It’s almost time for LabFest 2010! Dogs get to play in the pool at City Bark to help raise money for Safe Harbor Lab Rescue. All well-behaved dogs are welcome … not just labs. Also there is a silent auction at 2:30 p.m. to benefit Safe Harbor Lab Rescue (only cash or checks please).

Samson and Jordy loved attending last year. Jordy is a rescue from Safe Harbor Lab Rescue and loves giving back. Sign up soon because space is limited.

DATE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH
TIME: 12:00 – 3:00 P.M.
PLACE: CITY BARK
2000 W. 8TH AVE. DENVER
COST: $10/HUMAN (DOGS ARE FREE)
INCLUDES FOOD & BEVERAGES

The Pets for the Elderly Foundation helps pay the fees to participating animal shelters throughout the United States for senior citizens (age 60 and over) who adopt a companion dog or cat from a participating shelter — including pre-adoption veterinary exams and spay/neuter, if part of the adoption fee.

Last year, the Pets for the Elderly Foundation assisted with the adoption of over 6,500 companion animals. Presently, 58 shelters in 30 states are participating in our program. Many more would like to participate, if funds were available.

The most serious disease for older persons is not cancer or heart disease – it’s loneliness. Pets offer affection, unconditional love, fight loneliness, and can help ease the loss of a loved one.

Hundreds of people, including elected officials, political candidates, business and community leaders, and people with disabilities will gather in a $20 Million Mansion for cocktails, appetizers, and networking to raise money for local nonprofit Freedom Service Dogs. This event coincides with National Assistance Dog Week, which has been promoted nationally by Betty White. Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their devoted companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family.

WHAT: A $20 Million Mansion in Cherry Hills, CO opens its doors to the community and the media to promote National Assistance Dog Week and raise funds for Freedom Service Dogs.

WHO: More than 200 of Denver’s citizens, leaders, and community advocates, as well as active Service Dogs and with their physically disabled partners. Freedom Service Dogs rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to aid people with disabilities, including disabled soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

WHEN: August 11, 2010 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: 21 Sunset Drive, Cherry Hills, CO 80013. The 23,000 square foot home of the late Gene Schneider, pioneer of cable television that sits on 3.5 acres in Cherry Hills.

National Assistance Dog Week (NADW) was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations.

The goals of NADW are to:
* Recognize and honor assistance dogs
* Raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs
* Honor puppy raisers and trainers
* Recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities

Walter’s journey is a testament to the power of collective will, and makes it clear just how easily those of us with the desire to do so can help when we work together.

Walter was an abused puppy who was abandoned and found us on Easter Sunday of this year in Brooklyn. He was taken to the hospital fighting to survive. To help safe him the angels that found him started a blog to share his story and help save him.

You can check out his Facebook Fan Page that was started to help save his life. He has more than 15,000 fans.

And now Walter is doing great and was featured on the Today Show last week. If you missed this when it aired enjoy it and be inspired.

When Georgia National Guardsman Chris Duke was serving in Afghanistan, he made friends with the locals – stray dogs Sasha, Target and Rufus. When a suicide bomber tried to attack his base, the dogs began barking and biting the intruder. The attacker blew himself up before he could kill 50 soldiers inside.

Sasha was severely injured and had to be put down. But Rufus and Target were both nursed back to health. Duke returned home a month later – the dogs had to stay behind.

As another soldier kept an eye on the dogs, Duke wrote a letter to a veterans assistance group called “Hope for the Warriors.” In the letter, Duke requested bringing the dogs home to him. Other organizations heard about the story, too. A Facebook page went up, and raised $21,000 in less than 3 months – enough for the dogs to leave Afghanistan.

Rufus and Target finally arrived in Atlanta, CA on July 29, 2010. They were reunited for the first time with Duke and his wife.

Target will live in Arizona with another soldier, while Rufus will stay with the Dukes.

Read more about Rufus and Chris

Another reason to support Pet Food Banks! Take the Be the Change for Pets: Dog Days of Summer Pet Food Drive Challenge!

Watch this video (courtesy of CNN) about these unseen victims of the Gulf Oil Spill.

As reported in the American Dog Magazine, Table Mountain Animal Shelter is moving to a bigger, better home and changing its name to Foothills Animal Shelter.

So the more than 300 animals in residence don’t have to move twice, Table Mountain Animal Shelter hopes to get some into good homes by slashing adoption fees by 50% through Aug. 8. That means you can adopt a dog for $50 instead of the usual $100. Puppies are $75 and older dogs are $80. Other critters from cats to gerbils and rabbits are also half-price.

Adoptions include spay/neuter, initial vaccines, medical exam and micro-chipping. Hours are Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 4105 Youngfield Service Rd., Golden.

Animal shelters have been swamped with kittens and adult cats throughout the Denver metro area this summer. This has led shelters to waive adoption fees so the felines can quickly find new homes.

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley will waive adoption fees for Aug 1 only.

The Dumb Friends League is waiving adoption fees at its Denver and Douglas County shelters through Aug. 31 for all cats and kittens. And the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter also is waiving its adoption fee for kittens and cats throughout August.

Janice Wolf of Rocky Ridge Refuge is definitely leaving her mark. She works tirelessly and continues to sacrifice for the sake of the lucky animals who find themselves in her care.

Janice lives on fifteen acres of land in Gassville, AR, she inherited from her father. Ever since moving onto the property she has been living out her life-long dream of establishing a home for abused and abandoned animals.

She gives hope and a future to domestic and exotic animals that otherwise would have lived out their lives in sadness and suffering. In the process the animals have taken each other in and formed a unique family. It’s kind of like the Island of Misfit Pets at Rocky Ridge.

Combining her education (a masters degree in human rehabilitation) and her experience (as a veterinarian technician) with her passion for holistic remedies and herbal medicine, Janice has made a positive difference in the lives of untold numbers of animals and people alike.

On any day at Rocky Ridge you will see Tristan, Puzzle and Parfait — dogs who were constantly passed over because they have only three legs. There’s Brian, an African goose who was left for dead when Janice rescued him. There’s a Llama with one good eye named Noogie and a rambunctious zebra named Zeebiscuit. These are only a few of the amazing and unique friendships you will see at Rocky Ridge. Check out the Rocky Ridge Refuge website for more heartwarming stories.

Become a Fan of Rocky Ridge Refuge on Facebook.

The Barking Lot rescues dogs from area shelters, humane societies and Mexico as they are at risk of being euthanized and/or abandoned and they find them forever homes perfectly suited to their needs.

The Barking Lot is holding a BIG DOGS ROCK Adoption Event on Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Fiesta Island in San Diego, CA. This HUGE adoption event features dogs over 50 lbs and they need volunteers. Please reply if you’re able to help!! stacy@thebarkinglot.net.

Learn more about the event and join The Barking Lot Facebook Group.