Dog Center Blog

Since none of my Pet Haven dog friends were adopted this past week, our bloggers handed over the laptop so I could tell my story. Maybe after reading it you would want to bring me home with you.

My name is Herman.  I was adopted out of the Humane Society in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  I thought it was a good thing because I was going to a home.  It turned out not to be a good place for me and the people who I thought were mine let me go.  I ran around for a while by myself.  After a few days of feeding myself in this little town, I got wind that I was going to be shot as a stray dog.   Someone who wasn’t as mean called  Animal Control and they came to get me in their truck.

In case you don’t know, Animal Control is NOT a place you want to be.  It is cramped and you don’t get to stay there very long anyway, if you know what I mean.  Lucky for me, a nice lady who knew me at the Humane Society called Pet Haven and asked if they would take care of me until someone really great who would love me forever found me.

I’m a little over a year old.  I am part German Shepherd and part Hound. Don’t you love my floppy ears?Kids and other playful dogs I like.  Cats annoy me but I suppose I could try to get along with them if I had to.

I am really eager to start my new life with a person or persons who will love me.  You can foster me or you can adopt me.   If I could put in a request, I would like you to have an active life.  I like a good snuggle on the couch as much as the next guy, but I also like to get out and see the world, run and play and check everything out in the big city that is now my home.

Email the Pet Haven people at dogs@pethavenmn.org if you would like to meet me.  I’ll be waiting!

“A Dog Named Christmas” premieres Sunday, Nov. 29 on CBS (photo credit: Erik Heinila)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 11, 2009) — This holiday season Hallmark Hall of Fame and CBS are partnering with Petfinder.com to launch the first-ever “Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays” program inspired by the movie A Dog Named Christmas, premiering on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS Television Network.

Based on Greg Kincaid’s popular novel, the movie tells the story of a developmentally challenged, kind-hearted young man who sets out to convince his family – and their whole rural community – to participate in a local animal shelter’s inaugural “Foster a Dog for Christmas Program.” Bringing this inspiring tale to life, Petfinder.com is working with more than 2,000 shelters and rescue groups across North America to give families the chance to welcome an adoptable pet into their home for the holiday season.

This effort will help ease the burden on shelters, give homeless pets some attention and affection, and provide families an opportunity to experience the joys of having a pet in their home.

Interested individuals can visit http://www.petfinder.com/foster-a-lonely-pet to find participating shelters and rescue groups near them. Staff and volunteers at the participating organizations will be available to answer questions about the fostering process and help select a pet who will be a good match for the foster family.

To learn more about fostering with Pet Haven email dogs@pethavenmn.org and check out our website.

On Sunday, Nov. 29, on CBS at 8 CST, television viewers will learn about this pet fostering program on the Hallmark Hall of Fame world premiere of A Dog Named Christmas during a PSA at the end of the broadcast.

For more info on the movie checkout the Hallmark Hall of Fame website.

I started this blog six years ago today, on 28 November 2003. Where has the time gone? Three years ago on this date, there had been 42,820 visits, which is an average of 39.0 visits per day. During the past three years, there have been 101,807 visits, which is an average of 92.8 visits per day. Overall, in six years, there have been 144,627 visits, which is an average of 65.9 visits per day. As you may have noticed, I recently changed the blog’s appearance. I hope you like it. If you have something to which I should link, please send it. I do not like being used as a mere means to other people’s ends, so please don’t try to use this blog to get publicity for some product or service you are selling. I do, however, enjoy publicizing things that are designed to benefit animals.

What is Chase Community Giving?

Chase Community Giving is a program run by Chase that will allow Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations in the following focus areas: education, healthcare, housing, the environment, combating hunger, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare. The grassroots campaign aims to inspire a new way of corporate philanthropy.

The eligible charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million, the top five runners-up will receive $100,000 each and the 100 finalists, including the top winners, will be awarded $25,000 each. Additionally, a special Advisory Board led by prominent national philanthropists will allocate $1 million to the nominated charities of its choice.

In order to vote you do need to have an account on Facebook! If you aren’t already on facebook we encourage you to sign up and join the I support Pet Haven Facebook group AND take a second to vote for Pet Haven for the Chase Community Giving program.

Voting for Round 1 ends on December 11, 2009 so vote now and help us spread the word!

We want to take this space today to thank you for your support for Pet Haven’s dogs.

Our boarding partners – Pampered Pooch Playground, Auntie Ruth’s Animal Care and Wellness Center, and Downtown Dogs – offer us a foster slot for a dog. We often call on them to care for a dog whose foster family is on vacation, too.  The dogs have a blast and are loved in these doggie daycares. Thank you.

Last but not least, to all  who offer support both moral and material, thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!!

We want to take this space today to thank you for your support for Pet Haven’s dogs.

Our boarding partners – Pampered Pooch Playground, Auntie Ruth’s Animal Care and Wellness Center, and Downtown Dogs – offer us a foster slot for a dog. We often call on them to care for a dog whose foster family is on vacation, too.  The dogs have a blast and are loved in these doggie daycares. Thank you.

Last but not least, to all  who offer support both moral and material, thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!!

We want to take this space today to thank you for your support for Pet Haven’s dogs.

Our boarding partners – Pampered Pooch Playground, Auntie Ruth’s Animal Care and Wellness Center, and Downtown Dogs – offer us a foster slot for a dog. We often call on them to care for a dog whose foster family is on vacation, too.  The dogs have a blast and are loved in these doggie daycares. Thank you.

Last but not least, to all  who offer support both moral and material, thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sledge. By Liz Pearson of Capetown, South Africa,
for DARG, Domestic Animal Rescue Group.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Liz, all the way in South Africa, but readers of her blog know she’s been making beautiful paintings, of people, flowers, fish. Liz’s work is really remarkable.

Sledge is currently with the Domestic Animal Rescue Group, in Cape Town, South Africa. Liz writes that he is “a 3 year old male cross husky/collie who was abandoned by his owner. DARG say that Sledge is clearly confused and desperate for that human bond.

“Isn’t it incredible that people can just abandon an animal like casting off an old shoe. There is no empathy or consideration on how that poor creature is going to survive.

“I hope Sledge finds his forever human companion soon. “

We do, too, Liz.

Here is an essay about industrial farming.

Prayer of a Senior Homeless Dog

One by one they pass my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
Way past his prime he can’t run and play,
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way.

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail,
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?



My family decided I didn’t belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head
Can’t justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.



When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face and I finally had hope.
You saw through the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond the cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed. And shared your own pillow with my poor tired 
head.                                                             

We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly and want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.





I promise to return all the love I can give,
To You, my dear person, as long as I live.
I may be with you for a week or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart will grieve. 









And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

 Author Unknown

Pet Haven has many senior dogs like the ones pictured here that would love to come home with you. Do you have room in your heart?