Waggin' Tails

Wondering what you can do with your dog in Hampton Roads? Get the answers here. I'll be discussing dog care, nutrition, training, play, and games to play with your dog.

Pet owners should be well informed when it comes to caring for their pet. Recalls on food ingredients, brand name foods, and toys make it necessary for pet parents to have information. But there is so much information it would make your head spin. Angie has a knack for getting and sorting this information. Having run two pet related businesses and having rescued two dogs so far, she has years of experience in pet care and training. For questions or comments, you can contact her at bigdogmom@mailpuppy.com.

Category: Pets

■ 02 October 2008 | 4:15 PM

Ideas for World Animal Day

World Animal Day and the Feast of St. Francis is this Saturday, October 4^th. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate with your best furry buddy. Some of these ideas don’t require much, if any, money to do.

Adopt a new furry friend for your home.

Sponsor an animal at a wildlife sanctuary or animal shelter.

Organize a fundraiser for a shelter.

Donate pet food, blankets, toys, and leashes/collars.

Create a wildlife habitat area in your yard.

Have a party for your pet. Or, have extra long walks or playtime.

Start a pet food drive.

Organize a pet show for all kinds of pets in your neighborhood.

Volunteer at a shelter or wildlife rescue sanctuary.

Bake some treats for your furry friends (I’ll have recipes later).

Have a Blessing of the Pets.

If you need more pet blessings, here are some sites to visit:

http://www.animalchaplains.com/BlessingsforAnimalsandCaregivers.html

www.chaplainofpets.com/heaven.html

Here is a way to raise money for shelters. The Animal Rescue Site is having a $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. They are giving away $100,000 in grants to shelters that use Petfinder. You can vote for your favorite shelter everyday through December 14^th. Go to http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/tpc/EEA_092908_ARSm Click on the purple button to fund food for animals. Then click on the red “Vote Now!” button on the next page that comes up.

There are some activities this weekend to help you celebrate too. Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control are having “Dog Day Afternoon” Saturday, October 4^th, at the Princess Anne Library from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

The Bark in the Park is going on Sunday, October 5^th, at the Chesapeake City Park from noon to 5 p.m.

The Ballentine Bark Park event is happening on Saturday, October 11^th. For more info about it send an email to ballentinebarkpark@verizon.net or call Allyzabethe Ramsey at 268-4944.

Hunt Cub Adoption Day is Sunday, October 12^th at Hunt Club farms from 11 am. To 4 p.m.

Now, here’s a chance to win money for you and the Petfinder.com Foundation. Oust is giving away five $1,000 prizes with matching amounts going to the foundation. Go to www.petfinder.com/contest/oust to enter. Who couldn’t use an extra $1,000? I know where mine would go.

I’m sure you can find a way to celebrate the animals in your life. Whatever you do, have fun with your pets.

Link to post

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of civility. Comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its Web sites. Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Report Violation" link below the comment.