"We learned today that one of our volunteers and foster mommy left us yesterday. Kim was one special lady whom I wish I had met in person. We talked numerous times on the phone as well as through emails. Kim was an inspiration to me while going through some difficult times myself. She talked about her family, animals and her love for God, who we thought would let her stay with us a little longer. Guess He needed another angel by His side. My prayers and the prayers of all the volunteers with WolfSpirit's Rescue are with the family." –Robin K. Aufderheide, WolfSpirit's Toy Breed Puppymill Rescue

"I received the staggering, shocking news that a dear, precious friend from long ago moved on to her new Home. Kim was one of my background vocalists for awhile during the 70s. But more importantly, she was my dear sister in Jesus. She was a very special lady who was heavily involved in dog rescue, home schooled her children, all of whom have grown up to be successful, dynamic, spiritually-minded people, she had a wonderful background in theater, was a great singer, and a more beautiful person inside you'll never meet. Her husband Bob (another dear friend whom I was privileged to introduce to Kim way back in 1977), all of their children and the rest of their family are in my heart, and I hope that you'll all join me in offering prayers and positive thoughts for them all during this terribly hard time." –Stephen Alexandersen Sharp

"As I sit here on this beautiful afternoon with the sun shining and a nice breeze blowing through our wind chimes, I see our Jaxon and Maddie doing zoomies in our large fenced yard. Kim had mentioned to me how she wished she had a large fenced yard for all her fur babies to run and play. She now has that and is enjoying watching all her babies with whom she is reunited running and playing. I know she is smiling her gorgeous smile and her laughter is filling Heaven. Such beautiful music! I will love hearing it one day." –Rebecca Stivers

"Heaven has gained an Angel... one of our foster homes, Kim has passed away." –Amber Kay, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary

"Kim, I am so sorry to hear of your passing. Fur Angels was truly blessed to have you in our rescue. You were my friend. You inspired me to keep moving when times got tough. I am so blessed to have you on my team. Rest in peace sweet angel. We shall meet again." –Julie Johnson, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary

"I am at such a loss for words... I only knew you through Starfish Animal Rescue, I worked with you a few times, and in that small time from it was immediately obvious what an amazing person you are! You had one of the biggest hearts, and positive outlooks I had ever come across!! You were selfless in everyway. Your family and friends were so lucky and blessed to have had you in their lives and I know that you will be watching over them from above taking care of all of them any way you can. You were the foster mom for my last dog, we named her Minnie.... we love her! Thank you so much for everything you have done, and I know will continue to do from up above. Thoughts prayers and love go out to your family. you will be deeply, deeply missed...." –Amber Spitzer-Peacock, Starfish Animal Rescue

"I am so sad to hear that Kim has passed. She was such a wonderful person and such a phenomenal animal advocate. I will forever be thankful for the love and care she gave Rex when he was so very sick. I'm sure Kim that you are working at the Rainbow Bridge. God bless you." –Donna Bartolac Eliades

"Kim was an amazing woman. I had the pleasure of meeting her through transporting and rescuing pups. This world lost an amazing woman. My prayers go out to your family, may peace find your hearts in this terrible time." –Mandy Myers

"So sorry to hear of Kim's passing. I'm grateful to have been included in the fundraising & celebration of her life. Thank you for the opportunity to be a small part of her life." –Shannon Cole, Shannon's Pet Sitting

"In the midst of sorrow, such gratitude. So many of my college students where I teach have never known a mother's committed faithful love of them, much less Christ. Marriages that remain committed in faith, friendship, and passion – unheard of. Friendships unwavering through the years – non-existent. Extended family with a sense of respect, friendship, and humor. What is that? I hope you all know how rich and blessed you are – we are.... In a world where everything spins toward death, how beautiful is the person who mirrors eternal life. That would be Kim." –Edie Hill

"All of us at Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue are devastated to hear the news of Kim's passing. She had a heart of gold and was a fantastic foster mom. She will be missed by all who knew her. Hugs to all of you." –Stacy Snell Smith, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"She was an angel to the many dogs she saved and loved. I can only imagine what a wonderful mother she was." –Ellen Westkaemper, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"Kim's enthusiasm about rescue and life overall was palpable. We spoke on the phone several times and it was clear to see what a vibrant,caring and loving woman she was." –Sue Bickford, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"As I look at your picture and see you smiling, I can't help but think, you is seeing now what we can only imagine. Set free, healed and worshiping at His feet, lying down your very LARGE crown at His feet as well! God comfort the family as only HE can as you begin the most difficult task of saying goodbye, for now. He will bring people along to lift your hearts. He will carry you, no matter how heavy your load. This night, my heart is broken. RIP Kim, enter into the joy of your Lord. Every life matters." –Linda Babikian

"My heart breaks to hear that Kim has passed away. She was one of the kindest and most genuine people I ever had the honor of knowing and she will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to her wonderful family." –Julie Plagge

"I am deeply saddened to hear about the news of Kim today. I was fortunate enough to have met Kim almost 2 yrs ago when I was looking into adopting a dog she was fostering. From the moment I met her I knew she was special. She had rescued a very scared & malnourished puppy & she loved him back to good health before I adopted him in 2013. I chose to name him Mateo, which means God's gift, because he truly was a gift!!! Kim & I always stayed in touch and I knew how special Mateo was to Kim. I will always, always be grateful to her for what she did for my little Mateo. She was his first "mom" and I never would've experienced all the love & joy he brings me each day if it wasn't for Kim. May God be with all of you during this difficult time & know that Kim touched so many lives and that she was deeply loved & will be greatly missed by many." –Chrissy Schramm Berger

"So so sorry to hear this news, Kim has always been a Ray of sonshine to me...and I'm sure Many, even many cannines....When Jesus was at Lazarus tomb and saw the grief, He was grieved to tears and angry with death.... that is why He did what He did and conquered the grave so we can be together forever...Thank You Jesus!!! And till you all see your precious Kim again, I pray His supernatural comfort." –Sandy Moberg Marschall

"You know those old friends that you have known for so many years that you had babies together...prayed together, talked way into the night over your dreams and hopes?... Yeah. Kim was one of those." –Cathi Basler

"Lost an amazing friend today. Our hearts are completely broken... She is and always will be the heart of our family. Always so full of love and touched everyone around her – Kim was loved and will forever be a part of our lives...." –Nancy Thaxton, USSPN State Apostolic Coordinator for West Virginia

"Thank you to all those who stood in faith and prayed with us for Kim, our daughter-in-law Joy's mother. She fought a hard and courageous battle with cancer, but she is standing totally well and whole in the presence of her Savior, Jesus. Now please focus your prayers on her husband of 35 years, Bob, and her five children and their spouses. Our hearts are broken because we all expected a different outcome, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We will see her again. We pray the peace of God and the comfort of His Spirit to rest on all the family." –Bonnie Hammer

"Oh Lord Jesus, You have such a precious woman there in your embrace now. May your Love dry all her tears. We will miss her terribly. We look to You. May You restore us somehow... Oh God we pray for Hope for Bob and their children." –Steve Murray

"Heaven is going to be an amazing place because the dazzling array of people like Kim Sperlazzo will be reflecting the light of Christ. My love and prayers go out to you, Bob. Love you, Paul Clark"

Robin & Oscar as a Puppy

Animals have an amazing way of touching our soul. Anyone who has had an animal friend can understand the warmth, joy, humor and unconditional love these special family members bring with them.

Currently, we have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 hamsters, 1 hermit crab and aquarium, and a bearded dragon. Each one has a place in our family. Libby, our sweet white poodle, has become my grandmother's favorite buddy. Buckley, our black domestic shorthair cat, tries not to openly play favorites, but he tends to be drawn to more my 10-year-old son, Alex, and my boyfriend (now husband), Mike.

Estie, our black domestic longhair cat, is very shy, but enjoys our company when the house is settled for the day. Fireball and Barley, our 2 hamsters, along with Bob, our hermit crab, are mostly cared for by my 12-year-old daughter, Christina, who much like my grandmother, is also a close companion of Libby's. And Thorns, our bearded dragon, is my buddy.

Then there is Oscar. Oscar has a story worth telling. Seventeen years ago, on Christmas Eve, I opened a large package that had a crate, collar, leash, food bowls and other puppy care items inside. I had wanted a puppy for some time, researched breeds and was set on raising a shih tzu. My wish came true and 3 days after Christmas, I brought Oscar home. Oscar was 3 months old. He was a little ball of fur, in shades of gold, brown, black and white. At the breeder's house, I had the choice of Oscar or his brother.

I sat quietly watching them, to see what their personalities were like and waited for one to seek me out. Oscar's brother was very sweet and cuddly, but didn't really want to interact with me. Oscar, on the other hand, had a spark to his personality. He was playful, confident, and the second we made eye contact, he ran to me and I knew he was the one. He became my best friend and I brought him with me everywhere that welcomed him. Five years later my daughter was born. Oscar loved her and we had many adventures together. But two years later when I was again expecting, Oscar wasn't very happy.

I believe he sensed it was a boy. He started marking around the house and showing other signs of simply not being happy. The day before my son was born I made the decision to give Oscar to my mom. Oscar loved my mom and was familiar with her home, and I had hoped this change would make him happy while allowing us to still visit and be in his life. The arrangement didn't last very long, and I learned that my mom had placed Oscar in another home. Words cannot express the emotions that resulted from this action. Waves of shock, anger, and overwhelming sadness washed over me. I felt broken.

As time passed, it hurt less, but there was always a feeling of something missing for me. About a year and a half ago, I started to see Oscar in various places throughout my home. This would happen as I would pass a room, or while I was focusing on different tasks. I would sense his presence and see him in my peripheral vision. I would think to myself that perhaps he had passed on and it was his spirit coming to visit me. This went on for some time. Then, in August of 2010, I received an email that changed my life.

My ex-husband was searching for a dog to adopt and had been referred to Fur Keeps Animal Rescue. As he was online viewing the dogs available for adoption, he came across a senior Shih Tzu named Oscar, and forwarded the profile to me. A few phone calls later, it was confirmed: it indeed was my Oscar. I'm not sure exactly how he ended up with Fur Keeps, but it was time for Oscar to come home.

Oscar wasn't as agile as he once was, and his hearing and vision were compromised. When we first brought him home, we had to make some adjustments to our house. Our floors were too slippery for him, so we covered them with rubber backed throw rugs, made a custom food stand so he wouldn't have to put added pressure on his arthritic joints, and we adjusted our sleep cycles to include his two nightly wake up calls to go outside and eat. But mostly, we gave him our love.

This last year has brought about a major healing and shown me the true meaning of forgiveness, unconditional love and miracles. Oscar coming home has inspired all of us to do better in everything we set out to do. Watching him live in the present moment, his strength, and his spark shining through has been amazing. However, Oscar's body is declining, and everyday tasks are becoming more and more difficult for him. His spark, though still present, is quickly fading.

Now, here comes the hard part – saying goodbye – again. It's time to release him from the physical world to a place where he is free to run and play without the restrictions his aging body has placed on him.

Thank you, Oscar, for your love, your example, and for coming home. We love you, Oskie boy.

A black Labrador retriever that spent two stints at a Kansas animal shelter is living the good life on a 120-acre Florida farm, thanks to an affluent heir who felt a personal connection to the dog and dispatched a private jet to claim her.

Nothing is more entertaining to this adorable, laughing baby than her dog diving at a burst of bubbles and popping them before they hit the floor. (We recommend using edible bubbles made specifically for dogs...or cats!)

Here's what the YouTube poster says:
On a lazy day, I decided to try blowing bubbles for my daughter, Molly. At first, she didn't think they were "all that," but then Bennie, the dog, showed Molly how much fun bubbles can be. Molly thought Bennie's bubble popping was the funniest thing she has seen in her 9½ months!

  

A little background info on Bennie: We adopted Bennie from a shelter in Central Illinois in 2008. They told us that he is a German Shepherd and Beagle mix. We would not be surprised to find out that he has other breeds mixed in as well!

3. Torrey Smith is a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, and when he's not on the field, he's spending time with his dogs. Prince and Mama were both adopted from the Baltimore Animal Care and Rescue Shelter, which is just a football's throw the stadium where he plays. He recently took part in the "Show Your Soft Side" campaign, which was launched to help show people that hurting animals doesn't make them look hard.


4. Lake Bell, known from Children's Hospital, Boston Legal, and No Strings Attached, loves her dogs Texas and Margaret so much that she made them “dogs of honor” at her wedding with artist Scott Campbell. She grew up with Dachshunds, but became a pit bull lover and foster fail with the crop-eared, overbred rescue dog, Margaret.




6. Jennifer Aniston adopted a pit bull puppy last year from the Best Friends Animal Society, who fought to keep Michael Vick's surviving dogs from being euthanized. She named her Sophie, because it felt like the situation in Sophie's Choice to choose one and leave so many behind.



7. Kevin Bacon spends a lot of time with his girl, Lilly. So much, in fact, the two even have a synchronized dive that would put Olympians to shame! Sadly, the video featuring the "tandem canine-human diving event" that had been posted online is no longer available, so we'll have to settle for a photo of a goofy hug instead.


8. Josh Hutcherson of The Hunger Games decided that he wanted to adopt a puppy – not just any kind of dog, but the most "beautiful" breed there is – a pit bull. "He was actually going to be euthanized the day after I got him," he said of Driver. "So it was kind of perfect timing how it worked out. There are so many dogs, so many puppy mills and you go to these shelters and you see these beautiful, great dogs that are about to be put down for no reason. And then people buy new dogs and it doesn't make sense."


9. Tom Brady looks tough on the field, but he's a big softie when it comes to his pit bull, Lua. While out for a stroll (with his supermodel wife, Gisele Bündchen), Lua hurt her paws on the salt and ice, so Brady scooped her up and put her in the stroller, and let his boot-wearing son walk.


10. Jessica Biel's not shy about sharing her love for pit bull Tina. She even frequently features her dog in an ongoing series on Twitter at #TuesdayswithTina. She affectionately refers to her pup as a "55-pound blanket."

©2014 Life With Dogs

SB 648 Would Result in More Killing at Illinois Animal Control Shelters

  

Senate Bill 648 is a disastrous bill for shelter pets. It would prohibit animal shelters from accepting stray dogs or cats unless they were released from animal control. Any strays who come in would have to be transferred to the county or city pound, greatly increasing the number of animals housed at local government facilities. Some of these facilities don't even have adoption programs. This is a huge waste of lives and also a waste of tax dollars.

The bill has other poorly thought-out provisions, such as requiring humane investigators to notify local law enforcement or the local animal control agency prior to investigating neglect or cruelty.

Please take action HERE and send an email or letter to your state representative to ask him or her to oppose this ill-conceived legislation. If you could also CALL your representative today and politely ask that they vote "NO" on SB 648, it would be greatly appreciated.

Together, we can Save Them All.

Sincerely,
Ledy VanKavage, Esq.
Sr. Legislative Attorney

Source: Best Friends

Adopting a dog can be one of the great joys in life for pet owners, but it's also a big decision that should be taken very seriously. In this video, Dr. Julie Dinnage, co-founder and executive director of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, offers some advice on finding the right dog for you and everyone in your home. For more info, visit American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
 

Adopt a pet – you'll both be into something good!

Misa Minnie is a 21-week-old Yorkie puppy that loves treats, training and California sunshine. This week she learned how to play patty-cake. This is a multi-step trick, but thanks to lots of practice, she learned it in 4 days! Misa is home-trained, and the owner uses Stella & Chewy's treats in this video.

See what Misa's been learning at:

• 18 wks old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCPckffKPg...
• 19 wks old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYoETc8gipc...
• 20 wks old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fAwW8X9xJ0...
• Other videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/MeSoMiniMisa
• On FaceBook: http://www.Facebook.com/me.so.mini.misa

There has been much written of the hazards of having a pet lick you with their tongue.

In one articel I read, a few "experts" talked about some serious diseases... then they made the assertion that these diseases can be avoided by staying away from wet kisses.

Dr. X talked about ALL of the bacteria in dog's mouths – but in fact we humans have an even greater quantity of disease causing bacteria... huh?... perhaps, people should stop kissing?

Dr. Y talked about two diseases that can cause diarrhea – Campylobacter and Salmonella.

But here is what the Center for Disease Controls says about contracting Campylobacter:

How do people get infected with this germ?

Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also occur in outbreaks, when a number of people become ill at one time. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items.
Infants may get the infection by contact with poultry packages in shopping carts. Outbreaks of Campylobacter are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water.

As you can see... NOT from dogs and cats.

But what about Salmonella?

Here is what is on the CDC website:

How do people catch Salmonella?

Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but any food, including vegetables, may become contaminated. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the hands of an infected food handler who did not wash hands with soap after using the bathroom.

Once again... NOT from dogs and cats.

Can you get sick by contracting something from your pet?

Yes, but VERY UNLIKELY.

As stated by in the CDC Web site about theses diseases – the primary way that you contract them is through CONTAMINATED and UNDERCOOKED meat – usually poultry.

If you're really worried – well, become a vegetarian.

My point of this newsletter is two-fold:

1. Because it's in a glossy magazine and has PhD behind it STILL does NOT mean that it is a TRUE story.
   
   QUESTION the conventional beliefs that you hear and read.
   
   Do some of your own research.
   
   Clearly, the magazine article I read was NOT well researched... the writer started with the premise that it is NOT safe to have your pets lick you, then went out to "prove" it.
   
   Of course, a few seconds of research proves otherwise.
   
2. The BENEFITS of having a dog or cat "kiss" clearly outweigh ANY risk...
   
   When I get woken up in the morning with a big wet kiss from Lewis... well, I start my day in a GREAT frame of mind!

Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

Miraculous stories of survival emerge after one of the strongest tornadoes in history tore through an Oklahoma suburb.

May 21, 2013
An elderly woman whose home was destroyed by the Oklahoma tornado found her pet dog among the rubble during a live TV interview.

The footage of Barbara Garcia came as fellow survivors began reliving the terror they felt while winds of up to 200mph obliterated their neighbourhoods.

Mrs. Garcia was standing among the twisted wreckage of her home as she was interviewed about her experiences by a reporter from CBS.


"I was sitting on the stool holding my dog," she said.

"This was the game plan all through the years, to go in that little bathroom (together in an emergency). I rolled around a little bit and when it stopped – I was right there (and) that stove cooker is what I saw.

"I never lost consciousness, and I hollered for my little dog and he didn't answer, he didn't come. So, I know he's in here somewhere."

But as she spoke, a member of the camera crew spotted a dog's head poking out of the twisted remains of her home.

Mrs. Garcia is seen crouching down before exclaiming with joy as she spots her pet.

"Well, I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be OK, but He answered both of them, because this was my second prayer," she said, before being led away from the ruins with her dog.

Meanwhile, one mother who survived the storm described how she and her children took refuge in their bath as the tornado tore their house apart.

"My husband told us to get in the bathtub immediately and put on a mattress," she said.

She said she had to hold her daughter's hair to stop her slipping away when the tornado struck.

Another family locked themselves inside their cellar – only to have its door ripped open by the twister.

Ricky Stover said: "We thought we'd die. We saw the latch coming undone and we couldn't reach for it ... glass and debris started slamming on us."

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1093711/tornado-survivor-finds-dog-during-tv-interview
Copyright ©2013 BSkyB

Whether you've got a (human) sweetheart or not this February 14th, we all know the doggone truth: dogs make the best valentines! Read our Top 10 reasons why, and then tell us what makes your dog is the perfect valentine!

10. A dog never complains when you want to spend the night on the couch in sweatpants watching a New Girl marathon.

9. What five pound weight gain? Your dog didn't notice – or say anything when you sucked in your stomach on the scale.

8. Not only does your dog not mind eating leftovers, he actually prefers it.

7. You don't have to be self-conscious about needing a pedicure when a dog licks your toes.

6. Your morning breath is never going to be as bad as your dog's.

5. Your big, strong dog makes you feel safer than any alarm system.

4. Your dog will happily listen to you complain about your boss's/mother's/ex's wardrobe for the millionth time.

3. Your dog doesn't judge you for needing to slow down and take a breather on your run together; he's just happy to spend time with you.

2. Dogs don't steal the blankets at night. They do, however, fart in bed – so consider yourself warned!

1. No one in the universe loves you more than your dog.

1. Never let your off-leash dog go up to an on-leash dog.
2. Lock retractable leashes when you see other dogs.
3. Ask before approaching or petting any dog.
4. Have compassion for people with shy or reactive dogs.

Please do not chase us. Let us pass without interaction, and keep your judgments to yourself.

Source: http://doggiedrawings.net/post/842176625
© 2011 Lili Chin

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7 Dog Etiquette Rules

By Janine Allen
May 24th, 2009