THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Got a fur coat gathering dust? The Humane Society suggests the ultimate recycling — putting it on the backs of other animals.

The Coats for Cubs program by the Humane Society of the United States helps orphaned, injured or sick wildlife by gathering fur coats and using them for nests, bedding or cuddly replacements for mom and dad. In 2009, 2,687 fur items were donated.

“We use the discarded furs as bedding to give the animals comfort and reduce stress,” said Michael Markarian, the agency’s chief operating officer in Washington, D.C. “The fur garments act as a surrogate mother. It is a warm and furry substitute.” (more…)

THE EXAMINER

The Humane Society gave President Obama — who isn’t a vegan but does love his dog Bo — a solid B-minus on his animal welfare report card for 2009. That seems on par for a guy who gave himself a solid B-plus overall for his first year in office.

Obama’s less-than-perfect grade reflects considerable progress over the Bush administration but “a lack of focus on animal protection issues,” according to the Humane Society.

On the positive side of Obama’s balance sheet, he announced during his first 50 days in office that a pending rule would finally close the loophole in the downed cow bill, posted inspection reports for animal dealers online, and requested appropriate funding for the USDA to enforce the existing Animal Welfare Act. (more…)

Evie is a rescue from a puppy mill. His mother was at the puppy mill and while they were transporting the dogs to the humane society they had to pull over the van so he could be born. We’ve “pulled over” in our lives ever since. There were numerous dogs and puppies that need foster homes and we agreed to foster for a month. Knowing nothing about the breed, I uttered the most ignorant phrase of my life “give us the most agressive one in the litter.” An adorable 6-week-old puppy was dropped off, and one month has turned into forever. When we first got him we didn’t know what to call him. The humane society sent out an e-mail to let all fosters know that if we had to leave town, or a vacation, we were to contact them to keep the dog. The dog could not be left with an unapproved foster because they were considered evidence for the trial. So we decided to name him Evidence, Evie for short. I’ve never had as much fun with a dog as I have with him. He fetches balls, catches the Frisbee in the air, and is amazing at controlling a soccer ball, he can bring it right back to you, or will follow you while walking around. In the summer we take him to the lake to swim. A JRT is a lot of work. They have to be exercised, and a walk doesn’t do it, and are quite strong willed. In fact, my roommate and I agreed if we’d read about the breed we’d never have picked one, but now that we have one we want another. We find exercising him fun, and we are as strong willed as he is, so it isn’t an issue. One other thing that makes this dog so special to us is, he is the first thing that entered our lives “just because we lived in arkansas.” We live here due to Katrina, so up until we got Evie everything had been “replacement”. New friends, new church, new job, new stuff. But Evie happened only because we lived here. — Submitted by Amber Tappan

THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

MOUNTAIN HOME — Two Humane Society workers trapped 91 feral cats in and around an elderly man’s mobile home in Baxter County this week and expect to find several more on the property.

Nearly all of the cats were in such poor physical condition that they had to be euthanized, said Robby Lockeby, shelter manager for the Humane Society of North Central Arkansas. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sammy, a Shetland sheepdog, wouldn’t touch his food, retreating to a corner of the yard and devouring mouthfuls of dirt — behavioral oddities his owner later learned came from a lifetime of abuse as a “stud” in a large puppy mill.

The 10 years of caged confinement Sammy endured would have been illegal under a bill signed late Thursday by Gov. Ed Rendell. The governor, who owns two rescued golden retrievers, and other dog advocates hope the new law will help Pennsylvania shed its reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East. (more…)