I started posting Dog and Cat Stars of the Week in hopes of getting homes for some pets in the Seattle area. I do random searches on Petfinder and pull up the pets that appeal to me, and seem like good candidates for adoption. I always emailed the shelters and asked if they would let me know if the featured pet found a home.

As weeks went by, I admit to having become a little discouraged. After all, there are SO MANY dogs and cats to choose from -- always more and more -- and week after week they seemed to go unnoticed. Was anyone even READING this blog? I wondered.

However I pressed on, and last week I was rewarded when I noticed a comment from Chance's new owners. They said that thanks to my blog, they had driven to the shelter and adopted him.

YAY!!!!!!!!!

This has given me the boost I needed. I'll just keep posting Dog and Cat Stars of the Week. After all, it has saved one dog -- and therefore worth the effort.

Now I continue to brainstorm and wonder what other things I can do to make a difference. What can the ordinary person, who has enough pets or cannot take on another for some reason, do about the overpopulation problem? My friend Joni came up with this beautiful clip art encouraging folks to spay and neuter. Creative solutions are everywhere. Donate to a spay and neuter campaign. Sponsor an adoptable pet. Post a homeless cat's photo, with the shelter link, on your website.

I am open to more suggestions. It seems there is always something! As my friend Vickie said, we can "change the world, one pet at a time..."