Kind-o-Ween

As cute as our pets can be in their little Yoda outfits and Joe the Plumber masks, please remember that Halloween can be an incredibly stressful time for animals. Here are 10 things from the ASPCA to keep in mind for ensuring a kinder, safer day for your little pumpkins. 

Care About Care2

After having recently signed a petition trying desperately to stop the arial wolf hunting that still goes on in Alaska today, I started receiving emails from an organization called Care2, which turns out to be a fantastic site. Think of it as your online community of people who care - care about healthier, kinder living; about protecting our environment and our animals at home and in the wild; about each other. There are thousands of petitions you can sign and as many tips on how to get started on more caring living. Click here to get started yourself. And don't forget to read about how Care2's President & CEO, Randy Paynter, got started. It's an inspiring story in that we can all find our way to make a difference.

The Whaleman Foundation

The Whaleman Foundation is an oceanic research, conservation and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales and their ocean habitat. For information about how you can help save whales and dolphins from all kinds of harm, including whaling in Japan, Norway and Iceland, as well as the devastating effects of noise pollution, please click here.

More on EBay and Ivory

For a little more context, here's the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle's take on EBay's admirable and it's-about-time decision.

Ebay and Ivory

Thanks to conservationists unwilling to relent, EBay will ban the sale of all ivory products, beginning with elephant ivory starting January 1st, 2009. 

Operation Baghdad Pups

This truly admirable mission began on September 11, 2007, when a plea from a U.S. soldier in Iraq to take his adopted Iraqi dog, Charlie, home with him to the United States became public. It was soon clear that more than a few soldiers were finding meaning and comfort in the abandoned dogs of this war-torn country. Unfortunately, the removal and transport of animals from a war zone are pricey and complex, but lucky for everyone, the SPCA got involved and one by one, these dogs have been making their life-saving treks back to the United States from both Iraq and Afghanistan. To read more about OBP's amazing efforts, click here. To find out how you can help, click here. 

Hear the Pig

Today's Animal in Need: Ivan

Ivan was left in the drop-off cages at the Second Chance League Sled Dog Rescue in Fairbanks, Alaska with no information. The rescue took him mushing on Valentine's Day and he loved it. He's sweet-tempered, too, or in other words, he's a mush of a musher. (C'mon. You saw that coming.) If you'd like to sponsor Ivan, please click here and look for the "Sponsor Me" icon on the top right of his page.

Free Kibble

Let's take a moment to applaud twelve-year-old Mimi Ausland, who figured out a way to provide free meals for shelter animals. Based on the Free Rice model (if you haven't been to Free Rice, you should visit that, too: www.freerice.com), she developed a website that offers daily trivia about animals. For every day you visit the site and play the game, 10 pieces of kibble are donated  to shelters across the country (whether or not you get the answer right!). Click here for a great way to learn a little and give a little every day. 

DO Believe the Hype

I tried to resist the hype for a long time, but I can hide it no longer: I love the dog whisperer, Cesar Milan. His philosophies are so simple and workable and natural - meaning of nature. I'm sure many fans have already bookmarked his website, but in case not, here's his useful "Tips" page (from where you can navigate to all the others). 

Today's Animal In Need: Fred

A possible Lab-Bassett Hound mix, Fred is an affectionate and friendly five-year-old. He needs a bit of work on his manners, but has an otherwise great disposition. One might say he's a maverick, which means he'd never call himself one. He has had a few very small seizures since he came to the shelter last summer so he's now on a mild anti-seizure medication. He may need this medication for the rest of his life, but that will have to be determined by a veterinarian in the future. Fred is neutered and vaccinated. He can be adopted for $125.00. To sponsor Fred, click here.