10 WAYS YOU CAN HELP FIGHT PUPPY MILLS

This information is from the ASPCA website. We feel it is valuable information that everyone should read.

1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.
2. Make Adoption Your First Option If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country?and an estimated one in four is a purebred! Your second option is breed rescue. If your heart is set on a specific breed you haven’t been able to find in a shelter, you can do an Internet search for a breed-specific rescue organization.
3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder If you’ve exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs’ interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them! Read the ASPCA’s responsible breeding statement to find out more about how a responsible breeder behaves.
4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred One sign that you are speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you see the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding premises and to meet both parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you want to take home. You should also ask for an adoption contract that explains?in terms you understand?the breeder’s responsibilities, health guarantee and return policy.
5. Internet Buyers, Beware! Buying a puppy from the Internet is as risky as buying from a pet store. If you buy a puppy based on a picture and a phone call, you have no way of seeing the puppy’s breeding premises or meeting his parents. And those who sell animals on the Internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations?and so are not inspected by the USDA.
6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story with the ASPCA If you have—or think you have—purchased a puppy-mill puppy, please tell us your story. Every bit of evidence gives us more power to get legislation passed that will ban puppy mills.
7. Speak Out! Inform your state and federal legislators that you are disturbed by the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills, and would like to see legislation passed that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions. You can keep up-to-date about current legislation to ban puppy mills by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.
8. Tell Your Friends If someone you know is planning on buying a puppy, please direct them to our puppy mill information at ASPCA.org. Let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.
9. Think Globally Have a webpage, a MySpace page or a blog? Use these powerful tools to inform people about puppy mill cruelty by adding a link to our puppy mill information at ASPCA.org.
10. Act Locally! When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their veterinarian, groomer or pet supply store.

Download and print our flyers and ask to leave them in the offices of your local practitioners.

WCBI news

Click the WCBI logo to go to the video.




Look at 200 Dogs Rescued 5.21.08

Wow. I am famous. I am on the news in a good way & I always thought it would be for something bad. I am really kidding. Or....I am. Look for me around 1:56 minutes. I am in a white TLHS t-shirt on the phone. We were swamped with calls for people wanting to adopt a puppy mill puppy. Keep in mind we have dogs in the back also that need a home. Not just the puppy mill ones. Debbie Hood in the video talking is our great shelter Director. She is so dedicated.

Puppy Mill Bust

ADOPTION INFORMATION FOR PUPPY MILL ANIMALSPOSTED:
05/21/08
Please do not call the shelter at this time as our staff is busy trying to process and evaluate all of these animals. We are trying to concentrate all of our efforts on the animals right now. You can help us by emailing our shelter info@tupelo-leehumane.org - instead of calling, we simply do not have enough man power to watch our phones, because we have everyone working on these animals. Please include on the email, your name, phone number, email address and the type of animal you are interested in adopting . Your information will be put on our contact list. We will contact you after the puppy mill dogs are evaluated, spayed/neutered , shots, de-wormed etc. At this time we do not have an estimate on how long this will take. We want to be thorough and make sure the animals get the best care possible. These animals are requiring many extra expenses for our shelter and their adoption fee will be $250.00 for the small breed dogs / puppies.
Debbie Hood
Shelter Director
Tupelo Lee Humane Society

***************************************

Have you read about the puppy mill bust & a child that died in Union county?
If you would like to help with the animals or know someone that fits number 1 thru 6 please E-MAIL the shelter.
POSTED: 05/20/08)
1) We are in urgent need of larger carriers or wire cages to be used temporarily for housing the 185 dogs and 25 cats from the puppy mill seizure. Anyone that can loan us these items can drop them at the shelter. Please have your name on the cages or kennels so that they may be returned to you later.
2)We need food and water bowls and Puppy Food. All bowls that were in place are completely unusable and disease-ridden. Metal bowls would be great because they can be easily sterilized for multiple uses.
3) We need a good Samaritan to allow us the use of a local building to temporarily set up the animals for evaluation and processing. The building must have air if enclosed, and running water.
4) We are in need of experience animal care giver volunteers to help with the daily cleaning and feeding of these animals. The criticalness of this situation does not allow time for us to train inexperienced people, this is why we request experienced people. Times needed will be determined when we get on site and access our future needs. Almost all of these animals need to be shaved or will need a major groom. Groomers who could volunteer their services to assist us with this would be greatly appreciated. We will also need fosters for the nursing pups and moms.
5) We could use a person to co-ordinate and contact with me the number of volunteers and the times available to work, since I will be busy with hands on processing.
6)We are always in need of monetary donations but more so this month than any other. We will have to take on extra feeding,transportation,and medical expenses for the animals. Also our regular budget, payroll and daily shelter expenses are going to be very high because this situation is using every one on our staff to their maximum capacity.
If you would like to help with any of this you can E-MAIL the shelter
info@tupelo-leehumane.org
Thanks,
Debbie Hood
TLHS Director

Wrong place at the wrong time or Are we?

God doesn't make mistakes.

He puts us where we are to be.

They say there are no mistakes, for everything there is a purpose.

Makes you think.

We’ll never know where our paths will take us!

God is not sleeping.

Do you ever feel you are in the "Wrong Place at the Wrong Time" ? I am full of Southern sayings even though I don't know if that is one. We all know the saying but deep down I know that isn't true. God always has us where we need to be.

I have to say I have been in some pretty cool places at what seems like the wrong time.

Once in 2000 in Paris in the Louvre Museum a deafening alarm sounded & all the doors shut & we were locked in Napoleon's bedroom full of priceless furniture along with alot of people that did not speak English. We sat on the floor a bit & then all the doors opened & we were on our way to the next wing. We never found out what happened. Probably never will. Wrong place wrong time.

In 2005 Jeff & I went to Paris & London. While in London bombs started to go off on the subway, streets & buses. We were outside of London on a castle tour at the Queen's home. I was in the gift shop when guards took me by my arms & asked if I was done shopping & lead me out of the shop. I thought I had done something wrong. When we first went in a bit before there were these cute little retired guys in beautiful uniforms greeting us. When I came out to the street side the cute little retired guys were gone & these young uniformed guys with berets with semi automatic weapons had took their place. Scary scene & we had no idea what had happened. No one knew. Word slowly got out & we were told "London was Closed". Closed! How can a city be closed? We did not know the severity until we got back to our Hotel that night. Our family had been trying to get ahold of us all of the day. We did get in touch but we were fine. We stayed in that night but was right back out the next day.

Wrong place wrong time.

Mississippi has been a crazy place for weather here lately. On May 8 of this month I took the boys to school as normal. On my way back the lightening was really striking in the sky. I had grabbed my camera on the way out the door. I pulled over at the furniture market buildings to try & get a picture of the lightening. Well the sky got really dark & it poured rain. The hardest I had seen in awhile. I gave up on the lightening & went home. I got a phone call when I got in the door. It was my husbands friend wanting to know if I was OK. Well.....ok as I could be. They had heard on the radio that a tornado had come up the road by my house, hit the furniture market, went across the road to the airport & jumped back up & went toward the mall area. I changed my clothes (in case I see someone I know) grabbed a fresh battery for my camera & headed back out. The tornado had hit the market building up the road from where I was sitting at earlier. WOW. Ripped the roof off. No injuries. I headed toward the mall area. Got alot of great shots. 3 were picked up by an on-line news site. You can view the pics I made here on Flickr.com. One of my sister's called to see if we were ok. She lives in GA & heard a tornado had hit our area. I had to admit to her on the phone where I was. Up where it had hit. The radio was calling for more bad weather to move through. I thought I would head home but wrong place wrong time. I was on a busy highway when the next wave came through. Along with a ton of other people I pulled off the side & waited it through. I had my phone & it worked so I sat & got caught up with my sister I rarely get to see. Well I did get home that day. Tupelo came through with no serious injuries. Alot of property damage but no deaths.

Wrong place wrong time.

Well not much as happened since then.......Wrong

Wrong place wrong time......

Next post to follow explains more......

He puts us where we are to be.

Something to think about...

A young mother paying a visit to a doctor friend and his wife made no attempt to restrain her five-year-old son, who was ransacking an adjoining room.

But finally, an extra loud clatter of bottles did prompt her to say, "I hope, doctor, you don't mind Johnny being in there."

"No," said the doctor calmly,

"He'll be quiet when he gets to the poisons."

Admit it---we all know a mom like this!

My New Medicine

Click for larger view

Before we go to bed

I have a post coming today. This is to keep you busy in the mean time.


Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, 'I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed'.
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.
Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.
She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.
She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.
She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store.
She put both near her purse.
She then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.
Dad called out, 'I thought you were going to bed.' 'I'm on my way,' she said
She put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.
She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's , hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day & straightened up the shoe rack.
She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list.
She said her prayers and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. 'I'm going to bed' And he did without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here?
Wonder why women live longer...?
Cause we are made for the long haul....
(and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

This is usually my routine at night.

GOTTA' LOVE LITTLE BOYS

Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of

tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter.

The man at the counter asked the older boy,

'Son, how old are you?'

"Eight," the boy replied.

The man continued, 'Do you know what these are used for?'

The boy replied, 'Not exactly, but they aren't for me.

They're for him. He's my brother. He's four.

We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike.

Right now, he can't do either one.'

Father's Day of 2005

Week starting out busy

Monday started really great. All the kindergarten classes at my youngest son's school went on a field trip. Since my week was starting not really busy I went with them. It was so much FUN. My husband had asked me earlier where we were going & I had no idea. I knew the name of the place but not where it was. I got to school & asked them & was told it was about 45 minutes from the school. Kids went by bus & parents followed in cars. Alot of parents followed. It turned out being a beautiful day here. A bit of chill in the air. I had a long sleeve on & was fine. If you live anywhere around here & have not heard of this place make a point to go. They have tons of things to do.

Circle Y Equestrian Center I was not disappointed in the least. We will be going back in the summer with the boys. The price you can not beat. When some of the parents heard we could buy from the snack bar while there we ditched our PB & J sandwiches & got really good BBQ sandwiches. The whole park was just open to us. The kids had a great time & so did the parents. Can't wait for the fall to be here because they also have a pumpkin patch.

I am going to be in some serious trouble for this one. If you read my post a few days ago about the mommie cat that had the four kittens & she accepted another one from Saturday, well....someone brought in 4 more & she took those also. She has a grand total of 9 kittens. Well the picture below is made from my house. I would go & visit her each time I was at the shelter & talk to her. She looked so sad in her cage. She is such a loving cat & loves to be petted. She has been a great mother. I say I will be in trouble because my hubby had already told me I better not be bringing any of them home because I feel sorry for them. After the field trip my youngest son & I went by the shelter & got her & brought her home with us to foster her. (Pets are available to foster at about all shelters while they are waiting on homes) She has been nursed on so much that they are about to suck the life from her. I went Tuesday to PetSmart & got some powder kitten formula to mix up. We have bottle feeding them some. They are so funny to watch. The mom even loves the formula. It is made for nursing cats also. I got her some good food to help her along in her condition. I also attached a picture of the mom & kittens & one of the kittens taking from a bottle. A couple of them are having a hard time figuring it out but they are getting a bit in them. The boys love to feed them. What a great experience for them to remember how they helped in the life of a tiny helpless creature. I just hope all this is not in vain. After they are weaned & a few weeks older they will go back to the shelter for adoption. Tell everyone you can if they are about to adopt to try a shelter first. My mother is about sick of me telling her to spay & neuter. I have to say though that she does it with all her animals. She & my step-father have just adopted 2 solid white kittens & having to feed them with a bottle. Even my sister is taking care of kittens right now. She had got a cat & it turned out being pregnant. I guess we will be known as the Crazy Cat Family.

We had to tear ourselves away from the cats for Monday night & go to a scout meeting. With camping coming up the Webelos 1 had to have a swim practice (inside pool) to get ready for a swim test. They will get to use canoes this year. They are looking forward to it.

My little fish (Chris) in the water.

AKA--Crazy Cat Family