Top 10 Reasons To Foster A Homeless Animal

I worked on this for the Pontiac Regional Chamber of Commerce today and wanted to share it with you!

TOP TEN REASONS TO FOSTER A HOMELESS ANIMAL:

1. You can put that spare bedroom to good use!
2. You can get that exercise you’ve been talking about getting since January 1^st!
3. You will receive unconditional love from your temporary companion!
4. You will provide your current pet with a buddy!
5. You will help socialize a homeless animal so they become more adoptable and better companions. Shelters are very scary places for animals. Animals would much rather be in a house any day.
6. You will help the Michigan Animal Adoption Network learn more about the personality of the animal, so we can place him/her with the perfect family.
7. You will be carefully matched with foster homes according to the candidate’s special needs and the foster parent’s abilities. Whether you work full-time or you spend most of your time at home, we’ll help match you with a foster animal that fits your lifestyle.
8. You will be able to explore many different breeds of dogs and cats to help you decide which traits you might like in your next companion animal.
9. You will delight at the smiles on the faces of the family that adopts your foster animal and possibly make new friends along the way!
10. You will know that you’re making a huge difference in the lives of your foster animal! The satisfaction of helping an animal realize a second chance in life really is one of the best feelings in the world.

Buster needs a foster home!

The Fine Print…Foster Parent responsibilities:

• Provide lots of love, affection, and belly rubs; treating them as if they were your own.
• Provide food, water, litter, litter boxes, bedding, crates, toys and any other basic necessities.
• Provide a safe, secure, healthy environment for the animal to live, play and exercise in.
• Provide transportation to and from veterinary and grooming appointments. (These appointments are paid for by the rescue as long as they are approved in advance.)
• Provide time for potential forever families to learn about, meet, and visit with the dog.
• When necessary, work with the dog on socializing or behavioral needs.
• Provide transportation to and from adoption events. Stay at adoption events to show animals to potential adopters.
• Volunteers with pets must show proof of spay or neuter and current vaccinations.
• You must be of good moral and social character and not have been convicted of any crimes against animals.
• You must be able to care for and administer medications to the animal if necessary. 
• All foster parents must be 21 years of age or older.

For More Information, Contact the Michigan Animal Adoption Network at 248.545.5055.

Pet-A-Palooza Returns

A 2009 "Pet-A-Palooza" attendee

If it wasn’t obvious to you, helping homeless animals is something that’s near and dear to my heart.  I’ve loved animals my entire life and many animals have had a big impact on me.

This weekend “Pet-A-Palooza” takes place at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  I’ve been helping plan and promote this event since my days back at Greater Media.  It’s one of the largest animal adoption events in the country.  In a bad economy 400-500 animals will be saved in one weekend.  In a good economy, 700-800 animals will get new forever homes.  No matter the economy, the impact is profound.

This event is special in that it’s not just for folks looking to bring a new animal home.  It’s a celebration of animals and it’s an awareness campaign for the animal overpopulation epidemic we have in this country.  It illustrates that there are many, many gorgeous, healthy, happy, adjusted animals that have NOTHING wrong with them, but they still ended up in a shelter.  It also shows that it’s usually not the animals’ fault that it ended up homeless.  In Michigan, home foreclosures, divorces, forced moves to apartments (that don’t allow animals) and other factors such as allergies contribute to the homeless animal overpopulation.

Make no mistake – “Pet-A-Palooza” is an event that’s not all gloom and doom!  There’s fun entertainment, pet talent contests and pet vendors selling items every good pet owner needs/wants, as well as offering amazing giveaways and contests!  Obedience trainers will be on-site both days too, showing off their best tips and tricks for helping your good dog become a great dog.

So if you have a beloved pet, come to Pet-A-Palooza and show him/her off!  If you don’t have one yet and have been thinking about adopting one, there is no better place to come and ‘window shop’ and hear the stories of hundreds of wonderful animals looking for their forever home.  There will be everything from puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, purebreds and mixed breeds.

You can also get educated on how to end puppy mills and help support local rescue groups in ways other than simply adopting.  I hope to see you there.

Complete event information may be found at http://www.michpetapalooza.com.