Casper's abusers face a jury today

Casper, the dog tied to a house and left to starve while his owners stuffed themselved inside (in full view of starving dog) went before a jury today.  Trial resumes tomorrow, we are hoping for MAXIMUM sentence.  No excuses- fancy cars, big screen tvs, and fat bellies mean they took care of only themselves, allowing their animals to suffer.  

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/casper_owners_trial_081209

24 Hour Adoptathon- August 14-15th, Quorum Hotel, Tampa

2nd Annual 24 Hour Adoptathon is coming!  August 14 and 15th, at the Quorum Hotel, Westshore Blvd, Tampa.  Get there early!   Doors open and 6 PM and last year we were flooded with people- 6 Pm to 6 PM, yes, we will be sleeping there WITH our dogs! or not sleeping depending on how the night goes.....

All dogs, all breeds, all ages, all rescues!!!!  Come out and meet your new best friend.

Adotathon- details here

PIn Ups For Pit Bulls 2010 Calander is coming......and we could be in it!

Pin Ups For Pit Bulls has invited us to participate in the 2010 Calendar!  We will be working on a shoot in the next month to submit to this great organization!  Last year they donated $28,000 to various pit bull rescues, and even sent some money to us for our little Angel.  We plan to rock this shoot and help them make even more money!  

Visit Pin Ups for Pit Bulls  for more about the great work they do- and PRE- Order a calendar!  

Can you help me?

I stopped by ACT yesterday (Animal Coalition of Tampa- low cost spay-neuter clinic) to buy some Heartguard, but then decided to see if Linda (executive director) could help me find a home for our foster dog. 

 I was escorted to the back where I found Linda laying on the floor surrounded by tiny kittens, all bobbly headed and shaking.  Linda was swaddling them like babies, one by one.   These kittens  and the hundreds of others they see every month were born to feral mommas, and had just been fixed.  Linda focused on one at a time, cooing to each as if it were her very own.  She was intent on getting the tiny kittens socialized, so they might have a chance to find a home.

During the snuggle session, Linda talked to me more about the issues of "overpopulation." Interruptions included an emergency with a puppy that came in and was dying on the operating table from Parvo (completely preventable)  Linda was asked "should we try to save it"  (owners are on welfare, low income and would never be able to approve or pay for the extensive work needed)  Linda looked up from her feral kitten and said, "is there a chance it will live?"  Yes, there was a slim chance at a high cost.  Linda ordered that they do whatever they need to do to save the puppy, and said that the owner could pay her back by listening to a 20 minute lecture on HOW EASY it is to prevent the deadly parvo virus.    In spite of their efforts, the puppy died.   The entire clinic had to be sterilized from stem to stearn.  All this in just a 30 minute visit.   I could see how foolish I must appear coming to her to ask if SHE could help ME.

Before I left, Linda had found a new home for one of the kittens who would have otherwise been put right back on the street, all 2 lbs of him.

For more about ACT and all the great stuff they do, visit www.actampa.org

Ashlie came by with Batman today......

Batman, the little super hero who lost his battle for life June 21st, came to visit us today.  His mommy Ashlie Burke gave us a piece of him (part of his ashes were shared among a few of his lucky friends) in a beautiful memorial that includes a sweet photo of a sweet boy, reminders to "Follow Your Heart" a special "Be Free" attached to the precious little package inside.  What an amazing gift.  What an amazing dog- he touched so many in such a short time.  And especially, what an amazing mommy to share her baby like this.   Visit www.pitstopbullys.com to learn more about Ashie and her rescue efforts.

Holy Crap people be sure to back up your own websites!

Our host server crashed about 2 weeks ago, and for reasons beyond my limited understanding (and partially because I don't want to know) Little Pet Project in its latest form was lost forever.  No record of it, even though several of our support people did make back ups.  Poof gone.  So, we have been piecing it back together.  It is painful to go back and do things over when so much more important things beckon.   But thankfully Art with Ideas4 (my husband) and Celeste with Group5 Web are making it all better.  We may even get a better site out of the deal. 

The membership part, with sign in and stuff is the part that has to be started over.  If you were a member, please accept our apology, contact me at info@littlepetproject and I'll do my best to transition you to the new site.

Thanks!  off for some 4th of July celebration, finally.

Batman

Batman, the little darling rescue pup that Ashlie Burke with Pit Stop Bullys took in and tried desperately to save, lost his battle for life last night. His breathing all but stopped or was too strained to sustain. The emergency care team did all they could to keep him alive until his surgery was possible. Batman was a special little boy, stealing the hearts of all who met him or heard about him. This little guy had such a great (sadly short) life in the hands of Ashlie, who is nothing short of an angel for pit bulls- taking in those that would otherwise be lost. Through her network of friends and supporters, Batman was given every chance possible. Please keep Bat, Ashlie and Drew in your thoughts and prayers.