Source: wtam.com, Mar 13, 2010
The Saint Francis Animal Sanctuary in Vermilion, Ohio is trying to find loving homes for several special dogs.
Director Deb Parker says careless breeding at an Ohio puppy mill has left a litter of young doggies blind.
Parker explains the puppies were born with a condition called microphthalmia, which happens when two dachshunds with the dominant “dapple” gene, are breed together.
Parker stresses that even though these puppies are blind, they are normal in every other way, and are likely to have a normal life span, and provide great companionship for a caring and patient owner.
Parker says her sanctuary is one of the few in the United States that accepts pets regardless of their special needs or the expense involved to treat and care for them.
She blames puppy mills for breeding thousands upon thousands of dogs each year that are sold for inflated prices in pet shops. They often go unwanted and are later put to death.
Saint Francis Animal Sanctuary has many more pets that are in need of homes. The shelter can also use additional volunteers and monetary donations.
Happy Tails Books publishes compilations of stories from people who have adopted dogs. Their breed-specific “Lost Souls: Found!” series showcases the love and joy these adopted dogs bring to their new homes in an effort to raise awareness of, and funding for dog rescue organizations.
Happy Tails Books is currently working on books about Chihuahuas, German Shepherds, Pugs, Boxers and mixes thereof, and they’ve asked me to share their information in case you’d like to submit a story about your adopted dog(s). Guidelines and a submission form are located at http://happytailsbooks.com/submit.htm. You can send in a complete story about your dog (600-1200 words), a paragraph about something sweet or funny he/she did, a training/health challenge and how it was solved, a poem, or a recipe. They are also looking for high resolution, professional-quality photos for the front and back covers. Be sure to list the rescue you are associated with in the submission form (if applicable – dog don’t need to be from a rescue, they just can’t be purchased from a pet store or breeder), as rescues earn points from each story submitted or book purchased, and then the points turn into a donation at the end of the year.
Contact Info: Kyla Duffy, Happy Tails Books, Editor In Chief. 303-807-0412, kyla@happytailsbooks.com Boulder, CO
Source: MercuryNews.com, December 30, 2009
Only Leonardo knows what he’s been through. And the 108-pound mastiff isn’t talking.
He’s now up for adoption in Walnut Creek after having been locked in a bathroom for weeks with only a kitten and a Chihuahua for company.
In the other rooms of the vacant Central Valley house, there were two crates full of other Chihuahuas. None of them survived.
But Leonardo and his kitten and Chihuahua companions made it, likely drinking toilet water until being rescued by Kings County animal control officers. They had no food.
Their owners had moved to Las Vegas. Eventually, at the end of September, neighbors called animal control after seeing the driveway sit empty.
When Leonardo was found, he was so malnourished and underweight that he could not even be given his shots.
He had formed special bonds with the kitten and the Chihuahua, said Elena Bicker, executive director of Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, where Leonardo is now.
When Leonardo was in pet therapy, they would bring in the kitten and he would immediately cheer up, Bicker said.
The kitten and Chihuahua were adopted in Kings County. But Leonardo’s time there had expired — he was to be put down until ARF brought him to Walnut Creek earlier this month.
His adoption sheet says he is mellow and “likes to snuggle.”
“He’s just such a big lug,” Bicker said, adding that she hopes whoever adopts him has a big couch. “He’s a couch potato.”
The Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and will be closed Friday for New Year’s Day. Call 925-256-1273.
Source: mywebtimes.com, Dec 4, 2009
Brenda Leake wants to find a heartwarming and loving home for her “kids.”
Leake, the shelter director of Just Animals in Seneca, is partnering with Petfinder.com, hoping to foster some of its dogs this Christmas season.
“We’ve been talking about how great it would be to get our pets into homes for Christmas,” Leake told The Times. “This is the first time we’ve fostered for the holidays. We probably have about 20 dogs right now.”
The current dog population ranges in age from five months to four years.
The program runs from Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Saturday, Jan. 2. There is a $25 fostering charge to cover licensing fees, and if the family decides to adopt, there is a $195 to $250 adoption fee, but the $25 fostering charge would be deducted from that fee.
Those interested must fill out application papers as if they were going to adopt so the shelter can verify the animal is going to a good home.
Leake said people choose to foster for various reasons.
“Some of them are not allowed to have pets on a long-term basis, some people can find out a lot more about a dog by fostering,” Leake said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back. A lot of people aren’t quite sure if they’re ready for a pet and this helps them make that decision.”
Leake said the fostering process normally works well.
“It works out wonderful for people,” she said. “We try to pair up animals that will fit into the home. We have a lot of great dogs right now.”
Interest in the program has been growing.
“I have been getting calls for a few weeks,” Leake said. “People are very interested in this and are hoping to get their family interested as well.”
Leake said the shelter does get stray animals, but the hardest part has been getting animals through house foreclosures, leading to a family that cannot support the dog or cat anymore.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “So many of them are great animals and it just rips your heart out. It’s very hard to see a dog with a good loving home and lose it. It’s very hard on the families and they cry along with us when they have to give up a part of their family to us.”
Pet Project, which is moving from Grand Ridge to Marseilles, is not currently offering fostering services.
“We’ve done it in the past, but it’s difficult because folks who want to foster often have other animals, and they don’t always get along,” said Sue Tonielli, president of the Pet Project board.
The Times was unable to reach Illinois Valley Animal Rescue in Peru by press time to see if they offer similar programs.
In Streator, PAWS to the Rescue, a canine rescue group, offers a foster program year-round. The group was founded in 2008 in response to a growing need for animal control assistance in La Salle County. For more information on PAWS or to donate, go online to www.pawsttr.org.
“I imagine coming in Christmas morning to do chores at the shelter and having the entire ‘Dog Room’ empty, all our ‘kids’ with a human to love, a soft place to sleep and a cuddle just for a bit,” said Leake. “Now that would be my perfect Christmas dream.”
Interested in fostering a dog or cat during the holidays?
Contact Brenda Leake, shelter director at Just Animals in Seneca.
Address: 2996 26th Road (E. Union St.)
Phone: 815-357-1223
e-mail: adopt@justanimals.org
Molly is a wonderful energetic high powered GWP puppy that is 6-7 months old. She is needing a new home that will channel her energy into running, hiking, training, dockdiving, or agility! She is smart, and needs a home that is not gone ling hours as a puppy needs constant care and mental stimulation. She attends puppy Daycare, loves people, doesn’t know a stranger. She is very dog social, NO CATS please….GWP’s and cats do not mix!…unless you have a cat problem and want an expert exterminator.
She is spayed, current on all vaccinations. She is a wonderful, wonderful puppy wanting a forever home of her own that will put her first! Email us if you think Molly would be a great character for your home. We try NOT to do long distance adoptions. You are responsible for meeting and picking up your doggie from us, and we can meet you too! We are rescue and do not ship our family members.
German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue is an organization made up of rescue foster homes. We provide total vet care including rabies, distemper/parvo, bordetella, hw check/preventative and frontline. We pull and help the German Wirehair pointers in need. We are not of unlimited resources.
If you are interesting in adoption Molly please contact GWP Rescue
- German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue Inc.
- Olathe, KS
