We’re looking for ideas folks…

Many animals in shelters have nothing. Just a cement cell and a bowl of water. It’s the mission of animal lover Jen Begg and the Mother’s Comfort Project to make sure those animals also have a warm blanket, toy or bed to rest their weary heads on as well. The Mother’s Comfort Project, is a group of volunteers who make and repair blankets, beds and toys, for dogs in the NYC area. Times are tight though, “We were renting space at a sewing studio in Brooklyn and it was just too expensive to do consistently.” So the group is reaching out to you… the public for ideas… trying to raise the money to rent space again or to see if anyone has a spare sewing machine in the closet that they aren’t using and are willing to donate to the project. It would definitely go to a good cause, bringing comfort and warmth to animals in shelters. If you have any ideas or a spare sewing machine and you live in the New York area you may want to consider sharing with the Mothers Comfort Project. Also, if you have any other ideas, low cost space for sewing, a sewing classroom that they could rent now and then… honestly, they are open to ideas, they just want to get the work done. So let’s put our heads together and see if we can help them out.

Now I know that some of you have sewing machines that you NEVER USE… it’s time to take that old clunker and donate it to a good cause.

You can contact Jen Begg at jbegg@rational-animal.org if you have a machine to donate. Also be sure to visit their website www.rational-animal.org and their blog http://rational-animal.blogspot.com/ to see what other wonderful projects they’re working on.

Rational Animal has done spay/neuter campaigns in the past, and currently is about to launch their “Trails to Tails” map, which is for the public and details all the shelters/rescue groups in the NYC area. Jen goes on to say, “Personally, I am creating a project through them in which I am the point person for pet stores to call if they have donations or surplus materials, which I then deliver to local shelters.”

Please pass the link to this entry to your New York friends and let’s see if we can’t get them some sewing machine or an inexpensive rental space so that they can continue their good works.

Jen went on to say, “It may not seem like much, but if those soft beds bring them one moment of comfort in this atmosphere, then to me, it’s worth it.”

Along with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s ‘Pup My Ride’ program, Denise Richards helped get 30 small dogs ready for a 14 hour drive from L.A.’s Baldwin Park Animal Shelter, a county kill facility, to the Humane Society in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they have a waiting list for small canines. Richards has always been a supporter of Best Friends and immediately jumped to help when she heard about the transport operation, which spared the 30 dogs from probable euthanasia at the overcrowded county shelter. She is also fostering two dogs that weren’t lucky enough to make it on the van that day.  For complete story click HERE.

Mobile extermination vehicles equipped with pet-sized gas chambers is the newest way of dealing with stray dogs and cats in Japan. Unwanted animals are put to sleep while they are transported to a regional crematorium. Dogs and cats marked for death are shut inside sealed metal boxes termed “sedation equipment.” Once the truck is on the road, the driver pushes a button that releases carbon dioxide into the boxes. The journey to the regional crematorium takes about one hour and by the time the truck arrives, the animals are dead. The mobile gas chamber system has proved to be ‘highly efficient,’ with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 dogs and cats gassed annually. For complete story click HERE.

Pups on Parole is a program that pairs prisoners at a Nevada Women’s Correctional Center with last-chance dogs from a nearby animal sanctuary in Las Vegas. About 30 inmates train the dogs, living with them in their pint-sized cells full time. The inmates follow training guidelines laid out by Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan.  The only time the dogs leave the facility is when they go out to adoption drives.  Since the program began in 2004 they have adopted out an estimated 600 dogs! When an inmate’s dog gets adopted they receive a new pup to train within 24 hours. For complete story click HERE.

An estimated two-thirds of LA city’s dogs are not licensed, as required by law. L.A. Animal Services will now be coordinating with the Department of Water and Power, which keeps records of residences with dogs.   An opportunity for revenue, going after dog owners for license fees could mean at least an additional $3.6 million in fees! For complete story click HERE.

Three rescued puppies in Texas are recovering after being thrown over a wall onto rocks. The man who tossed the animals was heard saying that he was “turning them into soldiers.” The owner of the dogs could face animal cruelty charges. For complete story click HERE.

Playgirl has offered Michael Vick, the notorious quarterback and convicted animal abuser, seven figures to take it all off for the animals.  He would pose for the magazine and donate the money to PETA.  A spokesperson for Playgirl says they made him the offer last week but haven’t received a response yet.  For complete story click HERE.

California may soon place animal abusers on the same level as sex offenders by listing them in an online registry.  Any person convicted of a felony involving animal cruelty would have to register with the police and provide a range of personal information, such as name, address and place of employment as well as a current photograph. That information would be posted online, along with information on the person’s offense.  It would be the first bill of this kind in the country. For complete story click HERE.

Title: Pet Adoption Event – Hollywood
Location: Pan Pacific Park – Hollywood 7600 Beverly Blvd., (corner of Gardner/Beverly Blvd.)
Description: Great shelter dogs and AAA foster dogs and cats available for adoption! All animals spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Shelter dogs/cats ready to go home with you from the event. Find your new best friend and save a life!

Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2010-02-28
End Time: 16:00

Share this video with everyone you know and post it as many times as possible. It is time that people realize that having a companion animal in their life is a privilege and start taking that responsibility seriously. The apology of irresponsible owners does not somehow alleviate the suffering of the pet.