Favorite Video Friday: Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble

Okay, it's true - I'm a sucker for videos that make me cry. So grab a box a tissues and watch as Barbara Garcia, a survivor of the massive tornado in Oklahoma, finds her dog during a TV interview.

American Humane Association mobilizes Red Star Rescue Team to help Okla. animals

Via PR Newswire - American Humane Association is driving its famed Red Star Animal Emergency Services team into storm-ravaged Moore, Okla. to help animals who need rescue and shelter in the wake of the devastating tornado.

Following storm tracking on their mobile command centers, inside the 82-foot Red Star Rescue Rig and 50-foot "Lois Pope LIFE Rescue Vehicle" will serve as base and housing for its specially trained staff and volunteers.

American Humane Association's Red Star program has nearly a century-long legacy of animal relief experience and is reaching out with critical help and on-the-ground rescue and support services, along with the generous support of its partners.

Be the Change for Pets: Paws 4 OK

Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla. has caused tremendous damage, and there are many people and pets in the area who have been affected.

World Vets is collaborating with BlogPaws, AAHA and local organizations to send supplies based on their needs both now and in the coming weeks. Their goal is to provide direct support to local humane organizations and/or veterinary clinics in a meaningful way.

BlogPaws has put out a call to action via the Blogger Disaster Response Network. BlogPaws will match the first $1,000 raised by the BlogPaws community. Pet360 has also pledged a $1,000 donation to support the pets in need following this tragedy.

American Humane Association offers tips for before, during and after a tornado

Image via www.buzzfeed.com

Tornadoes are among the most terrifying and destructive natural phenomena – and they rarely give much warning. Having an emergency plan for your entire family – including your pets, is critical in staying safe during a tornado or severe storm.

The experts at American Humane Association have put together a series of tips to help before, during and after a tornado strikes.

Veterinary Pet Insurance offers tips for traveling with pets

Via PR Newswire - According to the Travel Industry Association of America, approximately 30 million people travel with pets each year. With so many pets on the road, in the air, and away from their usual surroundings, it's vital that pet owners do their homework before embarking on a journey with their four-legged family members.

While planning their summer escape, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, reminds pet owners that preparation is the key to ensuring a fun and safe vacation. Below are six travel tips for pet parents and their furry friends:

Detroit/Flint, Mich. and Erie, Pa. join Pedigree Feeding Project

Via PR Newswire - After nearly five months of evaluating nominations and tallying votes, PEDIGREE Brand has announced the two newest communities that will become part of the PEDIGREE Feeding Project: Detroit/Flint, Mich. and Erie, Pa.

Select shelters in these communities will join Nashville, Tenn. and Chicago, Ill. in the program that supplies shelters with 100 percent of their core dog food needs, at absolutely no cost. Participating shelters include:

Detroit/Flint, Mich. 

• Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter 
• Genesee County Animal Control 
• Michigan Animal Rescue League 

Erie, Pa.

• Humane Society of Northwest PA 
• The ANNA Shelter 

Loving our purebred and mixed-breed dogs

We all love our pets dearly – maybe even more than we love people.

As a culture, we show it by treating them like one of the family, taking them on vacations with us, celebrating their birthdays, buying organic pet food and for some pet owners, even dressing them in clothes. We even have TV shows that are entirely about dogs.

The Animal Planet documentary series Dogs 101 takes specific breeds of dog and explores how they live and act. Each episode includes information about the dog breed straight from experts who know dogs best.