Cats are notoriously hard to photograph, but the results can be well worth the effort. This was certainly the case for Morris Animal Foundation’s first Happy Healthy Cat Photo Contest, sponsored by Sergeant’s Pet Care Products and judged by longtime foundation trustee and actor Betty White.

Hundreds of funny, outrageous and adorable cat photos were submitted to the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign’s and Sergeant’s contest websites. Only the best of the best made it to the final round and were sent to Betty White to be judged.

Brittany Carper of Seguin, Texas, took the grand prize for her picture of two kittens drowsing on a blanket. Her photo will be the cover photo of Morris Animal Foundation’s publication, AnimalNews, and she will receive a gift card to Petco and an assortment of pet products from Sergeant’s. Runners up were a photo from Jane Kirkland, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, of a happy-go-lucky cat and dog enjoying an afternoon in a canoe, and a quintessential image of the bond between cat and man from Lauren Parry, of Riverton, New Jersey.

Happy Healthy Cat Winner

Two Peas in a pod!

Brittany Carper, Seguin, TX

My Favorite K9 Winner

Ms. Beanz and her BFF Bodhi

Jane Kirkland, Downingtown, Pennsylvania

My Favorite Human Winner

Nose nuzzles

Lauren Parry, Riverton, New Jersey

via Morris Animal Foundation | Celebrity Judge Betty White Chooses Winning Cat Photograph for Contest.

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On Friday, Dec 10th, at the Belmont Mall,  the Lakes Region Kennel Club will be hosting “Pet Photos With Santa” to raise money for their Pet Oxygen Mask Fund.  Here’s your chance to have fun and support a good cause.

Click on the picture for a pdf of the flie

The Lakes Region Kennel Club  Pet Oxygen Mask Fund

In 2007, the Lakes Region Kennel Club, a non profit organization, started the Pet Oxygen Mask (POM) Fund. These masks are given to local emergency and  rescue departments in  New Hampshire to aid in resuscitation of small and large animals.  If you would like to help with this cause, they would appreciate your contribution to its Pet Oxygen Mask Fund.  With your contribution, the club will purchase and donate Pet Oxygen Mask kits to local Fire and Rescue Departments in New Hampshire.  The masks will be used for the resuscitation of pet animals who suffer from smoke inhalation if trapped in a burning home.  Your contribution will help save pets who might otherwise not survive such a tragedy.

Any amount will be gratefully received.  With a donation of $60 (cost of one kit consisting of three sizes) the donor may designate a specific town.  To date, thirty towns have received kits.  Our goal is to equip the entire state.

For more information about this worthy cause, please visit their web site, www.lrkcnh.org or write to P O Box 752, Meredith, NH 03253.

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Tonight at 7:30, NH Chronicle will feature Randy Pierce and his guide dog, Quinn.  From the WMUR site:

“Randy Pierce is blind and Quinn is his guide dog. Together the dynamic duo is working to climb all of NH’s 48 mountains that rise about 4,000 feet. The project is called 20/20 Vision Quest and it’s raising money to help blind people across the state. Jennifer Crompton got to hike along side them and has their inspiring story.”

For more information on how you can help 2020 Vision Quest, please visit their site.

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Here’s a good example of an animal charity making a  donation that really will help the animals. From the American Kennel Club -

– Microchipping Supplies Will Stock 40 Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailers in North Carolina –

To assist with future North Carolina disaster relief efforts, AKC Companion Animal Recovery has donated eighty boxes of AKC CAR pet microchips and forty ProScan700 universal microchip scanners, a $32,800 value, to the North Carolina State Animal Response Team (NC SART). These microchips and scanners will greatly increase the likelihood that the pets of North Carolina will be reunited with their owners in an emergency situation or in the event that disaster strikes.

NC SART will stock the microchips and scanners in the Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailers (CAMETs) deployed in forty North Carolina counties. These multi-use, easily deployable CAMETs provide immediate shelter during disasters and contain items such as crates, first aid kits, power cords, dog bowls and more. Since their creation, however, these trailers have lacked microchipping supplies.

“We appreciate the efforts of NC SART and North Carolina first responders to protect our state’s citizens and their pets, and believe the AKC CAR microchips and scanners made possible by the Canine Support and Relief Fund will be of great benefit and assistance to their good works,” said Tom Sharp, AKC Companion Animal Recovery CEO.

During hurricanes or other evacuations, many people cannot take their animals with them to hotels or human shelters, but must leave their pets with emergency animal shelters. In response to this dilemma, AKC CAR donated the microchips and scanners to ensure that all pets will be properly identified in the event of a disaster and returned quickly to their rightful owners when their families are able to return home.

For tips on disaster preparedness from AKC and AKC CAR, visit here.

For more on the story, visit www.wunc.org and listen to “AKC Chips In.”

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ACE Therapy Dog winner "Wyatt" gives owner Janice Wolfe a hug.

“The AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence celebrate what dogs contribute to our lives and these five exceptional recipients exemplify the heroic acts canines can accomplish,” said Lisa Peterson AKC Spokesperson. “Their inspiring stories serve as an example of the canine-human bond and the impact a single dog can make in a community.”

All the ACE recipients will receive $1,000 and an engraved Sterling silver medallion at the nationally televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California on December 5, 2010. In addition they will be honored individually at local events. The New York and New Jersey ACE winners will have their local ceremony and be available for a public meet and greet during Meet the Breeds* on October 16-17, 2010 at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.

This year’s ACE winners include:

Search and Rescue Dog: “Cassius” owned by Peter Taft of Brooklyn, NY
Once a shelter dog and now trained for Search and Rescue work, Cassius and owner Peter have been deployed by or worked closely with many organizations, including the Bedford Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Louisiana State EMS Boat Team Search and Rescue, and the United States Army Airborne. The two also served during Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and in Haiti during the aftermath of the recent earthquake. While Peter performed paramedic work in the Haiti, Cassius, also a certified Therapy dog, provided comfort to both victims and volunteers of the tragedy. The team received Congressional Commendations for their exceptional work.

Therapy Dog: “Rufus” owned by Thomas and Barbara Bishop of Holmdel, NJ
Rufus performs equally as well in show ring as he does in the community – he’s the top-winning Bull Terrier of all time as well as an exceptional Therapy dog. Since retiring from the show ring, Rufus has spent countless hours spreading happiness and cheer at schools, senior citizen programs and nursing-rehabilitation centers. He received a special invitation to visit injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Service Dog: “Wyatt” owned by Janice Wolfe of Wyckoff, NJ
While most Service Dogs typically work with just one person, Wyatt, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, has worked with hundreds. His breeder/owner Janice Wolfe is the founder and director of Merlin’s Kids, an organization that places dogs with autistic and developmentally disabled children. Wyatt’s affinity for children and his remarkable patience allows Janice to determine if a Service dog is right for a particular child.

Law Enforcement Dog: “Nike” owned by Senior Corporal Mark Tobin, New Castle County Police of New Castle, DE
Nike, an 11-year old German Shepherd Dog, spent ten years serving the 500,000 citizens of New Castle County, Delaware, with his partner, Senior Corporal Mark Tobin. This decade of service resulted in 161 apprehensions and the seizure of 1.6 million dollars worth of drugs. Nike also used his tracking skills to find an Alzheimer’s patient who had wandered away from home and a six-year old autistic boy lost in 97 degree heat, among many others.

Exemplary Companion Dog: “Ricochet” owned by Judy Fridono of Escondido, CA
When Golden Retriever Ricochet was dropped from Service Dog training due to her distractible nature, owner Judy Fridono decided to focus their efforts on something Ricochet could do – surf! This wave-loving Golden now surfs for charitable causes, and has raised more than $10,000 for a quadriplegic boy’s rehab as well as funds to purchase toys for 630 children at hospitals and women’s shelters during a Christmas toy drive.

View photos and stories about the 2010 AKC Humane Fund ACE recipients and honorable mentions.

For more pictures:  American Kennel Club Press release

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The American Kennel Club’s Companion Animal Recovery administers the Canine Support and Relief Fund.  It was established in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001.  Since its creation, the fund has distributed almost $3 million to non-profit canine search and rescue organizations, not-profit veterinary units supporting canine rescue teams and not-for-profit animal shelters and other organizations that provide care for companion animals in the event of natural or civil disaster.

So far, on 2010, the Canine Support Fund has distributed nearly $400,000 in grants.  Two of their grants went to purchase CAMET (Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer) units in Vermont and Delaware.  The trailers provide immediate shelter when disaster strikes and contain items such as crates, a generator, first aid kits, a pressure washer, power cords, animal ID bands, dog bowls and more. Once unloaded, the trailer also serves as a local command center.  Their press release is available here.

“Vermont is grateful to the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery for providing the funding needed for purchase of a CAMET by the Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART, Inc),” said Dr. Kristin Haas, State Veterinarian. “As a result of this kind donation, The Vermont Agency of Agriculture and VDART, Inc. will be better prepared to effectively meet the animal emergency response challenges that arise during any disaster event.  On behalf of the 75% of Vermont residents who own pets, I would like to extend my appreciation to the AKC CAR for this gift to our state.”

In addition, to these types of grants, the Canine Support and Relief Fund also gives grants to local Search and Rescue groups. A list of the 2010 recipients is below:

• Alamo Area Search and Rescue – Helotes, TX
• Calvert K-9 Search Team – Leonard, MD
• Cayuga County Highland Search and Rescue – Auburn, NY
• Central Georgia K9 Search and Rescue – Eatonton, GA
• Central Ohio K9 Search, Rescue and Recovery – Medina, OH
• Champlain Valley Search and Rescue K9 Unit – Keeseville, NY
• Coastal Carolina Search Team – Bell Arthur, NC
• East Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire SAR – Fredericktown, PA
• Great Basin K9 SAR – Odgen, UT
• Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD) – Chesapeake, VA
• Illinois-Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs – Woodstock, IL
• Indiana K9 Search and Recovery – Indianapolis, IN
• Jefferson County Search and Dog Association – Louisville, KY
• K9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs – Midlothian, VA
• K-9 One Search and Rescue – Flint, MI
• K-9 Search and Rescue of Orange City – Orange City, FL
• K9 Search and Rescue of Texas – Houston, TX
• Kentucky K9 Search and Rescue Team – Louisville, KY
• National Search Dog Alliance – Houston, TX
• North Alabama Search Dog Association – Athens, AL
• Paws of Life Foundation – Ames, IA
• People and Paws Search and Rescue – Milwaukee, WI
• Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado (SARDOC) – Ft. Collins, CO
• Search Dog Network – Bryan, TX
• Search One Rescue Team – Coppell, TX
• S.T.R.I.K.E. – West Milton, PA
• SWPANSAR K9/EFA Team – Foley, AL
• The Search and Rescue Dog Foundation – Barrington, NJ
• University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine – Gainesville, FL
• Valley Search and Rescue – Lehigh Valley, PA
• Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue – Cathlamet, WA
• Wolf River K9 Search and Rescue – Iola, WI

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The Dog Guide Users of NH are looking for people to be on their team for the 7th Annual Blind Awareness Walk-A-Thon to be held in Concord on June 5th. They are trying to raise $1000 to support the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.  You can sign up to be on their team  here.

More about the Dog Guide Users Of NH:

“The Dog Guide Users of New Hampshire is a support group that promotes the use of Guide, Hearing, and Service Dogs for the disabled through peer support, advocacy, education, and public awareness, and for all individuals interested in the care, handling, and/or raising of Guide or Service Dogs for independent living.”

If you want to donate to help the animals  in Haiti (but don’t forget the people!), there’s good news.  The Animal Relief Coalition of Haiti (ARCH) was developed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).  Many other organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the ASPCA have joined the coalition. ARCH  is meeting with the government in Haiti and will oversee the animal relief efforts.  Unfortunately, the Humane Society of the United States has chosen not to work with ARCH.

Heifer International  has been in Haiti for 10 years and projects involving 16,000 families.  They have issued an emergency appeal for funds.

When making your donations, please make sure that your money really will  go to help the animals.

For updates on the situation in Haiti, you can go the the AVMA website.