I want to thank Bella for barking to me about a wonderful program the  military and the  Humane Society are offering to wounded soldiers to help them heal.

The Humane Society’s Dog Tags program helps  soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They sign up to help the shelter dogs learn to behave,  when the soldiers get out of the hospital they know how to care for and train the dogs.  The dogs learn better behavior, making them more adoptable.  In my book that’s a win-win.

Here are the details from Army.com.

The program began simply enough more than a year ago. The shelter is located just across the street from the Walter Reed campus. Soldiers out walking would come across shelter staff members walking the dogs. They would stop and pet the dogs and seemed to enjoy getting to know them. Officials at the shelter had the idea to hook the two together through a training program for the troops and the dogs.

“We want the program to be educational so that if there are service members in the program that want to potentially pursue this as a career, … they’re getting as much information as possible and as much hands-on time as possible with the dogs,” Foley said. “We also want it to be recreational, too, for people who … just love animals and like spending time with the dogs.”

The skills the dogs learn in the classes translate to better placement opportunities, Foley said. The program has far expanded the amount of training the shelter’s dogs received previously.

“This is another way our dogs are outside of their kennels being talked to and touched and interacting with people,” she said. “That’s extremely beneficial to reduce the stress levels of the animals in our kennels, and at the same time, it makes the animals far more successful in their new homes if they come into it with some basic obedience training.”

But for all of the good it is for the dogs, it is equally beneficial for the recovering troops, Foley said.

The article shares a wonderful story about Army Captain Lawrence Minnis and Ebony, a pit bull, who he ended up adopting. You can read how they saved each other on Army.com.

* Pic courtesy Army.com

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I received this urgent plea from Ginger’s Pet Rescue,  they are trying to help save the abandoned dogs leftover after the California forest fires.  If you can help please contact them as soon as possible, time is running out.  Post and crosspost this message to all your dog loving friends, rescue organizations, or anyone you think may be able to help.

Many of the animals were about to be euthanized until Ginger’s Pet Rescue in Seattle intervened. They all have a story – we can see it in their eyes. They really even don’t need to tell us,” says Martha Gibson-Wolfe, one of the rescuers.

Volunteers with Ginger’s Pet Rescue say the dogs were on Death Row – frightened and confused – animals of all sizes, breeds and backgrounds.

All were lost, separated or abandoned by their families during the chaos of the recent wildfires in Southern California.

Animal shelters there could no longer house them all, and many were on the verge of being euthanized, until this group saved them.

“You see all these really nice dogs, and you think if the truck was just a few days later or even just a few hours later, they could be put to sleep,” says rescuer Catherine Hannan.

The forgotten dogs are searching for a new start.

WE HAVE 32 MORE FOREST FIRE DOGS COMING THIS SUNDAY ~ NOVEMBER 22th !!!

We desperately need fosters homes for this coming Sunday’s arrival!

The last four Sundays we took in over 120 dogs that were saved out of the California Forest Fires in San Bernardino.

There are over 800 acres on fire and over 1300 Firefighters and all these forgotten dogs were refused by the local shelter due to lack of space.

They give us two options either board them or euthanize them and because these dogs are so great we are boarding them & saving them and bringing them up to Seattle 30 dogs at a time !!!

These dogs are so lucky to be saved as many dogs did not make it out alive.

We are making arrangements to bring them up here on Sunday ~ November 22nd.

Please ask around to your friends, family and co workers for a month or two of loving a dog in desperate need.

* Must fill out a Foster Application

Date of Arrival: November 22nd SUNDAY

Time: Late Afternoon

Place: South Seattle

* Remember it’s all about saving one dog at a time !

* Please e-mail me and let me know that you can help !

If you can not foster, donations would be deeply appreciated as many of the incoming dogs are sick.

* Leashes, Collars, Dog Food, Crates, Pee Pads would be great and you can drop off to address below!

Our address is 322 North 105th ~ Seattle, Wash 98133

You can PayPal your donation to our website at www.gingerspetrescue.org, contact via email.

Thank You and all the dogs really appreciate all your help!

Ginger

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Pit bull puppies being housed at the emergency shelter.

Linda Campbell plays with dogs at an emergency shelter.

In July the largest dog fighting raid in US history took place, hundreds of dogs were rescued.  Sadly 160 of the rescued dogs had to be put down due to illness, behavior, or injuries. The good news is that 120 of the dogs are now going to foster homes, and hopefully the remaining ones will get to do the same.

Here are the details from the Associated Press.

They are not a vicious animal. They are the victims of abuse,” said Debbie Hill, vice president of operations for the Humane Society of Missouri. “That face and their eyes tell the story. They only want to be in someone’s home, on a couch, or sleeping at someone’s feet, maybe chew up a rug or two for entertainment. They’re learning for the first time how to be a dog.”

Once at the Missouri shelter, dogs were tested by a national team of certified animal behaviorists, taken on walks, and allowed to chew on bowling balls stuffed with peanut butter. Some finicky eaters were treated to home-cooked chicken breasts to supplement meals of dog food.

The Human Society offered The Associated Press first access to the site Tuesday. During the tour, puppies born since the raid took turns playing tug of war with a chew toy in a play room. Humane Society staff members pulled a catering cart down a long row of dog cages, calling animals by name as they slid them bowls of food.

This is such a great story because usually all the dogs involved in dog fighting get put down, they’re never even given a chance.  Maybe this is the foreshadowing of changes that are going to be put into place so the victim, the dog, isn’t the one punished for the perpetrator’s crime.

*Courtesy AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

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How sad is this, a beautiful senior lab who is going to be put down without anyone even knowing her name?  She was picked up as a stray and is only known as 1054.

I have no doubt she was a very loyal, loving companion and now she is nothing but a number. Her age is unknown, but she is obviously an old gal.  Don’t let old age fool you, if you’ve never adopted an older dog before this girl can bring more joy than you can imagine.

She is located at  Portage County Dog Warden Shelter in Ravenna, Ohio. You can reach them at 330-297-6924.  There is no time to spare,  I know there is a perfect family out there for this beautiful girl, is it you?

Please post and crosspost this message, before it’s too late.

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I received a letter from a volunteer at the North Mecklenberg Animal Rescue about a beautiful girl named Hope, a throwaway who survived against the odds.

She is currently being fostered at a wonderful home but needs her own permanent loving forever home.

Hope was neglected and abused until, as a 6-8 month old puppy, being thrown into a rock quarry in an attempt to drown her. Her spirit and determination allowed her to fight for an indeterminate amount of time, acquiring significant injuries to her feet and legs as she tried desperately to free herself. Somehow, she found a small ledge, where she huddled for another indeterminate amount until Fire and Rescue rock climbed and rafted her out. By this point, she was totally catatonic and responsive due to her fear.

The reason my home was chosen for foster care was because of the very special pack of rescued animals who lives here. There is a rescued fighting dog who was used as bait and subsequently lost a rear leg and underwent 3 surgeries, another dog that was abandoned twice before the age of 3 months who is now a Therapy Dog for humans and other animals, and three elderly cats who were abandoned at various stages in their life. They now work together to help other animals adjust and recover from bad situations. One of these cats keeps all arriving foster dogs company by spending the night sleeping in front of their crates, as well as by engaging in boxing matches with the dogs regardless of their size.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Any regular reader of the blog will know I have a soft spot for seniors, so when this email came through I knew I had to try and help save these pups.

They are located at a high kill shelter in Kentucky, so time is of the essence.

Soxy

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934088

Cupcake

http://www.petfinder.com/petnot/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934672

Luna

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934933

Mitzi

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934945

The pups are at the Daviess Animal Control located on 2620 Highway 81 Owensboro, KY 42303.   You can reach them at (270) 685-8275 or via email,  click here.

Please post and crosspost this message, let’s help save these senior gals.  They still have a lot of living to do, give one a chance and in return you’ll get an endless amount of unconditional love.

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I’ve always thought Hilary Swank was an amazing actress, now I know she’s also a great person.  Swank is the owner of two rescues, Karoo and Rumi, and according to USA Today she is the new face of Iams “Home 4 the Holidays” pet adoption drive with the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Their goal in the campaign, which runs until Jan. 4, is to find homes for 1.5 million pets. I posted about their adoption drive last year, they not only met their goal, they exceeded it. One Million Eighty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Six Pets found forever homes last year thanks to Iams ‘Home 4 the Holidays.’

*Photos courtesy Timothy A. Clary, AFP/Getty Images

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I had some posts planned for today but sadly our beloved rescue Berner, Logan, passed yesterday. At the moment it’s hard to focus on much else so my last post of the day will be a tribute to our boy.

Logan lived at a puppy mill for 4 years, he was the stud dog. He had no name, was kept caged, used and abused.

Eventually when the owner of the puppy mill thought he no longer fit the bill as a stud dog he was put up for auction. Yes, auction, so possibly another breeder could come along to buy him and continue his life of abuse. Or,  if he wasn’t bought he probably would have been put down.

This is where a wonderful organization called the Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition comes in. They bought him, got him medical attention, and put him in a wonderful foster home until he got adopted. On June 6, 2008  Horst and I went to pick up our new family member.  When I saw him I had tears in my eyes, he was so beautiful, and so scared.

We celebrated our 1 year anniversary in June, I left a message on his page because it truly was a celebration. Logan had overcome so much in a year, he was a different dog.

When we first got Logan, I’m not going to lie, it was hard. He barely moved, spent most of his days in our 1/2 bath where he was comfortable. We never pushed him, always let him do things on his own time schedule. Every day we spent quiet time laying with him and petting him. We started taking him for walks everyday and that was when we got our first glimpse at the dog who was waiting to come out. Read the rest of this entry »

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Michael Vick was given the chance to visit some of his former dogs who are housed at Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls, also known as BAD RAP.  He was going to be in the Bay Area this weekend when the Philadelphia Eagles are in town to play the Oakland Raiders.

Here are the details from The Associated Press.

“We understand Vick is trying to right his wrongs and is very interested in redemption, but you can’t find redemption without acknowledging your victims,” Racer said. “Making amends to the dogs themselves would have helped to create some closure for many of us, especially those people who worked so hard to keep them from being destroyed. It seems that Vick is not ready to go there.”

The visit would have taken place at a location where Vick could view the dogs from a distance so that it satisfied the conditions of his parole that bar him from being near animals.

Despite the fact that Vick claims he is trying to ‘right his wrong’  he declined the offer.  Maybe he was afraid the dogs would recognize him.

*Ollie is available for adoption, he’s on Dogster’s Adoption & Rescue Center.

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The Pratt Humane Society in Pratt, KS needs to raise $18,000 by October 18th in order to stay open.  They took out a loan in 2008 to pay for their building and now only have 8 days to pay it back. On top of that, their boiler broke leaving them with no heat. To fix it would cost $6,300 which they don’t have.

The shelter is a lifeline for animals that need a home,  many dogs there have been abused or abandoned. Here are the details from KAKE 10.

“If we close down, absolutely it would be terrible because there would be nowhere for someone to take an unwanted animal,” said the Pratt Area Humane Society Board President Pam Howell.

“We’re pretty desperate. It’s a crisis situation,” said Howell. Read the rest of this entry »

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