The Pit Bull sat quietly next to the block wall of his kennel, watching as Emily Richardson and her boyfriend visited with dogs at Redlands (CA) Animal Shelter they had seen on Petfinder.com.

It was about a month after Emily's 15-year-old dog had died, and they were looking for a companion for their now lonely dog, Darby.

None of the dogs seemed to click with Darby, however, so Emily, who had never considered adopting a Pit Bull and knew the breed had a bad reputation, suggested they give this quiet guy a chance.

"I was so impressed when the handler took him out and he didn't try to drag her across the yard like all the others did," Emily says. "He was a ball of joy in the play yard -- a little wild, but who can blame a cooped-up pup? He thought we were cool and Darby was fun, so I made up my mind to adopt the 6-month-old pup."

It has worked out better than she ever expected. "Ranger is a real special boy," she says. "He has a level of patience and tolerance that always impresses me and others."

Sometimes Ranger goes to work with his "mom." He goes "from one coworker's desk to another to visit," and as he does so, he changes people's attitudes about Pit Bulls. In March he passed his Canine Good Citizen and TDI therapy dog tests and now will go out in the community and "rub off a little bit of tarnish that clouds the Pit Bull's image," Emily says. "He definitely changed our minds."

It's day three in Morehead, Kentucky on our Rescue U trip to help Rowan County Animal Shelter. We've made a lot of progress and managed to dodge any significant weather-related delays. The outdoor kennel roofs are framed, fencing is going up, the shelter roof is repaired and dog beds and kitty condos are being constructed by the students. The community support is overwhelming.

Our friend Rob Hamilton, the manager of Braxton County Animal Shelter in West Virginia, drove over yesterday to help out and pay it forward. Last year his facility was the site of a Rescue U trip. (Read about and watch video of that trip here.)

Colleen Harrington, the director of shelter operations at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey, joined us too. She is here to help care for the animals and transport dogs back with her, increasing the likelihood that they will be adopted.

Senior pets, like people, can suffer mental decline that is not considered a normal part of aging. Last time we wrote about how one form of dementia -- cognitive dysfunction syndrome or CDS -- can be delayed or prevented with thinking games. This week we're looking at how a change in diet and exercise might delay its progress. (Read all our CDS posts.)

Changes in your dog or cat's diet can play a big part in treating cognitive dysfunction syndrome.

In a recent study at the University of Toronto, senior dogs fed an antioxidant-rich diet performed better in a problem-solving test than those fed a regular diet.

Even more promising, the dogs who were fed the special diet and also given cognitive enrichment performed best of all. (Read the full article here.)

Dogs in the study were fed Hill's
Prescription Diet b/d,  which is only
available for dogs. So I asked Calabash, NC-based veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward what  supplements could help both dogs and cats with CDS. Here's what he recommended:

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) 
"Perhaps no other supplement has been as hyped as fish oils over the past five years," Dr. Ward says. Believe the hype. "I encourage all dogs, cats and people to add DHA/EPA to their daily diet. Whether it's to reduce the inflammation of arthritis, improve brain health, boost the immune system or aid kidney function, this supplement packs a healthy punch."

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine)
"As pets age, liver and brain function may falter. SAMe is a supplement that helps both. SAMe helps protect these vital tissues from oxidative damage and may even help reduce some of the personality changes seen in many older pets."

Probiotics
"Recent research has shown how important those tiny bugs found throughout our bodies are. As we age, these bacteria become imbalanced, affecting everything from digestion to immune response to, potentially, behavior. Look for a product with at least one billion bacteria [per dose] and containing strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium." (Ask your vet how often your pet should take the supplement.)

So if your pet is starting to show signs of mental decline, talk to your vet about supplementing his diet or switching to a specially formulated prescription brand. All supplements may affect your pet in unexpected ways -- and the ingredients in human health supplements and pet health supplements are not always the same -- so it's important to speak with your vet first before making any changes to your pet's diet.

Tell us: Do you give you pets supplements? Why?

Coming soon: Medications for CDS and their side effects

It was recently revealed that the prescription drugs Americans spend the most money on are (in this order): Lipitor, Nexium, Plavix, Advair Diskus and Abilify. 

And this week, Pet Poison Helpline released a look at how those medications affect cats and dogs -- because pets have a tendency to get into their humans' meds.

"Nearly half of the calls we receive are for pets that have accidentally ingested human medications," Pet Poison Helpline's Justine Lee, DVM, says in the press release.

Here's a summary of the report (see a PDF of the full press release here). Note: Even if a substance is considered not highly toxic, call your vet immediately if you think your pet has ingested it. Better safe than sorry.

5. Abilify: Abilify, used to treat depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can cause severe lethargy, vomiting, hyperthermia (overheating) and seizures in your pet, and have a major impact on her heart rate and blood pressure -- if she ingests this drug, take her to the vet ASAP.

4. Advair Diskus: If your dog chews into one of these asthma inhalers, he'll be exposed to high doses of medication and can experience heart arrhythmia, an elevated heart rate, agitation, vomiting and even acute collapse. Another side effect is severe electrolyte abnormalities, which can be deadly. If you think your pet has gotten into this medication, take him to the vet immediately.

3. Plavix: In humans, Plavix inhibits blood clotting and reduces the risk of stroke. It's generally not considered acutely toxic to dogs and cats, and will probably cause only mild vomiting or diarrhea.

2. Nexium: An anti-ulcer medication, Nexium is sometimes given to pets by veterinarians, with mild side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog or cat gets into your Nexium, keep a close eye on her, but her symptoms will most likely go away on their own.

1. Lipitor: This cholesterol drug is not considered highly toxic for pets -- your dog or cat will probably have only some vomiting or diarrhea if he ingests it.

I asked Dr. Lee if Pet Poison Helpline's advice on the five medications applies to pets other than cats and dogs, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and birds.

After a long travel day full of weather-related flight delays, I made it to Morehead, KY, and met up with the students and volunteers who are here for our Rescue U program.

We headed out early this morning to the Rowan County Animal Shelter and began work to repair the roof and kennel fencing -- two of many projects that desperately need to be completed by the time we leave.

This is day one of a 10-day trip for students from Delaware Valley College, Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University who gave up their first week of summer vacation to meet us in Kentucky to rehab the shelter to help homeless pets.

The pets here are all amazing, with eyes that melt your soul, all of them just waiting to find their forever homes. One look at them quickly reminds all of us why we are here. The staff and volunteers at the shelter welcomed us with open arms and the community of Rowan is rallying around this effort. I can't help but be inspired by the dedication of the students, volunteers and staff who all care so much.

Follow us here as we blog from the shelter each day.

And remember ... today is the last day to VOTE for the Petfinder.com Foundation to support this program with a $500,000 donation from Chase. Voting ends at midnight EST. Every vote counts and we could definitely use yours!!!

This trip is made possible through the support of our friends at BISSELL, longtime advocates for pet adoption; The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood.org. Visit The Animal Rescue Site every day to make a free click donation that supports the Petfinder.com Foundation.

... back to the shelter ...

Liz

Here's another great found-pet reunion story from our partner, HomeAgain.

Learn more about the benefits of registering your pet's microchip with HomeAgain.

Bishop dashed out the front door
Bishop's mom was on vacation when she received an unhappy text from her husband: Bishop had dashed out the door and was missing. But the family hoped for the best and put up fliers around the neighborhood.

"We got a hit or two, but nothing came of those leads," Bishop's dad says. Two and a half months passed and the family nearly gave up hope.

Then, while at her daughter's dance class, Bishop's mom received a more welcome text -- Bishop had been found!

"A shelter 70 miles away called us and said 'we have your dog,' " says Bishop's dad. The shelter staffer, he says, told him: "He's neutered, he's trained and he's very likeable, so I scanned him and -- lo and behold -- your ID came up."

Our friends at the American Humane Association are giving heroic pets a chance to shine in this year's Hero Dog Awards.

Each nominee is playing to win up to $10,000 for his or her favorite charity. These four are Petfinder alumni, and we couldn't be prouder! Read their stories below, then nominate your own hero dog today!

Benny
Category: Therapy Dogs
Location: Playa del Rey, CA
Charity: Love on 4 Paws
When Benny came into the rescue group he was skin and bones, had pneumonia and had lost his sight in one eye. LeeAnn saw Benny on Petfinder and adopted him. She quickly learned that he was friendly and lovable -- but he also had leash aggression and separation anxiety. LeeAnn didn't give up on him. She enrolled him in obedience and therapy-dog classes, and today he visits young patients at a children's hospital.

Muffin
Category: Therapy Dogs
Location: Wallingford, CT
Charity: Angel on a Leash
An 8-year-old terrier mix, Muffin survived Hurricane Ivan in 2004. When Kate adopted her after seeing her on Petfinder, she was "a matted, smelly mess with her toenails almost grown into her paw pads." Today, Muffin is a therapy dog and a founding member of the nonprofit Soul Friends, Inc,, which serves  children with social and emotional challenges. Her favorite thing? "A good snuggle with children living with trauma and loss."


Bugsy
Category: Emerging Hero Dogs
Location: Lincoln Park, NJ
Charity: American Veterinary Medical Association
Diane saw Bugsy on Petfinder seven years ago and adopted him. In 2010, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure; the vet gave him six months to live. Now, more than a year later, Diane is inspired by his heroic battle against the odds. "Each day is a blessing having our little guy with us," she says. "We call him our hero."

Pippa
Category: Therapy Dogs
Location: Greenwich, CT
Charity: The Good Dog Foundation
Pippa had been described as "hyperactive and nuts and no one wanted her." But when Lucinda saw her on Petfinder, she saw something special in the rail-thin, flea-infested dog's eyes. She adopted her and enrolled her in therapy-dog training. Today, Pippa visits hospitals, nursing homes and schools. She has survived an auto-immune disorder, and her vet says she's a miracle girl. Through her work, she's also a miracle worker.
Read more about these hero dogs, and see other nominees here.

Find out how to nominate your dog for the Hero Dog Awards after the jump!

Few things strike fear in the hearts of cat parents like a trip to the vet -- and the result, too often, is that our cats get inadequate healthcare. In fact, cat advocacy group the Catalyst Council estimates that cats go to the vet less than half as often as dogs.

USA Today pet columnist Sharon L. Peters recently interviewed the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center's Kristen Collins about how to keep cats calm during vet trips. Read the full article here.

Collins offered these tips, all of which will be easy with a kitten ("With an adult cat," Peters writes, "you follow all the same procedures, but you must go much slower"):

1. As early as possible in your cat's life, get him used to different people and environments.
   
   
2. Use a cat harness and leash to go out into the world, and give your cat treats and playtime in each new environment. (Learn more about harness training your cat here.)
   
   
3. Take practice trips to the vet once or twice a week -- your cat won't be examined, but you'll give him treats and let him get used to the place.
   
   
4. Make the cat carrier a positive place -- leave it open all the time, filled with comfy bedding. Feed your cat in it and stick treats inside it often.
   
   
5. Get your cat used to being handled the way the vet will handle her. While you're at home and for just a few seconds to start, get your cat used to being scruffed, having her hindquarters handled and lying on her back, so those won't feel scary during a vet visit.
   

Sunday night a tornado ripped through Joplin, MO, killing at least 89 people. Petfinder Happy Tails editor Joan Banks, who lives just outside Joplin, gives a firsthand account below. Find out how you can help affected animal shelters after the jump.

If you are with a shelter or rescue group in the area and need help, contact the Petfinder outreach team for assistance.

The power is off at my home in Joplin, and rain is once again pouring down, but we are safe. My family and I were celebrating our granddaughter's graduation at the Olive Garden in Joplin yesterday when the tornado struck.

Unbelievably, we didn't hear any sirens. We did see the ominous dark clouds just north of the restaurant. Wind began whipping trees and the rain came down in torrents. We stayed at the restaurant for five
or 10 minutes, then ducked through the rain
to our cars and headed toward home. I was worried about our dog, Tucker.

Huge hailstones pelted the car and we could barely see through the windshield, though the wipers were on full speed. Debris was strewn across the highway, and we passed a large truck stop with its signs blown down, semis turned over. Two empty cars stood in the road with all their windows blown-in. We got to the road to our house, but power lines and cables blocked the way -- and the alternate route we tried. We retreated to the truck stop and darted inside.

Dozens of people were milling in the restaurant area. Ceiling tiles were dropping because the roof had been damaged and rain was putting pressure on the ceiling, and glass peppered the floor from blow-in windows.

Several people had their dogs with them. One lady's dog, who had no collar, got away from her and ran outside. Someone retrieved him and returned him to her. My husband dashed to our car and gave her a leash for him.

When the rain stopped, we tried still another way home. The debris field disappeared about half a mile south of the truck stop; our home, still another two miles south, was completely untouched, and Tucker was fine. We are so lucky.

Joplin has suffered a devastating blow. My daughter Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder, is from Joplin, and the elementary and high schools she went to are destroyed.

A swath through the middle of town is simply gone, hundreds of homes are gone, and scores of lives have been lost. We haven't heard from many of our friends. The Animal Adoption & Resource Center in Joplin is asking for crates and other supplies to help with the rescued pets they will be taking in.

The weather has turned threatening again; rain is pouring down, so I will close my laptop before I lose my battery.

... And we're off! I am heading down to Kentucky to partner with Animal Lifeline on our Rescue U program. Together with a group of dedicated college students, professional staff, and colleagues, we're going to help rebuild some shelters in need.

Approximately 30 students from Delaware Valley College, Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University will be volunteering together on various projects to improve shelter conditions at Rowan County Animal Shelter and Menifee County Animal Shelter in Eastern Kentucky.

The students are giving up their first week of summer vacation to repair and install chain link fences and kennels, build roofs over kennels, install a dog bath, make dog and cat beds, clean the existing kennels and install an outdoor cat enclosure and play area.

Like we did with our last Rescue U trip, to South Carolina, we'll keep you updated from the road with video blogs so you can see firsthand the amazing work the students are doing and the pets who are waiting to find their forever homes.

This trip is made possible through the support of our friends at BISSELL, longtime advocates for pet adoption, The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood.org. Visit The Animal Rescue Site every day to make a free click donation that supports the Petfinder.com Foundation.

PS: Our Rescue U program is up for a $500,000 grant from Chase. Help us continue the program by voting for The Petfinder.com Foundation today!