Brrrrr it's cold out there

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I don't know about the rest of the country, but it's pretty freezing in Cape Town today.  If you've been thinking about donating to your local shelter, now couldn't be a better time.  Can you imagine how difficult it is to dry wet blankets in this weather? 

Please check out our Wishlists and Rescue Organisations pages to see if you can help out by donating blankets to a centre in your area.  They sure could use your help right now.  The animals will be warm from your blankets and you'll be warmed from the inside!

The only animal capable

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Azzan :: Lapdog

Time for ARO's Best Friends Walk

Participate :: ARO's Best Friends Walk

Register now to join Animal Rescue Organisation's BEST FRIEND'S DOG WALK on Sunday 29 September 2013 from 08h30 at Nitida Cellars in Durbanville. The walk starts at 09h30.

Cost:
R20/dog
R10/adult
R5/child (3-16yrs)
Under 3yrs, walk free!

Participants numbers are limited, so register early to join in the fun.  Email enquiry.

Azzan :: Brrrr

It's too cold to get up

Support :: SPCA Book Sale

SUPPORT THE SPCA AT A BOOK SALE

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International Literacy Day is celebrated on 8 September and this year  the Cape of Good Hope SPCA is calling on Capetonians to demonstrate their love of reading by supporting the SPCA Book Sale between 6 and 8 Sept at the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village in Green Point.

The three day book sale, located in the Village Market Events Area on level O, promises to have a wide selection of quality second hand books on offer, with something to suit every reader’s  taste.

Customers who bring a bag of pet food along as a donation to SPCA will receive a discount on their purchase!

For more information please contact Natasha Johannes on 021 700 4155/41 or email awareness@spca-ct.co.za

Support :: Kennel Building Day

Celebrate the start of spring by joining SA MAST and Builders Warehouse for the annual Kennel Building Day. 
Be part of the fun and go home with the best feeling in the world!  So, who's in?

Family and friends are invited to the annual SA.MAST Spring Fun Comedy Evening and Kennel Building Day presented by SA.MAST and Builders Warehouse.

Animals have a voice

Meet Milo

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Justin Fire Survivor

Justin Fire Survivor is a 5 week old kitten who was the victim of a monstrous act of cruelty.  He was found on the streets of Philly after being set on fire. He had burns over 2/3 of his little body.  He was taken in by Animal Alliance and is receiving treatment at Crown Vet. 

Every day is a day worth living! find your inner ROAR! paw power.

He has made a triumphant recovery and found his forever home.  His heroic story is about bravery, courage, compassion and optimism and can be found on his Justin Fire Survivor Facebook page.

What a little trooper!  Visit his Facebook page for more photos and updates on his progress. 

Trappers, Put up or shut up

Oliver Starr has a challenge for any trapper. A well paid challenge. He's offering $20,000 for a trapper to put their hand in a wolf trap and leave it there for 24 hours.  He calls it the "Put Up or Shut Up" Challenge. What a wonderful idea!

Visit his site here to read more or to show him your support.

*Yawn*

Photo: Theron Humphrey

When the last tree has died

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Inside The Exotic Animal Trade

Source:  Birds of Eden

Every year, people succumb to the temptation to purchase “exotic” animals like hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, and monkeys - even tigers and bears - from stores, auctions, or the Internet to keep them as “pets.” 

But often, life in captivity rapidly leads to pain and death for these animals, who can easily suffer from malnutrition, an unnatural and uncomfortable environment, loneliness, and the overwhelming stress of confinement. The exotic animal trade is also deadly for animals we don’t see: For every animal who makes it to the store or the auction, countless others die along the way.

Feature :: Exotic Animal Rescue

Exotic Animal Rescue is a No Kill sanctuary for unwanted exotic animals allowing them to live on in a safe and caring environment.

EDUCATION . ACCOMMODATION . REHABILITATION

 Exotic Animal Rescue aims to:

• Provide a safe haven for exotic animals, many of whom have experienced a lifetime of displacement from their natural habitat and, in some instances, horrible mistreatment.
• Offer free education to the public about the special needs of captive exotic animals who are unable to speak for themselves.
• Fundraising to keep Exotic Animal Rescue operational.

Working with a learned, supportive and compassionate board of members and highly dedicated volunteers, Exotic Animals Rescue are not there to promote these animals as pets, but rather to provide clear examples of the consequences of human self-interest and interference in the animals' lives.

Weekend's here!

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Animal Planet - Breed selector

 
Animal Planet have a wonderful application where you can find the perfect dog for you and your family based on your particular wants and needs.

The ten easy steps allows you to specify size, energy level, time available to spend with the pet for play and exercise, affection level, if you have other pets, how trainable and protective the dog should be, how much grooming you are prepared to provide, and the temperature tolerance the dog must have: 

Donate :: PETS Winter Appeal

PLEASE ASSIST US WITH OUR WINTER APPEAL. 

Winter is here and the dogs and cats we feed in the township often have no shelter or warmth.
Some will not make it through this winter!!

Please donate ANYTHING (dog or cat food, dry or tins, jerseys, small blankets, kennels or shelter etc) New or secondhand!!  Buy new for your doggie and donate his old bed/kennel etc.

Donate and stand a chance to win a R200 Justine product hamper! 

Petition :: Mandatory Sterilisation

Push the City to implement mandatory cat & dog sterilisation in Cape Town - only registered breeders to be excluded.

Why this is important

A huge unregulated domestic animal population exists in the Cape Town metropole – at least a quarter of a million dogs, according to the City of Cape Town’s own estimates. Tens of thousands of cats are also consistently abandoned and left to breed. 

Fortunately, you can make a difference. Let our voices be heard!

Don't be naive :: There are monsters among us

I saw this ad on Gumtree this morning and thought I'd share it here as it is such an important message:

Have you placed a "Free to good home" advert on gumtree for your dog or cat? BEWARE!!!!!!

There are disgusting inhumane excuses for human beings lurking among us who collect your pet whom you can no longer care for promising good homes only to throw them into a cage as 'bait' for their FIGHTER DOGS!!

They will collect Cats, Dogs and even Rabbits!

Azzan :: Daily walk

Azzan :: We've come a long way

The latest issue of Cesar's Way hits the shelves today.  Be sure to pop in to your local Pick 'n Pay, CNA, Spar or Woolworths for a copy.

It's been a truly amazing journey for Doron and I and we're so proud of how far he's come.  The starved, defeated animal we found in Hippo Pools is long gone and has been replaced by a gorgeous, confident, happy dog.

When we look the other way

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Azzan :: Daily walk

A swamp; my favourite!

 Terri

On the beach

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Unique Animal Photography :: Carli Davidson

“Carli spends much of her shoots rolling on the ground with her subject, getting in their skin as much as possible and encouraging them to open up to the camera. She shares her home with a dogue de Bordeaux named Norbert and a small, incredibly loud black cat named Yushi.”

In these Photographs, you can really tell how comfortable the animals are with the camera and her. The personalities of the animals definitely show through Carli’s her images.

Visit her site.

 

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Teach your children well

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Brrrr keep your pets warm this winter

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...and spare a thought for all those homeless animals out there and even those in shelters who are dreaming of curling up on a warm lap or in front of the fire.

The love we give

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At least don't hurt them

Azzan :: Daily walk

Enjoying another beautiful day in Cape Town - out for a walk on Devil's Peak.

Adoption is the only option

Spread The Message: Adoption Is The Only Option

 

Every day all across our nation, thousands of homeless, healthy, adoptable companion animals lose their lives due to overcrowding in sheltering facilities. This tragic end can be prevented; all it takes is our communities taking a stand and saying loud and clear that they will not tolerate this loss of life and every household choosing the Adoption Option!

World's First Prosthetic Pawed Dog

Incredible Features Exclusive Story - Naki'o is the first dog to be fitted with a complete set of bionic paws that work naturally to allow him to run, jump and even swim. Nakio received the paws after his own were severely hurt from stepping into an ice puddle as a puppy. The prosthetics were designed and fitted in a pioneering procedure by Martin Kaufmann, founder of Orthopets. 

Read more stories here:

Faith In Humanity Restored

Update :: Lucky Lucy Pamper Day

Saturday turned out to be a great day in Cape Town, especially for some very special fur kids at The Lucky Lucy Foundation in Fisantekraal.  As volunteers, we were asked to bring some cooked food (boneless chicken, rice and carrots), and brushes for grooming.  We spent Friday evening cooking up a storm, and preparing a bag of kitty toys and treats:

Brighten the world today

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Cesar's Way :: Azzan Feature

Don't forget that Azzan's story is being featured in this month's Cesar's Way.  Please pick up a copy of this great magazine at your local Pick n Pay, Spar, CNA or Woolworths.  You can also subscribe through Canine Zone's website for just R30.00 a copy.

Donate :: Johnny - Lucky Lucy Foundation

This poor boy has been so badly treated and needs our help.  I can never fathom how cruel people can be to another living being.  If you'd like to join us in making a donation, please see Lucky Lucy's details and Johnny's story below:

Support :: Pamper a Pet Day

Please join us to support this great initiative at the Lucky Lucy Foundation in Fisantekraal this coming Saturday:

Feel Good Story :: Milagros Caninos

Milagros Caninos - A Haven for Mexico's Disabled and Tortured Dogs

Photo: Milagros Caninos/Facebook

Milagros Caninos, or Miracle Dogs, is a very special canine shelter in Mexico City. For years it has been a true paradise for dogs suffering from terminal illnesses, are blind, paralyzed or have been tortured and abandoned on the streets of Mexico’s capital.

So God Made a Dog

Highlighting the plight of abandoned pets - UK

Dog Lover Will Live in Animal Shelter for 35 Days to Highlight the Plight of Abandoned Pets 

Sean Le Vegan, a dog lover from Manchester, England, will spend over a month in an animal shelter enclosure  to raise awareness about the plight of stray dogs and encourage people to adopt rather than buy canine pets.

Photo: Paul Heyes

Don't bathe your rabbit

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Spooky & Scully are two house bunnies living in Nashville, TN. They help educate people on proper rabbit care!  Visit their Facebook page for more helpful info and care tips.

"Rabbits are far more complex than many people first realize, they have specific needs that simply aren't being met by the majority of owners, and often through no fault of their own. There is much to do to not only improve on the lives of pet rabbits, but to raise public perception, awareness and education into the true needs of these often misunderstood and frequently neglected pets."

Azzan jumping !

A dog who could just about walk 6 months ago to this...

Miners win enviro kudos for saving spiders

An adult female golden-brown baboon spider one of two species
successfully relocated in a Limpopo experiment.

Cape Town - Coal miners are often considered environmental villains for their impact on natural systems, but one mining company is winning green kudos for a project that is both highly unusual and a first for the sub-continent: the translocation of indigenous baboon spiders.

Their experiment, that produced highly positive results, will help others re-establish a fuller range of biodiversity – and hence promote functioning ecosystems – in areas rehabilitated after mining and other highly disruptive industrial activities.

The spider relocation project was initiated by mining group Exxaro Resources near Lephalale in Limpopo, and involved two species: the golden-brown baboon spider (Augacephalus junodi) and burst horned baboon spider (Ceratogyrus darlingi).

These long-lived spiders are common and not endangered, but are protected by biodiversity legislation because they’re illegally targeted for the pet trade.

"Responsible" breeder

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Pet Shops - Behind the curtain

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Consider carefully who and what you are supporting when you buy a live animal from a pet shop.  Just behind the retail facade is a world most people don't even realize is there;  where animals are held captive with no other purpose than to breed to make money for the owners and when they are no longer able to produce they are discarded and replaced; never knowing the comfort of a true home or the touch of a loving hand. Sadly, the harsh truth is far from the sweet, little puppy or kitten you see in the store.

Spay & neuter your pets

No one is free

Life continues

Changing the world