On May 5th, 2009, PetPoint launched the highly anticipated Petango!  

Petango.com is the only online adoption site that showcases adoptable pets in real time!  Is that amazing or what!? 

No more frustrated adopters coming to your shelter in search of that perfect pet they saw online only to be disappointed that the pet was already adopted hours, days, or weeks ago.  Not gonna happen with Petango.  If you see that pet on Petango it is actually at that shelter at that exact moment!  No delays!

Potential adopters will even have the opportunity to fill out a pre-adoption application for a particular pet that will then be sent directly to that shelter.  It is absolutely amazing!  A shelter staff person stated: "I get cold chills just thinking about it!!"  I couldn't agree more. 

Petango provides these fabulous features: 

• Real-time searches - all the available pets for adoption can be seen, with up-to-the-minute availability status;
• Watch list - adopters can keep an eye on the pets that interest them;
• Email notifications - adopters can be the first to know when the pets they are looking for become available;
• Send-to-a-Friend - a feature which allows potential adopters to inform friends and family of adoptable pets;
• Contact list import - adopters can email friends about Petango;
• Online pet adoption application - adopters can apply directly to the shelter online and have their applications pre-approved and their new pets waiting for them when they arrive at the shelter;
• Events listing - adopters can see all pet events in their communities;
• Web 2.0 - using the latest technology providing the best user experience possible for potential adopters - no more cumbersome searches.

For more information go to:  or contact PetPoint's helpdesk at: helpdesk@petpoint.com for assistance with setup. www.petango.com

Make sure your shelter is featured!  Don't miss out. 

-Mary Bart Houston, Regional Director Shelter Outreach & Host of PetPoint Community

The Aikens Spoil the Humane Society of Hall County

I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Humane Society of Hall County on Sunday, May 3rd.  Nestled away in Gainesville, Georgia about fifty minutes north of Atlanta lives Rick and Florence Aiken who respectively run the humane society. 

I don't think you could meet two nicer people on the planet.  Their love for animals is shown with a lifetime of dedication to helping animals of all sizes.  As you can see from this photo of Rick, he takes his job pretty seriously. 

Bruiser, a Chihuahua pup, was taken from a home that was unable to care for him and his siblings responsibly.  Bruiser was the smallest of the group and needs individual care and a lot of TLC which the Aikens are providing.   We hope that soon Bruiser will be as healthy as an Ox or in his case a Chihuahua! 

The shelter receives thousands upon thousands of homeless and neglected animals annually.  As most shelters, they need the help of volunteers, community support and people willing to open their hearts and homes to a pet or two. 

For more information regarding the Humane Society of Hall County or how you can make a donation please go to:  www.humanesocietyhallcounty.com

 - Mary Bart Houston, Regional Director Shelter Outreach & Host of PetPoint Community

Henry was only 10 weeks old when he was brought to Beaufort County Animal Control after being found in the road after being hit by a car. Henry sustained a right hip and lower leg fracture.

Henry was well cared for at the shelter.  He was taken outside to potty several times a day and given pain medication.  Henry remained at animal control for a week with little hope of getting adopted, as he would need expensive surgery to repair his hip. Estimates for surgery ranged from $300-700. 

Henry was rescued from animal control 3/14/2009 by Jim and Joanne Thompson  J and J Rescue and was scheduled to have his surgery the following Tuesday.  When he was examined at Chocowinity Veterinary Hospital, his xrays showed some healing was taking place in both his hip and lower leg fractures as his injuries were at least three weeks old.  The vet's recommendation was to wait a couple of more weeks and if no further healing showed up in his repeat xrays his surgery would then take place.  In the meantime Henry was placed in foster care where he received one-on-one care and lots of TLC.

In the meantime donations were accepted to the "Henry fund" for probable surgery and in a very short time $500 was raised just for Henry's medical expenses.

Henry returned to have his repeat xrays.  These showed remarkable improvement and Henry would not need to have any surgery but would need to take glucosamine for his entire life as this would help with arthritis.  Donors to the "Henry fund" were contacted to see if they would want refunds of their donations but all requested that funds be used to help with medical expenses for other dogs in rescue.

A couple from Frederick, Maryland donated towards Henry's medical expenses and had been thinking that perhaps they wanted to adopt him.  An application to adopt Henry was completed and vet references were checked.  Henry had found a fur-ever home. 

This past Easter weekend Joanne Thompson transported Henry to his new home in Maryland.  Reports are that Henry (aka now Hank) is doing well in his new home.

- Mary Bart Houston, Regional Director Shelter Outreach & Host of PetPoint Community

Share your tail on PetPoint Community...

On May 14, 2008, PetPoint Community (PPC), created by PetPoint was introduced to the shelter world. 

PPC was created to allow animal welfare organizations and animal lovers the ability to share stories, upload photos, post job opportunities, and converse online about many pet topics.

It's hard to believe that it's been a little over a year ago and membership has climbed to over 3,000+ members and growing. 

We, at PetPoint, want to thank everyone for their valuable contributions.  As a small token of our appreciation we will be presenting gifts to the top three members with the most lifetime points. 

The Top Three Winners Are:

Jenn, Melissa and Chandra!!

Thank you again to everyone for making PPC a huge success!  We value your opinions, suggestions, and praise. 

Continue blogging, posting photos, and sharing information on PPC.  Prizes will be given away on an annual basis for the top three members with the most lifetime points. 

Congratulations again to our winners!! 

- Mary Bart Houston, Regional Director Shelter Outreach & Host of PetPoint Community

HSUS Expo kicked off the "celebration of animals and confronting cruelty" on Monday, April 6th at 6pm.  This expo provides a unique venue where shelters, rescue groups, and animal lovers alike can co-mingle with one another and learn about the latest trends in animal welfare.

Here are some photos of the PetPoint team hard at work.  As you can see Gilberto Gandra is working the runway... oops I mean floor while PetPoint client Christa Chadwick from Ontario SPCA looks on. 

Brad Grucelski, PetPoint guru, is giving a quick demo and answering questions on CASE, our animal control dispatching module. 

While Jorge Ortega, Texas PetPoint representative, PetPoint client Suzanne Hollis of San Francisco SPCA, and Jannette Guererro, Ontario PetPoint sales representative, chat amongst themselves. 

As if things couldn't get any better.... PetPoint gave away not two, not three but five flat screen tvs to five lucky winners!  All they had to do was enter our survey at the PetPoint internet cafe and they were in the running for these five, fabulous flat screens. 

People are busy doing surveys for the tvs. 

Gilberto announcing the winners while the crowd looks on. 

The five lucky ladies! You go girls!  And of course me in the thick of it.

Winners in no particular order:

Karey Schmergel, Shelter Supervisor at Humane Society of Lollypop Farm

Becky Goodman, Executive Director at Pet Network

Glynis Frederiksen, Director of Operations at Spokane Humane Society

Mandy Nabors, Executive Director at Madison Ark

Nancy Mellott, Animal Control Officer at Winchester Police Department

Gilberto is all smiles while enjoying a delicious dinner at Koi located in Planet Hollywood. 

Thanks to Mr. Warren for an incredible dining experience. 

Just as you thought the night was ending it took a turn to the dance floor.  Jannette, Jorge, PetPoint client Susan McKellep from Kentucky Humane Society, and I danced into the wee hours of the morning at the top of The Palms. 

 The gang on the last night of Expo at the Heart Bar in Planet Hollywood.  

Many thanks to all attendees, vendors, and to everyone who makes a difference in the lives of animals! 

- Mary Bart Houston, Regional Director Shelter Outreach & Host of PetPoint Community