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Stephanie Downs (right) and FiXit are researching the best ways to deliver spay/neuter messages. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Downs.

FiXit Foundation takes innovative approach to promote spay/neuter

By Brendan Quealy

Stephanie Downs’ idea of a vacation is spending a few weeks in Africa helping impoverished children and another couple weeks in India attempting to ease the feral cow problem. That may not seem like the ideal R & R for most, but Downs is passionate about making a difference locally, as well as internationally. Downs, who has endless energy, is especially chipper while talking about her pride and joy: the FiXit Foundation.

“The original idea came while I was working at a shelter in 2001,” Downs says. “I would see all of these people coming in with boxes of puppies and just dropping them off. We were already putting down 5 million animals a year in this country, so it seemed like spay/neuter was something we needed to focus on.”

Downs refers to her time volunteering at Los Angeles-area shelters as her “gateway drug” into animal welfare. With her background in marketing, Downs was interested in creating targeted campaigns that would motivate people in underserved communities to spay and neuter their pets. “There is a segment of the population that we are not meeting,” Downs says. “Twenty to 25 percent of the people in this country either do not know, or are misinformed, about spay/neuter.”
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Main Line Animal Rescue
610.933.0606
MLAR.org

Hi! My name is Augie, and I am an adorable Border Collie/Labrador mix … with a dash of something else that has given me this curly tail! I am young, but totally housetrained and extremely playful. I can be a bit nervous at first when I meet new dogs, but I settle in after a few minutes. I live with a large Hound mix in my foster home, and we get along great. I am energetic, but not as high energy as a typical Border Collie. If you are looking for an active, fun, adorable, sweet medium-sized dog, then I am the dog for you!

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Chew toys. Tennis Balls. Treats. Bacon. And that’s just my shopping list for day one! I’d also get the staff here lots of presents for taking such good care of me and my animal friends.

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I am a very smart boy with a lot of love in my heart. I will do well with any family.

Beach or mountains?
I would love to go for a nice long hike in the mountains. There would be so many great things to smell.

Hamburger or hot dog?
Both. With fries, please. We might as well celebrate, right?

Main Line Animal Rescue
610.933.0606
MLAR.org

Hello! My name is April, and I’m an adorable, sweet girl. I am about 2 years old, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got some Border Collie, Terrier, and Hound in me. No one is sure, but we all agree I’m a cutie! At 30 pounds, I am the perfect size for any family. I love to run, and can really turn on the jets when I get going. I am a bit timid when I meet new people, but I warm up quickly and will be taking treats out of your hand in no time at all.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would buy a big field so I could run all day and all night … and I’d invite all my doggie friends!

What do you dream of at night?
Roaming free with my favorite human right by my side, and giving giant doggie kisses.

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I’ve got too much explorer in me to be stuck here in a shelter. Although I love everybody here, I know I’ll be happier in a nice home.

Who is your best friend?
Everybody here at Main Line is so much fun! They really love me, but they want YOU to be my new bestie!

CARES takes part in the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event. Registration begins April 1st for May 2012 event.

Langhorne, PA – “A service dog having sharp, clear eyesight is one of the most important elements”, says Gina King of Bristol and a puppy raiser with Canine Companions for Independence. “They have to have clear vision to be able to work with those with disabilities and to be able to fully make up for whatever capabilities are challenged with their owner. It is critical to have service dog eyesight screened and checked.”  King would know. She had a free eye exam for service dog Tinkerbell in 2010 at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES), in Langhorne, PA.   She  is caring for another service dog-in-training and plans on getting him screened at this year’s event.

CARES is teaming up with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) to launch the 5th annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event in the month of May.  Dr. Robert Peiffer, a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist at CARES will provide free eye exams to eligible dogs throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Eligible dogs include guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, police detection dogs and search and rescue dogs. Dr. Peiffer’s participation is part of a national effort of more than 200 board certified veterinary ophthalmologists in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico who will provide free sight-saving eye exams to thousands of service dogs.

“In these exams, we hope to identify any health issues in their early stages,” says Dr. Peiffer.  “Early detection and treatment are the keys to fast recovery.”

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2012 EVENT:

To qualify, dogs must be active “working dogs” that were certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. The certifying organization could be national, regional or local in nature. Specific service groups are listed on the website at ACVOeyeexam.org

Guardians/agents for the dog(s) must FIRST register the animal via an online registration form beginning April 1, at ACVOeyeexam.org. Registration ends April 30th.  Once registered online, the owner/agent can contact CARES directly to schedule an appointment, during the month of May.  Appointment dates and times are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.To learn more about and register for the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event, please visit ACVOeyeexam.org <http://www.acvoeyeexam.org/> .

About Dr. Robert Peiffer: An award winning veterinarian and published author, Dr. Peiffer is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, having earned his Bachelor of Science in 1969, his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1971 and a PhD in 1981.  He became board certified in veterinary ophthalmology in 1976 and has received the American Animal Hospital Association veterinarian of year award and life-time achievement awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association   He has served as President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology and the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology. Dr. Peiffer is a member of CARES’ full-time staff.

Rick Thompson, Ken Siegert, and their inspiration Chloe. PHOTOS: Rick Thompson/Ken Siegert

New organization helps underfunded shelters

By Brendan Quealy

The idea of selfless generosity may seem foreign to some people, but not to Rick Thompson and Ken Siegert. While they have been in the animal welfare community for years, there was one incident that really hit home.“It started with a shelter in Tucker County, West Virginia that was run by Cathy Parsons,” says Thompson. “She was really dedicated to running a no-kill shelter, but she had a very limited budget.”

Parsons ran into an extremely difficult case and needed to reach out for help. An adorable dog named Ray came to the Tucker County Animal Shelter after both of his human companions died a few months apart. Ray was lucky to land at this particular shelter, but he had two major factors working against his possible adoption—he was black and he was old.  “One of the things you read about is that when a black dog is in a shelter, they don’t show up in photos, and when people walk down the aisles of cages the dogs are not right up in front but are in the back in the shadows—so they don’t get seen,” explains Thompson. “We are trying to help the black dogs, the senior dogs and the medical needs dogs by putting them on the radar.”
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National Greyhound Adoption Program
215.331.7918
NGAP.org

Well, hello there. My name is Dreamy—which describes me perfectly. I’m a fun dog who loves to run all over with my toys in my mouth. I love to play “keep away.” I’m perfect for a house with a fenced-in yard, and an active family—I especially love running or biking. And after a long day of exercise, I am so happy to lounge around and cuddle. I hope you like doggie kisses!

What movie star would you want to portray you in a movie of your life?
How about Patrick Dempsey? He’s McDreamy, and I’m Dreamy—so it seems like a perfect fit.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would give it all to by wonderful pet parent. I’m a dog, so I wouldn’t know what to do with all of that money.

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I am a fun dog. I play hard and sleep hard!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I think I am a pretty good dog now, but there is always room for improvement, I guess.

National Greyhound Adoption Program
215.331.7918
NGAP.org

Greetings! My name is Donner and I definitely need a home with a fenced-in yard to release my energy. I like to explore, but I love to be loved. I’m happy to hang out with you all day, and smother you with my love! I’m not that into toys, but grab a ball and I’m ready to play fetch. I’m a fun and silly dog!

What movie star would you want to portray you in a movie of your life?
Robert Downey Jr. is quite the stud, and so am I—if I may say so myself.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would live every dog’s dream. Big backyard. Plenty of bacon. And a loving human by my side at all times.

What do you dream of at night?
Bacon, mostly!

Who is your best friend?
BACON!

Hamburger or hot dog?
Wrap them in bacon, and I’ll take both!

Alisa Seiber and her husband Shawn along with their dog JD. Both were deployed at the same time, leaving JD’s residence in question.

Organization pairs military pets with temporary homes

By Brendan Quealy

Alisa Johnson is one of those people who believes her dogs can see into [her] soul. So it was heartbreaking when she and her husband, Shawn, received orders from the U.S. Marine Corps to relocate to a base in Quantico, Virginia, where dogs and other pets were not allowed. “We didn’t really have an option to keep the dogs,” says Johnson, whose Aussie Shepherds JD and Elliot (yes, they are named after the two characters from the television show Scrubs) ended up having to stay with a very distant friend of a distant relative in San Diego.

Johnson could not imagine she was the only armed forces member to have ever faced this problem, and that is why she created “Dogs on Deployment” (DoD). The goal of DoD is to provide a database for military members to find families and other individuals who are willing to take care of their pet while they are deployed overseas or stationed somewhere animals are not allowed. The hope is that this database will eliminate any need for the men and women of the armed forces to relinquish their pets to already overcrowded shelters. “I would say that getting started and finding support has been the easiest part,” says Johnson. “When you put troops together with pets, people want to get the word out and people want to find homes for these pets.”

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Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
215.238.9901
Jackson@daddisfc.com

Ehhhhh! It’s the Fonz! How you doing? I may look like a big, tough guy, but don’t let that fool you. I’m really just a lovable boy looking for a new home. I think I am somewhere between 5 and 6 years old. I am a very big, striped Tomcat. I am neutered and ready to move in with my new forever family. Come visit me and I am sure you’ll want to take me home. I guarantee we will have some “Happy Days” together! Get it? Yeah, I’m clever too.

What movie star would you want to portray you in a movie of your life?
Henry Winkler, of course. Who else could play the Fonz?

What is your favorite board game?
I’ve always liked Monopoly. It’s a nice relaxing game, plus the little pieces are fun to paw at.

If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Start production on the movie of my life starring Henry Winkler.

Why should YOU go home with a family right now?
I’m all up-to-date on my shots. I’m neutered. I’m fun and I’m the Fonz! What more can you ask for?