YAY~!! I'm so happy to hear about the support for this shelter and these animals... After reading that original story, I kept thinking, "...how could somebody tie their dog up and just drive away?" That dog's eyes... I could just picture them. He/she probably sat there waiting and wondering, are they coming back? Where am I? It's noisy here and cold... What are all these smells? Are they coming back.....?

Needless to say, that still haunts me. And the kittens in the dumpster since my dog who I rescued was found sitting by a dumpster - drawn to it due to Pit Bull puppies crying out who had been thrown away like trash.

So this update WARMS MY HEART!! Now - I just need to see what I can do in my own community - and I believe that all who were so touched by this article should try to do the same.

For all the pets out there who have been adopted into Forever Homes, including mine 3 years ago - they know it...and are thankful. I am thankful to...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Unfortunately, we are all preaching to the choir here - the people who need to hear this don't read these kinds of stories.

And while I agree that if you lose your home you might have to give up your pets (although people in California are living in their cars with their pets, sleeping in church parking lots at night), the excuse of not being able to *feed* a pet is nonsense. Small dogs and cats can live on 50 cents a day (you don't have to feed them name brands). Give up a few of those fancy coffee drinks, for starters...

Folks:

This year, instead of buying a "Holiday Gift" for your pet ... Inquire with your local Animal Shelter as to what their needs are: clean towels, toys, canned food, or cash donation.

Your own pets won't notice if they don't have a gift under the tree. The best gift is your time and love. ; )

Like everyone else I was really down after reading this article the other day. I had one cat for 22 years and it broke my heart when I had to put her down. I immediately went to a neightbot who had 2 litters and got two more kittens. One I gave away and the other I kept for 14 years. I have made donations for years to the Humane Shelter and also my estate is set up to donate 10% to the local shelter in my home town. Right now no pets as where I live does not permit me to do so but we are moving soon and a dog and/or cat will have a home next summer. Thanks to all who support their local shelters and God will reward those who do. As soneone said nothing is more sincere than the love of a pet who ask nothing in return. God bless everyone today.

:}} Nice !

We just adopted two kittens here on the Big Island, orginally destined for euthanasia. The feral cat problem here is real, the economy problem here is real, and if everyone would adopt an animal everywhere, the world would be a better place. Kudos to everyone trying to help. Aloha.

There was a pit bull dogfighting ring that was discovered this year in Missouri. There were 407 pit bulls rescued by the Missouri Humane Society, along with 50 puppies. Since their rescue, there are now 150 puppies being taken care of. This was the largest pit bull rescue done in the U.S.

If you can help with donations of toys, peanut butter, etc. for all these puppies, I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated. Due to the large number of dogs rescued, I'm sure there are many that will not be adopted due to their unfair reputations and breed legislation passed by some counties and will eventually be euthanized.

If you would like to help, here is the link: http://member.hsmo.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Federal_dog_fighting_case_press_release_11_11

i wish every cat or dog could have a great life full of happiness ...its too bad to hear the stories when its not a happy end... my kitty is an orange short haired cat 19 pounds of love ... hes sick and on medicine right now ..i hope he gets better . all the places i called said that they didnt have enough room for him if i surrenrd him becuase of overfilled kennels. i cant afford his medical treatment. i have already put 400.00 into him . they said that i have to put him down . its $800.00 to fix him and $60.00 to put him down...it doesnt make sence that i have to put him down when i love him so much . no payment plans at the vets i have seen ... i refuse to let him suffer and wish for a miracle... it will be a sad holiday if i have to put my 4 year old down.... hoping for a miracle ...

Great to hear this story, but please remember to support and donate to your local ASPCA, Humane Societies, and Cat & Dog Rescues.

I adopted the most adorable cat!

That was 2 months ago, he is 1 year old. I already had another adopted cat, I rescued him from a kill shelter-he was so tiny and he didn't even mewoud cuz he was malnourished. My new cat was injured by another cat. He has a cute black nose:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22867721@N04/4018694119/sizes/m/

After adopting my first Dog who is 7 years old today, I discovered that I was allergic to dogs. I asked my Mom about it and she said she was too but she loved them so much she lived with it by dusting and vacuuming everyday. I kept Scooby and since have adopted 2 rescue dogs whom I would not give up for the world. Cleaning is tough but the love we give and receive from these three dogs is worth it. They are inside dogs and only go out when they need to potty. I know some allergies prevent pet adoption but I, like my Mom, will have rescue dogs for the rest of my life!

I cried and cried seeing this all animals want is love I wanted to adopt another cat but have already adopted 4 from shelters and my cats will come with me no matter where i go as they are my family and alway will be i can't imagine my life without my cats!! Such a great thing to see people stepping up to help these animals that want nothing more than love!!

Would you like to help needy pets for free? Then go to The Greater Good’s Animal Rescue Site -- http: //www.theamimalrescuesite.com -- and click on the purple Click To Give tab. This simple action prompts site sponsors to give pet food and money to shelters and rescue programs. Donations are based on the total number of clicks received daily.

I have a reminder on my computer screen to “click to give” every day to animals and to the other Greater Good “Click To Give” donation programs tabbed on the top of the Animal Rescue page. They are: world hunger (human food), breast cancer (mammograms), child literacy (books), child health (preventative care and treatment) and rain forest (habitat preservation).

See, you really can do a lot for nothing! Please do this now -- and every day.

I am so happy that this Humane Society received some much needed help!  Good job everyone!!  And I wish the Elkhart HS and Humane Societies all over the country the same goodness from Americans.  Thank you for caring about these homeless animals!!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

I agree: Donate, neuter, adopt. Never support puppy mills they're sickening and abusive, as much as I hate peta (people eating tasty animals) i think they should go after every one and shut them down. I would actually donate to them if they did that.

And very happy news after that terribly depressing story yesterday. Well done!

I would like to know if there are any organizations out there that are developing alternate low cost steralization method for dogs and cats. The cost of surgical procedures, even through discount programs is prohibitive for large scale population control. At one time there were rummors of a substance that could be fed to cats and dogs that led to steralization. This would prevent feral animals from repopulating, as well as assisting individuals who foster and find homes for strays to prevent them from reproduceing. Not to mention ease the burden on shelters (especially no kill facilities). Suposably some of the animals died and the study was discontinued. Millions of animals euthanized in shelters, in additions to countless numbers dieing of starvation , injuries, illness, abuse , and endless cruelties. I cannot began to imagine the cost of warehouseing, evthanizing and disposing of these animals. Seems to me it would be more cost effective to focas on control and prevention.

I can understand why many people can't afford to nuter their pets. I runs over $100 dollars to spay a female and almost as much for a male at the veterinarians. Even the low cost/rescue cost $45 and up! I think we have it backwards. It needs to be free and mandatory to get animals nutered exceptions responsible breeders would registurre and pay a fee for raising and selling cats and dogs. How many of us have rescued animals and found them homes, but couldn't afford to get them nutered? Over the years I have rescued and placed around 200 animals, with only minimun wage jobs. How many "cat ladies and hoarders" started by trying to help a starving animal only to see the situation explode out of control because the couldnt afford the cost of nutering?

Thanks for listening. I will be watching for more info. I challenge those with the financial resources to step up, unite, and create a progran that will make change possible.

The original article also broke my heart. I cried and cried and hugged my two rescues, 1 dog and 1 cat, all the harder that night. This article made my Thanksgiving.

My little dog is blind and I was so afraid he would be passed over for adoption. He gets around great and he loves me like no other. My beautiful long-haired orange cat, with matching orange eyes makes me laugh every day. She is so playful and even plays fetch! She has to have two or three games of it everyday.

Please support your local shelters. When you consider adoptions, please remember the older and handicapped ones. They are so grateful.

God bless all of you and God bless the animals.

For a long time I have considered this. We have over 250,000 veternarians in the US. If each vet did just 1 or 2 FREE spay or neuter operations per week--think of how many unwanted litters would not be born. That would save hundeds of thousands of unwanted cats being euthanised. The operation on a male cat is very simple and fast. Each un neutered tom can be responsible for hundreds of kittens. Sadly most vets are in it for the money--not the good of the animal.

If right off the bat, you can't afford to neuter your pet and pay for other inevitable medical care THEN DON'T GET A PET! They WILL get sick, they WILL get injured, they WILL need to be neutered, they DO need to eat. If you can't afford that from the beginning, then get a goldfish or something - PLEASE!

I take in needy rats and guinea pigs, especially handicapped ones. The "imperfect" ones are the ones I want the most. The sweetest pet rats I have, are blind, or partially blind. My animals are why I've never had cable or satellite tv. They are my top priority.

I wish I could adopt all these animals it makes me sick to see people treat them bad

So has anyone adopted that lovely Jack O'Lantern? The original article made me cry too, and it was such a relief to read that the article brought relief to the shelter at Elkhart. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who adopts, donates cash or volunteers their time and work if they cannot adopt, or simply CARES about animals and wishes they could help even if they are not in a position to be able to do so.

Even as impecuious musicians, we support four rescue kitty "kids" (their basic needs are adequately met, i.e., high quality food in sufficient quantity, veterinary care as needed, an endlessly interesting life as touring musician cats [yes, you read that right - our four cats tour with us - even little Laxmi, the feral kitten!], etc.). The joy and love that they bring to our life is beyond any price.

Best Friends Animal Society (http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/vision.cfm) is an organization well worth supporting too.

I'm unemployed after 42 yrs of working, widowed and on a TOTAL budget to survive myself. BUT I have had two dogs over ten years and have a third rescue Beagle who was dumped in our country neighborhood because he was chewing up everything as a puppy. Being owned by companion animals is a life long committment (Kudos to Meezermom!) having them to care for and give back love saved my life after my wife suddenly died after five wonderful years of marriage. We had met while walking our own dogs and gave us something in common to share. They have never failed to give back in love and loyalty more than they cost me financially. If not for them, I would have had little reason to continue due to overwhelming grief. My late wife never failed to care for AND find a good placement for ANY stray including a half coyote breed.

Why do people consider animals disposable? "Dumping" should be a severe crime with consequences applied to prevent this danger to public health and and the safety of the animal involved. What if someone had just dumped them on a country road with no way to subsist?

Great thread on a terribly important subject.

The USHS has millions if not billions of $ in their coffers. Why are they not spending the money for what is was donated for? saving animals!

I have always been an animal lover and always have animals. My first two were cats which I had to give up when I moved and it broke my heart, but I did find them good homes. My next three were two cats and a dog, they all lived long, long lives with me. My next cat Tiger was a stray which showed up starving; he still is with me after about 10 years. Then came Smoky, another stray kitten which showed up and stayed for about 5 years before he got sick and I had to put him down. Now I have Gracie, a cat which I took in when my friend was relocating and couldn't take her with. She has completely blended in with us. It angers me when people are irresponsible pet owners and can just dump their pets when they become inconvenient to them. Our county just recently had a free vacination clinic and handed out greatly discounted spay and neuter certificates. I sure hope people take advantage of those! I would take in more animals but two at a time is enough! They show unconditional love and I could never imagine not having animals in my life!