P.S.: Though I never thought that we’d share our lives with pet birds, we love it. But, like any committed guardianship, the role of ‘bird parent’ certainly isn’t for anyone who can’t spare the time and attention.

Since Wee Companions is not a public rescue, you will need to make an appointment to see their animals.

Wee Companions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to the rescue and care of guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, mice, chinchillas and other small exotics from shelters, places of abandonment, and from persons relinquishing their pets.

This organization’s top priority is finding permanent homes for unwanted animals. Wee Companions is an 100% volunteer organization and all monies raised are invested into the care of the animals.

Whenever possible, this organization offers a safe house to these animals, irrespective of age, temperament, or health status. All animals receive veterinary care and socialization in the hopes that they will be placed in a “forever” home. Animals given Sanctuary Status will be placed in Wee Companion’s Foster Care Network to live out their lives in comfort and with love. This organization also focuses on educating foster parents, school children and others on the care, feeding and prevention of unwanted litters of these animals.

We have adopted several of Wee Companions’ rescue rats and they turned out to be among the best socialized and dearest rat friends we have been able to take up into our family. The memory of two of these adopted friends (Magnolia and Olive), is also preserved in some of the photos of our website www.onestaorganics.com.

Because Wee Companions is not a public shelter, appointments are required for individual adoptions. You can contact Wee Companions via the email link on their website www.weecompanions.com. On their site, you can also check out their adoptable animals.

Contact: Howard Edelstein, Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary Events Coordinator, 301-625-9321, PoplarSpringRun@yahoo.com

Where: Wheaton Regional Park 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902

When: Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 8:30 AM
(Race-day registration begins at 7:00 AM)

What: Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary will hold its 6th annual, green-friendly*, all vegan, 5K Run for the Animals and 1-Mile Fun Walk. Approximately 700 area runners, teams and individuals will compete for prize money and raffle items. Refreshments will be provided, socialized dogs are welcome to join the walk and fitness instructors from the Sergeant”s Program will warm-up runners and walkers. All proceeds benefit the sanctuary.

Who: Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 400-acre, non-profit refuge for more than 200 neglected, unwanted or abandoned farmed animals. Its mission is to provide care, rehabilitation and permanent sanctuary for unwanted farmed animals, protected habitat for wildlife and education to the public (especially to children and school groups) regarding farmed animal and wildlife issues. The sanctuary promotes compassion and humane treatment for all animals.

What’s New: This year runners can bring their old shoes to the race site to be donated to Nike”s Reuse a shoe program. Shoes will be shipped to the Nike recycling center that turns athletic shoes into reusable products like zippers and soles of shoes. Also, all bibs are made of seeds so you can plant them after the race. *Check out what we are doing to make our race green at www.animalsanctuary.org/events/green.htm

Cost: Registration fee is $20.00 for the Run/Walk prior to May 1, 2009. Beginning May 1, 2009 the registration fee is $25.00; $28.00 on race day.

Registration: For more information on race registration, please visit poplarspring.kintera.org.

Onesta Organics is proud to support this event with a few boxes of our Veggie-Hides organic dog treats. A big Thank You! to all organizers of this important event!