Craigslist post from a Petco worker:

'To the awful owners of the black kitten supposedly named "Onyx,"

Just wanted to let you know he's doing fine now. No thanks to you. Throwing him in a taped up box from a moving car /into/ the PetCo doors AFTER HOURS was just horrible. How hard was it to call around to see if someone would take him? Too cheap for the abandonment fee? Whatever.

Just to let you know, he's doing fine. He is going to see the vet later today, and overall has been very happy. How could anyone throw him out like that? All he does is snuggle in my lap.'

Animal abuse is not usually my subject matter, but the incident reported here is just too ugly not to pass on. There are better ways of getting rid of unwanted pets, folks. 

Delaware Humane Association is running a 50% sale on many of their animals on Friday.

From DHA:

Instead of fighting the crowds at retail stores, why not spend a relaxing day surrounded by adoptable cats and dogs at Delaware Humane Association?

On Black Friday, November 25th, receive 50% off the regular adoption fees for animals with black fur—even just a small spot!  Qualifying animals who are adopted or receive a Pre-Adoption Application on Black Friday, whether at DHA or one of our satellite adoption centers, are eligible for this special pricing.

The DHA shelter at 701 A Street in Wilmington will be open to the public on Black Friday from noon until 7pm for this special event.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE ADOPTION FEES

Adult Dogs (7 months to 6 years)
Reg. $150 each   $75 each

Senior Dogs (7 years and older)
Reg. $75 each   $37.50 each

Special Needs Dogs (any age)
Reg. $50 each   $25 each

Sorry, puppies six months and under are not eligible.

Kittens (6 months and younger)
Reg. $80 each / 2 for $130   $40 each / 2 for $65

Adult Cats (7 months to 6 years)
Reg. $80 each / 2 for $120   $40 each / 2 for $60

Senior Cats (7 years and older)
Reg. $40 each   $20 each

Special Needs Cats (any age)
Reg. $25 each   $12.50 each
Same day adoptions of cats and kittens will be available for qualified applicants.  Adopters must provide proof of address, proof of home ownership or written permission from their landlord, and proof of current vaccinations and spaying/neutering of any current pets at the time of the adoption.  All principal family members must be present for the adoption.

Although we cannot complete same day adoptions for dogs, Pre-Adoption Applications will be accepted that day and we will contact qualified applicants to schedule an adoption counseling session at the DHA shelter within a few business days.

All animals available for adoption from DHA are spayed/neutered, tested for FIV/FeLV (cats), tested for heartworms (dogs), vaccinated, microchipped, examined by a veterinarian, exercised/socialized daily, and loved!

For more info about DHA and list of adoptables: http://www.dehumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adoption_overview

Can anyone temporarily house a friendly, trained doberman for this military family?

I found this on Craigslist this morning, and the nature of it stood out from the usual pet posts.  Location: Dover AFB.

"My husband is getting deployed in February and I'm leaving the state. He'll be gone for 6 months. I'm flying to WA to assist my grandmother with her business and i cant bring her with me. I need to find someone to watch her. I will supply money for food/etc. She's good with other dogs and cats AND ABSOLUTELY LOVESSSS children. My husband and i dont want to give her up. She's extremely obedient. She knows Sit, Stay, Up, Shake, and Laydown. I just need someone to watch her from late february to June.Please help me out. I'm paying for this service :/ My number is nine.three.one.four.three.six.eight.one.two.nine. If you can help please call me or respond ASAP. please and thank you. <3"

Email address to contact if you can help (even if you know of resources for military families in this situation): comm-ruyt6-2690944086@craigslist.org

Kent County SPCA is in quarantine, but one shelter in Philly took in 350 animals over the weekend and is desperately looking for foster homes or adopters.

This may be a little far for most of us, but if intake is that high at this one shelter, you know the situation is probably similar at shelters and rescues nearer to where you live.  So if you've thought about adopting a cat or kitten or dog, now is the time.  And for God's sakes, spay or neuter your cats.

"Intake has been incredibly high this week and the shelter simply has NO ROOM. ACCT takes in between 100 and 200 animals each day! ACCT took in over 350 animals during this past weekend! We desperately try to move cats and kittens out of here but unfortunately many of our rescues are full to capacity as well. By taking in almost 200 animals in one day, the shelter is left with making touch decisions about the fate of our animals. If anyone can help by making room for just one cat or kitten, we would be very grateful! Please HELP if you can! The animals lives depend on it...

If you can help PLEASE GO TO:
Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) powered by the PSPCA
111 W Hunting Park Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19140

Open from 9am to 7pm "

From the Delaware SPCA:

"It has been a busy summer and we need your help. We are responding to two more hoarding cases and 30 cats have come in to our Stanton shelter in the last 2 days. More will follow. Donations of canned cat food, frontline, newspapers and cash would be greatly appreciated. Of course, if you have thought about adopting, now is the time! We have many kittens, cats and dogs just waiting! Thank you!"

Volunteer opportunities: receptionist for a food closet, multi-positions for Faithful Friends

From Richardson Park Community Action Program:

"Richardson Park Community Action Program is in need of filling 2 volunteer positions. The client services volunteers will help with our food closet by interviewing clients, helping with food orders, inputting information into excel, and light filing.
The receptionist is responsible for helping clients when they first walk through the door and directing them to the appropriate person.

If you are interested in either of these positions please contact Jaime via email or phone 302-428-1247 ext. 102. No experience is necessary we will train the right person. Must be friendly and outgoing. "

--------------------------------------------

From Faithful Friends:

"ATTN! Volunteer Dog Walkers Needed! Weekday morning help between 8am - 1pm needed immediately! Dog Care volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.
Please help by printing and distributing this flyer!
Big hearts are not a requirement. . .but all of our volunteers have them. With so many areas where your time and expertise can make a difference, our volunteer opportunities guarantee a match!

There is no greater satisfaction than helping in one of our volunteer positions. Below is a list of our volunteer positions and descriptions, as well as a link to download our volunteer application (please review this form for volunteer age requirements). Just print it out and bring it in to the shelter, mail it to us, or fax it to: 302-427-2855.

(Full list of volunteer positions - there are many - after the cut). 

DE SPCA (NCCo & Sussex) needs new foster homes for dogs & cats.

It's puppy and kitten season, so there's a real need right now for foster homes in the area.  But there are also grown dogs and cats and special needs animals that need a place to crash for a while.  The SPCA will provide training, and all supplies.    For more info:

http://www.delspca.org/news/94-foster-volunteers-needed

Spay / Neuter event at the Stanton & Georgetown SPCA locations.

I'll let their charming "Cinco de Meow" graphic tell the rest:

Pet adoption event at the Brandywine Hundred PetSmart, all weekend

Adopt cats or kittens from the Delaware Humane Association at the Brandywine Towne Center PetSmart.  Hours are from 9-9 on Friday and Saturday, and 10-5 on Sunday.   All animals have been spayed or neutered, are up to date on shots, and have been checked for feline leukemia.  Prospective adopters should bring proof of home ownership, or a letter from a landlord.  For more info:
www.dehumane.org/adoptions

Wilmingtonic is not a fan of Wilmington's "Loops" (organized pub crawls, for out-of-staters)

Just too many off-putting experiences in years past.  Call me totally over the Loop concept.

However, not everyone is a curmudgeon / has the same problem I have with hordes of drunks, putans dressed in indistinguishable "sexy" costumes, and bus drivers that try to extort money out of you to drive their assigned bus routes.  So if you insist on your Loops, at least the newest one to hit the schedule, the "Bunny Hop", will benefit something besides the Jagermeister brand.   The $5 cover fee, which gets you access to 21 clubs and more cliche Playboy Bunny sightings than you can shake a VD test at, will benefit the Delaware Humane Association, Delaware SPCA, and Faithful Friends.   The loop is on Saturday, in the usual Wilmington locations, from 8 to drunk-o-clock.

Quick update on the dog that the Blue Rocks just adopted as mascot.

Previously mentioned here, http://wilmingtonic.blogspot.com/2011/04/opening-day-for-blue-rocks-is-this.html , this 6-month-old mastiff has been named Rocks-Anne, by fans.  Kind of cute, I guess. 

Judging from the SPCA's pictures of her first meeting with original mascot Rocky Bullwinkle (in mid field), the poor pooch was scared to death.  And who wouldn't be in that situation?  But judging from the SPCA's comment that "She thought Rocky was one big stuffed toy", she calmed down enough to potentially give the Blue Rocks some serious mascot-suit-repair bills.

Good for you, Rocks-Anne.  Don't take any crap from someone who's 9 feet tall with gray felt skin.   And welcome to Wilmington.

(By the way - today, Monday, the Blue Rocks are having "dollar Monday" and "dollar dogs" - I'm assuming they don't mean the pooch).

Opening day for the Blue Rocks is this Friday. And the team has adopted a dog.

The game against The Nationals will include fireworks, as well as free magnetic team calendars for the first 5000 fans (which should about cover everyone, I would think).   By the way, Delaware Today is giving away tickets to these opening weekend games on their facebook page, this week.

More curiously, the Blue Rocks, as a team, has adopted a dog -- a young mastiff, yet to be named (there will be a naming contest, naturally), who comes to them from the Delaware SPCA.  Apparently he will be available at a booth within the stadium every Friday night.  Hope he likes baseball fans.

I keep wondering - who takes him home at night?

http://wilmington.bluerocks.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110407&content_id=17474228&vkey=news_t426&fext=.jsp&sid=t426