Attention, Macy’s Shoppers!

Shop for a Cause Day is Oct. 17. You’ll save 25 percent on your Macy’s purchases, enjoy additional discounts, and have the chance to win big prizes in a raffle. Is there a catch? Of course there is. But it’s a good one.

You’ll need to first purchase a “Shopping Pass.” It’s just $5 — and every cent goes to In Defense of Animals (www.idausa.org), an animal protection group dedicated to stopping animal abuse and cruelty through education, hands-on rescue and investigations.

To buy the shopping pass (good at any Macy’s store), call 415-448-0052, or email renee@idausa.org.
If you email in your ticket order, please include:

1. number of tickets you want to buy
2. Your name as it appears on your credit card.
3. Mastercard or Visa
4. Credit Card number
5. Expiration date
6. The 3 digit security code on back of the card
7. Address that the card is billed to
8. Shipping address that you would like the ticket(s) sent to

Order right away to ensure that you receive your pass in time.

Sorry for my recent silence, animal-loving readers! I’ve been busy with work, which is a good thing for journalists in these trying times.

I know you’re busy, too. And I know we all want to help animals however we can. But who has spare cash or time these days? So in this post, I offer three fast ways to help animals without spending a dime. All you have to do is click.

DONATE WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME — Help animals every time you recycle old electronic junk, sell stuff on e-Bay, use your credit card for daily purchases and even send emails. Check out these Humane Society programs: http://action.humanesociety.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=2901.0&dlv_id=6581

CLICK & FEED — Click here: www.theanimalrescuesite.com. Now click on the purple box. Congratulations – you just contributed .6 bowl of food to a hungry cat or dog. It’s easy; it’s free; no strings attached; it takes less than a second. Tell everyone. Make this your home page.

WRITE OFF VET BILLS? — I want to do the right thing for my furry friends, but geez! Seems like I drop a couple hundred dollars every time the vet looks in my cat’s ear! That’s why, to be honest, my pets don’t see the vet as often as they should. Help may be on the way. A new federal bill — H.R. 3501—the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act—would reward pet parents with a tax deduction of up to $3,500 for expenses like veterinary visits. That means more animals will get the care they need. Sound good. To tell Congress you support this bill, go to https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2605

We may soon be able to claim vet bills as a tax deduction.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will make sure your representative receives your email.

DON’T TORTURE ANIMALS ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

You know those cute horse carriages that cart tourists around? Looks like fun, right? But you would probably think twice before climbing aboard if you knew that horse had to go for hours without food or water. Make sure that your summer vacation plans don’t include torturing animals. Cruelty, confinement, neglect and abuse are common practices in the tourism trade – but travelers (even animal loving ones) don’t think twice about jumping on an elephant or horse carriage. “Most people do not realize that donkeys, horses and elephants are sometimes forced to carry tourists for hours without food or water or that performing animals are often trained using cruel techniques,” says Dena Jones, U.S. programs director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

Here are five ways you can help animals on your next vacation:

1. Volunteer to help animals in your vacation. The Compassionate Travel Web site (www.compassionatetravel.org) offers a list of volunteer vacations in 30 countries.

2. Stay away from bullfights and roadside zoos. Do visit nature reserves, animal sanctuaries or rehabilitation centers, where the entrance fees benefit the animals.

3. Try eco-friendly excursions, such as dolphin-spotting or whale-watching.

4. Avoid animal rides or transport that could cause suffering. Many of these donkeys, horses,elephants and camels work for hours with no food, shelter, or water.

5. Don’t buy wildlife souvenirs or products that may have endangered animals, such as ivory, tortoiseshell, fur and horns. For more ideas, take a look at the new Web site, www.compassionatetravel.org. You’ll also find free “I am a Compassionate Traveler” luggage tags, along with a wealth of information, brochures, videos and actions you can take.

Happy trails! And happy tails.

Instinct or Emotion?

The New York Times recently published an article wondering if animals feel regret, remorse, or sorrow.

Scientists and biologists hotly debate the topic, but if you own a pet, you know the answer. Of course they do. And not just regret, but also love, affection, fear, and joy.

May I share a few stories that support my point? And I’d love to hear your animal tales as well.

I recently had to have my cat, Franki, euthanized. She had thrown a clot, which had lodged in the artery leading to her hind leg. She had advanced heart disease. She couldn’t walk or stand. She could barely breathe. She was in pain. I had no choice, but I was heartbroken. The night before the vet was to make this final, sad housecall, I slept on the floor to be near her. And, though she was in extreme discomfort, she did what she always did when I was sad. She purred as loud as she could, she licked my face and my arms; she rested her paw on my shoulder. She comforted me.

Franki had been buddies with my other cat, Tiny. The two followed each other around; they reclined side by side under the window at the spot where the sun streamed in; they constantly groomed each other. They were, without a doubt, BFFs. After the vet took Franki’s lifeless body away to be cremated, I wasn’t the only one sobbing. Tiny mourned, too. She went from room to room, mewing and searching for her friend. Even now, two months later, Tiny is still subdued.

Wild animals also express emotion. I found a baby mockingbird on the ground a few years back – too young to fly. On a hunch that its mom might be nearby, I placed it on a bench in my front yard. Sure enough, the mother bird showed up and fed the baby. So, every day for two weeks, I placed the bird on the bench several times a day. Mom would visit and feed it. At night, I brought it inside, where it was warm and safe from predators. Then, one day, the young bird flapped its wings – and flew away. Several months later, I was doing a little gardening. And a mockingbird flew up to me, almost landing on my shoulder and fearlessly hovered near me for several seconds before flying away. Could it have been that same bird? No way to know for sure . . . but how often does a wild bird land on one’s shoulder?

Here’s a warm-and-fuzzy article and video that I know you’ll love – and I think supports my point: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/09/assignment_america/main4085323.shtml

Do animals have feelings? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!

Meet Lily, an animal shelter mutt and her brood

I’ve been posting stories about animals in need, abused animals, and animals in trouble. Thought it was time to give you something to smile about: Iowa Dog Nurses Orphaned Kittens