Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie as I type

Well, it's quite a rainy and cold day today and as I sit here and type, my pack is asleep and snoring away like they have just worked a double shift. (More like they just made ME work a double shift, actually!). This morning two of my permanent canine residents went to the vet for their annual check up and to get their shots updated. Two of the most rambunctious members, I might add.

Doug (left picture) and Gertie (in her babuska on the right).

Gertie was friendly with the vet techs and the vet (she's always friendly with new people and animals); but Doug -- not so much. A little disappointing since he is a sensitive and gentle soul and I really wanted him to feel happy and safe visiting the vet this time, but his reaction was not altogether surprising. When he's fearful, he tends to act out a bit, getting barky and snarly. (Part of the reason why he became a foster failure and my 4th permanent dog). So we had to put a muzzle on him, to be on the safe side. He has never been muzzled before so he was pretty upset with me for doing it.

Once Doc was done examining him, giving him his updated distemper shot and taking blood for his annual heartworm test, we took the muzzle off. When Doc gave him a dog cookie, greed overtook fear and he took it and hungrily ate it, in spite of the fact that he as still eyeing doc with that "I'm-not-so-happy-with-you" look and the slightly chattery teeth. As we got ready to leave and I was paying the bill, however, he was back to his "happy as a clam" self and ready to join Gertie in dragging me through the parking lot to the car like a couple of championship mushers headed for the finish line.

So, thankfully, he was not permanently scarred by his traumatic visit to the vet, and he got a clean bill of health (although he has gotten rather fat, and will need to go on a bit of a diet to regain his boyish figure!). And I now know I will have to work a little more with him in the socialization department so that by next year he will be happy to go see the vet....or at least not so fearful.

A really good site for people who have fearful or shy dogs is (appropriately named) "Fearful Dogs" at www.fearfuldogs.com

Check it out. There is a lot of helpful and interesting information that will help you to understand your pup and its foibles.

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Our Chance at Rescue

We have made some significant changes over the past few months. We are no longer affiliated with any one rescue, but, instead, are broadening our vision to include any legitimate rescue effort where we can.

We are hoping to be up and running as soon as possible, so feel free to stop by from time to time.

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Hello!

Well, it's been quite some time since we have had the opportunity to blog and here we are now about to enter the Autumn of 2009!

The summer was a little slow with intakes and adoptions but long on work to get done. If not caring for our current fosters, it was attending rescue functions like L'oreal's "Your Dog is Worth it, Too", day. It was hot as blazes that day, but we met many nice people and had an opportunity to show some of our All Star Pets to people looking to adopt their furever friend. (In the photo above is our Little Man Jake who was enjoying a swim in one of the many pools provided for the pooches on "Your Dog is Worth it Too" day! He absolutely took to the water like a little fish!)

We had a couple of fundraisers at local Restaurants and were able to raise a nice little bit of cash to defray some of our vet and food expenses. We are now looking forward to a few more fundraisers - one at Wendy's of Linden at 709 S Wood Avenue (right off Rt. 1 & 9), on Sept. 24th between 5pm - 8pm. We will get 20% of the proceeds.

Also, we will be doing a fundraiser with Macy's for a 20% off coupon on Oct. 17th. The coupons cost $5 each and you can use them for your shopping that day.

For information on the Wendy's Fund Raiser or the Macy Fund raiser and/or on obtaining tickets, please contact Val at "vegan_girly@yahoo.com".

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Because Your Dog is Worth it, Too!

We are reprinting an older post to remind everyone that L'Oreal's 6th annual "Because Your Dog is Worth it, Too" Day is fast approaching on Saturday, August 15, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will be located on the grounds of their facility in Cranbury, NJ.

There will be many activities to enjoy with your pooches, many great rescue groups to visit with, and many vendors to visit while supporting Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure of Central and South Jersey. To date, this event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help fight breast cancer. For 2009, they are preparing to organize new events, refine well-loved features, register guests and welcome supporters.

Please note that our friends from Companion Critters will be holding a microchip clinic as well. Here is the link to their website for more information:

>http://www.critters.petfinder.org/

And the link to L'Oreal's "Because Your Dog is Worth it, Too" website for information about the day as well as directions:

>http://www.yourdogisworthittoo.com/

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Operation Pittie Removal Has Been Accomplished!!

I am happy to report that all 10 of the Toms River Pit Bulls have been safely removed from the horrendous situation they were in! On May 31, 2009, All rescue volunteers and the SPCA officers in charge of the Court Ordered removal arrived at the home and systematically removed the 10 dogs and brought them to a local groomer to be bathed, micro-chipped and given their first distemper shot prior to going into rescue.

The rescuers and crew from Kat and K9 Design were amazingly accommodating of the chaos involving 10 unsocialized, stinky and frightened pit bulls and we thank her for her support. She helped make this day run so much more smoothly!

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Kat.And.K.9.Design.732-292-1001

All ten of the dogs went into various rescues that had been previously screened.

Four of these dogs are now in a local rescue's care and will need adoptive homes. We can report that even though these dogs spent most of their time living in little plastic boxes (vari-kennels, mainly used for transport purposes because there is little air circulation in these hard plastic carriers) where they were forced to lay in their own excrement, these dogs are beginning to learn proper bathroom etiquette. They are also learning the joys of blankets to lay on, toys to play with, and endless grass under their feet to romp in. If you'd like to read more about the efforts that went into helping them, you can link to the NJ SPCA website and read about the plea that went out, then read the story in the Examiner about the actual rescue as it happened.

http://www.njspca.org/

www.examiner.com/x-1513-Philadelphia-Dog-Advocate-Examiner~y2009m6d1-Follow-up--10-pit-bulls-in-Toms-River-NJ-are-saved"