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.

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.

Image of Meg courtesy of Michigan Friends Rescue Shelter.

This week, four unadoptable dogs urgently need help. One can't be adopted until she can get medical treatment; the other three are seeking foster homes.

CRITICAL

Welsh terrier Meg (pictured) is currently at the Michigan Friends Rescue Shelter in Morley. She won't be available for adoption until she can get medical care--which can't happen unless she gets donations. Because of her past in a puppy mill, she's in horrible shape. Despite the pain she must feel, she's a very happy girl. The volunteers at the rescue would love to save her; they accept donations by Paypal or in the mail. Every little bit helps!

FOSTERS NEEDED

Daisy May is a 10-year-old black lab currently at the Southgate Animal Shelter. She ended up at the shelter when her owner was no longer able to care for her. Daisy May is very friendly and alert; she loves to be around people. After arriving at the shelter, she was adopted and then returned due to some habits the adopters couldn't deal with. Daisy May has separation anxiety and tends to be somewhat destructive, so she needs someone who can work with her to fix these problems. See her video!

Betsy is a cute American bulldog mix puppy in the care of the Humane Society of Muskegon County. She needs a quiet foster (or foster-to-adopt) home where she can recover from an injury and help her reach her potential; she's been at the shelter since she was about 7 weeks old. Betsy is sweet and fun. She has a terrific personality, plays well with dogs, and is well socialized with people. Check out her video!

Rusty urgently needs a foster home so he can leave the shelter at Hazel Park Animal Control. He's a terrific 10-month-old boy, possibly a German Shepherd mix. He gets along great with kids, dogs, cats, and small furry animals. He loves to play and cuddle. Rusty ended up at the shelter due to an illness preventing his owner from taking care of him. From the listing, it's not clear whether the foster situation would just be until he could go back home; anyone interested in helping him should contact the shelter for the details.

If you can help any of these dogs, please follow the links to their Petfinder profiles for more information.

Sandra (pictured) is a black and tan tabby baby currently at the Homeward Bound Animal Shelter in Manistee. She's a sweet, cuddly, funny little girl who needs help. She was found at the side of the road after apparently having been struck by a vehicle. The surgery to repair her leg injury will cost $500-$600. If you'd like to help Sandra, please consider donating to the Zeke Fund, which was established to help animals needing medical care. More information is available on Sandra's Petfinder page.

Shandy is a beautiful long-haired Maine Coon mix available for adoption from the Ionia County Animal Shelter. This nice girl ended up at the shelter after her owner became very sick and couldn't take care of her. Shandy is about 8 years old, spayed, current on vaccinations, and trained to use a litter box. She's looking for a nice forever home where she can stay indoors, since she doesn't have any front claws. Her status is urgent, which means she's running out of time.

Slinky is an adorable dog available from the Canine Companions Rescue Center in Clarkston. No one is quite sure what his genetic makeup is, but he looks a little like a cross between a Basset hound and a Saint Bernard. This boy is probably no more than 2 years old; he has medium-length hair, weighs 62 pounds, and is just plain cute.

If you're interested in any of these pets, please visit their Petfinder pages for more information.

Maximus is a handsome older beagle available for adoption from the Southgate Animal Shelter. He is looking for a home without cats.

Maximus is an incredibly sweet guy; he's also quiet and well behaved. Unfortunately, he has heartworm disease and needs additional funds for his treatment. (A kind benefactor has already donated more than half the cost for the first round of treatment.)

If you're interested in adopting or donating funds for this terrific boy, please call 734-286-8114 or at 734-246-1328. Additional contact information is available from his Petfinder page, where you can also find a video of him.

If you're looking for a female beagle, Miss Beagley could be the one for you. This 10-year-old lady would prefer a home without cats or dogs. She's available from the Iosco County Animal Shelter in Tawas City. Her days are numbered; she only has until April 30. Please visit her page at Dogs in Danger 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.

Duke, a pointer mix, was the subject of last year's "D" post during the A to Z Challenge, and he still hasn't found a forever home or enough sponsors to help pay for his heartworm treatment. He's really had it rough; before arriving at the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society shelter in Osseo, he had spent his whole life outside without any TLC. He did have a friend, though: Molly. She's also at the shelter.

Another Duke also needs help. He's 2-year-old a boxer/pit bull mix at the Iosco County Humane Society shelter in Tawas City. He needs a home with no other dogs; he doesn't get along with them. The shelter has scheduled him for euthanasia on April 30 if he isn't adopted.

If you're interest in helping any of these dogs, please contact the appropriate shelter.

The Humane Society of Midland County (HSoMC) is planning a Ties & Tails Gala. This formal event is a fundraiser scheduled for October 15 at 6:00 pm and will take place at the Loons Stadium in Midland.

HSoMC is looking for volunteers to help out with this event. Some of the volunteer tasks include ticket sales, raffle, auction, coat check, and dog handling.

If you're interested in helping with the Ties & Tails Gala, check their website for more information and a volunteer form.

Jossi is a very cute girl! This sweet blue heeler/lab mix is only a year or two old, and judging from her pictures, she has loads of personality! Just look at her face!

When Jossi arrived at the shelter in Midland, she had a broken leg. It looks like she got the help she needed, but it cost a lot of money, so now she's hoping to get some donations so they can continue to help her and the other pets in their care.

Jossi is also available for adoption! She's a great girl who deserves have a forever home and family to love. If you're interested in adopting Jossi or helping out with her medical expenses, please check her Petfinder listing and contact the Humane Society of Midland County.

Poor Bojangles! This sweet boy is only about twelve weeks old, and he already has a broken leg!

Bojangles is a black lab in the care of the Harbor Humane Society in West Olive. He's just a baby! The staff members want to help him get his leg all fixed up and find a forever home very soon. They're hoping to get some donations to help with the costs of taking care of him.

If you're interested in adopting Bojangles or helping with his medical bills, please contact the shelter.

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.

Trixie is a Chinese Crested dog currently at the Benzie County Animal Shelter in Beulah.

Her listing includes two photos but doesn't say much about her at all. She's a senior, and she's looking for a forever family who will give her a lot of love. She still needs to be spayed before she can go home, but the Animal Welfare League of Benzie County will help with the costs.

Please give Trixie a chance! Senior dogs make wonderful pets. You can find out more about her by contacting the shelter.

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.

Duke is a handsome seven-year-old pointer mix currently at the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, and he needs help.

This poor guy came to my attention several months ago, and his Petfinder status hasn't changed. Until his arrival at the shelter, he spent his entire life outside. His friend Molly, a pretty seven-year-old lab mix, lived outside with him.

Duke never received much care. He got to eat, and he was neutered, but he wasn't on any kind of heartworm preventative. Because of this, he now has heartworm disease. This could have been prevented, but since it wasn't, Duke needs painful, expensive treatment. Fortunately, Molly does not have heartworm disease.

Duke is looking for sponsors for his heartworm treatment. He's also looking for a forever home so he can live inside--where he can spend his time with people and not have to endure those bitter Michigan winters out in the cold. He would love to have Molly join him and be part of his forever family, but that's not a deal breaker.

In the meantime, Duke would enjoy having visitors stop by the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society shelter and take him for a walk or do some training with him to help him become more adoptable. The shelter is in Osseo, which is near the junction of M-34 and M-99 in southern Michigan.

Duke is a sweet boy who doesn't deserve all this pain and heartache. Won't someone help him?

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.

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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