February 8, 2008
Welcome to our weekly email newsletter, your source for the latest news from our animal welfare community and information on pending humane legislation.

ASPCA Guide To A Pet-Friendly Valentine’s Day Lovers far and wide are getting ready to smother their sweethearts with treats, but did you know some of these romantic gifts can be harmful to your pets? We’d like to offer some tips to ensure a loving, safe day for all species—Romeos and Rovers alike.

ASPCA Pet of the Week: Couch Potato Wants to Be the Apple of Your Eye No toys for this boy—Humphrey just wants your love and affection.

Just for Teens: Discuss Great Books Online!
Do your teen-tellectuals crave good books and literary discussion? Give ‘em both with the ASPCA’s new online book club.

Therapy Dog Classes Begin 2/23
Think your pooch has the healing touch?

ASPCA^® Mission: Orange™ Scores Successes for Homeless Pets
We’re celebrating! The first year of this focused effort saw a rise in adoptions and spay/neuter surgeries for our partner communities.

Help, my boyfriend asked me to choose between him—and my cat! Will I ever be able to cope with the loss of my best friend—my dog? Is there a way to get my new husband to warm up to my pets?

The ASPCA's Dr. Stephanie LaFarge is a psychologist who specializes in human/animal relationships and the human/animal bond. You may have seen her regular Q&A column on our website. Today, February 8, the good doctor will be in to host a live chat on our ASPCA Online Community. Please join us from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST to gain some expert insight and advice for strengthening your relationships with the four-legged members of the family.

The prize: an all-expenses-paid, three-day trip to New York City, a year’s supply of pet food, a gift basket and tour of ASPCA headquarters, which includes a meet-and-greet with Animal Precinct officers and Ed Sayres, ASPCA President & CEO.

Now that we’ve got your attention, we’ll tell you how to win it! The ASPCA is holding the second annual ASPCA Community Leader contest, sponsored by Iams^® Dog and Cat Foods. We’re challenging you to put on your creative hat and think big when planning your ASPCA Day activities this April 10. Starting April 11, show us what you did to spread awareness of the importance of preventing cruelty to animals in your community.

To learn more about the contest and see the amazing stuff folks did to get our attention last year, please visit ASPCA.org.

Created in close consultation with two ASPCA experts—Dr. Randall Lockwood, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Initiatives, and Dr. Melinda Merck, the country’s premiere “animal CSI,” last night’s episode focused on the brutal and illegal world of dog fighting. A special thanks to CSI for helping us raise public awareness of this abominable form of animal cruelty. If you missed it and would like to learn more about what you can do to stop dog fighting, please visit the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Resource Center.