Now more than ever, you are needed to donate your old blankets, towels, and sheets to your local animal shelter. With financial cut-backs, repairs on shelters are often put off, so if it's drafty, the animals suffer. I know my shelter uses rags to stuff under doors. No kidding! Empty out those closets... this is your chance to get rid of stuff and do something useful!


Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year and Best Wishes to You and Yours

And all your little guys, too.

Enjoy this cool video while ringing in the New Year.


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Friday, December 30, 2011

Worthy Organizations

While there are many, I am listing my favorites here with the hope you will click on them, learn about what they do, and see how you can help. Here at the end of the year, it's a good time to make a contribution if you can.

Pet Rescue, Inc. - local Westchester County organization that does enormous rescue work, everything from the pull, transport, vetting, foster, and adoption process. Been around a long while (25 years or so), so has a terrific cadre of foster families, and rescues numbers of animals yearly on par with national groups. Hard to imagine that but this is a fantastic place to drop some cash.

Rolling Dog Farm - New Hampshire (formerly in beautiful Montana). Adopts "disabled" dogs and horses for the rest of their lives. Been around about 12 years and is run by a couple who gave up the corporate life to care for animals on a farm.  Their blog has a fun and dedicated readership, and Steve and Alayne give thrice weekly updates on the antics of everyone's favorites (like Widget!)

Noah's Arks Rescue - Okatie South Carolina - rescues dogs from shelters who are in extreme need of medical attention. Jennifer runs the place and keeps several dogs at her home, as well as manages the foster families that take in these very needy dogs, like Smiley/Miley, rehabilitates them and makes them more adoptable. Money is used for vet care for dogs that would absolutely be put down if it were not for this group.

Animal Farm Foundation - Hudson Valley, New York. Dedicated to rehabilitating the image of the American Pitbull. Does facilitate fostering and adopting, and also awards grants to organizations that match pitbulls with forever homes. Has great notecards, too!

Pets Alive Westchester - took over the old-time Elmsford Animal Shelter, getting lots of warehoused animals adopted within their first year at the helm just by using a new model of outreach. Has a fantastic volunteer program, where people can help with all levels of work: painting the fence to dog-walking; you name it! Very dynamic, very committed, and this past year opened a dog sanctuary in Puerto Rico, with a major gift of $250,000. That island desperately needs their help as dogs aren't always treated so well. Pets Alive Puerto Rico is changing that and giving an avenue for dog lovers there to organize.

Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pet - fosters dogs and other animals of military personnel while they are deployed. I know the lady who co-founded this group, Linda, and let me tell you, she runs a tight ship. This organization has 2,500 foster families across the country ready willing and able to take in animals while their owner is overseas for a year or more. This effort prevents dogs from being dumped at shelters where they will face certain death.  They also have a dog sanctuary in Texas, where they are headquartered.

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Orange County and San Diego (two chapters!) California. I have never worked with them but their reputation is stellar. Someone (probably multiple people) out that way is breeding German Shepherds for volume and many end up at shelters emaciated and in need of major medical care and love. This group does everything from the pull, to the vetting, to the foster, to the adoption process. More money means more dogs get rescued. They offer hope where there is none for these forgotten dogs.

Soi Dog Foundation - if it were not for this organization - an army of volunteers! - many dogs would have been left to perish on Dog Island in Bangkok after the floods. Also - this fantastic organization has neutered or spayed over 32,000 animals in Asia in the short time they have been around! That is huge, and really getting to the root of the problem. You can travel to them and volunteer (direct action!), too, but the flight costs a lot.  Visit them for photos of hope coming out of hopeless situations. You will be glad you did.

NYC Top Dog - this is the place where I am boarding Olive and Dixie, and which has recently turned from business model to a non-profit model. They provide a segway for dogs going from rescue to adoption, which is critical. Many times the only thing preventing a rescue from taking place is the lack of a temporary place to house the dog for a few weeks. Pedro Rosario, who runs Top Dog, is a caring animal advocate and is a well known dog lover. Rescues love him. He houses about 140 dogs (big and small), and about 50 cats. What he needs is to own the building he's in so he can build running-around pens! Any major donors out there?!

Wheels of Hope (partners with New York City Animal Care and Control)  - this is a transport vehicle service that works with the New York City Shelter system (read: a lot of animals in a high kill situation) and which has also provided a critical piece of the rescue continuum: transport from one place to the next in a professional, systematized, and safe way. While relying on volunteers to cart dogs around from point A to point B sounds good, that kind of things is a lot of work to organize and manage well. With Wheels of Hope, they are already familiar with the shelter system, and they know where point A and B are... not small things. This simple van transport has literally saved thousands of dogs' lives by providing a piece of the puzzle that often stops a rescue from taking place. Logistically, their existence also allows someone in another state to organize pulling a dog, and bringing them to a place like Top Dog for boarding until a foster or a more permanent situation can be worked out.

Cloud Nine Rescue Flights - A fabulous organization run by a now-married couple (they met doing this work!) Pilots donate their flying hours, Cloud Nine owns two planes who provide safe transport, and dogs from high kill areas (usually in the south but also in the Midwest) get flown to high adoption areas, some 19 or 20 animals at a time. A true lifesaver. Over 500 pets a year saved. Amazing.  They also have the amazing "barkery" -- where they hand-make and bake dog and cat treats twice a year. Special order yours!

Alley Cat Allies - dedicated to cat care everywhere. Promotes anti-cruelty legislation, tutors in cat-colony management, advises about feral cat care. I'm selling them short, I'm sure. Take a look yourself.

Again, these are just a few good orgs. I have two more to add later. Jenny's Hope in Westchester and The Grey Muzzle Foundation, but I am out of time.  Mom is visiting, today is Museum Day, and I already convinced her to adopt a dog this vacation. Can't push my luck.


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Tuesday, December 27, 2011


Renaldo, new-guy Romeo, Mr. Wiggins, and George.


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All is Well

It doesn't take much to care and to apply yourself for another being. Check out this story (and watch the link to YouTube) about Cora, the very lucky dog who was rescued by a patient and extremely determined person from Hope for Paws.  I remember this group from the video shown on their home page, of the little white dog that was petrified and wouldn't let anyone near her. That dog got saved, with some patience, and it looks like the man adopted her!

All is well with Little Romeo, and the other three boys are getting over their irritation at a new little one being brought home. When a pack of dogs is used to one another, and each other's movements and mannerisms, and someone new comes in with their new movements and mannerisms, there is an adjustment period. This hasn't been bad at all. It's provided a lot of laughs. This morning I had four dogs laying on me when I woke up.

Going to see Miss Olive today and taking her to the park with her new coat from a fan. Dixie isn't quite as needy as Olive so I don't usually take her to the park, but on a long walk in the kennel neighborhood. I bring chicken and liver treats for the dogs in the puppy room there, who are normally on their way to their rescue situation and are usually pretty thin. The kennel, NYC Top Dog, has become a non-profit organization instead of a company. Pedro Rosario, who runs it and whom I cannot say enough good things about, is known far and wide as a strong advocate of the animals. His entire kennel is made up of dogs that are in between a shelter situation (or something worse) and a rescue situation.

Blogging will be light the next few days, but I do plan a post on the various organizations that are worthy of your support. There are many doing some great work, like Hope for Paws.

Thanks for your readership. I hope you all find this blog informative.

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Meet Little Romeo


The adoption went super-well. We brought my dogs into the bedroom, kept Romeo on his leash, and had George off his leash in the living room, where Romeo was, since he does better that way when meeting new dogs.

The initial meeting when very well. Romeo was suitably deferential to the other three dogs (who are all rescues).  I took my dogs out of the bedroom and into the living room, on their leashes, and did the close-but-not too close thing for about a half hour. There were no big skirmishes until late in the evening and at that point it was Romeo who lunged at George, who walked too close to Romeo while he slept in his bed (or actually, one of the other dogs' beds). George is a bit like Oscar the Grouch but he's easier with other dogs than he used to be. Romeo started the argument and George pinned him to the ground. Feisty yorkie! I bet Romeo will be more careful going forward.

Overnight he slept in his bed (again, another dog's bed) and stayed there all night till I walked them at 6:30am. We're walking them about every three hours right now till he gets used to his routine. When he first got here, my Mom kept his leash on him and walked him throughout the house. He peed on everything. It took us a few hours to realize he thought he was being walked! Since being off-leash in the house, he has only marked one area - not again since - and no pooping inside (even though he had slight diarrhea, which happens when dogs are nervous at being switched from one situation to another). It's already cleared up and now he's on a regular walking, pooping, eating schedule.

All is well. Here are some pictures of the adventure yesterday.  Mom is so glad she got George a companion, and I am so glad this guy got out of the shelter. He was NIPPY there because he was afraid and I was afraid for his life because he couldn't get placed. One rescue already said no to him. And here he is, now, a bundle of happy joy and good nature.

In the car, happy he's out of jail. He and Mom match.

One of the trees in my lobby provided facination.

Wow, this place is nice and much bigger than my shelter digs!

I know what I'm doing. (They sure do learn fast!)
Mom learned, too, how to provide a comfy place to sit!

Smiling shyly for the camera.

Everyone is so happy!! Shelter dogs are the best!!


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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas to All!

I hope you all have a blessed and merry Christmas holiday.

The best gift I could get: My Mom, who is visiting from Florida, is adopting a chihuahua from the shelter where I volunteer. We're bringing him home tomorrow morning; won't the boys be surprised! I'll fly home with her since she has her other (rescue) dog, George, and you can only take one dog at a time on the plane. Little Romeo's tag, bed, harness, collar, toys, and sweaters are all ready for him. He was vetted this week, has lyme disease (but who cares, it's treatable), and is about two years old.

Pics to follow...

In the meantime, have a laugh:






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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Nice Christmas Story

A heart warmer. And a good person.

Enjoy.




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Monday, December 19, 2011

Many thanks... and don't forget to tell others...

I am so pleased and happy to say that the chip-in goal for Dixie's and Olive's boarding has been reached for December! Many thanks to all those who contributed and to those who passed it around to others.

And, don't forget to forward this little tidbit to your friends and family...





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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet

This group, mentioned here numerous times and whose logo is in the left column of this blog, is in the $50K category at the Refresh Your World Challenge at Pepsi. They want to use the money to build an animal sanctuary in TX.  GASP fosters the pets of military people who are deployed (rather than those pets being dropped off at shelters because the military is particular about you leaving the day they say).  I know one of the co-founders of GASP from our days together at Soldiers' Angels, another great group that supports soldiers. She was responsible for over 250,000 letters going to soldiers each year. You cannot imagine the logistics involved in that enterprise because we kept track of each address given to each letter writer. But that's another story for another day. Linda has since started this group and they are literally saved lives by their work.

You register once and yes, you do have to sign in to vote each day, and I know that's a pain. But it's FREE money! And we all know someone to send this to....  They are currently 82nd in this category. Let's change that!

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet

Fans of Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet, please vote for us in the Pepsi Refresh contest and help us win $50,000 to be put towards the MVP Sanctuary Project! Thank you in advance!
 
Pass it around!!!


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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Into Something Good

This is extremely wonderful.





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Monday, December 5, 2011

Tail Waggin Research


Psychology Today has a great article that explains what your dog (or another dog) is feeling when he/she wags his tail a certain way.
What a Dog’s Tail Wags Really Mean: Some New Scientific DataSpecific tail wags provide information about dogs’ emotional state.


Published on December 4, 2011 by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. in Canine Corner



Not yet figured out if when to know they are giving you the five finger salute!




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Saturday, December 3, 2011

New Christmas Collars!

Went to the cat colony today (trapped four to spay/neuter, and relocate to a bigger colony that isn't eleven miles from home), went to the shelter (four dogs went home today!), and then to see the Two Misses, Dixie and Olive, who got new Christmas collars. I held up chicken and they posed.





And here is their chip in link. Full story at the chip in page. We are 30% 37 %  48% 62% 71% 100% of the way to December's boarding cost figured out. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated!






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Thanks!

Many thanks to those who have brought us to 30% of December's goal for Dixie and Olive's boarding! And to those who have shared the chip-in link on social media. People send in contributions of varying amounts and it's really adding up.

Just a funny pic I saw somewhere...



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