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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Humane Society of Manatee County hosted Paws in Motion at Adventure Park in Sarasota, Florida on Saturday, March 28th. 

It was a gorgeous day for pet lovers to strut their stuff for a great cause!  The monies generated from the walk will benefit the mission of the shelter- to save lives and provide temporary shelter for pets until they find their furever home.

Take a look at the photos and to find out how you can help go to: www.humanesocietymanatee....

 

 

     Walkers and their dogs start the one mile walk on a gorgeous Saturday!

 

  

Some dogs were just onlookers.  Braden, brindle hound, was found abandoned and emaciated in a nearby neighborhood but thanks to the Humane Society of Manatee County she is safe and in a foster home waiting to be adopted.

Mozart the Rotty was enjoying a day in the sunshine.  Hard to believe that big guy is under a year old!  I think his head weighs more than his body.  What a sweetheart!  Just your average teddy bear.

 

 Now, some dogs had the right idea.  Just relax and enjoy the beautiful day.

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

Nestled in the heart of Sarasota lies the Humane Society of Sarasota County where animals are treated like royalty. 

 

  Adopters are greeted upon arrival and fill out paperwork promptly before visiting the shelter pets.

 

  The cats enjoy a free roaming adoption area to play, socialize, and enjoy a cat nap or two.

  

Success stories line the walls of past residents with their new owners. 

       

    

 I got the opportunity to meet the famous Mandy who has been a part of the shelter for a long time.  She helps with administrative work while napping every other hour.  She is a bundle of love and never meets a stranger.  She gives the real meaning of Pit Bull Terriers- loveable! 

   The boutique is available to all adopters and visitors to help raise funds for the shelter and their resident pets.

  There's even an agility course where dogs are welcome to brush up on their skills while learning some new tricks.

For more information or to visit the Humane Society of Sarasota County go to: www.hssc.org 

Make a donation, view upcoming events or find your next best friend. 

- Mary Bart Houston

 

 

Pit Bull Saves Family of Five

Smoke alarms sounded, but it was Jasmine who woke them up

The smoke alarms started going off, but it wasn't until a pit bull started barking that her family woke up and discovered a fire in the basement of their Alexandria home.

The fire, which started close to 1 a.m. Saturday morning in the two-story duplex at 37 South Gordon Street, started inside the dryer vent, according to officials.  It was spreading inside a wall behind the washer and dryer when a plastic water line ruptured and partly put the blaze out.

The family said that it was their pit bull, Jasmine, who alerted them to the fire.

Damage to the home is estimated at $20,000.  Alexandria fire department workers installed new smoke alarms in the home.

The family and Jasmine have made plans to stay with family and friends.

If you're like me you're a bit on the superstitious side of life.  Friday the 13th is known to many as the worst day of the year and to many others a sign of good fortune.  Well, which is it? 

Here are some interesting facts about this day.  What do you think? I say relish the day and adopt a pet! 

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. "It's been estimated that [US]$800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day".^[5] Despite this, representatives for both Delta and Continental Airlines say that their airlines don't suffer from any noticeable drop in travel on those Fridays.^[13]

Rate of accidents

There are conflicting studies about the risk of accidents on Friday the 13th. The Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics (CVS) on June 12, 2008, stated that "fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays, because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on Friday 13th, at least in The Netherlands; in the last two years, Dutch insurers received reports of an average 7,800 traffic accidents each Friday; but the average figure when the 13th fell on a Friday was just 7,500.^[14][15] However, a 1993 study in the British Medical Journal that compared the ratio of traffic accidents between Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th, stated that there is a significant increase in traffic-related accidents on Fridays the 13th.

In case you're wondering I will be watching "Friday the 13th" at the theatre.  Embrace the horror!

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