Puggles, the little pug mix has been here since June 25th. Except for a few weeks she spent in foster in July (the Foster Mom moved away), she has been here in a big, big crate with a bed and peepee paper and food and water and room to walk around in there.

She is about 10 yrs old and has lots more life in her! She weems to have been in a little crate all her life, having puppies in a puppy mill. She could barely walk, couldn’t bend her knees even, was incontinent but willing to try to be housebroken. She is blind in one eye. That’s all the bad stuff. THE GOOD STUFF is she is no longer incontinent, pees on her paper, walks for hours in the yard on nice days and shorter times on not so nice days but wants to go out and experience the day always. She wears her little coat and just chugs around that yard in ever bigger circles humming to herself and thinking big thoughts…

She has NEVER BEEN SICK HERE. Other dogs have had kennel koff, diahreah, some problem or another but even exposed, Puggles thankfully doesn’t get sick.

She has such a will to live and i am POSITIVE someone out there wants to adopt her. A retired man, woman, couple, who hs time for leasurely walks each day and a dog who loves to snuggle, is fiercely independant, costs nothing to feed and MAYBE cost $20 every 6 months to keep her from being incontinent and a few bucks a month on pee pads….

You or someone you know, or work with or live beside knows someone who will love Puggles. Everyone who meets her falls for her but she needs more time and attention (and deserves it) than someone who still works can give her. Of yes!! she has this one tooth that sticks out and it is too CUTE for words!! If it helps, Puggles’s adoption fee is not fixed in stone.

Hi Sue,

Just wanted to give you an update about our little Beagle Mickey. He has really become the most amazing dog we could have asked for. He has learned lots of new tricks and listens very well. He spends his days playing at the dog park and with ourdaughter. I cant believe I can off leash my Beagle!!!!! even on walks. He always heals, even if he sees a rabbit!!!

Hi Susan!

We’re so sorry we haven’t come to visit yet, but I just wanted to let you know how awesome Shamus (AJ/Bourbon) is!
He’s about 60-65 lbs and the vet was very pleased and excited to see what great shape he’s in, exclaiming “THIS is what a dog is supposed to look like! We’re so used to seeing overweight dogs, that some may think he’s underweight, but he looks GREAT!”
He hardly ever barks when someone comes to the door now.  He’s appropriately gentle with little dogs and children, and seems to have a particular fondness for elderly women.  We’ve taken him up to Muskoka a couple times, where he sticks close by without a need for a leash, and has learned to swim!  The first time he saw the lake he didn’t want to get his toenails wet, but with patience and persistence over the following day, and he was fetching a ball in water over his head!
Here’s a video of one of the first time he did this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzmJugTiWAQ&feature=channel_page

He’s perfected the art of attracting affection when we take him out with us to a patio for a coffee or a pint.  He lowers his head, pins his ears back, wags his tail, and gives boo-boo eyes to everyone that passes. The number of people that have been unable to resist petting him when he does this is phenomenal.

Although when I began tying him up outside of stores, he was a little upset, he now waits patiently and eagerly for my return.

We’ve had several parties at our house, where he has mingled calmly with over 30 people, new born infants, toddlers, and food everywhere.  I am particularly impressed at his instinct to give a friend’s 1 year old and 3 year old a large personal space, effectively ignoring them, even when they poke him or are very excited.

He has made being a dog owners so easy.  Although Jeremy likes to think that we simply have excellent dog whispering abilities, I am more apt to say that Shamus came to us perfectly balanced, and all we had to do was make sure he stayed that way, and built upon what you established.  Although Shamus is obviously a very loving and intelligent fellow, you and people like you in Ohio are the ones responsible for giving him the skills and second chance needed.

I think you would really enjoy seeing him again, and I will continue to try to get all three of us up to you soon!

Here’s another picture of him
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk131/better_red_than_dead/misc/skillz_card_small.jpg

Sarah (and Jeremy) Finney

Hi Sue just to drop you a quick email (I tried to call but you may have been busy) to tell you how much our friends and neighbours and kids love Miss Molly.

She is such a joy, sleeps through the night and is getting there on training to go to bathroom outdoors.

 She gets along with our neighbours dogs very well and loves long walks.

My spirits are so high now, I never felt so good and I owe that to you for helping me in decide if Molly was right for Donna and I and she is such a joy and loves to be loved.

We have long naps together and we love her with all our hearts and are getting a lot of love in return.

I have told my neighbours just how special your camp is and how much knowledge you have. There is no feeling in the world like giving a dog a new lease on life and that is what we have done for Miss Molly and what she has done for us.

Here are some new pictures of Molly with Sara and Fenix my 18 year old son’s Pomeranian.

 Take care and best regards.

Love Donna and Allen

I Rescued A Human Today
Author:Janine Allen CPDT

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.

I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog’s professional dog trainer. Janine’s passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2009 Rescue Me Dog; www.rescuemedog.org

She is a 6 yr old Cane Corso Matiff who was surrendered a couple months ago. She has the PINKEST, BIGGEST SMILE in the WORLD and we FELL FOR IT!

She joins brothers Hank, Gizmo, Nikos, ‘Stafa, Coal, sister Gracie and the cats Lily, Cleo, Zoey

Check out the dogs everyone!! My goodness what a great group of dogs! Gorgeous, all need some play time to calm down but i like them all very much. There are short hairs, long hairs. tall, small – hounds, labs, shep, beagles, coonhounds … GREAT DOGS!\

Still here – HOSS (renamed Cooper on the site), Hubert, Sophie, TRU!! and many more! these guys SO NEED A HOME PLEASE – some have been here a month – some more!!

Dogs here are all from the top down to Remy and then start again 2nd page after Peyton. Remy to end arrive on TUES!!

Today Smitty, Emma (who was ehre all of 5 minutes it seemed), and Hannah left for new Forever Homes! Tomorrow will have Elliot and Justin leaving with their new people!!

We need help tho finding some of the others a home – they may be older like POLLY PUGGLES (12yrs) or maybe not so pretty like BELLE (7yrs) but with a soul that is gentle and kind if only someone would meet her. We have MOLSYN (6 yrs)who is also technically old for a Cane Corso mastiff but is so beautiful in spirit and such a hold on life it’ll knock your socks off. My HUBERT (hubie) is still here – since June 25th at least!! might be longer – a happier, more loving dog you’ll have a hard time finding! HOSS – renamed COOPER in hopes a name change will bring a better kharma – how stoopid is that?? He is the nicest dog here but he’s big and black and he is starting to disconnect from us and people who come by – like he isn’t trying anymore. My Lovely SOPHIE -  she is an easy, fun dog – she needs someone strong tho she she doesn’t need to be afraid. She has been a client of mine for 4 yrs b4 being one of my rescues and she is a GOOD dog.

Can anyone who reads this please send this link http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ON258.html to people you know – retired people who want a low maintenance dog, singles or couples who may have lost an older dog rescently – anyone and everyone you know – PLEASE?

Occasionally i get requests from people over 60 to have a dog. Most of those people have been refused dogs by other rescues for being ‘too old’.

When they come to me, I DO direct them away from puppies and younger dogs, my fear being not so much that they can’t handle them – there are some ‘old’ people waaaay fitter than ME! – but that they will die before the dog.

I have been directing older people to dogs over 5 yrs old (depending on breed/longevity) who need homes as badly, if not more cuz people want puppies, but are awesome dogs who have a long life to love someone .

I was thinking that ALL OF YOU have older relatives and friends who you didn’t know were looking for a dog and may have been refused and never told you OR want a dog but know a puppy is more than they need or want and don’t know about PETFINDER or that there are rescue organizations ther than pounds OR that they don’t have to go into a shelter and feel horrible seeing the dogs there but can go on the internet too. Maybe they don’t know that there ARE OLDER DOGS WHO NEED THEM. Middle ages or LAZY people like me should apply for these guys TOO!

Dogs i have here needing older people to love them if other people don’t want them is:

COCOA, an 8-9 yr old female chocoolate lab, med size – she can live another 5-7 yrs, BELLE, a7-8 yr old female blk lab mix, large, can go another 5-7 yrs, OCTAVIA, 9-11 yr old chihua/terrier mix, female, 10lbs who is the NICEST small dog i’ve ever seen!! never bites or even lifts a lip, not a barker, good on her legs and loving!! she can go another 8 or so years!  POLLY PUGGLES 10 -12yr old pug mix, female, one back leg is gimpy but getting stronger now that she’s using it – seems she may have been crated her whole life (she & Octavia likely puppy mill breeding dogs) and she really chugqs along outside!! She SINGS like a kitten when she needs attention and ok, she is UGLY but E.T. was cute after two hours so she;’ll grow on you! she can go another 5-8 yrs. RAY - still here – 9-10 yr old blk lab, male, blind from cataracts not cancer or diabetes. Awesome dog who gets around darn good for his ‘disability’. He can go 4-6 more years too!

We will help anyone adopting these dogs with health and food advice to make them last as long as they should too!

Other ‘older’ dogs who need people – Joey, Hoss, Claudia - they’re all apprx 4-5 yrs old and have a good 10 yrs left (13 or so for the beagle) and they are calmer and loving and easier to have around – don’t need exceptional amts of exercise either!!

THis is all just thoughts but i’d really like to know what you think and if there is a market for older dogs and people and where the best place it to let seniors know we’re here with great dogs.

HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!

It’s pretty crazy here with 18 dogs (oh, and two more arriving on sunday…) all in various stages of having been neutered or  spayed – who get to be out with whom, who needs to cool their jets more than they’d like… 18 dogs who don’t know their names since we just invented them (they did learn ‘Cookie’ pretty quick tho), are very fearful or traumatised, submissive pissers til you just want to SCREAM.

All of them exceptionally loving tho in spite of it all and coming to check you out or give a kiss even tho you’d rather be lying on the couch in an airconditioned livingroom – the same one inviting you from upstairs.

People of course coming & going to see dogs, pick up food, have to see the newbies or Satan #1 & Satan # 2 – aka Rollie & Pollie – who are facinated by the chaos and peeved not to be too included since they can see for themselves that there are a LOT of short dogs just like THEM to play with.

Sandra and John came and gave baths and picked off Ticks and brushed and brushed and brushed – unbeliveable the hair – birds are LOVING IT!! Sandra took pictures too so new ones shld be up tmo or mon or tues once sorted thru.

No other volunteers on the horizon for the next few days tho.

On the bright side – PENNY AND RUBY TUESDAY WERE ADOPTED TODAY AND OZZY MAY GO ON TUES!!

We’re trying to figure out how to add Bob & Madeline’s pictures of the transport to this post – may take a couple days.

Hi Su!
We had a great session with Jana on Tuesday night and have Ruthie on a
strict regime of controlled crate exits and her staying behind us when
we walk on lead. Jana had shown us most this before, but I will admit
I was not consistent and Ruthie got in a few too many ‘wins’! Anyway,
we are more motivated than ever and are so consistent now. Jana has us
on a schedule to attempt off-lead starting in August at the earliest,
and that teaching her this respect will pay off in the long run for
things like recall and off leash.

We have to completely ignore her for a week, just meeting her basic
needs but no cuddling, no talking to her or eye contact. IT’S SOOOOO
Hard! Anyway, we have notes up everywhere to remind us and so far
we’re sticking to it. So this weekend won’t work for coming to visit
cause we want to keep things really controlled and consistent for the
full week. Would we be able to come on the first weekend of July? We
can’t wait for you to see her…she has put on some weight and her
coat is nice and glossy.

Despite her exuberance and strong need to hunt squirrels (while
yanking our arms off) we love her to bits and are so committed to her
and making her happy and relaxed. She is already way way way better
behaved than most of our friends/family’s dogs, but we know her
potential and want her to be the best and happiest she can be. Our
lives are so much fuller with Ruthie in tow, and we haven’t doubted
our decision for a second.

Again, you are a special person to save these wonderful dogs, and we
will always be grateful to you for saving Ruthie’s life and trusting
her to us.
You’re the best!
Nat and Brett

Tru

All who will need homes so tell everyone!

Coming this aftrn is Denver, Belle, Joe, Charmin’ Charlie, Elliot, Tru, Violet, Wally, Stoop and Schroder – all from Mahoning and Jed, Ringo, Jenny, Jenx, Petey, Smitty, Ozzy, Octavia and Polly from Athens.

Arriving on Sunday (thank you again Ed) is Cocoa!

Thank you to Stuart and Ed for driving and new to helping us with transport is Bob & Madeline (they help with brushing & playing with the dogs and have made donations to the vets b4 but this is their first road trip!).

So updated photos and bios of the dogs shld be on the site http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ON258.html by sunday & monday but hopefully lots will be adopted!

Please don’t forget the dogs who are STILL HERE – CHLOE, SALLY, HOSS, BEANIE, CLAUDIA, JOEY, RUBY, Topper, JACK, Zak, JUSTIN AND HUBERT!! these dogs have been here 3 WEEKS now – we know them well and they are super well behaved, loving dogs!! Please help us find homes for them! Also the 2 PUPPIES – ROLLIE & POLLIE (aka satan 1 & satan 2) are STILL HERE!! they’ve had their first shots on tues and they are 8 WEEKS OLD TODAY!

Adopted – Hannah and Mickey this week!

The majority are arriving fri, about 18 i think and one for sure sunday but possibly 4 more.

If anyone knows anyone who lives west of toronto with a van who is willing to come to the boarder with us tmo (fri june 26th) for noon and transport some dogs back to camp PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

We have really nice people in buffalo who meet the transports and bring the dogs over the boarder for us where we meet at customs and change cars.  Customs goes over the paperwork and off we go. Time needed is apprx 1/2 hr at the boarder and then 2 hrs to get to Camp from there.

It’s a friday and short notices as always cuz we never know which dogs will get thru the vetting (HW negative mostly but also some get adopted b4 coming and then we scramble for substitutions) but it’s for the dogs.

12 of the dogs are medium to large, 2 are mastiffs,  the rest are small. We need someone who can take 3-4 larger ones as small ones can go into crates on top of larger crates.

The border requires each dog in it’s own appropriate sized crate so most vans hold 4-5 large dogs. we prefer the dogs crated for travelling to avoid them being projectiles in case of an accident and also so they sleep and are less stressed.

check out the new pics (thank you Sandra & john) and info on the dogs.

The three 6 week old pups are here (i call them satan) they are the fattest, rolly polly puppies to come along in a while! They are two cute for words!

ADOPTED: LEXI, SATAN#1 (now called Buster), WYLEIGH!!.

boarders are returning in droves and dogland is fun

Well the new dogs were picked up yesterday and they are a great group – fav always are the Blue Tick Coonhounds and Rosie is a total babe. No tas shy as many of the coonhounds that come in but a pleasure who likes to curl up in my chair or crawl up for a snuggle.

Lance is a gentle angel and Lexi – we butted heads at first but mine is harder and she caved pretty quickly – so quickly she MAY have a home TMO!! Justin and Hubert are gorgeous dogs. Justin needed a little sorting ut manners-wise with the others and is doing great. Hubert is qan oaf and very funny and happy go lucky. Ruby Ruby Ruby – definitely a 10-14 mo old female blk lab mix – now that she’s tired out tho she is much easier to have around.

Our Wyleigh got a home today in Kingston with Joanna & Tim – we’re all very excited for her!

Again, Sandra and John came too give baths, brush and take pics – thank you!

Rory is doing his community service hours for school and is doing a great job too!

Stephen & JJ came to visit, pick up food and as always Stephen gave a little extra to the rescues – thank you guys!

Hi Sue, thought I’d write you an update on how Harley is doing!

The first week was a little rought (as to be expected). He really tested his boundaries (i.e. seeing if he can jump up and counter surf, jumping on the furniture, etc). He also escaped from his crate the first day. How you ask? Well our crate came in pieces (since its the x-large one) and he is sneaky enough to stick his head through and pry the pieces apart so his body could fir through there. He ate a whole bunch of food off the counter, pee and pooed in the house then jumped through the screen of the basement window. Luckily he didnt go anywhere and a neighbor caught him for us. That night we fixed that problem but getting clips to secure the pieces together. The first week Harley also had bad diarhea so he did have a few accidents. He never chewed anything though but we did find out that he will destroy any toy except kong products.

The first week he also did not get along with Mavrick. He kept trying to bite him and fight really aggressively over the toys. Finally on friday Mav and him learned to play together. Now they play all day on the porch and enjoy each others company! Which we are very happy about.

The second week was much better. He seemed happier and started playing more and more with his toys. He is pretty good on walks except he barks at dogs from across the street. Probably because he wants to sniff them. He is stubborn like you said. On walks he will lie down if he wants something bad enough. We just pull him up and make him keep walking.

Harley really is a sweetheard. He loves to cuddle and follows us around the house. We love having him around. We keep getting comments on how adorable he is. We also keep getting asked if he is a pit bull.

Anyways, there is a quick update on him. I checked out your new blog site. Its great! I am interested to learn more about how the herbs can help emotional problems. Eventually I’d like Harley is be calm enough to be left to roam the apartment. But I think right now, he is anxious being by himself.

Hope things are going well at the shelter. I’ll keep checking your website for updated information.

Take Care,
Arianne, Kyle & Harley

We’re getting charity status and shld have it soon we hope. it’ll give us the opportunity to give tax recpts to people who make donations to us and WE NEED DONATIONS!!

You’d be helping to save apprx 10-15 dogs PER WEEK – dogs like Ray who is 9 yrs old, blind and while he has 4-5 good years left is NOT likely to be adopted so we keep him til he is and that is food, HW meds in season, anything he needs… that costs money.

YES, some of you are thinking ‘she picks the dogs, wants to do this rescue, it’s HER responsibilty” and you’re 100% correct! i realize this and while i do ask for donations, i don’t expect everyone to help.  IT IS MY CHOICE TO DO THIS.

Sometimes too many of you want to help but think that $10,20 or 30 dollars isn’t enuf.  I used to be c ollector in my last life and i had to collect Eatons accounts from welfare mothers – I asked each to send $5 in on their accounts and i got $2000 in ONE DAY so seriously, no amt is too small.

Soon we’ll even be able to issue tax receipts!!

We have 10-12 new rescues arriving on june 12th – check out the petfinder site to see them and pass that link to everyone you know!

STILL HERE NEEDING HOMES ARE:

Ray, -9-10 yr old blk lab, blind but good blood work, no diabetes, no problems or ‘issues’. Has at least 3-5 good years left in him AT LEAST!

Also, BINA (Beanie) is ready to go, needs a strong owner! Claudia, Quinn, Joey & Hoss UNBELIEVEABLY ARE STILL HERE TOO – and CHLOE!! so GORGEOUS and GOOD!!