'Latest News' Archive for April 2009

Announcing the Winners of the Pet Bed Raffle

Posted Apr 30, 2009 at 11:50 am in Events, Latest News

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Announcing the winners of these beautiful, custom-made pet beds:

First place winner is: Jeri Berg (ticket number 271254). She has chosen the red bed.
Second place winner is: Jackie Cayer (ticket number 271249). She won the pink bed.

The raffle was a fundraiser for the vetting of Zoe. She has been diagnosed with PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease).

The grand prize was a custom-made canopy pet bed. (You can choose the red or the pink bed.)

24″ high, 22″ long, 24″ wide, solid maple.

Second place was the remaining bed.

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Fight Puppy Mills: Top 10 Ways

Posted Apr 27, 2009 at 10:38 am in Latest News, Tips and Advice

Top 10 Ways to Fight Puppy Mills

Reprinted with permission of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) – 4/27/2009

Know what to look out for when picking out your next pup.

1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.

2. Make Adoption Your First Option
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country — and an estimated one in four is a purebred! Your second option is breed rescue. If your heart is set on a specific breed you haven’t been able to find in a shelter, you can do an Internet search for a breed-specific rescue organization.

3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
If you’ve exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs’ interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them!

4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred
One sign that you are speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you see the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding premises and to meet both parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you want to take home. You should also ask for an adoption contract that explains — in terms you understand — the breeder’s responsibilities, health guarantee and return policy.

5. Internet Buyers, Beware!
Buying a puppy from the Internet is as risky as buying from a pet store. If you buy a puppy based on a picture and a phone call, you have no way of seeing the puppy’s breeding premises or meeting his parents. And those who sell animals on the Internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations, and so are not inspected by the USDA.

6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story
If you have — or think you have — purchased a puppy-mill puppy, please tell your story. Every bit of evidence gives us more power to get legislation passed that will ban puppy mills.

7. Speak Out!
Inform your state and federal legislators that you are disturbed by the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills, and would like to see legislation passed that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions.

8. Tell Your Friends
If someone you know is planning on buying a puppy, let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.

9. Think Globally
Have a webpage, a MySpace page or a blog? Use these powerful tools to inform people about puppy mill cruelty.

10. Act Locally!
When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their veterinarian, groomer or pet supply store.

Copyright © 2009. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). All Rights Reserved.

Happy Endings: Sophie (was Alice) and the Grant family

Posted Apr 26, 2009 at 7:07 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

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Alice was fostered by Nikki in Washington, and was adopted by the Grant family in November of 2008. Jennifer Grant happily writes in:

“Just wanted you to know our Sophie (formerly Alice) is doing very well.  She is loving her new home here in Olympia, Washington.  She wasn’t too keen on all the snow we had this winter, and she absolutely hates to go for her walk in the rain, but otherwise loves the environment of the Pacific Northwest.  She and her cat sister Cleo are getting along, and she is enjoying playing with our two granddaughters.  Sophie also loves to run with her ‘Pa.’  They do 3 miles on the high school track 2 to 3 days each week.  Keeps her slim!”

We are thrilled for the Grant family and their Sophie!

Happy Endings: Ashleigh (now Bella)

Posted Apr 26, 2009 at 6:36 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

bellanj3bellanjbellanj2Ashleigh came to Rat Terrier ResQ in December of 2007, just a pup. She was fostered by both Cora and Greg in Arkansas. Ashleigh weathered an unsuccessful adoption, and thankfully, bounced back superbly! Sadly, no matter how hard we work to screen every adopter, there are some bad apples that slip through the cracks. Ashleigh (who was now answering to the name Bella) went to foster care with Jacki in New Jersey. The good news is that Ashleigh didn’t hold any grudges and was still the same loving dog she had always been.

In December of 2008, Bella went to live with Kathy Presti and family in New Jersey. This time, Bella’s lottery ticket was a winner — she hit the jackpot! Kathy has a ton of great news to share about Bella’s new life:

“Bella loves every member of the family, especially 8-year-old Diana. Occasionally Diana’s toys lose eyes, noses, and feet. Bella goes to Diana’s room like a teenager to a shopping mall!”

Kathy reports that the greatest thing about Bella is that she is such a good listener. Bella minds and obeys her humans very well. She says Bella loves chasing rabbits and squirrels, “but (thank God) did not get lucky yet.”

Bella’s favorite things are crawling under the covers at night with her mom and dad, listening to opera (“You can see her eyes closing and ears spread; she looks like she is dreaming of being on stage”) and riding in the car. When she uses her paws to grab things, her family jokes that she is part monkey. The Presti family is thrilled with Bella, saying that she brightens up life. We are so happy for them all!

Happy Endings: Sparky Terribilini in Idaho

Posted Apr 26, 2009 at 5:53 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

sparkyidsparkyid2Sparky was fostered by Clare in Idaho and adopted by Anne Terribilini and family in January of 2008. Anne writes:

“As you can see, he is a very happy boy. Sparky had surgery last summer in hopes of fixing a damaged front leg, but unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. He now walks with a limp, but it hasn’t slowed him down. We love Sparky very much and even though he occasionally eats our shoes, we wouldn’t change him for the world.”

ADOPTED! Bruiser

Posted Apr 25, 2009 at 4:07 pm in Latest News

bruiserarAdopted!

CongRATulations to the Diestel family!

Meet Da Bruiser! Bruiser is only a puppy, about 12 weeks old. He is the survivor of a litter of rattie pups that was dumped in a shelter in NW Arkansas. Bruiser is just like any puppy, affectionate and playful, and all he needs is a family of his very own. He currently weighs 6 pounds at 3 months old. He is already learning the doggie door, and loves to cuddle with his fostermom, who is working very hard on spoiling this cute little guy. He has his full tail, and it never stops wagging. Surely you have room for such a personality-packed little Bruiser?

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Happy Endings: Lily/Sparky/Daisy

Posted Apr 24, 2009 at 8:20 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

lilylily2Eleven days before Christmas 2007, ResQ got an urgent email from Teresa, a cousin of one of the employees of Arrow Coachlines in Little Rock, Arkansas. She told of a sweet girl who was living outside the bus company. While she was being cared for during the day, this darling dog had no protection from the elements at night. The bus company employees had been calling her Maggie and had even taken her to the vet to be spayed; however, she was Heartworm-positive and things were looking grim for Maggie. To make matters worse, a very cold and dangerous storm was churning in to central Arkansas.

Cue Greg the Hero, a ResQ volunteer in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He rushed to save this girl from the storm and got her safe and dry. ResQ volunteer Jacki in New Jersey would foster this girl, temporarily being called Li’l Girl by Greg. Jacki and Greg decided this gal was a Rat Terrier/Schnauzer mix, although one can never know for sure when a dog has been a stray soul.

She made her way to New Jersey and was given an official ResQ name, Amaryllis (Lily for short), started Heartworm treatment, and began her search for a new home. She made fast friends everywhere she went due to her fun, playful, loving nature. Lily was adopted in May of 2008 to a wonderful family in New York, and was renamed Sparky.  Sadly, the family fell on hard economic times about 8 months later, and had no choice but to return her to ResQ. Her bio was posted online, and the Applications Team started screening applicants to be Sparky’s new family.

Maggie/Li’l Girl/Amaryllis/Lily/Sparky made her way to Connecticut, where there was room with Annette, a ResQ volunteer. ResQ ensured Sparky was still medically cleared to go to a new home, and just as February 2009 was coming into view, the Blais family of Connecticut, who had fallen in love with her bio and pictures online, became her new family.

This little traveling girl was renamed Daisy and the Blais family reports that she is doing wonderfully! She accompanies Mike and Kate each day to their Adult Day Center and she is beloved by all the participants. She has a large grassy fenced in area which she gets plenty of play time and exercise. Mike writes:

“Of course, she is the best dog in the world…very, very playful, loyal, goofy and extremely smart. Everybody falls in love with her! At night she loves to curl up on the couch and watch TV with us. My wife and I thank you and Rat Terrier ResQ for the good work you all do.”

All of ResQ could not be happier for the little Travelin’ Gal. She has touched many lives, whether she was in Arkansas, New Jersey, New York or Connecticut, whether she was known as Maggie, Li’l Girl, Amaryllis, Lily, Sparky or Daisy. It’s a joy to see her continually touching so many lives each day.

Happy Endings: Tiki in California

Posted Apr 23, 2009 at 9:45 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

tikiLynn Ainsworth adopted Tiki, fostered by Karen, in March of 2008. Tiki stayed in California and is now called Zoe. Lynn tell us that they absolutely love her!  “Her favorite thing is taking walks in the local parks with her big brother Max, our 3-year-old Rat Terrier, and chasing squirrels in our backyard,” reports Lynn.

Last summer, the two Ratties went to a dog beach but they did not like the water (“I guess it’s kinda scary for a little dog.”)  Zoe and Max were happy just playing on the sand.

Lynn says that Zoe (“a smart little girl”) and Max cuddle up with their humans each night. Zoe has a good life in Southern California!

Happy Endings: Buffy (now Bridget)

Posted Apr 23, 2009 at 9:26 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

buffyBuffy, fostered by Cora in Arkansas, went home to Nancy Gilbert, of Connecticut, in June of 2008. Buffy’s name is now Bridget and her new family reports in that she is doing well. She likes to play with all her toys and sleep in bed with the Gilberts.

She also likes to play with Santana, her new Jack Russell Terrier sister. They are like bookends, always together.  They eat together, sleep together and play together — you name it, they don’t do anything without the other. The Gilberts also rescued a Toy Fox Terrier from a breeder, so now Bridget has a new playmate, but Santana is still her favorite.

Nancy says, “We also got a doggie door for her. That way, she can go out whenever she feels like it. She is so spoiled that if she doesn’t get her way she whines like a baby until she gets her way, which she sometimes gets. Not always.” Sounds like Bridget is living it up!

Happy Endings: Bella and the Ashley family

Posted Apr 23, 2009 at 8:41 pm in Happy Endings, Latest News

bella2bellabella3Bella was fostered by June in California, and adopted by Sandee Ashley in January of 2009.  Sandee writes, “She fits into our family like a glove. Bella loves all our grandkids. We have 5 grandkids all under the age of 6 yrs old.”

Bella loves to sit right in the cat tree, next to Sandee when she is using the computer.  And Bella is generous with her love! She sits with the Ashleys’ 3-year-old grandson Gavin as they watch cartoons together.

Bella really enjoys her walks with Sandee in the evenings.  Her favorite trail is the New York Creek trail in El Dorado Hills.  She loves all the squirrels. Bella runs along the creek trail and loves to jump in the water. Sandee also adds that she enjoyed meeting Vickey, who came to do the home visit during the application process.