The program is simple. No application, no paperwork, no lengthy list of requirements.

Residents just need to call Actors and Others for Animals, who administer the program for the the Foundation, on (818)-755-6045 and they will be provided with a voucher number. The resident then simply calls the participating clinic to schedule an appointment and provides the aforementioned voucher details.

The Heigl Ray Of Hope program will then pay for the sterilization even if the animal is in heat, pregnant or cryptorchid. Proof of address (photo ID or utility bill in the residents name) must be provided at the time of the sterilization.

In the past 13 months, zip codes where the program has been in place have experienced double digit decreases in animal intake and in total 2889 sterilizations have been undertaken. We are hoping that together we can replicate this success in the 93535 area, so please help us to spread the word!

April Mixon - Vancouver USA Marathon 2012

April is eager to beat her time of 5 hours 44 minutes and 36 seconds set last year on the same 26 mile 385 yard course, but it is not the only target she has wants to beat. "My hope is to inspire everyone to help in whatever way they can, to stop animal cruelty and save shelter animals. Last year I raised $1023 for the Heigl Foundation. Hopefully my supporters will help me to beat that total this year!"

To support April and her efforts we have once again created a Fundly page where people can donate to help her reach her fundraising goal and track progress as she prepares for the big event.

Please visit April's page to contribute towards her target. 100% of your donation will go towards funding adoption, rescue and transport programs focused on saving lives. It will also benefit spay/neuter, education and training policies that help reduce the number of unwanted litters abandoned to shelters and subsequent euthanization.

Become A Fundraiser

If you would like to become a fundraiser for the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation it is really very easy to get involved. A sponsored walk, run or swim; garage sale or cake sale; skydive or bungee jump; a Karaoke evening, quiz night or raffle: the possibilities for helping us are endless. However you decide to raise money, we are here to provide support and advice. Please let us know about your fundraiser!

Lulu Dew supplied over 100 cloths of various sizes and California Linen more than 50 towels for our recent transports. We are extremely grateful to both firms for their kindness and very excited to have established these new partnerships.

Lulu Dew

New mom Sandy Barajas was inspired to create Lulu Dew after she searched to find an ideal cloth diaper with the features she wanted and came up empty-handed. In her quest to find the perfect reusable diaper, Sandy also realized there was a need for a cloth diaper laundering service for busy, eco-conscious parents overwhelmed with laundering diapers. Envisioning a way to offer an eco-friendly product and complementary, convenient service to parents, Sandy launched Luludew, a cloth diaper laundering service catering to the Los Angeles area and surrounding cities.

California Linen Services

California Linen Services has been a family run business for over 75 years. It provides restaurant table linens, towels, mats, mops, chef coats, cook shirts, cook pants, butcher coats and other supplies to the hospitality industry in and around Los Angeles County including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena, Glendale, South Bay, Torrance, Pomona and Upland.

Volunteer Appreciation: Rick Molony & Ruffle

One volunteer that continually stands out is Rick Molony. Rick has been selected as the volunteer of the quarter for his ongoing dedication to our transport program. Rick has gone above and beyond to help hundreds of animals find their way to a new home - whether it is taking two dogs to rehabilitation, driving a van full of dogs to LAX, or transporting many to new destination shelters throughout the United States.

Rick is most certainly a lead on our transport team and has helped to build strong relationships with local shelter staff and the staff at our partner destination shelters. Rick has also worked with our transport coordinator and fellow lead driver and volunteer, Diane Holmes, to recruit new drivers. It is our hope that Rick and our other transport team volunteers know that our transport program is successful because of their ongoing commitment. Thank you Rick for your never ending dedication to helping our furry friends!

The Foundation's transport program has successfully transported over 350 animals to date this fiscal year to approved no kill destination shelters throughout the United States.

We are profoundly grateful to our dedicated group of volunteers who donate their valuable time to help us achieve our goals. In conjunction with our quarterly newsletter, we hope to continue to highlight more of the special people that work tirelessly to help animals in need.

Murphy's Law states that if anything that can go wrong, it will go wrong. It is this reason why so many of us feel the need to be prepared and have a first aid kit for ourselves at home and in our cars. Yet, many dog owners are not as prepared for emergency situations.

One could go 'hog wild' and turn their home into a hospital with every conceivable emergency item and have it on hand for those rare occasions. However, this article will give you some basic materials to have on hand in order to help make your dog as comfortable as possible, during some of those unpredictable occasions.

Keep in mind that this emergency kit list does not replace a visit to your veterinarian. So, it is important that you make sure to have the phone number and address to your veterinarian and the nearby emergency veterinary hospital included in this kit, as well placed near your phone and/or on your refrigerator.

There are some on line and in-store pre-prepared first aid kits available for purchase, or you may choose to customize your own kit. Listed below are some suggested items that can be organized and put into a water proof container for storage in your home and/or in your car:

1. A digital, non mercury, rectal thermometer is a must, and should be used with a lubricant such as K-Y jelly or Vaseline. The normal temperature for a dog is 100-102.5. A temperature reading above normal should be seen as a red flag, and the dog should be taken to your animal clinic as soon as possible. A temperature of over 105 is considered an emergency situation. A cold water bath and the use of a soaking wet sponge or wash cloth, rubbing especially around the head will help to cool your dog down, and will give you a little more time to get the animal to the hospital.
2. A thumb forceps can be helpful in order to remove a bee stinger, splinter or other small protruding foreign body.
3. Sterile gauze pads (4" by 4"), a roll of gauze, white tape or self adhering bandage tape, and bandage scissors are helpful for covering small wounds on the body.
4. An antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin can be used on the gauze to cover a wound.
5. Hydrogen peroxide can be used both as a disinfectant for wounds and also for inducing vomiting when early detection of a poison has been ingested.
6. Including a 6cc, 12cc, or 20cc syringe (no needles) should be put in the kit as well. These are perfect for measuring the proper dose of hydrogen peroxide. Always know what your dog has swallowed before inducing vomiting. Check with your veterinary office to find out if it's safe to induce vomiting. Induced vomiting is not always the right thing to do if poisons have been consumed. If the dog has swallowing dark chocolate, inducing vomiting quickly, would be a good idea. However, if bleach has been ingested, inducing vomiting would be the wrong thing to do. The dosage of hydrogen peroxide is usually about 1 cc per pound, every 10-15 minutes until vomiting begins. If rat bait has been consumed, induce vomiting but transport the dog to the clinic as soon as possible. If your pet doesn't vomit, your veterinarian can induce, using an emetic or vomiting drug, but try to induce before you get there, because the faster the animal rids itself of the toxins, the better the dog's chance of survival.
7. Rubber or exam gloves should be part of the kit. These gloves can keep your hands from being contaminated while you clean the wounds. Check to make sure you are not allergic to latex, if you decide to use latex gloves.
8. Cotton balls and Q-tip cotton swabs should be in the kit, as they also help with cleaning small wounds.
9. Over the counter eye washes are helpful for cleaning goop out of the eyes. Put eye wash on a cotton ball then squeeze the contents into the eyes, as this will help clean them out. Gently pat dry around and below the eyes.
10. For those with dogs who have chronic ear problems, a veterinary-recommended ear wash should be part of the kit.
11. A bottle of mineral oil can be helpful in those cases where foxtails find their way into the dog's ear. Mineral oil can soften the foxtails which will make it less uncomfortable for your dog while it's being taken to the clinic.
12. For those who trim their own dogs' nails, you should have either a styptic pencil (which can sting a bit) or a small bottle of ferric sulfate powder (AKA, Kwik Stop which can be found at your local market or pet store). If you trim too close to the quick and it begins to bleed, then pack the nails with this powder and it can help stop the bleeding.
13. A tick remover is good to have and makes it much easier to remove an embedded tick. Too often people pull or burn ticks off, which leaves the head inside the animal's skin.
14. A muzzle is highly recommended even for most docile dogs. Sometimes, when in pain, even the most well behaved dog may react with a snap when handled.
15. On that note, an old towel or blanket should be packed in the kit to help, not only to keep them warm, but also to wrap them up and carry them into the clinic.
16. A pen light or small flash light is a good thing to have, especially when good lighting is unavailable and a closer look is necessary.
17. It's always a good plan to have medications nearby such as aspirin and Benadryl. Aspirin comes in 81mg and 325mg. The dose for dogs is about 81mg per 10-20 pounds or 325mg per 40-50 pound. However, give no more than twice a day until you talk to your veterinarian. Benadryl is an over the counter medication that comes in a 25mg tablet or capsule. This may be good for dogs with allergies or for instances when they have a reaction to an insect bite. In this case the dose is 25mg per 25 pounds, up to a maximum of 3 times a day. There can be some side effects with Benadryl which may include sedation or, rarely, hyper-excitability. Pepto-Bismol can be given to a dog with diarrhea, administering one dose of 1cc per pound up to 2-3 times a day. Be aware that this can cause dark colored stools, however, this is harmless. Hydrocortisone cream can be used for small areas of itchy skin, allergic reactions or insect bites. If your dog has allergies and has been treated with a steroid before, it is always a good idea to have some extra medication like Prednisone or Medrol on hand in case of an allergic outbreak after hospital hours. In addition, keeping antibiotics on hand for those dogs who seem to get into trouble, for example, by injuring themselves, or by getting into dog fights, is not a bad idea. These drugs will usually stay potent for a few years, if stored in a cool place. In addition, for those dogs who become frightened during the 4th of July or any other noisy event, check with your veterinarian to see if they recommend having a few tranquilizers on hand.

Again, these are only first aid suggestions and are not a substitute for bringing your dog to your veterinarian due to any of these aforementioned scenarios. Always check with your veterinary office with any questions or concerns.

About Dr. Stan Kunin

Stan Kunin DVM graduated from UC Davis in 1978 and has had his own practice in Woodland Hills, California since 1986. Dr. Kunin is a special veterinarian who was born 80% deaf, but the weakness in his hearing has helped to give him a 6th sense about animal care and the wellbeing of his patients.

In a regular series of articles for the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, Dr. Kunin shares his thoughts, opinions and advice on animal matters.

Katherine Heigl - WebMD Magazine Cover, May 2013

It is a passion that lead to the creation of the JDHF, to help tackle the massive problem of homeless pets and animal cruelty, and to the development of the Just One pet product line to help provide additional funding for our life saving work.

Find out exactly what Katherine had to say by visiting the WebMD web site and downloading the interview for free! It is available in the May 2013 edition of WebMD magazine out now.

Thankfully, her heart-warming recovery has been nothing short of remarkable, and today Wendy is barely recognizable, completely transformed from the frail dog that greeted us a little over a month and a half ago. The credit for her well-being goes to the expert veterinary care she received and, most importantly, the wonderful love and attention from her foster carer Mia Gyzander who has nursed Wendy back to health.

One of the Heigl Foundation's partners, Lori Weise from Downtown Dog Rescue, helped to connect us with Mia, who has been the perfect foster for Wendy. Since she has been in Mia's care, the 2 year old petite pit bull mix has almost doubled in weight to a now ideal 48 pounds. Wendy's wounds have healed and her broken leg has been repaired - it will be x-rayed for a final time prior to going to a forever home.

Mia reports that despite her ordeal, Wendy shows no signs of anxiety and is a lovely dog to have around. She adores every person she meets - and is all kisses and wags! Quiet and calm around the house Wendy is house broken, crate-trained and socializes well with other pups. Last weekend, after weeks of splint changes and having her wounds tended to, she was finally able to frolic around freely and enjoy a hike with friends without being held back. We can't wait to find the perfect home for this girl who has a new leash on life!

Wendy (right) and Mia enjoy a hike in Griffith Park with friends

Wendy (left) and Mia enjoy a hike in Griffith Park with friends

If you would like to adopt Wendy please get in touch with us by completing the form on her profile page. Thanks to everyone who helped support her recovery - now lets find her a home!

In the interview feature, she talks about the work of the Foundation and her recently launched pet product line Just One - the proceeds from which benefit animals in desperate need.

Demand is typically strongest for small breed dogs and our amazing staff and volunteers work directly with shelters to select friendly, outgoing animals, to fly or drive to destinations in New York, Oregon, Washington State, New Mexico and California. The pets chosen for transport are always animals that have been available to the public, but who were not adopted and would be imminently euthanized in the shelter due to lack of space without our intervention.

After the lucky dogs are selected, they undergo a thorough health inspection and receive a certificate that allows them to travel by a DVM. If they are not already sterilized, they are fixed after arriving at their destination location and spay/neuter certificates are gathered. They are then given plenty of play time at the shelter, so that they can get all of that pent-up energy out! If traveling by air, they are then brought to the airport, dressed in sweaters or coats, given water (we put ice in their dishes, so it melts throughout their trip), then head off. We only transport using planes with specific cargo areas that are directly below the pilot and whose temperature and cabin pressure are regulated. If the dogs are to be driven, they are loaded into a van and head off to their destination with appropriate stops for potty breaks and food.

Once our four-legged friends arrive at their destination, we follow up to make sure that they are in good health and are ultimately adopted. The dogs we select for transport from shelters in Los Angeles have their progress tracked to adoption and we are responsible for their health and well-being. Destination locations are closely screened by both the sending shelter and by the Heigl Foundation - not just forms and paperwork - but actual on-site visits. We review the organization adoption agreement and get references from around the animal welfare world. We want to make certain that all of the animals transported are headed to happy homes!

This process would not be possible without the tireless work of our volunteers and our participating source shelters. Airlines require long lead times and we adhere to temperature restrictions. Our team often has to arrive at the shelter at 1:00 a.m. to prep dogs for an early flight out of Los Angeles to ensure that they are able to travel safely. We also have volunteers across the country who make sweaters for the dogs, donate blankets and towels and give their time to help us.

We have also assisted the spcaLA with their Air Chihuahua flights, transporting an additional 19 dogs to bring our year to date total to 298. This number only reflects the pets were have directly relocated, as Heigl Foundation grants given to animal welfare organizations have also accounted for numerous additional transports. We are on target to comfortably beat our 2012 program tally of saving 768 dogs.

When you donate to the JDHF, you are helping enable a dog to find a new home. Just $60 will subsidize a trip across the country to safe arms and a warm lap.

We are looking for people who would enjoy having a pet for a brief stay before they are transported to a no kill rescue facility that the JDHF has partnered with. The average size of each pup would be 15 pounds and the dog would stay with you for a period of between 2 and 4 weeks. Occasionally, the dogs will not make it on to a scheduled transport due to small health issues, such as a cough or runny nose. In this instance, the stay may be a little longer. The Foundation will supply food, pre-approved medical supplies and basic products such as collars, leashes and bowls.

Interested in signing up or know someone who might be? Please email us at info@jasonheiglfoundation.org or use our contact form to get in touch! We are currently only seeking fosters in the Los Angeles area.

The JDHF Team