This is MY reality..

Reality for me is that you can't save them all. I guess what my co-worker did has me really down because of the horrible things I have seen lately. I still can't talk about it without crying.

I have poor little Earl who has scares on his head, is affraid of life, looks beat down and damaged and I know he spent his life making babies so some asshole could make a few bucks. He has come a long way in just the short time that I have had him but everyday I pick him up, kiss him, hug him and whisper in his ear "no one will ever hurt you again!" I only hope he understands.

I had to put to sleep the CUTES JRT you have ever seen last week. I mean CUTE! He was mean.. one minute fine, the next minute watch out! I had to take back to the shelter a JRT on Saturday because it was nasty with me and bit my foster home twice. Yesterday Gloria my rescue partner got a JRT / Chihuahua mix from the Henry County shelter. She said it was beautiful but she couldn't get near the dog. Gloria said the dog was in the mind set of "I am going to get you before you get me." It was obviously total fear but there isn't anything we can do at that point. The dog was so badly abused that there was no hope in sight.

It is one thing if we were keeping the dog forever and another when you expect someone to adopt it. Ya know?

I just see so many horrible things that 1 person who I thought actually listened to what I go through, buying a dog from a Pet Store just broke me.

On Oct 7th. There will be yet another dog acution.... See information below....

1. Wed., October 7, 2009 Buckeye Dog Auction.

Below is a summary of the *389 companions (89 males, 300 females; all dogs under four years of age) expected to be placed on the auction block beginning next Wednesday at approximately 2:00 PM:

BREED (MALES, FEMALES)
Affen Pincher 0 0 0
Bichon Frise 49 4 45
Boston Terrier 3 2 1
Cairn Terrier 9 1 8
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 3 3 0
Chihuahua 14 5 9
Cocapoo 1 0 1
Cocker Spaniel 9 1 8
Collie 0 0 0
Coton De Tulear 0 0 0
English Bulldog 0 0 0
Fox Terrier 0 0 0
French Bulldog 1 1 0
Golden Retriever 0 0 0
Havanese 22 2 20
Havanese Mix 1 0 1
Japanese Chin 0 0 0
Lhasa Apso 10 4 6
Maltese 36 9 27
Mini Dachshund 27 3 24
Mini Pincher 2 2 0
Mini Schnauzer 11 0 11
Mixed Breeds 0 0 0
Papillon 0 0 0
Parti Poodle 5 1 4
Pekingese 3 0 3
Pomeranian 4 2 2
Poodle (Toy and Mini) 36 9 27
Poodle (Standard) 1 1 0
Pug 6 3 3
Schnauzer 0 0 0
Shetland Sheepdog 3 0 3
Shibu Unu 0 0 0
Shih Tzu 53 10 43
Silky Terrier 3 3 0
Toy Fox Terrier 0 0 0
Parti Yorkshire Terrier 2 2 0
Biewer Yorkshire Terrier 1 0 1
West Highland White Terrier 15 4 11
Yorkshire Terrier 59 17 42
TOTAL 389 89 300


*South Central PA breeders with consigned dogs at this sale:

Ammon Martin
Aquilla Blank
Dan Esh
Daniel Stoltzfus
Ella Mae Zimmerman
James Zimmerman
John Fisher
Loren Nolt
Nathan Myer
Sam Stoltzfus
Steve Stoltzfus
Wayne Sensenig

Click here to view their USDA licenses - > http://www.nppmwatch.com/A_cert_holders2009.pdf

Click here to view their USDA Animal Welfare Inspection Reports - > http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/inspection_list.shtml

You may be interested to know that a 2009 report issued by the USDA has confirmed Ohio ranks seventh among the top 10 states with the largest number of USDA Class A licensed 'commercial' breeders:

1. MO - 1,370
2. OK - 498
3. IA - 322
4. AR - 308 (was 5th in 2008)
5. KS - 291 (was 4th in 2008)
6. PA - 202
7. OH - 161 (a 500% increase in the number of Class A licensed "commercial" breeders just five years ago!)
8. NE - 142
9. SD - 102 (was 10th in 2008)
10. TX - 91 (was 9th in 2008)

2. BanOhioDogAuctions.com. BanOhioDogAuctions does not promote or encourage individuals or groups to purchase dogs from auctions or directly from puppy mill breeders. For a great many (and a growing number) of us, initiating efforts to ban the auctions is one way to take away the demand, and we strongly believe introducing legislation similar to that of PA's statute 459-603 will impact the mills. In our opinion, as long as you have a buyer, there is always a need for the seller.

With that said, Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions will continue working with local, state and national animal advocacy groups to actively address - through investigations, education, media relations and legislative involvement - Ohio dog auctions and their relationship to puppy mills and pet homelessness.

If you would like to share your concerns regarding the Farmerstown Dog Auctions, I would encourage you to:

1. Write (or fax) letters to the Holmes County Commissioners (Joe Miller, Ray Feikert and Rob Ault) asking them to support a ban on Ohio dog auctions. Emphasize that you will not be spending any dollars in HolmesCounty until this event no longer takes place in their community!

The contact information is:

2 Court Street, Ste 14
Millersburg, OH 44654-2001
Phone: 330-674-0286
Fax: 330-674-0566

E-mail: hcc@co.holmes.oh.us

SAMPLE LETTER - Please personalize the email message by expressing your opinion in your own words; it's much more effective!

Dear Commissioners Miller, Feikert and Ault:

Over the past nine years, my husband and I have made numerous trips to HolmesCounty to purchase cheeses, baked goods, quilts and furniture. I have also been a frequent customer at many of the numerous restaurants in HolmesCounty. We have enjoyed our stays at the local accommodations, taking longs weekends and summer vacations there.

BUT no more! Until I learn that the Dog Auctions have been discontinued, I will not be visiting or spending money in your community!

Please be aware that I have asked all of my family, friends and elected officials to do the same.

2. Ask the same from all your friends (don't forget to include your vet!), family, co-workers and state elected officials - http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/!

Thanks everyone for your continued dedication to serving as a strong voice for the dogs!

It's raining men.. I am mean Jack Russell

Holy crap what the hell is going on?? HELP!!!!!!!!!

Getting in 5 more JRT's.. 3 tomorrow and 2 Saturday I guess. Oh and there is another one I want in Paulding County so got to figure out how to get that one.

Where are all these JRT's coming from... anyone know?

Adoptions are still slow.. I mean I had 3 adopted Saturday and um... Dolly might be getting adopted and I have a few applications but are people really serious? I don't know? Are they GOOD applications... yea some are, some are OK and some not a snow balls chance in hell my friend!

On top of life, trying to spend more time with my husband. Who has been great by the way.. he has been doing stuff so I don't have to.. like watering the dogs or carrying food back to the kennels or vacuuming the house.. I vacuum everynight.. I can't stand dirty floors. Everything else can be dusty (well not really) and cluttered (this is true sometimes) but I dirty floor. UGH! Can't sleep.

I think I need medication.. LOL!!


Ok, a few funny stories for this week. Remember I am a volunteer.

I had a women contact me because her friend's neighbor had a stroke and has a JRT. The neighbor can't take care of the JRT because of her stroke. She asked if I could help by taking the JRT in. She said she would take the JRT but she has a cat, a dog and works full time.

I told her I would be happy to take in the JRT. I don't normally take in owner surrenders but for special situations where it isn't the person's fault that the dog needs a new home I will take the dog in. I told her what city I live in and that I work full time so the dog can be dropped off to me M - F after 6pm or anytime Saturday or Sunday. I also told her if the dog was aggressive AT ALL towards people or other dogs I would not be able to take it.

The women emailed me back and said "I told you my situation. I do not have time! You need to go pick up the dog."

WHAT!!!!!???? My response to her was that she emailed ME looking for help not the other way around. I then explained my situation and told her she can bring me the dog if she wants me to take it but I am not going to pick it up!

She thanked me for what I do and said she would talk to the neighbor and get back to me with a time when she could bring the dog. I haven't heard back.

THEN I had a person what wants to adopt say to me "Amy you don't understand you bringing the dog to me is the difference between a dog finding a home and not finding a home."

He said that because I refused to drive the dog to him. I said to him "NO YOU DON"T UNDERSTAND. I am a volunteer. My work and my family NEED to come first. If I don't have a job, I don't save dogs and where does that leave the dogs? Dead!" Comes down to the fact the guy doesn't want to drive 3 hours to my house. He keeps asking for a discount on the dogs too. Seriously???!! I am not JCPenny's they don't go on sale. And 3 hours. LOL! I drive that just picking up dogs from the vet clinic and taking them to foster homes. Not to mention I have had people drive from up state NY, Chicago, Indy, hell one lady flew from Florida picked up a dog and flew home TWICE! She has two of my dogs... they surf now.. so funny.

THEN I have another rescue person... or at least that is why she calls herself.. tell me what I should and should not due and blah blah blah. Listen lady you live in a different state 8 hours away from me and you don't even take in dogs. GO AWAY! UGH! Sometimes in rescue I feel like I am in High School dealing with spoiled rich kids.

LOL!

HAPPY NOTE! Earl.... the dog I got a few weeks ago who I think was a puppy mill breeding dog. he barked and played with a toy yesterday. WOOHOOO! And he is off the leash now :-)

When I am tired

When I have had a long crappy day at work and all I want to do is go home and sleep. I CAN NOT!

When I don't feel good and I just want to stay in bed. I CAN NOT!

When it is raining outside and all I want to do is snuggle up on the couch with a hot cup of tea. I CAN NOT!

When it is cold outside and the snow is up to your eye balls and I would rather not go outside. I would rather stay in the house. I CAN NOT!

Why???

DOGS, Animals, the farm.

I am not complaining... I am just pointing out a simple fact.

I had a crappy day at work, with a crazy co-worker.. Who seriously might be on medication and if this person is not they should be. I am absolutely exhausted and all I wanted to do was go home and go to bed. Well TOO BAD for me.

I left work, sat in traffic for an hour, went to the college, picked up 5 dogs, drove an hour home, settled the 5 dogs in, gave them all medicine, feed horses, cleaned kitty litter, brought horses in from outside, took care of puppies...cleaning, playing with a bit, feeding, giving worming medicine and then I went out to the kennels, cleaned kennels, gave dogs fresh food and water, gave them medicine.

It is not 9pm. I am hungry but too tired to do anything about it.. LOL!!

So, I checked email and decided to be a whiner for a bit and now I am going to bed... And yes I will take some cheese with the wine :-)

Example of how dogs are disposable

I am sure we have all heard of John and Kate plus 8 the reality TV show on TLC. Well last year in an episode the family bought 2 German Shepard Dogs from a back yard breeder... Ok, they tried to make it look all nice for TV. The mom and puppies were in large kennel runs with straw but you could see there were SEVERAL runs with many litters of puppies... UGH! Yea, thanks we need more dogs in this world.. whatever. That pretty much made me mad and I even thought about writing in to TLC to tell them how horrible it was but then remembered this is reality TV so it isn't like the producers could sit John and Kate down and explain to them that RESCUE is the way to go...

Anyways, John and Kate as we have heard on the news have gone through some rocky times in their lives and are now or are getting divorced.

So, guess what that means for the GSDs. Yep you guessed it they are being DUMPED! No longer needed or wanted. They were a great novelty item for the barely 1 year that they had them. I am pretty sure they were purchased in Oct at 8 weeks old.

Here is a picture of them being "hauled away" So, awesome let's look back on John and Kate plus 8 at all the wonderful things they have taught there kids and anyone watching the show.

#1. It is ok to be verbally abusive to your husband
#2. It is ok to cheat on your wife
#3. Don't work things out get divorced
#4. Buy dogs
#5. Dispose of them when you no longer want them.


And on a "dog" note lets look at ALL the things they did wrong when it comes to the dogs.
#1. Bought them
#2. GOT TWO AT THE SAME TIME FROM THE SAME LITTER
#3. I don't ever recall an episode where they took them to get fixed or hired a trainer (can anyone verify for me if they did or did not?? I honestly don't know)
#4. DUMP THEM WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER OF VALUE.

And 7 million dogs die in shelter EVERY YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spay / Neuter thought........

You hear over and over again why you should fix your pet.. too many dogs in the world, cancer, behavior, ect.


Let's put it into prospective for just a moment.


You have a dog.. a female. She "accidentally" gets pregnant. She has 4 puppies. Normally a TRUE accident is around 2 - 4 puppies. Larger litter come when the dog has had several litters and / or has been allowed to just "do whatever" for lack of a better way to explain it. So for the purpose of this lets say 4 puppies. 2 girls, 2 boys.


You give away / sell / dump the 4 puppies. The two female in 6 - 8 months will come into heat. They aren't fixed either. They "accidentally" get pregnant. They have 4 puppies each.. so that is 8 puppies. Let's say one has all boys and the other has all girls. So that is 4 more female dogs in this world.


Again the owners of those puppies give away / sell / dump the 8 puppies. In 6 - 8 months the 4 girls come into heat and "accidentally" get pregnant. Again let's say they each have 4 puppies... that is 16 more puppies in this world.


Now math time....


Dog #1 has 4 puppies.


In 8 months the 2 females get pregnant, 9 weeks later have 8 puppies.. 10 months have passed.


8 months later their 4 female puppies get pregnant, 9 weeks later have puppies they have 16 puppies... 20 months have passed.


You now have 28 dogs in this world in LESS THEN 2 years because YOU did not fix your dog!

And this is ONLY counting the lives brought into this world by the FEMALES. The male dogs have been running neighborhoods pregnant God only knows how many females along the way.. they can obviously get more then one dog pregnant in a day!

So, please tell me one more time why people don't fix their dogs????

A bit frustrated

I am a little frustrated today. I have Jack Russells coming out of the wood work. We currently have
Sophie - fostered by Christie
Rascal - fostered by Andrea
Bobby - fostered by Elizabeth
Lucy - fostered by Margaret
Paige - fostered by Nikole
Butchie - fostered by Betty
Dolly - fostered by April
and I have at my house
Sarah (mom of puppies)
6 puppies
Lenny
Jeff
Billy
Brian
Earl
Tucker
Bonnie
George


I have received what feels like a MILLION emails from people saying they need to get rid of their JRT for one lame reason or another. And I am getting email after email about a JRT in a kill shelter that if it doesn't find an exit plan will DIE!


I even received an email from someone wanting to re home their 16 year old JRT mix... 16 years old...... what!!!!!!??????


And I met a lady at my work a week ago who BOUGHT a JRT from a back yard breed. Great wonder how many of those I will end up with.. UGH!


I just can't keep up with all these JRT's. I can't believe how many are out there...


I did have 1 email from a women that has a 4 year old JRT that is "semi aggressive" is how she said it and she actually wants to know of a trainer to work with him. If I could reach through the computer and hug her I would have. LOL!!

At least there are some people willing to work things out with their dogs... at least there are some good people left in this world.

Then the thing that makes me the most sad / frustrated is when someone tries EVERYTHING to help, love, save, take care of a dog and it turns out they can't.

The animal control officer in Lorain Ohio (not really a great area... at least most of it), was called because some puppies were wondering in the street and in some one's yard. He went and collected up the puppies he saw.. 3 of them. He found who owned them. Apparently they have a female GSD (German Shepard dog) that had puppies. These puppies were about 10 weeks old and the other he already got rid of / sold / gave away. He told the animal control officer (ACO) to keep them, he didn't want them.

The ACO knew that if he took them to the pound they would never survive and God only knows what would come of them if they did survive being at the pound.

So, he called me and I took them in.

Roberto, Burrito and Tulip. They were all fixed and given shots and went to loving homes. There names are now Tripper who is 110 pounds, Ranger and Coco. Coco was the smallest of the 3 and had leg issues. Her owner spent THOUSANDS of dollars on her over 6 surgeries to correct her legs.

Two weekends ago they went to the park and played ball, hiked and had a great weekend. On Monday Coco was real tired and didn't feel like eating. The family called the vet office and made her an appointment.. something was wrong. The vet noticed a few lumps on her and sent the family to an oncologist. The oncologist gave Coco 1 week to live. He said that she was FULL FULL FULL of cancer and was in a lot of pain and the cancer was EVERYWHERE. It was in the final stage and there was nothing they could do at this point.

Coco was put to sleep on Friday :-(

Here is a picture of Coco when I had her............

There are people in this world that would do ANYTHING for their pet. And there are people in this world who still think of them as an accessory or a piece of replaceable merchandise.

Puppy Party

The Puppy Party was a lot of fun. Stressful but fun.. LOL! I just love seeing all my kids in one place...well almost all of them.. :-)

Molly totally remembered her daughter Rosie but didn't seem to remember Echo.

Lotto, Chance and Win (now Scrappy) did not remember each other at all. Now, that was surprising because those dogs were so so so dependent of each other.

Boots and Camp 100% remembered each other. Boots.. now Casey licked Camp all over. TOO CUTE!

I had a trainer come and do a demo. That was great. I think a lot of people got a lot out of it.

I had the fly ball team there. OMG they were AWESOME! That was absolutely amazing. I am pretty sure my husband got some cool pictures.. just have to get him to down load them for me :-)

All in all I think everything went really really well.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME!!

We raised $1,440.00

Doggie status

***Deep breath***

So, it has been a mini vacation this week with 5 dogs at the clinic. PLUS two of my awesome foster homes came and took a dog... Paige and Jeff went to foster homes. YAY! That left me with Sarah and the puppies, Tucker and Bonnie.

***deep breath***

So relaxing.. LOL!!


On another good note. I have someone coming to meet Lucy on Friday. YAY! I might have someone interested in Bobby and Marge is hopefully getting adopted Saturday night after the party. The lady lives near Christie in Troy so Christie is taking Marge back with her to Troy.

Wish there was more interest in Billy and Brian. I mean geez they are just puppies.

Other then that things are slow this week...... I haven't receive too many requests for dogs in shelters that are going to die but I have received about 5 people wanting to dump. Hopefully they can work things out to keep the dog. I gave each of them suggestions and tips so hopefully they will be able to work things out.

I THINK I might be getting a dog today but I don't know yet. Still waiting to hear for sure.

On another note I am trying to stay calm about the party. I know it will all come together.. I am just not good about waiting to get things done.. ya know what I mean? I hate when things are hanging over my head and I can't just get it all done and set up now.. LOL! I am sure everything will be fine.

Karen is coming over today to drop off the agility course. YAY! That is going to be so much fun :-)

THANK YOU DICK'S SPORTING GOODS!

Dicks Sporting Goods is refusing to sell the Michael Vick jersey.

Call them and thank them. 1-877-846-9997 dial "3"
Alternate: dial "2", then dial "0" and just thank theoperator.

They are keeping track of the calls and will make the numberpublic at a later date.

Getting ready for the party

This Saturday is the 3rd annual Puppy Party. I am expecting about 150 people. Hopefully everyone shows up... food is expensive..lol.

I spent the majority of yesterday and today taking care of dogs and getting ready for the party. I think I have everything pretty well set up at least for now. Not much more I can do until Friday. I get so anxious when I have to plan things.. lol

The puppies are going to be 6 weeks old Wed. OMG they are getting so big and bold.. they can really get around. So freaking cute.

The dogs I got in on Thursday are just the best group of dogs. The 2 puppies really want to be good. They try very hard :-) Marge and Earl.. the make my heart hurt they are just so darn cute! And Lenny seriously could be a comedian.. Best dog.

All 5 of them are going to the clinic tomorrow to get fixed. So, I will be 5 dogs less for a few days. Hopefully Jeff is going to a foster home Tuesday and that leaves me with Tucker, Bonnie and Paige!

AND then I am working on getting 3 more dogs. UGH! Seriously. Someone has got to get adopted here really soon. I am dieing. JRT's EVERYWHERE!

I am supposed to get a 10 week old puppy, a skinny poor little thing from a shelter and then another JRT from Carroll County.

Do you think the endless parade of JRT"s that seem to be coming my way will end soon? I seriously can't take it any more... I don't know where I am going to put them all.

The babies still have 5 weeks before they can go anywhere and I am getting ZERO hits on my dogs. I can't believe I still have Dolly or Bobby... I am seriously they are so good. UGH!

Well need to go to bed because I have to get up early to load up 5 dogs into my car..... my stomach hurts... stupid anxiety!

God is good, beer is great and people are crazy :-)

Here are the dogs I got lastnight.......



Marge - 6 year old female shortie. She is shy but just wants to love you. Classic back yard breeder dog tossed out on the streeet like trash.

Earl - 6 year old male, found with Marge. I am sure they are either litter mates that were being forced to breed to each other or Marge's boy friend who was helping to make the back yard breeder lots of money. He is VERY sweet!

Brian a 4 month old JRT bought from a back yard breeder by a good hearted 70 plus year old women. She had no idea what she was getting into!

Lenny - was a stray found wondering around looking for someone to love him.

Billy a 4 month old male JRT. Brian's brother.

Anxiety is setting in.......

I am getting 5 JRT's today! Yes 5!



I am rushing to get everything done for work today so that I can bail out of here early. I am rushing home to take care of animals and get ready for the 5 that are coming. The crazy thing is I can't arrange who is going to live with who until I meet them and see how they interact with everyone.

I have a vet appointment at 6:20 for Paige, Tucker, Travis and Jeff. Everyone is getting heartworm tested, rabies shot and fixed.. well except for Tucker he is already fixed.

Tyler and I are going 4 wheeling this weekend....... we have barely seen each other in the last 2 weeks. He has been busy getting stuff done at the house and I have been busy with dogs.. what else. I freaking can't get anything else done!

We are leaving tomorrow after work and coming home Sunday sometime. I am starting to panic about all the stuff that needs to be done and arranged for the party NEXT WEEK! I am sure I will be fine but I hate just having thing hanging over my head.. ya know.

Oh deep breath.. feel overwhelmed.