Operation Blankets of Love

Yesterday I mentioned that you could check out Operation Blankets of Love and do something similar - what I didn't know was that their website has had a disaster.

We're not sure yet just what happened, but it disappeared. And the web host's site has also disappeared. This is not a good thing, because their web-builder had not kept a back-up file. They may have to start over from scratch to re-create their website.

That's not a good thing - it was filled with great video clips of news interviews and photos of the animals they've helped, as well as all the information about their work.

Why am I telling you this? Because you may also be in a dangerous position. If you have a site built by someone else so the files are not on your computer, do something about it right away.

Recently I've talked with several people - both animal rescuers and Realtors - who have used some kind of service for their website and are unable to get at their HTML files to do basic search engine optimization behind the scenes. They're also unable to make updates themselves. And the worst part is that the people they count on to make updates and take care of SEO don't do it in a timely fashion.

So... I realize the reason so many take that route is that they don't know how to do it themselves. If that's your situation, then find someone to help you. If you have to hire a high school student to come to your house and work, do it. Just make sure that your own files are in a place where you can get at them - and make sure you've been shown how to do it.

Also, if some other person is named as administrator for your domain name, get it changed while that person is still available. If the person suddenly disappears you'll have months of hassle getting it into your own name. Believe me - I had it happen to me early on, and two different friends of mine have had the same challenge.

Sorry to disgress from dogs for a minute - but if you're involved with a rescue or a shelter, this is important to your fundraising efforts, as well as your ability to have your dogs and cats for adoption seen on line.

So what is Operation Blankets of Love? It's a very small group of people who are making a big difference in Southern California. They collect blankets from donation bins placed in vet clinics, Petco Stores, and other pet-related places. Then they deliver them to shelters and rescue groups across 7 counties. Shelter workers say it is amazing how much comfort those homeless dogs and cats get from just having a blanket to snuggle into. And when they're more secure, they're happier, and they're more easily adopted.

In the year since this project began, they've delivered over 35,000 blankets, towels, treats, pet beds, pet carriers, and toys to over 100 different shelters and rescue groups. They even helped with the rescue during California's wild fires.

They also do pet care talks in schools and take kids on shelter tours so they can learn more about responsibility and caring for our furry friends. Teaching the kids now just might help reduce the number of abused and abandoned pets in years to come.

I'll let you know when their site is back up. But in the meantime - how many blankets could you find to take to a shelter in your home town?

Unnecessary dog adoption heartache

Today's newspaper told a sad story - and it's a story that was entirely preventable.

It seems a little dog wandered out of his yard and got lost. His humans looked high and low, posted signs with his picture everywhere, contacted all the surrounding animal shelters, and even posted his picture on all the websites that list lost dogs and ran ads in the local newspapers - with his photo.

One of those shelters and websites they contacted was the one where he was brought when he was "found" nearly 2 weeks later.

The day after he was found, a gentleman came to the shelter and asked to adopt him. So when the requisite 72 hours had elapsed, he went to his new home. A month later, by chance, his original family learned where he was and tried to get him back. No dice. The man said he adopted him fair and square and that was that.

This case has already been to court once and is going back again. The question seems to be where the dog was found - in the city or the county. The answer to that will determine whether the shelter had authority to take him in and adopt him out.

This is sad for the dog's original owners - and for the new person.

What should have happened when that dog came in was a cross-check with the lost dog reports - and the shelter's own website. Had they looked, they'd have seen his photo, made a call, and helped him get back home.

It's also sad for animal shelters. Many depend upon public support for funding, so a mistake like this could cost dearly. Who wants to support a rescue group that won't even check the lost dog reports before sending a dog off to a new home? Sounds like a pretty sloppy and uncaring organization.

And, people being human, they're apt to paint all shelters with the same brush.

All rescue workers have too much to do - so often volunteers are not trained well. I don't know if that's what happened in this case, but it is a shame that so many people are hurting - and spending big $$ on attorneys - when the whole situation should never have happened.

My heart goes out to these humans - and to the poor little dog who now has two homes and can only live in one.

Maybe, before you adopt a dog, you should ask:

• Has this dog been checked for a microchip?
  
• Have you checked your lost dog reports to make sure no one is searching for this dog?

That way you could possibly avoid the heartache that these folks are facing.

Priest River Animal Rescue Quilt Raffle

This just in from our local rescue...

Dear Friends and Family,

A very generous supporter of Priest River Animal Rescue has made a completely hand-stitched and hand-pieced quilt (NO machine quilting) and donated for a raffle.

Please see attached photograph to see the beauty of this amazing quilt. The photo is on a California King size bed and you can see the quilt hangs over on all sides. It measures 8' 7" X 8' 7". Very large.

The other details are:

- Quilt is made with the Log Cabin pattern.

- Quilt is made from 100% pre-washed cotton.

- Quilt can be machine washed and dried on gentle cycles. I LOVE THIS!

- Tickets are $1 each and a maximum of 1,500 will be sold for this raffle.

- 100% of the funds raised go directly to rescue the animals (medical bills, food, kennel cleaning supplies...)

Please help Priest River Animal Rescue (www.pranimalrescue.org). A very worthy, hard-working group. I know y'all here it from me regularly, but I see the miracles this group accomplishes on a daily basis.

If you would like to mail me a check, I'm the coordinator of the quilt raffle and I can mail you back your raffle tickets. My mailing address is: Barbi Johnson, 12893 Highway 57, Priest River, ID 83856.

Now... A big favor... please forward this e-mail to anyone you think would be interested to get "the buzz" started on this raffle.

Thanks for your support,

Barbi Johnson

A Plug for Priest River Animal Rescue

Off to the right you'll see a new addition - a contest in which some animal shelter will win $10,000.

I voted for Priest River Animal Shelter because I helped start it about 6 years ago, and because our small town has a great need for more spay and neuter funding.

So, unless you have a favorite of your own, please go vote for PRAR by November 1.

Thanks,
Marte