Pet food coupon bank needs you!

There are a number of things that I can look to as reminders of the current state of our economy; the numerous yard signs showing homes for sale; the unemployment figures for our area; the increasing number of anecdotal tales about young adults moving home after college because they can’t afford to live on wages they didn’t expect to be making following receiving their diploma.

While some things didn’t surprise me all that much, one did --- the rise in pet food pantries across the nation, as rescue groups and concerned individuals try to find ways to keep pets with their families during these tough times. I find folks who take on these sorts of tasks to some of the very best, most thoughtful people on the planet. They use their time (and nearly always their own resources) to help others in need.

To that end, there’s a new group afoot, and you can help. M.J. Rogers recently created the Yahoo Group Pet Coupons Central. The premise is as simple as it sounds. They collect coupons for pet products and send them out to others who might need a little help making ends meet with the furkids. Currently they are collecting coupons for cat and dog food and treats, cat litter and pet odds and ends, as well as coupons for bird and small animal food, though those don’t come in nearly as often. Pet Coupons Central is willing to provide coupons to just about anyone who asks, including caretakers of feral colonies, shelters and rescues anywhere in the U.S.

If you can take a few moments out of a Sunday (or Thursday night, we’re not picky) and clip coupons from your local newspaper, magazines or web sites and forward them on for use, consider joining the Pet Coupons Central Yahoo Group. You can make a difference from the comfort of your dining room table. If you’re interested in clipping coupons but aren’t much of a “joiner”, you can clip, snip and send coupons to the following address. Coupons for cat food are especially needed:

M.J. Rogers

2001 East Cross Ave. # 104

Tulare, CA 93274

If you know of anyone who might be in need of coupons, have them send an email to rmissmeow@aol.com with the subject line “Coupons Needed” and someone from Pet Coupons Central will get back to them.

If everyone does a little, we can all do a lot.

Vanity can be a great thing for pets

Finally!

It’s the only word that entered my mind when I heard that on Tuesday, June 8, at an 11 a.m. press conference at the West Los Angeles Shelter, 11361 W. Pico Blvd, Pierce Brosnan, Bob Barker and the California Veterinary Medical Board will be announcing the launch of a California Spay/Neuter license plate!

This is wonderful, long-overdue news for our four-footed friends. The license plates will work much like the other specialty plates in California --- for an additional fee, people will be able to show their support for spay/neuter through the purchase of a plate made for that purpose. Obviously I don’t have all of the details at this time, but as soon as I do I’ll be sharing them, including the where and how to get your very own.

Right after I get mine, of course.