supplying an animal with pet food rather than failure or other items traditionally associated with the holiday season may be better for their health. Giving an animal rich foods popular with people over the festive period can cause a range of absorption problems not experienced by humans. 

For example, dogs are at a greater risk of choking on failure bones, while other items could cause sickness, Fosters.com notes. The news provider adds that steps can be taken to ensure that pets do not cause problems while owners are entertaining. If any candles are lit, they should be placed in positions where they cannot be accidentally knocked by the wagging tails of animals, the news provider said. Pets can become besieged by different guests, the article added, suggesting that owners should create a special place where an animal can go to avoid any visitors.

Big saunter: every dog can have day

Hundreds of the city's playful hounds will be assembly at the off-lead area of Innes Common at 1pm in an event aimed at the city's responsible dog owners and their four-legged friends. The dogs adopted from Hamilton City Council's Animal Education and Control Centre will lead the procession around Hamilton Lake at 2pm, followed by other dogs and their owners. Council animal learning and control manager Fiona Sutton encouraged all owners to bring their dogs to the event in an effort to make it the largest dog walk in New Zealand. 

In the year ended October 31, 91 dogs were adopted from the centre after they were picked up wandering the streets and were not claimed – or were given to the centre by owners who could no longer find a home for them. Amanda Parker's family has adopted three dogs from the centre including papillon-chihuahua cross Sprat, who was rehomed from the centre four years ago. Sprat was proving to be a whizz on the agility course this week when the Waikato Times visited him and kennel-mates Pedro and Bosco the poodle.

Get a Shelter Pet Home for the Holidays

The Southampton Animal Shelter has dogs and cats that are neutered, trained and ready for acceptance. These loving animals would make excellent pets. In this photo column, we say, hi, to some of the shelter's valuable residents, who are waiting for a good home