Otis's days were numbered. He had been at the shelter for quite some time and, in fact, had been adopted three times and returned each time. He was good-looking and well-mannered, so just what was it that caused him to be on the short list for euthanasia?

Katy Riecks of Philadelphia believes it was because no one had the patience to deal with his special needs: Otis is deaf.

She and her boyfriend had both grown up with dogs, but neither of them had had one since they'd been adults. Now the time seemed right, so they began searching Petfinder for one to adopt.

Today is World Spay Day, when we spread the word about this simple way to reduce pet overpopulation. But sometimes it's hard to get the public to pay attention to this not-so-sexy topic.

So some organizations have come up with outrageous (and often hilarious) videos to get the message across. Here are a few of our favorites. Watch them, then share this post to help us get the word out!


Katherine Heigl Hates Balls
Katherine Heigl created this edgy campaign for the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation. According to the campaign's website, I Hate Balls was developed "to reach into all pet-friendly hearts and homes with one surgically direct mission -- fight the good fight against balls!" And it has. The video, released in fall 2011, has received over one million views on Funny or Die.

Meet Beast and Queen, two dogs recently unchained by volunteers for the North Carolina-based Coalition to Unchain Dogs. We met Beast and Queen the same way we've met most of the 1,300 dogs we've unchained since 2007: Their human, Christina, heard about us from a friend of hers who also received a fence. She contacted us because she wanted them to have a fence where they could be together and be safe. But, as a single mother of five children, she couldn't afford a fence for them.

As with each dog we've unchained, our first step in helping Beast and Queen was taking them to the vet to be vaccinated and spayed/neutered, a requirement for receiving a Coalition fence.

Once their vet appointments were complete, a team of Coalition volunteers arrived on a very chilly Sunday morning, and in just under two hours of work, Beast and Queen had a fenced-in yard that has forever changed their lives, as well as the lives of Christina and her children. See the video from their big day above.

Coalition to Unchain Dogs' founder, Amanda Arrington, and Casey Arrington built their first fence in March 2007, just the two of them. It took three weekends to complete that fence for Flex and Brownie, but they quickly realized the feeling of watching the dogs run and play for the first time was addictive. And they were right! Since then, the Coalition has grown to five chapters in Durham, Raleigh, Orange County, and Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta, GA, each with dozens of volunteers who participate in fence builds each weekend.

After the jump: The secret to the Coalition's success.

Allergies to pets are one of the most common reasons pets end up in shelters. And, while many pet parents agree that the enjoyment they get from their pets outweighs the annoyance of their allergies, living with a pet you're allergic to can affect both your lifestyle and your health. So if you suspect you might be allergic, get all the facts before you adopt.

Learn the symptoms of pet allergies. "If you experience symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose, runny nose, hives, cough, shortness of breath or chest tightness around pets, you may be allergic," says Deborah Pockross, M.D., an allergist and immunologist at Kenilworth Medical Associates in Illinois.

If you have any of those symptoms, Dr. Pockross suggests you make an appointment with an allergist to talk about allergy testing.

Get tested. You can get tested for allergies to dogs and cats, but also rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, horses, mice and rats. "There are two ways to evaluate for a pet allergy," says Dr. Pockross. "The preferred and statistically more sensitive test is the skin test. The skin is scratched with a device containing pet dander. The skin will react and become itchy and swollen like a mosquito bite at the site of the scratch within 15 to 20 minutes if the person is allergic."

The second method is a blood test, which can be just as effective at diagnosing an allergy, but needs to be sent out to a lab. Both tests are usually covered by insurance. However, no test is 100% reliable, so it's important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and medical history.

The Animal Rescue Site, a longtime partner and supporter of the Petfinder.com Foundation, has released its first e-book, 100 Heartwarming Stories From The Animal Rescue Site. The book sold over 1,000 copies in its first week and is getting great reviews.

"We've been collecting stories of rescued pets and their 'fur-ever' homes for many years," says Tim Kunin, CEO of The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood Network. "These tales always have been one of the most popular features on the homepage and other electronic media."

The book is available for $0.99 for both Kindle and Nook, and is a guaranteed fun read for animal lovers. Many of the pets featured in the stories were once considered unadoptable, which only strengthens the impact of their stories.

"We hope that others will be encouraged by this e-book to consider adopting not just puppies and kittens, but also older pets, horses, rabbits, ferrets and others," says Greg Hesterberg, president of The Animal Rescue Site and a Petfinder.com Foundation board member.

Q: Many years ago our family adopted a beautiful cat we named Tom. My mother fed Tom only tuna and he began to develop a reddish coat. Unfortunately, the cat soon died. Now, 67 years later, I still feel bad about this and wonder if a diet of only tuna was harmful. What do you think? -- E.M., Clearwater, FL

A: "Cats do not do well on a diet of solely tuna, or any one human food source," says Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland, OR.

Giving your cat a bit of tuna as an occasional treat is one thing. However, as an exclusive diet, tuna lacks significant amounts of vitamin E, potentially leading to a dangerous vitamin E deficiency.

Felines fed too much tuna can develop other nutrient deficiencies, too, because most de-boned fish lacks calcium, sodium, iron, copper and several other vitamins. Mercury, frequently present in tuna, also presents a potential danger.

When Susan Gemberling of Glenolden, PA, sits down to enjoy her morning cup of coffee, she can anticipate a rather surprising companion: Chloe, her Silver Martin Dwarf Rabbit.

"Chloe loves company and can't wait for you to notice her and pet her," Susan says. This gregarious rabbit was picked up as a stray by Delaware County SPCA in Media, PA. Susan saw her listing on Petfinder.

Chloe's sociability isn't limited to coffee time. She has run of the living room, and it's not unusual for her to pull on Susan's shoelaces or the hems of her jeans to get attention when Susan is watching TV. If that doesn't work, she headbutts her "mom's" ankles.

Here's another great lost-dog reunion story from our partner HomeAgain. You can help lost pets get home again: Sign up to receive lost pet alerts when a dog or cat goes missing in your area.

Pinto was stolen -- from Marrissa in Palmdale, CA
My mom works for High Desert Animal Care Hospital in Palmdale, CA. She had my dog [Pinto] microchipped by HomeAgain.

Someone stole Pinto over 2 years ago. I cried day and night. I eventually gave up hope in finding her.

On April 22, I got a weird number on my phone. They left a message, and it was HomeAgain! Apparently, a very nice lady by the name of Jewel in Playa Del Rey found my 2.5-lb Chihuahua and did the right thing by taking her to a vet to be scanned!

We drove over a 100 miles at 7 p.m. and got her. She didn't remember me at first, but then she did. I love her!

Thank you HomeAgain, Jewel, & High Desert Animal Care Hospital!

Once a month we select a reader question and answer it here. Have a question you'd like us to answer? Email us.

Q: I have been trying to adopt a dog from a specific rescue for a month now. They are yet to even call my vet for a reference or do the home inspection, which they say is required to adopt. When I call, the "person in charge" says it's all up to the foster parent to follow through. Is that "normal" for rescue groups? It's very disappointing. I hoped to pick up the dog the same week. --Barbara F.

A: Petfinder is a community and, like all communities, each individual or organization is a little bit different. Ideally, when you visit an animal shelter someone will greet you when you walk through the door, escort you in to meet the pets and answer your questions. Sometimes though, the person at the desk is on a tough phone call, everyone in the reception office is tied up with two boxes of kittens that just arrived, and the volunteer in the dog kennels just started and has as many questions as you do.

With rescue groups, you can find the same variety. One group operates so efficiently it makes your head spin. They have concise, clear forms, a person who answers or returns your call in short order, and a group of experienced foster homes who work so well together that each step is quick and clear. In short order you know if that dog you fell in love with online is a good match for you. Another group may be made up of a network of loving, but busy, foster families who volunteered to foster a dog because they heard the need was great. Their lives are hectic with jobs and kids. They may even be shy about talking with strangers, even though they know that's the only way to find that forever home for their rescued dog!

There are a wide range of people in rescue who have skills that range from "perfectionist" to "procrastinator." We know the majority of our members want to get back in touch with you as soon as possible!

After the jump: Tips for making sure you hear back and how we're working to improve customer service for adopters.

Bringing a new bunny home is fun and exciting, but it's important to realize that this time can be quite intimidating for a rabbit. In order to keep stress to a minimum, prepare by gathering necessary items, arranging a living space and rabbit-proofing the house. Here are a few key steps to help you prepare for your new friend:

1. Gather the necessities
Before bringing a rabbit home, purchase all necessary items and have everything set up in time for your rabbit's arrival. The first shopping trip is not inexpensive, but once you have the basics, only items such as litter, hay and food need to be purchased regularly.

The New-Bunny Shopping List:

• Puppy exercise pen or dog crate (If you do purchase a rabbit cage, make sure it is roomy and has a flat bottom.)
• A cat litter box or large plastic bin
• Sturdy ceramic bowls for food and water
• Toys, which can be as simple as a cardboard roll or phone book or as complex as a bird toy or cat tunnel
• Rabbit-safe litter (Go for a recycled-paper product such as Yesterday's News or Carefresh.)
• Rabbit pellets (Look for a Timothy hay-based pellet for adult rabbits.)
• Cat nail clippers
• Green, leafy vegetables
• Timothy or other quality grass hays

Of the above items, Timothy hay is the most important. A rabbit's diet should be composed of approximately 70% grass hays to ensure sufficient fiber intake. Hay is important not just for proper digestion, but for dental health too, as chewing on the stalks wears down their continuously growing teeth and even has social and psychological benefits. Because hay is so essential for rabbit health, make extra efforts to ensure the hay you purchase is fresh, dust-free and high quality.