PAWS Lee County Open House and Pet Food Drive

You are invited!! PAWS Lee County will be hosting an Open House / Pet Food Drive / Adoption Event at 965 Pondella Rd, North Ft Myers FL. The event will be held from 10am - 2pm and will feature local pet vendors, adoptable pets, a low-cost vaccinations, heartworm testing and microchipping. We hope to see you at the event!

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