Drive to Donate on Jan. 2nd — Help us win $10,000!

Ring Dog Rescue and Pence Subaru Partner to "Share the Love" and Find Forever Homes for Richmond's Homeless Pets

An estimated 70 percent of Subaru Owners Have Pets; More than Any Other Auto Manufacturer

Ring Dog will join the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and Subaru of America for its annual year-end "Share the Love" campaign and celebration. New car buyers/leasers can choose to have $250 donated among five charities – including the ASPCA. Subaru strives to reflect their owners' active lifestyles, love of the outdoors, and community involvement.

As part of this national effort, we teamed up to create off-site adoptions at their dealership, along with offering a micro-chip clinic, games, raffles, fun and more!! Items you can use to "Fill the Forester" are toys, food, treats, beds and blankets.

**** Microchip clinic from 11 to 2 only ****

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Photos from National Pit Bull Awareness Day!

http://phodographyrva.smugmug.com/Other/Pit-Bull-Awareness-Day/14883417_3E54H#1110822332_mb2rq

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Federal law leashes pit bull restrictions

Municipal governments from New York City to Miami, and from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Denver, have responded to fear of pit bulls and similar breeds of dogs, by severely restricting their ownership or banning them entirely from their jurisdictions. Now, thanks to a rule issued recently by the U.S. Department of Justice, such actions are subject to being struck down. Jurisdictions now considering such overreactions, such as Douglasville, Georgia, would be well-advised to review the Justice Department’s opinion before proceeding.

Dog owners and humane societies have long-opposed such arbitrary and overly broad laws that penalize thousands of pit bull owners who maintain their canine companions properly and without incident, because of a small number who fail to properly train and control the dogs. Courts generally have permitted such ordinances to stand, based on deference to the so-called "police power" of local governments to protect the public "safety and welfare."

Read more...

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Puppies aren't presents

More puppies are abandoned after Christmas than at any other time of the year. Why? Puppies make cute, adorable Christmas presents, but in the days and weeks that follow reality usually sets in. Overcome with the responsibility that it takes to own a puppy and have it become a part of the family will force many people to give up their puppies to a shelter, or in some cases just turn it out on the streets.

Puppies chew things. They chew up furniture and children's toys. They eat Mom's good shoes, and shred Dad's newspapers. Many families find that they don't have the patience for this kind of behavior. After the holiday has past, they begin to wonder what they were thinking, when they got a puppy.

Puppies bark a lot. They may get on your nerves, if you're the type who likes peace and quiet. Many puppies will even whine and cry all night long, during the first few weeks after being separated from the mother, and the rest of the litter. Working parents who have to get up early find they are angry, stressed, and frustrated shortly after the puppies arrival. Kids who have to get up early for school suddenly realize the reality of a puppy is not quite like the fantasy they once envisioned.

Puppies have potty training issues. This is one thing many people aren't prepared to deal with. They will ruin carpets, furniture, even bedspreads and mattresses. Anyone who thinks that they will potty train a puppy "in a hurry" would do best to think again. Potty training takes time and effort. It needs to happen when you are stressed out, when you are tired, and when you have other things to do.

Adopting a puppy should be done, not on the spur of the moment, but only after a great deal of thought, and reflection. You have to make sure that it is the right choice for your family because a dog needs love and attention. They deserve a family that has the time and energy to give them that love.

Read more at Suite101: Puppies for Christmas: Is This a Good Choice for Your Family?

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Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk

Who: The Arthritis Foundation and DogCaptionCards.com

What: The Jingle Bell Run/Walk, a fun and festive holiday fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation, is teaming up with DogCaptionCards to promote a loveable pack of available-for-adoption Pit Bulls from Bully Paws Pit Bull Patriots and Ring Dog Rescue.

Why? The most enjoyable and economical way to avoid and reduce arthritis discomfort, while losing weight and stress, is to walk a dog. Pit Bulls are great exercise buddies (and couch potatoes.)

Where: Stony Point Fashion Park, Richmond, VA (by Panera Bread)

When: December 4, 2010. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. The Run/Walk launches at 8:00 a.m. sharp, followed by an awards ceremony at 9:15 a.m.

How: To register for the 5K run or 1 Mile Walk go to: www.DogCaptionCards.com/JingleBell then,
Click on "Join The Team" link found in the left hand column and fill out the application form that pops up

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DogCaptionCards Holiday & Christmas Cards

Happiness is contagious!

Help yourself and your friends "catch it" with DogCaption Funny Christmas Card Packs.

25% of every sale is donated to Ring Dog Rescue to care for our pups and help them find forever home.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1263850

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Thanksgiving Safety Tips

'Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin' Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it's boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough
Don't spoil your pet's holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake
If you're baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn't pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it's best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They'll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.html

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