Save A Pet In Time For Christmas ~ from IFAW

I have received this e-mail from Fred O'Regan, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

I urgently need your help to save abandoned family pets struggling to survive at a garbage dump on the island of Cozumel in Mexico.

These desperate cats and dogs - many of them kittens and puppies in sickly conditions that would break your heart - paw through towering piles of rotting trash looking for scraps to eat. At dusk, they must fight off vultures for the same food.

During this special time of year, please consider making a special Christmas donation to give Cozumel's suffering pets a second chance.

For a gift of just £25, you can help treat one dog or cat for mange and eye infections...rid them of worms and parasites...even help them eventually find a loving home.

Simply put, you can save the life of one of these poor animals.

One young, fawn-colored dog sits patiently at the entrance of the dump. Day after day, he waits for his owners to take him home. But he will never see his family again. Because like so many other Cozumel dogs over the age of two, he was most likely tossed aside for a new puppy.

That's why my wish this Christmas is to raise as many funds as I can to provide veterinary care for animals in need around the world...and to spay and neuter homeless cats and dogs to stop this cycle of suffering.

Any amount you can afford to give right now will help us collect and treat these animals - heal their infestations, save them from deadly tick-borne disease, provide spay and neuter surgeries to reduce homelessness - and find as many as we can loving homes through our partners at the Humane Society of Cozumel.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,


Fred O'Regan
IFAW CEO

P.S. I'm committed to providing these animals with veterinary care, basic comfort and to rehoming as many as possible. Please reach into your caring heart and send a Christmas donation to help save the lives of the dump dogs and cats and other animals suffering from cruelty.

"Fake" Pedigree Puppies Sold Over The Internet

Dog-lovers are being urged not to buy cheap pedigree dogs over the internet.
The RSPCA has estimated that thousands of puppies for sale have faked pedigree papers and may carry diseases.

The charity claims that people are being conned by fake pedigree papers and vaccination forms when buying dogs at discount prices online.

It said that buyers should always check the paperwork and make sure that it shows dogs are protected from common diseases like parvovirus and hepatitis.

The RSPCA spokesperson said "The reason fake vaccination forms are a problem is to do with the conditions the puppies are bred in.

"If there are many dogs in a cramped space, they are likely to spread diseases."

A survey of over 3,000 people by the RSPCA shows that nearly a third would use the internet to buy a puppy.

The Kennel Club secretary, Caroline Kisko, reported that the problem of fake pedigree dogs being sold over the net was increasing.

"We have seen more and more websites springing up featuring cut-price puppies sold with fake pedigrees, often amongst those breeds that are the latest fashion,"

"Sadly, most of these puppies will come from puppy farmers, or from those dealing on their behalf, and may suffer ill health in the long term."

It advises people who plan to buy a pedigree breed to contact the KC for a list of accredited and reputable breeders.

In the UK pedigree dogs can fetch hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds.

"There's no cheap way to be a puppy owner," said the RSPCA's Justine Pannett.

"People thinking about buying a puppy don't just need to plan for the initial cost of buying it.

"They also need to consider the ongoing costs and commitment needed to care for a dog throughout its life."

Dog News 4th December 2009

Killer dog was banned pitbull breed ~ Update on Liverpool dog attack

From The Press Association

The dog that savaged John-Paul Massey to death was an illegally-held pitbull-type dog banned for being too dangerous to keep, it has been revealed.

The four-year-old boy was attacked by the dog in the early hours of Monday morning at the home of his grandmother, Helen Foulkes, 63, in Liverpool.

The animal, called Uno, also savaged her as she tried to protect the boy she was babysitting at her home on Ash Grove in the city's Wavertree area.

Merseyside Police admitted they were told months ago that a banned pitbull-type dog had been seen at the house.

A forensic examination was carried out on the animal and the dog was confirmed as being an illegal breed, said the force.

Deputy Chief Constable Patricia Gallan, of Merseyside Police, said on Tuesday: "Following extensive examinations and a post-mortem, an independent expert has confirmed that, in his opinion, the dog involved in the incident in Ash Grove, Wavertree, yesterday is a pitbull terrier-type dog which is classified as a dangerous dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991).

"Our thoughts remain with John-Paul's family at this time following his tragic death. A child's life has been lost and it is essential that we determine the exact circumstances surrounding the attack. Investigations into the incident are continuing.

"Ascertaining the type of dog involved in this attack has been a complex issue. It has taken some time to complete the examinations and post-mortem before we have been able to confirm that it is an illegal type of dog. We are conducting a criminal investigation.

"On behalf of Merseyside Police, I am deeply concerned and very disappointed that our policy was not followed in February when we received a call alerting us to the possible breeding of pitbull terriers at the house where the attack took place.

"This is clearly unacceptable and we are sorry that Merseyside Police did not take the appropriate course of action at that time. Given the seriousness of this situation, and our failure to follow our own procedure, we have referred this case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, who will be carrying out an independent investigation."

1st Dec An inpsiring story ~ A Christmas wish for Moses ~ from IFAW

This is a truly inspirational story.
I received the following e-mail from Fred O'Regan, CEO International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):
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Orphaned as a small child in a poor South African township, 12-year old Moses lives alone at the local dump, surrounded by gangs and drug users.

Foraging through mounds of rubbish for food...shoeless and freezing during the cold, lonely nights - every day is an epic struggle.

And yet, the most amazing thing about Moses isn't how he survives, but who he survives with.

You see, despite his tragic circumstances, Moses spends his desperate days at the dump caring for more than 20 dogs whose owners have died or been killed.


This Christmas, I hope you'll consider giving something truly meaningful to those you love. An IFAW Gift of Life that will help bring an end to the suffering of dogs and cats in the poorest places on earth.


IFAW's Dog and Cat Rescue Project in Johannesburg brings vet care to the pets of those like Moses who could never afford to take care of pets on their own. Quite often, we come across sick, impoverished or malnourished individuals like Moses who need extra assistance for both themselves and their pets.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of IFAW supporters like you, we've been able to spay, neuter and fully vaccinate all of Moses' dogs. And we've provided Moses with clothes and food, medical care, and school tuition so that he'll be better able to look after his dogs for years to come!

Moses' story shows how much people love animals and come to depend on them even in the worst of times. And how much every Gift of Life, no matter how big or small, can help make a real difference.

Please help me make more Christmas wishes come true this season. With a gift of just £15 or more you'll receive a beautiful gift card and Gift of Life Certificate, showing how your gift in a loved one's name is saving the lives of animals.

This is not a gift that will simply be opened and then forgotten. The donation you make in your loved one's name will help more people like Moses who can't afford to provide basic care for their pets.

Thank you for your kindness this Christmas season.

With Gratitude,

Fred O'Regan
IFAW CEO

P.S. It takes £600 to provide veterinary care for 50 dogs and cats in South Africa...so every gift counts! Give before December 10th to ensure your gift package arrives in time for Christmas!
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What an inspiring story. This Christmas please consider giving a Xmas Gift to an animal charity.