Help Michigan Pets

It's that time of year: time to prepare for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Starting on April 1, I'll be posting a topic for every letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order. With this challenge, posts are normally Monday through Saturday, but since April 1 is on a Sunday, that's the kickoff day. After that, participants get to take a break on Sundays.

This means there will be 26 posts here in April. Staying true to the purpose of this blog, the theme will be animal welfare in Michigan. When possible, the posts will be about specific adoptable pets from Michigan shelters. Additional topics may include shelters, rescue groups, and pet health and safety.

Please don't skip these posts if you're not in Michigan; readers who aren't local may still be able to adopt. Networking is also an important factor in finding homes for these pets, so please feel free to spread the word about these animals through Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

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.

Red is a blind dog located in Charlotte, Michigan. Left homeless after the death of his owner, Red would love to have a good forever home. He gets along well with dogs and cats. Red's exact age and breed(s) are unknown.

Please visit the link above for more information about Red, including his photo.

Blossom is a special-needs puggle (pug/beagle mix) located in Grand Rapids. She had one eye removed October 18 and is now in the care of the clinic where the surgery was performed. She's a good girl who desperately needs a second chance at a loving forever home.

Ursula is a missing dane/bullmastiff mix from Mayville. Mayville is located in the Thumb, but Ursula could be anywhere by now. She disappeared in May, and her owners are desperate to find her. The page is public, so you don't need a Facebook account to be able to see it. If you think you've seen Ursula, please contact her owners with the information.

Image courtesy of Help Us Find Ursula.

It's that time of year again: summer. Much of the United States has been experiencing a heatwave, and Michigan is no exception. If you're suffering from the heat and humidity, think about how miserable your pets must feel. Here are a few tips to help your pets this summer:

1. Please make sure your pets have adequate cool, clean water available at all times. It's best to allow them to stay indoors, but if that's not possible, make sure they have shade and a shallow kiddie pool with just enough water for them to cool off.

2. Never, under any circumstances, leave your pet in the car while you run errands. No human being would appreciate being trapped in a locked vehicle with little or no air, and neither do animals. It's dangerous, and no good can come of it.

3. Limit outdoor playtime in the heat. Dogs need to be able to cool off by panting, and they can't do that efficiently if they're playing fetch and carrying toys in their mouth.

4. Pets can get sunburned. For example, dogs with pink noses, light skin, or no hair should wear sunscreen, as should those with recent short haircuts. It's best to use a sunscreen specifically for pets.

5. Dogs with short noses, such as pugs and bulldogs, are highly vulnerable to the heat and can suffer a heatstroke.

If you're not convinced, here are a few links you should read for additional information:

PAWS Hospital: Did Ya' Know?

Summer heat and exertion

Hot weather safety

Dogs in hot cars, are you kidding me?

Summer safety tips for dogs

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!