The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Basic Obedience – With A Twist

For almost two years now, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation has partnered with Animal Advocates Alliance, a Los Angeles based rescue organization, to provide a basic dog obedience training class that also combines the primary aspects of responsible pet ownership.

Attendees At The Morgan Park Education & Training Program Attendees At The Morgan Park Education & Training Program

Those attending not only learn in an hour how to teach their dog to sit, stay and walk on a leash, but they also hear about their pet’s veterinarian needs and tips about conquering other basic issues, such as barking and jumping. Trainers even check collars for a comfortable fit and provide guidance on the amount of exercise needed, tailored to their specific dog.

All aspects of the class are centered around pet retention – creating and maintaining a healthy environment for the pet and their family in the interest of keeping the pet home for his/her lifetime.

Every other Saturday, two classes of 12 dogs each, meet at Morgan Park, situated in western Los Angeles County, and work with trainers who provide group and one-on-one instruction. Within the hour, the transformation is amazing. Restless, noisy and jumping dogs transform into attentive pups well on their way to an obedient life with their family. Each family receives a gift bag of goodies to take home with them as a thank you for investing time and energy into creating a long-lasting relationship with their pet.

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Why Does My Dog Itch?

Article By Dr. Stan Kunin In Collaboration With Diana Kunin

Itchy skin is probably one of the most common reasons for an owner to bring their dog into my office. It is frustrating to watch a dog scratch or bite and chew their body all day and night. And it’s not just an annoyance to the owner, causing lack of, or interrupted sleep, it can cause damage to the animal’s skin and can create sores and infections in the afflicted areas.

There are many causes for itchy skin. Parasites, such as fleas and mites can be the root of the problem. However, other skin problems caused by bacterial and yeast infections can be the culprit.

Dog Scratching

This article will discuss the most common cause for itchiness, allergies. Heredity can play a role in dog allergies. Certain breeds are very susceptible to allergy related skin issues; such as the Golden Retriever, Wheaton Terrier, West Highland Terrier, English and French Bulldogs, Bichon Frise, etc. Nonetheless, allergies can occur in any breed or mixed breeds.

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Rachael Ray Joins Katherine Heigl To Raise Funds For Spay/Neuter & Help Save Lives

Press Release

Rachael Makes $150,000 Donation To Support Katherine’s Animal Charity

Longtime supporters of animal rights, daytime host and bestselling author Rachael Ray and actress Katherine Heigl are joining forces to address the pet overpopulation crisis.

Today, Katherine will appear on the syndicated "Rachael Ray" show to announce that Rachael has pledged $150,000 in proceeds from the sale of her Nutrish® line of super premium pet food to Katherine’s animal charity, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation (JDHF), $75,000 of which will be donated to JDHF in the 4th quarter of 2012. One hundred percent of Rachael’s proceeds from the sale of all the Nutrish product lines are donated to charities and shelters that support animal welfare and humane education causes similar to the JDHF. JDHF will use 100% of the donation to fund spay/neuter initiatives directly aimed at reducing the number of unwanted, yet highly adoptable and loving, pets abandoned or relinquished to municipal shelters and subsequently euthanized.

Katherine Heigl & Rachael Ray Announce Fundraising Partnership on The Rachael Ray Show Katherine Heigl & Rachael Ray Announce Fundraising Partnership on The Rachael Ray Show

"I’m thrilled to have a passionate friend like Katherine to help animals in need," said Rachael. "There are so many pets that have no one to love them and I am very excited that together we can donate our celebrity to give these animals a voice, a home and a healthy life."

The donation will be crucial in helping the JDHF continue its mission of eliminating the needless suffering inflicted on animals by human cruelty, indifference and ignorance.

"We are very grateful for Rachael Ray’s donation in support of this important cause and excited for our partnership with Rachael Ray that is sure to give greater exposure to this crisis", stated Katherine Heigl. "The Foundation’s effective programs and our shared compassion will provide a dynamic combination to help save countless lives and lend a voice to voiceless and forgotten pets in dire need of our help."

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Heigl Rescue Challenge Winners Announced

On September 23rd, 2010 the JDHF launched the Heigl Rescue Challenge, an initiative aimed at rescue groups in California that focused on social networking awareness. Participants had to encourage friends and supporters to check out the Heigl Foundation and ‘Follow’ our Official Twitter Page. The winning rescues (those that signed up the most ‘Followers’) would get to share a total of $10,000 in grants to fund spay/neuter surgeries, rescues or an approved animal welfare project.

The Heigl Rescue Challenge was a great race fueled by our partners who helped increase our follower count by over 500%! Over thirty rescues jumped into the fray and the daily competition was wonderful to watch.

The closing date for the contest was November 29th and we can now announce the winners!

Candi Mitchell (Left) From Boxer Rescue LA Collects The Winning Check Candi Mitchell (Left) From Boxer Rescue LA Collects The Winning Check

First past the post were Boxer Rescue LA who crossed the finish line to claim a $7,000 grant for winning the contest. BRLA representative Candi Mitchell was presented with the check by the Foundation’s Executive Director Kathy Davis just before Christmas. She explained that it’s been a tough year for donations and a overflow year for dogs, so the grant would be very gratefully received. She indicated that her group had 90 dogs and that they would be able to put the monies to good use – quickly!

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