Over the last week or so, you may have noticed that the quality of the Patch “Pet of the Day” photos has increased dramatically. I wish I could take credit for this, but these beautiful pictures of our local dogs were taken by a local professional photographer, Karen Lawson.   I often get emails from people asking about our featured pets, and about a month ago, one of those emails came from Lawson. She told me that she goes to the Douglas County Animal Shelter at least once a week and photographs some of the animals who are in need of adoption. When I saw her work, I was in awe. Lawson …

Almost every week for the last seven months, I’ve gone to the Douglas County Animal Shelter to take pictures of homeless dogs and cats to feature here at Douglasville Patch. It’s hard to go back each week and realize a dog or cat that you really liked and worked hard to find a home for didn’t get adopted and will never have that chance again. I’ve considered quitting on many occasions, but these dogs you’re about to meet are the ones that prevent me from doing that. These stories and emails have brought a lot of joy to my life lately, and I hope they do the same for you.   Sara A big Black …

Has anyone ever told you that you and your dog look alike?   Does your dog do really neat tricks?    If you think your dog is something special, you might just want to enter him in the third annual S.H.A.R.E. House Paws-an-Effect Dog Show. The show takes place on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Deer Lick Park Dog Area and it’s happening for a good cause. Don’t have a dog? Don’t worry; everyone is welcome, and there will be a few good shelter dogs there who are available for adoption. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Charles Branson, the fundraising chair for the S.H.A.R.E. House, about …

When it comes to dogs, everyone knows there are so many different types to choose from. Just take one trip to the Douglas County Animal Shelter any given week, and you will see German Shepherds, Chihuahuas, Collies, Boxers, American Bulldogs, Pointers, Dachshunds, Labs, Huskies and much more. You’ll also see a lot of mixed breeds in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and personalities. So how do you know which one is the right one for you? According to the American Kennel Club, you should consider the following when choosing a dog: 1. Temperament:  If your dog has a personality that doesn’t …

I was planning to do my monthly “Cutting Costs for Local Pet Owners” column this week, but my dogs and I have been enjoying this cooler weather so much that I decided to switch things up a little bit. Instead of just pointing out big sales and good deals, I’ve decided to compile a list of things Douglasville pet owners need to know this month, along with a few local ideas for enjoying this fabulous fall-like weather. 1. New Businesses: A few new pet-related businesses have recently opened in Douglasville, and so far, I’ve heard some good things about them.  If you’re looking for a place to …

Every year on Sept. 11, most of us take at least a moment to reflect on where we were that terrible morning, to remember the victims of the largest mass murder on American soil and to honor the fearless men and women who risked their lives to help their fellow citizens. I wanted to do something here to remember that day, but with a pet-related column, my choices were limited. Then I saw an interview with rescue dog trainer Heather Roche and her dog, Red. Red, a black Lab, spent weeks after Sept. 11 searching the rubble of the Pentagon for bodies of victims and signs of survivors. She has …

There’s a video out of Iowa that has become quite popular over the last few weeks. It shows the funeral of Jon Tumilson, a Navy SEAL who lost his life when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in early August. As if the funeral of a military member wasn’t enough to bring a tear to your eye, this one had an extra element that caught the attention of the entire nation: Tumilson’s Lab, Hawkeye, lying motionless beside his owner’s casket for the entire funeral. Since then, we’ve learned much more about Tumilson and Hawkeye. His mother, Kathleen, has been quoted in the press as saying that …

If you’ve ever visited the cat room at the Douglas County Animal Shelter, you’ve probably met Pat Hopper. If you haven’t, you’re missing out on a real treat. I first met her about a month ago. She came into the shelter one day while I was taking pictures of cats for Patch’s “Adoptable Pets of the Day” feature, and immediately, she knew who I was. She greeted me with a warm, friendly smile and pointed out which cats would be good to feature for the next week. It didn’t take long for me to realize that “Miss Pat,” as much of the shelter staff refers to her, is one of the nicest people you’ll …

The “Dog Days” of summer may be nearing an end, but many stores are still offering big summer discounts on products for dogs, cats and even reptiles.      1. First up, Kritters Country Club just opened last week at the corner of Bankhead Highway and Highway 5. It offers doggie daycare, boarding and grooming services. I haven’t been to visit Kritters yet, but I’m thrilled to see a new small business in Douglasville that caters to our furry family members. In the meantime, check out their website where you’ll find this coupon for ten percent off all grooming services and free doggie daycare for…

Last week, I was attacked by a bat. In my house. Not the Louisville Slugger kind, but the kind that vampire legends are made up. If you’re a female under the age of 20, this may not seem like a scary ordeal, but for me it was.  Okay, maybe “attacked” is a strong word. Let me back up. It was late Sunday afternoon, and for the first time in months, I found myself with nothing to do. I decided it’d be a great opportunity to spend the rest of the evening catching up on my Netflix queue. I grabbed a blanket and pillow, turned out all the lights in the house, and fired up the DVD player. I was just…

Football season is (hopefully) just around the corner, and if you’re like me and countless other Douglasville residents, you are and have been a big Falcons fan for years. That’s our home-team and we cheer them on through the good and bad. Sadly, there has been a lot of bad over the last decade. Much of that bad has stemmed from the off-field antics of our former quarterback, Michael Vick. The latest in a long string of incidents was, of course, Vick’s federal conviction of countless activities associated with dogfighting and unlawfully killing and torturing dogs. He served 18 months in …

My dogs love to “go.” The minute they hear my keys jingle they run and dance around at the door, assuming they’ll be accompanying me to wherever it is I’m headed. Perhaps they are a bit spoiled, because I do often let them ride along (temperature permitting, of course) if I can, and when I feel like getting out of town for a day or a weekend, I try to find places they will enjoy just as much as I will.     As kids are heading back to school next week, it’s the perfect time of year for day or weekend trips, so I decided to look for places in Georgia that not only welcome pets, but cater to …

Summer is officially in full swing, which means many Douglasville families are probably spending their hard-earned money on vacations, cookouts and back-to-school supplies. This also means saving money wherever you can, including when it comes to buying items for your pets. Here is a look at some deals that are currently available in Douglasville or nearby.  1. PetSmart is currently having its “Power Sale,” one of its biggest sales of the year, both online and in-store. The sale is good through July 26, 2011 and in most cases, you must be a PetPerks member to takde advantage. (Don't worry, it…

As much as I’ve loved animals all my life, I’ve never once considered becoming a veterinarian or anything of that nature. I’m not sure why. I’m not particularly squeamish (I started my college career as a pre-med student) or anything like that, it’s just never appealed to me. I’m so thankful for the great people who do the job, but I will never be one of them.  That said, I found myself in quite an awkward position the other day.  First, some background: When I was in high school, I decided I wanted a puppy. For whatever reason, my mom reluctantly agreed, and I went to the Douglas County …

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Martina Hemming, the director of the West Georgia SPCA, about all of the good work they do to help homeless and needy pets in our area.  While adopting into a loving, responsible home is the number one way to help homeless pets, I realize that is not always feasible for every family. Hemming made me aware of many of the other ways citizens can help these dogs, cats and even rabbits through the West Georgia SPCA, so I thought I’d turn “Sarah’s Critters” over to her this week.  I asked Hemming to come up with a list of ways Patch readers can help her …

Daisy and JoJo might not look like or even be sisters, but it's quite obvious that they enjoy each other's company, and they make quite a pair.  Both girls were recently turned in to the shelter by their owners and now they’re looking for a place to spend the second part of their lives with lots of love.  They can be adopted together or separately.   Both girls have great attitudes and are very sweet, fun dogs.   Daisy is the cutest little Australian Shepherd mix you’ll ever see.  She’s got wirey tan fur like a terrier, and she was just so happy to be out of her cage for a few minutes.   She’…

I almost passed by Ariel’s cage when I was trying to decide which dogs to photograph today, but something made me stop and I’m so glad I did.  Ariel only has three legs, but you’d never know it to meet her. She’s just as sweet as she can be and gets around just fine. As a matter of fact, she’s currently being a foster mom to a lonely little puppy who was turned into the shelter.  Ariel is so sweet and loving and has obviously gone through a tragic past – now she just wants a place where she can live the rest of her life comfortably and prove what a sweet girl she can be. Ariel is a solid …

Right now, there are so many kittens at the animal shelter, but out of all of them, Howie is probably one of the most attention-grabbing.  He's not a tiny baby, but he's definitely still a kitten.  As soon as I got him out of the cage, he started batting his paws at anything in sight and eyeing the playmate potential in the other cages.  Howie is super sweet and very soft.  He'd black and white and would make a great pet.  If you’re interested in adopting any of these animals, please visit the Douglas County Animal Shelter at 1755 County Services Road (off Cedar Mountain Road).   The shelter …

When I visited the cat room this week, most were quietly napping, having just had their lunch.  But not Bingster. His meows could be heard around the shelter anytime someone entered the room.   To say Bingster is a bit of a ham is an understatement (just look at those pictures), but I think this big guy is just letting visitors know he’s there amongst the other cats and worthy of a good, loving home. Can you help him find what he's looking for? If you’re interested in adopting this animal or others, please visit the Douglas County Animal Shelter at 1755 County Services Road (off Cedar …

Have you been thinking about getting a cat, but don’t have time to go through the hassle of having it spayed or neutered or checked out by a vet?  If this sounds like you, meet Millie.  This sweet girl is one of several cats at the shelter who is being neutered/spayed and vetted this week, thanks to a lovely lady named Pat.  Millie is a little black and white female cat with a great attitude.  She’s very laid back and likes receiving attention, but she won’t complain if you allow her some time to herself.  She also has a very unique look. Millie is not very vocal, so you won't hear her …