A Chance at Life is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
CROP is January 7th, 8th & 9th 2011
With the crop just a mere 2 weeks away, we thought we would wet your appetite with a few of the items that will be up for auction or on the raffle table!
This gorgeous framed printwas donated by our business neighbors here in Venice.Many of you bid on the one we had the last go around and this one is just as beautiful if not more so! May your winning luck be better this time ; }
Scott's Computer World (our business) will be donatingmany items such as a refurbished desktop and much, much more!
May you and your family have a wonderful Howliday!!!! See you soon ; }
Deck the halls with tape and cord covers, fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la.
Holiday lights mean extra electrical cords and plugs. For pets, these items can present quite tempting “chew toys.” Taking an extra minute or two during decorating to tape down or cover cords will help prevent shocks, burns or more serious injuries. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how anchored are your branches? Christmas trees are sure to attract a pet’s attention. Secure Christmas trees to keep them from toppling over if a pet should try to climb them, use them as a scratching post or simply bump into them. Anchoring the top of the tree to the ceiling with a strong cord will help keep it in place around frolicking pets. Keep tinsel decorations high on the tree. Cats are inclined to eat tinsel and/or ribbons hanging from trees, which have the potential to cause an intestinal obstruction. Bells are ringing, children singing… pets need a quiet place to retreat.
During holiday parties, pets may not understand why their usually quiet home is filled with people and noise. Provide pets with a quiet place to retreat. This way, they can choose whether to come out and visit or keep to themselves. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Canines. A special treat in their stocking helps pets enjoy the holidays and keep their teeth pearly white: when it’s chew products specifically designed to satisfy a pet’s natural inclination to chew, that is. Including the right chew products in a pet’s dental care program is an important part of keeping a dog’s teeth and gums healthy, along with regular checkups with a veterinarian. Chews, such as bones, rawhides and compressed vegetable treats, are an easy choice for pet parents who want to improve their dog’s oral hygiene – or who just want to freshen their pet’s breath. I’ll be home for Christmas… if I have an ID. Keep an eye on pets when doors are opening and closing frequently. And all pets should wear ID tags because they can slip out easily in all of the commotion. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… aren’t good for pets. Pet parents often think they’re “treating” their pets with table scraps from their holiday meals. The danger, say PetSmart veterinarians, is that dogs do not have the same digestive system or nutritional needs as people. Products like holiday rawhide are made especially for pets and make a safe, appropriate holiday treat. Chocolate contains the heart stimulant theobromine, and in small quantities can be toxic to dogs and cats, causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures, rapid and irregular heartbeats, muscle tremors, comas and, in large quantities, even death. Oh by gosh, by golly, don’t let them eat mistletoe and holly.
Mistletoe, holly berries and poinsettia plants can be poisonous to pets, causing severe upset stomachs. Pine needles can irritate a pet’s intestine and cause an emergency visit to the vet. Consider using repellent sprays or a doggie gate to help keep pets away from areas and objects that may be harmful. Oh, the weather outside is frightful. With a sweater on, I’m just delightful. For the most part, pets should stay warm and indoors during the cold winter months. Some dogs may not adjust as well to the cold weather, so pet parents may consider sweaters to keep their pets comfortable. Pet parents can also ask their vet for good ideas on “winterizing” pets. Rockin’ around the Christmas tree, separate gifts for you and gifts for me.
Pets don’t know which gifts are meant for them, and which are meant for their parents. Gifts for pets, and any gifts that could be food, should be stored safely away from curious paws and noses. Over the river and through the woods… for families and pets on the go. Pet parents boarding pets during the holiday travel season should look for facilities that are clean, and have a friendly staff and strict policies on health and safety issues. Visit the facility ahead of time, meet the staff, check the cleanliness, and confirm that the facility has 24-hour supervision and an on-call vet.
For pet parents traveling with their pets, research can be done in advance to find hotels that accept pets. AAA offers a travel guidebook with this information.
Don't leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops. To keep warm when it's necessary to be outside, short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks.
Be sure to feed your pets adequately in the winter. Pets who spend significant time outdoors on walks need more to eat in the winter, since keeping warm depletes energy. Be sure their water is kept fresh.
Use plastic bowls instead of metal for food and water that is served outside. You don't want your pet's tongue getting stuck to his or her dish in icy temps!
Keep your pet's feet clean. Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate paw pads — and may even be harmful if ingested. Wipe feet with a damp towel before your dog or cat gets the chance to lick them!
Make your doghouse comfortable. If your dog does happen to live outside in a doghouse, be sure it's dry and draft-free, and has ample space for the pup to sit and lie down comfortably.
The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doorway should be covered, and the house should be turned to face away from the wind.
Remember, do your best to keep outdoor cats and dogs inside, especially on those brutally cold days. After all, it is the holiday season, meant for spending time with those you love — both with two and four legs!
Bedding
Q: What should I use for bedding? I’ve heard that old blankets aren’t a good idea.
A: You heard right. Blankets and quilts are alright for people inside heated homes but outside, they trap moisture that can make your dog damp, chilly and uncomfortable. A better bedding is fresh clean hay or straw. They allow moisture to evaporate, retain warmth, are biodegradable and cost only a few dollars a bale. The best of these is “salt marsh” hay. All are readily available from farm supply and feed stores, stables, or local farmers. When buying straw or hay, use your nose! It should smell fresh and pleasant like dried grass clippings. Avoid any that smells strongly of mold or mildew. Spread the bedding generously in the dog house, four-to-five inches thick, and replace as needed.
Be a Responsible Pet Owner or Don't Be a Pet Owner at All. If it is too COLD for You - It's too COLD for your Pet
SPCA is asking dog owners not to leave their pets outside in frigid temperatures.
"It's absolutely preposterous to leave a dog -- particularly a short-haired breed like a pit bull -- outside in this weather," SPCA official Eileen Drever said.
Dogs & Cats left outside can succumb to frostbite and hypothermia, which can be fatal or debilitating. "For the love of your pet, don't leave him outside in this weather," Drever said. She said leaving dogs outside without proper shelter is an offense under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in Canada.
Already since November 20, the SPCA has seized a number of dogs being kept outside without adequate shelter. The society opposes the notion of keeping dogs or cats exclusively out of doors, saying they can suffer physical and psychological harm. They may become agitated from such horrid living conditions and it can possibly change their natural demeanor.
Don't hesitate to call your local SPCA if you witness pet neglect or endangerment this Winter.
Take the first step to recovery right now, get a dog! Wonderful video and message by Ben Stein .... please watch and be sure to stop music player at the top of this blog ; }
Something to think about....What would happen if everyone that stepped up to adopt or foster a dog that made the news was willing to help out a dog that has been waiting patiently in the shelter/humane society/ rescue for someone to notice them and love them? What a difference people could make if they were willing to open their homes to a wallflower
The Loneliest Victim
Many wonderful people open their homes to the victimized pets made famous by media reports, but close their hearts to the other animals in the shelter
Buddy is ugly. Really. He's a good dog, a Shar Pei mix (OK, I admit, I'm no fan of Shar-Peis) with a bristly coat. He's already neutered, walks well on a leash, four years old, a little overweight (read fat), and he loves people. He also has entropion, a slight case that will cost extra to fix for a potential new owner. His owner leans down to him, rests his forehead on Buddy's, and when he lifts his head, he's crying. He signs the paper and turns away, without looking back. Buddy follows me willingly, as he has done everything in his life.
"Why'd he sign him over?" I ask the staffer at the front desk.
"His wife is pregnant, and won't let Buddy in the house anymore. She says Buddy belongs in a house with his people."
I nod. Whew. That's a tough one. I silently send up a prayer for that marriage, and a hope that the wife will see her husband's broken heart and send him back for Buddy.
Two days later and that hasn't happened. Buddy is still here, on the decision list. Along with eight other dogs, including a Doberman pup who had his throat slashed in a domestic argument. That one will find a home. He's been on the news, and there are five people, at least, willing to adopt him and love him and save him. The pup is poorly socialized, still has some hefty vet bills and training problems to work through, and he has to recover enough from the initial assault to be anesthetized for his neuter surgery. Meanwhile, we screen the list of candidates to decide who gets him.
It happens every time a dog or cat makes the news with a pitiful story of abuse or neglect. Many wonderful people call in or show up, wanting to adopt the animal who has been treated so horribly. They open their homes to dogs or cats who have long lists of problems, but close their hearts to the others in our kennels—dogs like Buddy, who has probably never been mistreated in his life, who deserves and misses, probably more than any other, a loving home, and would be willing to give his heart and soul to a new family. Buddy's not a victim, though; no one lines up to save him. The kennels are full, and he has this eye problem.
So I hang Buddy's tag down, and mark him on the list.
Tomorrow morning, after we feed the dogs and before we open for business, Buddy will be euthanized humanely.
How to make your ‘new’ designs look aged like your grandmother or great grandmother made it.
Techniques we will be learning are:
Distressing, staining, embossing, and tearing
Tools you will be using that may be new to you are:
Big Shot & Embossing folders
Files, Sanding blocks, and Scissor’s edge
These techniques are great for scrapbook pages too! It takes a special scrapbook page and elevates it to a higher level!! Your friends will be envious of all you will learn in this class.
We will be making three (3) projects: 2 Cards and a 3 dimensional. Don’t worry you will have plenty of time and materials for practicing!
Supplies you will need to bring: (if you don’t have some of these things…don’t fret, we all share!)
·Adhesive: tape runner or glue stick, adhesive pen if you have one
·Pair of scissors, tweezers
·Wet wipes
·Sanding Block
·Sponges
At the end of the class, there will be a drawing and three (3) different gals will win one of the Stamp Sets we used, a Distressing kit, and a Vintage embossing folder!! Each participant will receive a coupon for a free ‘Day Pass’ at our new studio in Punta Gorda, ‘The Crafting Cow’ or free Shipping on your next order! How cool is that!!
On top of all of the above:
·$5 of each gal’s class fee goes to ‘A Cause for Paws’
·20% of all orders placed at the class goes to the ‘Paws’
·10% of the price of all items on the table during the Class goes to the ‘Paws’
Fee: $20.00 Class instructor: Sherrill Braun
'CRICUT 101'
Are you curious about this new machine called the Cricut? Have you bought one but have never used it? Or have one you haven’t used enough? Are you thinking about buying one? Then this class is for YOU!
Covering all the basics including:
*** The difference in the Personal Cricut, the Create and the Expression
*** Mat Care, old and new
*** Tools and Accessories: The JukeBox, Markers and more
*** Terminology & Tips
*** Cutting the Images
*** Layering the Images
*** Special Features
*** Storage Solutions
*** How to Preview Cartridges Before You Buy Them
*** Resources
*** The Next Generation
This class includes MANY handouts that you will refer to again and again, as well as items ready for your scrapbook page or the front of a card. Cost of the class is $20.00. Instructor: Ginni Carrican.
"Power Cropping" Class
Meal Plan. Grocery List. A Will. Laying out your clothes the night before. A page kit. What do all these things have in common? Decisions are made ahead of time that simplifies the end process. Come learn how page kits can help you be more productive with less mess, less agony and reduce the amount of things you bring with you to a cropping event. Come learn from a cropper that did 67 pages at one weekend crop. Stop buying page kits ... and make your own. This informative class could change you from a 'bring the kitchen sink cropper' to one who hit's the cropping room ready to be productive. During the class we will be building a page kit, designed around the PAWS crop theme, for each person. Cost of the class $15.00, approximate time 40-60 minutes. Instructor: Ginni Carrican
"ALL DRESSED UP"
Teaching for Posh Scraps, Jules has designed a cute
project that is perfect for the laundry room , a child's bedroom or as
a gift for others or yourself. You will recieve the papers, the
embellishments, the child's wooden hanger and three darling pint sized
white hangers along with the templates so you can make more for
yourself or even change them out seasonably. A template for a little
boy's tee shirt and coveralls is also included. You will also learn a
variety of ways to 'water proof' projects. Price 28.00
Instructor: Jules Eickmeier
Mini "coin envelope" Photo Album
In honor of our furry friends learn to make a "mini" photo album out of coin envelopes. Your choice of a "WOOF" or "MEOW" theme album to display photos of your favorite pet. Discover how EASY it is for YOU to CREATE a fun album out of coin envelopes. Once you learn the EASY technique it will be a cinch to make these albums for other occasions (I.e.: birthdays, anniversary's, holidays, etc.) Class includes all supplies to complete an 8 page album (4 - 2 sided pages) complete with additional tags and pockets. Also included will be embellishments, charms, fibers, and, of course a dog or cat collar to keep your album closed.... Supplies you will need to bring: scissors, glue, paper trimmer, tape runner, white or black fine marker to outline the letters. FEE: $20.00 (please indicate with registration whether you will be making a WOOF or MEOW album) INSTRUCTOR: April Smith
Ladies, please look over the class descriptions and choose your choices. Please email me at causeforthepaws@yahoo.com right away with form of payment so that the teachers can put their kits together!
Remember that a portion if not all of your class fee will goes towards helping the furry ones!!
Just mentioning once again that yes, we are **SOLD OUT**!! I have received 6 registrations beyond what we had originally planned for ; }
You probably know by now that we have started a company called "Cheeky Chics Scrapbooking" and have several crops on the calendar with more to come so you can check us out here.
**Classes** will be posted any day now, just waiting for a couple more teachers to send me photos with details. We have 4 classes total at this point. If you would like to offer a class please contact me asap.
Want to know how you can earn **FREE** raffle tickets? A few weeks ago I sent out an email asking for donations for our raffle table from you ... the attendees. Thank you to those whom have responded! To thank you for your donation we have decided to thank you for your items donated by giving you free raffle tickets. So here is your chance to up your winnings from the raffle table, send your donations NOW to us and you will receive your free tickets upon arrival ; }
Be sure to check back often as I will be updating the blog more frequently!!
**Cruise** Stay tuned as details will be posted soon about our first "Cause for the PAWS" fund-raising cruise sailing ship next year!! All family members will be welcome. ♥
One by One, they pass by my cage, Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
...Way past his time, he can't run and play.
...Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way
A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted and driven away.
When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.
I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.
And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear
This video is about hope, acceptance, adjusting expectations, allowing others to be who they truly are & focusing on the "can do's" in life which allows for a celebration of amazing outcomes. Hang in there, it WILL get better! You are perfect just the way you are, and have so much to offer the world... more than anyone can imagine!
If you've never seen the video it will make you cry. "Ricochet" and her mom do a lot to help animals and folks who are differently-abled. They want to get the message out there that, no matter what anyone tells you, you're wonderful...just as you are.
Ipersonally love the hidden message to us all in this story about "Ricochet".
Hits home for me, how about you?????
Be sure to pause the music player at the top of this page!
I have not posted lately as I have been furiously working away on our upcoming crop in Jan!
As most of you probably already know, we were SOLD OUT as of September 16th and are now at 53 attendees and there are still a few more that need to be added (on-site store ladies etc)
To those of you whom are new here to the blog, I am going to insert a few links for you to read and watch videos from our first fundraiser this past June. The first one is a post that I did on my personal blog following the event and you can view it here.Then of course, the post here at home at Cause For The PAWS can be viewed here.
Donations are starting to arrive and I will be updating the blog soon about those as well!
If you have any items you would like to donate for either the raffle table or the live auction, we would be ever so grateful!!!!!!! Items can be anything from scrapbook related to something handmade. Last time in the live auction we had things like a refurbished desktop computer, a mandolin, a beautiful large framed piece of artwork, a leather jacket and the list goes on and on...so as you see, anything goes!! Please contact me at causeforthepaws@yahoo.com to discuss how to get the items from you to me ; }
There are several classes scheduled and I will be posting the information & pictures for those as I receive them. If you or someone you know would like to teach a class there is room for more. All classes are held in a private room just outside of the crop room! Classes are limited to 10 students per class.
I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.
First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.
That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.
The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".
Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.
Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.
If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".
First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.
When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?
I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.
I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.
My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT
For those of you that care --- please repost this to at least one other person. Let's see if we can get this all around the World and have an impact.
Something to think about....What would happen if everyone that stepped up to adopt or foster a dog that made the news was willing to help out a dog that has been waiting patiently in the shelter/humane society/ rescue for someone to notice them and love them? What a difference people could make if they were willing to open their homes to a wallflower
