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You are here: Home / Archives for Pet Blogging / Pet Rescue

Pet Rescue

Monday Morning Open Thread: Sometimes We’re All Clowns Together

by Anne Laurie|  March 24, 20256:05 am| 183 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Open Threads, Pet Rescue

Monday Morning Open Thread: When We're All Clowns Together on This Spinning Globe

(BC via GoComics.com)

 

A Nashville animal shelter volunteer is showcasing dogs and increasing adoptions with viral TikToks featuring goofy fake breed names https://t.co/qw1XvQALea

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 22, 2025

It’s Monday, there’s no doubt gonna be another non-stop shower of bad news and stupidity, so let’s start the week with something goofy and inspirational instead. Kudos to shelter volunteer / photographer Adrian Budnick! Per the Associated Press, “Viral videos of dogs called a ‘Himalayan fur goblin’ and ‘teacup werewolf’ boost adoptions”:

For over a decade, Adrian Budnick has taken adoption photos of the dogs at Nashville’s county animal shelter, but it wasn’t until the COVID pandemic that an idea came to her.

As one of only a few people allowed to visit in-person, she could take videos of dogs, inventing humorous nicknames and capturing their individual personalities, for an audience of potential adopters.

First came her TikToks playing the persona of Anita Walker, a fast-talking, cowboy boot-wearing purveyor of certified pre-owned pets. Then she struck gold with the “What’s this then?” series — short videos featuring goofy dog names that drew in viewers and boosted adoptions.

“It was kind of just on a whim,” Budnick said. “We had this — I’m assuming it was like a poodle-doodle situation, and he was really big and lanky.”

People often assume the shelter doesn’t have fluffy dogs, so Budnick adopted what she calls her “Karen” voice — slightly bored and complaining — when she looked into the camera to say: “The shelter only has pit bulls.”

“And then I held up this giant curly dog with legs and the tongue hanging out. And I was like, ‘What’s this then?’”

She called it a “Himalayan fur goblin.”

The video “exploded over night,” Budnick said. So much so that she went back the next day to make another one “because I’m like, I can’t let this go.”

Since then she has promoted the adoption of such imaginative dog breeds as the “Teacup werewolf” and the “Speckled freckled cuddle calf.” Then there’s the “French baguette long lady” and the “Creamsicle push-up pup.”

The shelter does get its share of pit bull mixes. A December video featuring several of them in festive costumes with Budnick singing “I Want a Pitt-o-potomous for Christmas” has been viewed more than 5 million times.

Adoptions got a boost
While it is gratifying to gain visibility, Budnick said, the real payoff is in the adoptions. Data provided by the shelter shows dog adoptions increased by just over 25% between 2021 and 2024.

show full post on front page

“We’ll get calls from all over. And it’s not just local here to Tennessee even,” said Metro Animal Care and Control Director Ashley Harrington. “We’ve had an adopter from Canada. We’ve had ones from states all over.”…

The popularity of Budnick’s videos have also led to donations of both money and supplies. Letters to the shelter referencing her videos are taped to a wall in the volunteer room…

Budnick started taking photos as a kid. While on camping trips, she’d take nature pictures with a 35 mm Canon AE-1. In high school she took photography classes and learned to make her own prints in a darkroom. But eventually she stopped taking pictures.

That changed when she adopted a dog.

“When I got Ruby, my 13-year-old, she was five weeks old, and I started taking pictures of her,” she said. A few months later, Budnick adopted Ruby’s sister, and a few months after that she began as a volunteer photographer at the shelter. “So really, my dogs got me back into it.”

With her photos and videos, Budnick fights against the stigma that the shelter is a sad place with dogs no one would want. In many of the videos, she holds even the large dogs in her arms and gets her face licked.

“You see them running around in the videos when they’re in playgroup, and you see them cuddling, and you see their goofy smiles when I’m holding them, and it just really showcases them,” she said…

So… anybody got some happy plans for today, or this week?

Monday Morning Open Thread: Sometimes We’re All Clowns TogetherPost + Comments (183)

Essential Distractions Open Thread: Puppy Bowl!

by Anne Laurie|  February 7, 20257:12 am| 97 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Open Threads, Pet Rescue, Sports

Pawfect pooches prepare for the Puppy Bowl. pic.twitter.com/aKMmcRc7Uo

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 7, 2025

Who you got? Team Fluff or Ruff?#PuppyBowl XXI kicks off Sunday at 2p ET | 11a PT on @animalplanet. pic.twitter.com/OnqfUddT7D

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 5, 2025

Tune in to the Puppy Bowl!
www.tvinsider.com/gallery/pupp…

[image or embed]

— Tea4Me (@tea-n-me.bsky.social) February 7, 2025 at 4:02 AM

The Puppy Bowl XXI, considered one of the cutest competitions of the year, is set to return for its 21st year on #SuperBowlLIX Sunday. The competition's Most Valuable Puppy and winner of the Underdog Award will be named at the conclusion of the event pic.twitter.com/yBMTdcSr3t

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 5, 2025

show full post on front page

Watch: Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi took on the role of a coach as he trained Parsnip, a 4-month-old puppy, to make his debut at Puppy Bowl XXI. pic.twitter.com/Q7BgcGsPSN

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 7, 2025

Puppy Bowl is the Super Bowl for some advertisers https://t.co/1GcFiURPFH

— Quartz (@qz) February 7, 2025

… The Super Bowl’s cuter cousin has advertisers interested, as they can move a lot of product for less money. Ad slots for the Super Bowl will run close to $8 million. Puppy Bowl ads are less, but can still reach up to $7 million.

“While the Super Bowl dominates the advertising landscape this Sunday, the Puppy Bowl offers a unique platform for brands that cater to pet owners and family-conscious consumers,” said Y. Greg Song, assistant professor of emerging media at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

If you like the Puppy Bowl, you aren’t alone: 28% of Americans say they are more excited for it than the Super Bowl this year, according to data from tracking firm Ipsos…

“Puppies often trigger two key psychological responses in humans. First, they stimulate an oxytocin release, reinforcing feelings of love and connection, Second, they evoke nostalgia—many Americans have fond memories tied to puppies and their inherent cuteness,” said Michael Barbera, assistant professor of consumer psychology and the chief behavioral officer at consumer consultancy Clicksuasion Labs.

“Nonprofits and brands that emphasize emotional connections or community impact could find this event particularly aligned with their messaging,” Barbera explained.

Jennifer Glen, General Manager at Americas ad Squad, said the Puppy Bowl’s altruistic element also offers a nice contrast to the Super Bowl’s commercialism.

“You don’t have to pay $8M to advertise during the Puppy Bowl, and you get to support 80+ shelters (and 140+ puppies) in the process,” Glen said, noting that while the viewership will be significantly less, the long-term partnership and dollars make sense. She also said the viral elements last far beyond the event…

Essential Distractions Open Thread: Puppy Bowl!Post + Comments (97)

Athenspets – Walter’s Fund, The Year In Review 2025

by WaterGirl|  December 28, 202411:45 am| 23 Comments

This post is in: Balloon Juice, Pet Blogging, Pet Calendar, Pet Rescue

Walter's Fund in Action! 1
Our beloved Walter and his best friend, Elie.

This seems like a good time for an update from Athenspets.

The folks at Athenspets have been really great about getting in touch throughout the year.  Not so great with photos this year, but I have high hopes for photos of everyone we help n 2025!  Athenspets is a wonderful organization.

The support Balloon Juice has provided means so much to so many of us; seeing these precious animal go from suffering to healthy and loved is amazing. So many thanks for your support through the year!

Lisa (and all of Athenspets!)

show full post on front page

Walter’s Fund has helped 6 animals receive life saving care in 2024,
spending $4,017.73 to save them.

🌸 Briscoe: mass removal – Briscoe is being adopted in January!

🌸 Calzone (X-rays) –  transferred to a rescue group

🌸 Billie Jean: dental, mass removal, CBC  – transferred to a rescue group

🌸 Oliver: dental and 7 extractions – transferred to a rescue group

🌸 Daisy: hernia repair – Daisy was adopted!

🌸 Rash: tail amputation – Rash got a GREAT home on a horse farm with 5 feline siblings and 5 or 6 canine ones.

More about Briscoe

He is being adopted in January. (His foster is adopting him then.) Briscoe’s back story is that he was adopted from the shelter a few years ago. His foster stayed in contact with the adopter and was horrified when she saw the condition Briscoe was in when she borrowed him for her college graduation photos, with a mass so large that it impeded his ability to even go to the bathroom properly.

The adopter was unconcerned about it but also was not particularly interested in having Briscoe any longer and last December the foster convinced the adopter to return Briscoe. But then we had a middle aged pittie with a mass on him to deal with. Thanks to Walter’s Fund, we were able to cover the cost of the surgery.

The foster took Briscoe back into her home and decided that if he was still with her after a year of making efforts to adopt him out, she would adopt him. (She is a vet student so she was wary of immediately committing given the demands of school and knowing that she would encounter many needy animals so if there was a great option for Briscoe she would let him go again.)

More about Rash

Rash was adopted! Rash was in pretty bad condition when he was found–a scrawny kitten with a messed up tail. Frankly, I wasn’t sure we should invest in him–tail amputations can cause major litterbox issues. But the person who found him was committed to fostering him and the vet was able to save enough of the tail that the problems didn’t come about. And Rash got a GREAT home on a horse farm with 5 feline siblings and 5 or 6 canine ones.

Fun Facts for people who like numbers

We began 2023 with $4,329.69 in Walter’ Fund, and Balloon Juice peeps contributed $3,430.73 to Athenspets in 2023.

We began 2024 with $2,375.68 in Walter’ Fund, and Balloon Juice peeps contributed $2,221.82 to Athenspets in 2024.

Athenspets has matching funds for donations received through Dec 31 (Tuesday)  As I type this, they have $400 in matching funds.

I’m sure someone will ask for the thermometer, so I added it to the sidebar.

The thermometer shows $8,761– reflecting the total donation amount through the thermometer since we adopted Athenspets in Sept 2022.  The current balance of Walter’s Fund is $570.   I would love to start the new year with a balance of $1,000 go get them through until the check for calendar sales arrives in late February or March.  If we get there, the thermometer will read $9,191.

(As always, no one should feel obligation to donate to anything at Balloon Juice!)

Athenspets – Walter’s Fund, The Year In Review 2025Post + Comments (23)

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in Seattle

by Anne Laurie|  October 8, 20246:35 pm| 36 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Pet Rescue, Something Good Open Thread

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in Seattle

An update from CCKids:

Satby asked that I send pics of Ms. Bunny to you when she had settled in from her scary plane/car experience on Tuesday. So here goes!

Ms. Bunny spent the first 36-48 hours straight-up hiding. She was back in a corner behind a desk and tower computer; I could lay on the floor on one hip, with an arm fully extended and stroke her a bit, and she’d even lean her head into my hand for scritches, but there is a short limit to my spine’s tolerance for that position.

By Thursday, though, she had moved to a more accessible hiding spot, under a dresser that’s missing its bottom drawer. If I sat by it and talked to her, she’d peek out but didn’t emerge until I tried a suggestion from Laurel, her former person’s daughter, and asked if she wanted to be brushed. And that brought her out. This makes her unique in my pet experience!

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in Seattle 1

Friday was much the same, a gradual growth of trust, which sadly was violated when my landlord showed up to change my CO2 detector. Ms. Buns did not approve, and wedged herself behind a tall, heavy, FULL bookcase. After a few hours, it seemed that she was stuck, so I emptied it & shifted it enough so she could get out. Back to full-on under the bed hiding.

BUT, it seems that all my effort spent in furniture moving paid off, because Saturday when I called her name, she immediately came out, asking for pets & generally being super lovey. To my great surprise, when I fell asleep with a book Sat. night, I woke up to find her snuggled at my side. She’s a darling girl, and I’m so happy to have her here!

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in Seattle 3

Thank you Satby, for all your care and efforts. You’re fantastic!

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in Seattle 2

***********

I think we can all agree that Satby — and CCKids — are fantastic!

Successful Cat Rehoming Thread: Ms. Bunny Is Settling Down in SeattlePost + Comments (36)

William is a Very Good Boy (except when he steals tuna) Open Thread

by WaterGirl|  October 3, 20242:06 pm| 59 Comments

This post is in: Balloon Juice, Open Threads, Pet Blogging, Pet Rescue

William isn’t just a good boy, he’s a very lucky one as well.

He’s living in his new house with eclare. with a room of his own, with his very own window seat that appears to have been painted for camouflage.  (Though I’m guessing that might not be the case.)

eclare tells me that this perch is in “his” room, and that William is very soft and fluffy.

If I recall correctly, William was the stray who was being fed – he must think he won the lottery!  Kudos to satby and eclare for William’s new life.

William is a Very Good Boy (except when he steals tuna) Open ThreadPost + Comments (59)

Rescue Bleg Update: Four Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend

by Anne Laurie|  September 7, 202411:27 am| 43 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Pet Rescue

ICYMI, cat rescuer Satby is looking to save five cats from an untimely fate:

A 92-year-old woman who was a member of the UU church here passed away. Her daughter, up from Texas to wrap up her mom’s affairs, is unable to take mom’s four cats back to Texas because she already has three of her own. Our rescue and other rescues in the area are full, so these cats WILL be euthanized if we can’t find a place for some or all of them.

They are:
* A bonded pair — brother & sister tabby cats, 7 1/2 years old. Must be adopted together but not
necessarily with the others.
* A tortoiseshell female, 7 1/2 years old
* And a Siamese female, 13 years old

I am willing to drive to meet anyone in the three-state area of IL, IN, or MI if they might be able to adopt any of these cats. The house is sold and the drop dead date is September 29.

Hoping we can at least save one if not more.

Here’s some photos and further info:

All are indoor cats, all neutered or spayed, and by end of next week all but one (Bunny) will have had their shots and booster shots. Bunny will have her booster the following week.

There are a tabby brother, Solomon, and his sister, Echo. They are about 7 or 8 yrs old. They’re close with each other. Here’s Solomon:
Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend

This is Echo. These two are not that alike. Solomon is friendly with visitors, Echo does a vanishing act. Solly is highly intelligent and communicative. He can be affectionate, but doesn’t like a lot of being fussed over. Won’t get on your lap. He lets you know what he wants with meaningful looks. Echo turned out, after about 3 months, to be much more inclined to give head bonks and enjoys nuzzling and petting, and will lick your hand. Both love to play. They both have a goofy side.
Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend 1

Two others live separately from them on the 2nd floor. They’re Bunny, a Tortoiseshell, and Siri, a lynx point Siamese. Bunny is 7 or 8, and Siri is 13.

show full post on front page

Bunny is very shy for a couple of months. She’s sweet, playful, cute and gentle. She was the kitten of a feral mom, and has a clipped ear, but was taken in right after being spayed. She apparently sustained an injury to her tail at some point- it shows its underside and lies along her back when she’s being brushed. That’s Bunny playing. She bats the toy with both paws at once.
Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend 2

Siri is somewhat special needs. My mom discovered her in the yard. She was injured. She later lost most of her tail. She has very few teeth left. Because she can’t raise her stump, and has impaired sensation in that area, she sometimes leaves the litter box with poop still there, and it drops somewhere nearby. Not a big deal to me, but to some people it would be. Also, my mother had her declawed, which makes walking uncomfortable. She’s overweight. But she’s very good-natured and likes to be petted. She plays, but needs to be encouraged. Both of these girls love to be brushed with a slicker brush.
Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend 3

Special bonus ‘outside’ cat:

There’s a cat no. 5, a year-old orange tabby, very affectionate, the lap-cat type, who had to have been abandoned. I think he would integrate quickly into most any household. He desperately wants to be indoors. I’ve continued to feed him twice daily and am worried about him, with winter coming soon.

I call him William. I’m having him neutered at ABC Clinic next week.
Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend 4

Some of our blessed jackals have tentatively volunteered to take in a couple of these orphans, but if you want one or more for your own household — or know someone who does — please leave a comment below, or send me an email!

Rescue Bleg Update: <del>Four</del> Five Adult / Senior Cats in South BendPost + Comments (43)

Rescue Bleg: Four Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend, Indiana

by Anne Laurie|  September 6, 20244:53 pm| 45 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Pet Rescue

From indefatigable rescuer Satby:

One of the hardest situations we encounter as rescuers is the pets remaining after an older person passes away without making arrangements for the surviving pets. I think people assume their families will take them, but in most cases that’s not true.

Anyway, locally, a 92-year-old woman who was a member of the UU church here passed away. Her daughter, up from Texas to wrap up her mom’s affairs, is unable to take mom’s four cats back to Texas because she already has three of her own. Our rescue and other rescues in the area are full, so these cats WILL be euthanized if we can’t find a place for some or all of them.

They are:

* A bonded pair — brother & sister tabby cats, 7 1/2 years old. Must be adopted together but not
necessarily with the others.

* A tortoiseshell female, 7 1/2 years old

* And a Siamese female, 13 years old

I am willing to drive to meet anyone in the three-state area of IL, IN, or MI if they might be able to adopt any of these cats. The house is sold and the drop dead date is September 29.

I’m trying to get pictures and vet records, but given the age of the owner the records could be missing or non-existent.

Hoping we can at least save one if not more.

Please share, and if you have any suggestions, leave a comment or send me an email.

Rescue Bleg: Four Adult / Senior Cats in South Bend, IndianaPost + Comments (45)

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