A Happy "Tail"

Gus was living on his own near Bryson City, North Carolina. His coat was matted, and he was skin and bones when Paws Animal Shelter came to his rescue and listed him on Petfinder.com.

Today, he's living the good life, living on a farm and traveling around in a travel trailer with his new mom, Hunter Hampton of Ocala, Florida.

"It didn't take him long to become a spoiled, sleep-on-the-bed dog," Hunter says. "I can honestly say he's the happiest dog I've ever met. He gets along with every dog he meets and is great with little kids. He really is a treasure."

Paws listed Gus (then named Austin) for adoption just at the right moment for Hunter. She was grieving over the death of her beloved border collie, Brady, when she saw Gus on Petfinder. "I immediately emailed to see if the cutest dog I've ever seen was still available. Much to my amazement he was." She knew no dog could fill the hole left by Brady, but "Gus certainly has taken the sharp edges off the pain," she says.

She sums up the adoption: $180 in gas, $110 in motels, $60 adoption fees, Gus...priceless.

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

On the Go and in the Know!
Petfinder.com
License License Plate Frame - $9.95

Spread the word about Petfinder.com to every highway and byway. Needy animals everywhere will thank you!

Oodles of Options for October—Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month
There are close to 110,000 dogs for adoption on Petfinder.com -- 236 breeds! If you're looking for that particular dog that speaks to your heart, you can bet that he or she can be found on Petfinder! October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month and the perfect time to welcome home a new family member. Not sure where to start? Click here to read an article from the experts on how to pick a winner.

And to Celebrate Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, Petfinder.com and partners have teamed up to bring you the Luckiest Dog Sweepstakes and a chance to win one of eight great prizes. Enter today for your chance to win!

Protect Your Pet and Help Support Pet Disaster Relief Efforts

You know the importance of using a heartworm preventative, like
HEARTGARD® (ivermectin), and a flea and tick control product, like FRONTLINE®. Now, each time you purchase HEARTGARD and FRONTLINE brand products with a valid coupon to help maintain your pet's health, Merial will donate to the Paws to Save Pets campaign to help animals affected by future natural disasters.

Paws to Save Pets will provide up to a total of $1 million in funding for the pet disaster relief efforts of Petfinder.com Foundation and American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF).

Now through Dec. 31, 2006, each time you redeem a HEARTGARD $5 rebate or FRONTLINE Buy 6 Get 1 Dose Free coupon, Merial will donate $.50 to the Paws to Save Pets campaign.

Caring for your animal by purchasing these products will directly benefit pets that need aid in the future.

Ask your local veterinarian to become involved with the program and start redeeming coupons to help animals in need. For more information, visit Pawstosavepets.com.

Pets Rule!
Join Petster in the “Petster of the Month” challenge and win $1,000.00 for your favorite Pet Charity! Upload photos, start a blog, invite your friends to vote. The pet with the most votes for the month gets to help the charity of his or her guardian’s choice. And it’s only at Petster.com, where pets rule!

PETCO: Think Adoption First!
The decision to add a dog to your family is exciting, and sometimes overwhelming. Our friends at PETCO have some great tips for helping you and your family find the perfect canine companion. Click here to view the Choosing the Perfect Dog Care Sheet.

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.

Here is what the Furry Friends Network wrote to us: “Thank you so much for providing this invaluable piece of equipment to our organization. As you say, pictures are worth a thousand words and also lives saved. Each time we post a picture, we cross our paws that it will reach out and grab someone’s heart, and one more lucky animal will find a forever home. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and generosity.”

We were happy to help provide this critical tool, and it was all possible because of a generous grant made to the Petfinder.com Foundation by Maddie's Fund.

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

The golfers at the Penn-Plax Charity Golf Outing
Leora Wheeler
The Greater Good Network