Universal Truths...About Animals & People

Over the holiday, I watched a movie, actually two movies, that reminded me of how simple things really are and how truly universal most basic truths are. 

The first movie was Buck, an award winning documentary about Buck Brannaman, a man who came from an abusive childhood, yet ended up “a real-life “horse-whisperer”, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment.”

The second movie was War Horse, portraying “the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets.”                 

Though vastly different, the two movies held certain common themes.  They central point of both films focused on the relationship between animals and humans (granted they were both specifically about horses, but that doesn’t really change much).

So here are the themes, and here is what I learned…which I already knew of course but it always helps to be reminded:

1. The relationship between animals and humans is built on mutual respect. We do not ‘own’ animals, nor should we allow them to own us. Though we humans may have the upper hand simply by virtue of the fact that we feed and provide medical care for our pets, remember in most cases they could lash out at us at any time, yet they choose not to…if a mutual respect is formed. “Whether you have horses, dogs or kids, with that comes a great responsibility. You have to be able to teach them to get along in the world.” ~ Buck Brannaman 
2.  Once created, that bond is truly enduring.  I was so moved by both of these movies, and once again reminded of the level of loyalty that animals have toward their human counterparts once a bond formed; it’s nearly unfathomable.  As humans, we live in a world where we judge people, write them off, criticize and condemn much too quickly…and as quickly as we do it to other people, it happens twice as fast towards an animal. “I’m moving” – the dog’s gotta go…”It’s too expensive” – the dogs gotta go...there are a million of these excuses you could insert here (some are legitimate, and I don’t condemn all) but in general they mean = it’s just not convenient or fun for me anymore.  But let me tell you that a dog NEVER does that.
3. That relationship, the way we relate to animals, translates to all other aspects of our lives.  The way we treat animals is evident in the way we treat strangers in the street, the way we treat our spouses, and the way we treat our friends and colleagues.  Have you ever met a really great person who just happens to kick animals for fun?  I think not.  Now it is possible to find a wonderful person who doesn’t necessarily want to save every animal on the planet, but I truly believe you can learn a lot about a person by watching the way they relate to and treat an animal.  Hell, you can learn a lot about yourself by simply observing the way you react to and treat animals.  In my own life, I have learned (and been challenged by) so much by simply embarking on the mission of training my own dog so that she is set up for success in our family and in the world at large.  It may sound simple, but it’s not always easy to bear your share of the responsibility, to look upon your successes and failures and observe any similar trends in other relationships in your life.

If I could sum it up, I would have to end with the thought that animals, particularly dogs, simply are a mirror image of us, their owners.  When we are respectful and compassionate, so are they…they follow our lead.  When we honor them for their place and importance in our family, they will never let us down…never.  A friend would ditch you twice as fast if it met their needs than a dog would – and you can quote me on that. 

The bottom line is, compassion is key in all that we do.  The golden rule didn’t come from nowhere – so treat others (whatever form they may come in), the way you would want them to treat you.

A Shih Tsu + A Pit Bull + Just A Few Fosters = Jackson: The Regulator

by Laura Bailey

Growing up my dad always frowned upon rescue dogs, he took the highbrow notion that getting a dog from a breeder was the only way to obtain a respectable dog. Unfortunately, I shared his sentiments until a few years ago. Although, not before I found, fell in love with, and purchased my Andrew, a full-breed Shih Tsu.

So, three years ago, when I started a relationship with a man that owned a pit-bull, and a rescued pit-bull no less, I was….cautious. I didn’t want my dog to get hurt or killed by this beast! Jackson is a muscular 75 pound pit bull that could run straight through sheet rock if he wanted to...but all he really wants to do is lay in your lap.

Jackson doing a trick

To my extreme surprise, when Andrew & Jackson had their first ‘play-date’ it was like they were long lost friends. I was on guard, ready to intervene should it be necessary. But it wasn’t necessary. They jumped on each other and chased each other and made all kinds of snorting noises but there was zero tension. We attribute this partly to Andrew being the social butterfly that he is, but on some level Jackson knew that this dog was part of our pack.

Andrew and Jackson have been best friends ever since. Andrew loves to play rough and obviously Jackson is always willing to oblige, but Jackson has never hurt Andrew or even broken the skin.

When I first started fostering homeless animals Jackson was a bit territorial, and in the first moments of meeting any new dog there was some pretty intense sniffing, and a sometimes dominant approach to other dogs. "Who are these dogs coming in and out of my house?" he must have wondered.

After a year, and dozens of animals, Jackson has retained household title of “the Regulator” and he sets a wonderful example for future pets.  Jackson is calm and confident. No longer threatened, he’s taken a concerned approach. He understands we are trying to help these other animals and we wants to do his part. Some of the animals we bring home are very timid, and have often been mistreated. Chihuahuas have humped him and puppies have nipped at him, but he takes it all in stride. Our time is usually limited with these foster dogs so we have to do our best to give them a safe and comfortable place to stay, but with the added bonus of some great socialization. Jackson’s the big brother, offering guidance and protection to our whole pack. He’s the Regulator.

Andrew, Sadie (foster) and Jackson

Pete (foster), Andrew and Jackson

Sleeping with Bubba (foster)

So would I adopt a rescued pit-bull in the future? Absolutely! I feel safe when he is around, I’m confident that he will obey me, I trust him completely with all the foster animals that I bring home, and most of all Jackson loves me. His affection is gentle but massive. There is nothing that Jackson would rather do than get as close as possible to you and stay there.  He’s become a leader in our pack and a great example for other dogs to follow.

There are many ways to help pit bulls.  For more information on rescuing or fostering pit bulls in North Carolina, one place (of many) to visit and find out more is:http://secondchancepitbullrescue.webs.com/

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Lives

sometimes you don't realize that something needs to change until after it already has.

volunteering at the shelter each week, and seeing and knowing the dogs first hand, i know how cute, cuddly, beautiful and adoptable they ALL are.  i only ever used the actual shelter website so i could check out the newbies, and see who was "still there",  making guesses on the other dogs - who might have gotten adopted and who might not have been so lucky. 

i never really stopped to look at the pictures.  i didn't know they needed to change.  and then came Project Pearl...

the idea spawned when two wonderful women met a Forsyth County shelter dog, Pearl. found as a stray, Pearl's owner was located, but had moved and decided not to bring her along. a staff favorite, Pearl, an adult dog, was already housetrained and had wonderful manners, but also had some minor skin allergies and was missing patches of hair, which made her less desirable. she patiently waited 2 months for a home until these lovely ladies teamed up, cleaned Pearl up, re-photographed her and found her a home! two days later Project Pearl was born!

                            Sweet Pearl barely made it out of the shelter! 
                                       thank goodness she did!

trying to figure out a new way to help the local shelter, they decided on highlighting some of the great animals with Project Pearl’s “lend a lens” program. with the help of local professional photographers and volunteers, Project Pearl meets weekly at the shelter. shelter staff help identify animals that have been at the shelter the longest and the animals get re-photographed by the professionals.

 

the difference is quite simply, amazing.  see for yourself:

Spot BEFORE Project Pearl

Spot AFTER Project Pearl - SPOT IS STILL ADOPTABLE!

it's through creative solutions like Project Pearl that awareness is being raised about local adoptable dogs, people are becoming more involved and sharing with one another and LIVES ARE BEING SAVED!  check out some of the awesome adoption photos at:  https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Project-Pearl/294121223932475

but there are so many more lives to be saved!  here are just a few of the super adoptable dogs that are available NOW at Forsyth County Animal Control:

who could resist Lori's sweet face?

Jonice is a perfectly pretty pittie

and Marley wants to come home with YOU!

thank you Project Pearl for all you do to help our local animals in need!  for the rest of you, you can get involved by "liking" Project Pearl on Facebook and cross posting pictures of adoptable animals!  or consider adopting one yourself!

and, if you really want to help out, you can always volunteer your time and/or your services to Project Pearl - the animals will thank you!

for a full list of adoptable animals, you can also check out http://forsyth.cc/animalcontrol/adoption.aspx 

A Rags To Riches Story: Smiley aka Leroy Brown aka Stig

i got a message in my inbox this morning that simply said:
"Thank you for helping us find our sweet pibble. He's a blessing."

that message was in regards to a dog i saved a year or so ago, with the help of Two Loons Rescue, Melissa Kramer Barnes, and Kristin Marion.  that dog was smiley.

when smiley was at the shelter, he was ANYTHING but smiley.  rejection, desperation, and fear were written all over his face.  he barely ever moved, much less made even a peep.  i fell in love with this frail boy immediately, and set out on a mission to save him.  i knew he did not have much time, and he knew this as well.

so thus, the mission began as i posted his pictures in desperation on Facebook, hoping someone would step up for this sweet little boy.  no one did (but luckily a lovely couple did take notice of him and his eternal cuteness).  so i pushed on, begging the shelter not to put him down, reaching out to every 'dog person' i knew.  after some heavy-duty negotiating, Two Loons rescue stepped up to help me pull him from the shelter and Melissa Kramer Barnes agreed to foster him.  now all we had to do was find him a home - still a daunting task!

with all the pieces set in motion, let me take a quick step back and tell you that when i picked smiley up from the vet after being neutered, i encountered a dog i had NEVER met.  smiley KNEW he had been saved, and despite being stiched up and drugged up, this guy was so full of energy and life i could barely get us home safely - it's kind of hard to drive with a firecracker of a pit bull jumping all over you and your car while you're driving (i literally had to pull over on the side of the road twice to avoid an accident).

once, safe, the first thing to do was get this boy a new name...SMILEY?! i mean, it doesn't get much worse than that!  because of his frail appearance, and to make up for being named smiley, we had to go to the opposite extreme...Melissa Kramer Barnes came up with the name Leroy Brown.  that's right, bad bad Leroy Brown, baddest pibble in the whole damn town.

after only a few weeks of foster, we were lucky enough that the couple who noticed Leroy on Facebook contacted us and said they were interested in meeting him.  from the moment they met, see pictures below, it was clear it was a perfect fit!     

                        

so off went Leroy to his loving home with two amazing people!  we they first got him, he was so shy and didn't make a lot of eye contact (much like at the shelter). he hated to go near the street and would cry at night. but, after a lot of love and attention he has done a complete 180!



his new parents, Leslie and Glen, renamed him Stig, and affectionately call him a perma-pup because he still looks, acts, and smells just like a puppy! according to Leslie "He is so animated I'm still not sure he isn't a cartoon dog. He is the sweetest and most cuddly little boy ever. He sleeps in the tightest little ball and is sooooo quiet you can barely hear a peep so he makes an excellent snuggle buddy."

oh, and did i mention that he now has a SISTER, Georgia!?  Stig loves his big sis and follows her everywhere, which annoys her because although she's bigger and stronger; Stig is MUCH faster and likes to steal her toys and run around the sofa as fast as possible. go Stig!!

leslie says he has grown leaps and bounds in the short time they've had him and each day they wonder, how could anyone have kicked this little guy out?!

"we are so lucky to have found him! he completes our family and brings us so much joy each day. thank goodness he was saved, and then fostered because if he wasn't we would have missed out on a great gift and many years of silly puppy love." - Leslie

i just LOVE happy endings!

My Day Off and My Take On Dogs!

a dog is a dog is a dog.


and a day off is a blessing...and i am blessed.


today i had the pleasure of a day off and i had plenty of time to spend with rosie.  we slept in until a whooping 9am and then it was off to the vet we went!  the rest of the day was filled with errands and such, some with rosie, some without.


when i got home in the evening, i did the usual routine - fed rosie, walked rosie...and then i proceeded to do some art and talk to a few friends on the phone.  wow.  that day off made me TIRED....so i went and laid down (in rosie's bed which is actually a real bed) and i asked her to join me.  she did, delightfully so, and we both lay down and rested for 30 minutes or so.

i mean look at that face, it's soo ferocious! 

i was awoken abruptly to my phone ringing - of course - someone from work needed something...so i handled it without getting up, all the while feeling totally disgruntled that i was interrupted from my rosie time!  as i lay back down to rest, i look at the small dog curled beside me and i thought - IS THIS REALLY A PIT BULL?  THIS is the DOG that people are petrified of, the dog that makes parents run the other way with their kids, and the dog that, frankly, some people just want to do away with altogether!?  it's baffling to me!


the answer of course is yes, rosie is a pit bull, so as i laid with her it occurred to me quite strongly that yes, if you want to put a label on it - rosie is a pit bull.  and i'm damn proud of it.  but the reality is that rosie is a dog.  and a dog is a dog is a dog. nothing more, nothing less.


we teach our kids not to judge a book by it's cover, not to judge people for being black or white or indian or whatever.  


so why are we teaching our kids to hate a particular dog? i mean, it's a dog.  and a dog is a dog is a dog.

rosie sure had fun playing in the yard on our day off too!

Chance: The More I Know You, The More I Love You

the last few weekends i have made it a point to spend time with Chance both days.  partially because i want to get her out and get her exposure, and selfishly, because i love spending time with this girl and now feel like my weekend wouldn't be complete without her!

our routine goes like this - i drive to the local facility at which she is boarding.  when i walk in and announce that i am here for Chance, to go on a walk, all the staff 'ohh and ahh' over how sweet she is and what an awesome dog she is.  today, for example, the boy at the counter sprayed her down with doggie perfume and adorned her with a bandana before announcing "go out there and win a family, Chancy!"

Chance, today, all suited up with her bandana and looking for a HOME!

from there, we walk to a nearby starbucks and i get a drink and sit outside front and center so everyone who enters sees her.  they nearly always comment on how pretty she is, how well behaved she is, and to this she answers with a big wag of the tail and, if she's able, a lick or two!  unfortunately, even though every one we've come in contact with thinks that this is one awesome pup, we still have no potential adopter.

each hour of each day with sweet Chance, i love this girl even more.  she is happy, mellow, and friendly...not to mention cute as a button.  she's never met a person or a dog she doesn't LOVE.  even with little training, and being in a kennel most of her life, she knows basic commands like 'sit' 'shake' and 'down' and is happy to perform for you if she thinks she'll get a little love in return.  for her size, she is super gentle and, though not leash trained yet, she still doesn't pull you around or jerk the leash. she is also super food motivated, which means she'll be a breeze to train, once she finds the right family. 

it is my goal to get this sweet girl a home by the holidays, and this is where i need your help.  please share this with friends, cross post, and follow my blog for updates.  with your help, this baby girl could be curled up in her own home, with her own people as we all celebrate some of the happiest times of the year.

that is my goal and i hope you will help me.  Chance most certainly deserves it. for more info on Chance see http://rosiebunz.blogspot.com/2011/10/take-chance-on-me.html 

contact me for adoption details

Bunz - Part Two: Life, Love, and the Rainbow Bridge

the thirteen years i spent with Bunz were amazing.  he was my best friend, my loyal companion, and he was with me through it ALL.  college, roomates, my first job, changing jobs, boyfriends, break ups, heart ache AND happiness.  of course i had a great network of friends, family, and co-workers, but Bunz was the one i came home to every day...the one who always greeted me lovingly and made me smile.  thirteen years of this amazing being + me.  i, was, and am so lucky to have had him.

one of the biggest milestones we went through together was me getting married.  neither Bunz nor i had really ever been around kids before, so we were a little apprehensive about how this would turn out.  i mean he was 11 years old and meeting a child, really, for the first time.  i was never worried about Bunz hurting one of the children intentionally, but hey, he was a big boy and i didn't know how the kids would react or if they might be scared of him.  but i always knew, even though he looked tough on the outside, he was as big of a softie on the inside that you'd ever meet.

needless to say, the transition went smoothly, the kids fell in love with Bunz - who wouldn't really?! - and life was just good.  colin loved to pour Bunz's food for him and have Bunz lay with him in his bed at night.  julia liked to dress Bunz up in fairy and princess outfits (i WISH i could find those pictures).  and Bunz loved every minute of him.  though he loved his life with me, Bunz was a family man, and now he had a family.

i love this one because you can barely see his little head 

poking in, trying to get in the picture....

family life was good until the day that Bunz got sick.  he woke up and something just wasn't right.  his left eye was droppy and he was making a strange wheezing sound.  i took him in immediately and it appeared he had a stroke or seizure of some sort, but the bigger question was 'what caused it'?  


weeks of testing and trips to the vet revealed that his eye was able to self-regenerate, but that his larnyx was paralyzed.  (they described it to me as a set of double doors in your throat that lets air come in, but blocks bad stuff from going down).  so we were faced with the decision of surgery - the surgery was expensive and about 25% of animals that do it have serious if not life threatening complications.  if we didn't go through with the surgery, it was highly likely that he'd end up in a respiratory emergency since he couldn't breath properly.  a gut wrenching decision was made, we were going to do the surgery.


when i picked Bunz up from the surgery, i knew in my gut something wasn't right.  they told me he was lethargic from the anesthesia but this was extreme.  it took me 4 hours to get him out of the car in my driveway.  i sat with him the whole time, until i finally called a dear friend kate wilson, who came over and helped me carry him inside.  once settled on his favorite bed, i felt better, and figured he just needed to rest.


after watching him sleep peacefully for a bit, i ran out for 30 minutes to grab some food, a decision i'll question and wonder 'what if' for the rest of my life.  when i came home, Bunz had aspirated - meaning he threw up and because his throat was now unable to keep 'the bad things out' everything went right back down to places in his body it shouldn't go.  his lungs filled with fluid - pneumonia.  we rushed back to the emergency vet...AGAIN.


the first few days, they told me Bunz seemed to be getting better, at least feeling better.  and then, one day he started having strange complications again so they suggested an ultrasound.  what they found broke my heart into a thousand pieces.  Bunz had a heart tumor.  as sad as i was, it really didn't surprise me that it was his heart that was affected - a heart that big, with so much love to give, was bound to get tired and worn out at some point.


we made plans for Bunz to come home overnight and for a vet to come the next morning so he could die in the comfort of his own bed, with the people he loved so dearly.  unfortunately, the vet called back and he was deteriorating quickly - i needed to come in myself and do the job now.  so that's where it ended, just me and bunz, together, the same as it all started.


the day Bunz died, a part of me died too.  i was so utterly lost and heartbroken, i honestly didn't know if i could ever recover.  i missed him insanely and didn't like being in my own house, where i was always looking at his empty bed, expecting him to come running around a corner to cover me in kisses.  he was the most special boy who ever lived, and not having him around was too much to bare.


despite the pain,  i had to find a way to get myself out of this funk.  so that's when i started volunteering at animal control, a kill shelter, usually filled with pits and pit mixes, many of whom don't make it out alive.  i vowed to save every pit bull i could, in memory and in honor of my Bunz.  


so where one chapter ended, the new chapter of my love and life of rescue began.


today marks the one year anniversary of the death of my best friend, my son, Bunz.  i think he'd be proud of the work i've done, and of the dogs i've saved.  and i'll keep trying to save these dogs and to change people's minds about them for as long as i possibly can, no matter what it takes.



God bless you Bunz - thank you for an amazing 13 years. and thank you for inspiring me to be a better person.  see you at the Rainbow Bridge, my friend. i'm sure you'll still be wearing your shades!

Bunz -The Accidental Pit Bull that Changed My Life

i have always liked dogs, and rescued many as a child (cats too), but i really never knew anything much about the american pit bull terrier.  i just liked dogs.


while i was in college, i met a couple who had two dogs.  the dogs were lovely, friendly and full of personality, but i had no idea they were pit bulls.  i just didn't think to ask.  as i grew to know the couple and the dogs more, i REALLY fell in love with them (the dogs)....a small black female and a larger, almost boxer looking brindle male.  at one point, i did ask, 'what kind of dogs are these' and the response was - they are pit bulls.  i was shocked!  this was not what i imagined a pit bull to be, but i was already in love with them so luckily any stereotypes i may have had were overshadowed by the personal experience i had with these friendly, fun loving pups!


at some point, they decided to breed the male (something i am VERY against now, but remember i was just a young buck myself)...so of course i wanted a pup.  i called home and told my mom that all i wanted for Christmas was this puppy, Bunz.  my mom was hesitant, and rightfully so, not only did i want a dog (was i really ready to handle that?) but i wanted a pit bull.  her immediate reaction was...'so so' at best.

so i set forth at researching the breed, so i could have all my facts straight and really understand where these dogs were from and what they were about.  what i found surprised me even more.  pit bulls, though they were used in fighting, were bred for certain characteristics, most notable - LOYALTY, LOVE OF OWNER, AND NEVER GIVING UP.  loyalty - they will do anything for their owners and are one of the most truly bonded dogs i've ever met.  love of owner - they will do anything to please, especially if it means getting positive attention (hugs and kisses, and a stamp of approval).  never giving up - they are tenacious in spirit and never let you down.


that sounds awesome right?! - a dog that is more loyal than any friend you'll ever have, will do anything to please you, and will never give up in that pursuit!?


unfortunately, these are the same qualities that 'backyard breeders' and 'fighting gangs' exploit and use against these dogs.  


but, i digress....i told my mom what i found, i begged and pleaded, and finally she said yes.  the best thing that had ever happened to me!  i got my Bunzy - the love of my life, who stayed true to every one of those qualities above plus a million more!  to name a few - dignified, attentive, gorgeous, full of personality, soulful, cuddler, and a goofball (i could go on and on....).  


so, there began my story with Bunz, him a whole 8 weeks old and me a ripe 18 or 19.  ha!  the 13 years i spent with him meant more to me than anything else...he taught me so much, he helped me grow and learn acceptance and tolerance, and he made me an advocate for the breed.  in many ways he saved me.  he most certainly changed me - and i wouldn't be saving animals if it weren't for him.

tomorrow is the anniversary of Bunz's death so i wanted to give a prelude to how and why i ended up, somewhat accidentally, with a pit bull, and why it's so important to me.


God bless my Bunz at the rainbow bridge.

Owner Surrenders Part 2 - "Will My Dog Be Put to Sleep"?

as i read through my last blog post, there was a critical piece of information that i left out.  it's a question we hear often in animal rescue, and one that there is no good answer for.


the man (men, boys...i'll call them) that dropped off the pit bull this weekend stopped me as i left for the day and asked "our dog won't be put to sleep, will she?".... well that's a loaded question if there ever was one, because the answer is, and was, very likely, YES!  you are dropping off a grown (not as desirable as a puppy), brindle (not as desirable as a cute white or grey or yellow, whatever pup), PIT BULL.  what do you think is going to happen?!


now granted, i will give these guys the (alleged) credit of the fact that they said they loved the dog, but it wasn't actually theirs.  it was a roomates' dog who bailed on all of them, and left the dog with them.  i'm not defending the people who dropped that sweet baby girl off, but in all fairness (if their story is true, and i do believe it is), it was not THEIR decision to get the dog, to pay for the dog, and to be responsible owners for the dog.  they truly seemed to have an affinity towards her, but claimed it was beyond their means to continue to care for her.


as i said, when i left, the two boys in the truck asked, and with a bit of fear in their eyes - "please tell us she won't be put to sleep?"  


this is the problem, one of many, with owner surrenders.  the owners somehow think that somehow they are doing the right thing, that THEIR dog among hundreds of others will be the one that finds the fun, loving, caring owners, and the forever homes they know their dogs deserve. everyone thinks that their dog is special, when the reality is many special dogs get put to sleep every day.  it's a cruel and heartbreaking fact.  in this situation specifically, i thought to myself, this girl has half a chance....at best.


i promised the boys to take her for walks and to love her, as long as she is at the shelter.  i promised to try and find a home.  so she, her name unknown, becomes one of many pit bulls that i will try my best to find place in this world.  if i succeed at half, i'm lucky...


i wanted to post a picture of this girl, but to tell you the truth, as sad as it is, it's all a matter of resources (and that includes volunteers which we NEED) at animal control.  so, i just checked the site and i don't see this sweet girl there.  what i do see is loads of puppies, likely all dumped too, but no brindle female pit bull.


i would like to hope for the best, but in case of the worst, i want to give that sweet girl a name.  Layla is what i'll call her.  Layla.  yes, that sounds good.  


i will say prayer tonight for sweet Layla and i hope you will too.  

The Sad Truth about Owner Surrenders & The Holidays

i don't know if it's the time of year or what, but it seems like there are many more dogs being surrendered right now than there are being adopted.

this is chance, an owner surrender.  chance is a youngfemale, loves people, dogs and children. she is a gorgeous lab/pit mix.  chance is adoptable and has been waiting on her forever family for over a year.

when I arrived at the shelter yesterday my first sight was a white van with a man pulling (and I mean dragging) four frightened, helpless puppies out of the back. the pups were about 5 months old so at least big enough to fight what was ultimately the inevitable- they were being surrendered by their owner, their person, their caretaker. and it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that these pups were scared to death and wanted no part of what was happening. they sensed exactly where they were going, and even worse, that the person who claimed to love them and whom they loved so much, was ABANDONING them. my heart broke a thousand times as I watched the four pups dragged in, clinging to the ground, looking up at their master as if to say "WHY? WHAT DID WE DO WRONG?"

the man saw me staring and yelled out that they were good pups, trained, socialized, and in his own words "just wanting to be loved"....well kind sir I thought 'why the heck are you dumping them here then, to be alone and terrified and certainly not getting that "love" they so enjoy'?

about an hour later a truck pulled up with a gorgeous brindle pitbull in the back. two young men tended to the while the older man went in to fill out the paperwork. i knew immediately tell me this is going to be another dumped dog, who was once loved but now...discarded like trash.

for me the holidays are a time to embrace and be grateful for all that you have, and in my house that includes both 2 legged and 4 legged family. my home wouldn't be the same- celebrating, praying and giving gratitude would mean nothing without ALL OF US.

to watch these loving beings ripped from the familiar and put into cages is a truly gut wrenching thing to watch. i am not sure what the holidays mean to others, but thought that they mean a "pass" to dump your dog is beyond me in so many ways.


unfortunately, I fear this trend is continuing and the dogs that are dumped will far outweigh the dogs we can adopt out. And we all know what that means. Death. to many many wonderful, adoptable dogs, with hope in their eyes and memories of thier past families in their hearts.


on a positive note, many people DO want animals as the holidays come around, as gifts as and as new beginnings.  so, i beg of you all to cconsider adopting this year. and if there's anyone on your list who wants or needs (and who doesnt really?) a forever companion and  lifelong friend, visit a shelter and make somone's dreams come true.

this is dexter (formerly axel), dumped by his family, likely for being deaf, dexter finally found his forever home and looks like he's pretty happy about all the newfound love he's getting.  and his owner seems pretty happy too!  what an amazing story!

sweet, sweet queen was also dumped by her owner though i for the life of me can't see how anyone could NOT want this beautiful, sweet and oh so gentle dog.  queen is currently in boarding and is adoptable.

this poor owner surrender, sunshine, is an older dog, which makes it even harder - both for her in terms of stress, and for those of us trying to adopt her out.  sunshine is a gorgeous dog and would make a wonderful addition to any home.  she is adoptable through FCAC.








if you are interested in helping or adopting any of the dogs in this posting, please contact me.  God bless you and yours this Holiday season.

A Little Love Goes a Long Way - Try It Yourself and See!

a lesson i learned tonight in how a little love comes back to you tenfold. 


a little background first: rescuing dogs comes with plenty of heartbreak, BUT the pure joy of saving just one life so far outweighs the loss from every dog that i can't save, every hurt from every criticism ("you let a PIT BULL around your kids?!"), and every hour of blood, sweat and tears that i put into what i do.  there's no way for me to fully explain that - though every other rescuer, foster, or volunteer certainly know the joy that i'm referring to.  saving lives is an amazing thing.


the inspiration for this post stems from a conversation i just had at the grocery store.  the woman who was ringing me up knows me, knows what i do, and was actually instrumental in me rescuing the dog who is now the love of my life, Rosie.  so naturally she asked how 'we' (me and Rosie) were and we chatted for a minute as i explained that we (me and a friend) now have 10 dogs in boarding, 10 dogs that were saved from death at animal control, but that now must wait patiently in a cage until their someone special steps up to the plate and adopts them.  10 dogs.  that's a lot.


anyway, i was walking to my car and a woman must have overheard the conversation and she simply stopped me and said "God bless you for what you do" - WOW.  i think that's the first time a human has expressed that sentiment to me in such a simple, honest way.  it brought tears to my eyes, and frankly, i'm still emotional just writing this.  it reminded me that there are people out there who care, who appreciate what i do, and who would probably do it themselves if given the opportunity.  i am moved and feel so blessed at this moment.


all the love, all of my heart, that i pour into saving these dogs always comes back to me in some amazing way - whether it be a kiss on the cheek from a now safe dog, who was destined for death, or a simple compliment.  there is truth in karma, and the love you put in is the love you get out at the end of the day.  always.


ok.  so on to the 10 dogs...it would be a little overwhelming for you if i posted all 10 but i'd like to tell you about a few.  all wonderful dogs, all up for adoption, all waiting to show you exactly the love i explained above. 

this is brodie at the pound...on his SECOND time back.  he was found as a stray and adopted by a seemingly loving home, but they got a little dog crazy and took home multiple pups only to realize they couldn't handle more than one.  so they ditched him.  didn't even bring him back in.  he was picked up as a stray, and as you can imagine, is surely feeling lonely and confused by this rejection.

this is brodie now, after being saved.  dogs on their 2nd round at the pound just don't make it very long.  as you can see, he is a gorgeous pit mix (male), and he is a total love bug.  one of his best features is his white belly, which he LOVES to have rubbed.  brodie is around 6 months old, is up to date on all his shots and will be neutered before he is adopted out.  

meet queen.  i cannot tell you how much i love this girl.  sadly she was an owner surrender, though from the moment i met her i cannot imagine how ANYONE could let this girl go!  her sleek face and adorable underbite are just too cute to bear!  she is simply gorgeous, with the personality to match.  whether someone took the time to work with her, i do not know, but i can tell you she is a gentle creature with a sweet soul and soft disposition.  she could be running 60 miles an hour to get to you, but the moment she gets close, she slows down and approaches you respectfully and with wonderful manners.

this is queen after being pulled from the shelter - doesn't she look SO much happier!? i just love seeing a dog like her smile!  She is so sweet, soft, and lovely......  she has stolen our hearts and wants a person to call her own!  she has been so personable in a crowd, remained very calm and admired by many when we have been out and about.  queen is also up to date on shots and will be spayed before she is adopted out.

if have made it through this...and even if you're in no position to adopt - can find it in your heart to share this blog post, and spread the word about these sweet babies who need homes?  i promise you, as i mentioned above, that the love you put in will come back to you in miraculous ways!

Take A Chance on Me?

chance: the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted,understood, 

or controlled: often personified or treated as apositive agency: 

Chance governs all.

Chance got her name at Animal Control, because frankly, she didn't have a chance. The one-two punch of being a black dog AND a pit bull (lab mix) was a death sentence waiting to happen.


One of my favorite bloggers (and rescuers), Ashley Owen Hill, explains black dog syndrome in the link below, it's definitely worth the read and will educate you on the cruel realities the black dog faces.   But, sadly, I think she sums it up well by saying: 


"When a family goes to a shelter to adopt a dog, they will undoubtedly walk through rows and rows of simple black dogs... because statistically, there are more large, black mixed breeds in shelters than pets of any other color. Many of these black dogs look very much the same... there's nothing seemingly special about them... there's nothing that makes them stand out in a crowd....In kill shelters... the black dogs don't stay as long... because they're among the first to be killed. Shelter euthanasia decisions are based on adoptability. Most black dogs are considered "unadoptable," and so, they're the first to die. It's sad. It's heartbreaking. It's wrong. But it's true."


http://luckydogrescueblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/black-dog-syndrome.html  

So back to Chance, luckily, a good friend of mine saved her from death...but she's been waiting for a home ever since. Unfortunately for Chance, she's been waiting a LONG time.  

Chance is a spayed young female, with a calm demeanor and a gentle disposition.  As she was 'rescued', she laid calmly at my friend's feet and didn't move a muscle as all the other dogs barked and lunged around her.  She has a very nice habit of sitting directly in front of whomever she meets and sometimes offers a paw to shake.  Someone obviously worked with her before she became lost, or abandoned, though we'll never know which.

Chance also goes by the  nickname "Chancey," like the character in the movie Being There:)


Sadly, Chance has been in boarding for around a year, and we all know that's no way for a dog to live their life.  Though loved and well cared for, Chance needs someone to, well, give her a Chance.  I can assure you she will gladly repay the favor.  


Could you be that person to give her the chance she deserves?


Please spread the word and help get Chance adopted.  In addition, please educate people about black dog syndrome and encourage them to give a black dog a second lease on life.


Contact me at cehowe@gmail.com or on Facebook - Rosie TheRedeemer or Catherine Howe Bryant if you can help sweet Chance.