Seems I’m rather behind on blogging. But Christmas was busy – we were fostering kittens (gag) around here – and then vacations came along, etc. But I’m here now and ready to update you on WAG happenings.<br /><br />Our results for 2008 were great. We rescued over 150 cats and dogs from the Walton County animal shelter and sent them on their way to new homes. We paid for 100 spay/neuter surgeries for low-income residents, preventing scores of unwanted kittens and puppies from ending up in the shelter. Several rescued dogs needed surgical care to get them 100% healthy and we were glad to arrange that for them.<br /><br />Walton County animal lovers have been fantastic and eager to help. And there’s plenty of them….

The calendars are here! WAG’s first Community Pet Calendar contest was a tough race to call. There were over 60 entries and most of them were pretty darn cute. But the judges picked 12 that grace the individual pages, plus a collage of all the entries on the back.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Everybody needs a 2009 calendar, why not make it one of ours? You can find them at Tractor Supply in Monroe, Boss Bros Country Store in Loganville, and many local veterinary clinics. If you can’t find one, drop us an email at <a href=”mailto:wagwalton@yahoo.com”>wagwalton@yahoo.com</a> and we’ll make sure you get one. These are part of our year-end fundraiser, so for $10 you’ll get a great calendar and help animals at the same time!</div><div></div><div><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/STd9MDwNN9I/AAAAAAAAAJM/7MWXrCbFuug/s1600-h/Herbie+Santa.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275823134607226834″…

It’s hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner. Pets are peeking at catalogs, making their wish lists. Soon the kitchen will be filled with all sorts of yummy smells.<br /><br />With all that good food on the horizon, here’s one bit of caution:<br /><br />Watch your pet’s food intake this time of year. It’s awfully tempting to fix your pet their own Thanksgiving plate of turkey meat, crispy turkey skin, potatos and gravy, stuffing, and the works. But these treats can be deadly.<br /><br />Vet clinics are overrun at the holidays with cases of pancreatitis, a stomach inflammation caused by, among other things, eating too much fatty foods. Well-meaning owners scraping table scraps into Fido’s bowl are the main cause. These can…

I’m about “festival-ed” out. Between Fest, Loganfest and Monroe Fall Fest, the last couple of months have been busy. But we had a lot of fun.<br /><br />Now we’re looking forward to a couple of other things – Home for the Holidays adoption event on December 6 at Boss Brothers Country Store in Loganville. It’s scheduled the same day as Pet Portraits with Santa Claws, so bring your pets out and then find them a new friend to take home!<br /><br />Our first Community Pet Calendar will be in stores soon – 12 great winners have their own page, everybody else is featured in a photo collage. Judges had a tough time deciding because everybody was cute and appealing in their own special way. Thanks…

Can you believe how fast fall is falling? We’re already midway through October.<br /><br />Loganfest is Saturday, October 18, and we’ll be there with a pet show. You can also look for us at Monroe Fall Fest on October 25 in downtown Monroe. Bring your pets out for an afternoon of fun.

<a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SPFtAj2F2aI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Ympii3JiRfE/s1600-h/dog-hair-sweater.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256102096507623842″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SPFtAj2F2aI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Ympii3JiRfE/s200/dog-hair-sweater.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>This is doggy-devotion personified – an owner wearing a coat made of her pet’s fur. </p><p>It’s true – some owners have actually collected dog hair and made it into jackets or sweaters. Owners of Chihuahuas need not apply.</p><p>I’m not sure why this is appealing. Humans are strange creatures!</p><p> B.</p>

<div><div>I should really read the previous posts, huh? Seems I told you twice in a row about the calendar contest and Boss Brothers Pet Fair. Oh well, it’s just THAT good.</div><div><br />How about a happy story instead? Check out Trooper, a dog we got out of the Walton County shelter. His before photo is a mess.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSnrSch9dI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-1b5OQJ3i4Y/s1600-h/Lhasa+before.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243500228293817810″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSnrSch9dI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-1b5OQJ3i4Y/s200/Lhasa+before.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Here’s the after version.</div><div><br /><div><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSnhXzztAI/AAAAAAAAAI0/j_yoiIHLMrg/s1600-h/Lhasa+after2.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243500057934935042″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSnhXzztAI/AAAAAAAAAI0/j_yoiIHLMrg/s200/Lhasa+after2.jpg” border=”0″ /></a></div><br />Barbara, a groomer at the PetSmart in Conyers, worked on Trooper for THREE HOURS! He had severely matted hair, twisted and pinching his flesh….

Hey everybody!<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Is summer done yet? The calendar says so, but the heat hasn’t caught on yet. I’m looking forward to a few crisp fall days.</div><div></div><br /><div>WAG has a few things going on this month.</div><br /><div></div><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSjhVlTmLI/AAAAAAAAAIk/6m_l0cwC1ZE/s1600-h/calendar_graphic_2008.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243495659290728626″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SMSjhVlTmLI/AAAAAAAAAIk/6m_l0cwC1ZE/s200/calendar_graphic_2008.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /><div>First, the Community Pet Calendar contest is underway. Send in your cute pet photos and watch your pet become a Pet of the Month pin-up star! The deadline for entries is September 30, so get those pictures in!</div><div> </div><div>On September 27 we’ll be at Boss Brother’s Country Store celebrating their Pet Health Fair. Paradox Spay Neuter Clinic will be doing a vaccination clinic, we’ll have a pet show, games for kids, pets for…

The Between Centennial Festival is history and we had a great time! Check out some 0f the photos. <br /><a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuTZ7OrT-I/AAAAAAAAAIM/hy2GEJRbnv4/s1600-h/DSC01424.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441065353596898″ style=”FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuTZ7OrT-I/AAAAAAAAAIM/hy2GEJRbnv4/s200/DSC01424.JPG” border=”0″ /></a><br /><br /><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuTiD1NmJI/AAAAAAAAAIU/WtIywQKr1cA/s1600-h/DSC01421.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236441205101664402″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuTiD1NmJI/AAAAAAAAAIU/WtIywQKr1cA/s200/DSC01421.JPG” border=”0″ /></a><br /><div><a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuShlvel3I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ovyvgFD–pY/s1600-h/DSC01408.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440097512920946″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuShlvel3I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ovyvgFD–pY/s200/DSC01408.JPG” border=”0″ /></a><br /><br /></div><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236440954616759058″ style=”DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SKuTTes9QxI/AAAAAAAAAIE/ZhwWAl5lnD8/s200/DSC01413.JPG” border=”0″ />There was quite a variety of participants – a goat dressed like a fairy, a sheep with wings, a Georgia Bulldawg, a hedgehog, horse, and an assortment of really cute dogs. In fact, the Cutest Pet contest was tough to judge….

A reminder about our Between Centennial Festival Pet Show on August 16, 2008. There are 10 classes – Cutest Pet, Best Trick, Most Glamorous, Best Dressed Pet, Most Original Costume, Most Obedient, and a few more. We’ve had so much fun with these shows in the past. Competition can be tough!<br /><br />The show starts at 12:45 pm and all entries get a ribbon. It’s gonna be fun, so bring your pet out and enjoy the afternoon. The city has a great festival planned, with lots of vendors and musical entertainment.<br /><br />Check out website at <a href=”http://www.wagwalton.com/”>www.wagwalton.com</a> for an entry form, or you can register the day of the festival.<br /><br />B.

Do you love animals? Are you wanting to make a difference? You’ve come to the right place.<br /><br />We stay busy, but it’s important to remember – WAG is a community-supported organization. The reason we can rescue animals, offer programs like subsidized spay/neuter, Ani-Meals on Wheels or others helping pets and their owners, is because animal lovers like you care enough to give us donations. It doesn’t matter whether it’s $10, $25, or $100 – every amount is incredibly important.<br /><br />The cost of rescuing an animal from the shelter and ensuring they are healthy, vaccinated, spayed or neutered is about $100. We can do that because YOU care enough to give that animal a chance at a better life.<br /><br /> Harley got that…

Boy, this heat makes me sluggish. But it’s time to update a few things.<br /><br />On August 16 WAG will be at Between Fest, or whatever they’re calling the city’s anniversary celebration. We’re having a pet Fun Show, so get your pet’s best duds out and dress them for the event.*<br /><br />(* Note -I was told to say that. No self-respecting dog in their right mind wants to play dress up!)<br /><br />We’ll also be having events like Fastest Tail Wagger, and other highly competitive events. The entry form will be up on our website soon, so mark your calendars.<br /><br />Our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 12. Once again, we had to change the date because the library wasn’t available on our…

Gotta remind everybody about our adoption this Saturday, July 12, at Boss Brothers Country Store on Highway 78 in Loganville. Come see the dogs and kitties rescued from the shelter, spayed and neutered, and all needing loving homes. The fun starts at 11 am.<br /><br /><br />’Til later,<br /><br />Buddy

Where have my manners gone? I’ve been lax in publicly thanking our most recent contributors. A big Tail Wag to Jayne Rogers, Teresa Pruitt, Robert and Nell Mitchell, Steve and Susan Brown, Alex and Diane Kliros, John and Sue Ruckdeschel, Edwin and Carolee McKay, Julie Petty and Mark Mobley, Jane Pannell and Gary Coker. Without folks like these, our programs would never get off the ground. Many thanks for your generous support!<br /><br />Want to help animals like me, or the people who love animals like me? Heck, we even help cats! (though I’m not sure why.) Just send your tax-deductible contribution to Walton Animal Guild, PO Box 169, Monroe, GA 30655. Or print out the form on our website and mail it in.<br /><br…

We love snacks, but not everything humans eat is safe for dogs. We’ve heard about chocolate, but here’s a little known dangerous product.<br /><br />Xylitol is a common sugar substitute contained in products like gum, candy, breath mints, toothpaste, mouthwash and other products. It’s harmless to humans, but very toxic to dogs. Dogs ingesting products with Xylitol experience a rapid drop in blood sugar and often experience liver damage. As few as 2 sticks of gum can be fatal to a small dog – 5 can be toxic to a large dog. Here’s the ASPCA press release. <a href=”http://tinyurl.com/5wnwu8″>http://tinyurl.com/5wnwu8</a><br /><br />We dogs are pretty smart, but sometimes our nose will leads us where our mouth shouldn’t go. Be extra careful what you leave around the…

<div>This little tidbit may not be appreciated by anyone lacking the experience of having called, written, waited, called again, cursed a little, waited and called many many more times to the IRS. Although our experience is limited, it does seem that the IRS is significantly more responsive when they want something from YOU, instead of vice versa.</div><br /><div></div><div>But here’s the news -at long last the IRS determination letter has come. We are hereby officially designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in the beady eyes of the US government tax officials.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Wow – this calls for a Milk Bone!!</div><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216434699345375778″ style=”DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://bp2.blogger.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SGR_uKCAsiI/AAAAAAAAAHE/nA7WBELzxsA/s200/sam.jpg” border=”0″ /> <div></div><div> </div><br /><div></div>

Heads up on our meeting date change. In July we will be meeting on <strong>WEDNESDAY, July 16,</strong> same time and place. We changed it because the primary voting is Tuesday (our usual meeting night) and we wanted to make sure everybody gets their ballot cast. So if you don’t exercise your civic duty that night, you can’t blame us!<br /><br />B.

Today we have another episode of our popular series “1000 Ways to Waste Hard-Earned Money on Your Pet.”<br /><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href=”http://bp0.blogger.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SGFizDkJ_BI/AAAAAAAAAG8/cE5b3TiKbyw/s1600-h/chatter.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215558472741551122″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” height=”107″ alt=”” src=”http://bp0.blogger.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SGFizDkJ_BI/AAAAAAAAAG8/cE5b3TiKbyw/s200/chatter.jpg” width=”139″ border=”0″ /></a>How about this handy talking bowl? Called the Chatterbowl, it records your voice so everytime your pet comes to the bowl to eat or drink, they’ll hear your soothing ten second recording. Only $13.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>My professional dog opinion? It’s like those oinking pigs people put in their refrigerator. Pleez – we just want to eat or drink. No dialogue is necessary. Two paws down.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href=”http://bp3.blogger.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SGFd87p5dnI/AAAAAAAAAGU/8Ec0PftIIUI/s1600-h/yuppy.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215553144858703474″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” height=”149″ alt=”” src=”http://bp3.blogger.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SGFd87p5dnI/AAAAAAAAAGU/8Ec0PftIIUI/s200/yuppy.jpg” width=”106″ border=”0″ /></a>How about the Yuppy Puppy Treat…

We’re heading toward the Dog Days of Summer – my favorite time of year. I’m not thrilled with the heat or outcropping of fleas that comes along with it, but at least us canines have a season in recognition of our superiority. You don’t see any Cat Days on the calendar, do you?<br /><br />WAG’s got some stuff coming up, too. In August we’ll be at the city of Between’s anniversary on August 16 with some fun events for pet owners to participate in.<br /><br />We’re also working out details on several community assistance programs. For example, coming up for seniors we’ve got Animeals on Wheels, helping the pets of seniors in the Meals on Wheels program; our Golden Pairs program, a subsidized assistance program…

Before outlining my personal woes, I have to comment on WAG’s State of the Animals Report and meeting on June 17. Wow! A packed house of nearly 100 people came to hear some of the details about dogs and cats in Walton County. The enthusiastic, engaged group also had the opportunity to hear from commission chairman Kevin Little about future plans for the shelter and issues of concern like feral cats, dogfighting, etc. We are grateful to him for spending the evening with us during a busy election season.<br /><br />The turnout was a great surprise, but not really. Over 63% of households in Walton County own pets, and that’s over 17,000 homes. So those 100 or so folks that came are a drop in…