Ruff Times

"With older dogs you wonder if they'll ever find homes."

Just a year ago, Ruff, as he is now called, was one of the thousands of pets left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. He apparently swam to high ground as the waters rose, but no one knows what he went through during those tumultuous days. Eventually rescuers from Louisiana SPCA found him and took him in. In December 2005, he was released to the Lafayette Animal Aid shelter, where he was treated for heartworms and flea dermatitis. He waited and waited for his owners to re-claim him, but it never happened.

Finally, April Reeves, who is a volunteer for Lafayette Animal Aid, decided Ruff, who was about five years old, had waited long enough. She posted his photo and description on Petfinder.com in early June. Lafayette Animal Aid works with Mutts4rescue, which is in Rhode Island, and Ruff was transported to them in hopes that he could find a new family there.

April worried though. "With older dogs," she says, "you wonder if they'll ever find homes."

She needn't have worried in Ruff's case. "We spotted him immediately," says Stacey Vanasse. The family, which lives in Warwick, RI, did wonder about adopting an older dog who had been through so much, but "there was just something about his story and what his caretakers had to say about him that made us want to take the chance."

And their instincts were right. "He has made an amazing transition into our home," Stacey says. "He is more than just another member of our family. Many people say that their dog is so lucky to have been rescued; we think we are the lucky ones for having discovered this amazing creature who has nothing to give but love."

Thanks to the Animal Emergency Rescue Network, a database created by Petfinder.com during hurricane Katrina, and hundreds of animal welfare organizations and volunteers, three thousand or more pets were re-united with their owners. Others have successfully been re-homed by the organizations that so willingly came to their aid all across the country.

Enter to Win
We love to hear about heartwarming pet adoptions. Send us your story. Each month we'll choose one lucky family to receive a gift from The Animal Rescue Site.

Get ready for any adventure
Petfinder Backpack - only $16.95

Our custom-made black-and-lavender backpack boasts a fusion of contoured style and practical function. "Petfinder.com" is embroidered front and center in white, so you can help spread the word wherever you go.

Nothing Spells Back-To-School Like BIG CHIEF
We heard a rumor that Big Chiefs were on lots of lists this season. Here are six extra-big Chiefs that can't wait for someone to pick them out of the crowd. Help us spread the word about them by emailing this to your friends.

Chief, from Palm City, FL	Chief, from Rome, NY	Chief, from McMinnville, OR
Chief, from Logan, UT	Chief, from Sudbury, MA	Chief, from Ennis, TX

Keep Your Pets Happy When Autumn Schedules Change
As autumn rolls around and schedules start to change, Petfinder.com wants to help keep your furry friends happy in your absence.

Anxious pup?
Read Don't Leave Me This Way: Resolving Separation Anxiety Problems.

Apathetic feline?
Read Beating Boredom: Behavioral enrichment ideas for your cat.

Looking for company for your pet?
Do a Petfinder.com Pet Search.

Seeking Great Cat "Tails"
We're looking for touching or amazing stories of adopted cats to include in a book. If you have such a story, please share it with us.

Here are the criteria: (1) It must be a Petfinder.com success story. (2) The story needs a special twist. It must touch our hearts either because of the cat's background or something special in her new home (think of the cat who nurses puppies).

Submit your cat story to our Happy Tail Drawing (and you may win a prize in our monthly drawing as well). If we choose your cat "tail" for the book, we'll notify you.

PETCO: Think Adoption First!
PETCO and Petfinder.com have teamed up to bring you in-store Adoption Centers that make adopting a homeless pet easier than ever! Just visit a PETCO store near you and be automatically connected to shelter partners in your area who can help match your pet needs with all types of homeless animals.

BISSELL: BISSELL's College of Clean
BISSELL'S goal is to provide you with a complete education on cleaning your home-- from deep cleaners for carpet cleaning to vacuums. BISSELL provides you with the necessary information and guidance to go forth and clean your home with confidence. For more information, click here.

It's hard to imagine a great school without needed supplies. Animal shelters and rescue groups also need equipment, supplies and physical support in order to properly care for and adopt out the animals. The Petfinder.com Foundation provides financial support and services to accomplish this.

For example, we've helped the Humane Society of Grand Bahama with the cost of pet food and vaccines after Hurricane Wilma, a cat organization in Colorado buy a clothes dryer for their large amounts of laundry and sterilization needs, and a feral cat organization in Louisiana with some of their vet bills (post Hurricane Katrina).

Our Foundation is special in our support of such items or needs at such a local level. We couldn't do this without our caring and understanding donors; they are the reason we can help more than one animal, in more than one neighborhood.

Ask if your employer matches employees' charitable donations. Fill out the proper form and submit it with your next donation. In some cases, companies may double, if not triple, your donation!

Have your pooch try the new Naturally Complete Purina® Dog Chow®. Proceeds (3% of pre-tax earnings) will support our new "Animal Shelter Fund."

Make a tax-deductible donation for:

Disaster and Emergency Fund
Your donation will help animal victims of disasters.

Sponsor a Pet
Your donation can be targeted to a specific group.

or mail your donation to: Petfinder.com Foundation
P.O. Box 16385
Tucson, AZ 85732-6385

Our staffing and overhead expenses are kept low to maximize our ability to make a difference. Your gift will be invested wisely. If you have any questions, please visit the Petfinder.com Foundation Web site or email us. We'd love to work with you!

Petfinder Book Coming in November!
Petfinder.com presents Second Chances: Inspiring Stories of Dog Adoptions. Available at bookstores and online in November. It is coming out just in time for your holiday gifts. Royalties will help homeless pets.

Tail Wags to Our Special Friends
EVERY gift made to the Foundation is appreciated. Extra tail wags this month to the following for their special support:

The Blue Gator Foundation
The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope
Ralph and Virginia Mullin Foundation
Nestle Purina PetCare Company
Penn-Plax
The Prince Charitable Trusts
The Taylor Family Foundation
The Trixie Puff Foundation