Help Michigan Pets

There are quite a few cats this week. The good news is that new mama tortie mix Mary was adopted from Beulah, Gladys was adopted from Brownstown, and Checkers and Daisy were adopted from Wyandotte. There may be others--in fact, there probably were more adoptions--but we don't hear about all of them.

In Ionia, Benny and Bo are black DSH boys about 6 months old. Knight is also a black DSH, but he's a baby about 8 or 9 weeks old.

Also in Ionia, a sweet tabby/DSH mix needs help. Someone shot her, and now her leg needs to be amputated, but that takes money. She should do just fine after the surgery, as long as she gets enough donations. Every little bit helps.

A lot of cats are on the urgent list at the shelter in Howell. If you're interested in adopting a cat, be sure to check and see who they have, because your new BFF might be there waiting for you!

In Midland, there are always cats of all sizes, ages, colors, and types. Check out their listings to see who's there this week.

Pickles is one of the cats of the week in Mount Pleasant. She's a black DLH cat about two years old, and she's FIV positive. Senior cats Boo and Punky are still waiting for someone to give them a nice retirement home together. These older gentlemen are in a foster home and are listed by the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

Siamese mix Jessy and calico mix C.K. are senior cats hoping to be adopted together. In fact, their lucky new family will get a great deal if they adopt both kitties. They're at the shelter in Osseo.

The shelter in Taylor has several terrific cats on the urgent list. Check them out!

There are still quite a few cats available from the Wyandotte shelter. Jameson is a handsome gray tabby/DSH mix who's sweet, friendly, and curious. Gray DSH/tabby mix Captain (was Cheetah) is a very nice boy. Brown DSH/tabby mix Kai is polite, quiet, and handsome. Tigger (was Crispin) is a quirky brown DMH/tabby guy about 6 years old. Black DSH Solomon longs for a nice home where he can love and be loved. Chip and Salsa are adorable brown tabby/DSH mix baby boys with FIV. Tuxedo/DLH mix Kamora is a friendly girl. Martini is a tiny DMH/tuxedo mix boy with FIV and FeLuk. Jameson is a sweet, friendly, curious gray tabby/DSH mix guy. Finally, Patches is a senior calico lady hoping to avoid going to the shelter; Wyandotte is listing her as a courtesy.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

There are a lot of dogs on the urgent list this week. The good news is that there were some success stories. Black lab Sara was rescued from Brownstown, and senior Bichon/poodle mix Max was adopted from Southgate. Emma, Cash, and Payton were adopted from White Cloud. There were probably more that we don't know about.

The shelter in Beulah has an outstanding deal on some terrific dogs! Black labs Scott and Bosco, border collie mixes Crackerjack and Tispy, GSD/chow mix Ruby, and boxer/staffie mix Harrieta (who loves to give kissies) all have half-price adoption fees! You can't beat that, so be sure to check them out. One of them just might be your next BFF!

In Ionia, Chance is a nice American bulldog mix approximately 1-2 years old. Mavis is a very sweet redbone coonhound about 8 to 10 months old.

A purebred cattle dog is scheduled for euthanasia TODAY, November 15, at the shelter in Howell. At the same shelter, a boxer mix and a pittie mix--both cute girls--only have until November 18. A Rottweiler/lab mix just has until November 23, and an Airedale mix has until December 1.

In Manistee, chocolate lab mix Bella is waiting for someone to love. She's playful, affectionate, and friendly, and she enjoys going for walkies. Loving, low-maintenance Raven is a sweet retriever/chow mix who's also in Manistee. Bosco is about two years old and is possibly a shepherd mix. He's a great guy! GSD/lab mix Neptune is a nice boy who loves going for walkies. Border collie/setter mix Astro is a terrific guard dog who prefers to be the only pet. If you're looking for someone to protect you in your home, he's your guy!

In Midland, an extremely sweet pit bull/lab mix boy is hoping to be the only pet. His reference ID is #2168.

Pointer mix Duke has had a hard life, and now he has heartworm disease. He's at the shelter in Osseo, where he's hoping to get money to pay for his treatment. Of course, he'd also love a forever home.

Spaniel mix Hickory is all boy! He's only about 8 months old, and he's very "loving." He's in Reed City and needs help by November 16.

The shelter in Taylor has several great dogs in need. An American bulldog, a beagle, two chihuahuas, a papillon, a senior pekingese, and a Yorkie/shih tzu mix are just a few of the available dogs. Check them out!

In West Olive pit bull/shepherd mix Peter is still waiting for a forever home. He's a great guy who's perky and super sweet. Husky/shepherd mix Addison and Australian shepherd mix Brutus are also hoping for forever homes; they also need money to pay for treatment for heartworm disease. Shepherd mix Olga still needs a retirement home. Pittie mix Henry is a real sweetheart who deserves a great home.

Black lab Zena is great with kids! She needs to get out of the shelter in White Cloud before November 17. Pittie mix Lily is beautiful, sweet, patient, and polite; she also needs out by November 17.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

There are a lot of urgent cats in Michigan this week.

Gladys is still at the Brownstown shelter. She's a pretty black and white (mostly white) DSH kitty about six years old.

In Howell, there are many cats on the urgent list. Currently, five are scheduled for euthanasia on Monday, October 18. Three are scheduled for October 20, one for the 22nd, two for the 23rd, one for the 25th, six for the 27th, and three for the 28th. More are on the schedule for November.

In Ionia, check out Simone, a sweet, beautiful DSH/tortie mix girl about 10 months old. Blair is about a year old and is a sweet black DSH girl kitty. If you're looking for a male cat, how about Bubba or Wilson? Bubba is a very sweet black DSH boy about 4 months old. Wilson is a handsome DSH/tabby baby about 4 months old.

There's certainly no shortage of cats at the shelter in Midland. They have a lot of terrific cats just waiting for someone to love them: tabbies, DSH kitties, a DLH cat, a calico, a tortoiseshell, and even a Russian blue are available for adoption.

Can you help a pair of older cats? Boo and Punky are hoping to find a retirement home together. These guys are in a foster home and are listed by the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

There are still quite a few cats available from the Wyandotte shelter. Buff and white DSH/bobtail mix Koda is happy, gentle, and so much more. Jameson is a handsome gray tabby/DSH mix who's sweet, friendly, and curious. Black DSH Daisy (was Ebony/Sunny) is a cute and curious girl. DSH/tuxedo mix Checkers is a sweet, pretty girl. Gray DSH/tabby mix Cheetah is a very nice boy. Brown DSH/tabby mix Kai is polite, quiet, and handsome. Black and white tuxedo/DSH mix Oreo is talkative and sweet. Crispin is a quirky brown DMH/tabby guy about 6 years old. Black DSH Solomon longs for a nice home where he can love and be loved. Chip and Salsa are adorable brown tabby/DSH mix baby boys with FIV. Tuxedo/DLH mix Kamora is a friendly girl. Martini is a tiny DMH/tuxedo mix boy with FIV and FeLuk. Jameson is a sweet, friendly, curious gray tabby/DSH mix guy. Finally, Patches is a senior calico lady hoping to avoid going to the shelter; Wyandotte is listing her as a courtesy.

There is some good news. Russian blue cat Natashia was adopted from the shelter in Beulah. Orange tabby mix Boots was adopted from Southgate. Panda's adoption is pending; he was fostered from the Wyandotte shelter after being there for a year.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

I've decided to start dividing the listings into one post for dogs and another for cats. I'll do the same when I see listings for bunnies and other pets.

Tispy is a border collie/lab mix who's been at the shelter in Beulah for a while. She's a very good girl!

The folks at the Brownstown shelter would love to save an amazing senior German shepherd who was found weaving in and out of traffic on I-75. They think he's blind in at least one eye. If you'd like to meet him, please call 734-675-4008 or 734-740-8530. His time is running out; he's scheduled for euthanasia on Monday, October 18.

Check out this English setter/hound mix who's scheduled for euthanasia on Monday, October 18, at the shelter in Howell. At the same shelter, a Chow chow mix only has until October 21st. Manny the boxer/Bouvier de Flandres mix and Lilly the boxer/bulldog mix just have until October 28th. There is also a pittie mix scheduled for November 6, as well as Sandy, a purebred English setter, who only has until November 12.

Four dogs are on the urgent list in Ionia. Beagle/lab mix Cheyenne is a very sweet little girl who's great with kids, cats, and dogs. Huckleberry is a terrific 2-year-old Bluetick hound; he's a very happy boy! Skippy is a smart and social Jack Russell terrier; he's good with dogs and cats and is about 5 years old. Yellow lab mix Tyrese is very friendly and playful, but his "family" abandoned him on the side of the road!

Chocolate lab mix Bella is still at the shelter in Manistee. She's playful, affectionate, and friendly, and she enjoys going for walkies. Loving, low-maintenance Raven is a sweet retriever/chow mix, also in Manistee.

Plott hound mix Charlie is at the top of the euth list at the Prudenville shelter, just because he's been there such a long time.

Lilly is a striking brindle shepherd mix who's having a hard time. She's good with older kids and is very playful. She's also very strong and needs someone who can handle her. She's at the Romulus Animal Shelter, and her time is up on October the 18th.

If you can give a senior dog a home, consider Olga. She's a sweet, pretty shepherd mix just waiting for someone to love. She's in West Olive along with pit bull/shepherd mix Peter, a great guy who's perky and super sweet.

There are three dogs currently on the urgent list in White Cloud, and they need help by 10/20. Emmitt is a terrific hound, and Emma is a very nice pittie girl. Jackson is a gentle chow chow who's great with kids and would make a terrific family dog.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

Again this week, the list of urgent pets awaiting adoption at shelters in Michigan is extremely long.

Russian blue cat Natashia and border collie/lab mix Tispy are still at the shelter in Beulah.

Three baby kittens are desperate for help. They're at the Brownstown shelter. Gladys is also still there; she's a pretty black and white (mostly white) DSH kitty about six years old.

Four pets are on the urgent list in Ionia. Jasper is a black lab boy about 7 months old, and he's great with dogs, cats, and kids. Pittie mix Madge is a very nice girl who likes other dogs, although she'd prefer that they not be much bigger than she is. She would like a cat-free home. Young tabby/DSH mix Jessa and black DSH Blair are still at the shelter.

Chocolate lab mix Bella is playful, affectionate, and friendly, and she enjoys going for walkies. Sweet retriever/chow mix Raven is very loving and low maintenance. They're both at the shelter in Manistee.

If you're looking for a cat, check out the shelter in Midland. They have a lot of terrific cats just waiting for someone to love them.

Boo and Punky are senior cats who are still hoping to find a retirement home together. They're both in a foster home and are listed by the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

Plott hound mix Charlie still needs help! He's been at the Prudenville shelter a long time and is at the top of the euth list.

Orange tabby mix Boots is super friendly, and he loves people. He's at the shelter in Southgate.

In West Olive, sweet and pretty shepherd mix Olga is still hoping someone will give her a nice retirement home.

Panda, who was at the Wyandotte shelter for a year, has now been fostered. He's still looking for a forever home; you can visit him at Monkey's Resale store in Southgate, where he's currently the store cat. Jameson is a handsome gray tabby/DSH mix who's sweet, friendly, and curious. Koda, Kai, Crispin, Cheetah, Chip, Salsa, Kamora, Solomon, and Martini are all still at the shelter. Also, three of their urgent cats got new names: Lizzie is now Oreo, Lamb is now Checkers, and Sunny is now Ebony.

Be sure to check out the dogs and cats in Livingston County. Those in most urgent need are at the top of the page.

Menka was adopted from the Wyandotte shelter.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

This week's list of urgent pets in Michigan is extremely long.

Russian blue cat Natashia and border collie/lab mix Tispy are still at the shelter in Beulah.

Gladys is a pretty black and white (mostly white) DSH kitty about six years old. She's waiting for someone to stop by the Brownstown shelter and give her a nice home.

In Ionia, young tabby/DSH mix Jessa and black DSH Blair are still waiting for their forever homes. Dave is a handsome 3-year-old black and white DSH cat who's good with cats, dogs, and kids. Husky/lab mix Tess is sweet and smart, and she loves people; check out her beautiful ice blue eyes! Black lab mix Marty is a smart, loving, and playful 1-year-old boy.

Retriever/chow mix Raven is at the shelter in Manistee. This sweet girl is getting depressed from being at the shelter. She's very loving and low maintenance!

As always, there are many cats available in Midland. They have boys, girls, tabbies, kitties with short, medium, and long hair, and even a Siamese.

Senior cats Boo and Punky are still hoping to find a retirement home together. They're both in a foster home and are listed by the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

Plott hound mix Charlie is still in dire straits! His extended stay at the Prudenville shelter is putting him at the top of the euth list.

Pretty shepherd mix Olga is a real sweetheart! She's a senior lady at the shelter in West Olive. Won't someone see fit to give her the wonderful life she deserves?

The Wyandotte shelter has a lot of urgent cats again this week. Panda has been there for a year now! She's a friendly, sweet, curious, cuddly black and white DSH/tuxedo mix. Koda is a buff and white DSH/bobtail mix; she'd very friendly, laid back, cuddly, and cute. Black DSH Sunny is a cute and curious young girl. DMH/tuxedo mix Lamb is a very sweet and pretty girl. Gray DSH/tabby mix Cheetah is the new boy at the shelter. Brown
DSH/tabby mix Kai, tuxedo/DSH Lizzie, quirky 6-year-old DSH/tabby mix Crispin, and black DSH Solomon are all still waiting for their forever homes.

Chip and Salsa are FIV-positive DSH/tabby babies who are still at the Wyandotte shelter. Tiny DLH/tuxedo mix Martini is also still there; he has FIV and feline leukemia. weet Oriental shorthair/exotic shorthair mix Menka and DLH/tuxedo mix Kamora are also awaiting their forever homes.

There are five dogs currently on the urgent list in White Cloud, and they need help by 10/6. Emmitt is a terrific hound, and Emma is a very nice pittie girl. Lab/dobie mix Raven is sweet and energetic, and she loves people. Allie is a friendly Pomeranian boy. Dallas is a nice pointer mix boy.

Don't forget about the dogs and cats in Livingston County. Those in most urgent need are at the top of the page.

The good news is that there were several success stories. Noah the husky/lab mix from Beulah was adopted. Sweet, beautiful tuxedo mix kitty Darla was adopted sometime yesterday; she wasn't on the urgent list before, but she'd moved to the top of the list and was in imminent danger. Black DSH Albert was also adopted, and cuddly Isaac was rescued. Shadow the young black lab was also adopted.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

Unlike last week, this week's list of urgent pets in Michigan is extremely long.

The good news is that two adoptions were reported. Peanut the black lab was adopted just in time to save him from being euthanized, and Marley the yellow lab also found a home. Congratulations and best wishes to Peanut and Marley!

Now for pets in need this week:

The shelter in Beulah is still hoping to find homes for Russian blue cat Natashia, border collie/lab mix Tispy, and husky/lab mix Noah.

Sweet, pretty Tisha the pittie is still in Ionia, and she's far from alone. Beagle mix Binky is a terrific boy who's great with other pets. Jessa is a young tabby/DSH mix, Blair is a black DSH, and Jay is a cute DSH/tabby boy about 3 months old.

As always, there are many cats available in Midland. I'd love to be able to say more about them, but these poor things are assigned Ref ID numbers instead of names, and there's just not much information available.

Poor, sweet Bruno is trying so hard to be patient. He really needs to find a home, and he doesn't want to share it with any cats! He's at the shelter in Mount Pleasant, which is also listing senior cats Boo and Punky, who are both in a foster home and hoping to be adopted together.

In Prudenville, Plott hound mix Charlie is still at the top of the euth list due to his extended stay at the shelter. Please give this sweet guy the life he deserves!

The shelter in Wyandotte has a lot of urgent cats this week. Prada is still there, and she has lots of company. Isaac is a very cuddly black British shorthair/domestic shorthair mix who's been at the shelter for almost a year! Black DSH Albert loves attention, and he's great with other cats. Millie is a tiny, cute, and chatty black and white DLH/tuxedo mix. Koda is a terrific buff and white DLH/bobtail mix with lots of personality. Sunny is a cute and curious 7-month-old black DSH girl. DLH/tuxedo mix Lamb is very sweet and pretty. Gray DSH/tabby mix Cheetah is a nice boy who's new at the shelter.

Continuing with Wyandotte, brown DSH/tabby mix Kai is very polite. He loves attention but will wait his turn. Lizzie is a sweet, talkative tuxedo/DSH girl. Crispin is a quirky 6-year-old DSH/tabby whose "family" decided to get rid of him. Black DSH Solomon longs for a nice home where he can love and be loved.

Chip and Salsa are FIV-positive DSH/tabby babies at the Wyandotte shelter. Menka is a very sweet Oriental shorthair/exotic shorthair mix who lost an eye at some point in his life, but he doesn't let it get to him; he's a real ladies' man. DLH/tuxedo mix Kamora is a diamond in the rough. Martini is also a DLH/tuxedo mix, and he's tiny; he has FIV and feline leukemia.

There are three dogs currently on the list at Howell/Livingston County. All three were surrendered by their owners. Rambo is a tiny chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix who only has until September 30. Louie is a GSD mix, and Bailey is a chocolate lab.

There are also quite a few cats in Livingston County. Most are strays, and the one at the top of the list is scheduled to be euthanized on September 29. Keep in mind that "Last Date Available" is another way to say their euthanization date; these are listed in chronological order.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

If you have a dog, you'll probably need to administer some type of medicine at some point. In many cases, it's possible to use an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine you've already purchased for yourself.

Dog lover Kenzy England has done her research, and her article will help you figure out whether it's safe to treat your dog with products primarily intended for people. This guide gives details on which OTC people meds are safe for dogs, and it includes dosage instructions.

Unfortunately, not every ailment can be treated with OTC human medicines, so it's important to know when to contact your vet for something appropriate.

It's a fairly short list this week, compared to most weeks, but there are some pets in dire need of help.

Peanut is scheduled to die today (September 20). He's a black lab who's great with kids but needs a home without other dogs or cats. If you can help him, please contact the shelter at Southgate immediately!

Plott hound mix Charlie has been at the Prudenville shelter a long time and has moved to the top of the euth list. He's a very sweet guy who deserves a chance!

Natashia is still waiting for a forever home. She's a beautiful Russian blue cat at the shelter in Beulah. At the same shelter, Tispy the border collie/lab mix and Noah the husky/lab mix are also hoping someone will come along to save them.

Handsome pit bull/boxer mix Troy is still stuck at the shelter in Ionia, along with Tisha, a pretty and sweet pittie girl.

The employees and volunteers at the shelter in Midland still have more cats than they can reasonably handle.

This is so discouraging. Poor Bruno the hound still hasn't found a forever (cat-free) home so he can get out of the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

Senior cats Boo and Punky are still in a foster home but would love to find a permanent place to retire, preferably together. These cuddly, affectionate cats are both front-declawed. For more information, check the Mount Pleasant shelter's page.

Linus is a tiger/Hemingway polydactyl mix cat at the shelter in West Olive. He's a very friendly boy.

Prada the black DSH cat is still at the shelter in Wyandotte.

There are four dogs currently on the urgent list in White Cloud. Shadow the black lab is the happiest guy ever! Marley is a nice yellow lab boy, Emmitt is a terrific hound, and Emma is a very nice pittie girl. They all need help by 9/24.

Howell/Livingston County has several dogs and cats on the urgent list. "Last Date Available" is another way to say their euthanization date; these are listed in chronological order.

The good news for this week is that Dino, the sweet, goofy black lab/Karelian bear dog mix, found a forever home.

As always, if you're interested in any of these animals, please contact the shelter.

Have you seen Pedigree's new commercial? It's promoting their new Healthy Longevity Food, and as always, it's a good one.

Pedigree is running a promotion featuring this new formula, and this post is part of it. I'm not getting paid for it, but shelter dogs will benefit.

The sad fact is that about four million dogs find themselves in animal shelters and rescues every year in the United States. While they wait for their forever homes, Pedigree would like to help them. That's where we bloggers come in.

For every blog post about the Pedigree Adoption Drive that is published through Sunday, September 19, Pedigree will donate a 20-pound bag of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to a shelter. That's right; a shelter somewhere in the U.S. will receive 20 pounds of dog food because of this post. Isn't that great?

If you'd like to help, you can do the same thing. To make sure your blog post counts, include the following bullets and add the direct link to your post to the Blog Hop below. (Bulleted info courtesy of Boulder Dog)

* Each year, more than 4 million dogs end up in shelters and breed rescue organizations. Pedigree created The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive to help shine a spotlight on the plight of these homeless dogs.

* This year the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive is raising awareness for homeless dogs by donating a bowl of food to shelter dogs for everyone who becomes a "Fan" or "Likes" the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive on Facebook. So far more than 1 million bowls have been donated.

* Special for BlogPaws West: For each blog that posts about the PEDIGREE Adoption Drive through September 19, PEDIGREE will donate a bag of its new Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs to shelters nationwide. It's simple: Write a post, help a dog.

* Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, September 19, the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers will host a Blog Hop to help raise awareness for the "Write a post, help a dog" effort.

Include the hashtag #dogsrule somewhere in the post; you should also use it as a tag or label. You'll also need to link to the Pedigree Adoption Drive Facebook fan page within your post. When you're ready to promote your post, tweet it using #dogsrule.

That's all there is to it! Just follow the guidelines, and a shelter will get a 20-pound bag of dog food.

If your blog has a pet theme, this will be easy. If not, you might have trouble fitting a post about the Pedigree Adoption Drive into your blog's theme, but please try. Somewhere in the U.S., an animal shelter and the dogs housed therein will be grateful that you did.

It's a fairly short list of urgent pets this week compared to most weeks. There were also some adoptions and rescues.

Natashia is a beautiful Russian blue cat hoping someone will take her home from the shelter in Beulah. Chandler the Australian shepherd/Afghan hound mix is still waiting for a new home.

In Ionia, handsome pit bull/boxer mix Troy would love a forever home. Spunk and Spook are handsome 5-month-old brothers with lots of toes! They're DLH/Hemingway polydactyl mixes. Sweet mama cat Elsa and her babies are still waiting for a foster home. Tabby/DSH mix Gail is also still hoping for a nice home.

The shelter in Midland is a great place to find a terrific companion. Lots of cats are waiting for someone to help them. New this week are a very friendly orange tabby guy and a stunning DLH mama kitty and her two babies. In addition, there are several cats held over from last week's urgent list.

Poor Bruno the hound is going to get a complex! He's such a great guy! There must be someone out there who can give him a nice cat-free home and get him out of the shelter in Mount Pleasant.

Senior cats Boo and Punky need help! They're in a foster home now; their owner had to surrender them due to health reasons. However, they'd really like to find a nice retirement home together. They're very affectionate and cuddly. Boo is a 12-year-old silver/gray stubby-tailed tabby with medium-length hair and gorgeous green eyes. Punky has long orange hair. They've both been declawed on their front paws. Check the Mount Pleasant shelter's page for more information; they're the ones providing the listing.

Sweet, goofy black lab/Karelian bear dog mix Dino still needs a forever home. He's at the shelter in Wyandotte, along with Haskell, a large gray tabby/DSH mix who is FIV positive, and Prada, a black DSH cat hoping for a better life.

Two dogs are on the urgent list in White Cloud. Dunkin is a friendly chocolate lab about 8 months old. Gunner is a young pit bull held over from before. They both need to be saved by 9/10.

Don't forget to check the listings for Howell/Livingston County. They have several dogs and cats on the urgent list. "Last Date Available" is another way to say their euthanization date; these are listed in chronological order.

Now for the good news. China was adopted, and with her sweet, loving nature, it's no wonder! Chomper and Cesar are two more terrific dogs who also went to their forever homes this week. Senior cats Ollie and Stan were rescued by Basil's Buddies.

There are quite a few urgent pets again this week. Fortunately, there were also several adoptions from different shelters.

Check out Chandler! He's an Australian shepherd/Afghan hound mix at the shelter in Beulah. He's a handsome guy!

China is an adorable Staffie mix girl who's also in Beulah. She's very sweet and affectionate, and she just lives for hugs and kissies! She's hoping for a forever home with someone to give her all the love she deserves.

In Ionia, mama cat Elsa and her babies are still looking for a foster home. They have a rescue willing to take them, but only if they can find a foster. Tabby/DSH mixes Gail and Walker are waiting for their forever homes.

Collie/shepherd mix Chomper and chocolate lab mix Cesar are still available and waiting at the shelter in Manistee.

If you want to adopt a cat, don't forget about the shelter in Midland, where many cats are hoping for a second chance. You're sure to find a wonderful new companion!

Isn't there someone who could take Bruno? He's a terrific hound who's been at the shelter in Mount Pleasant a long time. All he wants is a great new home without any cats. Is that really so much to ask?

Black lab mix Cindy has lots of energy and lots of love to give. Husky mix Josaline is only 7 months old and loves to play; she gets along great with kids and dogs. Cindy and Josaline are both at the shelter in Stanton.

Dino is a sweet, goofy, strong black lab/Karelian bear dog mix. This big guy is at the shelter in Wyandotte, and he's not alone. Haskell is a large gray tabby/DSH mix; this gentle giant is FIV positive. Ollie is a 10-year-old gray and white DLH/tabby mix who is still looking for a quiet retirement home. Stan is a very sweet and affectionate senior gray and white DSH/tabby mix. Black DSH Prada still hasn't found a home with decent decor; her cage at the shelter just isn't good enough!

In Howell/Livingston County, several dogs and a lot of cats are on the urgent list. Check out their site; the euth dates are given as "Last Date Available" and are in chronological order.

Alex, the semi-feral tabby babies, Kado, Maddox, Jordan, and Duke went to their forever homes.

Dogs in Danger came back up, which allowed me to search the database. I found eight listings.

In White Cloud, two dogs need help by tomorrow, 8/18. Tucker is still hoping someone will give him a forever home. He's a terrific chocolate lab mix who's about a year old. He's cute, friendly, and energetic, and he would love to be part of a family.

Pittie mix Gunner is a cute, happy boy! This adorable guy is younger than six months old.

There are three urgent dogs in Reed City who only have until 8/20. Memphis is a very sweet and energetic young lab mix. She's a very pretty girl who's mostly black, with some white markings, and we all know that larger black dogs are often overlooked at the shelter. Please help this sweet dog!

Dozer is a chocolate lab mix somewhere between five and eight months old. He's a very happy boy who deserves a chance!

Duke is a yellow lab, probably somewhere between three and five years old. He's a very happy guy who also happens to be the quiet type. He would prefer a home without small children.

As always, if you're interested in any of these dogs, please contact the shelter.

With all these wonderful dogs who need our help, it's good to be able to report good news. Sassie, Brody, Murphy, Brando, Lola, Chaz, and Corky were all adopted recently! Congratulations and best wishes to them and their forever families!

Alex in Beulah is a lab/spaniel mix who still needs a forever home. He gets along great with dogs, kids, and cats. He's a terrific guy; check him out!

Two semi-feral tabby babies in Brownstown still need a home with a barn they can live in.

Mama cat Elsa and her babies haven't found a foster home yet. They're in
Ionia, along with orange domestic longhair Zen and tabby mix baby Toby.

At the Manistee shelter, collie/shepherd mix Chomper and chocolate lab mix Cesar are still waiting for their forever homes.

The Midland shelter still has many cats in need of a second chance. Tabbies, domestic shorthairs, a gorgeous white domestic medium hair kitty, a dilute calico, and a Russian blue are just some of the wonderful cats hoping to find love and a forever home.

Bruno the hound is still in Mount Pleasant while he waits for a cat-free home. The poor guy just doesn't get along with cats and doesn't want to have to share a home with any.

Poor Gary has had it rough, and he's in big trouble now! If he doesn't find a home today, he might not make it! He's an orange and white DSH cat, about six years old, whose family dropped him off at the shelter in Southgate.

Jessie, the sweet, cuddly senior Jack Russell terrier, is still waiting for someone to love. She's at Harbor Humane Society in West Olive.

In Wyandotte 10-year-old cat Ollie is still looking for a nice quiet home. Stan is a very sweet senior gray and white DSH/tabby mix who loves people. Black DSH Prada is hoping to leave her cage for a home with much better style.

Unfortunately, Dogs in Danger has been down, so it hasn't been possible to search the database.

As always, please contact the shelter if you're interested in any of these urgent pets.

Ripley and Deder were both adopted!

Alex in Beulah still doesn't have a home! He's a terrific spaniel/lab mix who would love a nice forever family. He likes dogs, kids, and even cats! What a guy!

In Brownstown, two semi-feral tabby babies are looking for a barn to live in. There were four, but two were adopted, so now there are two left.

In Escanaba, black lab mix pup Nautier is still looking for a home. Cheech is a boxer mix who needs a home; he's about two years old.

Rottie/beagle mix Buck is still at the Ionia shelter. Dollar is a very cute pittie/mastiff boy who just loves having his belly rubbed! New mama Elsa and her baby kitties need a foster home; a rescue is willing to take them but needs someplace for them to stay. Orange domestic longhair Zen is ready for a forever home, as are tabby mix babies Thomas and Toby.

Collie/shepherd mix Chomper is still at the Manistee shelter. Cesar, a super sweet and friendly chocolate lab mix, is also there.

As usual, there are many cats on the urgent list in Midland. Many of them are babies who haven't even had a chance at a good life. If you're looking for an absolutely gorgeous adult cat, check out #1666, a stunning white beauty!

Bruno the hound still hasn't found a cat-free home, so he's still at the Isabella County Animal Control in Mount Pleasant. There are 85 pets there as of today! Most of them are cats, but there are also quite a few dogs and several bunnies.

Bloodhound/St. Bernard mix Barney is still available! He's at the shelter in Stanton.

Remember Jessie, the sweet, cuddly senior Jack Russell terrier at Harbor Humane Society in West Olive? Thanks to some generous donors, she was able to have her teeth fixed. Now she's ready for a forever home! Bentley is at the same shelter, and he's a favorite there; he's a pittie boy with a lot of love to give.

Three older cats in Wyandotte need help. Ollie is ten years old and needs a nice quiet home. Felix and Gizmo have a sad story; their owner got sick and couldn't take care of them anymore. They ended up in the shelter together at the age of fifteen!

There are five dogs in dire straits in White Cloud and need to be saved by 8/11. Shar pei mix Sassie, chocolate lab mix Tucker, and put bull Gunner had their stays extended a week, but time is running out. Brando is a 6-month-old pittie boy who's very friendly and quiet. Layla is a setter/retriever mix who would prefer a quiet home if possible.

As always, please contact the shelter if you're interested in any of these urgent pets.

After Dogs in Danger came back up, I found eight listings. All are in White Cloud and are scheduled for euthanasia on August 4 if they're not adopted or rescued.

Shar pei mix Sassie got an extension to her stay at the shelter, but she can't count on that happening again. She's about 6 years old and is very sweet. However, she doesn't like cats at all!

Tucker is an energetic young chocolate lab mix who loves people. He's cute and friendly and would be a great family dog.

Brody is a young pittie mix, and he's a very good puppy! He's about 4 months old and is well behaved. He's not aggressive, and he really likes people.

Murphy the shepherd mix is a very smart boy! He loves attention and isn't shy at all.

Chaz is a 4-month-old beagle mix. He's super friendly! He has some brindle markings, which might mean he has some boxer in his DNA.

There's not much info on the last three yet. Gunner is a young pit bull. Lola and Corky are Corgi mixes, probably littermates.

Great news! Maddie the beagle was adopted, as were cats Stacie and Olivia. Ranger the blind senior chocolate lab went to a rescue, which is a relief; I was worried about him.

This week, I'm worried about poor Jessie. She's a cuddly 12-year-old Jack Russell terrier with some serious dental problems. The shelter, Harbor Humane Society in West Olive, is seeking donations in any amount to help with her dental care. Of course, if you'd rather adopt her and give her a nice forever home, she'll love you forever!

Check out Alex in Beulah. He's a loving a kind spaniel/lab mix who's great with dogs and kids, and he even likes cats! What a guy!

Domestic shorthair (DSH) boys Soren and TJ are still waiting for their forever homes, as is black lab mix Nautier. They're all in Escanaba.

In Ionia, tortie mix Marguerite and Buck the rottie/beagle mix are still available. Ripley, Deder, and Chomper are still in Manistee.

Midland still has a lot of cats, mostly babies, on the critical list. What are you waiting for?

In Stanton, 1-year-old Mardy is a terrific beagle mix boy who's waiting for his forever home. If you're looking for somebody a bit bigger, how about Barney? He's a bloodhound/St. Bernard mix!

One of my sources, Dogs in Danger, was down today. I'll keep trying and do a separate post if there are any listings for Michigan this week.

As always, check with the shelter or rescue group if you're interested in one of these pets.

Scout needs our help! This sweet girl wandered away from home and hasn't come back yet.

Scout is a 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier. She's also blind. Scout left home after her friend, a 14-year-old Jack Russell named Cliff, died earlier this month. On July 11, she dug her way under the fence surrounding her home near Grand Ledge.

Scout may be with a woman driving a red Chevy S-10, who may work for Pizza Hut. A woman fitting this description picked Scout up after she escaped and tried unsuccessfully to find her owner. Unfortunately, Scout's owner still hasn't heard from her.

For more information, see this article and this photo.

If you have a dog, it's important to be aware of potential problems. Heart murmurs are fairly common, and while some are nothing to worry about, others need to be treated immediately. For more information about how to identify and treat canine heart murmurs, check out this helpful article written by my friend Amanda.

If you're in the Sterling Heights area, check out the Advanced Animal Hospital. They have some terrific deals for July and August.

Does your pet have a microchip? If not, you can have it done for free! This would normally cost $55, so this is a great deal. You'll still need to pay for the chip to be activated, but that's just $16.99.

This clinic also currently offers a free first exam for your new puppy or kitten, 20% off having your pet spayed or neutered, and 20% off your pet's dental cleaning.

Call for an appointment soon, because these deals are just around through August.

There were a lot of urgent pets again this week. If I counted correctly, there were 46. That's even more than last week.

At the Benzie County Animal Shelter in Beulah, there's a very pretty Somali mix kitty named Stacie. Maddie the beagle is also still on their urgent list.

At the Delta County Animal Shelter in Escanaba, there's Soren, a 5-month-old black domestic shorthair with a great personality, and TJ, a terrific 10-month-old black and white domestic shorthair. Don't miss Nautier, a black lab mix puppy that loves people! He's been on the list for eight weeks now, although he's in a foster home now. Abby has been on the list almost as long, at six weeks; she's a sweet 8-year-old border collie/black lab mix.

The Ionia County Animal Shelter has quite a few pets on the urgent list this week. They have a lot of cats and would really like to save them. Uniqua is an unusual-looking girl who happens to be a Cornish rex mix. Marguerite is a nice tortoiseshell mix, Charlotte is a sweet brown tabby mix, and Honey is a pretty orange and white girl who's already been spayed.

Ionia also has a few dogs on the urgent list. Tank's family abandoned him, and what a shame! He's a terrific American bulldog/pit bull mix. If you'd like a black German shepherd girl, check out Yooper. She's great with kids and larger dogs but doesn't care for smaller pets. Bambi is a very sweet shepherd mix puppy. Finally, Buck is a very nice and very happy rottie/beagle mix.

Poor Ripley has been at the shelter for 19 weeks! He's an affectionate, energetic Aussie/lab mix at The Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, run by the Manistee County Humane Society. At the same shelter, you'll find Deder, a 5-year-old American bulldog lab mix, and Chomper, a great collie/shepherd mix.

Midland County is a tough one to write about. The Humane Society of Midland County lists the shelter's pets. There are always so many cats there, and they don't have much of a chance. From what I can tell, there are 22 on this week's list. A lot of them are labeled "critical," which is even worse than urgent. If you can help any of them, please do!

At Isabella County Animal Control in Mount Pleasant, Bruno the hound is still looking for a cat-free home. Olivia the kitten still needs an indoor home.

I'm not sure about some of the dogs from Osceola County Animal Control in Reed City. Ranger and Ruby were scheduled for euthanasia, but they're still on the website. If you're interested in either of them, give the shelter a call!

Newaygo County Animal Shelter in White Cloud has a few dogs scheduled for euthanasia on Wednesday, July 28. Check out young pittie Brando, Macy the chihuahua, and terrier mix Sassie before it's too late!

The only one of last week's pets I have good news about is Desert Sun, from Southgate. She found her forever home just in time! Congratulations to Desert Sun and family!

If you're thinking of adopting a pet or just looking for a fun way to spend the day, check out Pet-A-Palooza. This fantastic family event will take place at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25, and your pet is welcome to attend too!

Pet-A-Palooza is the largest pet adoption event in Michigan and one of the largest in the United States. About 30 rescue organizations will be there with more than 800 pets of all ages. Some of these organizations even allow adopters to take their new pets home that same day! There will also be contests, performances, and vendors.

In 2009, Pet-A-Palooza had some terrific results, with 402 pets finding their forever homes. That's a lot of pets that were saved! Wouldn't it be great if even more were adopted this year?

To learn more about Pet-A-Palooza, you can visit their website. You'll find information such as which rescue groups will be participating, the entertainment schedule, directions, and ways you can help.

I tweeted this week's urgent pets a little while ago. It was really bad this week. There were 42 urgent dogs and cats. That's right. Forty-two. What's even worse is that most shelters don't even designate any of these wonderful pets as being urgent, which means that there are many, many more we don't know about. Breaking it down, there are currently 22 cats and 20 dogs on the list.

Most of the cats are at the shelter operated by Midland Animal Control. The Humane Society of Midland County helps out at the shelter and has some foster families, but they could always use more help.

Several of the dogs are at the Delta County Animal Shelter in Escanaba. Check out black lab mix Nautier, rottie/hound mix Eisa, border collie/lab mix Abby, and retriever mix Duke. They also have a border collie/husky mix boy with beautiful baby blue eyes; there's no name given for him, though, so if you call about him, just give his description.

If you're looking for a beagle, try Benzie County Animal Control in Beulah. That's where you'll find Tonto, a great beagle boy, and Maddie, a terrific beagle lady.

The Ionia County Animal Shelter has a lot of cats, including urgents Charlotte and Pinky. Also on the urgent list is Owen, a 1-year-old spaniel/shepherd mix who loves people.

The Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, run by the Manistee County Humane Society, is a small group of dedicated volunteers determined to make a difference. Check out Ripley, an Australian shepherd/lab mix. The poor guy has had it rough lately. He ended up at the shelter when his owner couldn't take care of him anymore. Then he thought he had a new home, but it didn't work out, so he's back at the shelter.

Deder is another great dog who was surrendered to the shelter in Manistee. This great girl has been at the shelter since October! She's a pretty American bulldog/lab mix. Then there's poor Chomper, a collie/shepherd mix. He thought he had a great forever home until the new baby turned out to be allergic to him.

At Isabella County Animal Control in Mt. Pleasant, you'll find Bruno, a terrific hound mix who happens to be blind. He's about six years old and a very smart guy. He needs to be in a home with no cats. If you're looking for a great kitten, how about Olivia? She's in a foster home but will end up living in a horse barn if she doesn't find a regular indoor home soon.

Desert Sun is a very sweet basset hound/pit bull mix currently at Southgate Animal Shelter. She needs someone to save her by July 23.

Kaylee is a chihuahua mix at Harbor Humane Society in West Olive. She needs a foster home to take care of her until she's ready for adoption. She's about ten years old and diabetic. Her previous owner was sick and couldn't take care of her anymore. Can you help her?

Osceola County Animal Control in Reed City hopes to find a nice forever home for Ranger. He's a 10-year-old chocolate lab with some health problems (including blindness) who needs a home by July 20.

Also in Reed City, Ruby is a young Staffordshire bull terrier who needs someone to save her by July 21. She should be adopted into a home with no small children, and it would be best if her adopter has some experience with her breed. Bo is a Staffie mix who desperately needs a home with a nice fenced-in yard where he can run around. He needs someone to help him by July 22.

There are three dogs in at the Newaygo County Animal Shelter in White Cloud who need homes by July 21, their scheduled euthanasia date. Charlie is an 8-month-old Australian shepherd mix; he's a gentle, quiet boy. Bella is a Belgian shepherd who absolutely loves people. Mea is a terrific young pit bull girl who loves to cuddle.

If you're interested in any of these pets, or if you know anyone who might be interested, please contact the shelter. Thank you!

Did you know that there are rescue organizations dedicated to helping farm animals?

Michigan has a lot of farmland, and the sad truth is that many farm animals need help. Fortunately, there are rescues and sanctuaries to help the many cows, chickens, goats, llamas, donkeys, and other farm animals in need.

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Kibble Konnection, operated by the Kent County Humane Society, helps pets in the Grand Rapids area and their owners by providing a pet food bank. This is a wonderful service that has helped many local pets and their owners.

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The economy is affecting everyone, including pets. Many people can't find a way to keep their pets anymore, no matter how much it hurts to give them up. Other people want to help but just don't know how. Here are ten ways to help pets and their owners through the economic downturn.

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Pets in Michigan are in trouble. Many are homeless, stuck in shelters, and in desperate need of a forever family. Others have homes, but their families are struggling to make ends meet. A lot of people want to help but don't know what they can do. This blog will provide some ideas. If we work together, we can help Michigan's pets.