The thought makes me sick to my stomach...

I received an email from Clinton County Ohio. They had removed 27 dogs from a hoarder / puppy mill type situation. The dogs were living in horrible conditions, dirty, flea infested, malnourished, stained with pee and poo. Among all the dogs removed there were 2 JRT's.

First thought that entered my mind. "UGH I so don't have room, they are going to be so freaking backwards and it going to cost a ton of money and will never get adopted. I don't want them." Second thought "Great the male is going to be mean and I am probably going to have to put him down." Third thought "how the heck am I going to get them from Clinton County to me?"

Ok, so why was my thought process this way. I am going to be honest I hate taking in puppy mill dogs. They are always so backwards and 9 times out of 10 the males are so aggressive I can't put them up for adoption. As much as I hate getting them.... I love having them and seeing them blossom, I love it when they go from scared, pathetic nothings to DOGS! Dogs who play and run and cuddle and bark. I love watching them get use to freedom and not having babies after babies after babies.

Now here is what makes me sick to my stomach. After a wonderful girl named Ally drove all the way to Clinton County picked up the 2 JRT's and saved 3 other dogs who went to another rescue... she arrived at my house 8:10pm Monday night with the dogs. I was expecting the worse, they are puppy mill dogs.

WOW was I wrong. The girl is ALL personality, happy, bouncy a normal dog. She loves love LOVES people and just has to say hi to everyone. You couldn't ask for a better personality. She is 1 year old 10 pound cutie!

The boy is 6 months old and besides a little skin irritation from fleas and living in his own waste he is pretty good. He is scared, confused and un sure.. you can tell Puppy Mill life had already started to get the best of him.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think of that sweet cute little female and what her future could have been. I look at how happy and loving she is and I think in 2 years from now you would have had 5 - 6 litters of puppies... Thank God she hasn't had one yet... you would have been scared of everyone and every thing, your teeth would have been rotting out of your mouth... you would be Tootie, my current puppy mill surviver who trusts me but pretty much no one else and has had most of her teeth removed because of bad diet. She has been with me since the spring and although has improved still has a long road ahead of her before she is a real dog.

And the Pit Bull is....

#1 Is Red. He is a Boxer Lab mix and just a doll. Had a hard time adopting him out b/c he looked too much like a Pit Bull. Actually had a person email me saying she was sick of shelters calling Pit Bulls different type of mixes like boxers, labs, etc. She believed Pit Bulls should be placed up for adoption. IDIOT!

#2 Is Tyson. He was 5 weeks old when he was taken to the Cleveland City Kennel. They told the people that were bringing him there that he was a Pit Bull and would be immediately destroyed if they left him there... insert me.. he was adopted in 2009 and for the record is a Great Dane Lab mix.

#3 Is Petey. MY DOG! He is a German Shepard, Rotti, Shar Pei, Borzi mix according to his DNA test.

#4. Is Scout. My husband's new dog. According to his DNA test one of his parents was a GSD Pit Bull Mix.

LOL!! I guess if we lived in Lakewood Ohio we wouldn't be allowed to have Scout.

Pick the Pit Bull

Which dog do you think is a Pit Bull????


#1 Red

#2 Tyson

#3 Petey


#4 Scout

Michael Vick wants a dog

I say let him have one! I think he should have to take in one of the dogs that HE messed up in the first place and help rehabilitate it.

This is what pisses me off. He did all these horrible things to these dogs, the dogs were all taken away from him and so what he went to jail. BIG FREAKING DEAL!

He didn't have to help transport the dogs to the shelters / rescues / people that took them in. He didn't have to transport them to and from the vet for medical care. He didn't have to watch the trainers / specialists test the dogs to see if rehabilitation was possible. He didn't have to watch as some of the dogs were put to sleep.

He was hauled off and put in jail. Never seeing first hand the actual damage he did.

So, I say sure he can have a dog but it has be to one of the ones that is still being rehabilitated. He has to work with the dog that is scared and he has to look at the physical scare he created. Why in the HELL should he not have to???!!

I am sick and tired of rescues always cleaning up someone else's mess! I am sick and tired of animals abusers, dog hoarders, puppy millers having their animals taken from them and they just turn around and do it all over again!

Vick wants a dog, he can have a dog ONE OF HIS!

Depressing

Seriously depressing, I can't get over it. Why isn't anyone getting adopted? I have had so many people back out of adoptions this week. I had a family take home a dog for 1/2 hour. Their dog wanted to play and plays a little rough so the JRT was nervous and they brought him right back. I honestly think that is the fast return EVER! I know it is just because the dogs weren't introduced properly. I have met their other dog, he is just a big goof who has no clue how big he is.

Then I have the WONDERFUL family that I am so excited about who wants the Irish Setter and they backed out today. THEN I have a nice family who was interested in one of the JRTs. They backed out last night and then um... that might be it.

THEN I am getting so many emails from people wanting to get rid of their dog. 9 year old dog who is blind, 2 year old male because well they are having a baby... I told the women people have dogs and babies everyday, it isn't a reason to get rid of your dog. 6 year old female and 3 year old male because the owner moved into an apt. Or my favorite a 100 pound Pit Bull with separation anxiety so bad that the dog will eat through dry wall to get out and has. OMG! Are you kidding me???

Email request after email request of people begging for help for this shelter or that shelter. Knowing that tomorrow is D day for so many dogs and there isn't a darn thing I can do about it. Tonight I will lay my head on my pillow to go to sleep knowing full well my inability to help has caused tonight to be the last night for so many dogs.

Why is it I feel guilty about dogs I have never ever met dieing but their owners don't??

Sparky Update!

From Sparky's foster to adopt mom!

Hiya! Everything is going fine, minus the fact he still thinks cats = chew toys. He's getting better about it, and the cats come down from 'up high' (tops of chairs, shelves etc) now. Sometimes they even play nice! His neuter appt. is January 14th at 8am. I forgot what having a puppy was like - the accidents, the 'oopies I ate the couch and your one shoe and part of the table', the barking at the wind... but honestly, 98% of the time, Sparky is a joy. Mark and I remember how Belle used to act when she was a puppy, and we laugh, now. So I figure we'll laugh in a couple years about what Sparky does, too! We keep his bed in our bedroom, and he's so sweet when its time to sleep. He sleeps for about half an hour, then sneaks into our bed to curl up with Belle. He does this adorable 'army crawl', using only his two front feet to crawl towards us, then licks our faces like "Heh, Sparkys in the beeeddd tooo!!" He's still a little awkward and lanky - he bumps his head a lot of tables, comes up short sometimes around the wall - but he is FAST! when he runs. I think his one back leg might be part spring, because boy, can he jump. Hes smart - he already knows sit, down, stay and roll over. He 'talks', too, but thats because he likes to, not because we taught him =)

I take them when I see them

PUPPIES FOR SALE READY FOR CHRISTMAS!

Whenever I see signs for puppies for sale (Christmas or not) I take them! Side of the road, community bulletin boards, telephone poles AND THEN I call them and ask a bunch of questions. Keeping in mind everything below ;-)


#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.

Honestly it is just depressing

I need to build a freaking shelter! It is just darn right depressing there are so many dogs in need. I can't even begin to tell you how many dogs I have turned away in the last 2 weeks. INCLUDING PUPPIES! So, many are dieing because no one is adopting right now.

Oh and I put an ad in the Newspaper. JACK RUSSELLS for adoption all ages $150 w/ my phone number. I have received about 5 calls and every person is looking for a PUPPY for Christmas. I explain to them what I do and throw in little statistics of how many homeless pets there are and how REAL legitimate breeders you aren't going to find in the newspaper. Not sure it helps but oh well.

There are just so many dogs needing homes yet people won't stop breeding. UGH!

Tis the season to DUMP your pets!

HOLY COW the shelters are PACKED, packed full of dogs. I have received at least, no joke 15 emails from people in the last 10 days asking if I can take their JRT for this reason or that reason. My favorite so far was the one from the women saying she loves her dog but he won't stop running away and she has already been cited by the city and her house community for the dog running loose. Um??? how about a leash or a fence?? That might help??!! But what do I know! LOL!

There are emails going around about dogs being tied up outside, freezing in this wonderful Ohio weather we are having. I have heard more then one story of rescues and regular citizens stealing dogs just to get them out of the cold. Not that the owners in some of the cases even have noticed their dogs is missing. Isn't that crazy??? The laws suck so bad that in order to save an animal you have to steal it!!

Last night on the news they showed these horses that were taken from an Auction House that were HORRIBLY emaciated and abused and neglected. My dad says "how can this happen" I said SIMPLE DAD our laws are REACTIVE not PROACTIVE. Even if you know the dog will freeze to death or isn't being fed or is being abused there is absolutely NOTHING anyone can do legally to help. Shelter as defined by Ohio law is anything where an animal can get out of the elements... meaning if you tie a dog up to a tree and put a garbage can laying on it's side next to the dog and the dog can crawl inside the garbage can THEN IT IS CONSIDERED SHELTER! How ridiculous is that???

If an animal LOOKS healthy then as humane officer can't do anything to help it. So, unless it is emaciated then the humane officer or dog warden or police can't take the dog away from the situation.

PISSES ME OFF! So, by the time the dog or whatever animal looks bad it is so sick or so aggressive from being starved that bringing back to health is WAY more expensive and 50/50 chance the animal will survive.

Awesome society we live in, isn't it?

What a day!!

I received an email yesterday from a concerned person who knew of dogs that had been left behind in an abandoned house. This person did not want to get involved because the people that lived there were a bit un predictable.

I called the concerned person and spoke with them. The stories they told me of the horrors they have witnessed throughout the years OMG! Frozen animals in mud, shooting animals as method of euthanizing (which isn't illegal in Ohio FYI!), the starving of animals. Just horrible.

The concerned person even sent me pictures. WOW to think someone was living in that filth.

This morning I called everyone I could think of to try to help the 2 dogs that were left to die. Well OHIO LAWS SUCK and as long as a dog has shelter, which could be a garbage can there is NOTHING the Human Officer can do. Unless the dog looks sick or doesn't have shelter then legally according to Ohio (SHITTY) Laws you can not remove the dog. The dog is property and it would be as if I walked into your house and stole your diamond ring. A dog is nothing more then property!

So basically Ohio Laws are RE ACTIVE instead of proactive. WHATEVER!

The Humane Officer went out to the house and checked on the dog and left a note on the door. My parents feeling bad that the Humane Officer couldn't do anything for the dog, went to the house and with the Humane Officer watching fed the outside dog. While feeding the dog my mom got bit.

The Humane Officer then called the Dog Warden because the dog outside bit someone so now it has to be quarantined for 10 days. My mom getting bit isn't great but at least the dog is actually in shelter and not a plastic mud floor leaking dog house (see picture below).

The Humane Officer said the back door of the house was open. The Humane Officer and the Dog Warden looked inside the house and didn't see or hear a dog. Not sure what the status of that poor dog is. I personally think it ran away...

Picture of the outside dogs shelter!!

Pictures of inside the house

Holidays are here and the animals are the forgotten ones

It is cold outside yet dogs are still chained to dog houses. There to brave the elements. Everytime I go outside that is what I think of... the poor dog that has nothing but a plastic dog house for warmth. Really plastic? You think that keeps the dog warm? I guess it is better then nothing but so makes me want to go in the middle of the night and set them free. I wish I wasn't so afraid of "getting in trouble" LOL! Then I really would do that... Hell even if I had the guts to do something like that as soon as someone knocked on my door and said "Did you XXXXX?" I would break down and admit to it. HAHAHA I would be the worse criminal ever.

There is an Amish Puppy Mill on a major state route near my house. I want to go there so bad and see the "puppies" but I know that I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut. Darn me!

So I guess we have to do what we can for those we can and a great place to start is NOW! It is cold outside and there are dogs in shelter laying on concrete floors. There are rescue organizations that are desperate for foster homes. Even if you only foster one dog one time over the winter you have save TWO DOGS! The one you are fostering and the one that didn't have to die in the shelter because you made room!!

Dog rescue is a balancing act and foster homes are needed desperately ALL THE TIME!

Ok, can't foster then collect toys, collars, leashes, beds, blanket, towels, food, treats, cages and donate to a local shelter or rescue.

HELP IS NEEDED AND IT STARTS WITH YOU TODAY!

I frustrate myself....

Ok, so this past few months has been pretty cool. I won an award at work and I had to get up in front of my entire company, 1,000 plus were probably in attendance and say a thank you. All I could think about after my lame thank you for the award was did I educate people? I should have said this or that.

Then one of my awesome adopters nominated me (well really the dogs) for a segment on a local news station called "Pay It Forward" They come to your house and surprise you with $400. The money came at a great time because Woodstock had just had his eye removal surgery and that was nearly $500 surgery. I had a 2 minute clip on the news that ran a few times. All I could think about was did I educate people? I should have said this or that.

Then today I found out that I am in the news paper... I mean I knew they were doing a small article on me but didn't know when it was going to run. The article is on line and in the paper.. a whole page actually. All I keep thinking is did I educate people? I should have said this or that.

I feel like with all three things I totally blew it. I should have mentioned

* 4 million dogs die in shelters simply because there are not enough home.

* People think there is something wrong with dogs in shelters but that is NOT true. Sometimes people loose their home, loose their job, their dog runs away and they can't find him/her. Sometimes dogs are stolen and end up in a shelter.. .you just never know how a dog got in the shelter.

* People think the dogs in shelters are never pure breed, that is simply NOT true. Heck I specialize in pure breed JRT's and have PLENTY of them right now looking for homes.

* If people would spay/neuter their pets less would end up in shelters and their pets would be so much healthier. There would be less 'unwanted' puppies

* Puppy Mills are what supply the puppies at Pet Stores. Don't buy from Pet Stores that sell puppies and eventually the cruelty of Puppy Mills and the abuse would come to an end.

* Amish are the number 1 offenders of Puppy Mills.

* For every dog and cat to have a home in the US every person in the US would need to own 7 cats and/or dogs.

* Neutering your dog is in NO WAY taking away his man hood. It is animal it has no idea what neuter means nor does he care. Actually your pet will live a happier, safer and healthier life.

* It is a myth, urban legend, old school way of thinking to say "your female dog needs one heat cycle before spaying her or needs to have one litter before spaying her."

* Dogs spayed /neutered at a young age feel less discomfort from surgery and recover MUCH quicker. The older the dog the hard surgery is on them. Waiting is doing nothing more then guaranteeing your dog will suffer.

* Foster homes are the back bone of any rescue. Foster homes are always needed for any breed. Google your favorite breed and find a rescue you can help support. Can't foster.. that is ok. Volunteer your time or donate!

I know writing it all on this blog I am only preaching to the choir... so that just frustrates me more because I feel like I totally lost the opportunity to educate people who maybe I wouldn't have come in contact with or wouldn't have even given it a second thought about buying a dog from a pet store.

Darn!

I killed a dog today...

My friend called me today and said "I am at the shelter and there is a female 10 year old JRT here. They are going to put her down right now unless I can take her."

I asked why is she there? Is she vetted? Why are they putting her down.

She was an owner surrender because she was nippy with the grand kids and was a resource guarder. She is up to date on shots and spayed. The shelter won't adopt her out because if she did bite a kid they would be held liable. The owners said she has NEVER bit anyone, they were just afraid she would.

I have ZERO places to put another dog. I had to say I am sorry I can't take her in right now. Totally sucks.

Her name is Rudy and as I am typing this she is already dead!

Meet Magic

Magic is a 3 - 4 year old male JRT. He is a tiny, loving little thing with the cutest under bite. He is a good boy who someone has been very mean to!

He was at a shelter where he had been sitting for at least 30 days in this condition before we took him. He wasn't listed on the website so no one knew he was there, he had no chance of getting out... well getting out alive that is.

We named him Magic because it is going to take magic to get him back to health and looking "normal"

It is going to be a LONG road to recovery for Magic but together we can do it and with all paws crossed and a few prayers he will be in a home by the summer.

This is why I don't watch NFL.....

I will not go to a game until Micheal Vick no longer plays. Why is it he gets to make millions while those who he abused suffer and SOMEONE else is trying to re hab them? If Micheal Vick is sorry for what he did then he should be donating money left and right to the re hab of dogs, educating people and giving money to the people that have his dogs to help with ALL medical bills for the rest of their lives. I mean really how much money does he make and according to this article 6 of Vicks dogs were adopted so what $200 a year times 6 dogs equals $1,200 per year. HELL he spends more then that on one meal, I am sure!

Check out this article By Bill Plaschke

Dog owner can't forgive Michael Vick

Mel, a black pit bull, cowers to the corner while another dog, Pumpkin, shields him. Mel was one of the 47 pit bulls in Michael Vick's interstate dogfighting ring. (Richard Hunter / November 16, 2010)

While Michael Vick was screaming toward the sky, a black pit bull named Mel was standing quietly by a door.

On this night, like many other nights, Mel was waiting for his owners to take him outside, but he couldn't alert them with a bark. He doesn't bark. He won't bark. The bark has been beaten out of him.

While Michael Vick was running for glory, Mel was cowering toward a wall.

Every time the 4-year-old dog meets a stranger, he goes into convulsions. He staggers back into a wall for protection. He lowers his face and tries to hide. New faces are not new friends, but old terrors.

While Michael Vick was officially outracing his past Monday night, one of the dogs he abused cannot.

"Some people wonder, are we ever going to let Michael Vick get beyond all this?" said Richard Hunter, who owns Mel. "I tell them, let's let Mel decide that. When he stops shaking, maybe then we can talk."

I know, I know, this is a cheap and easy column, right? One day after the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback officially becomes an American hero again, just call the owner of one of the dogs who endured Vick's unspeakable abuse and let the shaming begin.

Compare Vick's 413 total yards, four touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns against the Washington Redskins to the 47 pit bulls who were seized from Bad Newz Kennels, his interstate dogfighting ring. Contrast one of the best three hours by a quarterback ever to the 21 months he spent in prison.

Cheap and easy, right? Not so fast. Vick's success is raising one of the most potentially costly and difficult perceptual questions in the history of American sports.

If he continues playing this well, he could end up as the league's most valuable player. In six games, he has thrown for 11 touchdowns, run for four more touchdowns, committed zero turnovers and produced nearly 300 total yards per game. Heck, at this rate, with his Eagles inspired by his touch, he could even win a Super Bowl, one of the greatest achievements by an American sportsman.

And yet a large percentage of the population will still think Michael Vick is a sociopath. Many people will never get over Vick's own admissions of unthinkable cruelty to his pit bulls — the strangling, the drowning, the electrocutions, the removal of all the teeth of female dogs who would fight back during mating.

Some believe that because Vick served his time in prison, he should be beyond reproach for his former actions. Many others believe that cruelty to animals isn't something somebody does, it's something somebody is.

Essentially, an ex-convict is dominating America's most popular sport while victims of his previous crime continue to live with the brutality of that crime, and has that ever happened before?

Do you cheer the player and boo the man? Can you cheer the comeback while loathing the actions that necessitated the comeback? And how can you do any of this while not knowing if Vick has truly discovered morality or simply rediscovered the pocket?

If you are Richard Hunter, you just don't watch football.

"When you look at Mel," said Hunter, a radio personality from Dallas, "you just don't think about how Michael Vick is a great football player."

A couple of years ago, Hunter and his wife Sunny were watching a documentary on Best Friends Animal Society, the Utah sanctuary where the court sent 22 of Vick's 44 seized dogs. It was after 1 a.m. when the show featured a Vick victim that had been so badly abused, it refused to move, behaving as if paralyzed.

"My wife said, 'Get out of bed, get on the computer and e-mail those people, I want one of those dogs,' " Hunter recalled.

Nearly 18 months later, they became one of six people to adopt one of the dogs. The process included a home visit by caseworkers, an extended visit to the southwest Utah sanctuary, home monitoring by a dog trainer and a six-month probation period.

These dogs were scarred in many ways both emotional and physical," said John Polis, Best Friends spokesman. "It was something we had never really seen before."

Hunter and his wife quickly saw Mel's scars. The dog wouldn't bark, wouldn't show affection, and would spend nearly an hour shaking with each new person who tried to touch him.

It turns out that Mel had been a bait dog, thrown into the ring as a sort of sparring partner for the tougher dogs, sometimes even muzzled so he wouldn't fight back, beaten daily to sap his will. Mel was under constant attack, and couldn't fight back, and the deep cuts were visible on more than just his fur.

"You could see that Michael Vick went to a lot of trouble to make Mel this way," Hunter said. "When people pet him, I tell them, pet him from under his chin, not over his head. He lives in fear of someone putting their hand over his head."

On Monday night, no, Mel was not hanging out by the televised football game. He was hanging on his owner's bed as they watched something on HBO.

"How can you support football when you know one of their stars did this to a dog?" Hunter said. "If more people saw Mel at the same time as they saw Michael Vick, he wouldn't be so lauded."

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the lessons learned from Vick's crimes were on display in a postgame quote from Eagles star receiver DeSean Jackson.

"We were like pit bulls ready to get out of the cage," he told reporters.

Cheap and easy, huh?

bill.plaschke@latimes.com

twitter.com/billplaschke

Rescue or not a rescue??

It is sad that no matter what you are doing there are scammers. Hurricane Katrina there were people collecting money who weren't really giving it to the aid in New Orleans. Even in dog rescue, there are people praying on the good hearted people who want to "adopt" a dog and not buy a dog supporting the puppy mill industry. YET because they get scammed they DO end up supporting the industry...

My friend today sent me a link to a cute Chihuahua puppy. Here is how the ad read:

This is Callie and she is just a pup. She is a Pure Bred Chihuahua that is a little pistol. She was not abused, but a little neglected. She is a little thin, but eating well now. She is current not her shots, wormed and ready for a great home. She is Pee-pad trained also. She is at a home right now. Her adoption fee is $225 to a great home. Please do not email, call ONLY at: 440-752-XXXX

Funny thing is it is listed under the name of a store not far from me that does dog grooming, sells dog stuff and SELLS PUPPIES! The sign in front of there store from time to time does say "PUPPIES" on it.

So, I called and played stupid. I asked about the puppy, how they got the puppy, asked how I would go about seeing the puppy, what did I have to do to "adopt" it... application?

I was told that the puppy was given to them because the person that had it feel ill and couldn't care of it any more. The puppy is up to date on shots and wormed.

I asked if the dog was fixed. The person said NO. I said do you get it fixed or do I. And the person said it was totally up to me if I wanted to get the puppy fixed or not. I asked if I had to sign an agreement, the person said NO.

The person told me that they accept cash only because they aren't a business or anything??? HUH? I said I had to talk to my husband and I would call back. The person said that I could leave a message and whenever we could meet up, I could have the puppy. They did have someone else who wanted the puppy on Friday evening but if I got there first I could have the puppy.

WOW! You don't care if I have other dogs, a fence, owned a dog before? WOW! SCAM screamed out to me.... but how many other people have BOUGHT a puppy from this place thinking they were doing a good thing??

And what is sick I know 5 other "rescues" who do the same thing......

Money Money Money always the reason

I must vent for a minute. I completely understand if you get into a tight situation and being able to afford things becomes difficult. I understand that sometimes people have to cut back and that animals are technically a "luxury" to have. BUT they should be the LAST thing you get rid of and for those who truly LOVE their pets and think of them as breathing creatures with feelings it always is that last thing they have to get rid of.

The reason I am saying this is because twice now I have had a dog returned simply because of MONEY! Not because the people have fallen on hard times simply because they have decided the dog isn't worth the money it cost to have it. And what is even more funny is that they can't admit that to me them always make up some crazy story about how horrible the dog is and make me think maybe this dog isn't adoptable.

Example #1. Last year 2009 my Senior Rep and foster home adopted out this cute little JRT while I was gone on my honeymoon.. so July 2009. In November the family contacted me saying they couldn't keep the dog any more. He HATED his crate and would never go in it, he was afraid of ANYONE coming into their home and he would hide under the table and bark at them and I think they said he pottied in the house if they didn't crate him. Oh and they said he HATED to go outside.

When they returned the dog they brought all his stuff including his crate. I was standing on my porch talking to them about all the issues with the dog and just feeling HORRIBLE that the people were so upset and the dog didn't work out for them. I always say to myself...what could we have done better to prevent the dog from coming back and being bounced around. I always feel that when a dog comes back I failed.

Anyway, as we are standing there talking the dog is walking around and he goes into his create and lays down. REALLY??? He hates his crate. Their back were turned to the dog when he did that and I interrupted the guy as he was telling me how horrible of a dog this was and pointed at the dog laying in his crate. The guy said "HE HAS NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE!!" Oh really??!!

Let's just say over the next month of having the dog live in my house I found nothing to be true they told me. The dog is now VERY HAPPY living with the nicest couple ever and 3 other JRTs.

When the couple left, I started going through all the paper work they left me for the dog. Then I found it... the receipt for the dog boarding kennel. $300! And it was dated just the week before.

Ok so let's tell the TRUTH about why you are returning the dog. You took a vacation for a week, boarded the dog and when you went to pick him up you had NO idea dog boarding was so expensive. You were going away again over Christmas and didn't feel like spending that kind of money again. And I do know they were going away for Christmas because they told me!

Well the same thing just happened again. A family adopted a dog in 2006 and just returned the dog. They sent ALL the vet paper work they had for the dog.... which was the records I gave them in 2006, one vet bill for a rabies in 2009.. I think they only got this b/c they were moving and now vet records for $400 to update the dog on everything she needed because she hadn't been to the vet in so long and plus flea / heartworm prevention for 3 months.

Funny how the dog is great, the dog is wonderful and then a big bill comes and the dog has got to go. The people that just returned the dog, contacted me 1 month after the $400 vet bill. I am sure what happened is the husband saw the credit card statement and lost his lid!

Just so funny how the dog is HORRIBLE for the past month and that is why they have to get rid of her. BUT for the last 4 years she has been PERFECT!

Seriously, just tell me the truth. That way at least I can just be mad your a jerk instead of beating myself up over the fact I failed.

Action Alert: Radio Station is auctioning off a PUPPY!

Folks, please read and share. I could barely believe what I was reading this morning when the first of several emails arrived relative to an upcoming auction being held by a radio station, namely The River 106.3. This is a station that has been one of my favorites, until today, I should say.

One of the items being sold to the highest bidder is a Maltese/Bichon male puppy, "valued at $450" according to their site. The promotion for his auction listing states this male pup was born on 07/25/2010 yet has only received two boosters. The first line reads: "Bid on a Maltese Bichon puppy!"

This is troubling on several levels. I'll list them in no particular order:

1) The radio station has, in the past, appeared to be kind to man's best friend, by spotlighting featured dogs available at local shelters, pounds and rescues, an effort which we appreciate and thank them for on behalf of the animals. However, by offering a live creature, the lone puppy, up for auction with a list of tangible items leaves this author scratching her head as they appear to be doing an about face and participating in the exploitation of animals. We were advised that last year, a similar auction by this station included a live animal, was held. Please see the auction listing at http://www.ask4direct.com/promo1/wcdk . If you go directly to the radio station's website, you will need to turn off the pop up blocker to view the auction items. http://www.1063theriver.com/?pid=38925 . I may have missed it, but I do not see what the proceeds of this auction are intended to be raised for. All it states is "The Great Radio Auction".

2) The Appalachian Ohio SPCA, Inc. had to intervene this spring to save the life of a 3 year old pb German Shepherd (GSD) that had been sold as a puppy, by the very pet store that is donating the pup up for auction. The GSD was sold to a family of five (5) that resided in a small 1950's trailer for the total sum of $833 which included a "puppy kit", according to the receipt which was furnished to us. When we inquired as to the ages of the children living in the home, neither mom, nor dad was certain. The 100# dog lived in a crate in the kitchen, was very unsocialized, as the family rarely had visitors. A neighbor, and board member of a local HS, had arranged for the dog to be taken to the Jefferson County Dog Pound for the sole purpose of putting it down (heartstick, we were told by a humane agent there), after the family asked for assistance in rehoming the dog. The family was moving to a rural area in another county, and was afraid the dog might harm or kill livestock since it was not accustomed to be outside the trailer except to potty on a chain. We found out by chance only the day before the dog was to be put down and stepped in to prevent him from going to the dog pound. The dog, named Boxy, is now guarding maximum security inmates for the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Department of Corrections. I'm sure Boxy is just waiting for the chance to "bite and hold", as he was a very angry young dog living in that environment. More troubling is that he may have been sold, then returned to the pet store prior to having been sold to this family. Fortunately, there was a safe haven for him to go where he can do what he apparently would enjoy... bite someone if given a chance. I'm sure he would have preferred not to have been sold by a pet store for the almighty dollar to a family that obviously had no ability to own him as evidenced by lack of intelligence of the breed, requirements of sufficient space to house such a large animal, and/or ability to provide socialization skills to the animal. They were, however, able to pull out their pocketbook and walk out with a dog, just like someone is going to be able to do by being encouraged to be the high bidder on this puppy offered at auction;

3) There is a ballot initiative in Ohio to ban the auctioning of dogs in this State. Many people are working tireless to obtain the signatures, the first step in making it the law. Please see www.banohiodogauctions.com. While you are there, kindly contact them to arrange to sign the petition if you have not already done so; and

4) AKC states dog auctions and raffles are not in the best interest of purebred dogs and is not an appropriate means to buy, sell or trade purebred dogs. Their legislative position statement is also found on a link at www.banohiodogauctions.com and this particular dog is the product of two purebred dogs, the mix commonly called a "designer" breed in order to obtain more money for it.

Therefore, I ask you all to contact the radio station and ask them to refrain from auctioning off live animals in their upcoming auction and all subsequent auctions. I also ask you to share this note with all your facebook friends, as well as all of those that care about the welfare of the animals. The contact information is below:

106.3 The River

Judy Vavrek, Station Manager

2307 Pennsylvania AvenueWeirton, WV 26062

Email: jvavrek@1063theriver.com

Phone: (304) 723-1444

Fax: (304) 723-1688

I'd like to think that the radio station simply used some bad judgment in offering this pup to the highest bidder, however, if they, in fact, did the same last year, I do see a pattern establishing.

If they are unwilling to remove a live animal from the auction, you might want to mark your calendar for Thursday, November 18 (bidding starts at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 20 beginning at 8:06 a.m. until auction end and call the bid number (304) 723-1444 and voice your protest of the auctioning of animals. It would just take a few minutes to make one call. Please, do it for the animals that are exploited in this manner.

The station manager was not in today, but I left a message asking for a return phone call. We will request they not offer this puppy or any other live animal to the highest bidder at auction. If after relaying my concerns nothing has changed, I will be pressing the "unlike" button on their facebook page, for sure. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weirton-WV/1063-The-River/96522771702

Robin McClelland

Appalachian Ohio SPCA, Inc.

P.O. Box 163

Scio, OH 43988

(740) 945-1379

Email: aospca@frontier.com

Puppy being auctioned to highest bidder by radio station, ugh!

Paws Crossed

I am really hoping that all the applications I have turn into adoptions and that the dogs that are supposed to get adopted really do. If all goes well I should have Owen, Romeo, Ken and Halle (Georgia) adopted this week.

However, I have a million (at least it feels that way) coming in... now I have to get them spayed/neutered and moved to foster homes so I can take more!

SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY that is all I worry about getting them to safety.

There was this nice lady that sent in an application for Zelda. I really liked her application but she had to get a few things squared away with her current dog before I could approve her application. By the time she has everything done it was a few days before the adoption event and Zelda went to the event and got adopted. I sent her the link to this beautiful female JRT in a kill shelter who I didn't have room for but I really didn't want her to die. She drove to the shelter today and adopted her. WIN WIN for everyone! Her dog has everything he needs, the sweet female went straight from the pound to a home. AND everyone is happy.

WOOHOOO

Well let's hope that Sunday goes good and some more cuties find homes. I would love to be able to save some more JRT"s and JRT mixes. No one else is going to!

Juggling!!?

I often wonder do people realize how much work goes into saving just one precious dog? I have a routine that I go through EVERY MORNING! I open my email, go into the folder called "Dogs In Need" That is where I keep all the emails I get from volunteers/people/pounds asking me to save a JRT or JRT mix in the shelter.
**side note** I realize that I haven't taken in many "mix breed" dogs that aren't some type of JRT mix and haven't taken in a lot of "other" breeds of dogs this year but there seems to be an overwhelming number of JRT's and well I feel obligated to take them. I do run the only Ohio JRT rescue.
I click on the link to the Petfinder site to see if the dogs was adopted or killed the day before. Usually on Sunday nights I go through Petfinder to make sure I know what JRT's are out there to make sure one doesn't get killed just because I didn't stay on top of things.

Monday and Tuesday are usually the days I have to determine who I am going to take and who may die. THIS PART SUCKS! I don't want anyone to die but I am only one person with the best darn volunteers and foster homes EVER and we can only do so much.

I make lists, lists of who I have up for adoption, lists of who I think will be adopted soon (someone is interested in them), lists of who needs out of the shelters before it is too late... in order of urgency, lists of who fits in what kennel stall.. lists lists lists trying to figure out just how many can I save?

I send out emails and Facebook posts begging for foster homes. Hey the more foster homes I have the more we can save!

Then once I determine who is going to be saved I have to figure out how the heck to get them to me. I do work a full time job so it isn't like I can just hop in the car and drive 4 hours to places like Scioto, Pike, Ross, Highland, Darke, Guernsey and pick up a dog or two. I have to rely on awesome people, volunteers and rescues to help get the dog from the shelter and find a ride to me or at least close to me so I can pick him/her up after work.

The hardest part is when things change at the last minute.... this dog got adopted, that dog another rescue wants, this dog just came in as an owner surrender but dog warden is putting him down ASAP because they don't have room, this dog missed transport, the transport volunteer never showed to pick up the dogs, the transporters vehicle broken down.... the list goes on.

The other hard part are the split second decisions that need to be made. Ring Ring goes my cell phone. "Hello" I answer. "Amy this is XXXX from XXXX Rescue / County Shelter. This dog is schedule to die tomorrow we need a commitment that you can take him/her or he/she is going to be killed tomorrow."

That probably happens 1 to 3 times a week. Last week it happened 5 times!!!

Some days I feel like I need a secretary or better yet a magic crystal ball that reads the future!

What a week

This week was nothing but an up and down roller coaster ride. We saved 10 dogs this week from being killed and have a few more on hold that we will be getting in this week. All the shelters are FULL FULL FULL to the brim and there seems to be no end in sight. No matter what breed or mix breed it is in a shelter in Ohio! Why?? What is wrong with people?

I have 24 dogs in rescue right now with 20 of them in foster care. That is the most I have ever had in foster care. I am so thankful to all the amazing people who have stepped up and are fostering. Thanks to them we are able to save way more dogs then normal.

I am hoping to be able to save a few dogs this week.

Over all this has been a pretty good year. A lot of dogs saved.. I mean for as small of a rescue as I am. No parvo this year, nothing really too major. I mean Sparky's broken leg and let me tell you that was the WORSE weekend ever. But good things came out of that and a realization came out of that too.

I realized that there are people who do dog rescue FOR THE DOGS! And there are people who do dog rescue because they THINK they are doing it for the dogs.. what their real motive is I am not really sure. You would think that rescues would all work together but they don't. I always say being in rescue is like being in high school.. you are either a cool kid or you are an outcast. How stupid is that? I mean really!?

There are plenty of rescues that I don't 100% agree with everything they do but I know their hearts are in the right place and they do what they feel is best and right for the dogs in their care. And really isn't that what it is all about?

Alligator TRIED to eat a JRT!!

I had to cross post this News Article.

Using a .357 and then CPR, man rescues dog from Hillsborough River alligator

The 5-foot alligator that tangled with Lizbeth on Thursday in the Hillsborough River was captured later that evening.

TAMPA — To save Lizbeth the dog from the jaws of an alligator Thursday morning, Tom Martino pulled out his gun and fired around the thrashing in the Hillsborough River.

When the Jack Russell terrier got free from the gator's grip, Martino fished Lizbeth from the water and gave her mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

The 15-pound, black-and-white dog is being treated at a veterinarian's office for puncture wounds and lung complications from almost drowning.

"I just pulled my gun out and started blasting," Martino said. "I didn't really want to hit the alligator, but I wanted to scare the damn thing to let her go."

The alligator was trapped by authorities Thursday night.

The attack happened about 11 a.m. as Martino, 57, was walking with Lizbeth in back of his central Tampa house on the river.

At first, Martino thought the commotion was Lizbeth tangling with a duck. But it was a 5-foot alligator instead.

Nervous about shooting the dog, Martino instead fired his .357-caliber handgun around the alligator until it released Lizbeth and swam away.

He retrieved the dog and started giving CPR, breathing into her nostrils.

"She was just like dead, you know?" he said. "I was petrified for the dog, because she's like a baby to me."

But then the dog spit out water and began breathing again. Martino and his wife rushed Lizbeth to Florida Veterinary Specialists, 3000 Busch Lake Blvd.

"Right now, she's holding her own," said Bonita Voiland, the veterinary office's director of marketing and communications.

Doctors are treating alligator wounds — two punctures on the dog's back and teeth marks on her belly — and lung problems.

They're also concerned about infections because the 9-year-old dog had been at the clinic last week, Martino said, after acting lethargic.

Martino asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to set a trap; the gator was caught around 6 p.m.

"It never went for his trap, but he threw a line out there and snatched it," Martino said.

Times staff writer Robbyn Mitchell contributed to this report. Stephanie Wang can be reached at swang@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2443.

Lizbeth is being treated for puncture wounds, teeth marks and lung problems after her battle with a gator.

Fate!

I am out of town this weekend. There is a JRTCA (Jack Russell Terrier Club of America) trail near Gettysburg. So, I took Friday off work and my husband and I drove to Gettysburg. We are staying in a nice golf course resort just about 20 minutes outside of Gettysburg and about 15 from the JRTCA trail. GOOD PRICE seeing the fact I used priceline.com and the fact that it is "off" season for a Gulf Course.

I have a joke that stupid stuff only happens when I am gone... well this time it took all of 1/2 hour after I left for something stupid to happen.

I received a call from a past volunteer / foster home. She use to get dogs from the shelter for me often but she moved in 2009 and has been really busy so doesn't do as much as she use to. She called me b/c she received a phone call from someone who found a JRT. The person found the JRT in the town I live in... actually only about 15 minutes from my house. She called me and gave me the number. It wasn't HER dog. Must have been a dog that she pulled for me from the shelter.

I called the person and he was very nice. Found the dog running down a 4 lane road with LOTS of traffic! Could bare to see the poor thing get hit so scooped it up and call the dog pound b/c it had a dog license on it.

I sent my mom to go pick up the dog. I was FURIOUS because I was thinking who did I let adopt a JRT from me who just allowed the dog to run down a major 4 lane road like that.

THEN here is the kicker!! My mom said that it is some sort of Shih Tzu mix and in REALLY bad shape. She said it smells REALLY bad??! Ok, now I am SUPER mad... who allowed one of my dogs to get into this condition? Which dog is this? And why the hell can't I remember who I adopted a Shih Tzu mix to in Elyria. And geez how long ago did I adopt out this dog?? It sure wasn't this year!

I called my friend Trisha and had her go check out the dog since my mom said it was in a bad shape. She sent me a picture... IT WASN'T ONE OF MY RESCUES??

How the heck the tag traced back to my old foster home / volunteer is a total mystery.

I had my mom take the dog to the vet that afternoon because Trisha said it was in pretty bad shape. The vet said the dog has probably been living outside for some time. It SMELLED like garbage, it has mats on it so bad that it was loosing its hair, the dog had fleas so badly that it has eaten it's skin RAW! The dogs teeth is SO bad that they are rotting out of it's mouth and it can't eat. My vet said it was a female spayed 10 year old Shih Tzu mix.

The dog was put on medicine and taken to the groomer today. It took the groomer 5 hours to shave and bath the dog! So does that tell you how bad of shape this poor dog was in???

Her teeth are so bad that she can't eat so I have already scheduled a dental (cleaning of teeth and pulling of bad teeth). Normal cost for a dental can be in more then $300.

I don't know who owned this dog before BUT OMG If her finding her way to me isn't fate I don't know what is. Poor dog!

And the good news is I already have a home for her.

I don't like taking in found dogs BUT there is NO way anyone with any moral values would have allowed this dog to continue to suffer. OMG! Plus the dog license by some strange accident traced back to my volunteer SO guess she really isn't a found dog, huh?!

Day Two

Today at 8:15 it will be exactly 48 hours since my Chazy passed. The death of Chaz really hit a lot of people hard. My vet office researched and researched yesterday about what exactly happened with Chaz and "could we have done anything differently?" The answer they found was NO. It turns out Chaz had a tumor in his salivary glad. The tumor spread rapidly like cancer does and took off into his blood vessels. That is why the bleeding wouldn't stop. According to everyone they talked to and all the vet books them popping what they at first thought was an abscess was the correct treatment for the tumor as well but it is 50% chance that the dog will survive. UGH!

I guess I feel some what better knowing that there wasn't anything more anyone could have done but at the same time I am sick of saving everyone else's dog and not being able to save my own. I want nothing more then my Chazy Wazy back.

Being at work is usually "get away" from whatever is going on at home but since Chaz came to work with me... well it just sucks! I walked into work today staring at his ID badge, his pillow, his blanket, his bowls, his cookie dish. UGH!

Now I begin the chapter of "How do I live with only 1 JRT??"

Why???

I don't understand why I can save everyone else's dog buy my own. My 2nd foster dog who I rescued in Dec 2005 died last night. We are not really sure what happened.

Sunday morning he was fine. Sunday afternoon his eye was swollen. I gave him some benadryl and the swelling went down. When I woke up Monday morning his eye was swollen shut so I took him to the vet. They said it was a bruise and sent me home with some medication and eye drops. My Monday afternoon his entire face was swollen. My mom took him back to the vet and they kept. I went after work and picked him up and they said that he has an abscess in his mouth and they pooped it. It was drain for a few days but his swelling went down and he should get better. WELL Monday night he wouldn't eat or take his medication. There was blood everywhere. Tuesday morning he LOOKED HORRIBLE! Looked like Freddy vs. Jason in the large crate he was in. My mom took him back to the vet office first thing in the morning and they put him on IV pain killers, medicine and saline solution. He seemed to be getting a little better through out the day but the vets weren't 100% sure what was going on. They even spoke with a specialist in Akron and she had never heard of anything this strange before.

At about 6:30 he was sitting up and responding to his name at the vet office and then he just fell over and his heart stopped. They were able to revive him but it was not looking good. I was at work so I sent my husband to go pick him up at the vet office and take him to the specialist in Akron. I left work and headed there as well. By the time my husband got to the specialist Chaz had stopped breathing. There was nothing anyone could do, he had lost too much blood and his heart stopped.

My sweet little boy was THE BEST DOG! Everyone always said how awesome he was and surprised about how good he was. He use to go to work with me and even had his own ID badge for work.

It just pisses me off that people DUMP there dogs when they are old, sick or they get a new dog and it is my responsibility to SAVE their dog. I can seem to save everyone's dog BUT MY MINE! How the hell is that fair?

I always wish for Karma to strike those assholes but when is MY KARMA going to kick in???

There are 12 JRT's and JRT mixes that need out of the shelter this week or they will be put down. At least half if not more are owner surrenders to the pound. I am going to be honest, I can't even think about taking any dogs in right now. I just want MY DOG BACK!!

It isn't fair.

So sad

I am so disappointed in people right now. I received two emails today from people asking for me to take in their over 10 year old dog, an email from someone asking me to take their 8 year old dog b/c they are having twins in a few weeks. Their JRT is great with their 2 year old but with twins they just don't have time for a dog any more. They OF COURSE bought him as a puppy.

I really wanted to email her and be like oh you BOUGHT him then go back to the person you BOUGHT him from!! That makes me so mad. I am good enough to take your dog but not good enough for you to get a dog from!!!

Last night I was talking to a friend who knows someone who lost their two dogs. They dug out of the kennel and ran off. Well long story short they are at the pound and my friend told the person who lost the dogs that they were there. The person doesn't care. She has a new puppy in the house.

UGH!

The number of older dogs in shelters is so sad. The number of dogs in the shelter is just sad. When are things going to get better???

Serioulsy what is wrong with people?

I need to stop going to the dog pound because it makes me hate people! I went to the pound today and there is a OLD Cocker Spaniel there who I am sure is there because she is old. She smells so bad and is so matted. Luckily my rescue friend took her. She has been there since September 30th.

Then as I was looking at the dogs there was a Rotti who was beautiful. He was laying on the floor shaking. I just wanted to go in the cage and hug him. I noticed it was an owner surrender. I went up front and asked what the deal with him was. The owner brought him because they took him to the vet and his organs are failing. They could afford to put him down at the vet office so they brought him to the dog pound. REALLY??? I hate people... you know what that dog gave you 9 years of his life, loving you, be a good boy for you and what do you do? You take him when he is not feeling well and DUMP him at the dog pound. He is scared out of his mind, laying on a cold wet smelly floor litterally waiting to be walked to the back room put in a box that is WAY WA Y small compared to his size and GASSED to death. Then once he is dead, he will be picked up by his back legs and thrown into a dumpster.

SERIOUSLY WHAT THE #()$) IS WRONG WITH YOU???? You mean to tell me you couldn't skip a meal, make payments to the vet, put it on a credit card, borrow the money, sacrifice something you were going to buy for yourself so that your pet can die with dignity! I have two words for you and only the last one is YOU.

KARMA please don't fail me now. I hope it bites them where the sun doesn't shine HARD!

Too Old??

One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.

Way past his time, he can't run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,

A place that was warm, and where I was fed.

Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.


Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted and driven away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,

You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.

We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,

To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.


And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear

I have to do it!

Yesterday I went to the dog pound to check out a dog for another rescue. When I got there the dog had been adopted. Hopefully that is a good thing. My pound doesn't mandatory spay / neuter so you never know what is going to happen to the dog.

I was talking to my rescue friend and she said to check out what all they had and to let her know. So, I went in and checked out the dogs that were available. There is a dog there that I can't stop thinking about. The dog was picked up as a stray and was available for adoption on Friday October 15th. This dog is OLD!! It is dead and it's eyes are so cloudy that it can't see AND it has some type of eye infection so it's eyes are basically sealed shut with eye crusties. SO GROSS!

This poor old blind, deaf, sick dog is laying on the cold concrete floor curled up like a cat. It has no idea what is going on and according to the kennel worker sleep pretty much all the time. Can't really blame it!

I feel so bad for this dog. Can you imagine being blind, deaf and not feeling well and being forced to sleep on a cold concrete floor? I mean seriously?? How it's bones must be aching. And the dog has been there AT LEAST since last Tuesday maybe even longer then that. So, a week of sleeping on cold concrete. The thought makes me sick.

No one is going to want this dog. It is a medical night mare PLUS old as dirt. The right thing to do is to have the dog put to sleep but I know the dog warden in my county isn't going to because the crazy rescue people would jump all over him for being a horrible person for put the dog down. So, the dog is going to lay their cold, sick, confused for weeks maybe even a month or hell maybe it will get so cold it will freeze to death one night. I can't imagine the dog really eats all that much.... it would barely pick it's head up for me when I went in the cage and touched it to wake it up yesterday.

UGH! PEOPLE SUCK!

Regardless if anyone agrees with me or not I can't stand to see a dog just suffer like this so I have made arrangements to do the HUMANE thing for this dog. Someone I know is going to go pick the dog up from the pound and take it to my vet office to have it (I don't even know if it is a him or her) and have it put to sleep HUMANELY! It's body will be cremated and it will no longer be in pain. It will cost me right around $100 to do this but I don't care. I REFUSE to let this dog suffer at the pound on the cold floor any longer, I REFUSE to allow this dog to die alone at the shelter either by being put in a gas chamber and then it's body thrown in the dumpster and I REFUSE to allow it to freeze to death which honestly is probably more likely because of it's age.

I wish I was the one taking it today because I really really want to hug him, make him nice and warm, give him a pain killer and then when it is put to sleep at least it had some of its final minutes on this earth not in pain and knowing someone cared right before he drifts off to sleep. BUT I am at work and totally obsessing over this dog laying on the cold concrete so I have made arrangements for someone to go pick him up and take him for me.

Poor thing! I really wish there was a way to track down the owner of this dog and just punch them in the gut! I know it wouldn't help but it would make me feel better :-) I guess all I can do is hope Karma bites them in the ass.


***update***
To make is worse. There were two but the other one that wasn't old was adopted and the old one was left to die at the shelter!!

He is now resting peacefully with God. Poor guy... I hope he knows that even though I only met him once briefly that he didn't die unloved :-(

YOUR DOG COULD BE NEXT!

WARNING!

I have been contacted by several people, have received several emails from other rescue folks about dogs being stolen right out of their yard, from their front porch, from their vehicle. My sister-in-laws JRT was stolen from her farm a few weeks ago. We are desperate to get him back and last night I was contacted by another women who had her two JRT"s stolen from her farm.

Two million animals are stolen each year across America? They are “dognapped,” “kitnapped” and adopted under false pretenses, by “Bunchers.” ***“BUNCHERS” n 1. humans who acquire animals, either singularly or in bunches, by taking them away without right, permission or under false pretenses for purposes of profit. 2. humans whose greed exceeds their compassion

Did you know that of all the animals stolen, only about ten-percent, or approximately 200,000 of these animals ever see their caretakers again? The rest face fates of unimaginable horror.

Of the millions of animals stolen every year, the one’s that do not find their way home end up in nightmarish situations most often ending in death, their only release. Some puppies and adult dogs may end up as fighting dogs who tear, wound and kill each other till one is victorious. Some puppies and kittens end up as lures in training the fighting dogs, torn apart in the effort to raise the blood-lust of the fighting animal. Some of those animals end up as sacrifices in religious or sadistic rituals. Some end up as objects of various forms of agonizing experimentation.

How then can you best protect your pet without constant surveillance? With the permission of Last Chance for Animals, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the exploitation of animals, !!!BE AWARE!!! offers you the following tips to help keep your loved ones safe.

What You Can Do To Protect Your Pet

DO keep your pet indoors especially when you are not at home.

DO properly identify your pet with a collar tag, microchip, and/or tattoo.

DO be aware of strangers in the neighborhood and report anything unusual to the police.

DO padlock your gate with no access over it.

DO keep your pet on a leash whenever you go outside.

DO make neighbors aware of the problem of pet theft.

DO know where your pet is at all times.

DO NOT let your pet roam free in the neighborhood.

DO NOT let your pet be visible from the street.

DO NOT leave your pet unattended at any time.

DO NOT tie your pet outside a store or leave in a car to wait for you.

DO NOT use “FREE TO A GOOD HOME” in advertisements to place your pet in a good home. Charge a fee for the animal’s protection.

DO NOT give your pet away without first knowing as much as possible about the adoptive home, having them sign a pet adoption agreement, and checking their references and identification.

!!!Be Aware!!! and “Err on the side of caution,” for surely someone out there thinks Fido or Felix is as cute as you think he is, but that someone probably has less concern for his future.

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you

Sparky Pictures

Sparky received a care package from some people in PA!



















He was very tired after playing with all his new stuff!

An email I received today

I thought I would share this email I received today:


Hello -

I am hoping that you can help me find a new home for my little JRT, Lulu. Ours is an urgent and desperate situation in that in a little more than one month, if I do not have an option to surrender her to capable hands who can continue the work of finding her a new home, I will be forced to ask our vet to humanely euthanize her so that I know that she will not suffer through the likely outcome if I surrender her to the NYC animal pound. Given her behavior issues, Lulu will never be adopted from the pound, or even if she is, the probability that she will find another person like me is next to none. She would soon be euthanized (there isn't a single rescuer or trainer or animal welfare person who disagrees with this) -- but after days of being traumatized by the chaotic shelter setting and feeling abandoned by me. While this happens every day to undeserving and loved companion animals, the great loss in this case is that Lulu is eminently re-home-able and has more life and love to give, if only I could find the right new home. That is what I need your help with.

[Note: The reason I have emailed more than one regional JRT rescue contact is that, while we are located in NYC, we will be moving to the SF Bay Area and we also have relatives in Ohio, so if there are real options in any of those regions or even the tri-state area, I CAN and WILL assist in getting Lulu to the next stop on the JRT rescue railroad.]

To start, here is Lulu's listing on Petfinder, where I have described her at great length and posted pictures:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17596603

A little background on what has led to the crossroads I'm at today:

In 2004, I adopted Lulu from Waggytail Rescue in NYC (http://www.waggytailrescue.com). At the time, I was single, living alone, and consulting from home. I adopted Lulu to be a companion to another rescued dog, my little Chihuahua, Jack. What I did not know when I adopted her was that Lulu *hands-down* qualifies as a "difficult dog." Waggytail did not inform me of this -- perhaps they did not know because they did not take the time to properly assess and actually match her to the right person. And anyway, even if she had come with the label "difficult," I would have had no idea what that meant (though I probably would not have adopted her). I was accustomed to having a tiny pocket pal (Jack) who basically wanted only to sit on my lap, give me kisses, eat, and sleep. Lulu, within a week and a half, turned out to be a dog with serious behavioral issues -- primarily a fear of strangers (human) in "her" territory and the tendency to bark, lunge, and, if given the opportunity, bite. Somewhat naively, I never faltered in my commitment to Lulu. I worked closely with a positive reinforcement trainer (Susan Ward, http://www.dingogirl.com/) from the start and spent most of my time exercising and training Lulu.

What changed some months thereafter was that I got a full-time job out of the house. From there, the situation pretty much devolved to where it is now, which is to say that I am merely treading water, barely able to keep my sanity afloat, and in constant crisis-management mode in our household. My job was, and still is, incredibly demanding and unforgiving. I got married. My husband moved in, continued to do his freelance work, and became Lulu's primary caregiver during the day. (We spent a lot of time properly introducing Lulu to him, and to this day, he is the only other person that she tolerates, although she is still reactive to him in certain situations -- for example, she will redirect bites to him at times, or if he startles her, she will nip at his ankle or toes.) Then, we had a baby (20 months ago). My husband is now the primary caregiver during the day for two cats (his, from before our marriage, one of whom is a rescued feral Maine Coon who also qualifies as special needs), two dogs (Jack and Lulu), and our baby. We can't hire a babysitter and/or a dog walker, even if we could find a babysitter or qualified dog walker willing to put up with such crazy circumstances, because the amount of time and effort required to introduce any new person into the household is just not worth the return at this point. Lulu is not safe around our toddler, obviously, and we must constantly keep the two separated, which means that Lulu now spends more time in her crate than ever. We do our best to walk Lulu daily, but it's not enough exercise for her. We try our utmost to manage all the creatures underfoot but in the end, we don't have the ability to give EVERYONE the time and attention they need and demand. It's sub-optimal for everyone, including us (the parents of all of these little ones).

Which brings me to today. You might say to me, "Well, you've eked by for this long, why don't you continue? Change your perspective. Work harder on finding a dog walker, work harder on finding another job or just quitting so that you can devote all your time to exercising and training Lulu, work harder on building a life to accommodate your difficult dog, whom, to be fair, you adopted and said you would provide a home to, six years ago."

What is different now is that we have made the decision to relocate to California at the end of November, and we will be moving into my parents' house for the first six months. Putting a family of three plus two cats and two dogs into my parents' house simply is not possible. We already knew, certainly when our baby was born, that we would eventually need to re-home Lulu because we cannot manage everything and everyone; something has to give, and I cannot live much longer with the constant fear that Lulu will bite my child. No matter how well-trained they both are, I would never, ever trust Lulu with him, particularly as she seems to have more "issues" with other humans when I am in the picture (as in, in the same room -- I think she is a "one-person" dog, and when I'm present, all other living creatures are competition for my attention). Now, we are faced with a real situation that we can't turn away from. Not only will we not all fit into a very small house, but also, Lulu hates my father. The level of tension in the house would be unbearable. We are leaving NYC to try to build a life with a little less tension than what we have lived with for the last several years; to simply move it all to another state defeats the purpose and helps no one at all, Lulu included.

So I am looking for a new home for Lulu.

Waggytail Rescue, from whom I adopted Lulu, says that they don't have the capacity to take her if I were to surrender her back to them.

Susan (dog trainer) has been working many different angles -- trying to get the word out to other trainers, doing research on organizations that could help re-home a difficult dog. The "Pets for Life" safety net program in NYC is also working Lulu's case through whatever channels they have. I was turned away from Best Friends (no capacity in Dogtown), and I am waiting to hear whether Pets Alive in Hudson Valley will consider her case. Now, I'm reaching out to you. Everything that I wrote in Lulu's Petfinder profile is the honest-to-goodness truth. She would make the right someone a wonderful, loving companion. She has so much potential -- I know it from my own experience! That I am not able to give her what she needs any longer is a cold, hard fact. Now, my challenge is to find that right home (or that right halfway house) for her, before we leave NYC.

Can you help? Can you give me any more ideas or people or organizations to contact? Can you put the word out to anyone and everyone you know? And, if we reach the end of November and I still haven't found a home for her, would you, could you provide sanctuary to Lulu and continue the search for her new home? I am available to discuss any and all concerns you have, available to have someone meet and assess her before committing to anything, able to have Susan answer any questions and support everything that I am saying.

I know that this is a tall order. Please help if you can, in any way that you can. Deep down in my heart, I know that the kindest and most humane thing to do, if we reach the end of November and have no one to entrust Lulu to, will be to let her die in my arms, knowing that she was loved. And thanks for listening.

Sincerely,

J.

My response to her:

WOW J.!

You said in your email to us Which brings me to today. You might say to me, "Well, you've eked by for this long, why don't you continue? Change your perspective. Work harder on finding a dog walker, work harder on finding another job or just quitting so that you can devote all your time to exercising and training Lulu, work harder on building a life to accommodate your difficult dog, whom, to be fair, you adopted and said you would provide a home to, six years ago." Honestly as I was reading your email I was thinking YOUR A SAINT! You have done more for Lulu then I am SURE anyone else would have.

I would also like to say shame on the rescue you got her from to #1. allow a dog with that many issues to be adopted #2. Not telling you of the issues (seriously they had to know) and #3. For not taking her back. As a dog rescue person running not only the Ohio Chapter of Russell Rescue Inc. but also my own rescue for mix breeds that just really makes me mad and I have a few things I would like to say to that rescue (but I won't). Situations like this is what makes rescuing a dog a bad name and honestly we are up against enough UN educated people we don't need the public to think of rescue as a negative thing or a bad experience. Sorry, I will step off my soap box now.

Lulu I am sorry to say is not a candidate to be re homed. We do not take in dogs with a bite history and if a dog were to come into our rescue with Lulu's issues, she would be worked with but if her "attitude" wouldn't have changed she would have been humanely euthanized at our vet office. We all know it is not Lulu's fault she is the way she is but she is going to hurt someone and I always fear that will be a child. There are WAY too many dogs in this world without issues that are being killed that in the big picture it isn't fair to them to die needlessly, it isn't fair to Lulu because she lives her life in total fear / paranoia and that can't be a happy life and it isn't fair to the next family that adopts her.

My heart goes out to Lulu but in my opinion (whatever that is worth) you have done an AMAZING job and have given Lulu the best life possible. At least we can all rest easy knowing #1 Lulu is not suffering mentally any longer and #2 she will go to sleep in the arms of someone she loves, someone that loves her and will no longer feel pain.

As my vet said to me, if a dog was hit by a car and was in HORRIBLE pain that couldn't be stopped / fixed would you put him to sleep? Then why would you allow a dog that is in mental pain to continue to suffer?

Good luck to you and Lulu. You will both by in my prayers and thoughts.

The women is amazing. I feel horrible she is in this situation. I have been there so totally understand!


***update*** I sent her a PS saying I have been in her shoes and attached pictures of my special guy. Her email back to me:

Amy,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you said. And for sharing pix of Ruger. I absolutely understand what you are saying about not being able to take on such a challenging dog when there are so many out there who do not come with these issues, who have a chance. You are not the first rescuer who has very gently told me this, and the intake coordinator and trainer at the Little Shelter on Long Island spoke with me at length on Monday and was the one who first said to me, "Please, whatever you do, don't surrender her to the pound. It is more cruel to her to do that than to let her die in your arms." I think that is the kindest thing anyone has done for me so far - to give me the permission to let her go in a way that at least I know is peaceful.

I will still continue looking for some sort of sanctuary situation for Lulu, but only if I know that the org is committed to either finding Lulu the RIGHT home or is willing to let her stay in the sanctuary forever.

(I have the very same thoughts about Waggytail Rescue as you. I don't want to get into it with the woman behind the operation, whom I have known and been friends with in the past, because it doesn't help Lulu. I'm not a professional dog trainer or handler, or even a rescuer or welfare advocate. But I know that Waggytail's perspective, which is that any extra day for a dog on death row is a victory for all dogs -- with no consideration of the longer-term consequence for the dog or the people who end up being involved -- is a disservice to rescue and to dog welfare, and downright irresponsible and unethical.)

Again - if you think of anything that I can follow up on, just send it my way.

Warmest regards.

What a nice person!