it's a great time to adopt: the post-holiday pet crisis

December 31, 2014 Kristen Carr

Just after the holidays, there is an influx of pets–mostly dogs and cats–who are brought to shelters and pounds or simply abandoned. These gifted pets may have been unwanted, or their well-intended owners may not have realized the responsibility and work the pets would require. Unless the pet-giver is certain a pet is wanted and the pet's new family is ready to take on the commitment for the long haul, gifting a pet is not a good idea. It looks like a dream when we see that little girl opening up a perfectly-wrapped package to reveal a silky butterball-of-a-puppy. What we don't envision are the potty training mishaps, chewed table leg or stained couch. Reality bites.

It's not the pet's fault.

There is a post-holiday pet crisis, so if you're considering adoption (and you understand the reality of pet parenting), now is a great time to bring home a new furry family member. After impulsively indulging in a pet fantasy, many people surrender their pets in the days and weeks following December holidays. When the shelters fill to capacity, these pets are sometimes abandoned altogether, left to fend for themselves.

So after careful consideration and planning, if you're ready to adopt, now is an excellent time to make one of these animals part of your family.

Resources:

Adoption Tips from the ASPCA

ASPCA : Find a Pet to Adopt Near You

Lost Our Home Pet Foundation (Phoenix area)

we're volunteering as a family to help homeless pets

June 29, 2014 Kristen Carr

The littles and I worked our first volunteer shift this week for Lost Our Home Pet Foundation. We've taken on a weekly shift caring for the cats available for adoption in our local PetSmart. We scoop litter boxes, provide fresh food and water, do whatever cleaning is needed, and, of course, play with the cats and give them lots of love. Mostly I do all the "dirty work" while the littles cuddle and play with the cats.

Here are some of the friends we hung out with this week:

The littles playing with Seven while I scoop litter boxes.

Porter gives Mango the safe greeting he learned in volunteer orientation.

Hanging with Daisy in her enclosure. Wonder what the adoption fee would be for these two characters.

We had a great time, and we all felt like we'd done a good deed, indeed. We'll miss these guys if they get adopted this week, but we sure hope they do!

If you're interested in adopting one of these cats or browsing Lost Our Home Pet Foundation's complete list of adoptable animals, you can visit all adoptable dogs and cats HERE.

More information about Lost Our Home Pet Foundation:

grand opening! lost our home pet foundation's new facility

blog the change for animals: lost our home pet foundation

help the aspca raise awareness about dog fighting and enter our #NDFAD #giveaway

April 3, 2014 Kristen Carr

I think boxing and cage fighting are ridiculous "sports." People have tried to explain to me the strategy involved and how physically fit these people have to be. I can appreciate their fitness, but, beyond that, I'm stumped. Why would people intentionally beat the shit out of each other for "sport?"

At least in boxing and cage fighting, the participants are willing and able to make the choice to fight or not to fight.

This is not true of dog fighting. Participants are raised as products in miserable conditions and are made to fight whether they like it or not. Kill or be killed. They don't have a choice.

The ASPCA has officially designated April 8th as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day to raise awareness about dog fighting brutality. They are hosting a Google+ Hangout with national experts to discuss the underground world of dog fighting. It will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about the blood sport that is far more prevalent in America than most realize. During the Google+ Hangout, there will be live social media Q&As across Facebook, Twitter and Google+ in which users will be able to submit questions about dog fighting with the hashtag #NDFAD, and a panel of ASPCA experts–moderated by ABC News anchor Dan Harris–will be answering them–live.

In addition, ASPCA.org will feature a wealth of interactive information and an advocacy center on ASPCA.org that includes:

• The premiere of a never-before seen short documentary, including undercover footage of dog fights, ASPCA rescue activity at dog fighting raids, and expert insight

• An interactive quiz that debunks common misconceptions about dog fighting and the dogs and people involved in this "sport"

• A "virtual museum" photo gallery of dog fighting and training paraphernalia, including dog treadmills, fighting pits, and narcotics used to increase aggression before a fight

• Profiles of dog fighting victims rescued by the ASPCA

The ASPCA states that "the goal of National Dog Fighting Awareness Day is to elevate the perception of dog fighting from an isolated criminal act to a deep and persistent stain on our national character."

Please join me at the Google+ Hangout on the 8th from 7-8 p.m. EST.

The ASPCA has generously offered Well Minded readers the opportunity to win a National Dog Fighting Awareness Day gift pack. Please enter, spread the word and support this important cause!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

grand opening! lost our home pet foundation's new facility

March 31, 2014 Kristen Carr

It's been a long time coming, and it's been a lot of work.

Lost Our Home Pet Foundation has a new home with lots more space to help more animals in need, and they are inviting us to share in the celebration. On April 5, the Foundation will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at their new facility. With over 8,000 square feet, this space is surely something to celebrate. This family-friendly event will be full of fun:

• free giveaways by event sponsor Valley Honda Dealerships

• ribbon cutting to officially "open" the new shelter (1:30 p.m.)

• tasty treats from The Roasted Shallot food truck

• facility tours

• KNIX will play the hits and offer on-site promos

• face painting

• cat tree trunk show for great deals on cat trees

• discounted pet supplies on sale to benefit Lost Our Home

• $50 off dog adoption fees and FREE decorative dog houses with each dog adoption (while supplies last)

• $20 off cat adoption fees and FREE full size bag of food and coupons from PetSmart.

Come join Lost Our Home in the celebration! Here are the details:

Saturday, April 5, 2014 • noon to 4:00 p.m. • 2323 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282

Lost Our Home is doing great things. The animals pictured here are a fraction of those who found forever homes in March.

Connect with Lost Our Home on Facebook and Twitter.

an unconventional family bonded by a dog: childsplay's "super cowgirl and mighty miracle"

March 24, 2014 Kristen Carr

I figured that the littles and I would enjoy any play where one of the main characters is a dog (played by a human), but I didn't realize how touching and thought-provoking a seemingly simple tale could be. We knew going in that Childsplay's Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle would likely be fantastic. When we saw The Velveteen Rabbit a few months ago, we were blown away. What surprised me about this production was how playwright José Cruz González took serious current social issues and made them approachable for young audiences and how Childsplay's actors communicated the story in such a way that these beginning theater-goers could "feel."

Childsplay summarized the play:

When a stray dog appears on the doorstep, it's love at first sight for six-year-old Cory, and the last straw for Grandma Autumn. Life hasn't been easy lately for either of these two, facing absent parents and lost homes. But in a delightfully surprising story filled with humor and heart, Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle reminds us love makes almost anything possible, even in hard times.

The subject matter couldn't be more timely.

We had the honor of listening to González speak about the play before it began. He explained how he wanted to tackle current issues that are facing so many in our country. He wanted to illustrate an unconventional family both in terms of multiple generations and in terms of race and culture.

My children (ages five and seven) were quite entertained throughout the performance. There were no untimely bathroom requests or declarations of starvation. They were riveted. They laughed a lot, and felt the tension that some parts of the story required. I enjoyed watching their faces as much as I enjoyed watching the performance. With such complex, sensitive issues being raised I wondered how much my children absorbed. I asked them what the play was about (possible spoilers):

Quotes from my seven-year-old:

• "The girl had to live with her grandma because her mom was dead and her papa had to go to another country to work. They didn't have a lot of money, so that must have been hard."

• "I thought it was cool how they went to all the different places and just switched a couple of things on the stage so you could tell where they were."

• "The girl helped the dog, and the dog helped the girl and her grandma, too, so they became a real family. They all loved each other."

Quotes from my five-year-old:

• "Love...and family."

• "The play was about the dog saving the girl's life just like she saved his life."

• "The girl and the grandma didn't get along so well at the beginning, but then they loved each other."

• "My favorite part was when the grandma stepped in the dog poop!"

I must say, the poop part was pretty funny. There were several points during the show that had the whole audience roaring. Despite–and perhaps partly because of–the hilarious antics, the kids were able to understand that the story was about love and family.

Aside from the fabulous performance that Childsplay put on, I love the fact that they make theater approachable for kids. After the performance, the actors took their traditional bows, but then remained on the stage. They first asked the children in the audience specific questions about the play that made them think how they, as individuals, could relate to the story. Some of the questions required detailed comprehension of the story, and some didn't, so there were questions for all ages. Everyone had the opportunity to participate. The children then had the chance to ask questions of the actors. The actors were approachable and said "ask us anything!"

My favorite question came from a young man: "How old are you?"

It was clear that Osiris Cuen, who played "Cory," a six-year-old girl, was no where near that age. Yet during the performance, she made us believe she was. "I'm twenty-two," Cuen told the young man. Carlos A. Lara, who played the dog, reported his age as "twenty-four." Perhaps we can figure that out in dog years. And Chanel Bragg, who played "Grandma Autumn" was a mere thirty-one! Now I really feel old. It was wonderful to see the children in the audience asking questions that adults would typically take for granted. Not only are the children learning at an early age how to think thoroughly about a production, but adults get to view a live production through the eyes of inquisitive children. How rewarding for all!

Disclaimer: I am a Childsplay Mom2Mom Blogger. My family and I were provided tickets to this performance in exchange for my honest opinion. This review was also posted on Childsplay's Mom2Mom Blog.