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President "Home 4 the Holidays" Animal Rescue Organization urges looking for a gift that everyone can love...consider adopting a pet...and if you think you don't want to, be sure to view this special video report...

December 2005 (Medialink) -- How many dogs and cats will spend this holiday season in a shelter ... awaiting a family to take them home?

Even one is too many. That's why "Home 4 the Holidays" encourages prospective pet parents to bring a shelter pet home during the holidays. This year's campaign runs from Nov. 7, 2005 to Jan. 2, 2006, with a goal of 350,000 pet adoptions nationwide. This year is particularly important considering the amount of animals that became homeless as a result of the severe hurricane season.

Helen Woodward Animal Center will team with more than 2,000 animal shelters, actress and animal lover Diane Keaton and the Iams Company to encourage prospective pet parents to bring a shelter pet home for the holidays.

About Animal Rescue President Michael Arms

Michael Arms is President and Executive Director of Helen Woodward Animal Center/President "Home 4 the Holidays" Animal Rescue Organization. Michael Arms was an enthusiastic young man who set out to change the world, one puppy at a time. After completing his education and serving a tour of duty as a United States Marine in Vietnam, Mike returned to his home in New York and accepted a position with the Humane Society.

During one attempt at rescuing a puppy that appeared to have a broken back, Mike was beaten and stabbed by 2 thugs who had been cruelly betting on when the puppy would die. Just as Mike Arms was slipping into unconsciousness, the pup crawled over to him and began licking his face. "There was no way that the little guy should have been able to reach me with his broken back. But somehow he pulled himself over to me with his front paws and brought me back to life."

"There in the gutter I prayed and promised God that if he would allow me to live, I would never turn my back on an orphaned pet."

The puppy didn't survive, but Mike Arms did. And since that time Mike has dedicated his life to saving orphaned pets. He is credited with finding loving, lifelong homes for more dogs and cats than anyone else in history.