Gay Guy Gift Guide: Paws to Give to the Dumb Friends League

This holiday season, you can help homeless pets by doing some of your holiday shopping at the Dumb Friends League's Sit ... Stay ... Shop stores.

Visit the shops at both shelters for gourmet pet treats, food and supplies such as pet beds, toys, collars and leashes. Check out the selection of 2013 pet calendars or purchase a full-color 2013 Dumb Friends League pet-photo calendar for $15.

Or, mail adorable holiday cards to the pet lovers in your life (10 cards and envelopes for $15). You can purchase eCards to send to family and friends by visiting ddfl.org/ways-to-give. You can also purchase Dumb Friends League gift cards for the pet lovers in your life. Gift cards may be used toward an adoption fee or toward pet-related merchandise at either store location.

Halloween 2012: Tips for Keeping Your Animal Friends Safe and Happy

Halloween is a fun holiday for humans, but there are some things you should do to make sure it doesn’t get scary for pets. Here are some tips that will help keep pets safe:

·      Protect your pets on Halloween by keeping them indoors. A pet that’s out at night with trick-or-treaters might get spooked by noises and costumes, which could cause him to run away.

·      Cats should be kept indoors at all times, and if you have a solid black or solid white cat, you should be especially careful about keeping it indoors on Halloween. Some people are superstitious about cats and may try to scare or harm them.

·      Keep pets confined and away from the door while you’re greeting trick-or-treaters to prevent them from darting outdoors.

·      Your dog may feel that his territory is being invaded by the constant onslaught of visitors. Keep your dog in a secluded area of the house to help him stay calm and prevent him from growling or possibly biting your visiting ghouls and goblins.

·      Keep Halloween candy out of your pet's reach because it can make your pet sick. In fact, chocolate and raisins can be fatal to dogs. Instead, celebrate Halloween with goodies made especially for pets, like dog biscuits or cat treats.

In addition, who doesn’t love dressing up their four-legged friend for the holiday? Here are some Halloween costume safety tips to prevent a frightfully dangerous night:

·      Don’t restrict your pet’s ability to walk and sit down comfortably. If your dog looks miserable, they probably are.

·      Don’t make your pet wear a mask that covers their eyes, ears or nose.

·      Don’t put your pet in a costume that makes it difficult to breathe. This is especially important for flat-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and Pekinese.

·      Always supervise your dog while in costume so they don’t chew or eat any costume parts.

Join the Dumb Friends League's foster parent network

Every year, tens of thousands of unwanted and homeless pets come through the doors of the Dumb Friends League. Sometimes, those pets aren’t immediate candidates for adoption due to their age or medical condition. Last year alone, 2,946 such pets received temporary, life-saving foster care through the League’s Homes with Hearts foster care program and in the homes of 453 foster volunteers.

“Fostering truly matters, said Theresa Geary, the League’s vice president of operations. “It changes the course of an animal’s life. By opening up their hearts and homes, whether for two weeks or two months, our foster volunteers help give homeless pets a second chance.”

The Dumb Friends League is looking for more foster volunteers to provide temporary care for pets in their home until they are ready for adoption or until space is available at one of the League’s two shelters. Foster families are provided with food, bedding, toys, cat litter and other supplies, as well as veterinary care for the foster pets as needed.

Pets needing foster care include kittens and puppies that are too young for adoption, as well as cats and dogs nursing their litters, those recovering from an illness or injury and those that would benefit from extra socialization. The Dumb Friends League also utilizes foster parents to help provide needed space at the shelters for incoming animals.

“You do get attached,” said foster volunteer Beth Link. “However, it’s more rewarding to know that pets are finding good homes, and you have the ability to help even more pets.”

Dumb Friends League: $10 Cat Adoption Fees Extended for Cats 1 Year and Older

The leaves are starting to change. Isn't it time to think about a loveable ball of fur to keep you warm during the upcoming winter months? The Dumb Friends League has the purr-fect solution! The League is extending its $10 adoption special for cats one year and older through the month of September. The special is taking place at both shelter locations, the adoption center at Northfield-Stapleton and the Pet Care-avan mobile adoption unit.

“We are continuing to offer reduce adoption fees for adult cats because we believe cats should spend less time in a shelter and more time in a loving home,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League.

Every cat adoption includes a spay/neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, a microchip ID and a free office visit with a participating veterinarian. The League spends approximately $300 on each homeless cat that comes through its doors, including shelter, foster care and medical care.

“Adult cats provide years of love and companionship, without having to go through that energetic kitten phase,” said Rohde. “Above all, by choosing the adoption option, you are giving a homeless pet a second chance at happiness.”

People who cannot adopt at this time can still help by becoming a foster parent. Foster volunteers provide temporary care for an animal in their home—for a few days, weeks or months—until it is ready for adoption or space is available at the shelters. The League provides foster-care volunteers with food and supplies, as well as veterinary care as needed.

To view all adoptable pets, or to get more information on becoming a foster parent, visit www.ddfl.org or call (303) 751-5772.

Me-wow! DDFL's CatFest results in over 100 adoptions

The Dumb Friends League's recent CatFest celebration was a huge success, bringing in more than 2,000 people to the event that celebrated the domesticated cat.

At the Quebec Street Shelter alone, nearly 200 people signed in to visit with pets. Shelter-wide, 124 adoptions took place, with 98 of those being cats and kittens.

Dumb Friends League: July 5th busiest day of year for lost pets

According to the Dumb Friends League, the number of lost pets brought into its shelters on July 5 nearly doubles. On an average day, the Dumb Friends League receives approximately 26 lost pets between its two shelters (the Quebec Street shelter in Denver and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock), and on July 5, 2011, the League received 51 lost pets. A similar increase is expected this year.

“The loud noise of fireworks often frightens pets and causes them to run away,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League. “We strongly encourage all pet owners who are missing their pet or pets to visit all area shelters immediately.”

The Dumb Friends League, in conjunction with the Metro Denver Shelter Alliance, offers the following advice for pet owners looking for their pet:

·      Don’t assume your cat or dog will find its way home. Visit or call all area shelters as soon as possible. Metro Denver Shelter Alliance shelters in the metro Denver area that receive lost and found pets include:

o   Adams County Animal Shelter/Adoption Center, Brighton

o   Aurora Animal Care Division/Shelter, Aurora

o   Denver Animal Shelter, Denver

o   Dumb Friends League, Denver

o   Dumb Friends League Buddy Center, Castle Rock

o   Foothills Animal Shelter, Golden

o   Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Boulder

o   Humane Society of the South Platte Valley, Littleton

o   Intermountain Humane Society, Pine

o   Longmont Humane Society, Longmont

·      File a lost report and give a photo to each of these shelters in case someone brings in your pet.

·      Look around your neighborhood and post fliers with your pet’s photo and your contact information, if your neighborhood allows it.

·      Most importantly, act fast and don’t give up.

·      To increase your chances of being reunited with your pet in the future, make sure your cat or dog is wearing a collar with current ID tags at all times, and consider getting a microchip ID implant for your pet from your veterinarian.

Petstravaganza! Name Your Price on any Adoption at the Dumb Friends League

The Dumb Friends League (where I got my buddy Pax, pictured left) is offering a SUPER deal for the next few days.

The Dumb Friends League, in the hope of finding forever homes for hundreds of adoptable animals, is throwing out regular adoption fees for three days from June 28-30. The special promotion asks patrons to name their own price for any kitten, dog, small mammal or horse adoption. Fees for cats one year and older will continue to be waived through June 30.

The adoption special will be offered at both shelter locations—the Quebec Street shelter in Denver and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock—as well as the adoption center at Northfield-Stapleton and on its mobile unit, the Pet Care-avan. The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center will honor the special on Saturday, June 30, during adoption hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This is a wonderful way to say thank you to members of the community for all of their unwavering support,” said Theresa Geary, vice president of operations. “This shows you really can’t put a price on the love and devotion that each and every animal has to offer.”

Currently, the Dumb Friends League has more than 1,000 animals in its care, with close to half of those currently available for adoption. There is a minimum $1 donation required at the time of adoption, though a larger donation is always welcome.

All feline and canine adoption fees include a spay/neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, a microchip ID implant, a free office visit with a participating veterinarian and a highly discounted bag of Hill’s Science Diet pet food. The League spends approximately $300 on each homeless cat and dog that comes through its doors, including shelter, foster and medical care, and behavior training.