You may nominate more than one child “who performed an extraordinary act(s) of kindness for the benefit of animals between May 13, 2007, and April 15, 2008″ but not for the same activity (see #4)

Two categories of eligible nominees ages 6 - 12 and 13 -17

The person nominating the child must be a legal US resident at least 18, and either the parent or guardian or have the written permission of the parent or guardian to enter the contest (see #5)

You must write a short essay (not more than 300 words), send photos of the child (but not videos), and are encouraged to submit any other documentation.

Prizes for each category:
Grand prize: $2,000 and a “prize package”
2 runners up each get $750 and a “prize package”

Contest begins on March 1, 2008, and ends on April 15, 2008. Void wherever prohibited.

Enter to win an HP Digital Camera

Upload a cute pet photo for our contest between February 12 and March 12, and be sure to vote for your favorite. The photo with the most votes wins an HP Photosmart R847 Digital Camera with a pet eye fix feature ($200 value).

Sasha and her brother, Trapper were rescued after their mother was thrown off the bridge while pregnant with them. Sadly, their other two siblings did not make it. They were placed in foster homes with Coastal Pet Rescue and both found wonderful homes.
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ABC News reports that an Animal Befriended by Marine Wanders Into Camp After Two-Day, 70-Mile Journey Through Iraq.

This is a story of a Marine, Major Brian Dennis, and the bond he formed with Nubs, an Iraqi dog he met while serving his second tour in Iraq. Dennis spent months getting to know Nubs. He nursed Nubs back to health when he showed up on base with a deep puncture wound. Dennis’ unit relocated to a new duty station, 70 miles from Nubs. Dennis wanted to take Nubs with him, but keeping a canine was against the rules. He said goodbye to his friend.

Two days later, Nubs Showed up at Dennis’ new duty station, 70 miles away. “I won’t even address the gauntlet he had to run of dog packs, wolves, and God knows what else to get here,” Dennis wrote. “When he arrived he looked like he’d just been through a war zone. Uh, wait a minute, he had,” Dennis wrote.

Soon, Nubs will be living with Major Dennis in Camp Pendleton, CA.

Today is a day for celebrating love, but your pets celebrate their love for you all year long. They show you with their wagging tails, sloppy and wet kisses, and little surprises they leave for you when you least expect. But your pets actually do quite a bit to keep you happy and healthy.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, animals actually improve the human condition:

The Harvard Health Letter explained that companion animals offer unconditional affection and pet owners’ benefit through lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels.

The University of California at Los Angeles found that Medicare patients who owned pets had fewer medical care visits than those who did not.

Australia’s Baker Medical Research Institute evaluated men and women for heart disease risk factors. Researchers found that pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides in comparison to non-pet owners.

Cambridge University (England) studied how human health could be improved by pet ownership. When investigators concluded their timed study, those with pets reported improvement in general health over those without.

The State University of New York in Buffalo found that people confined to wheelchairs, and who had service dogs, were less depressed, less dependent on caregivers, and more active outside their homes than those without.

So this Valentine’s Day, be sure to take a moment to give your pet some love in return. Pick up a special treat or chew toy on the way home and spend some time thanking them for helping to keep you healthy. And while you celebrate with your loved ones, be sure to be aware of some Valentine’s hazards for your pets:

Chocolate - As delicious as it is to humans, chocolate can be toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and caffeine, stimulants which can be hazardous — and even fatal — to pets. According to the ASPCA, chocolate toxicity is one of the most common poisonings seen by vets.

Jewelry - Sparkling gems are appealing to our four legged friends, too. Fido or Kitty’s instincts may tempt them to taste the jewelry, causing stomach ailments and possible breathing difficulties. Don your new jewelry immediately, or place it safely away.

Flowers - Some flowers and plants are dangerous if ingested by pets, including buttercups, calla lilies and tulips. The packaged plant food that accompanies some floral arrangements can lead to stomach problems as well.

Other dangers - A romantic candlelit dinner can turn into a fiery disaster by a pounce on the table from a curious cat. And scented cards and love letters spell danger if ingested.

If you don’t have a pet, then give yourself a great Valentine and adopt a pet - just so happens, we have a few of those available!