Memphis-based Hollywood Feed is traveling the southeast to give away food, treats and toys to homeless dogs and pups living at animal shelters and rescue groups. 

The local chain, with 45 stores in five states, started its "You Buy We Give" program in spring as a way for customers to help homeless pets.  When customers bought select products, Hollywood Feed matched the purchase with a donation of the same products. The items, included food, flea and tick prevention, pet shampoo, identification tags, beds, chew toys and more.

The "buy" part of the program ended June 30. The "give" part began June 20 when Hollywood Feed delivered its first load of donations to Tunica Humane Society. The gifts included toys, treats and enough dog food that could feed 10 medium-sized dogs for a year.

"Our organization relies heavily on the generosity of others, be it through fostering our dogs and cats, volunteering at our facilities, or donating products our pets can use to live even happier lives here," said Tunica Humane Society founder Sandy Williams. "We're so grateful for these donations from Hollywood Feed and its customers, and we know that every item will go to good use!"

Hollywood Feed will deliver additional supplies in markets throughout the Southeast, including Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

The original Hollywood Feed opened in Memphis in the 1950s near the intersection of Hollywood and Chelsea. It was a feed store that primarily sold livestock feed. For years, it operated in four locations as Hollywood Pet Star.  Shawn McGee and other investors bought the stores in 2006. They returned the store to its original name and launched a major expansion project with nine stores in Shelby County and more in other parts of Tennessee. Hollywood Feed also operates stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. 

In its February edition, "Pet Business,"  a trade magazine, ranked Hollywood Feed No. 17 in a list of the top 25 pet retailers in North America. 

Hollywood Feed offers a wide selection of natural and holistic pet food and products and supports local rescues through regular pet adoption and community events. The retailer paid for construction and amenities for Overton Bark Dog Park.

In 2015, Hollywood Feed donated more than $1,500 worth of dog houses and straw for a project called Cold Dogs/Warm Hearts. Thanks to Hollywood Feed, the group delivered more than 100 dogs houses to ones with little or no shelter during an unusually harsh winter in Memphis. 

A dozen Golden Retrievers from Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministries in Chicago have traveled to Orlando to offer comfort to people who are grieving. They can't cry with them or offer words of condolence, but they can put their soft heads on laps or hands, lean in or move in closer for hugs or kisses. The dogs also went to Sandy Hook and Boston after the bombing at the Boston Marathon Read the story from Time Magazine. You can donate to help pay for their travel expenses.

Trixie is a sweet little pup whose nearly 1 years old. She was abandoned by her owner at an apartment complex in West Memphis, Ark.

She loves toys and playing with other dogs. she loves to drop the toys in her water bucket. She's funny with a goofy sense of humor. The staff loves her bat ears that change position based on her mood. 

If your dog is bored and needs a goofball to run around and play with her or if your family needs some entertainment and affection, please go visit her. She will be your best friend. There are also other great dogs and cats ready for adoption. This shelter is one of the jewels in our community. Go take a look. 

Adoption fee $100 which includes spay/neuter, all shots and microchip.

West Memphis Animal Shelter
500 South Loop Road
​(previously Rushing Road)
West Memphis, @AR 72301
 (870) 732-7599
wmas@citywm.com

Adoption phone: (870) 732-7698
adoptiondesk@citywm.comShelter hours
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m-5 p.m.
Saturdays: 8 a.m.-noon.

A few years ago, I wrote about a fight between my husband and me about who was going to wrest part of a squirrel from our Beagle. For a couple who argues over lame stuff like the proper order to put on shoes and socks, this one was important.

By the way, I argue for sock-shoe, sock-shoe since you already have the foot on your knee. He argues for sock-sock, shoe-shoe. I don't no why. My way saves you a second or two while you switch your legs back and forth.

Pet Scoop
By Cindy Wolff

Words I never thought I'd utter: "If there's a piece of squirrel  under this sofa cushion, I'm gonna beat the tar out of you!" 

Squirrels, meet beagle. 

She's squatty, silky red with kohl-rimmed brown eyes and a wiggling backside that redefines cute. Her real name is Meg Ryan (Meggie for short), but we never call her that. Just Beagle. 

I've noticed recently that the little butterball is getting plumper. I figured she wasn't burning calories because of high temperatures. 

I was wrong.

 I arrived home Monday evening after a long day at work. The big dogs greeted me at the door. I rounded the corner looking for the beagle. I found her curled on her little pet bed in my bedroom. Beside her laid out like a quill pen, was a squirrel tail.  In her mouth, she held a head attached to a shoulder connected to a wee paw. 

I screamed my husband's name. The man, who has the observational skills of a doorknob, hadn't noticed the macabre scene while doing laundry or watching old golf highlights. 

He finally came and did what I should have expected: Screamed like a girl and ran away. The beagle began walking toward me with her snack. I joined screams with Dave as we flew into the living room.  Beagles toenails click-clacked ]as she rounded the corner and headed toward us again. We picked up our screams and fled to the kitchen. 

I peeked around the corner and saw that Beagle was on our sofa still holding her squirrel part. The situation was urgent. We could not have a dog with a dead animal on our sofa. If sh
Then came the bickering. 

"You get it." 

"No, you get it." 

"I can't." 

"I can't either." 

"We can't leave it in the house." 

"Someone HAS to do something." 

My husband put his foot down like he does when he's completely sure of something. 

"I am incapable of going in there and getting it." 

That left me to man up and take charge. I grabbed one of those always-handy plastic grocery sacks, marched into the living room and yelled at the beagle. 

Her ears drooped as she spat the remains onto my sofa. I put the bag over my hand, then scooped up the remains. 

The beagle and I made a beeline for the bedroom where I successfully collected the tail. 

I scouted around the house for other body parts mentally noted everything that would be washed, in scalding water. 

I love the dog door because I don't have to worry about getting home fast to let them outside. I'm just not sure how to teach the beagle to leave her trophies outside. I'm open to suggestions. Tell me your stories.

 
Two events are set for Thursday night; both to
benefit the homeless animals of Memphis


Grrrl's Night
6-9 p.m.
Stock & Belle
387 S. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Cost: $20

Alive Rescue Memphis will be celebrating rescue, fashion, and cruelty free beauty at Stock & Belle tomorrow night. 

Hair, nails and make-up professionals will there to give you glam using 100 percent cruelty-free products. A photographer will be ready to snap photos of you before and after your transformation. There are cool items up for raffle The first 30 girls who make it through the door will get gift bags filled with cruelty-free goodies.

Enjoy cocktails and appetizers while you shop in this adorable store in the South Main District. 

387 Salon will provide mini makeovers or blowout. It's first-come, first served with a limited number of spots. Nail techs will be on the bottom level to gussy up your hands. 

Come early, hungry, thirsty, with a crew of girlfriends, and get ready to have a night you will not forget. 
If you are interested in donating or being a sponsor you can email us at ranise.aliverescue@gmail.com.


ALIVE Rescue Memphis is a foster based rescue program for homeless animals in the Memphis area. The group aims to save as many lives as possible from kill shelters and the streets, ultimately placing them in their best-matched homes that suit both animals and their new owners. 



Unity for the Animals of Memphis
6-7 p.m. Thursday 
3758 Summer Ave.
Memphis, TN 38122
(North side of summer, between Graham and Highland, beside Pittman Glass.) Look for balloons.

The meeting is open to anyone who wants to help create a plan of action for Memphis Animal Services to stop killing dogs and cats based on the amount of time they've been at the shelter or how much space is available. The group wants to create a committee of volunteers that will advocate for this cause, as well as spay and neuter awareness. The group is interested in all ideas to help the animals of Memphis.

Now, I always stay with my dogs to the end. I need to back up a few years to explain why I decided to be there. It started with my dog Amber and later, Molly. ​

Amber, my golden retriever, became ill almost overnight. Her stomach was full of fluid. My vet called and gave me the details. There was nothing to be done.

He said that he could just put her to sleep while she was still under sedation. I told him not to. If he could make it, so she wasn't in pain, I needed to see her one last time. 

That was probably selfish of me, but I had a reason: On surgery day, we got out of the car, and she yanked back on her leash. She had never done that.  It surprised me, and I dropped the leash. She ran to the car and climbed in through the passenger window. Something else she's never done. 

She didn't want to go in. It's almost like she could sense this would be our last time together. She was afraid and shaking. I sat with her in the car for a few minutes and then got her out. She fought to stay with me when the vet tech took her back. 

She broke my heart, and I believed I broke hers. 

 I try to have a live and live attitude.  We all have opinions about assault weapons, the capital punishment, abortion, or the last episode of "Lost."

But there is one subject where my mind won't open for another opinion. Neglect, cruelty or just plain ignorance when it comes to animals. The people who believe as I do are legion. They work tirelessly around the country fighting to save animals from abuse and neglect or to simply find animals a home. They are a million times more active than I'll ever be. But whether we do a little or a lot, we all operate from the same playbook.

The problem with us is that we are incapable of holding our tongues when we see an animal that is being hurt or neglected. Some of these people bow up like mother grizzlies and fight to save the animal or at least get it out of your hands.

I will flat-out tell you about the law when you say you plan on breeding your dog. It's illegal unless you are a licensed breeder. In fact, the law calls for your dog to be spayed or neutered. I pray that we can get the ordinances changed in Memphis to prohibit chaining/tethering of dogs as a permanent form of containment. A great law in West Memphis allows animals to be tethered outside for a maximum of a few hours. Animal control will cite you and do its best to take your dog if you don't obey.

Memphis needs that. Another thing, don't let us catch you hitting a child, a dog or a senior citizen, which are the most vulnerable in our society. I'm not fearless about much, but I have no qualms in stopping you. I will call the police if you don't stop. I will follow you home to get your address and find out who you are. I'll check on the dog to see if it's okay. If it's not, I'm calling animal control. 

Trust me; I am a mouse compared to others in this city who are saving animals from shelters and horrible situations. They've helped to get some laws changed. They work to get information to animal control workers. They network to get animals out of shelters. They do everything they can to make a difference in these animals' lives.

That's the problem with us animal lovers; we love our pets and will give them the best care we can afford, but in various lengths of time, commitment and energy. Some of us do minimal work; others spend every single day taking care of foster animals, shuffling dogs back and forth to pet adoption days, cleaning out cat cages. Others are trying to get laws passed and enforced. We are networking and adopting animals at the shelter to help them find homes. We raise money when we find one that needs more medical care than we can afford. We will hound you and watch for you. When we see you doing something cruel or neglectful, we will find a way to stop you.
​
Don't think of us as nuisances, snitches or fanatics. Truly, we're not. Just ask the animals we save from your wretched hands.