Atticus is an adorable 7 month old German Shepard that is now being fostered at Southern Cross GSD Rescue in Mount Airy, GA.

Molly  Moncure is the founder of Southern Cross German Shepherd Rescue  and every day her inbox is filled with stories about dogs needing help.

But there was something so special about this pup, only 6 months old, who had trouble standing.

He was in a shelter in South Carolina that could only hold him three days before they would euthanize him. With his physical disability, he was not a candidate for adoption.The shelter had no idea what was wrong, only that he had problems getting up and walking, and that his spine appeared abnormal.

At the same time, Joanne Leicester saw his plight posted to a web board. Joanne not only has experience in dealing with dogs with disabilities, she is a vet tech at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Even though Joanne recently lost of one of her own dogs to renal failure, she volunteered to foster the pup and help to devise a treatment plan for him.

Initial assessment indicates that Atticus has had some severe trauma which has damaged his spine. At the moment, Atticus gets around with an endearing kangaroo hop and does not seem to be in pain, but this situation will not last.

As Atticus, grows, he will likely experience more difficulties, including altered sensation in his limbs and possible paralysis. Atticus is being fostered in a home with a number of other disabled dogs who are helping him to adapt to family life.

The neurology team at College of Veterinary Medicines Veterinary Teaching Hospital has examined Atticus, and believes that decompressing and stabilizing his spine provides his best chance, although it is possible that Atticus will eventually become paralyzed.

This operation, followed by a regimen of strengthening his muscles, may help to delay a dramatic deterioration in his condition. The surgery on Atticus will be performed in the next few weeks. Atticus will then undertake rehabilitation exercises in the hope that he can maintain some mobility for the foreseeable future.

Medical costs for Atticus are estimated at $6500 just for the diagnostics and surgery, but his fosters Molly and Joanne have not let that deter them. Once you commit to a rescue dog, you owe him the best possible care. And that is what Atticus is going to get.

With all the horrendous stories out there it’s so heartwarming to read one where two ordinary citizens step  up to the plate to make a difference.  You can help Atticus by making a donation to help defray some of the costs that Southern Cross has to bear.

With Halloween only two weeks away there are many articles warning about chocolate being potentially fatal to your dog if ingested.

What pet owners may fail to realize is that everyday over-the-counter and prescription medications are the cause of over 89,000 calls to the ASPCA Poison Control Center.

The experts at ASPCA have complied a list of the top 10 human medications they receive the most emergency calls about.

NSAIDs
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach and intestinal ulcers and-in the case of cats-kidney damage.

Antidepressants
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome-a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.

Acetaminophen
Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen, which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage.

Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
Medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as cause seizures.

Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil-an anti-cancer drug-is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded cotton swabs used to apply the medication.

Isoniazid
Often the first line of defense against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of severe seizures that may ultimately result in death.

Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures.

Anti-diabetics
Many oral diabetes treatments-including glipizide and glyburide-can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures.

Vitamin D derivatives
Even small exposures to Vitamin D analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure-including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure-often don’t occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion.

Baclofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures and coma, which can lead to death.

This is great information to have, keep those drugs away from busy paws.  Be sure to keep your vet’s, and emergency vet’s, info handy at all times.

There’s nothing better than starting the day with a happy update.  Thanks Michelle for giving me a bark with a follow-up to yesterday’s posting, Have Passport, Will Travel.

All that petition signing paid off,  Ratchet has been approved to come to the U.S. and is waiting for a flight to bring him to his new home.

Besides the thousands of petition signers, Ratchet had champions such as her local congressman, Democrat Keith Ellison, as well as both of her state’s senators, Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Norm Coleman, all of whom wrote letters to the military asking them to review the case.

“Dogs like Ratchet bring comfort to our troops when deployed and sometimes become important members of the family,” Coleman said in a statement. “I am glad the Army listened to myself and others who pleaded Spc. Beberg’s case and have cleared Ratchet to come to his new home in Minnesota.”

Ratchet was cleared to leave the country but due to certain circumstances did not make his flight.  He isn’t the first one to miss a flight, hopefully they didn’t lose his luggage. I’m sure he’ll be reunited with Sgt. Beberg soon, what a happy day that will be.

Please don’t forget about all the wonderful dogs that are already in the U.S. and looking for homes. October is American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month and you can save thousands in airfare by going to your local shelter and adopting a dog that is already here. No passport needed.

This is a very sad report out of Orange County, CA where the kill rate has skyrocketed as the housing slump worsens.

Just as the County of Orange rejected a mandatory spay/neuter law for pets, statistics show a 21 percent leap in the number of unwanted animals killed at the Orange County Animal Shelter over the past year, and a 3 percent drop in adoptions.

The terrible economy is partly to blame, said shelter spokesman Ryan Drabek. When money gets tight, the expense of a pet can be hard to justify. And when people lose their homes, it can be hard to find pet-friendly new digs. It’s not just a phenomenon here; it’s happening all over the place as the economy tanks, Drabek said.

* In 2006-07, the county euthanized 12,068 unwanted animals.
* In 2007-08, the county euthanized 14,642 unwanted animals.

As it mentions in the article, this is a national phenomenon, happening around the country.  There are so many wonderful dogs in shelters around the country waiting for their forever home.

October is American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month, so if you’ve ever thought about doing so this would be a great time. Isn’t it time to add a furry tail wagging bundle of unconditional love into your household?

If any Dogsters have adopted a new best friend because of American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month give us a bark and share your story.

Sgt. Gwen Beberg, serving in Iraq, rescued a puppy from a burning pile of trash.

The problem is getting the puppy, Ratchet, into the U.S. due to rules prohibiting soldiers from adopting pets.

“I just want my puppy home,” Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis wrote to her mother in an e-mail Sunday from Iraq, soon after she was separated from the dog following a transfer. “I miss my dog horribly.” Beberg, 28, is scheduled to return to the U.S. next month.

There have been exceptions thanks to the group Operation Baghdad Pups, they’ve gotten 50 dogs and six cats transferred to the U.S. in the last eight months.

Operation Baghdad Pups’ program coordinator, Terry Crisp, is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Wednesday. Crisp said the adopted dogs left behind face death on Iraqi streets.

She said Iraqis view dogs and cats as nuisances and carriers of disease, and U.S. soldiers have rescued many of them from abuse.

Let your bark be heard,  help in “Operation Ratchet”  by going to the petition site and putting your paw on paper to help bring this innocent puppy home.

Pit Bulls have gotten a bit of a bad rap lately, so I wanted to post an event that celebrates these dogs.

Pitt Bull Party in Cambier Park

(Naples, FL)–For too long, the pit bull terrier breed has been wrongly maligned and feared. In an effort to educate people and allay their fears about these dogs, The Humane Society Naples presents its second annual A Celebration of the Staffordshire.

Well-behaved pit bulls and other varieties of the breed and their owners will gather on Saturday, October 18th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cambier Park for a two-hour “Pittie Party” of socializing and demonstrating just how wonderful these dogs really are. (Cambier Park is in downtown Naples, just west of City Hall, 375 8th St South.)

The Celebration ends with participants taking their “pits on parade” in a leisurely stroll down 5th Avenue. Owners of well-behaved, socialized American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and pit bull mixes are encouraged to attend this free, educational event and demonstrate to the world how wonderful and loving these breeds are.

All dogs must be leashed, per county and city ordinance.

For more information, contact Patricia Connell, assistant director of development at 239-643-1880 x 18 or by e-mail at patricia@HSNaples.org.

The beauty pictured on the left, is Leo, he was rescued from Michael Vick’s property at the time of his arrest. He’s now a certified therapy dog working in medical facilities. What a great story, read more on Leo’s page.

When Lisa and I adopted Bo, 15 years ago, he was about 11 months old.  Eight years later we adopted Copper, she was around 6 months.  It wasn’t so much that we set out to adopt younger dogs, it just happened.

We recently added another member into our family, Logan, who is a 5 five year old Bernese Mountain dog rescue.

Logan has taught us how much joy  adopting an older dog can bring.  Being an abused dog from a puppy mill he missed out on all the fun things a normal dog would experience.  Everything is new to him; running, playing, taking walks, being loved.

The first time Logan wagged his tail I think Lisa and I must have stood around grinning for about an hour. Originally, when we were looking to adopt a Berner rescue, I admit, we were looking for a dog no older than two.  One of the people from BARC mentioned Logan to us, that was when we started to consider adopting an older dog.

We knew that there will always be people to adopt the puppies, everyone loves a puppy, but the older ones ofter get left behind.  People are afraid they’re to set in their ways or that they won’t be around that long.

I think when older dogs are adopted they are so appreciative because they sense how lucky they are, they have so much love to give. The fact is that no one knows how much time we’re going to get with our dog, some die young while others live to a ripe old age. Life offers no guarantees, sometimes you just have to take a chance..

The following is from an article posted in the L.A. Times.

We got the scoop on two great senior dogs in the West L.A. shelter from shelter volunteer Mirja Bishop. We’ll let Mirja take it from here:

Holly, ID# A0940982, has been at the West L.A. shelter since May. She’s already spayed and is listed as a German Shepherd mix.

Jessica, ID# A0941207, has been at the West L.A. shelter since May. She’s already spayed and is listed as a German Shepherd mix.

Holly is 11 years old; Jessica is listed as 10, but she behaves like a much younger dog. They’re reportedly mother and daughter — you have to look closely to tell one from the other, but Holly does have a few gray hairs on her muzzle and she’s a little slower and more deliberate than Jessica. They have always been housed together and they are deeply devoted to one another.

Recently another volunteer and I bathed the girls in preparation for a mobile dog adoption event (lifting them into the wash basin was quite a challenge). Both were apprehensive, but their sweet dispositions (and a few treats) allowed the baths to go off without a hitch!

When bath time was over, we took Holly and Jessica to a play area so they could romp and chase each other around on the grass. (Holly still acts like a mom and tried to groom her daughter, despite the look of protest on Jessica’s face. The look clearly said, “Mom, don’t embarrass me!”)

They played with such wild abandon that all I could do was smile and shout, ‘Go, girls, go!’ What a joy it was to see them running freely, two beautiful dogs enjoying some well-deserved playtime.

It’s hard to understand why they have not been adopted to date; it probably points out a sad reality, that people do not want older dogs. How sad, because these dogs have so much love and loyalty to give to some lucky person! We hope that someone out there will fall in love with the two of them — they have spent their lives together and to separate them now would be truly sad.

Holly and Jessica are just a few of the many older dogs that are housed in our local shelters. Senior pets have so much love and loyalty to offer and ask for nothing more than a forever home where they can curl up and feel safe and loved again.

This mother-daughter team is available now at the West L.A. shelter, located at 11361 West Pico Blvd. (near the intersection of Pico and Sawtelle). You can inquire further about them (or any of the other dogs in the shelter) by calling 888-4LAPET1 with the ID numbers listed here.

If anyone lives around the L.A. area and is looking for love, I know where you might want to start.

What a great story to start off a Wednesday morning.  Buffy, a German Shepard, was honored posthumously by the Humane Society of the United States.

In 2007 she stopped a gunman who was robbing her owner a gunpoint, getting shot twice in the process. For this heroic act Buffy was named Valor Dog of the Year.

Buffy was chosen to receive the highest honor in the companion dog category of the Dogs of Valor Awards “because of the extraordinary courage she exhibited when she intervened during a robbery to save her owner’s life,” the Humane Society said.

On Jan. 10, 2007 in Oakland (CA), a gunman robbed Will Bartley of $400 and credit cards at his home.

That’s when Buffy ran from the yard and jumped onto the gunman, who fired two shots. One shot hit the dog in her left forelimb.

Although the vet was able to save Buffy, she eventually had to be euthanized due to complications caused from the injuries. The robber was never caught.

“We still love and miss Buffy dearly, but this award and the countless cards and letters of sympathy we have received have gone a long way to help us heal,” Bartley said in a statement.

Congratulations Buffy,  I can’t think of a more deserving girl.

October is  American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month,  so I thought it was important to show people  how wonderful the dogs in shelters are.

Most aren’t given up because they’re mean or uncontrollable, the sad truth is it’s usually due to financial issues and  life changes.

The following list is compiled from the National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy.

1. Moving — Dogs can handle change, especially if their owners make the change fun. But so many people leave pets behind at shelters when they move. That’s much more traumatic for dogs than riding two days in a car with their friend to a new home.

2. Landlord issues — If you rent, then you must get approval from your landlord to have a pet. Some people lie about these things and then when the landlord finds out they have a pet, they end up getting rid of the pet rather than moving.

3. Cost of pet maintenance — Pets are not cheap to care for. The average cost of caring for a dog is estimated at about $400 a year. That includes food, toys, vaccinations, and an annual visit to the vet. It cost a lot more if your dog gets sick or injured, has special dietary needs, or takes medication.

4. No time for pet — That’s a big excuse that rarely holds water for most shelters. What that means is that the family has gotten bored with caring for a pet.

5. Inadequate facilities — What this means is that the person doesn’t have a fenced in yard or outdoor space to house the dog. Why not bring the pet inside then? The dog was probably an indoor pet at first, but something happened, either with the dog or the dog’s family, and the decision was made to put the dog outside.

6. Too many pets in the home already — This usually is the case when dogs are not spayed or neutered. Sadly, people often take the oldest dog to the shelter because the family wants to keep the most newly acquired pet. Isn’t that sad?

7. Pet illness – All too often, people are forced to give up pets when they can’t afford to pay for veterinary care for a pet’s illness. I sympathize with people on this one, since there is no place for pet owners to turn right now to get help with medical expenses for their pets.

8. Personal problems — Divorce, job loss, major injury, foreclosure on your home are many of the personal reasons people give for giving up pets. This is tough because certainly if you can’t pay your own bills, it may be tough to care for a pet properly.

9. Biting — When a dog bites, he’s usually out of the house. Although I think it matters why he might have bitten someone or if the bite was a real bite or a snap. Dogs that snap are often warning people they are stepping over the line and need some training. Dogs that bite can be a problem.

10. No homes for littermates — Many people refuse to spay or neuter their dogs and the result is a few litters a year. While the pet owner may be able to find a home for one or two of the puppies, more often than not, the remaining littermates end up at the animal shelter.

This list just emphasizes the fact that  dogs in shelters are sweet and loving,  deserving of a second chance.   Any type of dog you’re looking for can be found at the local shelter.  Big, small, adult, and puppies are available for adoption.

The beauty above is Dogster’s own Blizzard, he’s in the Greenville (OH) area and is available for adoption.   Isn’t it time you rock your world and adopt a new best friend?

One of our Dogster friends, Mica, gave me a bark about the Animal Planet’s 2008 Hero of the Year.

Her big sister Mckenna has been an animal rescuer and advocate for decades. Presently she is working with “Project POOCH”, one of the nominees.

Joan Dalton, Project POOCH Founder and Director, has been selected as one of 10 finalists, out of over 10,000 nominations, for Animal Planet’s 2008 Hero of the Year!

Some Oregonians may know what this means, but Mica and I invite you to come see what it’s all about and why we ask for your support.

We hope you’ll vote for our ‘candidate’ of choice.  Although there undoubtedly are many worthy recipients, they don’t get this close to home where we CAN help make a difference every day.

I’ve read about each of the top 10 finalists, there are some amazing candidates.  I hope all the Dogsters out there will take a minute to visit Animal Planet and cast their vote, you have until October 13th.  To find out who wins, watch Animal Planet Heroes, Dec. 4 at 10PM e/p.