Wednesday, June 3, 2009

For the love of dog...

I have a few quick things I want to throw at all of you dog lovers out there. Hopefully the material I have presented thus far has been entertaining, informative and a little enlightening. I have shown some of the happier times of shelter dogs, but it is a fact that not all stories turn out to be happy. There are still many dogs that do not find a great home and live the remainder of their lives in a shelter.

We can change that.

Go to the Athens County Dog Shelter and see what you can do to help. Visit the Athens County Humane Society Web page to see what you can do to volunteer and help the cause.

We can all do something to improve these dogs chances for happiness.

Lets do something positive for these dogs!

If you truly have enjoyed this blog about dog adoption, I urge you to check out this blog:

"Dogster's For the Love of Dog Blog"

Remember, we can all make a difference in these dogs' lives.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

One unlikely celebrity that supports shelter dogs

I came across an interesting article on the Peta Web site tonight that really kind of blew my mind. There are some celebrities in the world that you feel do not have a caring bone in their body. Simon Cowell, a judge from the show "American Idol", is one of those celebrities that you could classify under that category.

What I have come to find out is that he really does have a few caring bones in his body. He has quite the soft spot for shelter dogs. In his interview with "The Peta Files", Cowell said this:

"I mean, if I was buying a dog, I wouldn't buy it from a pet shop, I'd go to a rescue shelter. Or I'd go to a friend who couldn't take care. … It's not where the dog came from, it's the dog. … I get really annoyed when people start telling me about the make and the model of their dog like [for] a car. … A dog is a dog, no matter what background they've got. … Often, the mutts, the strays have got more personality than a highly bred pedigree."

Within the interview, he also includes how he will help support the cause to help shelter dogs in any way (including financially). It is such a fantastic sight when celebrities offer to help a cause, not for the exposure, but for the goodness that their help can bring.

Let me know what you all think. Are there other celebrities out there that are trying to help the cause?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A few quick facts about Athens County Humane Society

Many people get confused when they talk about the Athens County Humane Society. First off, they are in no way associated with the Athens County Dog Shelter, which is located in Millfield, Ohio. In fact, the humane society does not even have a physical shelter or place of business. All adoptions are done by appointment or can occasionally be done at an adoption event.

One of the benefits of the humane society is that they offer a great deal of help for people that have just purchased a shelter dog and are trying to make it a part of the family. The humane society's Web site offers links to informational videos that can help people that are new with these type of dogs.

The Athens County Humane Society is also a 100% volunteer-supported organization that is always looking for new members. If you are interested in helping the cause, you can find more information about this opportunity here.

The site also offers links that truly pull on your heartstrings. This You Tube video, called "Don't buy while shelter dogs die," is an audio slideshow using the song, "Take a Look at Me Now." Don't watch unless you can handle your emotions!

If you have any more questions about the humane society, don't hesitate to post them here.

Interviewing a Shelter Dog Owner...

One of the things I wanted to accomplish with this blog was to show you some of the success stories of shelter dogs. There are many dogs that are lucky to find great owners that treat them well and give them a loving home. This is one of those situations. Justin Agler is a junior majoring in Exercise Physiology at Ohio University. About six months ago, Agler came across a Collie/German Sheppard mix at the Franklin County Dog Shelter in Columbus, Ohio. For $100, Agler was able to buy the dog that has now become known as Murphy.



I have been lucky enough to speak with Agler about his experience at the dog shelter and how raising Murphy has changed him.

Q: Why did you decide to buy a dog from a dog shelter?

A: Well, I think they are as good as any other dogs and they deserve a chance. And, honestly, it's probably cheaper than buying them from anywhere else.

What was it about Murphy that you first liked?

He was a cute dog. In the description of him, the shelter said he was an active, playful dog and I wanted a dog that I could run around with.

Q: How did it seem the shelter handled the dogs?

A: The volunteers that worked there were actually very protective of the animals. It seemed as if they cared a great deal about each of these dogs. They turned out to be friendly, good-hearted people that cared about the well-being of these animals.

Q: How did the dog react once you brought him home?

A: Of course, he tried to chase my cats when I brought them home. He had been in the shelter for over four months because he had been sick. He seemed very happy to be out of the shelter and the little cages.

Q: What do you like to do with Murphy?

A: I like to play with him and wrestle around with him. I take him running with me but he still likes to pull me along when I do take him. I also like to take him to the park and play fetch with him.

Q: What is you advice to other people looking to adopt a shelter dog?

A: You should make sure the dog you choose is compatible with you. I have a very energetic dog which is good for me because I'm very active. Shelter dogs just seem to be more caring and compassionate because all they want is to find a caring home.


*All photos are property of Justin Agler and have been published with his permision.


Tuesday, May 5, 2009

PUPPY PALOOZA TODAY!

Hey all! So I came across another great benefit event for the dogs of Athens County.

Taking place today from 4-7 pm is an event called Puppy Palooza(Facebook Information Required). It is being run by the Athens County Humane Society and all proceeds go to help the animals that are part of this society.

The event is being held at Howard Park Hall, which is outside of Voigt Hall and across from Old Baker.

Here is the information from the promotional site:

"Come and support the Athens County Humane Society on Tuesday May 5th from 4-7pm on the Howard Hall Park (outside Voigt - Across from Old Baker)

Bring your dog or just come and play!

Food - ice cream, pizza, puppy chow, baked goods...
Games - puppy simon says, big dog little dog...
Prizes - treats for the dogs and attendees...
Raffles - coupons to local business, pet portrait...
AUTOGRAPHED 2008 Reds Team ball and a Reds shirt
T-shirt sales - ACHS shirts ...

plus...
WIN FREE ICE CREAM FOR A YEAR!

A whole mess of fun for you, your dog, and your friends!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DOG OR BRING ONE TO THE EVENT - JUST COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE ATHENS COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY!"

If you have the time to go and check it out, I suggest you do. Unfortunately, I have class during this time period but that should not stop you from going! If you go and take pictures, please share them on here or tell me how the event went!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Dog Shelter Benefit Concert

As I said in my previous post, the Donkey Coffee and Espresso hosted the Dog Shelter Benefit Concert last night.


When I first arrived at the Donkey, there did not seem to be anyone at the place supporting the cause. Fortunately this was because everyone was crammed into the back room of the Donkey to watch the performers. This is what I was greeted with before I got to the back room.


The back room was completely packed and was left with just standing room only. Many local performances took the stage and the atmosphere gave way to a sort of "open mic" vibe.

If you missed the benefit concert last night at the Donkey, you missed out on a great event. The atmosphere was laid back and fun and you really felt like you were doing some good for the world. I donated $10 to the cause (which happened to be all I had in my wallet). I asked one of the volunteers how much they hoped to raise and she said they were hoping for a couple hundred dollars. From the way the back room was looking, I believe they far surpassed their goal.

It is important that we do what we can to help these dogs find good homes. In these troubling economic times, dog shelters find it hard to provide for as many dogs that need help. If you would like to find out how you can help this cause please visit the Athens County Dog Shelter Web site. Any little bit can help.

*All photos are the property of Ryan Lytle

Friday, May 1, 2009

I deserve a second chance...


As you probably already know, this weekend is Mom's weekend at Ohio University. With the excess of moms and alcohol, many people only think about the bars to attend. Instead of starting your night early at the bars, take your mom to Donkey Coffee and Espresso for the Dog Shelter Benefit Concert (Facebook Information Required). Here's what you need to know for the event:
  • Event begins on Saturday May 2 at 8 pm
  • Cover: Minimum $4 donation
  • All proceeds go to the Athens County Dog Shelter and Friends of the Shelter
Volunteers were promoting the event the past few days outside the Baker Center. They had a few of their star pets from the Athens County Dog Shelter to help promote:


Hannah loved the attention of the students as she helped promote the benefit concert.

Brynne was much happier just laying around on the brick in the beautiful weather.

Volunteers worked hard selling tee shirts and other collectibles to promote the concert.

They were also selling dog toys. All these proceeds went to support the Athens County Dog Shelter.

By the end of the promotion, Hannah was tired but happy. Hopefully, with her hard work, these dogs will find a loving, caring home.

Remember, make sure to stop by the Donkey Saturday night to support the cause. All proceeds go to helping these great dogs find great homes. This is also a great excuse to have fun and listen to some great music. Hope to see you there!

*All photos are property of Ryan Lytle