Barking Bone offers custom key chains or necklaces featuring a pet photo or message of your choice.

They are $12 each, but $5 from each purchase will go to the one of the following rescue organizations (your choice):

Genesis Dog Rescue
Sit With Me Rescue
Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation
Canadian Dachshund Rescue
Refuge A.M.R.
Bullies in Need

You can see some of the designs here, as well as find a form for ordering.

Check out Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation‘s 5th annual “Just in Time for XMas” Online Auction to raise money for their rescue organization.

The auction will close on December 6th, so check in soon to bid on the items you want! They have some great stuff availible.

Westminster Pet Sanctuary is facing closure due to a severe lack of funds. If they cannot raise $2000 by December 1st they will have to close their doors forever. They are halfway there, but still need a lot of help. Visit http://www.westminsterpetsanctuary.org if you want to learn more or would like to donate.

Thanks for your consideration in participating in our 4th Annual “JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS” Online Auction!  A HUGE heartfelt thank you is extended to everyone who has generously donated items to help us raise much needed funds for Animals in need of our BHRR(Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services) programs.

We could not do what we do without all of the wonderful people who support us making what we call the ‘chain of success’ so strong!

• The BHRR Auction will begin at 7:00 AM EST on Saturday November 19th, 2011. Unfortunately, bids submitted prior to this time cannot be considered.
• The BHRR Auction will end at 9:00 PM EST on Thursday December 1st, 2011. The highest bid on an item will be determined based on the time of the email sent as recorded by the time marked by our ISP.

Editor’s note: Tara and I have been friends for what seems like forever. We met while working together at a music store and even though many miles separate us now, we keep in touch over email and facebook. When I read this story, I knew I had to share it with you. I’ve been following Tara’s adventures into dog parenthood and I think this is just a wonderful “tail”. (hehe) ~ Liz

A few months ago, Gabe and I decided it would be a useful and thoughtful use of our time to walk dogs at the animal shelter. Truly we were egged on by the fact that his mother was prodding that we do so out of the goodness of our hearts. So one day we suited up and drove to the humane society doorstep. I openly admitted that I never dog walked for the shelter before because I knew full well that if I did, it would end with me being the proud owner of 100 dogs.

I spoke too soon.

I may not own 100 dogs at this point in time, but I sure do own one little beautiful creature named Savannah. She was one of the first faces we saw that day, peering out the window of a solitary confinement room. She’d been brought in by bylaw, no history, just a sweet tan and blond face and a sunny disposition. She shoved her nose at the window and hopped up wanting to greet us. She tossed around a little football squeaker toy to her heart’s content. She made us fall in love.

Fast forward a few weeks – we’d gone back to the shelter time and time again, reciting the redundant refrain of “is Savannah out of isolation?” until finally one day she was out. I remember the first time I walked her she’d only been out in a kennel for a few hours… you could tell all her time alone had led to bottled up energy. She loved people, dogs, the sky, the ground — everything. She gazed up at you while you walked her, as though checking to see if she was doing alright by your standards. She pranced along the street and bounced through the grass like a little blond bunny…

After many conversations, balancing the pros and cons, long walks around the shelter’s industrial area environment and weighing the possibility, Gabe and I adopted her. I took her for a 30 minute walk and by the time I returned, the papers were signed and we were to pick her up the next evening.

Immediately we went and packed our lives with dog food, rawhides, squeaky and non-squeaky toys, blankets and a little black kennel for the end of the bed. It was all for the new member of the family – a 7 month old, mixed breed beauty… scratch that; OUR 7 month old, mixed breed beauty. She excitedly jumped into the car with a cone still fastened to her collar… she explored the house with vigor and quickly realized she was home.

It’s been over a month now and she’s the most amazing thing to come home to…. always happy, loving, adorable, hilarious, yet sometimes a headache, of course. Every time I look at her I’m so overjoyed that we saved her and can walk her every single day now. Her adoration for the snow keeps the winter months bearable and her adoration for us makes it hard to imagine life without her.

Tara McCarthy is a freelance writer, journalist and CBC Radio personality living in Whitehorse, YT.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog’s professional dog trainer. Janine’s passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2010 Rescue Me Dog; rescuemedog.org