Dog Lovers Get Involved

Adopt
If you'd like to adopt an animal companion and think you're ready to take good care of a pet, go to the sites below to see who's in need of a home.
www.petfinder.com
www.aspca.org
www.akc.org
www.nsalamerica.org

Additional Ways to Help
North Shore Animal League America
www.nsalamerica.org
Located in Port Washington, New York., the North Shore Animal League America is the largest shelter with a no-kill policy in the country. The workers there have found safe, loving homes for more than one million animals since the shelter opened in 1944.

• Take a look at North Shore's photo gallery that features pets currently ready to be adopted. It's fun even if you just want to window shop!
• Make a donation to support the animals in their care. They now have more than 114,000 dogs, 88,000 cats, and 1,400 horses, as well as birds, pigs, rabbits, reptiles, hamsters, and guinea pigs.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
www.aspca.org
As part of their Go Orange! Mission, the ASPCA has chosen five communities in the U.S. to target for 2007. These communities are: Austin, Texas; Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Tampa, Florida, where the group is trying to improve the number of dogs' lives saved and prevent animal cruelty through launching intensive awareness campaigns and working with local shelters in these areas. April 10 is the ASPCA's annual animal companion day of celebration. It's a nationwide pet party!

• Wear orange clothing, and put an orange ribbon, T-shirt, or hat on your favorite animal companion to show you care about the company and comfort of all creatures.
• See the Empire State Building aglow in ASPCA orange lights and check your local newspaper to see if buildings in your area will shine with orange too.
• Check out the games and contests for kids on the site. Learn about pet safety (and resuscitation!).

American Kennel Club
www.akc.org
The AKC has approximately one million purebred dogs and owners listed in its registry of 157 different breeds. The AKC promotes events around the country for purebred dogs, such as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which is held in New York City every spring.

• Learn about individual dog breeds and find a breeder anywhere in the U.S. by inputting your zip code.
• Discover how you can enter your dog and act as a handler in Junior Showmanship competitions.
• Subscribe to the free AKC Jr. newsletter about responsible dog ownership.
• Train your dog and take the AKC Canine Good Citizen test meant for both purebreds and mutts. If your dog passes the ten-step exam for basic behavior, showing she knows how to obey five basic commands (sit, stay, down, heel, and come), you will receive an official AKC certificate and green CGC tag to put on her collar.