How Much is that Doggy in the Window? Read Before You Buy a Puppy!

It may be "easier" to buy a pet from a pet store, but pet store puppies come from puppy mills. The mothers and fathers of those adorable little puppies are kept in horrendous, horrific conditions, just to produce a product to sell.

Pet store puppies are almost always very ill and tend to need several (very expensive) trips to the vet. There are dozens of complaints online about sick puppies coming from major pet store chains.

It's also easier, because if someone has the money, they get a puppy: No questions asked. Does the pet store employee really care about the puppies welfare by letting it go to any Joe Schmoe who has a credit card?

The pound will ask questions: "Do you own your home? Have a fenced yard? Have a Veterinarian in case of an emergency?" Yes, it's more of a hassel. but the 'pound' wants to make sure that puppy will not end up there again in 2-3 months, like many pet store dogs do. People working in shelters aren't there for the paycheck, like many pet store employees are. They're there because they have a passion for helping animals. Most of them work on the clock and off, rescuing abused, abandoned and less fortunate animals and giving it everything they have to make their lives better.

Also, when you adopt from a shelter, the price is normally 1/10 of what you'll pay at a pet store and the dogs/puppies are already neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and have had full physicals. Pet store puppies will come to with their first puppy vaccine and 1 dose of dewormer.

Lastly, a pet store puppy is usually an impulse decision. You're out shopping on a Saturday afternoon, you just happen to go into the pet store and get hooked in by those precious little faces. You're willing to pay any price (usually $800+) to take that little fluff ball home with you before someone else does.

But...with that adorable face comes pooping on your carpet, chewing your favorite pair of shoes, eating the remote, whining to go outside to potty (if you're lucky) at 3 a.m....The novelty wears off very quickly and suddenly that once adorable puppy isn't so cute anymore and through no fault of his own, will end up at the shelter.

People who adopt from shelters typically have already given it some thought and planning. You normally don't end up at the pound on impulse, like the pet store. People are there for the specific reason to adopt. They pretty much know what they're about to get into and ready for the commitment and will more than likely keep that pet for it's lifetime.

So is it easier to buy a puppy from a pet store? Yes. Is it better? Absolutely not. "Adoption Is The Best Option"

Featured Items - JinglePAWS in the Park Silent Auction!

JinglePAWS in the Park will be held in Cape Coral's Jaycee Park on December 14th from 11am - 3pm. Come early and bid on some awesome Silent Auction items! Here are two of the dozens of items that will be featured:

Sponsor a Homeless Pet!

While PAWS Lee County is primarily a nonprofit, affordable spay/neuter clinic, we often have pets brought to us that have become homeless. This happens for a variety of reasons: owners pass away, become homeless themselves, are forced by circumstances to move to a new residence that doesn't allow pets, veterinary bills the owner can't afford, the list goes on. These pets are placed in our foster home network, but sometimes our foster homes are filled to capacity. Several boarding facilities in Lee County have offered PAWS a discounted rate on boarding these pets who are in need of homes, for the time that PAWS is looking for a permanent new home for these pets.

Even with the generous discount provided to PAWS, the cost of boarding and caring for these pets adds up. If you're interested in helping, but aren't in the position to bring a new pet into your home, you can help out by sponsoring a pet!

Your sponsorship will go toward helping to cover the cost of feeding and boarding a PAWS Pet in need. Please select your sponsorship amount below:

Sponsor a PAWS Foster Pet

Pitch In For $5.00 USD Pitch In For $10.00 USD One Night $20.00 USD Two Nights $40.00 USD Three Nights $60.00 USD Five Nights $100.00 USD One Week $140.00 USD Two Weeks $280.00 USD Three Weeks $420.00 USD One Month $600.00 USD

More JinglePAWS Sponsors

Thank you to the following Cape Coral businesses who signed up this week to help make the JinglePAWS event a success! Natures Cycles Mel's Diner Le Bijou salon Carmine Street Rose Marie's Bakery The Dek Discount Pets John Michaels Diamond & Jewelry Charlie Girl Salon the Moorings Patty's Flowers Cross Products

More Vendors for JinglePAWS!

Welcome aboard Sunny Days Ice Cream, Moe's Hot Dogs and the Veterans Memorial Bus Museum! For a complete list of vendors please visit www.jinglepaws.org and click on the Vendors tab.

Thank you to this week's JinglePAWS Sponsor!

Big huge thank-you's going out to the following JinglePAWS Sponsors!

Advanced Technology & Laser Dentistry of Fort Myers
Westin Cape Coral
Lobster Lady Seafood of Cape Coral
Tammy Zink Design
Evans Entertainment
Advermarket Printing
Kaye's Antiques
Spiffy Pooches
Buddies thru Bullies
Sweet Expressions of Cape Coral
Woof 'Em Down Dog Treats
Memorable Markings
Fletchers Grille & Spirits

JinglePAWS in the Park - Jaycee Park, December 14th

Volunteers and Sponsors needed for JinglePAWS in the Park Adoption Event and Holiday Festival! Please visit Our Sponsor Page, or contact onefreespay - at - gmail.com or call 732-997-7387if you are interested in participating as a sponsor, vendor or volunteer.

Animal Rescue organizations are welcome to attend and bring pets that are available for adoption!

in Loving Memory of Mary Reggnone

Thank you Ms Linda Thames, for stopping by our Charity Sale ticket and adoption tent today at Belk in Cape Coral and making a donation in the name of Mary Reggnone. Ms Reggnone was a volunteer with and supporter of PAWS Lee County and a lover of animals.

SantaPaws Photos with Santa at Belltower Shops - Only 4 Spots Left!

Working as a Community to Reduce the Number of Abused, Neglected and Abandoned Pets

From an article on www.care2.com:

"According to the ASPCA, communities that are having the greatest success reducing overpopulation all have something in common: a multifaceted, targeted community program that, in summary, is based on careful research on which populations are contributing to shelter intake and euthanasia, focuses on barriers to spay/neuter, has support and funding and has an efficient infrastructure to serve areas that need it the most."

Click here to read the full article

Thank You to Linda for Donating Graphic Design!

Thank you so much to Linda for donating some graphic design work to PAWS. She does awesome work, so if you need some design done please get in touch with her at liskrak@gmail.com. Thanks Miss Linda!

Thank You's and Yay's!

First, thank you to Nikki and Nancy at Dog Days Delight in Cape Coral for partnering with us in the December "JinglePAWS in the Park" event! And thank you to all of our friends at Starbucks at Surfside who made a donation in our Doghouse Donation Box - in 5 days, our coffee-and-pet-loving friends have done THIS:

WOW!! Wiggles and Purrs to you, Starbucks friends! Your total donation of $30 this week will cover the cost of neutering one feral cat + his rabies shot.

Adoption Event this SUNDAY 10/20 at Belk Surfside

Join us this Sunday, October 20th at Belk at the Shops at Surfside to meet some of the most adorable cats and dogs in Lee County! We'll be bringing some of our adoptable pets for a visit to Cape Coral and we'd love to introduce them to you. We'll be posting more information and photos of the pets on Friday - please check back to see them. See you at Belk!!

Why Help Low Income Pets?

According to the ASPCA position statement on mandatory spay & neuter laws: "...one of the main barriers to spaying and neutering of pets is accessibility of services, which is not addressed simply by making spaying and neutering mandatory. Cost is one of the primary barriers to spay/neuter surgery in many communities (Patronek et al., 1997; Ralston Purina, 2000; Frank, 2001). In fact, low household income and poverty are statistically associated with having a sexually intact cat (Patronek et al, 1997; Chu et al., 2009), with relinquishment of pets to shelters (Patronek et al., 1996), and with shelter intake (Frank, 2003).

As a result, the proportion of pets from poor communities who are being euthanized in shelters remains high; shelter euthanasia rates in the poorest counties in states such as California and New Jersey are several times higher than those in the most affluent counties (Handy, 2002; Marsh, 2008)." Learn more about the ASPCA's position on mandatory spay & neuter laws here.

Meet Petey! Adoptable senior dog in Fort Myers FL

Petey came to stay with us this past week. His owner had passed away, leaving Petey alone in the home they'd shared, and some kind neighbors had been making sure Petey had food and water. Petey is neutered (of course!) and fully vetted.

The neighbors are moving now, so there's no one to watch over Petey.

Petey is the most laid back dog you will ever meet! He loves to lay on his bed and chill out, especially if someone is there petting him or scratching his head.

When it's time to go for a walk he really perks up! You get to see his energetic side when he is by the door waiting to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. If you're thinking about adding a low-key dog to your home, please call Tammy at 269-757-6294.

P.A.W.S. Pet Profile - Meet Zoey!

We bring in many dogs and cats at the P.A.W.S. clinic. They come to us with sad tales - owners who passed away, families who moved and left them behind, kittens born in the wild, caretakers who can't afford to take care of a pet.  If you are interested in adopting a P.A.W.S. pet, please call Tammy at 269-757-6294.

Zoey is a sweet hound mix, approximately 11 months old. She is great with kids and would be happy having another dog in the family to play with. Call Tammy at 269-757-6294 if you'd like to meet Zoey!

PAWS Lee County - Helping to Reduce Pet Homelessness in Lee County

PAWS Lee County, Inc is raising awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering family pets. We're also raising funds so that we can offer free spay and neuter to pet families who otherwise would not be able to afford it.