Dog Rescuer's Life

Things are so slow

2012-01-28T20:20:00.001-05:00

Today's adoption event was not very good :-( Lady went to a foster to adopt home.... honestly that could go either way. I have a wife and son who are VERY sold on Yeager but not sure Dad is on board. They said they would call me on Monday. Jack got adopted today but he gets neutered on Feb 8th and their dog is getting neutered on Feb 13th so he doesn't go to his new home until the 18th.

Had a lot of people interested in Freckles (aka the upside down dog) but no takers :-( I have cute little Nemo and Ray and no interest in him at all, how the heck do puppies not get adopted. It was so slow today... I am so bummed out.

Piper was brought back yesterday so now I have an extra dog. just what I needed....

Cliff did go to his foster to adopt home and the first day report was positive.

I must say we have way more luck at Rural King then we do at PetSmart. Rural King is way easier for adoption events, people are WAY NICER, way more supportive and the store doesn't act like we are an annoyance. Feel that way at PetSmart. Maybe we just need to go there more so that people know to look for us there...

We will be back at Rural King on Feb 11th and PetSmart on Feb 12th. At least PetSmart said I can set up a table Friday night with information on dogs up for adoption and a Flier that says we will be there on Sunday. I REALLY hope that weekend isn't a bust. Adoptions are so slow right now.... I hope things start to pick up soon. There are so many dogs that need help and it is so sad then I can't help.

3 can you believe it 3 in 2 days!!

2012-01-20T21:58:00.002-05:00

can you believe that in 2 days... actually less then 24 hours apart from each other I have had 3, yes 3 applications from people wanting to adopt who has a dog THAT IS NOT FIXED!! Can you believe this?? I am shocked! I mean yea it happens once in a while but 3 applications IN A ROW with in 24 hours from each other. I feel like someone is testing me to see if I am really processing applications properly.

One person has not responded to me when I said I am sorry but I can't complete the process of your application until your current dog is fixed. One person has been wonderful and is taking her dog in next week and one I just emailed to let them know... wonder if I will hear back?

Are you afraid?? Be careful

2012-01-19T12:39:00.003-05:00

I must say I am shocked at people's reaction when I say I rescued a few Pit Bulls.

"Are you afraid of them?" I had the lady at the dentist office ask me. No I am not are you afraid of a Chihuahua? "No?!" she said all confused. Well I am! I have been bitten by more Chihuahua then any other dog... never been bit by a Pit Bull.

Then I went on to tell her that they are the sweetest things ever. Even though they came from a horrible horrible life of abuse they are so sweet and ready to please and listen so well.

THEN I get an email from someone IN RESCUE who knows of a JRT that the family "kicked out of the house" because they got a new dog and she has been living outside eating garbage for the past 3 months. The RESCUE person said in her email "If it really is a JRT be careful introducing it to other dogs!"

WTF seriously! you are a rescue person and you are allowing yourself to stereo type like this! UGH!!

Just irritates!

Emergency Emergency

2012-01-18T12:03:00.003-05:00

On Monday night I get a panicked messaged from a foster home that the dog they were fostering attacked one of their dogs and 2 of their dogs are injured. WHAT THE HELL?? Was my reaction this foster dog has been living there for a few weeks. Well turns out he wasn't living all that peacefully with the one dog and things just came to blow on Monday night.

The foster dog is now under evaluation with a rescue friend. We will see what decision we come to with him. He has a VERY strong prey drive and has killed cats... hence he is in rescue right now... he was was adopted as a puppy and returned for killing cats.

The two dogs that he attacked both went to the vet on an emergency visit yesterday morning at the tune of $360.

THEN yesterday I go to a dog shelter who wanted me to evaluate a JRT mix. I evaluate him and they say if you don't take him he is getting put down tomorrow. OMG REALLY! I was on my lunch break from work and he SMELLS! Ok, fine. So $90 for a dog that has nothing but vaccinations (not rabies) and was wormed once. Great deal... LOL! It is going to cost me over $100 to him neutered and rabies. Come on people we are a non profit. We don't have money pouring out of our wallets.

Then yesterday around 7:30 I get a phone call from a foster home that the dog they are fostering has been sick. We talk a bit and decide the dog will go to the vet today b/c we are both worried about her.

I worked with the Pits for a few hours with some basic training as I do every night. OMG They make me so tired. I love it but they make me tired b/c it is like watching a toddler. They don't know anything so you don't want them to do something bad or something that will hurt them and I have to "watch" so closely so I can catching them trying to potty and make them go outside. UGH! LOL!

When I went to put the Pits to bed in their crates mom dog Jessie the JRT had a baby she was giving birth too. So the puppies starting arriving around 9:30pm last night and this morning we had 4.

THEN at Midnight the foster home called me to say that the dog that wasn't feeling well is now pouring blood from her back end. I got up, picked her up and took her to an emergency clinic... but let me tell you about that.........

I called one emergency vet.... lets call that one 57. The lady answer the phone and I said "HI, my name is Amy and I have a rescue dog in a foster home and the foster home said she is pooping a lot of blood. What do I need to do to bring her in?" The women said "it is $99 just to walk in the door." I said "Ok that is fine I don't care." She then said "then from there it is going to be 100's and 100's AND 100's of dollars" I said "OK. Well I really don't have an option do I?!" She said "I am just letting you know it will be 100's of dollars." She acted like she didn't want me to bother coming in.

That rubbed me the wrong way so I called West Park Animal Hospital. I really like them and they have always helped me out when needed it and done a really great job.

Of course the lady that answered was very nice and I told her what was going on and my most recent experience with 57. She said yea, I have heard they aren't very nice there so don't worry it isn't just you. We both laughed. She said they close at 1pm and neither of us were sure I could make it on time. The roads were kind of bad with this slippery slushy rain / snow combo that was coming down. She said she had internet access and would look for another place for me.

She suggested Animal Clinic Northview. She came me the number and I called them. The lady on the phone was very nice and said come on in.

I got there and they were nice. Then the vet came in, looked over the dog and said "Ok we have a few options. We can keep her, put her on IV fluids, medication and run blood work. That is going to start at $700." Mind you I am paying over $100 to just walk in the door.

I said "this is a rescue dog and we are a non profit. I am just looking to get her through the night so I can take her to my regular vet."

he said VERY snotty "I am just trying to give you all the options and that is why I am telling you price."

now keep in mind I told them when I called and when I was there I am a rescue... blah blah blah just like I told 57. So really you are going to start with a $700 option! Whatever.

I said "WOW ok!" and just rubbed my head! I was seriously tempted to put the dog in a crate and walk out. JERK! He said it very nasty.

I paused for a minute and said "How about this. Let's give her IV fluids b/c she is clearly dehydrated and some medicine just to get her through the night. is that an option? would that be ok?"

I did want to seem like an a-hole and tell the many who spent 7 years in vet school what to do but come on I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday! My vets are WAY AWESOME and tell me stuff and how to handle things and I pay attention when they do stuff so I am not an idiot. I understand he doesn't know that so I did phrase my question / statement so that I didn't come off like a I know more then you person. I hate those type of people.

His response was "Yes that should get her through the night. Lets do that." He asked if i had any (don't know the spelling) medicine at home. I said no I think I am out. So he gave her some of that and a sub q fluids and off we went home.

I was in bed by 2am.

THEN this morning I had to take the dog to my regular vet so they could figure out what is going on with her. I left her there for them to run tests and put her on IV.

OK AND NOW GET THIS!!!

I just received an email that a women has a lab/boxer mix female and a male boxer neither are fixed and yesterday the female gave birth to 11 puppies. The women didn't know the dog was pregnant. Clearly someone needs to tell her where babies come from!

So now I am looking for an emergency foster for 11 puppies and a mom.

Balancing act

2012-01-17T15:42:00.002-05:00

Dog rescue is a very tricky balancing act. You have to balance work, family, life and then the rescue. The only problem is rescue is SO MUCH work and time that other things get pushed aside. Like the Christmas tree that is still up in my front room. LOL! Ornaments are off and have been for 2 weeks but tree is still up.... oopse! I did get everything else Christmas put away almost immediately! Which reminds me I can probably get my few Valentine's Day stuff out! Hmmm wonder when I am going to have time for that.

The Pits I took in are doing wonderfully. They are very good dogs and I really have no concerns about them what so ever. They are ready to start a new life in a home with a family and be the center of someone's world. I have them off the leash trained, almost totally crate trained, working on come and sit but doing very well with that. They poop outside every time but peeing we do have accidents even though I watch them like a hawk. Stairs FORGET IT! scary scary scary. We will keep working on those. Wishbone was afraid of them too for a long time now he runs up and down them like they are nothing.

Last night I was showing Freedom how to do the stairs. OMG so funny he was gripping with his front toes like he was holding on for dear life. I just carry him down, he isn't going anywhere near that hole in the floor so I have to pick up his nearly 40 pound body and carry him down. He still has about 4 or 10 pounds he needs to gain so he better figure it out quick b/c soon he will weigh 1/2 as much as me and I am not carrying him then! LOL!

I took in another JRT today. I totally don't have room nor should I have taken him. I just don't want another dog but he was getting put down tomorrow. UGH! What I was supposed to do. Nice doggie see you in the after life? NO!! So he is in my. He smells so bad. First thing I am going to do when I get home is give him a bath. GROSS!!!!!!

Well I am off to a dentist appointment that I really don't have time for b/c work is kicking my butt but oh well. BALANCING act continues.

Hard work

2012-01-15T20:58:00.002-05:00

Taking in the Pits has been a lot of crazy hard work. They are WONDERFUL dogs, sweet and loving and learn so quick. I want to spend every minute with them PLUS on top of that I have the other dogs I am trying to help.

I have had some really long hours at work the last week or so and have some other things going on which I can't talk about right now that has been a bit draining. Don't worry it isn't anything bad... well unless I don't get what I want. LOL!!

We had an adoption event on Saturday. Only one dog got adopted but it was my sweet Nina who was thrown from a car and had road rash on her one side so bad that she is missing most of her hair.

When we took her in, it took 3 days for her to wag her tail. I am so happy that she found a home. She is just the sweetest dog ever.

I had taken in 5 puppies on Thursday... can you believe not one was spoken for at the event??!!
Well one did go to a foster to adopt home today and I do have one application but for the same puppy. Hoping they will be interested in the puppy that LOOKS just like the one they put an application in for. Oh I hope!

I have so much going on I have had 2 dogs in boarding for over a week now. YIKES EXPENSIVE.
I am picking up the one tomorrow and Wednesday the other one goes to a foster to adopt home... and I really really hope that one leads to an adoption. That poor dog is so sweet and just needs the right now.

So for 2012 has been pretty good... hoping that my good news comes this week.. if it does I will be sure to let you know what it is ;-)

TIRED

2012-01-07T22:37:00.004-05:00

WOW!! Ok, so I am not afraid of hard work but I am so freaking tired.

Friday I got up at 5am and went out to the dog room. I put Liberty in the out door kennel run and I put Freedom, Kassa, Cleveland and Blossom out in the fenced yard and then I let cranky pregnant Jessie the JRT out to just run and do whatever she wanted. It took me an hour to clean up all the cages for the 4 bait dogs. OMG they are so messy. LOL! They just pee all over their blanket and then lay in it. I have done at least 10 loads of laundry since they got here and I have gone through at least 2 Clorex Wipes and about 10 rolls of paper towels.

Once I was done with cleaning everything up, giving them clean food, water and bedding I put everyone away and got ready for work. I got to work about 7:50ish. I received a call from The Chronicle Telegram which is my local paper. They heard about the bait dogs and wanted to come out and see them. I worked the rest of the day then rushed home to meet the reporter guy.

Here is the aritcle
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2012/01/07/dogs-get-their-licks-in/

Once they left I had to go pick up Newtown (now Buzz) and Maple (now Sammie) at the vet office. They got fixed on Friday. I had to also go to a different vet to pick up medicine for the bait dogs b/c they are starting to get snotty noses and I don't want them to come down with kennel cough.

THEN I had Maple getting adopted Friday night and I still had to feed horses and of course clean and work with the bait dogs.

Oh then I had people who came over to see them and brought some much needed and appreciated supplies for them.

I didn't get in the house until 10:30pm when I finally ate some left overs and then I had paper work and a few miscellaneous things I needed to do. I didn't get to bed until 11:30 and boy oh boy did I pass out. Then about 1pm Newton decided to start crying so it wakes me up. I have to go down stairs and yell at him. FINALLY after arguing with him for a bit he finally decides to stop crying and I go back to bed. THEN again at 3am, 5am, and 7am.

My brother in law texted me at 6:50 and a foster home called me at 7:30am. It was the night from hell. Between 7:30 and 8:30 I got the paper, took all the dogs out to go potty and wanted to go back to bed. at 9:30 I got another phone call. UGH! Whatever I was giving up on sleeping and started my day.

I was buy all day with the dogs. THANK GOD my husband is understanding b/c seriously I don't think we have seen each other since I got these guys.

Finally by 6pm I was done with all my chores and I could shower and my husband and I went to get something to eat. Finally got to spend sometime dog free. Not long though. LOL We were home by 9 and I spent an hour and 1/2 with the dogs, walking them, letting them play and just giving them some attention.

These dogs are so so so sweet, I just can't spend enough time with them.

Cleveland has discovered toys and it is freaking hilarious. OMG I just can't stop giving him different toys to see how he will react!

Well here are some pictures of the dogs. Just absolutely love them!

Got um!

2012-01-05T23:10:00.003-05:00

This afternoon my mom came to my work and we drove to the Cleveland City Kennel. WOW is that place DOGGIE JAIL! Concrete everything, no lighting... scary. Anyway, we loaded up 4 of the dogs seized from dog fighting ring and drove back to work.

They all seemed so friendly and sweet. Mom brought them home and put them in their kennels. When I got home from work I had 2 vet appointments for different dogs and 1 adoption. PLUS Sammie and Newton were getting dropped off so they can go have their spay/neuter surgery tomorrow.

Once all that was over, I took Kassa (the dog Holly watched get thrown from a car on News Year Eve) and put her in the fenced area. I then took two of the dogs to the fence to meet her. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body but is about the same size as them so figured it was a good test. The first dog and her smelled each other and all was good. Then the second dog... she was fine with Kassa but quickly turned her attention to the other dog. She seemed a little stand off ish and then out of no where SNAP!! It was like a switch went off in her head. It took everything in my power to get her off of the other dog. The poor other dog just laid on his back like ok kill me. Once I got her off of the other dog she was pulling on me like she want to keep going. I got in between her and the other dog at one point but that wasn't going to stop her she went for my leg but I moved quick enough. I don't really think she was going after me b/c she is human aggressive but she defiantly is dog aggressive.

I put her in a room by herself and just left her there to "chill out"

I brought out the other 2 dogs and they were totally fine. I let them off leads and the 3 bait dogs and Kassa ran and ran and ran in the front fenced area. OMG they were loving life. I just stood there and watch. It was probably the first time the have even been allowed to run free.

If I asked them "what are you doing" they would run as fast as they could to me. Blossom would jump on me and want me to pet her head. Oh they are so sweet.

Of course they made a TOTAL mess of their cages so that took me about 45 minutes to clean. LOL!

AND while all of this is going on, I get a phone call from a foster home about the foster dog being bad. I just don't know what I am going to do about that situation... I am at a loss.

OH and I get a phone call from the hoarder lady that I have worked with before. She has a dog she wants to give me. Of course I said yes....

all in the day of the live of a Dog Rescuer... LOL!

Bait dogs tomorrow

2012-01-04T22:32:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I am going to the Cleveland Kennel and getting 4 dogs. The dogs were seized in a bust of a dog fighting ring. They were all used as bait dogs. I am so excited to be helping and I can't wait to go get them tomorrow. This is going to be a great experience. I love watching dogs blossom and learn to be a real dog, learn to love, learn to trust!

So excited!

Looking for more information

2012-01-03T20:39:00.005-05:00

"Looking for more information on (insert name) I saw on Petfinder." What exactly does that mean? I absolutely hate that question when I have it emailed to me. I have no idea what it means, what exactly are they looking for? Do they want me to write a rambling email trying to guess at what they want to know? The information about the dog is in the bio. I try to make the bio's cover where the dog came from, how old, cost of adoption fee, mention if the dog is good with kids, cats, other dogs, housebroken, crate trained, if it knows tricks... etc. So what exactly does "Looking for more information" mean.

Just ask me questions, I am more then happy to answer any question they have but I really don't have time to ASS U ME what they really want to know.

I receive over 100 emails a day sorry I don't have time for it...

Sorry just had to vent.

Maximum sentence for Ohio dogfighting suspect (Petition)

2011-12-28T23:06:00.002-05:00

Cleveland OH: On December 22nd, a raid was conducted on a residence where 28 Pit Bulls were found living in horrible conditions along with what appeared to be a fighting ring. (Source.)

Of the dogs seized, 18 were just puppies. The dogs were skinny, trembling in fear and covered in both old and new scars. There were 10 adult dogs in the back yard and many of them were nursing mothers. Also found were dead puppies in the back yard. No food or water was seen anywhere.

In the basement police found a blood-spattered ring, apparently used for dog fighting. This is where the puppies were housed. It's believed these dogs were used as bait dogs in the dog fighting operation.

Police issued an arrest warrant for 33-year-old Collin Rand, Jr., who turned himself in 3 days later, where he is being held on charges of felony dog fighting.

One of the dogs found at the scene

Credits:

Fox 8 Cleveland Video screen capture

A petition has begun directed at the Cuyahoga County Judge who will hear this case, asking that Rand receive the maximum possible sentence for this crime.

The dogs are currently being evaluated with the adult dogs being held at the Cleveland City Kennel, and the puppies at the no-kill facility for the Northeast Ohio SPCA.

The future for these dogs remains unclear, but so far none of them has shown an ounce of aggression towards humans or other dogs. The plan for the puppies is to allow them to gain weight and then be adopted into loving homes.

Please consider adding your signature to this petition. This is a Change.org, where anyone can sign it. According to the chart linked below, dog fighting in Ohio is considered a 4th degree felony, with a maximum sentence of 6 to 18 months in jail and/or up to a $5000 fine.

Dog fighting is horrendous, with innocent dogs being made to fight for their very lives. Bait dogs are used to "teach" the fighters a taste for blood and how to kill another dog. Dogs involved in this horror either die in the ring, or end up being killed or merely dumped like trash to fend for themselves.

The monsters involved in dog fighting need to be sent a clear message that this illegal nightmare for dogs will be punished to the maximum extent allowed by law.

These dogs are at the mercy of the humans who hold them captive and force them to fight, and they have no voice except those of the advocates.

Thankfully the puppies will never have to know that life, and hopefully the adult dogs will also be adopted into loving forever homes, where they will never be forced to fight or be harmed again.

Click here for the petition: "Say NO to Dog Fighting – Maximum Sentence for OH Man Accused of Fighting Dogs".

Click here for more information about this case, and a video of the dogs when they were seized.

Click here for a chart of some state dog fighting laws.

My Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T21:52:00.002-05:00

I woke up around 7am so I could get my day started and all my chores done in time to go to Grandpa's house. Nina the little black lab girl who we believe was thrown from a car and is missing most of her hair on one side slept in the house peacefully all night. Went down stairs let the house dogs out...Scout, Nina, Petey and Hobbes. Everyone came in, ate breakfast and then it was out to the garage where the foster dogs are kept in crates in a heated room all set up for them (the room is also known as my husbands workshop... lol).

Yeager, Mia and Rosie all went out side and I fluffed their beds, gave them fresh food and water and then put them back in the room, not in cages....well except for Rosie so she would eat her food. Rosie I am baby sitting. She was from the Parvo Litter from 2009. She comes over and stays whenever her family is out of town. She has a sensitive stomach so can only eat her food or she will get the runs.

I went back in the house to get all bundled up to go to the barn to take care of the 9 horses, 2 goats, 2 donkeys, 6 plus cats (I say plus because there are a few ferrals but I am not sure how many) and the chickens (24 total).

It was such a sunny morning and the ground was still frozen so I went for a walk with all the dogs. Yeager was leaving at 9:30am and I wanted to make sure he got to play and say good bye to everyone.

We then went to the barn and started on our chores. Yeager's new mom showed up right on time and Yeager was off to his new home for Christmas. Truthfully he was a little muddy / wet from our walk but I did try to clean him up the best I could.

Once all the chores were done off to take a shower and get ready to go to Grandpa's.

On my way to Grandpa's we had to stop to pick up some bread and I received a phone call from Freckles foster to adopt home. Freckles needed to come back NOW! She is high energy and knocked over the wife's 82 year old father. I made arrangements for Freckles to be returned as soon as I was home.

THEN pooped up an email on my phone. Email clearly has been slow all day b/c of it being Christmas Eve. It was a message from someone that adopted about 3 years ago... they were taking the dog they adopted to the Humane Society and wanted me to know. UGH! What the hell!!

I immediately called the adopters and asked what was going on, I got a bunch of stories none of which made much sense. I explained the dog needed to come back to me and they weren't able to b/c they didn't have car and it was an emergency and his wife and children are in danger and he doesn't live in Ohio any more but his wife and kids do.... nothing made much sense.

I called the Humane Society which were EXTREMELY nice and professional and helpful. I made arrangements for the dog to be surrendered to them, the adopters had to pay $20....wish it was more. And I will go pick the dog up on Tuesday, the next day they are open.

The Humane Society said the people weren't have cooperative... not that either of us were surprised. They are claiming the dog is not aggressive, has never bitten anyone but killed the neighbor's cat and that is why they were turning him in. The supervisor of the shelter said the dog was super friendly wagging his tail and was very well behaved. THANK GOD they told me what they were doing.... he would have been euthanized b/c he killed a cat. They are unable to adopt out a dog that has killed another domesticated animal. Poor dog.

All of this rigamarole took about 45 minutes away from family b/c I was sitting in a car, looking up the humane society's phone number and had to make arrangements... Can you believe the adopters expected me to drive 1 hour to their house right then and there to get the dog. Are they out of their minds?? Seriously, you are the ones that decided the dog needed to go RIGHT NOW! when after 3 years and I just spoke to you a few months ago and everything was just great!

Sorry but people are rude!

Anyway once I got that all figured out, I get home check Facebook and see where an adopter who adopted a JRT in March was posting how the dog had cataracts and has gone blind. They seemed a little upset like it was my fault at first, I was a bit taken aback. I messaged back right away and told her I would help the best I could and told her that if she would have contacted me sooner I would have done more to help since her vet said this would be the outcome from the cataracts. I just feel horrible. I don't ever want anyone to have to go through a hardship with a dog but at the same time, I didn't create them. I just take them from one bad situation and try to place them in a loving better situation.

I realize that I am not going to know everything about every dog but I do my best to help in every situation even after adoption and that is 1 week, 1 month, 1 year or 10 years... especially within the first year, if something medical or behavioral is going on, I will work with the adopters on vet care or training. I just wish people wouldn't wait until the last minute to tell me about issues. I am here to help, I am here to do what I can but I can't help if you don't tell me.

My father in law asked me the other day "Is it all worth it?" My answer was I don't know. but then I come home to see Nina who would surly be dead, she would have died alone, scared and never knowing safety or kindness or love and I think maybe it is and I also think what can I do differently? what can I do to help people understand I am here for them and the dog for the life of the dog... hell in some case even after the dog passes. I still talk regularly to two adopters whose dog they adopted from me passed and one family who adopted from me and then 2 months later the dog was hit by a car and died.. they got another dog from me and are just an amazing family, I just think they are great and have given an amazing life to Dexter.

What can I do to help people understand I am here to help? What can I do to make people happy?

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody. - Herbert Bayard Swope

They don't get it...

2011-12-20T10:27:00.002-05:00

I don't think people understand the sacrifice and work that goes into rescuing an animal. I mean truly rescuing an animal. Regardless of the animal...horse, cat, dog, ect. When an animal has been so badly abused that it is skin and bones, missing hair, broken bones, sick, ect. The work that goes into the animal, the money that the rescue person spends and the amount of time it takes for the animal to heal not only physically but mentally. I don't think people understand. All they see is the finished product.... the animal healed physically maybe with a few physical scares and mentally way better then when they were rescued but I don't think they understand that it doesn't happen over night. It takes MONTHS! It takes every day coming home from work and running to vet appointments, give the animal medicine, working with the animals for hours. Not eating or sleeping because you don't have time because the animal needs you. When you do finally get a chance to lay down in bed all you think about is that animal and wonder if you are making progress, wonder if whatever illness they have will you be able to figure it out, wonder if they are happy, wonder if in the end after all this work will they be adopted... wonder and worry.

Then comes the day weeks, months maybe even years later where the animal is adopted and you watch them leave out of your driveway looking confused why are these strangers taking me away. You tell them it is going to be ok and you tell them that they will be happy but they don't really understand. You are only saying these words out loud to make yourself feel better.

Technically unless the adopter reaches out to you and tells you they are doing ok you will never really know. And if you reach out to the adopter and see how the animal is doing sometimes they respond, sometimes they don't and as I have found out the hard way sometimes they lie. I have caught 2 people in lies but how many haven't I caught? Then you have the people that although you ask them to stay in touch and they signed a contract they don't. You reach out to them and they are no longer at the address, phone is disconnected, they no longer work at the job they had when they adopted from you. And you wonder.... did something bad happen? Are the people ok? Is the animal ok? You will never know.

3 times now, just this year I have found out that someone gave a dog away and never told me or asked me to take it back. 1 I got back, 1 is missing and 1 I found out where it is but the people are not nice and are suing me.

The one I got back is safe and MICROCHIPPED! So hopefully I didn't fail her this time. The one that is missing.... the story is a bit strange and they won't tell me where they took her. They said the APL but I checked with the APL and they don't have a record. That was a complicated, hard rescue... I rescued Blanche, Rosie and Dorothy... my golden girls from a small shelter where they were left crammed in cat carries covered in fleas and waste. When I got them they hated to be touched, would nip at you out of fear, had horrible teeth, had not a clue what dog food was, what a treat was or what a toy was. Oh and a collar. You would think I was torching them and a leash FORGET ABOUT IT!

Two are happy normal dogs whose owners brag about them all the time. The 3rd supposedly was very well loved but taken to the APL. I don't ever want to say anyone is lying but when I asked why did you just call me I would have taken her back the response was "I don't know you will have to talk to my husband" When I asked exactly what shelter because I checked with the APL the response was "I don't know you will have to talk to my husband" The women was cold and callus like... almost like I was calling to talk to her about the table she purchased from me off Craig's List.

I wonder where did I fail? The year of the adoption everything was great, the following year everything was wonderful, then no return emails or calls and after trying to get a hold of them I get 1/2 answers. Why? Are you lying? Do you think I am a bad person? Did you not want me to take her back like I said I would? Did I not express to you I would take her back? I mean it is in the contract but what am I doing wrong that you didn't return her to me?

I try not to be unreasonable. I have had on more then one occasion where life has gotten in the way of pet ownership. I get it, I really do. The owner of the animal says to me my (for this example) mother would like for Polly to go live with her. I said ok. I will send your mom the contract, no fee of course but have her sign it, send it back and we are all good. Ok, done. I know where the dog is and everyone is happy. I have done this more then once.. heck tried to do it for the people that are suing me but they refused and told me to come get the dog, then I called to make arrangements and they got a lawyer. Granted A LOT of lies have been uncovered since then but still.... not sure why people can't be nice about things.

Again where did I fail?

Some days I wish for just one day I could have these mean people live my life.... deal with my job, deal with my aging parents, deal with all the sick animals I am caring for, deal with all the emails about all the animals that are dieing, abused, neglected, mistreated, and all the emails from the people who want to give way their 9 year old dog because they are moving and don't want him any more. Deal with trying to have a healthy marriage.... marriage alone is a lot of work then add in all the other stuff. Try dealing with being harassed by your neighbor, try to stay connected with your friends so they don't think you have abounded them. Save every penny so you can have things you want but yet have a close family friend try to steal it from you.
All I ask is for those who adopt to just return the dog if they don't want it. Call me if you are having trouble and I will do what I can to help you, which has included buying a $400 specialty crate, paying for training sessions and helping to pay for surgery.

I really do try to help any way I can but starting to really believe the nice guy finishes last.

Top 10 Reasons Why You Can’t Trust Pit Bulls

2011-12-19T13:36:00.000-05:00

By Jason Mann of pitbulllovers.com

(Photos by Sleeps with Dogs)

10. They will steal your spot on the couch while you are up getting a soda.

9. They will take the treat you give them and bury in the backyard like a paranoid crack head hiding their stash.

8. They will jump on your bed with muddy feet. Making you do laundry…again.

7. They will lick visitors with an uncontrolled passion only they understand.

6. They will cause children to smile.

5. They will make you feel horrible for not walking them by looking at you with deep sad eyes.

4. They will look at you like you committed a crime against them if you don’t let them lick your ice cream bowl.

3. They will cause wide spread happiness in large group settings.

2. They will crack you up by shaking their butts so hard you think they are going to snap in half.

And the number one reason why you can’t trust pit bulls…

1. They will steal your heart like a thief in the night, showing you complete and pure love that only a pit bull can show.

Liars

2011-12-15T12:47:00.002-05:00

Why must people lie?

I received an application from someone for one of the puppies I have up for adoption. They were completing the application for their Aunt and Uncle. They wanted to get a puppy for them for Christmas. I emailed them back and said that we do not adopt out our dogs / puppies as Christmas gifts. They are more then welcome to have their Aunt and Uncle complete the application and assuming they are approved complete the adoption paper work and she could pay the adoption fee. However, the person that signs the adoption contact has to be the real owner.

The girl emailed me back saying that she will just lie on the applications from now on that it is a GIFT so why would they tell them. Their family has 10 dogs in it and they know what it means to own a dog.

WOW 10 dogs, I am sorry I didn't realize you were a dog expert. WOW 10 dogs that is so many.... IDIOT! I have 10 dogs that live at my house, 10 dogs aint shit sweet heart!

I emailed her back and said that lying wouldn't be in her best interest because the adoption contract that she will sign to adopt a puppy is a legally binding contact and she could end up in legal trouble should the rescue do a check on the dog once in the home. WHICH I DO YEARLY!!!
so......

I thought of it later and I should of said and your mature response only solidifies that we have made the right choice in NOT processing this application.

People amaze me

The dog food I like the best

2011-12-08T11:37:00.002-05:00

The dog food I like the best can ONLY be purchased at Tractor Supply Company.

I have had MANY litters of puppies and I have tried a few different puppy / dog foods with the litters and with some of the rescue dogs that come in. Now I don't switch them around once they are on something.. I just try different food with different litters/dog/puppies.

What I have found after years of doing this is that the dogs LOVE the crap food. I mean come on why wouldn't they, it is like us living on a bag of Doritos.

I have tried the Nutru, which is good dog food not the Nutru Max but the regular Nutru. However, some dogs don't like it and it is pretty expensive. I do use their diet food for my "plump" 8 year old female JRT. She is a PIG! That is another issue not for this topic. LOL

I just recently tried Diamond dog food. Always heard good things about it and I put the mom and puppies that we currently have on it. Unfortunately, the foster home has mixed in some other food so I can't get a really good read on how they are doing on it but again another topic for another day. LOL

I did read the ingredients on Diamond dog food and found that not all the Diamond food is good. Some of it has a lot of corn, soy or wheat in it and other bags didn't. I found that interesting that one company would have such different ingratiates in their food. The crappy thing is, you can't recommend Diamond because you can say for sure which "flavors" are good or not good until you read the ingredients and the general public isn't going to go to that much trouble. I mean that is obvious with stuff like Alpo on the market still.

The food that I have found that is consistent is 4 - Health. It can only be bought at Tractor Supply and my dogs LOVE IT. My husbands dog will NOT eat the Diamond dog food at all. Gave him a full bowl of 4 - Health and he ate it like it was going out of style. Gave him Nutru... he wouldn't really eat it.

He is VERY picky! Tractor Supply might be a bit out of my way but if that is what makes my dogs happy, healthy with nice teeth, shinny coats, smooth hair then that is what I will buy. AND the nice thing is, it isn't expensive. It is a reasonable price!

Someone sent me this on 4 - Health if you want to check it out
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/4health-dog-food-dry/

Top Worst Dog Foods

2011-12-07T14:56:00.000-05:00

Bad Dog Food Brands and What Ingredients You Should Never Feed Your Dog.

Read your dog food labels – There are literally hundreds of brands and varieties of dog food.

Bad dog food = shortened life span for your companion.

Below is a listing of some of the inexpensive dog food brands, with the harmful, dangerous and unnecessary ingredients that you should not see on your dog food ingredient label, highlighted in red.

This is not a complete listing of all the brands with harmful ingredients, just the more popular names. Unfortunately there are still too many out there.

Use this list as a guide on what bad dog food ingredients to avoid when buying commercial dog food.

If a specific brand of food is not listed here it does not mean it is bad or good food. You can find the complete ingredient listing and nutritional analysis on any of the dog food manufacturers websites. An ingredient list like the dog food on this page should always be avoided.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST DOG FOOD INGREDIENTS.

I am just using these foods as examples of what I consider unhealthy and dangerous. Any dog who is fed a consistent and regular diet of corn will be more prone to illnesses, allergies and a shorter life.

DOGS ARE CARNIVOIRES – All these examples have corn as the main ingredient. Use these foods as a guide to see what you should not be feeding your dog.

BENEFUL BY PURINA

INGREDIENTS:

Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, sugar, propylene glycol, meat and bone meal, tricalcium phosphate, phosphoric acid, salt, water, animal digest, sorbic acid (a preservative), potassium chloride, dried carrots, dried peas, calcium propionate (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, choline chloride, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, *menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

ALPO BY PURINA

INGREDIENTS:

Ground yellow corn, corn germ meal, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (form of vitamin E), animal digest (source of chicken flavor), salt, potassium chloride, beef & liver meal, dried cheese powder, dl-methionine, added color, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, brewers dried yeast, calcium pantothenate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin d-3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, *menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

OL ROY From WALMART:

INGREDIENTS:

Ground yellow corn, soybean meal, ground whole wheat, corn syrup, poultry fat, Meat and bone meal, Animal Fat Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid, Chicken by-product meal, Rice, Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin D and E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulafate, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, *Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex Source of Vitamin K, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

KIBBLES N BITS:

INGREDIENTS:

Corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, ground wheat flour, animal fat – bha used as preservative, corn syrup, wheat middlings, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), calcium sulfate, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), dl methionine

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

PURINA DOG CHOW:

INGREDIENTS :

Whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn gluten meal, meat and bone meal, brewers rice, soybean meal, barley, whole grain wheat, animal digest, calcium carbonate, salt, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6) , DL-Methionine, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, copper proteinate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin D-3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, *menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

PEDIGREE:

(Puppy Food)

INGREDIENTS:

Ground Whole Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal (Source of Lutein*), Animal Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Source of Vitamin E), Natural Poultry Flavor, Wheat, Potassium Chloride, Wheat Flour, DiCalcium Phosphate, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Carmel Color, Vegetable Oil (Source of Linoleic Acid), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Vitamins (dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source of Vitamin E], Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [Source of Vitamin C*], Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Marigold Meal, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Added FD&C and Lake Colors (Yellow 6, Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5).

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

HILL’S SCIENCE DIET ORIGINAL

INGREDIENTS:

Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Soybean Oil, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Iodized Salt, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Dried Chicken Cartilage, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

Click Here for more info about these unacceptable ingredients

Do what you have to for the dogs

2011-12-02T14:52:00.003-05:00

I received a phone call today from West Park Animal Hospital. They had a women come into their office today looking for a place to board her dogs for a month. She has to go into a women's shelter TONIGHT and has no place for her dogs to go. She doesn't want anything to happen to her dogs and would like them back once she is out of the shelter but needs somewhere for them to go. She isn't broke, she can pay for boarding. HOWEVER, for a dog to be boarded it needs to have all it's vaccinations and she doesn't have that much money right now. For two dogs to have all their shots it would be around $200 PLUS then money up front for boarding. That is a lot of money right off the starting gate.

The women was running out of options and wasn't sure what to do. She called a few other rescues who will remain nameless for right now and was told "So sorry about your luck but we can't help."

UGH! That makes me so mad. RESCUE means HELP. Am I wrong in thinking this????

Anyway, I told her that I would be happy to pay for both dogs to have all their shots so they could be placed in boarding and I made arrangements at my vet office for her to have it all done there and have them boarded there. She said she would pay for the boarding and really really wanted her dogs back once she gets out of the shelter and everything figured out.

To me if someone wants to keep their dogs, a rescue should help them make it possible. For God sake this women is going into a women's shelter for abused and battered women and children, clearly this is NOT a normal situation and statistics show that people stay with their abuses BECAUSE they have no safe place for their pets. I sure the hell not going to let a person stay in a bad situation just because no one will help with the animals.

SMACK!

2011-11-30T12:30:00.002-05:00

I can't do this any more, I can't be everyone's punching bag all the time. Why can't people look past themselves and not be so selfish? Seriously?? This world is made up of a lot of greedy selfish people and I have seemed to find a lot of them lately.

Can I walk away? This is the question I am asking myself. Is it worth the mean horrible people? It is worth dealing with the selfishness? I don't know.

I have GREAT friends and have GREAT adopters many of which have become great friends but is the stress the anxiety really worth it and I am helping others while ruining my self and wearing myself down?

To me when I leave this Earth I want to be known for helping people but am I going to leave this Earth b/c I have died over heartache and stress caused by the horrible people I have met? I don't know how people can't see passed what THEY WANT and can't see what they are putting others through. I just don't get it.

Puppies up for adoption

2011-11-29T21:06:00.002-05:00

The puppies that were born 3 weeks ago are up for adoption and we are accepting applications. The emails I get from some people just make me roll my eyes. I get questions asking if they have to be fixed before they are adopted...UM YEA THEY DO!

I get asked if they like cats, if the get a long with other dogs... they are 3 week old puppies, they have NO idea what they like or don't like LOL! Right now sure they are great with other dogs and cats and honestly it is all in how you raise them.

My favorite question was "Are you set on the price?" I get this question ALL THE TIME. My response is simply

The puppies ADOPTION fee is $200 which barely covers their food, shots, worming and spay. If you can find a way for all of this to be done for less then $200 please let me know so I can take advantage so I can lower their adoption fee.

I really think that people believe rescue means free. Like rescues and rescue people have endless money, endless resources, endless time... reality check people WE ARE REGULAR PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU... we have families, jobs, our own pets, our own responsibilities. The only difference between you and me is I choose to help those who can't help themselves!

Can you believe I actually had someone want one of the puppies to breed with their male. I was taken a back that I gave a lecture of why breeding should NOT be done for any reason unless you are world champion show dog. What I should have said is, I will find you a female who is pregnant and give her to you and you can foster the mom and puppies. once the puppies are all adopted out, let me know if you still want to breed! I can GUARANTEE you the answer will be NO. It is a lot of work to take care of a mom and puppies.

Coming to a close

2011-11-29T13:50:00.002-05:00

With 32 days left in 2011 I am looking forward to a GREAT 2012. The rescue has some amazing volunteers and some amazing adopters and I think 2012 is going to be a great year.

Now if we can just get 2011 over and done with.. LOL! Really hoping that a lot of the BS is going to be over. Looks like a few things are coming to a close or at least close to closing LOL!

This year we took in 138 dogs/puppies and that brings our total up to 771 dogs saved since Jan 2006!

WOW that is a lot of dogs. LOL!!

Looking for peace

2011-11-27T16:11:00.002-05:00

So, I just couldn't take the non stop harassment by my neighbor... taking pictures of me, now taking video of me, consistently trying to get the dogs to bark at him so he can call the cops, calling the cops for no reason and making things up when he does, calling the dog warden, zoning, township trustees to try to "get me in trouble" for something but he can't because I am a farm and can have as many animals as I want.

Anyway, after 3 years of feeling sick when I go outside because if I pick my nose he will call the cops or take pictures or whatever I caved in and put up privacy fence. Granted it isn't going to help all that much because he can still stand on top of his porch and see my yard BUT at least he has absolutely no reason to walk up and down his drive way over and over and over to antagonize the dogs when they are out playing.

It is a little peace at least.

Now if I can get the people who stole my dog to get a life and the people that gave the dog supposedly to the APL to fess up as to what really happened. AND try to get in touch with all the people I have lost contact with... granted out of 700 homes it is only about a dozen people but still makes me worry if the dogs are ok.

Maybe I am silly but I feel like I made them a promise.. the dogs I mean and I really want to keep that promise!

Turkey is NOT GOOD FOR DOGS!

2011-11-24T13:29:00.002-05:00

Just because you are celebrating Thanksgiving by eating a yummy turkey with some gravy that does not mean your dog needs to share in your feast.

Fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis.

AND NO TURKEY BONES EITHER! Turkey bones splinter and can cause serious issues for your dogs digestive track INCLUDING DEATH!!

Remember dog food is for dogs, people food is for people!

SMACK!

2011-11-22T13:48:00.004-05:00

Ever feel like no matter what direction you turn you get SMACKED in the face out of no where? I just feel like that AGAIN. This year has been nothing but heartbreak and head aches one right after another. Let's recap

#1. Foster home gives away dog and sees NOTHING wrong with it. I ask for the new home to sign a contract to protect the dog, they refuse. Fast forward, they are now suing me.

#2. A group I ran the Ohio Chapter for very successfully for 4 years stabs me in the back

#3. I am sued over a photo album that the owner left at someone else's house 3.5 years ago.

#4. My friend passes away after being bitten by a dog

#5. $3K in repair to my truck... still more needed

#6. Eddie had to be re homed after killing 4 chickens

#7. Four chickens were killed

#8. My neighbor continues to harass me

#9. My best friends baby suffers SEVERE brain injury after a freak accident

#10. I set up an account for fundraising for my friend's baby, hold 2 fund raisers and get nothing but grief for her family members about how what I am doing

#11. Same friends parents over charge me for bailing hay

#12. Same friends parents are trying to make me pay for fence their cows knocked down and that I don't need nor want

#13. Find out that one of my dogs who was adopted in July 2008 was given to away... can't figure out to where and the family has been ignoring me for a year.... now what???!!!

#14. Stuff going on at work that I don't agree with

#15. Anxiety took away me enjoying my entire summer

#16. Disappointed in the way someone I recommend in the rescue world acted / is acting.

#17. A friend of mine has been acting very strange all year and when I ask her about it she says she is just busy... no idea what is going on.

um........... that might be it but I doubt it.

Because I care

2011-11-17T13:31:00.002-05:00

I am not sure why people get into dog rescue... or really animal rescue in general. I got into it because I felt it was a good cause and I could do something good in this world. Make a mark, make an impression so that some day when I am no longer here at least a memory of me doing something good might be in someone's mind. I don't know maybe it just is me but I feel like we have a purpose in this world and instead of just getting up everyday, going to work, making money and buying STUFF you should really do something, do something to make this world better. Now to some people that could be your job but for me it isn't so I volunteer to help save those who can't speak to for themselves and take the brunt of abuse from asshole humans.

Maybe I am a bit over the top in the fact I think it is very important for me to check in every once in a while to see how the dogs I have placed are doing. I took them from hell and want to make sure they don't ever have to go back to living in hell.

This year has well been a very disappointing year. I had a foster home give away one of my dogs without my knowledge and the people they gave it to are acting like complete a-holes. All I asked for was a piece of paper to be signed and to send me an update once a year.....Man oh Man I am one horrible controlling bitch! Shame on me. So instead I am now in a drawn out legal battle with them.... why? Because they decided to sue me... I am so horrible for caring. To hell I will go!

Then I have a lady LIE, bold face LIE TO ME when I noticed one of my dogs at my county pound. Not until I told her I would be going to pick up the dog did she tell me the truth.... ok well her version of the truth... I am not believing her story of how the dog ended up there.

NOW I find out that someone who adopted from me who I have been trying to get a hold of ALL FREAKING YEAR! Gave the dog to the APL. I have never been so sick to my stomach...ok, yes I have been when I found out about the foster home giving my dog away and the lady was so nasty about it.

Now I am on the hunt to see if I can locate her. Not to get her back but just to known she is ok. I seriously am going to be devastated if the APL put her down b/c of her age.

I feel like such a failure. And I also wonder why the APL didn't ask where they got her from.... I always do and if they tell me a shelter or a rescue I tell them to contact them first... I figured this was standard practice but maybe not. In NO WAY am I blaming the APL just wondering why they don't ask and if they do ask wondering what the jerk said.

UGH! I really don't like dishonest people....... I seem to be running into a lot of them lately.

I guess it is my problem.

2011-11-16T10:13:00.002-05:00

That is what someone said to me today. "I guess it is my problem" They said that because I wouldn't take 8 feral cats that have been living in her garage.

Listen lady I am sorry, I don't take in cats and honestly the reason it is your problem it because people don't spay/neuter. I feel bad I really do but not sure what you want me to do.

She asked me if I knew of any cat rescues and I said the only cat rescue I know is full to the gills. They have like 80 feral cats. Her response is "Can I have their number? These ferals can go live there."

OMG! That wasn't why I said that... I said that b/c they have A LOT and can't take any more. Now granted I doubt it is 80 but still. Who the hell does she think takes care of these 80 cats I exaggerated about? HELLO! you can't handle 8 but you think some person who has 80 could handle more?

What do people think that we rescue folks have endless amounts of money to help pay our bills and we wake up every morning to 100 animals living in our home and go frolic in the daisies with the warm sun on our faces?

Um NO! Reality check we work, we have families, we have car issues, we have struggles making bills, we get tired, we get sick, we get stressed, we are um JUST LIKE YOU!

Write them, tell them this was WRONG

2011-11-15T09:19:00.002-05:00

ACE’S STORY

On Friday, November 4, DDR received a number of emails and Facebook posts pleading with us to help a dog that had wandered into an Ace Hardware store on E. McNichols in Detroit looking for warmth. There was a heartbreaking photo of a dog cowering in the lobby, skinny and emaciated. It must have hurt him to try and sit because he was just skin and bones. There were signs of a wound on his neck, and dried blood near his throat.

Hush and Shance from the DDR crew headed to the hardware store within moments of being contacted, but the store had already contacted Animal Control and they got there before we did. We do not know the names of the officers who picked him up.

By then, word had spread throughout social media, and DDR was inundated with calls and posts asking for updates. We were able to find out that DAC had indeed taken the dog, but there was no further information over the weekend. Due to DAC’s egregious policy of euthanising 100% of dogs that they deem to be pitbulls or pit mixes, we knew that Ace would almost certainly be put down. Luckily, the media had gotten a hold of the story as thousands rallied together. A group of people started a “Save Ace” Facebook page, and a licensed rescue (Stray K-9 Rescue) confirmed that they would take Ace if DAC would release him. Detroit Dog Rescue and Stray K-9 attended a City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 8 to fight for Ace’s release, as well as a bigger picture policy change in Animal Control’s tactics. The City Council President, Charles Pugh, offered support and said that the Head of Animal Control (Harry Ward) needed to account for his actions. Unfortunately, later on that same day, Loretta Davis (the Head of the Department of Health and Harry Ward’s boss) said that Ace would NOT be released to any rescue and that if his owner did not come forward, he would in fact be killed on Friday, November 11 after the mandatory four day holding period.

Late Tuesday night, DDR was able to confirm that Ace’s owner had been found. The dog had been stolen from her family (thousands of dogs are stolen every year in the city and used for bait dogs) and when she saw him on the news and recognized him she almost dropped the phone. She got in touch with DDR and she and Hush went to the DAC armed with the proper identification and proof of ownership. DAC showed the owner a dog that was NOT Ace. We were able to secretly film the dog that DAC insisted was Ace. She confirmed that it was not her dog and DAC told her that she was wrong. It has been Detroit Dog Rescue’s belief that Ace was put down almost immediately upon being picked up on November 4, and that they showed his owner a different dog in the hopes of covering their tracks.

On Wednesday, November 9, Detroit Dog Rescue and Ace’s owner worked with legal counsel to file an injunction. Judge Gershwin Drain passed a temporary restraining order barring Department of Animal Control from killing ANY dogs resembling Ace until a hearing could take place on November 16. The “Save Ace” Facebook group also brought on the Lexus Project (a legal group) and they filed an injunction on Thursday, November 10. There were therefore two injunctions in place both confirming a temporary stay of execution for the dog known as Ace.

Today, Thursday, November 10 at 5:00pm, the Department of Animal Control euthanized Ace, deliberately ignoring the restraining order and the injunction and killing him one day before his originally scheduled day of execution (which would have been Friday, November 11). In doing so, they ignored 20,000 people who had rallied behind this little dog who committed no crime except to wander into someplace friendly, hoping for love, food and maybe even a friendly pat.

We at Detroit Dog Rescue believe that DAC put the dog they tried to pass off as Ace down early rather than have to prove whether he was or was not Ace. It has become clear that Animal Control believes they are above the law and that they are not accountable to anyone.

We are lucky to have the media’s attention and the public’s support and rest assured we will not stop until someone is held accountable for Ace’s death. The system in Detroit is broken. Animal Control can no longer control the dog problem in Detroit and they proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt with their handling of Ace. Their preferred method is one of eradication and they believe themselves to be above the law. They bumbled, lied, tried to backtrack, and then disregarded a direct order from the judge. They cannot ignore the courts, Department of Agriculture and, above all, the citizens of Detroit who are the very people who fund and demand their existence. We are calling upon the citizens of Detroit to speak up — to policemen, to your city officials, to your Mayor, to your City Council and to anyone who will listen. Empower yourselves. Not just for Ace, but because if Animal Control believes they are above the law it means they can pick up YOUR dog if it happens to get out and you will have NO rights to get him back. It means they can put down any dog that they decide has pitbull in him. And it means they can operate outside of any official authority and spend your tax dollars killing dogs we want to save. Get out your cellphones and when you see those DAC “workers” sleeping behind the supermarket instead of working, or you see them picking up puppies and throwing them in a van, film them and send the video to us. We will get it in the right hands. If the Mayor doesn’t want to be bothered keeping them accountable, we will do it ourselves.

In the past *ten* years, a quarter of a million people have moved out of Detroit, leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses behind. The average income in Detroit is $18,700, compared with $48,700 in the rest of the state. There are entire city blocks populated only by stray dogs. How can a city that should be embracing sweeping large-scale reforms refuse to allow small groups of committed, thoughtful, and determined people be the change they want to see? How can it hurt to change the policy on how the city cares for its animals? With so much broken that needs to be fixed, LET US DO THIS ONE THING. Let us help the abandoned animals. Let us care. Or at least get out of our way.
-Monica

DETROIT ADMINISTRATION CONTACTS:
We are asking those of you around the country and around the world to let Detroit know that you are watching. Please join us – we must make our voices heard and we must keep fighting now more than ever. Following are the list of contacts – please help us keep the pressure on. We need the city to know that although Ace was put down before his time, that we are not giving up and that they WILL be held accountable.

Sending faxes is a great idea because they are a lot harder to ignore than emails!

Use your voices and DEMAND change. The Department of Animal Control, the Department of Environmental Safety and the Department of Health are ALL city entities who answer to the citizens of Detroit and you fund them with your dollars. You deserve answers.

· Harry Ward, Head of Animal Control 313-224-7133, wardhar@health.ci.detroit.mi.us
· Loretta Davis, Department of Health (Animal Control answers to her) ldavis4@co.wayne.mi.us 1-313-876-4201
· Bruce M King, Director of Environmental Health Services (he decreed that Ace be put down and it was his decision to ignore the injunctions). 313 876 4821 KingBM@detroitmi.gov
· Mayor Dave Bing’s Office at (313) 224-3400, fax (313) 224-4128
· Mayor Dave Bing’s Office at (313) 224-3400, fax (313) 224-4128
· Council President Charles Pugh (313) 224-4510, CouncilPresidentPugh@detroitmi.gov
· Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown (313) 224-2450, councilmemberbrown@detroitmi.gov
· Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins (313) 224-4248, councilmemberjenkins@detroitmi.gov
· Councilman Kenneth Cockerl, Jr (313) 224-4505, CockrelK@kcockrel.ci.detroit.mi.us
· Councilwoman Brenda Jones (313) 224-1245, bjones_mb@detroitmi.gov Councilman Andre Spivey (313) 224-4841, **CouncilmanSpivey@detroitmi.gov Councilman James Tate (313) 224-1027, councilmembertate@detroitmi.gov Councilman Kwame Kenyatta (313) 224-1198, K-Kenyatta_MB@detroitmi.gov Councilwoman JoAnn Watson (313) 224-4535, WatsonJ@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

Fax Numbers for each Council member available at the links at the bottom of this page: http://www.detroitmi.gov/

MEDIA CONTACTS FOR DETROIT:

Please share Ace’s story and ask the local media to help investigate the practices at Detroit Animal Control. Please ask the national media to help get attention for the plight of stray dogs in Detroit in general. There are 100,000 stray dogs and only 23 Animal Control workers! Detroit Dog Rescue is trying to change the system, one dog at a time. We should be allowed to get answers from our elected officials and city workers. Please ask the media to help us investigate the practices and keep featuring us as we strive to make a difference.

DDR contacts:
Hush (co-founder)– 313hush@gmail.com
Monica (co-founder) — monmartino@gmail.com
www.detroitdogrescue.com
www.facebook.com/detroitdogrescue

Media contacts:
· WXYZ (Channel 4) 248-827-9407
· WDLV (Channel 7) 313-222-0500
· Fox 2 Detroit (Hall of Shame) Call (248) 552-5150
· Fox 2 Detroit (submit a news tip) http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us
· CBS Detroit http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/11/09/charlie-langton-ace-a-little-dog-digging-up-a-big-problem/
· Detroit Free press: localnews@Freep.com
· Detroit News: newstips@detnews.com
· NBC / MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29104230/ns/nightly_news/t/contact-us/
· CNN http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/newstips.html
· Rachael Ray Show http://rachaelrayshow.com/show-info/be-on-the-show/
· Jane Velez Mitchell / CNN (she’s a huge animal activist) Email: jane@cnn.com, Call 1-877-JVM-SAYS (1-877-586-7297), or
· Ellen Degeneres Show (submit DDR to be part of their “inspiring” show topics) http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=606

Stop making excuses

2011-11-13T19:46:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when I get a phone call or an email from an adopter wanting to return a dog, I want to say to them STOP BEING LAZY AND STOP MAKING UP EXCUSES.

I know sounds mean but it is so frustrating sometimes. I know from the tone in their voice and the way they are talking they are stressed out. Trust me I GET IT! But don't take it out on the dog. I really honestly believe that people get stressed out and just want to get rid of anything they think is causing them stress (hence why people get a new job!! I am a recruiter so I know this for a fact... your job stresses you out, you start looking for a new one). People get it in their head, the dog is causing stress so they have to get rid of it. You can't quit your job at this very moment, you can't give back the new baby you just had, you can't tell your son/daughter that their new sport where they have a million practices and just as many games is to much and they have to quit, you can't make the sick person in your family get well ASAP, you can't bring back the person that was close to you that passed back, so what can you do to help get rid of some stress... THE DOG! You have to walk it, feed it, it 100% relies on you for everything... get rid of the dog and everything will be better.

UGH! Whatever.

Then you have the people who have a dog with an issue, 9 times out of 1o an issue they caused or didn't have in rescue and they just want to give the dog back because they don't want to deal with it. REALLY??

9 times out of 10 it is an easy fix ASSUMING YOU AREN'T LAZY. But there lies the problem they are lazy hence the dog now has this issue... whatever that issue may be.

Then I have these AMAZING families. These absolutely truly amazing people who take in these dogs, love them NO MATTER what... I have crazy Tucker who personally I loved but I knew he wasn't going to be a dog for everyone. I told the family that was interested in him how hyper he was and I even purposefully didn't give him any exercise the day they were coming to meet him so they could see him at his worse. THEY LOVED HIM and to this day still do. I have bad dog Eddie (one from a few years ago) who was just a bad dog.... hyper, didn't listen, escape artist. The people that adopted him, LOVE HIM. I have Bo who we just adopted who apparently has separation anxiety so bad that he has really messed up the families house. The dad absolutely refuses to give up and is going to work with a trainer. I have Sparkle, Dillon, Kirby and a few other dogs who had to have an expensive surgery due to an injury and although expensive the families were willing to work it out so the dog could be happy, healthy and pain free. AMAZING PEOPLE!

Too bad I can't tell the lazy and/or stressed out people to buck up. Oh well, I have to take the dog back with a smile on my face and try to dance around the fact that I really think they are being ridiculous.

And to be fair. I have had people return a dog for legitimate reasons. Trying not to paint everyone with the same brush (as they say). I have had people return dogs and I 100% understood why... but that is rare. very rare. LOL

Newly adopted dog runs of burglar

2011-11-11T14:41:00.001-05:00

HILLSBORO, Ohio -- A southwest Ohio couple who adopted a Saint Bernard to save him say he saved their home from burglary a few hours later.

Rubert "Lee" Littler says he was taking Hercules outside Wednesday night when the 135-pound dog started growling, then charged after a man running out of their basement. The dog bit into the man's ankle as he climbed a fence and got away. Police say the home's phone and cable lines had been cut.

Lee and Elizabeth Littler brought the dog home from Highland County's pound less than seven hours earlier. The dog had been found, bloody and dehydrated, by hikers on Oct. 31.

The Littlers tell The Times-Gazette of Hillsboro (http://bit.ly/suYkUf) they wanted to keep him from being euthanized but now figure he's earned a permanent home.

Continued

2011-11-10T15:05:00.002-05:00

51 more days till the end of the year... 51 more days to find 30 dogs in our rescue homes. 51 more days of hardship and struggle. In 51 more days things will take a turn for the better, right? 51 more days and I will have so much behind me including going to court on Monday for my harassing neighbor and going through a disposition for the lady that stole my dog in December. I am rolling my eyes because all they had to do was sign a piece of paper...whatever.

51 more days and things will get better, right?!

2011 suck fest please come to an end quickly....

Give me a break

2011-11-09T19:44:00.003-05:00

What the heck is going on? I checked the news paper today and there a about a dozen ads under pet section... besides my two ads for adoption events and one free cat they are all PUPPPIES FOR SALE.

COME ON PEOPLE! PLEASE GIVE IT A REST!

I don't understand how people can think one litter or hell breeding AT ALL (unless you are a LEGITIMATE show breeder.. but then those don't advertise in papers).

The shelters are FULL and I mean FULL FULL FULL. I gaurente that this year the number of dogs euthanized for space has increases. It has to have had. Shelters that barely euthanized anything last year are putting dogs to sleep 10, 20, 30, 40 at a time just because they can't keep up with the number of strays they are picking up daily.

It is honestly overwhelming. I feel like no one is listening though. Like it has been said so many times that no one is listening any more.

I have great ideas like bill boards or those political signs that say "adopt don't shop" but geez I don't have the time or the money to get any of that stuff in place because I am too busy do stuff with dogs. I feel like it is a vicious circle. You got to save the dogs from dieing so you go the shelter spend all your money and time on that dog so you don't have time to educate and promote adoption so then people buy instead of rescue and then you are getting their adult dog out of the shelter when it gets pregnant and the circle continues.

The foster mom of the mom dog who just had puppies and I were talking. Can you believe she had 9 girls. Do you know what that means if the dog warden wouldn't have picked her up and we wouldn't have taken her in, there could be 9 more female large breed dogs out there make more puppies!!!!

So by this summer they would have their first heat and potentially could end up having 10 puppies each that is 90 more dogs in this world by the end of the summer. Scary thoughts.... don't ya think? And that is just one stray mom dog... think of how many are out there!

I have received 5 requests to take in a pregnant mom dog since we took in our current mom dog and I am just one little tiny Ohio rescue and the 5 dogs were all from Ohio.... think of how many more are out there!

Makes you want to throw up, doesn't it? Sure makes me want to.

WE HAVE PUPPIES

2011-11-07T13:47:00.004-05:00

On Tuesday October 25th we rescued a VERY skinny yellow lab mix mom. On Sunday November 6th she gave birth to 11, yes 11 puppies. here they are:

two girl twins
girl
panda girl
BOY - only boy that needs a home!!
girl
girl
girl
girl
girl

BOY ALREADY ADOPTED!!!!

Depressing update

2011-11-03T12:42:00.002-04:00

I blogged last week about ALL the dogs at Richland County. Unfortunately, they lost a good number of dogs. Some were dogs we were going to take but one day too late meant no more days for the dogs :-( MAN IT SUCKS!

We did save 5 dogs... should I say my husband saved 5 dogs. He went to the shelter for the first time to pull dogs BY HIMSELF. I told him no less then 2 no more then 4. I told him to make sure he takes the dogs that seem to need us the most.... old, sick, etc.

Well he came home with 5! Here they are:

WIN A SNOW BLOWER

2011-11-01T11:40:00.000-04:00

Would you like to win a Craftsman 24" 179cc* Dual-Stage Snow Thrower?? MBR is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one!

Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 tickets for $20.

Drawing will be Saturday December 17, 2011 (location to be announced).

PLEASE email amy2002buckeye@yahoo.com your name and address and tickets will be mailed to you!

WE NEED PEOPLE TO SELL TICKETS TOO!!!!
If you sell tickets you could also earn a little pocket money.... sell 5 tickets at $5.00 a piece and send MBR $20. That means you earn $5.00 for every 5 tickets you sell. WHAT A DEAL! If you would like to sell please email amy2002buckeye@yahoo.com and say you would like to sell some tickets!!

Just another reason WHY NOT TO KEEP A FOUND DOG

2011-10-28T20:52:00.002-04:00

Wayward pooch, owner reunited after 3 months apart

By Corey Williams

updated 10/27/2011 7:32:26 PM ET

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Jim Arrighi last saw Petey, his 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier, in the backyard of his Erin, Tenn., home.

That was in July, and the 73-year-old retired electrician had nearly given up on seeing his pet again when he learned the dog turned up safe about 500 miles away in suburban Detroit.

Thursday Petey was finally reunited with his owner. Arrighi's daughter, Tyanne Morrison, said Petey arrived in the care of a Michigan Humane Society volunteer who set out Wednesday from suburban Detroit

Nancy Greiser, a volunteer from the Michigan Humane Society, drove Petey home to his owner Thursday

Most of Erin's roughly 7,000 residents know one another, and many of them would recognize Petey, which is why Arrighi, Morrison and their friends suspect he was pooch-napped by an out-of-towner.

Morrison believes Petey left his yard "and somebody picked him up."

"We searched. We knew someone had gotten him," she told The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday. "We got on 4-wheelers and went all over the area. There had been some more dogs over the last few months that were missing."

While struggling with the loss of his dog, Arrighi also lost his wife, Juanita, who suffered from pulmonary disease and died Oct. 12.

"Since my mother passed away, even I told him 'why don't we go to the pound to give a home to a puppy that don't have a home,'" Morrison said.

Last week, a homeowner in Rochester Hills, about 20 miles north of Detroit, saw Petey in his backyard and took him to a Humane Society animal care center.

As it does with every recovered dog and cat, the Michigan Humane Society scanned Petey for an implanted microchip, which led the organization to its owner, spokesman Kevin Hatman said.

Arrighi, who has been staying at Morrison's home since his wife died, was thrilled to receive the call, she said.

"He thinks my mother, who is in heaven, sent the dog back to him," Morrison said.

She said their local veterinarian likely recommended Petey get a microchip.

"It was only about $70 total," Morrison said. "Now, a lot of people are inquiring about it."

The Michigan Humane Society recommends that all pet dogs and cats get microchips implanted, in addition to making sure they have collars and identification tags.

"It's wonderful when we see microchip reunions, including those that seem like miracles," said Marcelena Mace, shelter manager at the Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care. "It really proves that no matter how far your pet may travel, a microchip can help him find his way home."

Microchips, which also are implanted in pet cats, are about the size of a grain of rice and typically injected near the animal's shoulder blade, said Adam Goldfarb, director of pet care issues with the Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society of the United States.

The chips do not have their own power sources and only can be found and read with a scanner.

"In the last few years there has been a real jump in microchip usage, especially in animal shelters," Goldfarb said. "There are not nearly as many that should be microchipped. Sometimes owners are not great in registering their animals with microchip companies or updating their home information."

DEPRESSING

2011-10-27T09:13:00.002-04:00

The month of October has been a pretty good month for adoptions. We seems to have adopted out a lot of dogs and things are going pretty well for the rescue. But man oh man is it a depressing world when you look at the shelters.

Yesterday I went to Richland County Ohio shelter listing on Petfinder. OMG! They have 90 dogs. I have been to that shelter, they do not have room for 90 dogs. I was talking to the women that works there last night via email and she said in July they put to sleep 16 dogs in one day. 16! OMG! I know that there are just too many dogs and not all of them can be saved but WOW that is a lot of dogs for one shelter to put down in one day. That is just depressing.

Dog rescue and really cat rescue is worse, I think is such a pointless war. I mean you aren't ever really going to end or change anything. For every one dog you save some asshole just created an entire litter more and nothing changes it only seems to get worse.

I feel like a crazy person... fighting a battle that I will never ever win nor will I ever put a dent in it. And the sick thing is I hear stories from people ALL THE TIME about how their dog had puppies, how their co-worker is buying a dog, how this person or that person has a dog that isn't fixed. It just isn't going to end, is it? Nothing will ever change will it? The suffering, the killing, the abuse will continue forever.......

Jeannie the preganet lab

2011-10-25T21:32:00.002-04:00

Today arrived Jeannie. A yellow lab that was CLEARLY a chained outside dog who is VERY skinny and pregnant.

She came all the way to me from Pike County Ohio. Tomorrow she goes to the vet to see exactly how far along she is and to get over all checked out.

Let the fun begin.

Special needs

2011-10-21T22:59:00.003-04:00

A week and half ago I went to my local pound and took out a dog that NO ONE could get near. She wanted NOTHING to do with anyone. If you reached into the kennel she would snap at you and try to bite you. In order to get her out of the cage the dog warden had to put a lasso around her neck and tug her out of the cage. She walked fine once out but don't dare reach down to pick her up.
When I sat on the floor in the office of the dog pound she came up to me and wagged her tail and let me pet her but as soon as I tried to pick her up it was KILL ME TIME! She wasn't having it.

I was only able to get her in my car by basically picking her up by the leash. Poor thing. When I got home she wouldn't come out of the crate so I had to 'dump' her out of it. I settled her in a large crate in my garage and the next day my mom was able to get her out and bring her in the house. My mom and dad who both live with me were able to gain her trust and she LOVES them. They can do anything to her, me not so much. She hates me.. lol

Well she definetly needed some medical attention but I had to wait until I was able to schedule to have her fixed. I didn't want to tramatize her and I was afraid she would bite the vet. So, when she went to the vet to get fixed (5 days after I got her from the pound), I had them fix her feet. here is the before picture

Poor thing. should couldn't really walk.

Now that her feet look a little better she is still having a hard time walking, I think it might be out of habit.. I really hope she still isn't in pain. Not that I can get near her. She hates me.

Well then today I received a message from a local no kill shelter. They have a special needs female JRT who is afraid of men and hands. She fear bites, just like the other little one above. So on Sunday my mom and I are going to go get her and hopefully we will be able to help. Figured if I got one living in the house, what is two. LOL!

Wish me luck!

People are amazing to me

2011-10-19T16:52:00.002-04:00

It is amazing to me when tragedy happens you really learn who is a take and who is a giver. As I keep saying 2011 has SUCKED. Not really for the rescue, the rescue is doing great but personally it has been a horrible year. I guess that is what I get for 2010 being so awesome. LOL!

I am sure some of you remember the Photo Album lady. Well my friend and I who she sued... my friend's husband is the one who passed away. It amazes me that someone can sue you for something as silly as a photo album but then think it isn't going to affect the friendship with those she sued. I won't go into more detail b/c I know she stalks this blog. Just dumb founded at #1. why would you use your friends and #2. why you would think that your now non friends aren't going to be upset with you. I shake my head while I type this b/c I am in shock over the illogical thinking.

Then with my friends baby getting hurt I really learned who is a giver.... I also learned this year that two people who I have known my ENTIRE life and who have known my family for 40 plus years are not so nice people. That was crushing. The more I think about it, it is probably jealously. I can't come up with why anyone would act in the manner those two have. I guess the Green Monster got the best of them.

It is a hard reality when people you trust are so awful. For example the foster home who gave away the dog I was allowing them to keep and LIED about not knowing how everything worked with the rescue AND is the one that was behind the fact that the dog was not returned. Just amazing to me the lies that come out of people's mouths. I think maybe they tell the lies so much they believe them? The strange thing about all this is looking back... I knew she was a liar. I just thought being and adult and having a child maybe she had grown out of the liar stage... I didn't know her as a child / teenage but you know how you just get a feeling about someone. I should have known better. :-(

The amazing thing is though I am surrounded by some pretty amazing people. My when my friend's baby was hurt I couldn't believe how many people who don't even know my friend but know me were jumping into help. All of the people that volunteer for my rescue are just amazing, I seriously couldn't do it without them. All the rescue folks who are willing to pitch in and help when another rescue person or one of their dogs needs help. The amazing people who have adopted from me and are always willing to help with the rescue or really with anything.

I get so upset when people are nasty / mean / hurtful.... I guess it is because logically I don't understand why they are acting in the manner in which they are acting but I need to not dwell on the idiots. I need to focus on all the amazing people I have come in contact over the years and all the amazing people who surround me. I do need to make sure that those who aren't "trusty worthy" or those who are mean / nasty / hurtful go away, far far away. I am slowly purging and it is freeing to purge b/c you don't have to deal with the nastiness but at the same time it sucks when it is someone you have known for so long.

And people wonder why I do dog rescue... I like dogs way more then people.. they aren't mean and nasty on purpose. They love you just for feeding them... they love you for being you. You can be you around a dog.. they are ok with you having a bad day and won't hold it against you and they don't lie and they aren't jealous of you. Oh I love my dogs. LOL

Great loss

2011-10-16T13:44:00.002-04:00

This week has been a rough week.... long hours at work, 3 new dogs in the rescue on Wednesday plus the new one on Saturday and Timmy who was returned Saturday.

The good news is Timmy already found a forever home so the return was short lived.

Wednesday night I received a phone call saying that a friend of mine was in the hospital. He was bit by a dog and the bite got infected and things were NOT looking good.

Long story short on Thursday afternoon this world lost a great great man. A man that was dedicated to his wife, his dogs, his boarding kennel and helped many dogs find loving forever homes.

You are very missed by many many people Bruce Arnesen.

I must say in a tragedy like this it makes you stop and think
what is REALLY important in life?
Who are your TRUE friends?
Who will be there if you really need something?

Seriously makes me realize that getting the negative people out of my life is a good thing to do. I need to focus on those who really matter to me not those who are greedy and want to take from me.

Wooly Bear Festival Sunday October 9th!

2011-10-12T13:49:00.002-04:00

Sunday was the Wooly Bear Festival. It was a huge success. We had a lot of amazing volunteers helping and walking in the parade. Man am I lucky to have such awesome people who have adopted from me and who volunteer. And some are both...LOL!

A lot of friends and people I know from different times in my life stopped by to say HI! It was nice to see people coming by, really feels like I am supported in my efforts. We all know this year has been one crappy year for me when it comes to people treating me like shit. Oh the stuff I don't even blog about would blow your mind... I try to keep the blogging dog related only. But I must say for every person who has treated me like crap there are 2 more awesome adopters or volunteers or friends who sure help me get through the crap!

I will say though, the general public is weird. I had a few strange experiences while at the festival. Well first of all I had a tent set up with tables in the front and dog pens on either side. CLEARLY the tent was for those manning the tent to be able to stand under and sell items that were on the table. Had the sides blocked pretty well with the dog pens but you better believe every little kid and annoying adult (LOL) would find one little opening and walk right through the middle of our tent. I even had one kid come into the tent and start grab stuff off the table. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I grabbed his little arm and walked him out of the tent. Of course the entire time him mom was screaming "Travis come here. Don't go in there. What are you doing Come here" Clearly the kid DOESN"T listen and or isn't made to listen. Sure scared him when I grabbed his arm and marched him out of the tent. LOL!

Then I had a girl, probably 12 years old walk over to me and say "Where are the Boy Scouts" I said "I have no idea" her response "Oh come on dude. Your kidding me." stomp her foot and get all mad. I gave her the nastiest look and said "why should I know where they are?" She turned around mumbling something all mad. I looked at my friend in the tent with me and I said did that really just happen? LOL!

OH and then this teenage girl came up to the tent. She had this little tiny puppy. I told her to be careful b/c a puppy that little can get sick and die. I told her until after it has all his vaccinations it won't be immune to picking up illness from other dogs. She looked at me like F-U. I told her that our dogs are shelter dogs and just because a dog is healthy doesn't mean it isn't carrying something that will make a puppy sick. She didn't say a word, just walked away. AND yep you guessed it about an hour later her and her friend had it on a leash walking down the side walk. IDIOTS! That puppy couldn't have been more then 6 weeks old.

Well at least I didn't have anyone looking for a dog to breed with.. LOL!

I did have a few people tell me $100 - 200 was WAY too much money for a dog. My response to both of those people was "Do you know how much it is to get a dog fixed?" they both said yes. I said do you really think $100 is too much for a dog? They both started at me blankly.

Oh and this was so funny. We have this SUPER nice dog in the rescue right now named Bo. He is big but so nice. I was taking him out of the crate and he was just walking out like a normal dog. This young girl scream, threw her hands out to the side of her to block her friends and said THAT IS A WILD ONE! I looked straight at her and I said "he is? why do you say that?" "He is going to get us!" She said loudly. I said "No he isn't." Her mom pulled her arms down and I walked away so not exactly sure what all transpired after that.

So weird. LOL!!

For the parade all the dogs were dressed in costumes. It seemed everyone like that idea and it got a lot of people in the crowds attention. We will definitely do that again next year. LOL!

I eat dinner cold almost every night

2011-10-05T21:08:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband who makes dinner for me every night but too bad I eat dinner cold pretty much every night. Why? Well simple, I am a dog rescuer who is always taking care of dogs that someone else throws away like trash.

I really wish people weren't so freaking selfish. Why is it that most people never stop to think how their actions are going to affect someone else? Seriously, I could have a less stressful life.

The last three weeks have been so crazy at work. I have been slammed plus traveling for work so that is stressing me out. Being away from my computer for a day or days traveling really sets you behind.

Then you have the rescue... so many emails from other rescues/shelters/volunteers trying to help dogs get to safety. There are so many dogs in need.

Then you have the applications that we get which is a good thing but you have people who don't complete them in total and you have to go back and forth and back and forth. They get upset with you but what they don't understand is we have to process every application the same way and if they don't give us all the information then we can do that.

Thank goodness I have a great person who does the processing of the applications. I really don't know how I did it without her before... I wish there were more people that could help with things.. it is hard to find good people that are trustworthy, organized and motivated. I am lucky in the fact that most of my volunteers are this...

I am always so busy, I don't have time to chase people down for answers, get them to do things that need done, ask them over and over again questions. It is just so frustrating when you feel like people don't think your time is valuable...

The past two weeks have kind of been like that at work. I work in HR so everything is very process oriented and yet people ALWAYS try to get around the process which causes more work for me and then those same people get frustrated when they can't get things done in a quick time. Ok, people it is simple... don't be STUPID and things will run a lot more smoothly. LOL!!

I can't wait for the month of October to be over.... this month is CRAZY busy between work and the rescue. Maybe I can eat a hot meal in November

Winter is coming.

2011-10-02T23:07:00.002-04:00

This winter is going to be a rough one for me and the dogs that need rescued. I am very limited in space and I am really worried about how things are going to go this winter. There are SO MANY dogs in the shelters, it is sick. This year has TOTALLY sucked and I can't wait till next Spring when I can take in more dogs.... haha I know I am wishing away my life but I really can't wait till this year is over.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Man I should be able to lift a horse over my head at this point. LOL!

The good news is I have a good number of really great applications and I am hoping that this Saturday is going to be a good day for a few of my dogs. Really hoping they get to GO HOME! PLUS there are SO many dogs that need out of the pound before it is too late. This is a balancing act...

Now if I could just get some of my long termers adopted.... I really have NO idea how some get adopted so quickly and other are around for months. Just absolutely crazy.

Oh I hope all these applications I have received will actually turn into adoptions!

Enough said....

2011-09-27T20:24:00.001-04:00

New arrivals

2011-09-25T16:24:00.005-04:00

We have had 6 new arrivals plus Minnie... 2 pictures are missing... this week.

So excited to have them in the rescue and know they are safe.

Oh and I ordered 50 microchips NO dog will leave the rescue without a chip. Realizing that even though Minnie's chip would have taken her back to the women that adopted her from me, at least she wouldn't have stayed very long at the pound. Poor baby was there a WEEK!!

Puppy Party!

2011-09-24T09:21:00.007-04:00

The Puppy Party went really well last weekend. I can't believe how many people came. AMAZING! The rescue was able to raise some much needed funds as well.

Here is a video of the Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yy72AmsSMY

I still have more pictures to download so hopefully I will get those up soon.

That is my dog

2011-09-21T09:20:00.002-04:00

On Monday after the 5th annual Puppy Party I took a vacation day from work so I could recover. I woke up and immediately grabbed my computer. I had to see what pictures had been down loaded, try to get through all the emails I had received and send out a few quick emails. As I was on the computer I thought to myself, we have had a good number of adoptions and I would really like to help a few more dogs before the weather gets bad and I am limited in the number I can take in.

I go to the Lorain County Dog Pound website. Since that is my local shelter I figured I would see what was there that needed help and what I had room for. As I was scrolling down the endless list of dogs this cute little JRT face popped up. OMG THAT IS MY DOG! I know it is.

I couldn't remember her name right away but I knew it was her. I went to my pictures of all my placed rescue dogs and started looking in the 2008 file, nope not there so I looked at the 2009 file. YEP there she was, Minnie a JRT I placed in 2009. I quickly went to my data base to look up the owner. We will call her Sarah. I emailed Sarah right away:

Hi Sarah -

Do you have Minnie? I am only asking b/c there is a dog at my local shelter that LOOKS JUST LIKE HER! Just making sure she is ok.

Thanks,
Amy

Now keep in mind my dog pound is closed on Monday's and according to the website she is going up for adoption on Tuesday morning. It also stated that she was picked up as a stray about 20 minutes west of my house. Sarah lives 15 minutes East of my house. She was picked up on the Tuesday before. So the poor baby had been there a week.

I immediately called my dog warden on his cell phone. I told him, you have my dog. I adopted that dog out in 2009. I KNOW that is her. He was on vacation but said that the dog would not go up for adoption on Tuesday or be euthanized. That I just needed to come pick her up on Tuesday morning. Ok, perfect!

I then received an email back from Sarah.

Amy,
It's not Minnie, but she must be cute!

I didn't believe her. I don't know why I didn't believe her but I didn't. I thought I won't believe her until I have the dog in my possession and I can know it isn't Minnie.

I emailed her back:

OH MY! IT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER! Well I am going to get her tomorrow.

Since I had to work on Tuesday and the pound doesn't open till 10am. I had my mom go get her for me.

On Tuesday morning I received this email from Sarah:

Amy,
I became curious about the dog you saw at the shelter. I must admit Minnie has actually been living with an older gentleman,a street away from me. He was a customer where I work, which is several hundred feet from both of our homes.
.Until I started school I saw them regularly and she stays with me when he takes trips and I would walk her when the light were on in his house when I walked Rudy in the evenings. The last I saw them was about a month ago, he said he was going to Boston in Sept. to his daughters wedding but didn't need me to keep Minnie because he was taking her with him. Just spoke to him on the phone. He said he didn't want to tell me but Minnie was hit by a car in front of his house 2 wks ago! Didn't want to believe this, looked up pet finders and saw a dog that looks just like Minnie in cage #29. Not sure what to believe. Amy, I know I should have talked to you first but it seemed like the perfect solution, and we were all very happy to be able to have her in our lives. He was lonely and had lots of time to spend with her. I felt so bad leaving her in her cage for hours. I made him promise if he couldn't keep her for any reason I needed to know and that I would contact you.
I hope it is Minnie that you pick up today. Broke my heart when he told me she died. I can only imagine he was too embarrassed to tell me he could no longer take care of her.

This was my response:

WOW Sarah. At the moment I am speechless and really dissapointed. I need some time to think about what has happened. With that said can you please confirm if the area where the dog was found, is the area where Minnie was living?

Now let me add a little more uncertainty to this story. I am at work, so I can't verify for sure if this is Minnie or not. I had a HUGE feeling it was but I couldn't confirm until I got home. AND Sarah has another dog she adopted from me in 2007.

I finished out my day at work and went home. YEP! That is my dog! That is my Minnie.

I emailed Sarah and asked her to call me. We talked on the phone for about 20 minutes. She stated that Minnie went to go live with the old man in the winter of 2010. My question is how long has she NOT been with the old man? Apparently the old man is in Boston for his daughters wedding and Sarah will not have the chance to speak with him again until he gets back. I really want to know how long she has been missing, why the old man said she was hit by a car and how she made it 45 minutes away from where the old man / Sarah lives..

She was clean, well taken care of but how the heck was she picked up as a stray IN ANOTHER COUNTY and almost to the next county over from that?

Sarah said she made the old man promise he would tell her if he could no longer are for Minnie and I stopped her and said "Sarah you promised me and signed a legally binding contract and yet you didn't follow through on your promise or tell me the truth so why would you expect him to?"

When I got home yesterday all I wanted to do was huge poor Minnie and wish she could talk to me. Tell me where she has been and for how long and how did she get there. I wanted to cry because I had failed her.

I took her out of a shelter and adopted her out to someone I thought I could trust and I check in at least once a year to make sure everyone is doing ok and I always remind people if you need anything or you need to return the dog I am here for you / for the dog and will take back the dog if that is really what is in the best interest of everyone.

I don't understand how this could have happened. Then I start playing all the what if's through my head.
What if I wouldn't have checked the website on Monday. Where would she be now?
What if the county over picked her up instead of my county b/c she was right on the boarder?
What if someone found her and kept her?
What if she really was hit by a car?
What if I emailed or called Sarah and said "how are the dogs" she replied back Minnie was hit by a car and is dead and MONTHS later I see a dog that looks just like her in the shelter. But I am full and can't take that dog in but don't even think it is Minnie b/c well I was told she is dead?
What if she was picked up by a dog pound, killed for space and thrown in a dumpster like they do with the bodies?
Did I really save her or just give her the worse 2.5 years of her life?
What is going through her mind right now?
Does she know she is safe now?
Does she trust me?
Will I fail her again?

Getting Ready

2011-09-14T09:52:00.002-04:00

This Sunday is the 5th Annual Puppy Party. OMG 5 years, I have been doing this event for 5 years. HOLY COW! I can still remember the first one, it rained. LOL

This year I am so excited, we have so many wonderful volunteers and foster homes. We have AMAZING adopters some of which have turned into foster homes or adopters. I feel blessed to have so many amazing people surrounding me. This year has definetly been 2011 suck fest, personally and for the rescue but as I have always been told when you are going through hell run as fast as you can b/c at the end of it good things to come.

I might be jinxing my self but I feel good things to come.

Hoping that soon the "stolen" dog issue will be taken care of... I haven't really thought about it much since I found out about all the lies that were being circulated... why lie? It gets you know where but in lots of trouble and when you get older (meaning not in school) you can end up with heavy lawyer fees, jail time, losing your job, ya know really bad things that can really hurt you. Mr. Crazy is still crazy as ever but the funny thing is everyone he complains to knows he is crazy. LOL!

Things are going good on the personal front too. Things are changing and that is a good thing... will explain more as time goes on.

I am really looking forward to the rest of this week and for the Puppy Party to come. It is going to be great!

We found Bea last Friday, the dog that had been missing since Aug 16th. And honestly that was like the turning point for me. Friday I mean.. good things.

I had someone say something to me that really meant a lot to me on Thursday night. She said "You are always doing nice things for everyone, you deserves someone doing something nice for you." That just made me feel good, I do nice things for people b/c it is the right thing to do. Someone had posted on Facebook today that "helping people or animals makes her feel like she has a purpose in this world. It is hard enough getting through life, we can't do it alone"

DEAD ON! That is what I always say "I feel like I need to have a purpose, that everyone was put on this world to have a purpose." Regardless of what that purpose is I truly believe it, you just have to find yours and run with it.

I don't want to take her to the pound.

2011-09-12T13:18:00.001-04:00

THEN DON'T!

UGH! I hate nothing more then being threatened. Nothing makes me more mad then reading a big long email about how awesome of a dog you have but you are moving, new job, baby, etc and need to find the dog a new home and if you can't the dog is going to the dog pound.

WHY???!!!!! Does every (well close to every) email end with "I don't want to have to take her to the pound" "If she isn't gone by XXX date I will have to drop her off at the pound"

OMG PEOPLE! Do not try to make me feel like shit b/c you can't own up to your responsibilities.

That just seriously makes me so mad.

What do they think they are going to accomplish by saying that? Do they think oh those rescue people are all crazy and will NEVER let a dog go to the shelter... hahaha want to bet?!

Ok, so I do hold back the fact I want to choke the crap out of the people who say that to me and I write them back with advice and let them know that a shelter is a not a place for a dog and why.

I pray to God they listen.

It is all about the dog

2011-09-09T12:26:00.002-04:00

It is hard to try to figure out what is going to be the best home for a dog. A lot of it is just getting to know the dog and going with your gut. Trust me telling someone that they can't adopt a dog isn't a fun thing to do. I don't want to disappoint anyone but too many times I have let the adoption go through and found out in the end I was right.

I have the most amazing dog right now. I LOVE HIM! And this young lady sent in an application for him. Honestly she would probably make a great pet owner. Her family has two dogs now and take great care of them, their vet gave them a good reference. However, I don't think this dog is a good match for the ones she already has. She emailed me 3 times in the course of a few hours last night and then had her mom send in an application. I almost want to say, your reaction is part of my gut feeling... your not mature enough to handle the responsibility of a dog who has special needs.

Well hopefully my last email to her "mom" will help her understand. If I had another dog that would be a good match for them I would be happy to adopt to them. I just don't feel this particular dog is a good match and I am not going to let my dogs just go to whoever. They need to be happy. End of discussion.

Learning to say NO

2011-09-07T11:16:00.003-04:00

That is number one the hardest thing about rescue. "NO"

Why? Because no means DEATH!

I am not being dramatic, it is the truth. If I am sick, stressed out, overwhelmed, busy, have things going on where I can't take in dogs in need that means DEATH to those dogs and I have to live with that FOREVER!

As a Rescuer (dog, cat, horse, etc). THERE ARE NO BREAKS! There are no holidays, there are no vacation, there is nothing called ME TIME. As a rescuer you might go on vacation but you are never far from a phone or your email b/c what if someone (meaning animal) needs you? If you aren't there for them they will die.

I believe 100% there is nothing more stressful then being in rescue... Ok maybe a emergency room nurse but at least patients can talk to you and tell you what happened and the end result isn't I saved his life but he was aggressive and the decision was made to humanely euthanize.

I work a 50 hour work week and just want to go home and take a nap, make dinner, go to the grocery store, etc. WELL TOO BAD! You have dogs to feed, walk, clean up after, give attention to. Dogs that NO ONE ELSE WANTED that some jerk face dumped and made your problem. You have the flu and you can't get out of bed. TOO BAD you have to you have dogs to take care of. You hurt your leg and are on crutches, doctor's orders you must stay in bed with your leg elevated. TOO BAD you have dogs to take care of.

Do you know how much money I spend on people taking care of dogs, rescue dogs not even my own dogs when I can't. UGH! My car could be paid off by now. LOL!

It is hard to learn to say NO I can't take that super cute dog in this week because you know that you are probably there last resort but you have to remember that you can't help anyone if you are stressed out, overwhelmed, not feeling well, etc. It is hard to learn to have that balance. VERY HARD!
And IT SUCKS MAJORLY!

To all the dogs I said no to this week, I am sorry.

Do people REALLY listen?

2011-09-02T12:30:00.002-04:00

I am starting to wonder if I am wasting my time telling people things. Seriously! And I am not talking about just in dog rescue at work too. I am a recruiter... not a head hunter but an internal corporate recruiter. My company needs a position filled and I find the person to fill it. We have a packet of information that goes out to a candidate when we hire them, there is a letter with that packet of information that tells them exactly what they need to do... what to do with the paper work (complete it and bring with you on your first day), come in at 8:30am, ask for XXX manager, return the letter signed stating you are accepting the position by XXX date. Yet I still get the questions "what do I do with the paper work" "what time do I come in" "who do I ask for" Rude or not I always tell them "all this information is in your letter."

The same thing happens in dog rescue, I go over all the important points of the adoption contract, I walk everyone through EVERY piece of paper in the folder I give them with the dog, I explain what vaccinations the dog has had and when they will need to be repeated, I explain the heartgard and frontline EVERYTHING! I even have a sheet of paper that says "INFO TO KNOW" this explains that we worm the dogs, the importance of frontline, the importance of heartgard (even include a pamphlet on heartgard), explains the shots what they are for and when they have to be repeated, explains the spay/neuter surgery..... EVERYTHING!

Yet I still get calls "My dog has flees. I thought you put flee stuff on him when we adopted him" I explain "Yes, sir I did but it has to be applied every month!"

OMG!!!! Are you freaking kidding me.

Or I tell people "when you get home treat her like a puppy, don't give her free run of the house, don't trust her. she doesn't know where she is, this isn't home yet and won't be for at least 30 days. Yes, she is housebroken but she may still have accidents until she knows where the door is and what your routine is."

I get a phone call the next day "We got home and let her run the house to see everything and she pooped in the kitchen when we weren't in there."

OH DID SHE REALLY! NO WAY. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I honestly want to say "You are a F-ing idiot. I told you not to do that!!!" But I don't... I re-explain everything I told them the day before....

UGH! Do people ever grow up? Do they ever listen? I am tired of explaining the same thing over and over again to adults.

As I am writing this I am thinking of all the dogs that are purchased from a pet store or money grubbing assholes.. sorry I mean breeder (the bad ones). I am thinking they don't tell the people anything about the dog, they just take money and send on their way. they don't check on the dog, they don't even care what happens when it leaves their possession. Those poor dogs....Oh wait, then I remember... I END UP WITH THEM!

DEAD ON!

2011-08-31T22:32:00.002-04:00

Someone comment on my last post with this link.

WOW! I could have wrote this my self!

http://www.heroswaggintrain.com/pyrangel.htm

This shit aint easy!

2011-08-30T10:48:00.003-04:00

Sometimes trying to juggle everything is darn impossible. I know people who aren't involved in dog rescue really understand how it all works and don't understand the work that goes into it but it takes everything in my power not to scream at them when they put demands on me. "I want you to bring this dog to my house tomorrow" Oh you do, good for you. ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!

My favorite line from people is "well I guess you just don't want dogs adopted do you?"
Yes, your right I should drop everything and forget about sleeping or eating which I barely do anyways and come to your beckon call.

I know it isn't their fault and I try to explain to people how rescue works. We aren't a shelter, we are a bunch of VOLUNTEERS (WE MAKE ZERO MONEY) who have dogs living in our homes until they can find THE RIGHT home, not just a home.

We work, we have families, we have pets of our own, some of us have children and/or grandchildren.

We do all this rescue stuff in between our regular life.

Every dog that we get in takes a lot of work. First shelters from ALL over Ohio contact me and ask me to take this dog or that dog. I get a KILL LIST (nice name huh?) of dogs who are in shelters and if they aren't taken out that week THEY WILL BE DEAD BY END OF DAY FRIDAY! How is that for having something hanging over your head? You can't save them all but you scroll through a list of a 100 dogs looking at their sad eyes praying that they won't die but you don't have room for another dog so it isn't up to you but another rescue who maybe has room.

IT IS NOT EASY!

Then if we do have room I have to look through the list and determine which dogs we can help. Usually what I like to do is pick the dogs I don't think anyone else will take and of course JRT's or JRT mixes. because that is our/my specialty.

IT IS NOT EASY!

Then once I figure out how many I have room for I have to figure out how they are going to get from the shelter to me.

IT IS NOT EASY!

Then once they get to me, I have to worm them, put frontline on them, collar with tag on them and settle them in to a kennel. Sometimes the kennel they are supposed to share with another dog they don't get along, sometimes they are sick when they come to me so I have to scramble to set up a crate separate from everyone else.

IT IS NOT EASY!

The next day I usually give them their shots and figure out when to get them scheduled to be spayed/neutered, rabies shot and heartworm test. Once I get an appointment set up I have to figure out how I am going to squeeze that into my schedule... between working and taking care of all my animals, my farm and oh yea normal stuff like groceries, laundry, etc.

IT IS NOT EASY!

In between waiting for the vet appointments I am getting their pictures, getting to know them, figuring out if they are good with cats, kids, like men, like women, personality, etc. I am getting them up on line for adoption and hoping that a foster home will step forward to take them.

IT IS NOT EASY!

Now doesn't forget I want each one of have enough attention while at my house so I try to spend time with them and let them play in the fenced yard at least a few hours a day. I also need to clean their kennels everyday, make sure they have fresh food and water everyday, getting any medication that they might need, make sure they have toys, treats and beds (sometimes they de-stuff the beds... LOL). Meanwhile trying to have a "normal" life....

IT IS NOT EASY!

And you know what makes it all just a little harder. When the dog is aggressive... either towards people or other dogs. IT DARN RIGHT SUCKS!

Last night one of the new dogs I got in attacked another dog so badly...I HAVE NEVER seen a dog act like that before. He ran up and attacked this dog on a leash for absolutely no reason. He grabbed a hold of his face and just wouldn't let go. No matter what I did, including taking the hose and spaying him.

I am not going to get into the details but it was BAD! And after I got them apart he was trying to still go after the other dog who at this point was in the corner shaking.

Needless to say this wasn't the first aggressive thing he had done since I got him in and he acted up one more time after that so he is being put to sleep today :-(

THAT JUST SUCKS!

Sucks even more because I have someone interested in him but there is absolutely NO way I can in good conscience allow that dog to go to a home. If a child was in the way of his "attack" mode that child would be toast.

IT IS NOT EASY!

Guilty people get so angry

2011-08-26T10:13:00.002-04:00

In the last few days I have encountered some pretty interesting situations with people. For example my rescue friend received an application and something just didn't sit right with her. She forwarded it to me and said "what do you think about this" I read over the application and you could almost tell the person was trying to "hide" something. She talked about having a kennel run, a dog house with a tie out but said "it is only used for potty breaks" Hmmm why do you need a dog house for potty breaks? The thing is about applications sometimes you have to read between the lines. There were a few other things on the application as well that just smelled fishy but I won't bore you with those details.

Anyway, I told her that I thought the application read like people who have been turned down before and that she should call them and see what they say. Ask them questions like "why do you have a dog house?" and see if they will give you a neighbor as a reference. That way you can ask the neighbor "was their last dog tied up outside a lot?"

So my rescue friend called them and just talked to them about the daily routine and what activities they planned with the dog, etc. The people live on farm so lots to do for a dog. She then asked the applicant, what is the dog house used for? The women WENT OFF she got a huge attitude and starting saying how they take excellent care of their animals and blah blah blah. Never really stating what the dog house was for just IMMEDIATELY getting mad when asked the question.

WOW GUILTY MUCH? So, clearly you tie dogs up outside unattended. Ok, so that is a NO on being approved.

Come on people, really? You really think that a legitimate rescue is going to think it is ok to take a dog and tie it up on a chain outside and never talk to it again. If you want something that is more self sufficient and doesn't need as much attention GET A CAT!

WHY WHY WHY do people think it is ok to tie a dog to a dog house? WHY? I don't understand the purpose of having a dog if you just tie it up and walk away.

DOGS ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS THEY CAN NOT BE LEFT ALONE FOR DAYS AT A TIME THEY WILL BECOME AGGRESSIVE. DOGS ARE PACK ANIMALS AND NEED A PACK (for example A FAMILY).

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

It makes me crazy. I honestly would rather see a dog dumped on the side of the road to run free to taken to a local kill shelter then put on the end of a chain and left there.

I would rather humanely euthanize a dog then see it suffer on a chain. I think there is nothing more cruel then putting a dog on a chain. The dog suffers every day for its ENTIRE life. That is horrible.

Sorry soap box I will get off of it now.

I had two more people get all nasty with me when one I called them out on needing to take responsibility for their actions and another person for asking them "are you sure that is what happened" The person screamed at me ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR?!! I said No, I am just making sure you told me everything, wow!

Why get angry if you didn't do anything wrong? Act shocked it is less obvious don't just start yelling at me about how it isn't your fault or that you are telling the truth. In both cases not angry, not mad just asking a question or telling the person something so they understand the results of their actions... calm down guilty conscience.

Just amazes me that people can't own up to their mistakes. We all make them and you are never going to grow as a person if you don't learn from them. If you are consistently blaming other people for the outcomes for your ACTIONS or jumping up and down saying it isn't your fault then NO ONE wins and everyone looses. Now that is just stupid.

I am not saying I am perfect, I have done many stupid things in my day and I think about them a lot. If I would have not stayed at work last year but gone to the vet and stayed with my dog would he be dead right now? If I would have realized that my Aussie didn't have kennel cough but something worse and I wasn't busy at work would he be dead right now? If I would have not adopted the dog to those people who I had a funny feeling about and then returned him would he be in a loving home right now? Should I have gone with my gut?

I mean you can go on and on.... What you need to do is learn from your mistakes and NOT make the same mistake next time.

Women beaten, raped and her dogs need help

2011-08-24T10:23:00.003-04:00

I can't even begin to tell you how much the email below has upset me.
#1. How horrible that there are that many asshole families in this world. Your family member is dieing and you are too selfish to take on a pet. REALLY!! Karma baby Karma!
#2. This nice wonderful women took in all these animals and did a darn good job taking care of them and the families didn't see anything wrong with her taking on THEIR responsibility.
#3. I hope they catch the men who did this to her and they throw away the key FOREVER (but you know it won't happen)
#4. She is clearly a good hearted women, I wish the animals could help her get through this hard time. I wish she wouldn't have tried to kill herself. CLEARLY the world needs her. I hope someone has told her that!

Hi Amy,
A friend of my sister is helping a neighbor trying to re-home some dogs. It's quite a sad story . . . This lady is a Hospice nurse, she was taking in her dying patients pets, when the families didn't want them. She was taking wonderful care of them, given the number if cats & dogs she had accumulated. 27 dogs, 15 cats. Three months ago she was jumped, beaten, and raped by 3 men, while visiting a patients home in a bad neighborhood. She was hospitalized for a while, this is when the situation for the animals got bad. Then about 3 weeks ago she tried to commit suicide, due to what happened to her. Her neighbor has been helping to care for and find homes for the animals. 15 of the dogs have been re-homed and amazingly all of the cats. There are 12 dogs left. 11 if them are small dogs, 1 med sized. Most of them are older, 2 of them including the med. sized one and a cute Bichon seem young, energetic and playful. There is a long coat mini dachshund, a chubby Italian Greyhound, some misc. Terrier mixes, 2 pekinese, etc.

I was wondering if you could help or know of any group who could. All of the dogs seem healthy, well mannered, appears she's been taking them to the vet, I saw Heartworm preventative, and frontline. Though I did find flea dirt on them. Appreciate any help you can give or suggest.

must re home immediately

2011-08-23T15:01:00.002-04:00

My rescue friend received this email today)

I am writing to you to request your assistance in finding new homes for our two JRTs, ideally separate homes where they will be the only dogs in the family - one male (5 yrs broken coat & outgoing) & one female (7yrs smooth coat & reserved cuddler). Both are fixed and current on all shots. On their own, they are playful, lovable, wonderful dogs. They've had a good life & enjoy the finer points of dog suburbia: sleeping indoors, catching & killing squirrels/chipmunks, digging for moles, pulling down ivy to get at birds, etc. Unfortunately, as a pair they have terrorized our entire neighborhood and have become a liability for the family. To be clear, they have bitten a number of kids, dogs, and a coyote that wandered or ran across our property (approx. 1 acre with invisible fence). The final straw came yesterday as they attacked and wounded a neighbor's dog as the neighbor was taking a shortcut through our yard on a dog walk. Territorial behavior + pack mentality = a liability we can not manage.

Our decision has been made. The dogs need new & separate homes or farms, preferably with retired couples, where they can be the center of attention. We love our dogs, we're just not disciplined enough to give them the environment they need.

Thanks in advance for your consideration, recommendations, & support. I look forward to your response.

Regrettably,
XXXX

Can I just say OMG! Why is it that people think a farm is the place for every bad or unwanted animal? Do they think that a farm is a magical place where everyone gets along and there are never any issues and there is an endless amount of money??? Do you have any idea how much it costs to feed all the animals people leave on my farm?? I mean seriously?? Do they?

News flash people most farms... true farmer shoot or drawn unwanted animals. That is the old school method that still happens today so please don't "leave" your dog or cat or chicken (yes that happened to me) because an old school farmer is going to probably KILL THEM!

Sorry, I am tried an grouchy today but it is the truth.

Well the purpose of me sharing the email was not to rant about farms it was to another example of how people let their dogs be asshole dogs and then who suffers THE DOG! Seriously to me sounds like the dogs need training and the people need a CAT and shouldn't be allowed to have a dog.

These are the people that make JRT"s have a bad name. These are the people that treat their dogs like a child and NEVER discipline them and then wonder why they take over. Jack Russell need a strong pack leader and if you aren't one, don't own one because they will turn into HORRIBLE monsters.

UGH! I need a nap!

Is it really the dog?

2011-08-22T10:43:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I really wonder is the dog a bad dog or is the person a bad dog owner or was it just a bad match?

As with any rescue organization or shelter you get returns. Sometimes people change their minds on the idea of having a dog. Sometimes life gets in the way and there is nothing that can be done but to re home the dog... loss of job, illness, child not expected... etc. I do feel sometimes people give up too quickly though. I mean have you truly tried to make it work or do you think it will eliminate some of your stress if the dog was just gone so bye bye doggie?

Sometimes I think rescue "hurts" themselves in the fact that we take our dogs back no matter what... well at least I do and most reputable rescues / shelters do. People always have an out. Granted you don't get your money back but still it is no risk to the adopter... if I have a bad day or an issue with the dog I am too lazy to work on fixing I can just call the rescue and eliminate the problem. But there are way too many people out there who will just DUMP a dog on the side of the road like trash or take it to the kill shelter or God only knows do whatever with the dog. By rescues and shelters agreeing to take the dog back is truly the best thing for the dog but at the same time it is making people lazy.

Lazy because they don't have to work it out. They don't have to figure out how to find the dog a new home. They just dump back on the rescue. I sometimes wonder if it were harder to return a dog if they would make it work? I guess in a way I have answered this questions a few times with adopters... In my adoption contract it states if you want to return a dog you have to give me 5 days notice and I can only take the dog when I have room so you may have to wait a few days.

A number of times I have received the call of "I need to return the dog" after I talk to the people and find out exactly what has been going on and it is totally correctable I say to them well I can't take the dog back until XXXX day and in the mean time you have to do the following.

Then when I call them to say Ok XXXX day has arrived , they say "Oh well what you told us is working and the dog is much better and we ware keeping him/her. Can't stand to let him/her go"

OH REALLY! So, honestly you just had a bad day and were stressed out and thought giving up the dog would eliminate that stress. OK GOT YA!

Then there are times the dogs come back with a story behind them..... "This dog is NOT housbroken. It poops/pees in the house everyday." I then take the dog back wondering why the heck he/she is acting this way b/c the while in the foster home it never had an accident. I then get the dog back and it NEVER has an accident. I start to wonder was the person telling the truth? was the person not taking the dog out? was the person leaving the dog alone for too many hours? You really have to wonder why the heck the dog would be perfect in the foster home bad in the adopters home and then fine after it was returned.

THEN you have the people that say the dog is aggressive or in some case the dog did bite. And this is behavior that you NEVER expected from the dog. I then get these stories from the people on how the dog is aggressive towards the kids and she just doesn't understand why. The dog has been fine and the kids are always wrestling and playing with the dog. I get the dog back and he is 100% fine. You can do anything to him and I have him around kids and NOTHING. So was the person telling the truth or did the kids do something to the dog that made him fearful of them?

I had one person adopt a dog who was fearful. The dog was CLEARLY abused. The dog was wonderful with kids in the foster home and was just very sweet and loving. The dog would get scared if you reached for him really fast or made a loud noise. he was clearly hit often. he would never growl or snap. Very sweet dog. Anyway, so the dog gets adopted and about a week later... I get a call from the adopter the dog bit him in the face. OMG are you kidding me. This is not behavior I would have ever expected. I tell him I will make arrangements to have the dog removed from his home ASAP and after 10 day bite hold he will be euthanized. I FELT HORRIBLE!

Then I find out the story... the adopter was on the ground, eye level with this medium sized dog, in his face holding a toy and growling at him. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?? You are going to get eye level with a dog you have only had less then a week and GROWL at him. WHY? The adopter said he wanted the dog to play with toys. SO YOU WERE FORCING HIM?? OMG! You get a stupid ass badge for that one!

I did not have the dog euthanized. I gave the dog to a family who LOVES HIM! They signed a waiver saying they knew he had bitten and he has been fine in the home ever since.

I just had another experience where was it the dog or was it the people trying to do too much in one day with a new dog?

Now I sit and wait and try to figure out what to do. Do I end a dogs life because maybe the people messed up? Or do I re home the dog with a bite contract? UGH! I just don't know. It isn't fair that a dog should suffer b/c a human screwed up but I am sorry I am not loosing my house and everything I own because I placed a biting dog. And I am not going to be one of those rescue people who has 12 dogs with issues. Sorry I might be a dog rescue person but I still want to have a normal life with only 3 dogs and ones that I can trust 100%.. I am just like everyone else I want a dog b/c it is fun to have a dog not a dog that adds stress to my life b/c every time someone enters the house he/she tries to eat you. No thanks!

I am ridiculous

2011-08-18T09:35:00.002-04:00

I just have to point out that I am ridiculous. LOL I sent out the annual Puppy Party invitation... for those who don't know I have an annual party in September and invite all the people who have adopted from me to come to my house for food, raffles, check out agility courses, this year I have two trainers coming to give demo's and talk to people, I will be giving away 25 free microchips, we do a group photo, I have a boarding kennel there and this year will have someone selling home made dog cookies and home made soaps/shampoos. It is a lot of fun.

Anyway, so I am getting responses back from people YES, MAYBE and NO. I am like a kid at Christmas, I can't wait to open the email and get SO excited at the YES responses and get so sad at the NO responses. That is why I am ridiculous. My mind starts to wonder "why can't they come?" "Hope the dog is ok" "Hope they aren't upset with me" blah blah blah.. STUPID! LOL!

I know some of the people can't come b/c it is a far drive... I have adopters everywhere but I always invite them on the off chance they are going to be in the area or something. I don't want to leave anyone out.

Anyway, just thought I would share how ridiculous I am.. LOL!

MISSING IN GRAFTON OHIO

2011-08-17T15:31:00.001-04:00

PLEASE HELP FIND HER

She went missing Tuesday Aug 16, 2011 around 3:30 p.m in the apartments behind / next to Convenient.

Hit or Miss

2011-08-16T12:56:00.003-04:00

Adoptions are all over the place this year. I have had ZERO adoptions in weeks and then all of a sudden BOOM Ditto, Arthur, Etta, and hopefully this weekend Maverick and May will all go home.

It is so strange how that works out.

I am really really hoping to get some of the long timers moved into forever homes soon. Great dogs, just not sure why they aren't getting any hits. I am on a mission to get them adopted! I am cross posting them like crazy, putting them on line every place I can find and praying that they find a home soon.

I am getting in 4 new kids this Friday from Scioto County Dog pound. They were all scheduled to die today at 10:30 a.m.

No worries they have all been transferred to the local vet office where I authorized everything to be done on them... spay/neuter, shots, rabies, heartworm test, fecal, worming THE WORKS! I am getting them on Friday and it will be nice to have fully vetted dogs to come into the rescue so I don't have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off arranging everything. I am hoping the bill isn't too outrageous... I would ideally like the vet bills to be under $200 for each dog so I am not loosing too much money.

Oh that reminds me I need to call them and tell them to put frontline on everyone! Once less thing I will have to do.. hahahaha

Well Mr. Crazy is still crazy. I was being watched ALL day yesterday. Well all day meaning from the time I got home and put the dogs outside. He just sat there and watched the dogs and then me play ball with them. As soon as I put them away he went into his house. Wondering if he will do that again today. I seriously wish he would just leave me the hell alone. The guy is shooting himself in his own foot. I mean seriously if you weren't such a jerk my husband and I could help you with stuff, ass. Whatever!

Photo album lady I believe is finally out of my life forever. Her appeal didn't go anywhere. I keep thinking if I run across the book, should I give it back? With the way she acted I think NO WAY but if I run across we will see what I actually do.

Oh and let's see.. found out some REALLY interesting information about about the people who stole my dog. Oh man do I feel sorry for the poor family now... she has been so lied to and drug through the mud. Poor lady. Her and I would have been fine if the liar wouldn't have gotten involved. It is amazing you think you know people and SLAP right across the face you really didn't know them at all and then you start to think back on everything "was that a lie?" "what about that?" "did she steal too?" ugh! Horrible to think those things about someone you called a friend and trusted :-(

Well I have made a pledge to myself to #1. Not be a door mate, #2. Learn to say no and #3. do things for myself.

I don't want to sound selfish but it seems like I give too much and then get burned in the end. Case in point people that stole the dog... anyways, let's see if I can hold to my new rules. LOL!

It isn't going to do anyone any good if I get too stressed out and can't help dogs.

Bringing a baby home to the dog

2011-08-14T22:11:00.001-04:00

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Please don't keep found dogs!!

2011-08-13T22:22:00.003-04:00

TUCUMCARI, N.M — A Maltese dog named Caesar who disappeared more than a year ago after a car crash that killed two members of his human family in eastern New Mexico is on his way home to Michigan.

The Quay County Sun reported Wednesday that Caesar was found by a volunteer looking for adoptable dogs at a shelter in Tucumcari. She was able to track down his owner, Monica Benson, after Caesar was scanned for a microchip.

Benson, who lost her husband and a daughter in the accident, said her four surviving children are very excited and have made "welcome home" posters for Caesar.

"This has been the best news we have received in a year," she said.

Caesar left Tucumcari this week for Clio, Mich.

The Benson family was traveling westbound on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari on June 15, 2010, when their 2001 Chevrolet minivan overturned.

Gary and Emily Benson died from injuries in the accident. One of the other children, then-18-month-old Benjamin, was placed in an intensive care unit.

"While Benjamin was in the ICU, we placed picture of him and Caesar on the walls," Monica Benson told the newspaper.

Benson said the family returned to the accident and tried to find Caesar.

"It has been so hard," Monica Benson said. "There are pictures all over the house, and Benjamin would point at them and ask, 'Where's Caesar?'"

Mike Martinez, animal control supervisor for Tucumcari, said a family dropped off Caesar on Thursday, saying they were moving and could no longer care for him.

Christina Flemming, a member of the Tucumcari Animal Rescue Group, found Caesar at the Tucumcari animal shelter on Friday.

After his chip was scanned, she said she called the number attached to the chip to find it had been disconnected. But she told the newspaper something didn't seem right, so she went online to try and find the family and found an article about the accident.

"I found the obituary and contacted the funeral home in Michigan," Flemming said. "A woman named Rhonda helped me to get in contact with Caesar's owners."

Adoption Applications

2011-08-03T20:57:00.003-04:00

You might think it is easy to adopt out a dog.... I mean you just have to find a person that wants the dog, right?! WRONG! You have to have #1. someone who wants the dog #2. will complete the application #3. will pay the adoption #4. be a good pet owner #5. is a good match for the dog #6. have good references and have good history with dogs/animals... because you know the best way to determine if a person is going to be a good pet owner is to look at their past behavior with their other animals.

THE HARDEST part about the application process is when you have to tell someone NO. I just had this happen recently. The women had so so references but the husband, YIKES! Not a snow balls chance in hell would I allow him to pet one of my dogs... ugh! Not good.

I don't want to be one of those rescues that just NEVER responds and I don't want to be one of those rescues that lies and I don't want to just say no. I think as a rescue part of our "job" is to educate. So, I had to email the person... I didn't say your husband is a slim ball but I did point out the importance of spay/neuter, the importance of vaccinations every year, the importance of heartworm test and prevention and the fact that 6 million dogs are KILLED every year because of pet over population and breeding IS NOT A MONEY MAKER!

I was really expecting a NASTY note back but I actually haven't gotten one yet. I am surprised... lol usually I get nasty messages back.. like the crazy lady who breed her English Bull dog b/c the money really helped them while her husband was laid off. UGH!!

Adoptions are WAY down and the last few applications I have had are kind of well... they weren't approved to adopt. I am pretty forgiving to people and I don't paint everyone with the same brush like some rescues... can't tell you how many people have adopted from me b/c other rescues deny them b/c their last dog was hit by a car.... Oh come on there isn't a person out there that hasn't had a dog or cat hit by a car or knows someone that is a great pet owner that has had a dog or cat hit by a car. Sometimes it happens. I am not going to be that judgmental... but these last few applications that have been denied.... my goodness I would be setting my dogs up for a miserable life and I just can't do that.

I REALLY hate denying people... I don't want to upset anyone but sometimes there is nothing I can do. AND IT SUCKS!

The hardest part about owning a pet....

2011-08-01T13:06:00.003-04:00

you know you will out live them.

Today my husband had to put to sleep his black lab. He got Disco when he was in college and it was my husband's very first pet..l. well besides the ones he had when living with his parents.

HAHAHA I am crazy!

2011-07-31T10:51:00.002-04:00

Ok, so despite the fact I can't really walk.. lol silly horse. I adopted out the very last JRT puppy yesterday. OH I MISS THEM SO MUCH! I had to give him 1 million kisses before he left. Then last night when I was grilling out and hanging out with my BFF and her family I received an email from a past adopter.

Hi! Hope all is well. Have a question and hoping for some advice. Dan's parents live in southern Ohio and a neighbor received a dog when their mother died. They have not been caring for the dog, she is very thin and neglected and is now pregnant. We have spoken with the owners of the dog and they don't care what happens to it and don't want it. Dan's parents are willing to take the mom (of course have her fixed when it's possible) but was wondering if we could have some advice on the puppies. They already have one dog, and would like to keep the mom (she is an incredibly loving and affectionate dog, seems very loyal) but to keep the puppies would, of course, be too much. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

I screamed PUPPIES!! JRT PUPPIES. My husband and BFF looked at me and said WHAT?? I read them the email. My husband just turned around and continued grilling. He knows not to say a word. LOL!

My BFF said I thought you were done with puppies for a while. I said Really I can't not help! Plus I LOVE JRT puppies.... even if they are probably mixes.

I emailed back "CALL ME ASAP"

This morning the adopter called me and told the story... neighbor said "I don't care what happens to the dog" the adopter said that she is REALLY skinny like can see her backbone skinny and that she is full of worms. I said being southern Ohio she probably had heartworm too. I told her she could bring the mom here, I have a stall all set up.... just cleaned it out yesterday after the last puppy left. LOL!! All I have to do is put bowls down with food and water and put blankets in the dog houses. LOL

So with any luck.. LOL I am getting a prego mom JRT today...

I need therapy.... oh I am in therapy.. I need um..... more therapy????

Life keeps getting in the way

2011-07-29T16:55:00.002-04:00

Well Sunday was the benefit horse show for my BFF's baby. What a HUGE disappointment. All that work for not a lot of money :-( NEVER NEVER NEVER again will I do a horse show as a benefit. OMG way too much work for no pay out. The entire purpose was to raise money so you have to beg people for donations, workers for the food booth, entry booth, announcer, timer person and equipment, judge, ring steward, ribbon / trophy people, gate people, plus you have to get back numbers, ribbons, trophies... .blah blah blah. SO MUCH and for what $2k no thank you! I seriously lost a month of my life b/c I was doing nothing but trying to organize a horse show that ended up not being what I had hope for. ugh!

It rained the night before ALL night so I know for a fact many people didn't come b/c of the rain and it called for rain on and off on Sunday so I know that kept people away too. Although it didn't rain and the last time I checked horses don't melt in the rain. LOL

It was also my birthday on Sunday... so yay I spent the day at a horse show.. LOL I did show in a class and ended up getting hurt. Long story but I have been on bed rest all week... I have deep tissue and muscle bruising in my calf. I have to keep my leg elevated. How stupid is that.. ugh! I can't walk.. well I can sort of walk today, still can't move my ankle so I walk funny. I have had volunteers all week come over and help me take care of the dogs that I have here. Then to top it all off Tuesday was the day the JRT puppies were to get fixed and 2 of them were leaving for their homes.

It is so frustrating not being able to do stuff for yourself. And all I have done all week pretty much from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed is work at my real job. I can do it all via my computer and well I have nothing else to do since I am just sitting in bed with my leg elevated... so annoying.

Monday and Tuesday I had to have my mom take the dogs to the clinics to get fixed. Again so annoying. Oh well it got done and the puppies are slowly heading to their new homes. MAN OH MAN do I love those JRT puppies. I wish they weren't leaving already.. LOL

Puppy Party e-vites went out last night. Hopefully I remembered everyone. When you have over 500 adopters it is easy to accidentally forget to add someone's email.

The crazy lady with the Photo album I think has finally gone away. The judge ruled to her appeal to the lawsuit that she is entitled to ZERO dollars from me or anyone else she sued. If she would have just let me take the negatives and get her pictures developed she wouldn't be out $150 for court costs and would have her pictures re-printed but OH NO had to be a bitch. Whatever makes ya happy I guess.

The idiots who stole the dog.. wow have I found out some interesting information... .I just don't really understand why people feel the need to lie so much.. .what exactly do you gain from that? Well let me tell you people in this "case" are not who I thought they were... if you can't trust people you thought were your friends who can you trust???

Oh let's see what else is going on. I think I mentioned I was getting in hoarder dogs.... 5 of them.. one has been adopted, everyone had been fixed and unfortunately one has heartworm but we are treating him and it will all work out in the end. He is my favorite one too. ugh!

Well it is the first of the month so I am frantic making sure everyone has frontline and heartgard... I hate the first of month b/c I hate trying to figure out who needs what.. lol so many dogs... lol

Adoption event next Saturday so hoping all goes well for that.. I would really like to get some of these dogs moved to their forever homes. Then I can go on vacation without having to worry about what the heck I am going to do with all these dogs AND then when I get back I can rescue some more dogs. Because God knows the shelters are TO THE BRIM filled. Every shelter I hear from are over capacity and have dogs doubled up in cages b/c they don't want to kill any dogs but dogs are coming in faster then they have ever before and NONE are getting adopted.

What is REALLY sick about all this, open the news paper and there are so many ads for "puppies" People suck! Seriously if you breed and sell or buy you suck! That is fact.... so many dogs are dieing yet jerks just keep pumping them out like there is a shortage on puppies. I am so over it.

JRT PUPPIES ARE THE BEST!!!

2011-07-22T14:46:00.007-04:00

5 hoarder dogs

2011-07-18T12:44:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday I got in 5 dogs from a hoarding case in Fayette County. The females were scared, dirty, flea infested, bad teeth, ear infections, skin issues from the fleas... you name it. The boys were in pretty good shape, was actually surprised they came from a hoarder situation. I am guessing they were handled a little more then the girls.

I just don't understand how people can see dogs in this condition and think it is ok? I understand that it is a mental disease but doesn't anyone around them do or say anything before it gets to this point? Just seems like there have been a large number of hoarder cases lately, doesn't it? And 5 always seems to be my magic number. LOL!!

The girls are going to cost me a pretty penny b/c they need dentals. That will probably run $200 - $300 and that is after getting them spayed, all shots, heartworm tested, wormed, flea treated and they are on medicine for their skin and ear medication. And their adoption fee is $150.... yea so much for breaking even on them. And people think we make money... hahahahaha

I love it when someone asks "Is the dog free?" My response is YEP you just pay all the medical bills. Or when someone asks if I can lower the adoption fee. REALLY??? You find me a PERFECTLY healthy pet and you get all the vet care done on it and let me know what was better, paying a $100 - $200 adoption fee or dealing with all the vet appointments and paying all those bills.

Well let's see what else has been going on.....

Finally received a judgment in the photo album case... again. And again it states I didn't do anything wrong besides accidentally miss placing it.

The issue with the dog that was placed without my knowledge still continues. I totally don't understand what the heck they are trying to do.... wish it would finally come to a head. I would love to go to court and sit in front of a judge with all of those who support me and say "I was trying to do the best thing for the dog and (insert name here) was rude and nasty. She told me I could have the dog back and when I asked for the dog back she got a lawyer."

My anxiety has been a bit out of control. I can't handle any type of "negative" attitude from anyone. Which isn't like me to not be able to handle things but I think dog rescue has finally caught up with me.... all the sadness, the mean people, the faces of dogs who are scheduled to die or did die in a shelter alone and scared. Then trying to do the right thing and feeling like a punching bag. As my BFF said I have a sign on my head that says "wipe your ass here"

I try to look at things from both sides.... ok, if I were in their shoes what would I have done or would I do. And what did I do to piss them off or to cause this or that to happen and I am going to be real honest sometimes yes I can see where I could have done something different. Like for example I could have said no I won't take the binder and give to Sharon. But in the case of the dog... I gave the people that have her every opportunity to sing a contract and honestly only get a puppy party e-vite from me. But instead they acted like jerks. So not sure what I could have done differently there except not to care at all. Just not sure I can do that... not care... it is hard to do. Yet so easy for everyone else.. why is that???

Not dog related but horse related.... important...

2011-07-12T14:10:00.003-04:00

I was sent this email from a good person, supporter of dog rescue and someone who volunteers when she can. Please support her on this very important topic

Hello and thank you for a few minutes of your time!

I am writing today because there is a very serious rule making petition before the USDA that would do a great deal to end the suffering that Tennessee Walking Horses must endure. This is a subject I feel very strongly about, which is why I am reaching out for your help. There is a deadline of July 26 for public comment on a USDA rule making petition to add mandatory penalties to the Horse Protection Act. I am a very strong supporter of the sound horse and I am working to get as many people as possible to add their comments to the public register so that the USDA will add these penalties to the law and end this horrific abuse. Would you consider adding your support in this matter?

This issue has become very clouded over the years, because there is a lot of $ involved and deep traditions, but I will try to put it in a nutshell. The Horse Protection Act (HPA, 15 U.S.C. 1821-1831) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations prohibiting the showing, exhibition, transport, or sale of horses subjected to soring, a practice of accentuating a horses' gait through the infliction of pain. It was enacted nearly 40 years ago, and yet this cruel practice continues. The HPA set out a plan where " The Industry " would set up organizations to police itself. These organizations were called " HIOs " Horse Industry Organizations. The HIOs would then train their own " DQPs " designated qualified persons, to inspect the horses prior to showing, to see if they had evidence for abuse. Of course this was an utter failure. Because there is a lot of $$ involved, and the sore horse wins at horse shows, the system continues. In a petition sent on August 4, 2010, The Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Horse Protection Association, Inc., Friends of Sound Horses, Inc., and former Senator Joseph D. Tydings requested that APHIS ( Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ) change its regulations and policies regarding the protection of horses from the practice of soring. . On May 27, 2011 the USDA published in the Federal Register a proposal to amend the Horse Protection regulations to require Horse Industry Organizations (HIO) or associations that license Designated Qualified Persons (DQP) to assess and enforce minimum penalties for violations of the Horse Protection Act and the regulations. The show horse industry must change and I think there is great power in numbers.

It is very easy to add your support to this proposal. Below is the link to the government portal which is accepting public comments until midnight July 26, 2011. Any interested persons can Google any of this material and find a wealth of information. There is a great blog that actually shows photos and a video of a sore horse being inspected, and the spotted horse in the video not only passed inspection, he won the class! The blog is called " For the Tennessee Walking Horse " http://forthetnwalkinghorse.blogspot.com As all of you know, I have been showing horses for decades. I have witnessed this abuse first hand, I have been in the show barns and smelled the kerosene and gojo hand cleaner they use to sore the performance horses. I have been at horse shows where the USDA arrives to inspect horses and the entire fairgrounds empties out in a cloud of dust as sore horses are thrown in trailers and hurried off the showgrounds to avoid a Federal ticket. I get beat by sore horses almost every time I show. I know how bad this is, I know how cruel it is, I personally own a former big lick horse and he is terribly damaged. I understand how important this rule change is to the welfare of the breed I love. I would really appreciate everyone's support at this time of critical need. Please lend your support, these horses need our help.

Here is how you can help, it will only take about 3 minutes and you can add your name as simply anonymous if you wish ( I had to do this because I personally know a lot of the sore horse people who would like to see this amendment come to a swift end ! ) . I would like to invite you to fwd. this note on to anyone you might know who would like to lend their support at a time that it is so desperately needed.

Remember, you are writing to " Support the rule making petition to add mandatory penalties to the Horse Protection Act. "

CLICK HERE for the document's page, and CLICK THE ORANGE BUTTON to submit your comment. If you have more to say than the allotted space, you can write your response in Word or any other computer program and save it as a PDF file. Or send a letter to this address:

Docket No. APHIS-2011-0030, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0030.

I would like to personally thank you very much,

Mindy

P.S. Here is a photo of a sore " Big Lick " walking horse, also called a padded horse. We call this " standing in a bucket " . His feet hurt so bad

he is trying to stay standing without putting more weight on than he has to.

AWTA DEN TRIAL- Saturday July 30th, 2011

2011-07-11T12:22:00.000-04:00

Sponsor: American Working Terrier Association

Host: Fortunate Fido 27548 Royalton Rd. Columbia Station, Ohio 44028

Judge: Yvonne Moore, La Grange, Kentucky

Chairman: Karen Day, dahlia36@sbcglobal.net Secretary: Ginger Alpine

Registration starts at 7am Judging starts at 8am

**Participation in AWTA den trials does not require membership, however to receive the Certificate of Gameness(CG) the owner needs to be a member or become one within 30 days of the trial date. Membership forms will be available at the trial. First year membership in the AWTA is $10.

Breeds recognized by the AWTA:

For the purpose of an AWTA den trials, an earth breed is one of the correct size and character to enter a nine-inch artificial earth. The AWTA recognizes these breeds for competition in den trials: Australian, Bedlington: Border, Cairn, Cesky, Dandie Dinmont, Fell, Fox, Glen of Imaal, Jack Russell, Jadg, Lakeland, Norfolk, Norwich, Patterdale, Scottish, Sealyham, Skye, Welsh, and West Highland White Terriers, and Dachshunds,

Any individual Feist, Rat Terrier, terrier cross, Dachshund cross, or terrier of a breed not mentioned above, that is suitable in size to fit into a nine-inch artificial earth may also be entered.

Advance Entry: $15 per dog Advance entry must be received by July 16^th or gate entry rate will apply. Gate entry: $20 per dog Cancellations with full refund accepted until July 16^th 2011

Class Information:

(1) Novice A: Puppies up to 12 mos. who have not previously earned 100% in the Novice Class

(2) Novice B: Dogs over 12 mos. who have not previously earned 100% in the Novice Class

(3) Open: Dogs who have earned 100% in either Novice Class or dogs who have worked to ground in a natural earth or qualified in a similar artificial earth

(4) Certificate of Gameness: Dogs who have earned an AWTA Certificate of Gameness or scored 100% in Open Class

Prizes:

Novice: Qualifying ribbon to each dog that qualifies (100%) in either Novice Class

Open: Certificate of Gameness, ribbon and AWTA logo flask to each dog that qualifies

Certificate: Ribbon to qualifiers by breed or category

~ Indoor crating available. Building opens at 8am

~ There will be a practice session for novice dogs after regular classes are completed

~There will be a food vendor on site

~ For more info including AWTA rules go to www.awta.org

~For directions to the trial site and hotel info go to www.fortunatefido.com

~For inquiries please call or email Karen at 216.228.5452 dahlia36@sbcglobal.net

Fill in form completely - one form per dog - PLEASE PRINT

Make checks payable to : Fortunate Fido

Mail to : Ginger Alpine 26283 Folley Rd. Columbie Station, Ohio 44028

Full Name of Dog:______________________________Call: Name:_________________

Breed:_____________________________ Class:______________Age:_____Sex:_____

Owner:_________________________________Phone:____________________

Address:____________________________City/State/Zip:_________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________________

I hereby enter the above at my own risk, and I hereby engage to be responsible for any injury or damages that may occur to, or be caused by, any animals, vehicles, or trappings or the loss of any animal, vehicles or trappings owned, used or exhibited by me or by any other person authorized by me.

I am responsible for the physical condition of any animal under my control or ownership and I release and hold harmless and will indemnify the property owners, the trial hosts (Fortunate Fido), the AWTA den trial and any owners, officials, organizers, employees or agents of the above from any damages, expenses, and/or liability incurred by or caused by me in connection with the event. I further warrant that any animal I bring to this event or under my ownership or control is, or will be, free from any communicable disease.

My signature below also authorizes Fortunate Fido to use images of me and my family/dogs for publication or to promote or document the events in which we participated. This document is meant to be a full and complete release from any and all liability that may arise at the event site. This release is given freely and voluntarily by the participant and is meant to remain in existence throughout the duration of my presence on the property for any period of time in association with the canine event and/or other activities whether I am or am not found to be negligent while handling or near a dog at the event location.

Owner’s Signature:_____________________________________Date:______________

Fees Enclosed:__________________________________________

Found after 7 years!!!

2011-07-08T10:24:00.003-04:00

I have some rescue people who don't agree with me on this subject but lately all the cases of dogs being found after year or years missing only proves my point more DO NOT KEEP FOUND DOGS!

A women in Arkansas found a young Shih Tzu, 7 years ago. She kept the dog without turning it into the the authorities or having it scanned for a micro chip. The dog got out of the women's yard and was picked up by animal control who scanned the dog and found the chip leading back to the original owner from 7 years ago! The original owner wants his dog back and the women who found the dog is upset.

The only thing I feel bad for is the dog. The poor dog has lived with the same person/family for 7 years and is now being up rooted. But at the same time if I were in the shoes of the people who lost the dog 7 years ago, I sure the hell would want my dog back.

I don't understand why people keep dogs they find. Frustrates me to no end!

Found after a year.........

2011-07-07T10:38:00.000-04:00

A Montreal pooch who disappeared last year has miraculously turned up some 4,500 kilometres away in Kamloops, B.C.The black Labrador named Pollux, shown in a photo handed out by her Montreal owner, is afraid of the water and detests the rain, yet she took an adventurous turn upon fleeing through a gate mistakenly left open at her east-end Montreal home last June 20.

Sidhartha Banerjee The Canadian Press

MONTREAL—A Montreal pooch is about to return home from a shocking, unscheduled, 4,500-kilometre journey that over the last year allowed her to see more of Canada than most Canadians do.

The black Labrador named Pollux, a rescue dog who hated water and rain, bolted from the backyard during a soggy day in June 2010 and left her east-end Montreal home.

Her owners believe she fled through an open gate. It’s unclear what sorts of adventures the littlest hobo had next.

All they know is that she finally wound up just outside Kamloops, B.C., where she was found last month.

“She went from the east side of town to the west side of the country,” joked Isabelle Robitaille from her Montreal home on Wednesday.

How she got to B.C. remains a mystery. Details of the trip remain a secret to everyone but Pollux.

“We don’t know,” said Robitaille, who has a number of theories about what happened.

“And she can’t talk.”

In the days and weeks following Pollux’s disappearance, Robitaille said she looked everywhere for the dog and routinely heard of sightings but no firm information.

On the day she disappeared from the family backyard, it had been raining.

Robitaille suspects she might have hopped into a freight train to get out of the rain. But she said it’s also possible she was picked up by a trucker or a family heading west.

Robitaille gave up hope.

The mother even went as far as getting a new dog, assuming her three kids would never see Pollux again as the months dragged on.

Fast-forward to Canada Day 2011 and a shocking phone call from the SPCA branch in Kamloops: a dog with a microchip implanted in her skin and containing Robitaille’s contact information was found in B.C.

“I said, ‘Send me pictures,’ because I didn’t believe it,” Robitaille said.

“And they sent me a picture and it was her.”

Pollux was alive and well — although a bit leaner than before, but otherwise in good health.

The Labrador retriever had been named Suki by her saviours in the southern interior city of Kamloops, B.C. She has lived there at least a month after being found about 65 kilometres outside the city, in a rural area.

Sarah Gerow of the SPCA in Kamloops said Pollux was no worse for wear after a year on the road.

“She’s in good health, good body condition so she’s obviously had help along the way,” Gerow said.

“It’s amazing, this dog has probably seen more (of Canada) than the average person has.”

Pets from out of province are a rarity at the shelter.

“We’ve had cases of animals going missing across town, but not across the country,” Gerow said.

Without the chip, Gerow and Robitaille agree a reunion would not have been possible. The procedure is simple and can save time in tracking down a pet owner.

“Without it there’s no way we would have found Isabelle, given the distance and time that’s passed,” Gerow said in a phone interview. “It’s smaller than a grain of rice and implanted just underneath the skin.”

In fact, Robitaille was so sold on the chip that her husband immediately had the family’s new dog, Candy, fitted with a chip, too.

“It took a long time for the kids to accept Candy, but they are now so excited to have Pollux back. They’re very, very excited,” Robitaille said.

Getting home won’t be nearly as big an ordeal: Pollux will be flying home courtesy SPCA International, who’ll foot the bill.

Pollux is expected home late Thursday, or early Friday.

“She’s going to be 9 this summer so she’s going to be home for her birthday,” Robitaille said.

The laws in Ohio about selling puppies

2011-07-05T11:07:00.000-04:00

#1. In Ohio it is illegal to separate a puppy less then 8 weeks of age from it's mom. You can turn someone in and they can be charged with a misdemeanor.

If you would like to read more about Ohio's law or look up a law in your state check out
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuspuppysaletable.htm

#2. THE SALE OF PUPPIES IS TAXABLE INCOME IN OHIO! Let me repeat that THE SALE OF PUPPIES IN THE STATE OF OHIO IS A TAXABLE INCOME!

To report someone for not paying taxes on the sell of their puppies:

send an email to:
taxenforcement@tax.state.oh.us

send a letter to:
The Ohio Department of Taxation
Enforcement Division
4485 Northland Ridge Boulevard
Columbus, Ohio 43229

There is a form you can down load on the Ohio Dept. of Tax website to make sure they get all the information they need to prosecute someone. Go to
http://tax.ohio.gov/documents/forms/generic/TF1_2006_FI_021506.pdf

REMEMBER you can do this TOTALLY anonymous!

http://www.tax.ohio.gov/divisions/communications/information_releases/sales/st200306.stm

The Ohio sales tax applies to sales of tangible personal property made in this state. The use tax applies to the storage, use, or consumption of tangible personal property in Ohio. Prior to H.B. 95, the Ohio sales tax statutes did not contain a definition of "tangible personal property." Effective July 1, 2003, a new R.C. 5739.01(YY) was added to the sales tax chapter. That section provides:

"Tangible personal property" means personal property that can be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched, or that is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. For purposes of this chapter and Chapter 5741, of the Revised Code, "tangible personal property" includes motor vehicles, electricity, water, gas, steam, and prewritten computer software.

**A PUPPY IS TANGIBLE**

#3. ANYONE who breeds in the state of Ohio must hold a Kennel License!
Ohio Revised Code, section 955.02, a kennel owner is a "person, partnership, firm, company, or corporation professionally engaged in the business of breeding dogs for hunting or sale." When a person breeds dogs avowedly as a hobby, "but permits sales to become such a factor that he advertises for sale" the breeding activity and dogs, that person "is professionally engaged in the business of dog breeding" and must be registered as a kennel.

In the state of Ohio if you have more then 4 dogs you will be forced to buy a Kennel License. If you buy a Kennel License they will force you to get a vendor's license. This law went into affect in July 2009.

#4. You do need a vendor's license to sell puppies - even if you sell just 1 litter a year. I called the Ohio Department of Tax and they are cracking down on people selling puppies and not paying sales tax. You are more then welcome to call them at 1-888-405-4039 to verify ANY of the information I have listed above!

*** I was told by Ohio Department of Tax that ALL complaints / tips submitted will be researched. Ohio is cracking down on people not paying sales and use tax and one of their targets are people selling puppies.

Fireworks and 4th of July

2011-07-03T08:41:00.002-04:00

For anyone that has a blog, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace (does that still exist..lol) whatever please please post this on your page!!

Please remember that 4th of July is a scary time for dogs. Please make sure your dog(s) are secure and safe while fireworks are going off. More dogs are picked up by animal control on and around the 4th then any other time of the year! Make sure your dog has proper license and tags, just in case! please cross post

Remind everyone you talk to and you see to keep their dogs secure this weekend!

Puppy vs. Adult

2011-06-28T14:53:00.003-04:00

People often say to me I would much rather have a puppy then an adult dog because then I can train them to be the way I want. With adult dogs you just don't know what they have been through so you don't know what you are going to get.

I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT! Ok, yes true you don't know what they have been through but you TOTALLY know what you are going to get.

As with several of my adopters I became friends with a couple that has 3 JRT's. The first 2 they adopted just as I was getting started with fostering dogs. I wasn't really involved with the rescue, fostering or placing of the first 2. They were both adult dogs. Their 3rd dog I facilitated the adoption but again wasn't that involved in the rescue or fostering of dog #3. Dog #3 was just a puppy when they adopted her. I remember she was fostered with a women in MI, just over the Ohio boarder. Of course was wtih all puppies we didn't have her in rescue for very long.

Fast forward 4 years laster. Dog #3 has been a bit of an alpha dog. Causing fights from time to time and NOT being able to be in the same room as the wife's parent's dog. Last night was the final and ultimate straw. Dog #3 went crazy attacking one of the other dogs in the house. This wasn't a you made me mad so grrrr moment this was a attacking to go in for the kill I hate you blood everywhere can't get them apart type of thing.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY I STAY IN TOUCH!!!!!

The husband calls me and says "Amy what am I supposed to do? I can not have this going on in my house ESPECIALLY with my 1 year old being right there when this all happened." I told him I 100% agree with him. If him and I wouldn't have been in contact all these years my reaction would be bring her back to me. BUT since we do keep in contact and have become friends becauase I keep in contact I knew Dog #3 was NOT adoptable. She has issues that can not be resolved, this is not the first issue they and I have had while baby sitting her of her being dog aggressive and things are starting to get worse.

Many lessons learned here:
#1. This is a great example of why I stay in contact with adopters. Make sure that things are going ok, try to help them through issues and think of it this way.... lets pretend I DO NOT keep in touch Dog #3 could have been taken to another shelter, could have been re homed by the current owners or they could have called me to return her and since I don't know her history because I didn't keep in touch I would have taken her back and placed her. AND WHAT COULD THAT HAVE LEAD TO???? Simple a child being hurt, Dog #3 being abused, Dog #3 being put to sleep at the hands of a stranger or even being killed by another dog that she started a fight with that well was bigger then her or more mean! NONE of those sound good to me.

so for those who say "I should NOT keep in contact" or refuse to sign the contract b/c I do keep in contact.. what do you think now???

#2. Just because you get a dog as a puppy DOES NOT MEAN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING!!!!!!

#3. Sometimes doing the RIGHT thing for your family and aggressive dog is hard but at least they aren't DUMPED at a shelter wondering how did I get her or being abused or suffering in mental pain any longer.

Last week

2011-06-22T08:39:00.003-04:00

Last week was out of control. I barely slept. SERIOUSLY! I had a total of 15 hours of sleep in 3 nights. The fund raiser did go really well and we raised a lot of money so hopefully that helps my BBF not stress out since Madde's care is going to cost so much. Not to mention the girl is spending crazy mad money on gas driving to and from the hospital.

The dog rescue is going ok. Took in 5 dogs in a week but had a few adopted. I still have dogs that I NEVER thought I would have this long, including a 3 month old GSD puppy. All his siblings were adopted but he is left behind :-( I know it is because he isn't black and tan but ALL black. He is a good puppy but definitely needs a family of his own SOON! I still have Luke who is now a 6 months old... how the heck I still have that dog is BEYOND me, he is so good. AND CUTE!!

Some of the foster homes are on a break which is good for them, they need to do that so they don't get burned out but stinks for me or really the dogs b/c I can't take in any new ones, I am totally full with 18 dogs at my house.

OH Mr. Crazy has been SO quiet since I put up the security cameras. He doesn't come outside and antagonize the dogs. It is so nice to not have to worry about "what he might do next" because well I have him on video tape should he do something AND I have proof that I am not doing anything. Because you know you are ACTUALLY guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

And the photo album lady is at it again. She is appealing the judges decision that she isn't owed any money. So, I guess that battle continues.

AND the people that stole the dog are still harassing me...

I really wish people would just go on with their lives. 2011 Suck Fest continues.

What are the chances

2011-06-13T08:47:00.003-04:00

Seriously, what are the chances that you pull a dog out of the pound and it is fixed. SLIM TO NONE! Well this weekend I took 3 dogs out of the pound and ALL 3 were already FIXED. HOLY COW!!!

So, good for me. That is way less running around trying to get them scheduled for surgery for me. YAY!

And the cool thing is one already left for a foster home. WOOOHOO!!

This week is going to be CRAZY CRAZY BUSY and I need to be on my "A" game. So much to do with the dogs and getting ready for the Fundraiser for my best friend's baby on Thursday AND getting ready for the adoption event on Saturday.

YIKES!

Deep breaths

2011-06-10T13:59:00.002-04:00

I keep telling myself to get rid of negative Debbie downer people and I keep telling myself to STOP helping everyone else and start helping myself. Oh and I keep telling myself that I don't have to do everything, that I can accept help and that others can do it just as good as I can.

Now I am not just talking about dog rescue here, I am talking about EVERYTHING in my life. Yea, yea I know I am a control freak... I work really hard on not being one though. LOL! I also work really hard at my NON tolerance for stupidity and let me tell you working in dog rescue I have to work on that every day because WOW people amaze me. LOL My one rescue friend and I always say Stuck on Stupid. How did they make it this far in life without falling down more. LOL

As I wrote about before I have been focusing a lot on my friends baby. Just so heart breaking and I have been doing what I can to try to raise money for her. Well several people have not been very nice about what I am doing.. telling me what I should do or how I should do it and getting mad at me for not doing it a certain way or not including them more or whatever. Honestly, if it wasn't my best friend I so would have been like you know what people FU and walked away. But regardless of what they are doing to me it is my best friend and I would do anything for her. I did talk to the one person and tell him that his comments are hurtful and I have other responsibilities in my life like Work, my Farm, my Husband, my Dog Rescue and then on top of all if it trying to plan two benefits. Planning a benefit is a lot of work and stress and I don't need him saying hurtful things to make it more stressful. That conversation actually went pretty well. Hopefully that will squash that.

I just don't understand why people have to make things that have NOTHING to do with them all about them. Seriously!

The other person who is being super nasty honestly isn't worth my time. Granted it is a person that I will have to see and often but I am not gong to be mean but I am not going to be nice either. Just treat them like a stranger. I think that person being so nasty probably upset me the most probably b/c it was so so so uncalled for and totally off base. And honestly the other people saying stuff.. some I don't know and some I do but when they say a nasty comment I just say OK well then you do it. That usually shuts them up.

Seriously who needs the drama? NOT ME! Thank you.. I have enough dogs causing me drama. I don't think people really honestly get how stressful running a dog rescue is... it is always a balancing act to make sure everyone is happy. It is always a balancing act of which dog do I think would be ok in which foster home. And then if the dog doesn't work out in the foster home taking it back to my house or finding it another place to go asap. I am not complaining about what I have to do, don't get me wrong. I just don't think that people realize the stress that goes along with it and so they pile more crap on me and wonder why I can't handle it.

Just imagine if you planned on doing something a certain way and in the middle of doing it a total 180 and EVERYTHING you had planned was no longer valid. Maybe I am just too much of a control freak but that stresses me out. If I have expectations of how something should go and it doesn't go that way... ugh! Stress city. But if I don't have an expectation of a certain thing happening and something does get messed up it totally doesn't stress me out.

Does that make sense? I hope so.

Well anyways, I still have two GSD mix puppies looking for homes and Lucky the Chihuahua Min Pin mix was supposed to get adopted but he decided to run away instead. UGH! Stupid dog. He ran away Wednesday night and I hadn't spotted him until this morning. Now if I could catch him.

I hope I catch him before he becomes Coyote food. And I am being serious. I have a feeling I will catch him this weekend... let's hope that really happens.

I haven't heard anything from MR.Crazy since I put up the Security Camera System. I love it. It has inferred so I can sit in my office and watch the goats and donkeys eating in the front pasture and I can watch the kitties in the driveway. LOL It was funny last night my mom let the dogs out the side door and I watched them run out of the house and into the drive way.. LOL! So cool.

As for the people who stole my dog, still being mean... you would think they would realize NONE of this wold have ever happened if they would have just signed the contract... so stupid, why do people have to be so mean.

OH WAIT I REMEMBER BECAUSE IT IS ALL ABOUT THEM! LOL

STOP KEEPING FOUND DOGS

2011-06-08T10:29:00.003-04:00

I get so frustrated with people. I understand that dog pounds are EVIL but they are a necessary evil. If someone looses there dog that is the first place they should check and check every day until their dog if found. So in turn if you find a dog TAKE IT TO THE POUND!

By Federal all all pounds have to keep a stray dog with no tags for 3 open business days. That means you find the dog Saturday... Saturday and Sunday do not count as a business day and if they pound is closed on Monday then that day doesn't count either so that means Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday do count. That give someone almost a week before their dog can be euthanized or sold. And if the owner REALLY cared they would be calling the pound non stop looking for their dog. AND if you are so freaking worried about this dog that you found being put to sleep then go there on the 3rd day and adopt it.

I am just a little pissed off because a girl I grew up with called me looking for her JRT. She is 9 years old and spayed very much loved and taken care of but dogs will be dogs and she ran off. She searched for the dog and was told by a worker at the local town grocery store that two women picked up a dog matching that description in the parking lot and said they were going to take it to the shelter. Well poor girl checked the dog pound and NOPE checked every shelter she could think of and NOPE! I am so pissed. I guarantee you that either so rescue took in the dog and is going to place it up for adoption or one of the two ladies just decided to keep it.

IT IS SOMEONE'S DOG! FOR GOD SAKE! UGH!!!

Shit happens, dogs run off, just because it ran off doesn't mean someone doesn't love it.

Same bull shit happened last year... a family beagle that they had gotten the week before escaped from their fence. They searched and searched for the dog. A women found it and decided because it wasn't fixed that the people weren't good owners and she wasn't going to give it back. OMG! Well if the lady wouldn't be such a B she would have learned that their was already an appointment for the dog to be fixed but they only had it a week so it wasn't fixed yet.

UGH!! This is what gives rescue a bad name.

So freaking frustrated.

Sorry so busy

2011-06-07T10:06:00.002-04:00

I have been overwhelmed busy between dogs and my BFF's baby girl in the hospital. She had brain surgery on Thursday and seems to be doing better now. Yesterday she was able to hold her head up and last night she had her first REAL meal since the accident. Poor thing.

I have had a few dogs adopted in the last week which is good but I still have two puppies left. Can't believe it. I guess I need to send out a Grapevine message and see if I can get them placed. I would really like to see them in homes by the weekend.

I really wish I had time to do an adoption event but I am OVERWHELMED with stuff to do. Between work and Madde and the benefit fundraiser I am barely holding it all together, I am running on fumes.

I have open foster homes and no dogs to give them.. partly because the ones I have at my house are high energy and won't work in the foster homes I have... hmmm...

There are about 4 dogs at the local pound I want to get... so tempting..maybe I will do that today after work.. which means I need to bust my ass to get a bunch of stuff done so I can get the heck out of here early :-)

People are strange

2011-06-02T23:13:00.002-04:00

You would think after being in dog rescue as long as I have been you would think you have heard it all. Then today at work I was asked by one of the cafeteria workers "Amy, I need a favor. My mom is looking for a Maltese. She wants to breed it."

OMG are you kidding me??!!

I am pretty speechless after this one... so on a brighter note, here are some pictures of the puppies :-)

Feeling down

2011-05-31T13:01:00.002-04:00

I was talking to my rescue friend this morning and she said to me "All the stress and anxiety all comes from the dogs." I stopped and thought, she is right. All the nasty people who scream and yell at you b/c they don't get their way. Or the people who freak out about every little thing their dog does. The one thing I have never had happen to me but other rescue friends have are the people that threaten to sue you over something with their dog.... some unknown illness, worms, kennel cough stuff like that. I just have people sue me after they steal my dog and act like children.

I am still convinced something is wrong with this world.... seriously wrong and it needs to be straightened out because I am just not sure how much more I can take. Why can't people just be nice to each other?

Today I received a phone call from my vet that they received a phone call from a women asking a bunch of questions about what tests I have run on the GSD mix puppies and if I had them certified and all this crazy stuff. Oh and if they had seen an ophthalmologist. Ok, first of all they aren't pure breed so you can't register them, 1/2 the tests you are asking about are only if you are going to breed the dog which isn't possible because I had them fixed and really we are a non profit rescue organization no the 8 week old puppy did not go to the ophthalmologist.

So, tonight when everyone comes over to pick and adopt out a puppy they are all going to get a lecture of how these are mix breed puppies not pure breed puppies and that NO a non profit organization who has spent more on food and vet are then the adoption does not run a bunch of un necessary tests. If you have an issue with that you should not take a puppy home.

A little good news today. The mom JRT had her puppies this morning. And then Bad news, one apparently have a cleft pallet. Great so what does that mean for the puppy?

Please God give me strength to keep moving through these hard times.. I am having a hard time and I need strength.

Why so mean?

2011-05-30T22:55:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is the big day for the puppies. They are going to get fixed and then some are headed to their FOREVER home. I am always so happy and sad all at the same time. These puppies have seriously eaten me out of house and home. I have spent so much money feeding these puppies...

Well I have been feeling pretty good about things since I received the judgement in the mail regarding the small claims lawsuit. For those of you who don't know, a women who I have helped MANY TIMES sued me for $3,000 over a photo album. She left the so called photo album at a mutual friends house 3 YEARS A GO! The mutual friend gave me the photo album and asked I give it to the women. Well I miss placed it, felt horrible about miss placing it... I actually didn't know what it was until after I miss placed it and the women got SO upset. I offered to pay to replace the photos and she sued me instead. I am still confused as to why you sue someone over something they already offered but whatever.... Plus she hadn't even looked at the photo album for 3 years, I don't understand why it is so important just because it is now missing... but again whatever.

Then the accident with my friends 1 year old happened May 20th and well I have had an upset stomach ever since. Nothing will stay down. UGH! My anxiety seems to be ok until today. Not sure what happened but this afternoon after being yelled at twice over nothing, my anxiety kicked into turbo gear.

I know this blog post isn't too much about dogs but I just needed to write.

I wonder if I am having anxiety over the puppies getting adopted tomorrow? I really hate this feeling of my heart racing and feeling like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I still have the other law suit going on.. ya know apparently you can be nasty and act like a spoiled child and when someone calls you out on your bullshit you sue for $25K. Really!! Where would you like me to pull that out of my ass?!

I am just done with people being nasty. What is going on in this world. And I am being serious. The other day this lady pulls in my driveway (my dad sells flowers as a hobby) parks behind my car. My car was in the garage but garage door is open and so is my car door and I am standing 5 feet from my car. I say to the lady "I am sorry, would you mind parking over there with the other cars" She gets snotty with me and says "well I wanted to buy some plants and didn't want to carrying that far." I said to her "Oh I am sorry, I live here and need to leave." She got all huffy and moved her car.

Then a few weeks a go some lady hit a water pump in our drive, ran over some plants and tried to drive away. I totally stopped her and she got all nasty with me b/c it "was a brand new car" Really lady??!! You smash shit in my yard/drive and were going to drive away and you are upset b/c it is a new car... um.. you were driving it and the pump was in the same place it was when you parked next to it.

I am just done with nasty people... just really done!

Then today someone tells my husband and I we can do something, we do it and they get mad. REALLY!!

Oh and a friend of mine gets upset with me over something he screwed up at my house which has not put me in the hole close to $3K. Gee thanks for coming to my house breaking my stuff...

I need another job just to pay for the crap people destroy at my house. Oh and a 2nd job to pay for the crazy laws suites...

Oh and I get an email yesterday (a week later) from a lady upset at me because the came to the adoption event to see a dog that got adopted. um... that is why it is an adoption event, so dogs can get adopted.

Oh please God please give me the strength to get through all this... I am starting to be depressed at what this world has come to. Seriously. Who wants to have kids... I don't want to create a human being to have to live in this horrible world.

Getting the puppies ready..

2011-05-25T21:27:00.003-04:00

Well the puppies are going to be ready to go home on Tuesday. I have 8 applications approved and 9 puppies. Waiting for one person to get back to me with her landlord's information. It is always so hard "choosing" homes, you don't want to disappoint anyone but you want to make sure the puppies get the best possible home. It is a lot of pressure because everyone wants a puppy but are they going to still want it when it is all grown up?? Out of all the puppies I have ever adopted out only 1 time did I have one return... well and one STOLEN, still wish I could have gotten her back but apparently you can steal from a non profit and then sue them! Hopefully that will be over soon.

Anyway, most of the puppies will hopefully be going home on Tuesday. I love them but I can't wait till they can be in their own home. Plus I must be honest they are SO MUCH WORK. LOL

With my BFF's daughter being in the hospital this entire week has been just overwhelming. I couldn't imagine being her right now. She has been at the hospital since Friday afternoon.. never leaving.. .oh geez.

I do have a pregnant female JRT who should be having puppies any now... the ultra sound only showed 4 puppies so that will be so nice. Little puppies and only being 4 will be MUCH easier to take care of.

Oh and on Friday it looks like I am getting in two more JRT's OH BOY! Why can't I say no???

Takes time...

2011-05-24T22:58:00.002-04:00

Why is it that people adopt a dog and expect it to be 100% perfect right off the bat? I just don't understand... you wanted a dog I didn't force one on you so STOP being so whinny about EVERYTHING! Yes, dogs are a lot of work. Yes, your schedule is now different. Yes, you have to take them outside SEVERAL times a day. Jesus people!

Just so frustrating.. I wonder if people have a baby and after a few days at home want to "give it back" because it is a lot of work? And because it has changed their schedule. LOL!

Sorry just needed to vent and I am sure anyone in rescue totally knows where I am coming from on this one.

Well as an update on a few topics.... My BFF's baby is doing better. Things are starting to look up. And as an update on my post regarding being sued for a lost photo album. The judge gave his verdict a few weeks ago. He rewarded her with ZERO money. He said that her suit against the two people she said she was suing because they didn't return her phone call was dismissed. He said that myself and the other lady she sued "successfully" defended ourselves.

Well she sure screwed up this didn't she! I offered her money, she sued me for the money I already offered her and she got ZERO plus had to spend at least $130 for the law suit. Lesson learned for me on this one...

To be really honest I think she is just jealous of me and was trying to get money out of me. People think that because I have a large farm and it is kept up that I have money. NEWS FLASH! I don't, I work very hard on my farm to make it look nice. Just because you don't have money doesn't mean you have to be dirty and messy... I really don't understand why if you are clean and neat that people think you have money. UGH! So ridiculous.

Oh let's see what else is going on.... um... a few other things that I probably can't talk about right now. LOL

My weekend

2011-05-22T22:56:00.002-04:00

Friday I spent the day getting ready for the huge adoption event on the East side of Cleveland (about an hour from my house). At 4:30 I received a text message from my BFF that her 1 year old little girl was life flighted to Metro Hospital in Cleveland. Needless to say the world stopped for me at that moment. My BFF (Liz) told me to get a hold of her mom for details. I tried calling but she didn't answer. Shortly after that Liz called me, told me what happened and asked me to go to her mom's to get Ayden, her 3 year old son. By the time I got to her mom's house her mom had already made arrangements for Ayden to go to someoene's house while her, Liz's dad and Liz's husband went to the hospital. Liz was at the hospital b/c she was in the helicopter with her daughter.

So, what happened... very long story short but Madde (my BFF's little girl) was standing behind a 4-wheeler trailer with her brother Ayden. Ayden being a typical 3 year old was playing with he pin that keeps the trailer gate up and pulled it out. The gate fell and crush Madde his 1 year old sister. Madde has a cracked skull and swelling on the brain. She has been on machines to help her breath, to keep her paralyzed and sleeping.

I did go up to the hospital when Liz wanted me to and was there until 1 a.m. Now mind you I still needed to get some paper work ready for the adoption event on Saturday and I had to bath dogs.

My sister in law came over and bathed all the dogs but one. That was actually very helpful but I still didn't get to sleep until 2:00 a.m. and had to be up at 6:00 a.m.

The event went well but my full heart wasn't in it b/c of Madde. She is still in the hospital and the outcome of how she will be is still un know so if you could keep your paws crossed and many prayers for her please do.

The event went well. 5 dogs went to their forever homes. We raised over $500

I was exhausted after the event but it was good and we will go back next year.... requesting two booths however.. lol they were pretty small. And ONLY magnets sold... nothing else so next year dogs and magnets are all I will take.

Bought a puppy

2011-05-19T10:36:00.002-04:00

Last night my husband and I were talking about our friends... more his then mine but whatever. He went over their house yesterday to give them a quote on some work they need done. I told him not to forget to invite them to our 4th of July camping party. He then tells me he is pissed because they wen to Toledo and bought a Doxie puppy from some breeder.

ARE YOU F&$(#)@)* KIDDING ME!

These are people that have heard my stories of the horrible breeders, the dog over population and have come over to play with the puppies I have. They know what I do and they know that there is a huge over population issue.

The wife said "Well you know how (husband) is, he can't wait for anything"

OMG a rescue friend of mine JUST HAD A LITTER of pure breed Doxie puppies.

REALLY F*#)(*@ nice.

You can call me when you want a job but you can't call me to at least see if I can get you a puppy.

Whatever, I told my husband DO NOT INVITE them to the camping party. I am done!

Don't get me wrong I do NOT have any issue with someone buying a dog from a breeder. IF THE BREEDER IS LEGITIMATE! But I 100% guarantee you this breeder is NOT. I know the husband and I am sure he say an ad in the paper and just went and bought it.

I also don't blame people who don't know any better... THEY KNOW BETTER!

I stopped being friends with two people I was friends with in High School b/c they pulled the same stupid shit. Heck the wife even helped me with the rescue and had her friends come over to look at dogs. So, she really knew better..... they bought a 5 week old (illegal in Ohio) puppy from a back yard hill billy in Medina. Since the day I saw them at the vet with their 5 week old puppy I haven't talked to them.

Sorry but I don't have time to be friend with people that stupid. Now their first dog was bought from a breeder. HOWEVER, the breeder was legitimate. The dog was fixed and they signed a contract.

I am so angry!

My Daughter wants to breed them...

2011-05-18T12:09:00.003-04:00

Ok, my rescue friend sent me an application today. Here are a few parts of the application:

*Describe a typical day in the dog's life with you and in your home:companion in my room and rest of home , travel with me, walks, runs toys to play with, regular schedual for food and outside toileting.

*What activities do you plan with this dog? described above, this is my little buddy.

*Do you intend to keep this dog primarily inside or outside? mostly inside

*Where will the dog sleep?my room

*Why have you decided to adopt a dog?I wanted to help give a home

Why did you choose this dog?both small, older, need little training , I need a smaller dog, not a big dog person

*Have you had a rescue dog before? If yes, describe your experience:Spike our german shepard is a rescue dog , met him in the pound, and just had a feeling he needed to come home with us. He's great, gentel, obediant,loves the kids , gentel with the cats,

*Please list the dogs and other animals currently in your home (age, sex, breed, temperament, socialization with dogs). This question must be answered in full

Spike 2 year old shepard mix husky male, gentle as described above, good with visitors, greets them then sets aside.

Luna 1 year old elk hound shepard mix, loves everything every one very playful, still in puppy stage ,neither dog has trouble with other animals in the park.

Jake stray kitten we adopted 5-6 years ago from lady in westlake, jakes is jake, scratch his head once in a while and hes fine

Balou 6 month old kitten my grand daughter brought home one day and hes been here since, in the p roc ess o fhaving him fixed.

* Are the animals currently in your home neutered or spayed?

just jake is fixed, balou in process, and the dogs no my daughter is thinki;ng of breeding them.

I asked my friend if I could PLEASE PLEASE respond to this lady. She said YES so this is what I wrote:

Thank you for your interest in adopting a homeless pet and I believe your daughters two dogs were also adopted from a shelter, Lorain County Dog Pound maybe? I just wanted to give you some information that maybe you aren't aware of. First of all Lorain County Dog Pound has a MANDATORY spay/neuter program which was instituted a few months ago. Why? Might you ask... well it seems that there were too many people not getting their dogs fixed which was creating more homeless pets. The entire reason Dog Pounds exist is because people allow their dogs to run free, don't take care of the pets and / or don't get their dogs fixed which creates unwanted puppies. Did you know that 6 MILLION dogs every year are killed in the United States because there are not enough homes for all the homeless dogs?

You may not be aware but in the city of Elyria there is a 4 pet maximum and most of the mobile home parks in Elyria there is a 3 pet limit. This does include cats and dogs. If you are going to breed you MUST have a kennel license but to get a kennel license you must have a business license. AND if you are going to sell the puppies you MUST report the sale of the puppies on your income tax, if you do not you can get in HUGE troubled with the government for tax fraud both with State and Federal.

That brings me to why it is VERY VERY important to have dogs fixed as soon as possible. Female dogs are more susceptible to mammary cancer (a.k.a. breast cancer) and also a horrible infection called Pyometra which is very hard to detect and usually by the time the owner realizes the dog is sick it is too late. The dog dies slowly in horrible pain assuming emergency surgery does not save her life and the surgery can cost $800 to well over $1,000. And now to male dogs... males dogs are very susceptible to testicular cancer AND a male dog can smell a female in heat over 50 miles away. Male dogs are more likely to leave home in search of a female in heat and if a dog gets 50 miles away they will not be able to find their way home. Hence the fact most of the dogs in shelters are males.... I was contacted by a man whose dogs ate through his garage wall to get to his female in heat. Male dogs can be very aggressive when trying to get to a female.... aggressive towards people and other animals and obviously go to great lengths destroying property to get to a female.

The entire reason that Gloria, myself and many other dedicate all of our free time and spare money (yea, like anyone has any of that with these gas prices and economy) is because it is not fair that dogs are killed in shelters, their bodies thrown into a dumpster and taken to the land fill like trash just because people OVER BREED their dogs creating more unwanted pets. We feel horrible when we walk into a dark, cold, damp pound knowing that today is kill day and we only have room for 2 dogs but there are 10 that need a place to call home. We have to decide who we can save and leave the shelter knowing that the dogs we left behind will not be alive when we go to sleep that night. It is not something we like to do and through education we hope to help reduce the number of unwanted pets. That is the reason for my email, I am pleading with you to please please convince your daughter to fix her dogs before it is too late and another litter of unwanted puppies is created. And if what I have said so far doesn't convince you that breeding two dogs with un known medical histories who are mutts isn't a good idea.... then let me tell you about what all goes into a litter of puppies.

First, sometimes male dogs will kill puppies. So, you are going to have to keep the mom and puppies separate from the male. As I stated above male dogs can become very aggressive when a female is in heat and living in a mobile home I am sure it is going to be difficult to keep them apart. Mom dogs go into heat a week after giving birth. Before the puppies are born you do have to get a high quality puppy food for the mom, which is expensive especially with large dogs. Puppies regardless of the health of the mom are born with worms. So at 2 weeks and usually 2 more times before they are 8 weeks you will have to get worming medicine for the puppies and MOM from your vet. If you give too much or too little you can make the puppies very sick. If you give the wrong wormer you could kill the puppies. Before the puppies are born you do have to get a high quality puppy food for the mom, which is expensive especially with large dogs. Then at about 2.5 weeks old the puppies start eating soft dog food and that means more poop and the mom doesn't always clean it all. So, you are CONSTANTLY cleaning up news papers and doing laundry to make sure the puppies are clean so they don't get sick and of course the smell. UGH! It could make a horse pass out! I just recently rescued a dog that was pregnant and she had 9 puppies (average litter for large breed dog) who eat $67 worth of soft dog food in 4 days! And it is middle of the road dog food...nothing special. AND to top it off it is ILLEGAL in the state of Ohio to separate mom dogs from puppies prior to 8 weeks old. AND TRUST ME by the time the puppies are 6 weeks old you can't WAIT for 8 weeks to come. You have done nothing but clean up poop. NOT ENJOYABLE and so much work. And this is assuming their aren't any complications.... umbilical cords wrapped around necks, feet, ect. when the puppy is born, the mom having dead puppies inside of her that can cause her to die from infection, having trouble with labor requiring emergency surgery and what if you have to bottle feed... forget sleeping or going to work b/c puppies need feed every few hours. Endless issues... just like humans.

Just food for thought to share with your daughter. Hoping she decides to have her dogs fixed there are SEVERAL low cost spay neuter locations near where you live.. there is one in Lorain on Rt 58 and one in Avon near the Harley Davidson.

Good luck and we will all cross our paws that the dogs get fixed soon. Once all the animals are fixed in your home Gloria welcomes you to resubmit your application. At this time she will be unable to approve your application

Thanks,

Strange things people ask

2011-05-16T13:18:00.003-04:00

What does "Dog Rescue" mean to you?
I ask this because I get some of the strangest comments and questions from people. I always answer them and I try really hard not to come off snotty or rude but sometimes I am sure I do. I know growing up you are taught there are no stupid questions but you know what sometimes I think there are.

It seems whenever I have puppies I get the same questions.

What was the dad? It always says in the petfinder/adopt a pet posting if we know who the dad was or not. Sometimes I feel like asking "can you read? it says in the listing the mom was a stray and no one knew she was pregnant.

How big will they get? ok that one I can somewhat understand but what I don't understand is when this is followed by I don't want a dog over XX pounds. My response is usually "with a rescue puppy not knowing the dad it is probably best that you get a full grown dog." And of course they always email back but I want a puppy."

Will the dog have health issues when it gets older? I don't know let me check my magical crystal ball!!! UGH!

Oh my favorite question is "Will you take less for the dog then what you are asking?" OMG I am not e-bay or a flea market.... ok so with that question I do get a little rude. I usually list all the expenses of what we have into the dog. I say nothing else just list what we have spent on the dog thus far. It is usually MORE then the adoption fee.

Does the dog shed?

Do you know why someone got rid of him/her? "Well the dog was a stray at the shelter whose owners never came looking for him but yes I know the exact reason NOT!"

Then the weird statements I get from people

"I don't want a dog that is already fixed because I want my vet to do it."

"You are getting the puppy fixed at 8 weeks is that safe." No it isn't safe but I thought I would give it a try and see what happens. lol

"I really really like this dog but he is too skinny. I don't want to adopt a dog that is skinny."

"I don't want a dog that will bark"

"I don't think I should have to pay for a rescue dog" ya, know what you are correct I work a full time job trying support my family and volunteer all my FREE time so you can have a fully vetted, housebroken dog FOR FREE!

My favorite all time comment that was made but not to me but one of my rescue friends.... let me set the stage for the comment real quick.
My rescue friend had a litter of puppies, they were all pretty much identical looking very hard to tell apart. So, instead of having people pre pick she wait till they were all fixed and then had people come over as she approved their applications and pick up and take home a puppy. I forget exactly how many puppies she had but regardless she had left two messages for this one family. They finally called her back by that time there was only one puppy left. When the family found out that all the puppies but one were adopted this is what they said
"Well what is wrong with this puppy that no picked it? We don't want the last puppy because something must be wrong with it."
My friend was so shocked she said OK and hung up. LOL!!

Any other rescue folks out there are more then welcome to make comments on this post about the silly things people have said or asked you. We can all use a good laugh and it helps to know we aren't alone in this lonely volunteer work we do!

2 more to go

2011-05-15T00:18:00.002-04:00

Took in a few new dogs over the last few days which puts the total number of dogs rescued to 698. 2 more dogs till I reach 700 dogs rescued!!!!

Buddy was one of my rescue dog!

2011-05-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

Sports helping Mentor-on-the-Lake man win against scars of war

By Caitlin Fertal
CFertal@News-Herald.com

Click to enlarge

Leo Kelly never expected to win a gold medal after a car crash left him in a coma for six months.

Since the crash seven years ago, Kelly has accepted the fact that he is disabled, and it has allowed him to gain freedom by participating in the Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic through the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, he said.

Kelly, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, served in the Army during Desert Storm. He has suffered from panic attacks and post traumatic stress nightmares and then his physical injuries from the crash after his service, he said.

It took five years for him to decide to participate in the sports clinic, but he realized that talking with other veterans brought him a sense of peace, he said.

"I really just didn't want to admit that I was disabled," he acknowledged.

The Veterans Affairs sports clinic aims to keep veterans active, said Janelle Howard, a recreation therapist.

The program offers a variety of sports, including archery, curling, rock climbing and scuba diving.

He won the 2010 gold medal in skiing with a time of 39 seconds.

He was able to ski by using a specially designed chair and with help from a partner on skis.

The physical preparation required attending a fitness clinic two days a week, Kelly said.

"Mentally, it was just kind of getting over everything," he said.

Before the crash, Kelly was very active and had worked as a firefighter, so the ensuing adjustment was difficult, he said.

After the accident he stayed at various hospitals before moving out with his father. He has now been living on his own for four years.

He uses a wheelchair, and has made significant progress since the crash.

His service dog Buddy, a Jack Russell terrier, helps him avoid panic attacks and regain awareness during nightmares.

"He'll lick my face, bark at me or bite my ear. Whatever it takes," he said.

Kelly said he strongly recommends a service dog to any veteran who suffers from the mental anguish of war.

Kelly has several other medals on display in his home, some from target shooting and other sports, and others from his military service.

With the recent marking of the 20-year anniversary of Desert Storm, Kelly knows that his nightmares might increase.

"I have them every once in a while, maybe once a month," he said. "Usually it's around anniversary time."

The help of his service dog and playing sports have really helped him to turn things around.

"In the past eight months I've changed so much — my whole attitude, my whole personality," Kelly said. "I used to have the shades pulled down with no lights on and sit in the dark."

He definitely plans to continue participating in the sporting events, and told his coach to sign him up for everything, he said.

Here is a link to the article
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/05/12/news/nh3952192.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Multiple Breed Rescue

2011-05-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

Check them out on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_169271843129694&ap=1

Or on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/OhioDogRescue

AND check out the really cute awesome dogs they have up for adoption
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/multiplebreed.html

Dogs Dogs and more Dogs!

2011-05-10T21:18:00.002-04:00

I think I mentioned this already but I was SO SICK last week. I was in bed pretty much all week the only reason I got up was to feed the puppies. That totally put me behind at work but what are you going to do!?

Anyway, Thursday I agree to take in two JRT mixes that my sister in law picked up off transport for me.

Freddy

Indiana Jones

They are both nice little dogs, we are having small issue with Indy but we are working through this and I hope by June he will be ready for adoption.. I hope!

Then Saturday after being sick all week I couldn't help myself and went to the dog pound ;-) There was this really cute JRT there

Frankie

Look at that face.. .see why I sucked it up and went to the pound. Who cares I was sick and wanted nothing more then to go to bed, he could be dead!

Then of course I walked through the pound "Just to see" what all was there....

Randy! Pure Breed Weimaraner.

How the heck was I going to leave him in the shelter?! I mean come on!

THEN Sunday, my friend June called me and said do you want a Mount Feist. HELL YEA! I have always wanted a Feist. So, Sunday evening I got in the Feist. He is so cool. I don't have a picture yet but I will work on that maybe tomorrow.

And because apprently I am FLIPPING CRAZY.. lol I commited to take in 3 more JRT's. They are getting picked up Friday by an adopter and then she is bringing them to my house.

Momma
and
babies

Ok, this makes me VERY FULL... I need get some dogs adopted ASAP. LOL!

BIG Adoption Event coming soon!

2011-05-09T13:50:00.000-04:00

May 21, 2011 9:30am to 3:00pm

RAIN OR SHINE this event will take place

Open your heart and your home to a dog or cat in need. This year’s PAWS-4-A-Cause event will be Saturday, May 21st, from 9:30 to 3:00pm at the Moreland Hills Polo Grounds/Cleveland Metroparks, South Chagrin Reservation.

Adopt-a-thon: Dogs & cats from PAWS and over 20 local rescue organizations will be available for adoption!

Dog Walk: You will also have your choice of a 1 or 2 mile dog walk around the park. Bring your favorite canine and walk with your friends and family. Dog walk pre-registration is $25 ($30 for day-of registration) and includes a doggie bag or goodies and a t-shirt. (t-shirt guaranteed for pre-registrants; t-shirt for day-of-registrants is subject to availability)

Family Fun Day: There's something for everyone, including those with four legs! There will be canine demonstrations, dog contests, craft and pet-related vendors, food vendors, a Big Ticket Raffle, microchipping and more!

Admission is free! Parking is free!

This event helps generate funds to continue our foster care program and provide medical care for the animals of PAWS. All proceeds will help PAWS continue its mission to help stray and abused dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

Volunteer Opportunities
Click here to see the list of help we need to pull this off!

Schedule
Click here for schedule

Registration

PAWS has a FirstGiving page which will be used to register for the Dog Walk and/or fundraise for this year’s PAWS-4-A-Cause event. Click here to get started, then click on the big orange “Raise Money” button. From here you can “Register online now” as a $25 walker and create a fundraising page to help us raise more. Or you can fundraise only by choosing “Register Offline”. You’ll be able to create your own personalized fundraising page. From here you’ll have the ability to send emails to friends and family to help you reach your goals. To print and mail in the registration form instead, please click here.

Directions

Place: Moreland Hills Polo Grounds / Cleveland Metroparks - South Chagrin Reservation

Address: 3841 Chagrin River Rd, Moreland Hills, OH 44022

Phone No: 216-402-1106

From I-271 Chagrin Blvd. Exit - Take Chagrin Blvd. east to Lander Circle and continue on Chagrin Blvd. east. Turn left onto River Road. The Cleveland Metroparks (South Chagrin Reservation) Polo Field will be on the right.

From Ohio Turnpike Exit 13 - Head towards Cleveland on I-480 west. Exit at the Hudson/Twinsburg exit, Rt. 91 and head North. Follow Rt. 91 North through Twinsburg and Solon until you come to Chagrin Blvd. Turn right onto Chagrin Blvd. and follow until you reach River Road. Turn left onto River Road. The Cleveland Metroparks (South Chagrin Reservation) Polo Field will be on the right.

Raffle Prizes
This year’s Big Ticket Raffle will include 3 huge packages from Downtown, East Side and West Side, each worth over $1,000! Hotel rooms, dinners, entertainment tickets, etc. If you have any questions about the reverse raffle contact Michelle Sefcik at 216.870.7779 or email at bigticketraffle@pawsohio.org If you need tickets to sell or have money to turn in, please contact Kelly Carbone at
nascargirl42@sbcglobal.net or get_tickets@pawsohio.org
Please turn in as much raffle ticket money and tickets before the event that you can.

Click here to see what is included in the big baskets

Dog Rescuer's Life

Things are so slow

3 can you believe it 3 in 2 days!!

Are you afraid?? Be careful

Emergency Emergency

Balancing act

Hard work

TIRED

Got um!

Bait dogs tomorrow

Looking for more information

Maximum sentence for Ohio dogfighting suspect (Petition)

My Christmas Eve

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody. - Herbert Bayard Swope

They don't get it...

Top 10 Reasons Why You Can’t Trust Pit Bulls

And the number one reason why you can’t trust pit bulls…

Liars

The dog food I like the best

Top Worst Dog Foods

Bad Dog Food Brands and What Ingredients You Should Never Feed Your Dog.

Do what you have to for the dogs

SMACK!

Puppies up for adoption

Coming to a close

Looking for peace

Turkey is NOT GOOD FOR DOGS!

SMACK!

Because I care

I guess it is my problem.

Write them, tell them this was WRONG

Stop making excuses

Newly adopted dog runs of burglar

Continued

Give me a break

WE HAVE PUPPIES

Depressing update

WIN A SNOW BLOWER

Just another reason WHY NOT TO KEEP A FOUND DOG

Wayward pooch, owner reunited after 3 months apart

DEPRESSING

Jeannie the preganet lab

Special needs

People are amazing to me

Great loss

Wooly Bear Festival Sunday October 9th!

I eat dinner cold almost every night

Winter is coming.

Enough said....

New arrivals

Puppy Party!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yy72AmsSMY

That is my dog

Getting Ready

I don't want to take her to the pound.

It is all about the dog

Learning to say NO

Do people REALLY listen?

DEAD ON!

This shit aint easy!

Guilty people get so angry

Women beaten, raped and her dogs need help

must re home immediately

Is it really the dog?

I am ridiculous

MISSING IN GRAFTON OHIO

Hit or Miss

Bringing a baby home to the dog

The first national program that prepares families with dogs for life with baby!

Please don't keep found dogs!!

Adoption Applications

The hardest part about owning a pet....

HAHAHA I am crazy!

Life keeps getting in the way

JRT PUPPIES ARE THE BEST!!!

5 hoarder dogs

Not dog related but horse related.... important...

AWTA DEN TRIAL- Saturday July 30th, 2011

Found after 7 years!!!

Found after a year.........

The first national program that prepares
families with dogs for life with baby!