Four Dog Stories That Will Melt Your Heart

Posted October 29, 2015 by Hannah Healy

Every dog needs a loving family. Sadly, not all dogs receive the love and care they deserve.

Every day and night, in all weather extremes, PETA’s fieldworkers answer calls for help from people living in some of the poorest communities in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, where animals have no one else to help them.

PETA’s fieldworkers transport dogs to local veterinarians, provide them with fresh water and food, loosen collars that have become too tight, and supply tangle-free tie-outs for dogs on heavy chains. They rescue injured and dying animals and catch skittish strays other agencies have given up on. 

Here are just a few of the dogs they’ve recently helped: 

Max

Dogs are social pack animals who need companionship, scratches behind the ears, regular walks, and the opportunity to curl up with their guardians at night indoors. But, like many of the dogs PETA’s fieldworkers come across, Max was forced to live outdoors, in all weather extremes. He was kept chained alone all day, EVERY day, for almost his entire life. Chaining dogs isn’t illegal in Max’s area, so PETA’s fieldworkers did everything they could to improve his lonely life by checking on him regularly and giving him tummy rubs, treats, and fresh straw for his doghouse. This sweetheart quickly stole their hearts.

Recently, PETA was able to obtain custody of Max! For the first time in years, his chain was removed. He was transferred to the Virginia Beach SPCA, where he quickly found a new and loving home. Max will never be forced to spend another night outdoors. 

From chained to loved… brought to us by Peta, Maxwell has his very own family and a bed inside.

Posted by Virginia Beach SPCA Kennel on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Charlotte

“Pup” was chained among boards, nails, and debris when PETA fieldworkers found her. 

They managed to gain custody of the fuzzy cutie and rescued her from this dangerous environment. She has been renamed Charlotte and was transferred to the VBSPCA to start a new life. 

Skylar

This pit bull puppy illustrates perfectly why no dog should be forced to “live” outside. Skylar’s back was covered with burn-like lesions, and her guardian didn’t know what had caused them. He took her to two different veterinary clinics but was turned away by both because he didn’t have enough money to pay for her treatment. He decided to surrender her to PETA.

PETA transferred her to our friends at the VBSPCA, where she was treated for her wounds and is now available for adoption. 

https://www.facebook.com/VBSPCA/videos/10154482394878306/ Check out this video! 

Sammie

Sammie was a super-sweet elderly poodle mix. When she stopped eating, lost interest in her favorite activities, and became so weak that she could no longer walk, her loving guardian brought her to PETA for euthanasia because she couldn’t afford costly veterinary prices. Her guardian wrote a kind note to PETA expressing her gratitude for this service.

Never be silent when you see an animal in need! If you aren’t sure what to do, please call PETA for help—any time, day or night—at 757-622-7382, option 2.

Learn more about taking action for animals:

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/dog-rescue-stories/#ixzz3qRofz8sj

Pitbulls Need Protection Now!

Posted October 22, 2015 by Kim Johnson

Millions of dogs enter animal shelters each year in the U.S., and because there aren’t enough homes for all of them, many will never find a “forever” family. But pit bulls, more than any other dog breed, are in crisis and need help right now. Urgently. They often face relentless abuse and neglect, and they are the breed that is most often abandoned. As a result, tens of thousands of them are euthanized (“put down”) in shelters every year.

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/pit-bulls/#ixzz3pXoEE3co

Besides being the most abandoned, pit bulls are also the most common victims of the heartbreaking cruelty and severe neglect that PETA fieldworkers encounter every day. These dogs are often seen as macho status symbols or cheap burglar alarms. They’re taunted, abused, and treated like inanimate objects. 

PETA’s fieldworkers have helped and won justice for hundreds of pit bulls in Virginia and North Carolina, but countless others languish in backyards and back alleys across the country. They don’t receive any affection or exercise, and they’re often beaten to make them “mean.” Pit bulls are also used in dogfights, in which they’re thrown into a ring and encouraged to tear each other apart. The ones who lose the fights are then electrocuted, drowned, hanged, or even worse. 

If you care about pit bulls, help them! 

Millions of dogs (of all breeds) end up euthanized each year because too many people buy dogs from breeders and pet stores instead of saving lives by adopting from animal shelters and too many people fail to get them spayed or neutered. Support a ban on breeding dogs of ANY breed—including pit bulls and pit bull mixes—and support strict regulations on their care, including a ban on chaining. Breed-specific laws can protect pit bulls and prevent more from being born into a world of exploitation, abandonment, and abuse.

With the overpopulation crisis, there’s simply no justification for bringing more dogs of any breed into the world while so many in animal shelters are in need of homes. Urge people who keep their dogs chained to let them live indoors as members of the family. And always report abuse and neglect. Pit bulls need all the friends they can get.

Spread the word!

15 Things to Think About Before Adopting a Dog

Posted August 20, 2015 by Hannah Healy

For many, the idea of abandoning a companion animal is heartbreaking! In spite of this, every year in the U.S. more than 6 million dogs and cats end up in animal shelters. Many of them are there because their families abandoned them. Here are some of the lame excuses that people give for turning their backs on their own animals:

1. “I had to move.”

If you’ve found a way to take all your valuables with you, you can find a way to take your animal companion. Adopting an animal doesn’t mean adding to your possessions—it means adding a member to your family. And as the Disney character Lilo says, “Family means nobody gets left behind.”

2. “He got too big.”

Puppies, like human babies, don’t stay the same size forever. This is not surprising. All one needs to do is simply Google how big a certain breed will get. If you don’t want a big dog, stick to smaller dog breeds.

3. “She’s expensive.”

You’re right—companion animals cost money. They need food, water, shelter, and medical care just like us. That’s why it’s so important to consider this before bringing one into your life. But once you have an animal companion and expenses do come up, your animal needs to take priority over less important items, like vacations and pedicures.

4. “He’s not cute anymore.”

Excuse me? Did you adopt an animal companion only so that you could take cute Instagram pictures? Animals aren’t pieces of artwork that you acquire to make your home more aesthetically pleasing. They’re living, feeling, breathing beings who depend on us. Plus, ALL animals are cute!

5. “Caring for him takes too much time and effort.”

Caring for a companion animal DOES take time and effort. While it’s good to recognize your limitations, make sure you recognize them BEFORE you choose to adopt. An animal companion is a lifelong commitment, and it’s a give-and-take relationship. Don’t be selfish. Give your animal companions what they need.

6. “He’s too old now.”

This excuse is just MEAN. From the minute you bring them into your home, your animal companions will love you with every ounce of their being. You are their protector. How is it OK for you to give them up because they got too old? We all age. And you’re going to get old, too, one day, so think about how you’ll want to be treated. I bet it doesn’t include being abandoned.

7. “My new boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t like her.”

OK, so if your new boyfriend or girlfriend didn’t like one of your human family members, would you get rid of that person, too? Probably not. Boyfriends and girlfriends who love us care about everything that’s important to us, including our animals. Any partner who can’t accept that probably isn’t the best person to be with. And regardless, you made a promise to your animal companion—it’s your job to keep it, no matter who else comes into your life.

Adopting an animal companion is a compassionate choice that can bring much joy. It’s also an important, serious decision that warrants time and reflection. Before saying yes to a new animal companion, please make sure that you’re prepared for this great responsibility. Your animal friend will be devoted to you for life, and you should return the favor.

Check out Peta2's adoptable dog guide!

Read more: http://www.peta2.com/blog/why-people-abandon-animals/#ixzz3jOQ4SuqP