May 10 - National Shrimp Day

Most of the shrimp consumed in the United States comes from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Gulf Coast. Generally speaking, the colder the water the smaller and more succulent the shrimp. Shrimp change color when you cook them due to a heat induced chemical change in their shells. Jumbo and colossal shrimp are referred to as prawns - although the prawn is actually a different species. Shrimp are available year round: shelled or unshelled, raw or cooked, fresh or frozen. Smell raw shrimp when purchasing it and look for an oceanside fragrance. Choose plump, juicy shrimp and rinse under cold water before tightly covering and refrigerating it. Shrimp can be used in a variety of dishes but classic shrimp cocktail is one of the best recipes to highlight the pure taste of fresh shrimp.

May 1st Week - Puppy Mill Action Week

Check out this list of 10 things you can do to help stop puppy mills:

• Get an Education: Whether you're thinking about getting a dog, want to educate others about puppy mills or just want to learn more, check out more information on puppy mills and puppy buying at Stop Puppy Mills.
• Stop Puppy Mills on Your Website: Start educating visitors about the dangers of puppy mills and pet stores on your website, MySpace page, Facebook page or blog.
• Assist With Ads: Help The HSUS place “Stop Puppy Mill” ads in national magazines and on billboards in communities around the country.
• Get the Kit: The Advocates Kit has everything you’ll need to start spreading the word about puppy mills in your community, including printed materials, letter templates, tips for developing legislation and activity ideas.
• Forward to a Friend: Know someone who is thinking about bringing a puppy into their family? Send them a message with a link to this page so they can read puppy buying tips and learn more about puppy mills.
• Lobby for Better Laws: Contact your federal and state legislators and let them know that you’re concerned about the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills and want the puppy mill issue to be a priority for congress. Ask them to expand the reach of the Animal Welfare Act to include kennels that sell large numbers of puppies directly to the public and to ban the imports of puppies for resale.
• Speak Up: Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is a great way to get the word out about puppy mills in your community.
• Furnish Your Vet With Flyers: Supply your vet or groomer’s office with informational flyers on “How to Buy a Puppy” and “How to Find a Good Dog Breeder” designed to help potential pet owners avoid puppy mills.
• Donate: Help The HSUS in the ongoing campaign to stop puppy mills. Make a donation today.

May 1st week - Be Kind to Animals Week

The American Humane Association created Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals. Every year, animal shelters throughout the country hold special events and teach people about the amazing role animals play in our lives.

Be Kind to Animals Week is a great time to promote our nation's animal welfare organizations and to encourage everyone to get involved to make a difference for animals.

Here are some simple things you can do during the week and througout the year to show kindness to animals:

• Speak out for animals. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation. Register on the American Humane Association's website to receive timely Action Alerts about issues affecting animals. You'll be able to make a difference just with the click of your mouse.
• Report animal abuse. While acts of violence against animals are tragic in their own right, they are also a red flag for other violent behavior including domestic abuse and violent crime.
• Appreciate wildlife. Leave room in your yard for habitats. Make a bird or bat house.
• Share kindness. Teach the people in your life, especially children, about the importance of being kind to animals.
• Make a donation to your local animal shelter. A donation can be any number of contributions from your time or money to needed items such as pet food or laundry detergent.
• Adopt a pet from a shelter. Approximately 8-12 million animals enter our nation's shelters every year, and more than half of these pets will have to be euthanized because of a lack of homes.
• Help solve the tragedy of euthanasia of adoptable animals by not contributing to the problem. Have your own pets spayed or neutered. Pets should be microchipped and should always wear a collar with an ID tag so they can be returned home quickly if they are ever lost.

May 2nd week - National Pet Week

National Pet Week was jointly founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Assocation (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA and is now widely celebrated throughout the United States and other parts of the world.

Each year, its goals are to promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine.