It is our great pleasure to tell our readers about one of the latest recipients of financial aid from The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month’s featured beneficiary is a committed group of rescuers dedicated to improving the lives of abandoned, abused and neglected dogs in Florida.

Founded in 2008, Poodle and Pooch Rescue is a non-profit group with a very specific mission … to rescue as many “leftover” dogs as is possible. Such canines earn the moniker for being too old, too infirm, or possibly both, to attract adopters. Nearly all of their dogs come from local animal control agencies in and around Orlando, where they’ve languished in need of extra-special attention. Once the group identifies such a creature, they set their sights and do not stop until the animal can be taken into their care. More...

Perhaps nowhere is the spirit of giving more evident than in American small and medium-size animal rescue groups. The majority of these organizations have no consistent sources of income, relying chiefly on fundraising to support their cause.

In the years since our non-profit was founded to give such groups financial assistance, we have witnessed firsthand the dramatic transformations they make possible. Prior to rescue, many of these dogs and cats are homeless, starved, broken and without hope. But thanks to the amazing assistance of animal rescues, the healing process for many of these creatures is nothing short of miraculous. And, as we all know, adopting a homeless dog or cat can yield incredibly positive benefits everyone in the adoptive family. 

This holiday season, we’re pleased to bring you more tidings of joy from The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month’s featured grant recipient is a committed group of dog and cat rescuers in Georgia. Actually, it’s the second financial award for the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Humane Society in the last two years! We couldn't be more proud to support this group and their unwavering cause.

With both a physical shelter facility and a foster-care program, this no-kill non-profit has plenty to offer its community. It’s no surprise that their president was recently honored as Georgia Magazine’s “Amazing Pet Hero” for her ongoing commitment to their community’s animals.

Prospective adopters are allowed to meet available dogs and cats every day during scheduled visiting hours. Even though they have a handful of long-term ‘residents’, the vast majority of their rescues are placed in forever homes in three months or less.

In their community, they advocate on behalf of companion animals to prevent cruelty and to end the practice of euthanasia. Their amazing lost-and-found service has successfully reunited hundreds of missing pet kids with their families. And thanks to their ongoing adoption and spay-and-neuter programs, the local population of stray animals has dropped dramatically. Since 1977, they’ve helped find adopters for thousands of dogs and cats.

Dahlonega Lumpkin plans to use their financial award to help cover the costs of a climate-controlled structure for canines. Speaking on behalf of the group, Volunteer Grant Coordinator Dena Maguire Young said that they were "so excited to receive our grant to help provide a warm enclosure for our dogs. It is wonderful that we are finally able to move forward with this project. Our hard work along with grants and fundraising are making this dream come true. Thank you so very much for this special and generous grant. We appreciate all you do for the animals, and for us!"

If you are interested in adopting a companion animal this holiday season, here are just a few of Dahlonega Lumpkin’s many available dogs and cats …

Jasper

This little guy has unique color markings, and that’s just one of Jasper’s many special attributes. Incredibly playful, he’s always ready to slow things down for pets from his caretakers. A perfect gentleman, Jasper is looking to be the center of someone’s attention. This handsome kitty is ready to steal your heart! Anyone willing to spend time with him and brush his coat will be rewarded with long, contented purring.

Clyde

Clyde is a Chihuahua mix who is looking for a caring adopter to call his very own. Even though he’s a senior, his best days are still ahead of him. Honestly, it’s been pretty rough for the little tyke. Clyde was rescued after living on the streets for ages, so he needs someone to show him a little extra consideration. Even so, his caretakers will tell you without hesitation that he’s all heart and ready for his new life as a pet kid.

Xena

Xena has a warrior princess name to match her big-as-life personality. A Rottweiler-Hound mix, this young lass loves to romp and play. Equal parts keen and eager, Xena promises to be readily trained. Anyone who enjoys the great outdoors will find a kindred spirit in this sweet-hearted gal. At only a year old, she’s raring to go for a lifetime of fun and companionship. If you’re ready for a lapful of lovable beast, you won’t find better than Xena!

Trixie

Trixie has a beautiful, ebony coat with a splash of white on her chest. When you meet her, you’ll be mesmerized by her exquisite golden eyes. Affectionate and playful, this delightful Domestic Short Hair happily associates with other cats. If you’re looking for a wonderful companion, you’ll find it in Trixie.

Charlotte

This little cutie was rescued from nearby woodlands where she was living on her own in the wild. Now that Charlotte has a taste for civilization, she can’t get enough attention! She’s a Dandie Dinmont Terrier, a Scottish breed known for their distinctive long body, short legs and what is referred to as a “top-knot” of hair on the head. A bit bashful at first, Charlotte is ready to make a great addition to a new family.

To learn more about these and other adorable pets, we encourage you to visit tlchs.org.

From all of us here at Life’s Abundance headquarters, we thank this committed network of lifesavers for their incredible work. And we thank all of our readers and customers … through your personal donations and continued patronage, you’ve helped make all of our grants possible. Your generosity and loyalty make the world a better place for abandoned, abused and neglected animals across America.

This holiday season, we urge you to consider making an end-of-year donation to our non-profit. With your support, the small and medium-size animal rescues who work tirelessly to find forever homes will have the funds they need to keep doing good in the world.

Check back next month for more good news from The Dr. Jane Foundation. Together, we’re making a difference!

Most Americans would agree that tradition has changed from the not-so-distant past when it was standard practice for family pets to be unceremoniously buried in the yard or a nearby natural area - marker optional. There is much discussion and even research about the why’s and how’s of the evolution of pets as part of the family, but for pet parents the heart already knows what the research shows … we love our animal family members deeply and will go to lengths to keep them healthy, treat their illnesses, and to remember them when they’re gone. 

Like the old burial traditions, pet memorial options have evolved, too. There are familiar fixtures like personalized garden stones or benches, a specially placed photo or a spot on the mantel for an urn. But, in an effort to find comfort in the face of loss, pet parents are turning to a new variety of personally meaningful remembrances, some of which cost big bucks.

1. Burial, Interment & Funeral Services $90 - $3,000+
Formerly reserved for humans, pet funeral services now are an option for grieving families. Whether an intimate service at home, or a viewing at the funeral parlor, the full scope of traditional services and accompaniments (like fully dressed caskets and floral arrangements) are available, with over 300 listings nationwide for pet cemeteries. However, cremation is still the most popular means of handling a deceased pet. Increasingly easier to come by, for around $200, columbariums provide an affordable way to permanently inter ashes. For those considering a columbarium, it will be important to check the size of the vault before ordering a specialty urn.

2. Memorial Art $200 - $3,500+
For that once-in-a-lifetime pet, a commissioned art piece may be the ultimate tribute. By sharing a few photos of your dog or cat, an artist can create a life like plush sculpture of your pet starting around $1,800. There are also foundries that will produce cremain-infused glass sculptures, urns, vases, or stained glass panels either of their design (starting around $200) or tailored to your specification. And, while it may be common knowledge that artists are available to paint a portrait of fur babies past and present, did you know that ashes can be mixed with the paint used to create said portrait?

3. Memorial Jewelry $15 - $17,000
Websites like etsy.com showcase an array of simple and affordable engraved or otherwise personalized trinkets in a variety of styles and materials. Pet parents can take the customization a step further by opting for glass beads that incorporate the pet’s ashes for about $85 per bead. For those with aching hearts and deep pockets, a memorial manufactured diamond crafted from your beloved’s cremated remains can be purchased for $750 for about 0.0275 carat, up to $17,000 for a 2 carat stone.

4. Extraordinary Services $850 - $10,000
Sadly, in most states it is against the law to bury human and animal remains together. But a few out-of-this-world companies give pet parents the chance to plan for a combined burial…of sorts. For the avid outdoors person, or retired military or police personnel, combined (or individual) cremains can be turned into live ammunition for use in a salute, hunt or other activity that may have had meaning for the deceased. If conservation is a passion, there is a service that will incorporate remains into a coral reef habitat. According to the company’s website, including pets within this tribute is the number one request they receive. For those who prefer to look skyward, consider one of the space flights that can deliver “a symbolic portion” of remains to the Earth’s orbit where it will descend as a shooting star, or send your loved one all the way to the moon in a tribute you can gaze upon forever.

Wherever your budget falls, it is surely our memories of the four-legged companions we’ve lost that carry the truest and deepest meaning. Of the multitude of options (DIY, purchased or commissioned), what have been some of your most meaningful tributes for a pet kid? Please share your personal stories in the comments section below.

If you have had the opportunity to share your life with a dog, then you are probably familiar with ‘the guilty look’. Dog lovers will instantly recognize this classic expression as the one your pup adopts when you discover that he’s gotten into the trash, chewed up your good shoes, or dug a deep pit in your yard. But is he experiencing feelings of guilt behind those puppy dog eyes?

We certainly seem to think so. Seventy-four percent of dog lovers believe that their pups experience some form of guilt. But is it the same sort of guilt we feel, or is it a complex canine behavior that has been anthropomorphized, and is perhaps triggered by something else entirely?

This question is so hotly debated, canine behavior researchers decided to test the theory, and hopefully provide some answers. Consider two recent, credible studies that explored ‘the guilty look’.

In both, researchers ingeniously set up conditions to discover the origins of guilty behaviors in dogs. Based on their findings, they ascertained that the dog’s reaction is tied to the owner’s scolding, not the previous misdeed. This certainly seems to back up what many of us suspect, that humans have a natural tendency to want to interpret animal behavior in human terms.

There is plenty of evidence for what scientists refer to as primary emotions, such as happiness and fear, in non-human animals. Empirical evidence for secondary emotions like pride and jealousy, however, is extremely rare in animal cognition literature. The argument usually given for this lack of evidence is that such secondary emotions seem to require a higher level of cognitive sophistication, particularly when it comes to self-awareness or self-consciousness, that may not exist in non-human animals.

Put simply, guilt is complicated.

A group of canine cognition researchers from Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, published several studies in Applied Animal Behavior Science investigating ‘the guilty look’. In a 2009 study, pet parents reported that their dogs sometimes display guilty behavior when greeting owners. They claimed to be unaware of their dog doing anything bad, and asserted that it was the dog’s guilty behavior that told them about the dog’s infraction. However, researchers found there was no significant difference between obedient and disobedient dogs in their display of ‘guilty looks’ after having the opportunity to break a rule when the pet parents were absent.

But wait, say pet parents. ‘Guilty look’ behaviors are displayed even when dogs aren’t scolded. So, in a 2015 study these same behaviorists investigated whether the dogs' own actions or the evidence of a misdeed might serve as triggering cue for the guilty behavior. If the ‘guilty look’ was based on some sort of ‘guilt’ as often claimed by dog lovers, then the cue triggering this behavior would have to be linked to the dog’s own action, namely whether the dog has or has not done something “bad”. They tested this by manipulating whether or not dogs ate a ‘forbidden’ food item and whether or not the food was visible upon the return of pet parents. The findings indicate that the dogs did not show the ‘guilty look’ in the absence of scolding. So, at least in this study, the ‘guilty look’ was not influenced by the dog’s own bad behavior.

So, we have ample anecdotal evidence from pet parents, but little evidence from published studies to support this claim.

What do you think? Can dogs express the complicated emotion of guilt, or is it a series of subordinate behaviors that originate from the social cues given by their pet parents? Leave your comments in the section below!

References

Hecht, J., et al., Behavioral assessment and owner perceptions of behaviors associated with guilt in dogs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2012), doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2012.02.015

Horowitz A (2009). Disambiguating the "guilty look": salient prompts to a familiar dog behaviour. Behavioural processes, 81 (3), 447-52 PMID: 19520245

Ljerka Ostojić, Mladenka Tkalčić, Nicola S. Clayton Are owners' reports of their dogs’ ‘guilty look’ influenced by the dogs’ action and evidence of the misdeed? Behavioural Processess Volume 111, February 2015, Pages 97–100

We’re pleased to announce one of the latest recipients of financial aid from The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month’s featured beneficiary is a committed group of rescuers dedicated to improving the lives of abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats in New Jersey and surrounding areas.

New Jersey Aid for Animals, Inc., is a no-kill animal protection charity striving to end the suffering of animals through advocacy, fostering and adoption. In continuous operation for over a decade, this committed non-profit group has fought to improve the lives of dogs, cats and other domestic animals in New Jersey. Without state or municipal financial assistance, they rely on individual gifts, community events and private foundation support to cover the costs of day-to-day operations.

This rescue has made a phenomenal difference in the lives of hundreds of dogs and cats. At any given time, they have the capacity to accommodate nine dogs at a time and approximately a dozen cats. Because they are small, they can devote all necessary resources to each creature in need.

NJAFA envisions a not-too-distant future absent animal cruelty. Their stated mission is no less than to “enrich the life of every animal we touch, provide programs for domestic animals on wellness, humane education, spay and neuter with a focus on impoverished communities; and to report abuse and pursue justice for abused animals”.

Their day-to-day activities are many and varied. Whenever they encounter animal abuse, they report it. They follow such cases and work to prosecute animal abuses. Of course, their primary efforts include rescuing and aiding abused and abandoned animals. NJAFA works diligently to keep families together by providing affordable veterinary care to low-income communities. But that’s not all, they also educate pet parents on all kinds of companion animal care, including the importance of curbing pet overpopulation. As you can see, no task is too small, or too big, for this determined organization.

New Jersey Aid for Animals has big plans for their financial award. Funds have been allocated to a low-cost veterinary care clinic scheduled for next spring, benefitting low-income families in the Camden City area. Participants will qualify for highly reduced rates for common veterinary procedures. Our donation will specifically make possible flea treatments and necessary vaccines for the low cost of $10 per companion animal. As this group has witnessed firsthand, providing affordable medical care for the fur kids of impoverished households can mean the difference between keeping animals at home with their pet parents and painful, unwanted abandonments.

Additionally, remaining funds not allocated to next spring’s event were used to cover flea treatments for a group of cats who were recently rescued from a hoarding situation. The infestation was so severe that rescuers worried some of the felines might die. However, thanks to our award, these kitties are now flea-free!

Thanks to this group’s diligent work and top-notch planning, the Board’s choice to support this application with a sizable donation was a straightforward, happy one.

Some of NJAFA’s happily adopted animals.

If you or someone you know would be interested in adopting a rescue animal in or near Camden, we encourage you to stop by New Jersey Aid for Animals (njafa.org). You never know … you could end up finding your new best friend!

As the charitable arm of Life’s Abundance, The Dr. Jane Foundation provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups who work to prevent animal homelessness, abuse and chronic neglect. Every time someone purchases a Life's Abundance product, a portion of the profits are contributed to the Foundation’s operating fund.

And there’s more good news … we are still accepting applications for funding. If you know of an animal rescue organization that deserves special recognition and financial support, please encourage them to
fill out an application.

Check back next month for more good news from The Dr. Jane Foundation. Together, we’re making a difference!

It is our great pleasure to tell our readers about one of the latest recipients of financial aid from The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month’s featured beneficiary is a committed group of rescuers dedicated to improving the lives of abandoned, abused and neglected Cocker Spaniels in California.

The Second Chance Cocker Rescue is run by an all-volunteer staff which oversees more than 80 dedicated foster homes that care for their rescues. In continuous operation for over 13 years, this committed non-profit group has fought to improve the lives of Cocker Spaniels across the state of California. Without governmental financial assistance, they rely on fundraisers, adoption fees and the generous donations from their community of Cocker Spaniel aficionados to cover the costs of day-to-day operations.

This rescue has made a tremendous difference in the lives of hundreds of Cocker Spaniels. In any given year, they foster more than 150 dogs and locate forever homes for more than 200. Doing an excellent job of promoting their favorite breed, the average time a dog is in foster care is only 30 days before finding the perfect adoption match.

Their most innovative program is HALO, a service which provides a safety net for care should a pet parent enter Hospice care or pass away and no obvious caretaker remains for the pup. A modest fee ensures that these Cocker Spaniels will be fostered by caring pet parents until they are placed in a new adoptive family. In addition to HALO and their day-to-day rescue services, Second Chance also provides sanctuary homes for elder and chronically ill dogs with little hope of adoption.

Second Chance plans to use their financial award to help achieve their goal of increasing the number of rescued dogs by 30%. Because their work is so outstanding, and the need was so present, the Board’s decision to fund this application was a simple one.

Here are just a few of the sweet, loving Cocker Spaniels who are currently in foster care awaiting their chance to become someone’s new best friend …

Zoey

This little girl is a gentle soul. Zoey loves everyone she meets, including other dogs, and is a delight with children. By all accounts, she is "an amazing dog" that will make a welcome new family member. Her current caretakers guess she's approximately nine years old. Right now, she's living in Encino with her foster family.

Harry

This handsome fellow is a purebred Cocker. Sweet and oh-so-mellow, Harry is happy to go along for whatever ride's in store. If you want to throw a ball, he's ready to fetch. If your speed is more Netflix and chips, he's your ready companion. Harry is easy going with other pups and loves to meet new people. Do you have the perfect quiet, mellow home to match his personality? He's in Romoland and needs a foster, or better yet, an adopter!

Nina

A petite and intelligent girl, Nina is the consummate "people dog". Plus, she's a bit of an attention hound, so she would prefer to be the prized only dog so she can monopolize all the attention and cuddles. Sweet, fun and playful, Nina's got the zest for life. Even though she's a bit shy with strangers, she's a true "velcro dog" with her caretakers. Like Harry above, she too is currently in Romoland looking for a foster home while awaiting her forever family.

If you or someone you know would be interested in adopting a Cocker Spaniel in California, we encourage you to stop by Second Chance Cocker Rescue (secondchancecockerrescue.org). You never know … you could end up finding your new best friend!

As the charitable arm of Life’s Abundance, The Dr. Jane Foundation provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups who work to prevent animal homelessness, abuse and chronic neglect. Every time someone purchases a Life's Abundance product, a portion of the profits are contributed to the Foundation’s operating fund.

To learn more about the organizations who’ve received funding from us in the past, visit our web page today. There, you’ll find summaries of our previous grant recipients.

And there’s more good news … we are still accepting applications for funding. If you know of an animal rescue organization that deserves special recognition and financial support, please encourage them to
fill out an application.

Check back next month for more good news from The Dr. Jane Foundation. Together, we’re making a difference!

It is our great pleasure to tell our readers about one of the latest recipients of financial aid from The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month’s featured beneficiary is a committed group of rescuers dedicated to improving the lives of abandoned, abused and neglected animals in Wisconsin.

The Green Lake Area Animal Shelter is run by a small, paid staff lead by Janine Rubeck, Shelter Manager, with more than a dozen dedicated volunteers regularly lending helping hands. In continuous operation since 1993, this committed non-profit group has sought to enhance the lives of both companion animals and people through education, adoption and compassion. Without governmental financial assistance, they rely on fundraisers, adoption fees, as well as donations to cover the costs of day-to-day operations.

This rescue has made a tremendous difference in the lives of more than 12,000 animals! Their “Open Door Policy” means that no animal will be turned away due to age, health, behavior or lack of space. The group treats every dog and cat with care and respect, and aims to find each pet kid the perfect forever home.

Green Lake Area Animal Shelter sought financial assistance to further the vital work of its low-cost spay-and-neuter program. This program has been integral to its operations, offering these services to local Wisconsin residents. While the scale of the efforts depends largely on funding, their dedication to this cause is unwavering. They have seen firsthand the positive impact that these surgeries have in controlling overpopulation and reducing the number of euthanized pets. It was our non-profit’s great pleasure to fund their grant proposal. For their meticulous work on behalf of their community, all of us here at Life’s Abundance salute the hard work of this amazing group.

If you or someone you know would be interested in adopting a dog or cat in Wisconsin, we encourage you to stop by Green Lake Area Animal Shelter (glaas.org). You never know … you could end up finding your new best friend!

As the charitable arm of Life’s Abundance, The Dr. Jane Foundation provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups who work to prevent animal homelessness, abuse and chronic neglect. Every time someone purchases a Life's Abundance product, a portion of the profits are contributed to the Foundation’s operating fund.

To learn more about the organizations who’ve received funding from us in the past, visit our web page today. There, you’ll find summaries of our previous grant recipients.

And there’s more good news … we are still accepting applications for funding. If you know of an animal rescue organization that deserves special recognition and financial support, please encourage them to
fill out an application.

Check back next month for more good news from The Dr. Jane Foundation. Together, we’re making a difference!

Most consumers know that the majority of cleaning products on the market can be toxic for companion animals. Compared to previous generations, we worry a lot more about “sensitivity”, “allergies” and “toxicity”. Shockingly, Americans use at least 62,000 chemicals that haven’t been adequately studied for safety, much less even tested by the EPA![1]

Much of that dizzying array can be found in any grocery store’s cleaning aisle. It’s hard for even conscientious consumers to know the level of toxicity they’ve unwittingly invited into their homes. More...

Charitable work is core to our mission of well-being for all. It’s so important to us that every order placed aids homeless animals.

As the charitable arm of Life’s Abundance, The Dr. Jane Foundation provides financial support to small and medium-size rescue groups who work to prevent animal homelessness, abuse and chronic neglect.

We dedicate a portion of our profits from the sale of Life’s Abundance products into our non-profit’s funding reserves. In the span of several years, we’ve awarded funding to nearly 100 groups! More...

It’s time once again for an update from our non-profit charity, The Dr. Jane Foundation. This month, we’re excited to share news of another financial award to a noble group of rescuers based in Marina del Rey, CA. Founded in 2002, Forte Animal Rescue received their first grant from our non-profit in 2011, so this recent application allowed us to see how this group has flourished over the last four years.

Staffed solely by volunteers, this small non-profit has big aspirations. Not only do they save dogs of all sizes and shapes (and the occasional cat, too), they devote considerable time and energy to improving their community with education initiatives while also working to stem the tide of pet overpopulation. Forte rescuers pride themselves in providing a 100% no-kill safety net for abused, neglected and abandoned canines. More...