This is Pattycake. She’s a one-year-old beauty abandoned by her family. Her biggest quirk? She hates other cats, even their scent on me! In many ways, she’s a typical Tortie, which means she’s smart, opinionated, and stubborn. Some people call this “tortitude,” but I’ve learned from experience that “you can’t judge a cat by her colors.”
Fifty-one dogs and puppies saved from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Midwest arrived at North Shore Animal League America, thanks to our partnership with National Mill Dog Rescue. It was a journey from fear and neglect to hope and healing. Many of the rescued dogs spent their past lives confined; never experienced a gentle touch or soft grass beneath their paws. Now they have a second chance for a better future.
Our Pet Health Centers team jumped into action recently with the arrival of Kira, a 9-month-old English Bulldog mix who was surrendered to us in significant distress. Not only was Kira in heat, but she had a prolapse of her rectum and a possible hernia that was so painful, she had to be sedated to allow our veterinary staff to examine her. The plan was for a full examination while sedated during spay surgery, that's when a life-threatening infection was found just in time to save her life.
Besides being the month of love, hearts, and roses, February is also Responsible Pet Owners Month. And although it’s the shortest month of the year — even in a leap year —it’s full of reminders about how best to care for our animal companions. The most important of all these reminders is about spay/neuter because you cannot be a responsible pet person without supporting spay/neuter.
For me, the beginning of a new year means working even harder to help homeless animals find warmth, safety, and love for the rest of their lives. No matter what I’m doing, even when I’m having a fireside chat with The Moosh, I’m always looking for ways to save more lives. And with the help of my Animal League America colleagues and my IG community, I know that 2024 will be a year to remember.
North Shore Animal League America embarked on a lifesaving mission in collaboration with partner National Mill Dog Rescue; driving our Mobile Rescue Unit to Missouri to pick up 26 small breed dogs who were saved from Midwest commercial breeding facilities. The dogs traveling to our Port Washington, NY campus included breeds such as Maltese, Dachshunds, Labradoodles, Pomeranians and Shih Tzus. What set this rescue apart was the higher number of puppies and younger canines compared to previous commercial breeding rescues.
For me, no month summons up more memories and emotions than December. It’s such a resonant season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or Winter Solstice. December is the time when many of us look back on the past 12 months and forward to what’s next. So in that spirit, I’m taking a look at 2023 to share just a few of the moments that will stay in my memory forever.
As seasons change and temperatures drop we can all get a little run down, and before you know it the first signs of an upper respiratory illness start to appear. The same is true for our pets. Know how to recognize the signs that your furry friend might be a little under the weather and how you can avoid these health risks in the future.
She looked like she’d swallowed a bowling ball. From other angles, she looked like a kangaroo. No matter how she sat, lay, or stood, she could not get comfortable. She didn’t walk, she waddled. And she ate like she was feeding a football team. Then, after days of watching and waiting, her seven sweet nuggets arrived…and I finally got some sleep.
Veterans Day is a time to salute the dedication and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. North Shore Animal League America’s Shelter Pet Outreach Team (SPOT) honors their service not just on this special day but throughout the year. For over a decade, our SPOT volunteers have been making regular visits to the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans, bringing joy, comfort and companionship in the form of puppies to brighten the days of the residents.