Comments Off on 7 ways to help animals now – with no powerball winnings!
11 Jan 16

7 ways to help animals now – w ...

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com & American Pet Professionals

7 Ways to help animals now – with no powerball winnings!

Imagine winning the Powerball lotto this week?  I have asked the question, what would you do with all that moola on my Facebook page and the majority of the answers from my pet loving friends was; “I would open an animal sanctuary!” or “I would adopt all the pets from our locak animal shelters.”  We are pretty full to the brim with pets for adoption here on Long Island (dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, horses, chinchilla’s, birds and even some reptiles) – so those answers are great ones indeed.

However, chances are that you may not win the 1.4 Billion jackpot, now don’t get me wrong, you could win it (ever the optimist here!), and you could open that animal sanctuary – make an amazing place, help countless homeless animals.  It would be a wonderful thing.  But since the odds unfortunately are against you, like they are against our homeless animals in this country, how about thinking of some ways you can help now.

I know some of you may be screaming at your computer screen reading this, “But Nancy, I already do help, I donate, I volunteer, I share photos of dogs and cats needing homes, I go to the events…” Ok, please don’t yell at me, I know so many amazing pet people who do this.  So from the bottom of my heart (and Cody’s!) THANK YOU – keep up the AMAZING work.

BUT, for those or you that are saying they want to open a sanctuary if you win, and deep down inside you know you want to help right NOW –  here are some ideas you can implement today, without all the winnings from the Powerball:

  1. Foster – Becoming a foster pet parent is SOOOOOO needed here on Long Island, and everywhere across the country.  I know some people are wishy washy about fostering, “I don’t know how I could give them up.” Or “I just don’t have the time to add a foster to my schedule,” I get it, but think about how happy that dog or cat that has been sitting in the shelter for years will feel being in a warm, comfy, loving home?  Our rescues here on Long Island are in desparate need of Foster homes from little Yorkies to Rotties and everything in-between.
  2. Donate Your Services – Now if you are a dog trainer, chances are you may have done this already – volunteered at an animal shelter, helped with a case here or there. And I get it you need to make a living.  But if you volunteer your services 1 time a week to a local animal shelter OR volunteer to help someone who may need help (i.e. they are thinking of giving up their dog due to something as simple as puppy chewing – no joke, sadly this happens all the time – and 99% of the time it is the owners fault the puppy is chewing and NOT the dogs).   So maybe offer your services to them at a discount or for free and with the understanding that they won’t turn the dog into the shelter.  Pet Photographer? Donate your amazing photography to help get their pets seen in a better light than just from an iphone picture.
  3. Be a Billboard – Ok so your friends may know that you are heavily involved in rescue or just love your pets way more than they do! Become an informational human walking billboard so to speak, about the things that are needed by our rescues or a rescue that you work with.  If you do this in a way that is educational, informational and from factual and correct info – you will be taken more seriously.  If you’re working the 9-5 at a corporate office, more than likely there are many of your pet loving tribe is already there – see if you can get your, co-workers, boss or company to take on dogs/cats/horses each month by sponsoring them.  Tell them what their monetary (should be tax deductible too) will do for each and every animal. This is where your billboard comes in.  Maybe you might even get some co-workers to foster!
  4. Volunteer Your Expertise – Are you a social media guru? Can you volunteer a few hours a week to a non-profit rescue to help them with their social media?  Most rescues need a lot of administrative help as well.  Can you help with grant writing and/or applying for grants for them for funding?  Are you an animal lawyer that could help them with contractual legalize?  Are you an event planner extrodinaire?  Help your favorite rescue with their gala event to help raise funds for the animals in their care.  Are you a video producer, you can shoot footage and put together short videos of pets available for adoption to be shared on social media. You get the point.
  5. Teach Compassion – If you are a teacher, there are a few things you can implement (with your principals ok of course), you can have a rescue come in and talk to your class. The rescue can teach your kids about what they do on a daily basis, about the animals they rescue, how the importance of being a kind, loving and responsible owner is, and how they can help even at a young age.  Many kids get inspired by this and figure out a way to help on their own.  You could organize a class project to pick out a rescue to work with throughout the semester, or even better full year.  The possibilities are endless.
  6. Host an Adoption Event – Have a retail store or business location that would not nessecarily be associated with a pet adopt-a-thon?  Host an adoption event at your location with your favorite rescue.  Many of your customers will love this and it will help educate the every day non-pet industry person about the dire need for adoptions.
  7. Adopt – But of course – open your heart, home and life to a homeless animal.  You will be a much better, happier person for it and you will have just saved 2 lives (the pet you adopted and the space you opened in the animal shelter).

This list could be about 100 ways to help without winning the powerball – as us pet pros know, but I hope it helps open your mind to helping, to the possibilities of what you can do right now without all that dough to help.   Our rescues and the animals thank you.  Now get out there and help! 😉

Have fun, easy ways and ideas to help out that you do – that you think others can do as well???   Comment in the Facebook comment section below – would love to hear them and share!

Comments Off on How to help animal rescues
16 Nov 14

How to help animal rescues ...

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Over the past couple of weeks LIPetPlace.com has visited, (or re-visited in some cases), some of our municipal animal shelters, private animal rescues and attended an adoptathon this past weekend.  While I am not in the trenches of rescue like so many wonderful people here are – I do what I can.  I donate what I can.  Whether that donation is time, promotion of animals in need of homes via the Pet Events Newsletter or on social media, or by connecting people who I think would be a great match, through product donations and monetary donations.  If you are able to do one thing a day, a week, or one thing a month – it will help.  The needs of the animals in rescue is a daily commitment – and our rescues could use your help.   Many adoptable dogs, cats, horses and other pets who sit waiting for a home in our LI shelters.  Some have been in our shelters for 2, 3, 4 and even met at dog that has been in a shelter 6 years.  6 years.

While visiting the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter recently, and getting the full tour from Dr. Bob Slifkin of The Shelter Connection, (the non-profit volunteer group that works with the shelter), – it is a great animal shelter.  It is very clean, they have fantastic programs training dogs getting them ready for their forever homes, their have a good adoption rate, nature trails that the dogs get to go on walks or play groups in, a room that is like a room you would find in a home for dogs to get adjusted to and more.  But it is still a shelter – and there are a lot of great dogs waiting there.   The day I visited there were 2 German Shepards, a Beagle (there is always a Beagle at every shelter!), a little white poodle (who was scared out of it’s mind, poor thing), a Yorkie, a Bulldog (was just adopted), a Husky, 2 Cane Corsos (goregous and friendly), a Pointer mix (who was so sweet), and beautiful Pit Bulls and pit mixes – who the majority were wiggle butts, calm, sat when asked.  Bob told me a lot of the dogs personalities and, “while that dog may be barking, once out of the kennel – the best dog.”  About another pit bull Prince – there 2 years, Bob said, “That is the best trained dog in the kennel, and incredibly smart,” – and guess what, Prince is a Pit Bull.

This scruffy little guy was at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter – go there to see if he is still waiting for a home!

Prince – so sweet, calm and at the shelter for 2 years.

So how can you help?

What can you do if you can’t adopt or foster?

  • Maybe you can volunteer at a local shelter to help walk a dog, or put your skills to use.  Often times animal rescue groups need people to volunteer their professional skills – and not be another dog walker.
  • My suggestion, is contact a local rescue – how can you help?  What skills are they looking for?  Go to a volunteer orientation.  I have a friend who is a mom of 6-year old triplets and makes the time to go 2-days a week to volunteer at the shelter and attends events when she can!  Maybe the rescue needs help with their social media pages, website, grant writing, public relations, or needs product donations – perhaps you could be the facilitator to help them get more of their needs met.
  • Are you a teacher?  Maybe one of your school projects could be collecting donations that your local animal shelter or rescue group needs.  Contact the shelter near you and find out what they need help with.
  • Are you a carpenter?  Maybe the local animal shelter needs houses for the feral cats they take care of, or the horse rescue needs repairs at their barn.
  • Love taking photo’s?  Animal rescues are always happy to work with a great photographer to capture the essence of the pets for adoption.

There are so many ways to help, and the help needed is endless.

This handsome fella is available for adoption at ARF (Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons).

Brooklyn who is available at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shetler.  Brooklyn, what can I say, what a sweet, calm, smart and beautiful dog.  He sat for this photo before I even had the chance to ask him to sit.    He has been at the shelter for about 2 years.

Squeaky a sweet cuddle bug who is available for adoption at the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.  He has been there about a year.

Emmy – OMD (That’s Oh My Dog!) What a sweetheart!! She is at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. She likes people and dogs, and while she may have barked while in her crate at the adoption, once out – super calm and oh so sweet.  She just met me and let me put this coat on her! (Who knew it was going to fit her perfectly and I think Purple is her color don’t you!)  She also is small – so if you looking for pint sized wiggle butt – here ya go! (Black dogs get over looked the most at shelters.)

This little peanut mixed breed is at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter – again another sweet dog!

This adorable fella is up for adoption at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter – a shelter that is bursting at the seems with dogs.

BRUCE!!! Love, love, love this goofball of a dog!  The only reason Bruce barked at all in his cage, is because he wanted attention.  When I sat next to him while he was barking, I said, “You’re a big phony baloney aren’t you? You silly phony baloney!” And with that he flopped on his side, and was non-stop waggin his tail.  See another picture of him below.  He is not big, not sure what he is mix with – we were guessing Bull Mastiff and Beagle! He is available at the Town of Hempsead Animal Shelter.  Likes dogs and people.

To see many more pictures, please Click here!

And let us know how you help by posting a comment!  Or if you are rescue what your needs are.
A big thanks to ARF for putting on the adoption event over the weekend – to their staff and volunteers and a big thanks to all the volunteers who are out there day after day helping!

Squeakys paw by the way – he was a love bug!

Comments Off on Royalty & Rescues NYC Pet Fashion Show
10 Feb 14

Royalty & Rescues NYC Pet Fashi ...

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

The annual New York Pet Fashion Show took place at the Hotel Pennsylvania at the Penn Top ball room Friday night, February 7, 2013 and, this year it was even more over the top than in past years.  I have never seen so many tiara’s in one room before – on people and dogs there!  The lavish event is a benefit every year for a different animal rescue group, and this year the Mayor’s Alliance of NYC was the beneficiary.  The event promotes dog adoption and the majority of the runway models, the dogs, were all dogs from various shelters looking for their furever homes.  The outrageous fashions and pomp and circumstance around the event is all about and for helping rescue groups and animals.  (And that my friends is the best part!)

Jill Rappaport from the Today Show, amazing animal adovate and rescuer too!

Darsey Mitchell and her famous dog Millie LaRue and animal adovate and rescuer Prince Lorenzo Borghese! (The theme of the night after all was Royalty!)

Amazing Therapy Dogs Beau (the Husky) and Bocker the Labradoodle saying hello! Both of these dogs and their humans, Caroline Loevner (Beau’s mom) and Marie (Bockers Mom) devote a tremendous amount of time volunteering as therapy dogs, helping other people so much.  It was great to see them and have them as the Big dogs representing!

Candy Udell of London Jewelers and Our Cause for Paws walked the runway too.

Summer Strand and Miss California and their pups!

The night began with pictures on the red carpet, provided by the Dirty Dog Doormat, it was red after all.

This adorable 8 year Pom was at the event, and up for adoption through Long Island’s Bobbi & the Strays Rescue group.

Hosted by Aida Nieves and Gregg Oehler, Publisher of Cesar’s Way Magazine and MC’d by  Maria Milito of Q104.3!

This was not for the humans, but for the dogs…by Frenchie’s Kitchen, fresh, healthy food for dogs. (Can’t wait for my Max to try some!)

This cutie was getting the royal treatment! BOL!!
For many more pictures from the evening, CLICK HERE!!