ASPCA Rescues 96 Dogs From MS Puppy Mill

On February 7th, the ASPCA Adoption Center in Manhattan welcomed 34 of the 96 dogs rescued from a Mississippi puppy mill. The animals were small-breed dogs, including Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Dachsunds, Pugs, Corgis, and Shih Tzus. (Other shelters and organizations took in the remaining animals.)

If people want to buy pets from pet stores, they should be well aware that this is the type of place is where their dog is coming from—and that they're supporting commercial breeding operations. If you're interested in one of these animals, many of them will soon be ready for adoption at the ASPCA.

To read more about the dogs, click here.

Service Dogs at Westminster

Dozens of service and therapy dogs are competing at next week's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, and today's New York Post had a story about one of them. Zorro, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, helps his owner/handler Sara Donadei-Blood by providing balance and an extra set of "hands."

Zorro (with Donadei-Blood) is both a show dog and personal aide. Credit: Bobby Martinez/NY Post

Donadei-Blood was born with a rare deformity that only allows her to bend 90 degrees, so Zorro helps her retrieve everything from her purse to her medication. According to the Post, "sometimes, when he's bored, he even brings her things she doesn't need." Annoying? Maybe. Adorable? Totally.

Belgian Malinois—which look quite similar to German Shepherds—are often used in police and homeland security work. To learn more about the breed, visit the American Kennel Club website here.

To read the full New York Post story, click here.

Donating to Help Animals in Haiti

One of my favorite organizations, Best Friends Animal Society, is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH). This means that they're working to provide food, water, rabies vaccinations, safety and more for animals in the aftermath of the earthquake. They have already donated $25,000 to the cause and are working to raise more funds.

According to Best Friends, "ARCH will identify options for a wide-ranging, long-term plan that includes options for veterinary care, a large-scale vaccination program and services for animal population control."

To read more about their initiative, click here.

To donate, click here.

Westminster: This February 15-16 in NYC!

If you've never been to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, I'd definitely recommend it. You get to see so many unique breeds, and it's just a really fun experience. (And let's be honest, there's even some Best in Show-type weirdness going on behind the scenes, so that's fun to see, too.)

Last year's winner, a Sussex Spaniel named Stump

To get an idea what you can see on each day, here's the breakdown: All Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding breeds and varieties will be judged on Monday, with groups judged on Monday night. All Sporting, Working, and Terrier breeds and varieties will be judged on Tuesday, with groups judged on Tuesday night. Best In Show will also be judged on Tuesday night.

Tickets range from $40-$130. For more information, the schedule, and tickets, go to the Westminster site here: http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/. 

ASPCA Lists Top Ten Pet Poisons of 2009

The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center handles thousands of calls every year from pet owners concerned that their animal has ingested something harmful. In 2009, they received more than 140,000 calls about pets exposed to toxic substances, and they took the liberty of compiling a list of the most common. I've listed them—with examples—below.

Azaleas may look pretty, but they can be poisonous to dogs.

1. Human Medications (e.g. painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants, and dietary supplements)
2. Insecticides (those used around the home as well as misused flea and tick products)
3. People Food (grapes/raisins, avocado, chocolate, and things containing xylitol, like gum)
4. Plants (azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe, and schefflera, to name a few)
5. Veterinary Medications
6. Rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons)
7. Household Cleaners (bleaches, detergents, and disinfectants)
8. Heavy Metals (lead, zinc, and mercury in the form of paint chips, linoleum, lead dust, etc.)
9. Garden Products (fertilizer)
10. Chemical Hazards (antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners, and pool/spa cleaners)

To read the ASPCA's entire list, including details, click here. And of course, it may be a good idea to keep the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number on hand somewhere that's easily accessible: 888-426-4435. I've called them before and they were extraordinarily helpful.