Make a kenneled dog happy:
Donate a bed
Puppies up for adoption at the McKinley County Humane Society play on a new bed that was recently purchased by the organization. The new beds raise the animal off of the concrete floor and help with cleanliness. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff writer

GALLUP — It’s not easy being a dog. It’s not easy being a stray dog.

It’s not easy being a stray dog, caught and put in a cage at the Humane Society.

It’s not easy being at the Humane Society and lying on the concrete.

So dog lovers in town and the Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society have developed a partnership with Kuranda Dog Beds of Maryland to provide beds for the kennels at the Humane Society. The beds keep the dogs off the concrete floor and have been proven to last for years. They are chew proof and easy to clean and sanitize, and the fabrics and parts are replaceable. The Kuranda company claims the beds are proven to have a calming effect and lower the stress levels of kenneled and shelter dogs. They also provide the $80 beds to the Humane Society for $50, including shipping.

Jamestown residents Lynn Olinger and Chuck Freeman worked to get the Donate a Bed Program going for the shelter. Wal-Mart in Gallup developed a partnership with the shelter and many people donated beds, including Sandra Garcia-Jochem, who hosts her late-dog Coral’s Memorial Dinner every year, Linda Thornton of Gallup, Carol Saunders of Continental Divide, Kari Lorenson of Vanderwagen, Cedar Animal Hospital of Gallup and others from different places around the U.S.

A total of 16 beds have been donated since February, and 14 were delivered to the shelter on Wednesday. They were placed in the cages of dogs who are available for adoption including a white pit bull mix, a large black male Labrador, a huge German shepherd and a slew of dogs of indeterminable lineage, but with darling faces nonetheless. The older dogs looked at the beds a little suspiciously at first, then promptly laid on them. The puppies jumped on their bed immediately.
Donations of any amount to the Donate A Bed Program will be directed to a Kuranda bed. Donations may be sent to Lynn Olinger, P.O. Box 995, Jamestown, NM 87347 or call Lynn at (505) 488-5383 for more information.

Remember, up to 500 animals are euthanized every month at the shelter, and low-income spay and neuter is provided every Wednesday to help eliminated unwanted animals in this area.

Information on Kuranda beds: www.kuranda.com