A new Wake County Animal Center is coming and will serve the
county for the next 30 years, according to county officials.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the new
design to help increase capacity for dogs and cats by more than 50%.
“This new animal center is something our community truly
needs,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “Our current facility has
served us well for many years, but it can no longer keep up with the growing
demand. This project will allow us to better care for animals and serve Wake
County for decades to come.”
The 54,600-square-foot facility will be built on the
southern tract of Randleigh Farm in eastern Wake County, an area previously operated as a dairy farm by NC State University before being purchased by Wake
County and the City of Raleigh in 2005.
Some features of the new design include fenced outdoor yards
for dogs to run around and socialize with each other and dedicated walking
paths for volunteers and staff to walk the dogs.
According to Wake County officials, the new Animal Center
will include animal adoption, a public veterinary clinic offering targeted
services, foster program offices, and animal surrender and redemption services.
Funding for the new Animal Center will be provided by the
County’s Capital Improvement Program. Construction for the new facility is expected to begin in
spring 2027.
Since the beginning of her stay with us, Reba (A582563) has been a model shelter resident. Easy to handle, calm and sweet, she loves affection and treats. Reba pairs easily with other dogs, and since her first day has been a playgroup rock star. She’s the kind of dog that knows her boundaries and is respectful of her playmates. With people she is cautious but sweet, takes her time, but is easily won over with a few treats and good butt scratch.
Reba is barely 50 pounds and young, about 2 years old. She is healthy and muscular, and her only medical issue is a mild entropion on her right eye. We don’t know why people just do not see her. But we’re hoping to change all that for her. Let’s get her home.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
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Some treats, a few soft words and a pet or two on his head, and Diesel is your new best friend
Most people walk right past Nite Train (A582844). All they see is a scarred, quiet, scary-looking dog. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, Nite Train is big, strong, 3 years old and 70 pounds of muscle, but he is shy, sweet, playful with other dogs, and genuinely wants a connection with people.
It’s clear that he was possibly abused and mistreated in his lifetime, as he bears the deep scars on his face of a life spent in the streets. Nite Train flinches at first, afraid of hands coming close to him. But once he feels safe, he will seek out affection quietly, gently nudging his muscular head into our hands. To be touched. To be loved. He may look intimidating, but Nite Train is a sweetheart, a quiet boy waiting and hoping for his day to come. Let’s get him a home.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
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Owners Vu Nguyen and Mai Huynh are hanging up their aprons
Bartenders both local and from lands afar travelled to the restaurant to show off their ’tending and drinking skills.
Mamas now available at the Burbank Animal Shelter.
Ready for a fun-loving companion? Meet Mamas, a perfect playful girl who lives for her stuffed animals!
When she’s not romping around with a toy in her mouth, this energetic youngster loves a good adventure. She recently showed off her amazing spirit on a hike, navigating the trail with gusto.
Because she’s a strong and spirited girl, Mamas will need a family committed to consistent leash training to help her become the best walking partner ever. Her high energy means she will thrive in an active home with plenty of exercise. With her charming personality and love for playtime, Mamas promises to be a fun and rewarding addition to any family ready to keep up with her zest for life.
Petunia didn’t have a great start at life. We knew this right away when she showed up as a stray in the city. We went slow and spent the time needed for her to trust us. Turns out, she’s pretty darn fabulous! She still shows some fear and aggression through the cage with the public, but that’s because she is unsure of new people and their intentions. We highly recommend that you ask to see her out of her kennel, to get a better idea of her true personality.
Petunia is not a good choice for a first-time dog owner. She needs to go to someone experienced and someone willing to continue her socialization. She attends our Sundays Hikes and goes on day trips with our volunteers, and she is learning that not everyone is bad or wanting to do harm to her. It’s a slow process but its working. She should go to an adult home for now. Small kids may trigger her fear. She loves other dogs and would definitely benefit from going home with a four-legged buddy.
She is so unbelievably loving once she trusts you, she just melts in your arms. Petunia is young and will adjust well to a routine and regular socializing/training. If you see yourself being that person and are willing to give what it takes to heal this sweet girl’s heart, ask to see her out in the yard for a meet and greet.
Come visit the Burbank Animal shelter to foster or adopt Petunia!
Willow is a stunning, spirited girl with a big personality and an even bigger heart once she gets to know you. She’s a talkative companion who loves treats, catnip, and a good brushing session—and she’ll happily tell you when she’s ready for some “me time.”
Willow has learned so much since coming to the shelter, blossoming into a friendly and engaging cat when given patience, understanding, and her own space. She’ll thrive in a calm home as the only pet, where she can be the center of attention and set the pace for affection.
Willow is looking for an experienced, cat-savvy, adopter. With an experienced cat person who appreciates her independent streak, Willow will be a loyal and loving friend who keeps life interesting.
Come visit the Burbank Animal Shelter to adopt Willow!
Learn how animal shelters prepare for emergencies, ensuring the safety of pets with effective plans, training, and community support.
From electrical fires to natural disasters, a range of emergencies impact animal shelters, just as they do our homes or businesses. It can be challenging enough to ensure your own dog or cat stays safe during a crisis. But how do animal shelters, which often have dozens of dogs and cats in their care, manage to keep their four-footed residents protected and cared for in case of emergencies?
Three rules for emergency situations
Dr. Douglas Mader is a veterinarian as well as a certified first responder and a consultant for both branches of the Florida Keys SPCA. As such, he is well-versed in helping shelters prep for disaster, and has three rules for emergency situations:
The shelter needs a detailed plan for emergencies — one that includes evacuation protocols as well as shelter-in-place protocols.
Shelter staff should review and update the plan often – once a month if possible, especially if the shelter is located in a region prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires or floods.
Assign individual staff members and volunteers to take responsibility for specific jobs. Since some individuals may be unable to reach the facility during a crisis, everyone should be cross-trained to fill in as needed.
“Having an Emergency Standard Operating Procedure in place for an animal shelter is paramount to ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals in our care,” says Guinnevere Shuster, Director of Marketing & Communications at the Humane Society of Utah. “It equips our team with the knowledge and tools to respond swiftly and effectively in crisis situations, minimizing stress and risk for both the animals and staff.”
Covering all the bases in times of crisis
To help prepare for an emergency, all the animals in a shelter’s care need proper identification that must travel with them if evacuation is necessary. This means good record-keeping is vital. Medical records need to be up to date and attached to the animal or her crate/carrier. Older and special needs animals must travel with clear care instructions. Shelters should save all records for each dog and cat offsite and in the cloud, in case computers and paper records at the facility are unavailable or destroyed.
Shelters are advised to prepare emergency kits with several days’ worth of food, water and medicine for all the animals, and keep the kits near their crates or cages. This helps make for a smoother, swifter evacuation if it becomes necessary to leave quickly.
Extra sets of clean scrubs, along with a store of food and water, are important for staff and volunteers in the event they need to shelter in place.
Dr. Mader suggests shelters keep an extra month’s supply of regularly prescribed medicines on hand.
During power outages, a generator helps keep shelter animals cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.
When feasible, an offsite storage unit can be invaluable for extra crates, food, bottled water, bowls, and blankets.
Practice drills allow staff and volunteers to learn evacuation routes, emergency procedures, and their individual responsibilities during a crisis.
Animal shelters house a lot of dogs and cats, but with a well-thought-out and frequently-rehearsed emergency plan in place, they can save every precious life in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Shelters helping shelters
If evacuation is necessary, temporary foster homes for the animals, or transport to other shelters, may be needed. Reciprocal agreements with one or more shelters allow a facility out of harm’s way to take in animals displaced by evacuation. Often, shelters will have several agreements in place.
“We have reciprocal agreements with two local municipal animal shelters in the region to assist with housing should something ever happen to our building,” says Guinnevere.
Assessing in-shelter risks
Shelters often consult with local fire departments, police departments, and rescue units, which can have someone walk through the facility and point out areas of concern. For example, bags of dry food may attract vermin that could chew on electrical wiring and cause a fire. Police may advise installation of a silent alarm system in case of disgruntled clients or thieves. Rescue units can suggest improved mass exit plans and placement for backup generators.
“We consulted the local fire department and have alarms that, when activated, contact them directly,” says Guinnevere. “The fire department responds quickly, even if it’s just a bag of burnt popcorn in the microwave that sets off the alarm.”
Evacuation or shelter in place?
Depending on the nature of the emergency, shelter staff and volunteers need to be able to leap into action immediately.
In the event of a hurricane, people are alerted far enough ahead of time that they can board up windows and take cover or leave. Volunteer drivers have the time to evacuate dogs and cats to an area outside the storm’s path.
With a tornado, there can be very little warning. A blaring public announcement to head for cover is often the first clue a funnel cloud is approaching. This means shelter staff need to know the safest locations inside the facility where they can move the animals to shelter in place.
Floods can go either way; there may be time to sandbag, but flash floods can roar through a formerly dry creek bed without much notice. Shelters situated near rivers or low-lying areas need to be cognizant of local flood risks.
Wildfires travel fast and change direction with the wind, so animal shelters in fire-prone regions need to stay informed about any nearby blazes and prepare to evacuate if conditions worsen.
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Sandra Murphy lives in St Louis, Missouri. When she’s not writing, she works as a pet sitter.
Reagan (A552968) is a healthy 4-year-old girl that was brought in as a stray. She and another dog had been found tied to a pole. When she first got to the shelter, she was lunging, snapping and displaying a great deal of fear and aggression. She was timid and very unsure. She warms up quicker to female staff than she does males, and even when we’re petting her, she seems a little conflicted. It’s as if half of her heart wants to pull away and hide, and the other half longs for love. Day after day, slowly but surely, we are winning her over. And the more people she meets, the more confident she becomes. She’s been here a long time, and is ready for a new chapter in her life.
For the months of September, October and November, OCAS is inviting you to fetch a new friend! This promotion reduces the adoption fees for pets in the shelter’s care for four weeks and longer. Those pets will be available for $10, while all other pets will be available at the standard rates ($55 for dogs, $40 for cats). Each adopted pet is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before going to their new home.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
Keisha (A552801) is 3 years old, solid but small, and absolutely loves people and treats. She’ll do anything for love, and likes to spend most of her yard time cuddled on our laps. Calm, gentle and affectionate, Keisha seems like the perfect companion. Keisha’s one and only downfall is that she doesn’t seem to like a lot of other dogs, and she was actually returned to us when she did not get along with the resident pet.
But Keisha doesn’t seem to know any sadness; with her beautiful face and wiggly tail, she’s always happy, always ready to take on the new day. She doesn’t know she’s being ignored or looked over. She has no idea why she’s here. To Keisha, every day brings the promise of some yard time, some snuggles, and all the treats she can stand. She’s one of our favorites, and we are just hoping for so much more for her. We know the right person is out there waiting for her.
For the months of September, October and November, Orange County Animal Services is inviting you to fetch a new friend! This promotion reduces the adoption fees for pets in the shelter’s care for four weeks and longer. Those pets will be available for $10, while all other pets will be available at the standard rates. Each adopted pet is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before going to their new home.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
Something told John Gilcrease to snap a quick picture of his dog Gunner before he drove away from his house on the morning of Sept. 3. Gunner just looked really cute and content at that moment…
Data includes all animals, but mostly dogs and cats.
Data Source: Denver Animal Protection
A few weeks ago, the apparent shooting of a stray dog sparked a small frenzy in Athmar Park. It was the talk of the neighborhood, and the news resulted in a good Samaritan building a yard-sized trap to catch the sneaky “ninja”.
We caught up with Lt. Josh Rolfe, who heads Denver Animal Protection, for an update.
They’ve officially named the dog Solo Vino, a moniker bestowed on him by neighbors while he was loose. (The name is intended to mean “he came alone” in Spanish, though Vino Solo would be a more accurate translation.)
Solo Vino, who evaded Denver Animal Protection for months, wears a cone and a muzzle after he was treated for a possible gunshot wound to his snout.Courtesy: Denver Animal Protection
He was treated by the shelter’s vet, who removed “two metal pieces” from his mouth and reported a litany of injuries to his teeth and jaw.
“It’s going to be complicated to work through the medical issues,” Rolfe told us.
Still, Solo Vino was in stable condition and in good spirits. (Editor’s note: Solo Vino would also be a good name for a wine store.)
This one instance captured the public’s attention, but it’s a drop in a growing bucket.
Rolfe and his colleagues have been talking about troubling trends for pet wellbeing since the pandemic. In 2021, they were “begging for help” from the public to deal with a flow of surrendered and abandoned pets, possibly linked to the pandemic.
Lots of people adopted animals during lockdowns, and veterinary officials wondered if the economy or lifestyle changes (after things began to reopen) were behind that unfortunate trend.
When we spoke to Rolfe last week, he said Solo Vino’s alleged shooting points to another troubling data point.
“Animal welfare investigations, both cruelty and neglect of animals, is a large portion of our work,” he said. “It feels like, in the last few years, it’s been an ever-increasing portion of our work.”
Data includes all animals, but mostly dogs and cats.Data Source: Denver Animal Protection
Denver Animal Protection provided us with data on their investigations, which shows they answered more calls overall in 2023 than they had since 2019, though it’s not been a linear uptick.
These investigations are broken down into two categories, “neglect” and “cruelty.” Cases of neglect have remained fairly consistent since 2019, at an average of 200 cases per month.
Cases of cruelty, though, have increased. June and July of 2023 represented the highest concentration of these investigations since 2019 — a little over 200 in each of those months compared to an average of 75 cases per month in 2019. Last July ranks third in this data, with 182 cruelty investigations.
Cruelty cases include those when dogs are left in hot cars, when animals are trapped or illegally chained down, when they’re beaten or when they’re forced to fight, among other things.
Data includes all animals, but mostly dogs and cats.Data Source: Denver Animal Protection
Like before, Rolfe is looking at our post-COVID economy as a possible explanation.
“It’s very difficult for people right now to afford everything, and it is very hard to make a decision between feeding your kids or feeding your pet or paying your rent,” he told us.
Solo Vino’s case is still under investigation.
Rolfe said both Denver Animal Protection and Denver Police are looking into the matter.
If they do find a suspect, the next step will be to weigh that person’s story with other available evidence.
“It might lead towards a charge for somebody. There’s also the potential that there might be no charges if somebody felt they were legitimately acting in self-defense,” he said.
Rolfe added that self-defense legal standards for cases involving animals are similar to cases of human-on-human violence. Things are a little trickier when the injured party is a dog who can’t speak for himself.
“We just try to take everything into account, like: does the story make sense?” he said.
That’s assuming they can find any explanation at all.
Luna the cat is adoptable from the Denver Animal Shelter, for meow. Sept. 6, 2023.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Cats hate collars, like to escape and are notoriously good at hiding. So microchips matter when you realize, likely in a panic, that your furry friend is missing.
All through July, the crowded Denver Animal Shelter is offering free cat-chipping so that people can track down their lost kitties.
To get free chipping, all you have to do is put your cat in a carrier and bring it to the Denver Animal Shelter at 1241 W. Bayoud Ave. by the end of July. The shelter offers the service year round for $20.
When cats do have chips, shelter staff can contact owners immediately.
How does microchipping a cat work?
The shelter will use a hypodermic needle to inject a microchip, roughly the size of a grain of rice, under your pet’s skin.
Vets offices and shelters have scanners that can read the microchips, which include owners’ contact information. When a pet is stolen, the microchip also serves as proof of ownership.
The free microchip offer isn’t the only deal at the Denver Animal Shelter this month.
Want to adopt a pet? The Hot Dogs, Cool Cats special allows you to do so for just $50 for any dog or cat more than one year old.
German shepards, pitpulls, labs and more are waiting for dog lovers.
And a medley of domestic short, long and medium hairs and one Russian blue are looking for a cat owner, too.
Some of the designs available for Think Tank Tattoo’s “Tats for Tails” collab with the Denver Animal Shelter.
Courtesy: Think Tank Tattoo
Ever wanted a tattoo of a dog butt? What about a martini-sipping cat? Maybe even a cute duck?
Your time has arrived.
This Saturday, South Broadway’s Think Tank Tattoo is offering up these options, and more, to benefit the Denver Animal Shelter (DAS). They’re calling the collaboration Tats for Tails.
Tats are $200, for color or black-and-white. 100 percent of proceeds go to the city’s pet sanctuary.
Some of the designs available for Think Tank Tattoo’s “Tats for Tails” collab with the Denver Animal Shelter. Click here to expand this image.Courtesy: Think Tank Tattoo
Inking that wrinkly cat on your arm or leg will help the shelter go above and beyond their core duties, DAS philanthropy administrator Lindsay Wells told us.
Yes, they get money from the city. But the shelter also has to fundraise for programs that help people with low incomes or those who are dealing with evictions take care of pets in times of crisis.
The shelter has also used past fundraisers to buy medical equipment, like x-ray machines, that aren’t covered by their regular budget, Wells said.
Think Tank is expecting a lot of work on Saturday.
Jake Bray, the shop’s owner, said they’ve donated to DAS in the past, so they were thrilled when shelter officials asked about an official partnership.
“We’ve been doing it for a couple years, and then this year Lindsay reached out and asked, ‘Hey, do you guys want to actually do an event together?” he said. “I was like, oh hell yeah, we’re a hundred percent in. Especially because they’re so close in the neighborhood.”
The shop has lived at Broadway and Cedar Avenue for 20 years, and Bray said he’s drawn a whole lot of pets in the past. It’s an easy proposition for anyone interested in something permanent.
“You can’t really regret getting a pet on you,” he said. “Especially in the world we live in today, everyone is disagreeing, but I think we can all agree on animals, you know what I’m saying?”
Some of the designs available for Think Tank Tattoo’s “Tats for Tails” collab with the Denver Animal Shelter.Courtesy: Think Tank Tattoo
Maybe some people who come by for a turtle or penguin will come back for more, he added, but he’s also excited to “give back.”
“Saturday will be tattooing from 12 to 6 [p.m.], and just tattooing until there’s no one in line anymore or until these guys want to be done,” Bray said. “It’ll be long day for sure.”
His artists each contributed five to ten designs for the day, each bespoke for the event.
Some of Mauriah Ramona’s non-cat entries for Think Tank Tattoo’s “Tats for Tails” collab with the Denver Animal Shelter.Courtesy: Think Tank Tattoo
Mauriah Ramona, the mind behind the wrinkly cat, said some people will be attracted to the odder entries.
“There are a lot of people that collect just silly tattoos because that’s what they enjoy sharing,” they said.
But they’ve got you covered, if you’re looking for something less flip to wear around for the rest of your life: Perhaps a dog paw with a very “Colorado-esque” mountain scene inside?
Correction: Mauriah Ramona’s pronouns were initially incorrect, and were updated.
North (A539077) is a sweet 5-year-old girl who has been under Orange County’s care for almost six months. She was picked up as a stray back in December, and she may have been used for breeding and then dumped.
North is currently in foster care, and has been for over three months. She loves people and is extremely friendly and gentle with them. Her foster mom is working on socializing her with other dogs, as this is her weak spot.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
Fitting to his name, Drogon (A541798) is big, strong and a little hard to control. It’s clear he’s had very little training or socialization, because though he wants to play and be affectionate, he just winds up knocking everyone down. Drogon will fly into your arms without warning, he will head-butt you unintentionally while trying to steal kisses, he will run into your legs if you try and run with him. He doesn’t mean to be a klutz; he just is. Our vets put him at about 2 years old, but he definitely gives off younger puppy vibes — 70-pound heavy, muscular puppy.
Drogon has been out of the shelter three times now, adopted and returned for reasons that have nothing to do with him or his behavior. He is a good dog, but he will need a special adopter: someone strong, patient, and most importantly, active. Drogon needs exercise; he needs to play and run. He gets easily frustrated and he can be a lot of dog to control. Drogon seems to like other dogs, but he is so intrusive and powerful that he scares them all away. He can be calm, sweet and very affectionate, but only after he has been worn out and has had his fill of play time and treats. When tired, Drogon is as gentle as a kitten.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call
407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
Dog shelters are currently overwhelmed in many parts of the U.S., with some of the oldest dogs often at the highest risk of being euthanized. But now is a great time to consider adopting a dog, especially from a place like San Francisco’s Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, which maintains some of our favorite social media accounts on the internet.
Tackling the Legend of Zelda Film
Muttville has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting new technology. And that makes sense when you remember that many of the volunteers and staff behind the Bay Area rescue live in the heart of America’s tech industry. In fact, the domain for Muttville was purchased in 1998, likely before any other pet rescue in the country was even thinking about establishing a presence on the web.
“We were on Vine like the first week,” Jane Goldman, the Chief Content Officer at Muttville, told Gizmodo about the late great video-sharing service. “What we have to offer are cute dogs. And video was like the perfect medium.”
And while Vine is no longer around (despite Elon Musk’s hints that he might resurrect it at X) Muttville’s still constantly churning out new photos and videos on sites like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, and TikTok, including the newbies of the week videos, guaranteed to make you smile. The goal, of course, is to get the public interested in adoption by bringing those dogs to a larger audience of potential adopters.
It’s not just the public-facing tech that’s helping these elderly dogs find homes. Goldman told Gizmodo about an internal app built by one of the shelter’s volunteers that allows staff, volunteers, and foster families to easily access available information about any given dog in their system.
“We used to have a binder of all the available dogs, and we would take it out,” Goldman said. “Now we scrape the data on our shelter’s software and bring in the info about intake information and medical information that our fosters use to talk to the potential adopters.”
Muttville also has a livestream called the Wagcam, which anyone can watch from noon to 4 p.m. ET, providing a special behind-the-scenes peek at dogs straight from the shelter in San Francisco.
Here is Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, 2023!
Animal shelters have struggled in recent months with overcrowding that’s forcing them to make tough decisions, especially in California. The San Diego Humane Society is currently at 157% capacity and they’re waiving adoption fees for the first 100 adoptions this weekend. After the first 100, adoption fees will still be at the incredibly low rate of just $25.
Shelters in Los Angeles are struggling even more, with L.A. Animal Shelters currently at 212% capacity, with 1,566 dogs housed in a space built for just 737. There are currently 97 dogs on the city’s Red Alert List scheduled to be euthanized soon if they’re not adopted.
It’s always a good time to adopt a pet in need, especially a senior dog. If you’ve been thinking about it for a while and want to get a new addition to your family, this might be the weekend to do the most good.
Muttville is hosting an adoption event in San Francisco on Saturday, May 25 and their Memorial Day Mutt Walk, in honor of Muttville volunteer Jennie Chen, is being held at Crissy Field on Monday, May 27.
And if you don’t live in California, there are dog shelters all across the country that are just a Google search away. Muttville may have been an extremely early adopter of new tech, but so many dog rescues around the country are finding waysa to connect animals with their forever homes thanks to social media.
Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and X get a lot of well-deserved criticism for some of the social harms that have emerged in the past decade. But organizations like Muttville are harnessing that kind of reach to make a positive impact in the world. And sometimes it’s good to get a reminder that technology really can be a force for good.
And if you’re interested in the dogs at the top of this post, those are Pyrex (left, #11860), Sundae (middle, #11732), and Kabob (right, #11852), but you can also check out the complete list of available mutts.
From the moment he arrived, Dodger (A543435) has been calm and sociable with people. Our vets estimate his age to be about 4 years old, but he carries himself like a much older dog. He is gentle with people, taking treats softly, and loves the praise and attention he gets from our staff. Dodger is not a small dog at 70 pounds, but unlike some dogs, he actually knows his size and strength, and rarely pulls on a leash. He will stand up on two legs to get hugs and take treats, but is careful not to knock our staff over. Mostly though, Dodger wants to sit and snuggle. He’s not shy about getting close; Dodger is the kind of a dog that is going to want to share your sofa and your bed. He has been at the shelter now for over 50 days.
As a small token of appreciation, Orange County Animal Services hopes to bring joy to local heroes by waiving animal adoption fees. First Responders are defined as police officers (federal, state or local), sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, career firefighters, emergency medical technicians, correctional officers, corrections health staff, paramedics and 911 dispatchers. Those seeking to qualify for this promotion will need to present proof of occupation.
Orange County Animal Services is located at 2769 Conroy Road in Orlando, near the Mall at Millenia. The shelter is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when it’s open 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 407-836-3111 or visit ocnetpets.com.
Meet Patty! This 4-month-old, spayed Labrador retriever mix was rescued as a stray. Patty is a little introverted at first but withsnacks and gentle pats, she’ll be an absolute lovebug in no time. She’s spent a lot of time in…
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a dog named Bella is winning hearts with her rare story. Bella isn’t just any dog—she was born with five legs, something very unusual and special. She’s really one of a kind.
Bella was given to the Wisconsin Humane Society, where the vets quickly noticed something different about her. They saw her extra leg and did some X-rays to understand more. What they found was astonishing and something they had never seen before in their 145-year history. Bella had a whole extra set of leg bones.
This genetic anomaly is rare,,’ is seldom seen in canines. Typically found in cattle, this phenomenon “dimilia” has only one or two other documented instances in dogs, according to the existing veterinary literature.
A closer look at her back paws shows two legs bones fused together. Bella’s extra leg, complete with an additional femur, tibia, fibula, and four extra toes, does not hinder her. She walks and runs just fine, a testament to her resilience and the care she receives.
Bella’s extra leg makes her look unique, but it’s her sweet nature that truly makes her special. Angela Speed, from the Humane Society, calls Bella a “unicorn of a dog.” Her condition might be rare, but it’s her loving personality that truly stands out.
Soon, Bella will be up for adoption at the Humane Society’s branch in Kenosha. The people there hope that Bella’s story will bring more attention to other dogs who need homes. They think Bella can help show how special all dogs are, no matter how they look.
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