SUPER SHEPHERD…THE PAYOFF TO PET ADOPTION

Thanks to The Week (April 22, 2016) for highlighting Lucca, a U.S. Marine dog that was awarded the Dickin Medal, Britain's top honor for military animals. A retired explosives dog that uncovered more than completed 400 patrols and uncovered dozens of explosive and insurgents, the German shepherd retired in 2012 after she lost a leg to an IED.

War hero 'Lucca'

As our loyal followers know, we're huge advocates of adopting rescue dogs and cats. After all, if mom and dad hadn't stepped up for me, who knows where (or even if) I'd be living right now. If that isn't enough to send you running to your local shelter, The Humane Society of the United States offers some additional food for thought. According to their numbers, between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats (most of them family pets surrendered because of "moving" or "landlord problems") end up in our nation's shelters each year. Of that staggering number, only half will not be adopted. When you factor in vaccinations, spay and neutering, and microchipping, the cost adopting a dog or cat from a shelter or rescue agency is typically less than for those purchased or gotten for free. If money doesn't move you, then consider the latest study on Human-Pet bonding. According to a roundup article by Valerie Burke, MSN for the website greenmedinfo.com, bonding with pets offers a host of physical and emotional benefits, including better stress management, improved fitness levels, reduced risk for stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular ailments, pain relief from a host of chronic ailments, fewer allergies and a boost to the body's immune system. For children, living with pets has been shown to reduce allergies and boost EQ - empathy and compassion - a key predictor of future academic success.

Tanner sharing the love with our bro-in-law, Ernie, and nephew, Armand

Just because they're good for you,and a great bargain doesn't mean that every pet is right for every potential adopter. As we note in GIMME SHELTER, before you head out to the shelter, it might be wise to do some homework and take a personal financial and emotional inventory to assess your needs and abilities. 

• Ask yourself what you want/need in a dog. Will the dog be your constant companion? Will it have to co-exist with young children? With other dogs or cats? Does your apartment, condo or co-op board have any size or breed restrictions?  
• Spend some time researching the breed you are considering. Learn what it was bred for and the breed’s general temperament. If you live in a small apartment and aren’t big on outdoor exercise, you might want to avoid a dog that was bred for running. If you are away at work during the day and the dog will be indoors, you might want to consider a low-energy dog. A good resource is The ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs. The more knowledge you have, the better your chances for a successful pairing.
• Decide how much time and energy you are willing to devote to the dog. Many people overestimate both. As a result, the dog gets shortchanged on exercise and affection, or becomes a burden to the owners, making a failed adoption more likely. Puppies and young dogs generally require more time and patience than older ones.  
• Include all family members in the selection of the dog. Bringing home a new dog can be chaotic in the best of circumstances. Defining each member’s responsibilities before adoption will help lessen the chaos. Young children may be too physically aggressive for very young puppies or fragile toy breeds. A dog that growls, cowers, raises its hackles, runs from your children, or that is reluctant to be petted is probably not a good choice for families with children.  
• Spend at least one hour getting to know the dog you are considering. Barring unforeseen events, this animal will be a member of your family for 12 or more years.
• Find a local veterinarian and discuss canine nutrition and healthcare needs such a checkups and vaccinations. Medical emergencies can be expensive, so you might want to inquire about pet insurance.

Announcing...the GIMME SHELTER CAMPAIGN

Tanner, Eugenie and I are thrilled to announce the start of the Gimme Shelter Campaign to help rescue animals. We had already committed 10% of the book's profits to animal rescue causes when our friend and fellow writer, Dan Cohen, suggested we offer interested organizations discount codes so that their members could save on the book and earn donations for their groups. It took a few weeks to work out the tech kinks but now it's a reality. By pointing their members and supporters to our online store, www.buygimmeshelter.com, and using the unique codes that we supply, they earn $1.00 for every book sold through their groups. In the coming weeks, we'll be announcing some of our 'partners'. Right now, if you know any organizations that could use a helping hand, have them get in touch with us to learn how they can join the Gimme Shelter Campaign.
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Now that Genesis Awards are behind us, we'd like to thank the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for letting us contribute to the cause by offering e-copies of GIMME SHELTER to the celebrity presenters. Hope they enjoy the book as much as we appreciate all the hard work the HSUS does raising awareness of animal issues. For a look at photos of the star-studded gala, check them out on Facebook.
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Lastly, my sister and mad dog lover Honey pinned me a photo of the most decorated war dog in the history of the United States. Wanna guess the breed? That's right, a Pit Bull named Stubby.

THE MORE WE GIVE...

Tanner and I wanted to take a moment to mention some animal organizations and their upcoming events that you might want to consider supporting:

-The Humane Society of the United States, Genesis Awards - the equivalent of the animals Oscars they celebrate the role that the news and entertainment media and high-profile individuals play in rasing awareness of animals issue. They are being held on Saturday, March 23, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. If you have a few bucks to spare (pay, more than a few), tickets are still available at 310.440.0600. At Tanner's urging (and with some help from our neighbor and fellow dog rescuer Gary K.) we've donated digital copies of GIMME SHELTER to the VIP gift bags for this year's gala.

Operation Blankets of Love - an award-winning non-profit 501(c)3 public charity. They collect, transport and distribute recycled and new pet-related items to comfort stray, sick, neglected and abused homeless animals in shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries and foster groups. In addition, as an Emergency Response Team, they partner with those organizations to provide relief and comfort to animals that are displaced or endangered by catastrophe.

St. Martin's Animal Foundation - Founded in in 1999, SMAF is committed to aleviating the suffering of animals through the power of media. They will be hosting a 'Mad Hatter Benefit' on Sunday, May 19, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at La Maison Lounge 11608 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA. 661-269.2164.
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On a different front, as friends and readers of Gimme Shelter know I've been studying and teaching martial arts for over 30 years. Since 1992, I've had the honor to train and teach under Sensei Mel Pralgo at Conejo Family Karate where we practice traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu karate - the "wax on, wax off" style made popular by the original Karate Kid movies starring Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio. If you know anyone who could benefit from this amazing mind-body training, check us out. And be sure to tell them Tanner sent you.

4th from left, Sensei Mel Pralgo, far right, Lou Spirito