Help Michigan Pets

Here's a writing contest geared toward dog lovers. It's free to enter, and the winner will get to choose an animal shelter to receive a $50 donation. The general info is given below, but be sure to follow the link at the end of this post for additional important details.

Genre: Non-fiction

Restrictions: For dog rescuers 18 and older. Write a compelling story about your dog's rescue in 500-1000 words. A photo of your dog is encouraged but not required. One entry per family. Must include word count and author's name, address, e-mail address, and phone number. All submissions must be submitted via e-mail in a .doc or .rtf format.

Deadline: September 1, 2012

Prizes: A $50 donation will be made to the animal shelter of the winner's choice. Everyone selected for publication in Mighty Tales of Rescue will receive a digital copy of the anthology. In addition, the winner will also receive a digital copy of Beating Cancer, an anthology of cancer survivor stories.

Entry Fee: None

Additional information: Writing Contest for Dog Lovers

Tail Wagger's 1990 has a simple mission: to help people help animals. One way they do this is with their low-cost vaccination clinics.

Tail Wagger's 1990 operates mobile clinics for routine pet vaccinations in seven cities across southeastern Michigan. They offer affordable rabies, distemper, and bordetella shots as well as reduced-cost microchipping services. If it's time for your pets to be vaccinated, this is a good opportunity to have it done at a much lower price.

If you're in the area, please consider helping out with the clinics. Tail Wagger's 1990 is seeking volunteers to help out with the check-in process and directing clients to the proper areas. The clinics last 4 hours, and volunteers will receive a free lunch.

The next mobile clinics will be in Sterling Heights and Beverly Hills.

Saturday, June 23, 10am until 2pm
Sit Means Sit
43674 Utica
Sterling Heights, MI 48314

Sunday, June 24, 10am until 2pm
Premier Pet Supply
31215 Southfield Road
Beverly Hills, MI 48025

Information about these and additional clinics is available on the Tail Wagger's 1990 website.

Tail Wagger's 1990 is also on Petfinder.

Here's a great opportunity to help some of Michigan's rescue animals!

Few Steps From Home, a rescue based in Bay City, has partnered with the Midland Loons to help animals. They're looking for volunteers to work the concession stands at Loons games, and the rescue will get 100% of the proceeds on everything they sell!

Few Steps From Home needs 12 volunteers to work during each game at the Loons baseball diamond. Here's the schedule:

Tuesday, July 3, 5-7pm
Saturday, August 25, 5-7pm
Saturday, September 1, 5-7pm
Saturday, September 3, 12-2pm

Please contact Lmbln1@hotmail.com to sign up.

If you'd like to help the rescue in another way, check out their volunteer application. Volunteer positions include follow-up calls to adopters, making crafts, updating websites, fostering, and much more. They're also open to your ideas for how you'd like to help them.

The application lists many more possibilities, so please take a look and see whether there's something that appeals to you. And of course, they're always grateful for donations!

Few Steps From Home is also on Petfinder.

Image of Logan courtesy of the Ionia County Animal Shelter

Many of last week's pets are still on the urgent list today. In addition, a few others have been designated "urgent."

CATS

Long-haired calico mix Leona and Maine Coon mix Shandy are still at the Ionia County Animal Shelter, and they're joined by three beautiful tiger cat mixes. Scully has a gorgeous coat, Clara is a very pretty kitty, and Mary Ann is a cute, playful girl.

Black domestic shorthair (DSH) mix Andy is still at the Manistee County Humane Society.

DOGS

In Beulah, fun GSD mix Nicholas, super cute Staffie mix Rebel, and shy Corgi mix Corky are still available at a reduced adoption fee from Benzie County Animal Control.

Rusty, a terrific young GSD mix currently at Hazel Park Animal Control, is still waiting for a foster home.

Beagle/terrier mix Logan (pictured) is still at the Ionia County Animal Shelter.

Chico is a cute pointer/lab mix about 6 months old; he arrived at the Lapeer County Animal Shelter with a sibling, but apparently he's there by himself now. Odie is a super cute beagle boy also in Lapeer; his status is VERY URGENT.

Lab mix Zippy and lab/pittie mix Bear are still available from the Manistee County Humane Society, and they both have a reduced adoption fee!

Pointer mix Duke is also still waiting for someone to adopt him from the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society shelter in Osseo.

Betsy, a cute American bulldog mix puppy, is still waiting for a quiet foster or foster-to-adopt home. Until then, she'll be with the Humane Society of Muskegon County.

ADOPTED/RESCUED

Now for the good news. Several pets from last week's posts were adopted or rescued. Young shepherd mix Rosco 154D12 was adopted, as was polite pointer/spaniel mix Bandit. Sweet senior lab mix Granny was also adopted, as was lab/spaniel mix Daisy.

Pug/beagle mix Gus was rescued by Golden Retriever Rescue Resource. Older black lab Daisy May also went to a rescue.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these pets, please don't hesitate to visit their Petfinder pages and contact the appropriate shelter.

Karl is a handsome young pointer mix about 10 months old. He's currently in a foster home, but he's looking for a new one or--even better--a forever home.

Karl is an energetic boy who loves to play; he'd make a terrific walking or running buddy. He's even house trained! He loves people of all ages and gets along with other dogs, but he'd prefer not to have to live with cats.

KC is a beautiful, loving black and white Domestic Medium Hair mix cat. Her Petfinder listing says she's a senior but doesn't give her estimated age. KC gets along well with dogs, and she's already spayed. She's looking for a nice home where she can relax.

Karl and KC are both available through the Pet Adoption Alternative in Warren (PAAW). If you're interested in either (or both) of them, please visit their listings for more information.

More than 350 small dogs were seized yesterday from a puppy mill in Cheshire Township, Allegan County. Several cats and two birds were also taken from the home.

These animals were taken from a small 2-bedroom house near Grand Junction. The breeders say that they got in "over their heads" while trying to make a profit.

Most of the dogs are Shih tzu and Pomeranian mixes. Some Maltese and Yorkies were also among those seized. These pets had been living in deplorable conditions; they were covered in urine and feces. Many have dental problems, and a few were pregnant. In fact, puppies were born at the shelter this morning, with more on the way.

These pets need your help! The shelter doesn't have the funds, supplies, staff, volunteers, or space for this many animals.

Please help if you can. Here are some ways you can help these animals:

- Money (every little bit helps)
- Soft canned dog food (soft because of the dental problems)
- Cleaning supplies
- Blankets (and probably towels, although they weren't specifically mentioned)
- Volunteers (to help walk and care for the dogs)
- Professional dog groomers
- Rescuers
- Adopters

They also need people to publicize their plight so that these animals have a better chance. This is not acceptable.

The address is:

Allegan County Animal Shelter
2293 33rd Street
Allegan, MI 49010

Please visit call the Allegan County Animal Shelter at 269-686-5112 or visit the shelter's Petfinder or Facebook page for more information. You can read the full story at MLive.com. Another very informative article goes into detail about what they need, while this one tells about the woman who called Animal Control--and why she felt she had to do it.

Rescue is urgently needed for a pitbull terrier that is possibly both blind and deaf. He is located in Flint. Despite the sad shape he's in, he's a friendly boy.

If you can help, or if you know someone who can, Please see this page for more information.

Peaches is a deaf pit bull mix located in Warren. This adorable girl is about one year old. Peaches likes dogs, cats, and kids.

Please visit the link above if you're interested in Peaches or know someone who might be.

Cooney is a very sweet older coonhound who needs help now. The staff at the Southgate Animal Shelter wanted to save him, so they pulled him from another shelter where his time was already up. Now his status is urgent, and he needs someone to get him out of Southgate before it's too late.

This guy is super sweet! He's about eight years old and would love to have a forever home. He is absolutely adorable; check his Petfinder listing and see for yourself!

Cooney needs a family or a rescue to get him out of the shelter before it's too late. Please visit his page for more information, and if you can help him, please call Patti at (734) 246-1823. You'll be glad you did!

If you're interested in adopting a Yorkie or Yorkie mix, you're in the right place. Michigan has plenty of dogs that fit the description.

Little Ezra has one of the sweetest faces ever! He's a senior who's absolutely no trouble. He's currently in a foster home with Last Chance Rescue in Howell. (Note: This organization is not affiliated with Last Chance MI, the account I tweet from.)

Here's another senior Yorkie guy; he's at Gratiot County Animal Control in Ithaca, where they refer to him as #166a.

Muffin is a Yorkie/Shih tzu mix, and she sure is pretty! This sweet girl is at Furry Friends Rescue in Brighton.

Peppermint Patty is a senior Yorkie/chihuahua mix in the care of the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue in Kent City.

Shandy is a Yorkie mix girl at Bellowood in Cedar Springs.

Peke a Tzu Rescue in Trufant has quite a few Yorkies and Yorkie mixes.

Fiona is a Yorkie/Bichon Frisé mix available at Katzenwoofers in Sheridan.

Teddy the Yorkie has been at Second Chance Animal Rescue in Gobles for almost a year!

The Noah Project in Muskegon is taking care of Yorkie/Schnauzer mix Winston and young Yorkie/chihuahua mix Tilly.

That's just a few of the available Yorkies and Yorkie mixes here that are available for adoption! There are several pages listing Yorkshire terriers in Michigan. Nearby states are mixed in when they're closer to the ZIP code you provide than other parts of Michigan; just keep going and you'll find Michigan listings again.

Anyone who is interested in adopting a Yorkshire terrier, either full bred or a mix, should check the Petfinder listings. Whatever age, size, temperament, or genetic mix you're looking for, you're sure to find the right Yorkie for you!

Looking for a nice little dog? Check out Xavier! He's a 4-year-old chihuahua in the care of Portage-based Animal Rescue Project.

Xavier is healthy and weighs about ten pounds. He likes to snuggle and give kisses. He lives in a foster home with six other dogs, including a pit bull puppy, and he gets along with all of them. He's also good with cats.

If you're interested in Xavier, please visit his Petfinder listing, which includes three photos of him. In addition, his page at Dogster gives even more info and photos.

Check out Virgil! He's a pit bull mix at Lifeline for Pound Buddies in Muskegon, which is on Lake Michigan.

Virgil is a terrific guy. In fact, his foster mom raves about how amazing he is! He's great with cats and older kids. He's also sweet, polite, athletic, sensitive, silly, and smart. Wow!

Virgil's Petfinder profile contains three photos and a detailed write-up. He also has a slide show on YouTube.

Does Virgil seem like the guy for you? Lifeline for Pound Buddies has lowered his adoption fee, and it's a huge savings. Check Virgil's listing to learn more about him.

Uma, Unity, and Ursula are all in the care of Last Day Dog Rescue in Livonia. Unity needs a foster home, and Uma and Ursula are ready to be adopted.

Uma has been at the rescue since July 2009. Her vet believes she's a purebred red-nosed pit bull. This pretty girl is a sweetheart! She's cuddly and loves to be petted. She also loves to go for rides in the car. She's in a foster home until she can find a forever family.

Unity is a pretty little beagle girl who's looking for a foster home. She's good with kids and dogs. The listing doesn't say much more about her, which probably means she's new at the rescue and they want to get to know her better before making her available for adoption.

Ursula is a beautiful black lab who just barely made it out of the shelter in time, and now she's in a foster home and waiting for a nice forever family. She's a very sweet, lovable girl who's eager to please. She's also good with dogs and cats.

If you're interested in adopting Uma or Ursula, or if you're willing to provide a foster home for Unity, please contact Last Day Dog Rescue.

Quentin is a real cutie! This adorable four-year-old Shih Tzu boy ended up at the Peke A Tzu Rescue after being found wandering the streets. Besides being all matted up, he actually had some chicken wire in the mats! It had to be cut out, and Quentin had to get a few stitches from where the wire had poked him. After he was cleaned up, it was easy to see how beautiful his black and white coat is.

Quentin is a terrific little boy. He likes other dogs and loves to play and snuggle. His idea of a perfect forever home is one where he would have a stay-at-home mom or dad. He would love to have another dog to play with, but he's not too sure about kids. He does need a yard with a fence.

The Peke A Tzu Rescue is located in Trufant, which in in Montcalm County. If you're interested in Quentin, please check his profile for more information.

Maple is a very nice American Staffordshire terrier, and she's been having a rough time. She's been at the shelter a long time. In fact, this is at least her second time at the same shelter!

In late January, after Maple had been at the Brownstown Animal Shelter for a while, she was designated "urgent." A few days later, she went to what she thought would be her forever home. Unfortunately, it didn't work out; through no fault of her own, she ended up at the shelter again two months later.

Maple is a real sweetie. She loves people, attention, and toys. She's a very cute and happy girl. The staff at the shelter aren't sure whether she's really a Staffie or not. If so, she's a very small one. Judging from her looks and actions, she's still a puppy, but her teeth seem to make her about a year old.

Maple's ideal forever home will really be forever. She will love her family so much! If possible, she would like to have a yard with a fence.

If you're interested in Maple, be sure to check out her Petfinder listing, which includes three photos of this sweet, pretty girl. (The first one, which isn't the one that's featured, really shows her sweetness.) In addition to potential adopters, rescue organizations are also more than welcome to give Maple the chance she deserves. The shelter is located in Brownstown Township, near Detroit.

Dr. Frederick H. Gasow opened the Gasow Veterinary Hospital in 1933; Dr. Douglas Brooks has owned the clinic since 1993. It is located in Birmingham, which is in the greater Detroit area.

This clinic has eight veterinarians on staff. It is open seven days a week and has fantastic hours: 9am-9pm Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm Saturday, and 10am-2pm Sunday. Wow! That's impressive!

In addition to being a full-service animal hospital, the Gasow Veterinary Hospital also takes on the responsibility of trying to place homeless pets. Currently, they have three cats listed on Petfinder.

Scruffy is a stunningly gorgeous gray cat with medium-length hair (DMH). This sweet guy was rescued from a hoarding situation and has been in foster care since August.

Callie is a very friendly calico girl about four years old. She and Jack, a four-year-old tabby mix, have quite a history together. They were both adopted from a kill shelter but recently became homeless when their owners lost their home. They would love to be adopted again--together, if possible.

Gasow Veterinary Hospital's website has an informative newsletter as well as several medical articles.

If you're in the Birmingham area, check out this outstanding veterinary practice.

FIDO Dog Rescue is based in Ann Arbor. Although many dogs in their care have come from high-kill shelters, FIDO also accepts dogs that have been surrendered directly to the rescue by their owners.

FIDO is a play on words; besides being a nickname for dogs, it's an acronym for Finding Incredible Dog Owners. As of today, they need to find incredible owners for seventeen incredible dogs of all ages and sizes. They also hope to find a home or homes for two kittens.

FIDO's Petfinder page shows a dog of the week. In addition, they hope to win some grant money in the Animal Rescue Site's contest.

Every Animal Rescue League is located in Clinton Township, in the greater Detroit area. Most of the animals in its care stay at the Animal Activity Center, which is owned an operated by Dr. Thomas Bankstahl, a veterinarian with a vision; he also runs the Parkway Small Animal & Exotic Hospital.

As of today, this rescue has seven pets listed on Petfinder. Listings for Blackie and Bella include one photo each.

Birds

Sweetie and Meanie are a pair of lovebirds about two and a half years old. One is male and one is female; the listing doesn't specify which is which. These birds are mostly green, with blue tails and beige or white faces. Since they're a pair, it would be nice for them to find a forever home together, but it isn't essential.

Cats

Blackie is a black domestic medium hair (DMH) cat, and she's the only kitty currently at Every Animal Rescue League. This sweet girl gets along great with kids, dogs, and other cats. What's not to love?

Dogs

Bella is a brown and white chihuahua about four years old. She's crate trained and loves goodies! She also loves dogs and cats but isn't crazy about small children.

Dexter is a cute black, brown, and white chihuahua/terrier mix. This little guy is about two years old, and he doesn't understand why his owner decided to give him to the shelter. Dexter gets along great with other dogs.

Luci was also in what she thought was a forever home, and then she ended up at the shelter. She's a sweet, lovable Jack Russell terrier. The listing says that she's an adult but doesn't specify her age. She would prefer a home without young children, so prospective adopters shouldn't have kids under twelve.

Trixie is an adorable Jack Russell terrier girl who was at the Macomb County Animal Shelter before finding her way to Every Animal Rescue League. She's looking for a forever home with a fenced yard. Kids and other dogs are a plus; she loves them! She even gets along with cats.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these great pets, please check out their Petfinder pages.

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 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.