New Foster Dog - New Rescue Partner

I haven't updated this blog for a long time.  Mostly because I took a little break from fostering for various reasons, mostly my health situation.  However, I got a new little Bichon, who we named Opal (I got to pick her name), just yesterday. She's doing so well adapting and I'm so proud of Gizzy and Bubba who are helping show her the ropes.  

This is Opal on day 1, right after she arrived.  

Opal was so filthy I could not imagine it was comfortable for her. So I got in the shower with her and we had a wonderful bath time. She was so good! After I gently dried her under the watchful care of Bubba and Gizzy, out came a new dog. She's BEAUTIFUL. Can't find my camera or I'd show you. Even her mouth cleaned up pretty nicely. The tumor is huge, larger than a golf ball but I've read they are often benign. Pray for her. She is now sleeping in a fake fur lined bed on my bed with Gizzy and Bubba flanking the sides. She is going to make someone a very lucky person when she's ready. I love her already!

I tried canned dog food. She had no idea what to do, even when I tried to feed by hand. I made some boneless chicken breasts and offered those just now. First she was confused because I tried hand feeding her. Gizzy and Bubba showed her how to take it. Now she's so excited and keeps running between the kitchen and me hoping for more. I'll give them a bedtime snack later. Such a sweet girl!

I am now back to fostering for Green Bay Animal Rescue.  They are a great organization.  See more about them at their website http://greenbayanimalrescue.weebly.com/ or LIKE them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Bay-Animal-Rescue/

Facebook Rejects Puppy Mill Ads

Thank you ASPCA and Facebook for this move in the right direction. Dogs are not livestock or a commodity.  They are sentient beings with the right to be given love and care.  Puppy mills and backyard breeders will stop being a reality when customers no longer patronize them.  This is a big step for our canine friends.

Facebook Rejects Puppy Mill Ads



Now we need to get Ebay and other sales sites to stop selling these pets as well.  It's a step in the right direction.

20 Things We Should Learn from our Pets

Cultivate Friendships

Forget Multitasking

Drink When You're Thirsty

Maintain Curiosity

Act Silly - Have Fun

Seek Shade

Walk Daily

Nap When You're Tired

Show Appreciation (Wag)

Stretch

Enjoy Mornings

Savor the Great Outdoors

Be Aware of Body Language

Never Hold a Grudge

Play Fair

Eat Fish

Attend to Grooming

If you Love Someone, Show It 

Allow Yourself to be Pampered

Stay in the Moment

Rescued Laboratory Dogs First Taste of Freedom

Forty male beagles raised inside a lab in Spain arrived in Los Angeles last week where they will be put up for adoption after being freed from captivity by the Beagle Freedom Project.

The rescue mission is the largest yet for the group Animal Rescue Media Education (ARME). A total of 72 dogs were rescued in the effort, 32 of them having already been adopted in Europe, according to NBC Los Angeles.

ARME’s Beagle Freedom Project spokesman Gary Smith said the beagles, all between ages 4 and 7, had lived in cages their entire lives.

“We’ve been told they lived one per cage in rooms of 10 beagles, but they never had any physical interaction with one another,” Smith told the station. “They’ve been in kennels since they were rescued about a week ago, but aside from that, they’ve spent most of their lives locked up.”

Beagles are carefully bred for genetic purity so they can be used in labs for research with consistent results.  It is a sad and lonely life for them.  What a joy to see this new beginning.  

Heartwarming and Heartbreaking

Heartwarming Story - Poor frightened pup would have been euthanized when all she needed was a hug. Rescuers are good at hugs. This rescue Hope For Paws – Animal Rescue, based in Los Angeles saved a life. It warms my heart seeing this little dog melt into the comfort of this man's arms.



Heartbreaking Story - Updated Jan 17, 2012 at 2:45 PM PST (KTLA.COM)

A traffic stop Tuesday morning in Fayette County, Tennessee led to the discovery of 128 dogs and one cat in a U-Haul moving truck. The animals were reported to being kept in what are deplorable conditions, in many cases four or five animals squeezed into animal carriers and make shift animal carriers without food and water. Digital Daily – subscribe to our daily newsletter Some of the dogs were running loose in the non-ventilated truck. Bonnie Sheeman, age 55, and passenger, Pamela A. King-McCracken were arrested and charged with 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty. The women are associated with an animal rescue group called Hearts For Hounds and were coming from California and headed to Virginia. The animals are being divided sent to the several area animal shelters for treatment. Numerous charges are expected including transporting animals under inhumane conditions. It is not known why the women were transporting the animals.



This should never happen under the guise of rescue.  It saddens and disgusts me that people like this call themselves rescuers.  Their website claims they are moving from CA to Virginia but this is not an excuse.  If these animals could not be transported safely, other arrangements should have been made. This reflects badly on the rescue world and hurts everyone, especially the dogs.

Please help Walter find his "Furever" Home

Walter was freed from a puppy mill in November 2010 and has been living in a foster home since then.  Although he was neglected, his loving spirit never dimmed.  He adores people and is a joy to have around.  He does well with other dogs who can show him the rules of house life.  He's come a long way with housebreaking.  If you want a lap dog who will snuggle and give you non-stop love, Walter's your man.  He is very calm and submissive. There is not a mean bone in his body.   See details and adoption application info at:  http://www.greenbaypets.org/

This picture does not do Walter justice.  He's even more adorable in person!

Details at http://www.greenbaypets.org/

Time Giveth and Time Taketh Away

I get posts and cross-posts from many rescues and coordinators who are desperately trying to place dogs in foster or forever homes.  I also read posts about neglected, abused and mistreated dogs daily.  The problems are huge and they are everywhere.  People need to understand the gravity of this problem and to realize that many healthy, sweet, adoptable dogs are being euthanized for lack of space or because of local politics.

I have not posted for a while.  I needed a break.  These poor dogs need some breaks.  Their lives are in our hands.  There is no good reason to buy a dog from a commercial breeder or even a hobby breeder if it is just a companion animal you want.  Go to www.petfinder.com and look for almost any breed, age, gender dog that suits you and your situation.  Adopt, don't shop...but think this decision over carefully.  These dogs need us and not just for today but for their lifetime.

What is Time?

 Every year, the "Time is up" for 12 million 

companion Pets.  Do you have the "Time" to make a difference?

A Shelter Dog asks God...

  

Dear God,

What is "Time"?

I hear the sadness in the voices of workers here. 

They say my "Time is up", that they have to make 

room for yet another dog.

My "Time" is up. I don't know what that means, God. I 

only know that my new friends are so sad, and the more I 

wag my tail---the harder I try to make them feel better--

-the sadder they become.

I know I have heard that word "Time" before, but I don't 

understand. When I was younger, my people would 

say "Time to play!" They would throw the ball, and I 

would run fast. Sometimes I brought it back to them, but 

other times we'd end up chasing each other having fun.

I remember "Time to eat". My people would put down a 

bowl of food, and I would enjoy dinner, wagging my tail 

in joy. There was also "Time for your walk". My boy 

would put my leash on, and we would go walking together,

visiting the neighborhood and enjoying each other's company.

When I was younger I thought "Time" meant fun.

Or maybe Love?

I don't understand. "Time" must mean something else, but 

how can it change, God? Before I came here, I heard my 

people say, "No time to feed you now, boy. Later, when I 

get home." Sometimes my family would forget, and there

was no food in my bowl.

Does "Time" mean when my belly hurts?

My people said there was no time for walks. I tried to 

hold it all day long-- but God, I just couldn't anymore. 

When I finally had to go, it made my family very angry.

Does "Time" means anger? Or maybe Loneliness?

My family said they didn't have "Time". They didn't have 

time to play, or time to take me to the vet, or time to 

go for walks. They didn't have "Time", 

so they brought me here.

Maybe I was right... They said they didn't have time, 

and if "Time" means Love, how did they lose it?

Did I do something wrong?

God, I think my new friends are sending me to you. Do 

you have "Time"? May I sit on the couch?

Am I a good Dog, God?

Is it "Time"?