Last Hope’s Golden Whisker Society Aims to Increase Senior Adoptions

Recently, I was asked by my sister-in-law to design this logo for Last Hope‘s new Golden Whisker Society Senior Dog & Cat Adoption Program:

Golden Whisker Society at Last Hope

Below is the newsletter sent out regarding the program:

November is “Adopt a Senior Pet” Month and the perfect time for us to launch Last Hope’s senior pet adoption program, the Golden Whisker Society.  As we know, our town shelters are overflowing with homeless cats and dogs every day.  Removing any animal from that plight is rewarding; Doing so for an older cat or dog can be one of the more satisfying experiences of a lifetime.  No animal likes to be in a cage, alone and without companionship.  Older animals tend to suffer more, though, due to the stress of a major life-change at a time when their bodies are not as strong and their sensitivities high.   Many suffer physical pains and ailments that go untreated because they cannot tell anyone what hurts.  Most of them suffer broken hearts due to  the losses they have endured, having once been someone’s beloved pet and now finding themselves alone in a cage in a strange place. Many older animals languish in shelter cages for months, and even years, because most people look to adopt younger pets.  We are hoping to change this.  Our goal with our Golden Whisker Society is two-fold:  We aim to raise awareness of the incredible joy one can experience in adopting a senior pet by having our senior-pet adopters tell their stories here, and we hope to raise much-needed funding so that we can continue to take more amazing seniors out of the shelters and give them the medical attention they deserve and the comfort of the forever-homes they crave.

Please check back here often for our stories, and please consider donating to our cause. If you have ever adopted an older animal and want to share your story, just send us an email to GWS@Lasthopeanimalrescue.org to submit your story (and photo too!) and we can post your story here. For more information about the Golden Whisker Society contact Lucy at effmanlu@yahoo.com and Eileen at Eosmers@gmail.com.

We celebrate this month as Adopt a Senior Pet Month, but our Golden Whisker Society mission continues every single day throughout the year and beyond.  For as long as there are senior animals who need us, we will continue to find ways to help them.

Please support the Golden Whisker Society and spread the word to animal lovers in your circle!

Dog Halloween Costumes by Etsy

Halloween is more amusing when your dog has a costume, too!  Some are more embarrassing than others, but dressing up Fido one day a year won’t hurt him. And depending on the costume, it may add a little extra warmth while he’s protecting the trick-or-treaters on their candy outing. It may even earn him a treat or two of his own.

Here are some creative handmade options from Etsy shops:

Giraffe Halloween Costume
Giraffe Halloween Costume

Yoda Halloween Costume
Yoda Halloween Costume

Elephant Halloween Costume
Elephant Halloween Costume

Backpack Halloween Costume
Backpack Halloween Costume

Halloween Dog Bowtie
Halloween Dog Bow Tie

I swear my dog is glaring at me as I write this…. Are you dressing your pooch up this Halloween? Leave a comment!

Selena Gomez & Justin Bieber Adopt A Puppy

Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez

While on tour in Winnipeg, Canada, Selena Gomez took a moment out of her busy schedule to stop by local shelter D’Arcy’s Animal Rescue Centre and help out a pup in need. She took home adorable 10-week old husky mix, Baylor. He is the sixth addition to her family of rescues. He is quite the looker:

Selena Gomez Adopts Baylor the Puppy

Look at those blue eyes! I’m officially a new Selena Gomez fan.

Handmade Feature: Eco-friendly Dog Accessories

Kiss My Mutt™, an adorable shop for dog owners, puts the style back in eco-friendly.

Here is their shop description:

Here at Kiss My Mutt™ we love dogs! We offer upscale, affordable designer dog products and apparel. All of our dog beds are eco‐friendly and handcrafted with recycled fillers and durable fabrics. Our goal is to create products that look great in your home, are stylish, socially responsible and most importantly, comfortable for your four‐legged friend!

Their products are truly adorable, and so are their models! Here are a few of my favorites:

Sugar Maple Dog Bed
Sugar Maple Dog Bed

Wipe Your Paws Reused Barn Wood Floor Door Sign
Wipe Your Paws Reused Barn Wood Floor Door Sign

Grey Sunrise Luxury Bed
Grey Sunshine Luxury Bed

Reversible Dog Bandana
Reversible Dog Bandana

You can check out everything they have to offer at kissmymutt.etsy.com. Happy shopping!

Shelter Dog Photography by Susan Sabo

There are quite a few dog lovers on Etsy, and every once in a while you come across a talented artist who incorporates their passion for animals into their work. Its no wonder that these are my favorite Etsy shops!

Susan Sabo is an environmental and animal photographer. What caught my eye in her shop were her unique shots of shelter dogs. These stunning photos are eye-opening and inspiring. The best part is, she donates a portion of her sales to various rescue associations; some small and independent, like her local shelter, and some larger ones, like The Humane Society of the United States.

She also volunteers her time and services to shelters, and even donates sessions and prints for fundraisers.

Here are a few of her beautiful shots:

Susan Sabo Photography
Windows to the Soul

Susan Sabo Photography
Shelter Dogs, No. 30

Susan Sabo Photography
Shelter Dogs, No. 11

Susan Sabo Photography
Shelter Dogs, No. 5

Susan Sabo Photography
Shelter Dogs, No. 34

Susan Sabo Photography
Brainiac

You can purchase her shots at susansabophotography.etsy.com.

You can also find her on Facebook at facebook.com/susansabophotography.

Harper the Pit Bull Puppy & Dolly’s Foundation

I always have the Today Show on in the morning as background noise, and every once in a while there is a segment about animals. Today, I was passing by the TV and the sweetest little pit bull puppy face was chewing on Matt Lauer’s shoe lace, so naturally I had to rewind and watch the segment immediately (love my dvr!). Harper’s story is an amazing testament to how these dogs often overcome obstacles and persevere with the help of caring people. She was born with a condition called “swimmer puppy syndrome”, in which she could not walk or lift her head, and was abandoned by her original owner. Lucky for the little girl, she was rescued by Erica Daniel of Dolly’s Foundation, a pit bull rescue in Orlando, Florida. The organization is named after Dolly the pit bull. Click here to watch a video about Dolly’s amazing story. I’ll warn you that you may spend the next three to five minutes crying, so have a tissue ready. But Dolly’s story is not a sad one anymore, thanks to Erica! If you can’t watch the video (there are some graphic images), you can read about her story here.

Harper the Pit Bull Puppy
Harper (photo by Flyin Fur Pet Photography)

Harper the Pit Bull Puppy
Harper (photo by Flyin Fur Pet Photography)

Dolly's Foundation Founder Erica Daniel
Dolly’s Foundation Founder Erica Daniel & Dolly the Pit Bull

The above photos of Harper were taken by Flyin Fur Pet Photography. They are currently selling all of their photos of her and donating the proceeds to Dolly’s Foundation.

Adoptable Friends

Any responsible pit bull owner knows one thing: pits have an undeserved reputation. Like all dogs, they just want to be loved! And they will give it back, 1000 times over if you let them. Here are some cute pitties for your enjoyment, and all are available for adoption:

Adoptable Pit Bull Dutch
Dutch, available at Villalobos Rescue Center

Adoptable Pit Bull Rayne
Rayne, available at Pit Bull Rescue San Diego

Adoptable Pit Bull Roxie
Roxie, available at Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue

Adoptable Pit Bull Jessie
Jessie, available at Pit Bull Rescue San Diego

Adoptable Pit Bull Mr. Jiggs
Mr. Jiggs, available at Bad Rap, Oakland CA