Tag: Shelter Dogs

The power of prejudice and love

 I have a lot to share with you today….and we’re about to get more snow, so … it’s the perfect time to sit at the computer and ignore it. I contemplated the post title and realized all the bouncing around would fall under two catagories….prejudice and *love*  and what we can accomplish when we take love in and let it out, drop all prejudice to see things for what they really are.  Don’t ever be afraid to love, to care, to cherish, to reach out… be afraid if you don’t.

My friend in Rescue just took a leap of faith.  “P” saw a soul on death row she just couldn’t resist and was drawn to go meet him. 
 Oh, do I know the thought that just crossed your mind.   A PIT BULL!  Do you see the above picture as a menacing face?  You wouldn’t be alone.   He was found wandering the streets,with a bad case of mange and not neutered… even worse!

For the truth about Pit Bulls… if you’re really interested and want more reading, click HERE     I bet you wouldn’t guess that they were a very popular family dog in the beginning of the 20th century,

Petey of the little Rascals was a Pit Bull…

….. they are originally from England and Ireland and their typical characteristics include loyalty, obedience,  friendly, clownish, stubborn, courageous, aggressive, intelligent, affectionate.  Are you focusing on the words aggressive and stubborn?  The same is said of many  other dog breeds.  My dachsund is aggressive and stubborn.   It’s not the pit bulls fault that because of their athletic ability they were chosen by some  to suffer major abuse and were tormented to participate in fighting. 

It’s a crime that pit bulls have the horrible stigma attached to their being.  Every living thing is capable of doing harm.  It’s all in the circumstances.  Dogs –  more often than not… show us just how forgiving they are, how willing to love and be loved they are, regardless the abuse they may have suffered. In my experience it has become clear that  no breed suffers more at the hands of man or is more misunderstood  than the pit bull. There will always be those who have behavioral issues, just as there are in any other breed you might think are more worthy of trust.  PEOPLE have behavioral issues, so please lets get past all that.

I have no doubt, judging by his physical condition and where he was found, that Jack had a sh*tty life before being brought to the shelter.  “P”  caught some flack from well intentioned friends who also believe the stigma and thought she was making a mistake.   “P” wrote a beautiful post this morning about her adopted and already beloved Jack, who is settling in quite nicely with his new family -consisting of a teenager, two other dogs and a few rescue kittens.  All are getting along well and Jack shows manners already around the house.  She says of the prejudice she has witnessed from friends… this quote by Martin Luther King Jr.  comes to mind… “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”    Oh, how this can be applied to so many things in life, no?  


Jack seeing himself in a mirror after a good bath  in his new home….

Feeling good for the first time in a long time.. seen here with his new Mom, “P”.


 Can you see the diamond in the “ruff”?  

It’s a beautiful thing.

I’ve got an update on the South Carolina dogs and the impoverished couple who have been mercifully feeding 20 or so stray dogs that have wandered onto their property for the past five years.  Dog days now has a rescue contact who  is keeping them posted with pictures and updates, and bringing the supplies and help needed to the dogs.  Several of you have donated to the cause already, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to every one of you for stepping up and believing in our mission. We are hoping to bring them up here and hold a mini Dog Days adoption event just for them… if they can’t find homes down there, and that will require transport as well as full vetting for each dog. For now your donations are helping Dog Days feed them as well as worming and shots  for the ones who have not gotten that care yet.    These people live in a tiny shack they built themselves and are facing big health issues, yet their every spare dime as gone to these dogs that others discarded.  To read more of the story, click HERE…
 * some of you donated on the original Dog Days GoFundMe page.. this new one was set up to avoid any confusion, but it all still goes to the Dog Days Team, all applied to save the dogs, feed them through this cold snap, and hopefully get them homes, either here or there. Dog Days takes no money, we are all volunteers. The money raised goes directly to the care of the dogs.
What do I feel today?  The power of  LOVE.  and… Hooray for the Underdog.
What a sap, huh?
  

The Village assembles again…

But first…

My barometer head has been telling me
with this lovely headache for two days now
that we will be getting a good storm. 
We took the dogs for a walk around the property last night
while temps were still comfortable.
I love these dogs, I do. 
Breaks my heart in a million pieces to know that there are so many who suffer
cruelty, neglect, starvation, ignorance. 
 
Frasier on the left here knew that life for a while.
We will never know his full story… but he was filthy and covered in matted hair
when he was found in a kill shelter. 
The SHELTER didn’t even clean him up. 
Life is good for Frasier now, thanks to many people who step up for these dogs.
But so many others fall through the cracks.  
Last week Dog Days was called with an SOS… an elderly woman down south is about to 
undergo heart surgery.  Although she is poor, she has been feeding 20 strays
on her property in rural SC for about five years now.  She can no longer
take on the task and there is no local animal control or shelter willing to help her
place the dogs.   So, Dog Days is stepping in.  We need to raise money to do this..
as vetting and transport and fostering of 20 dogs is going to be a monumental task.
A go-fund-me account has been set up and in just one day we have raised a few hundred
dollars to aid this woman and the stray dogs. 
Many of my blog friends are just trying to make ends meet and this call for donations
is not for you.  Every one of you has a heart of gold. 
I put this out there anyway, because you never know who is reading, who believes in the cause,
 is able to make a donation comfortably.  No post is wasted in my opinion. 
Even $5. gets us closer to taking in those dogs and doing what her community cannot
do for her.  HELP.  CARE.  SUPPORT.
 CLick Here  if you are interested in making a donation, no matter how small.
Put “SC dogs”  in your comment with your donation –
 ALL proceeds go to the dogs. Every Single Penny.
Now back to that storm…
You know what they say about red sky at night.. sailors delight..
red sky in the morning.. sailors warning.
True, that. 

The Red Dog Project

  By now if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know about the shelter dog rescue group I belong to, Dog Days Adoption Events.  I am so excited about a new project Dog Days has initiated, called The Red Dog Project.   What is it, exactly?   



The Red Dog Project rescues high risk (kill shelter) dogs and puppies and
places them with inmates to socialize them so they may be re-homed.   Currently the dogs
for this project are with women inmates and have to be able to stay in a
room behind a baby gate. In the next phase, we hope to also put together teams of  male inmates and  pit bulls who are capable of solid rehabilitation. 


   Below are some of the puppies who have completed their initial training and wellness program and are available for adoption.   As is always the case… in order to be able to do this, we need to raise funds.  We can’t save our next batch of shelter dogs until we’ve raised the funds to do so.  If you have an interest in adopting one of the Red Dog Project puppies, visit www.godogdays.org or send an e-mail inquiry to the e-mail listed on each of the pups ads below.  Donations are easy to do, just click on the DONATE link on the face of the website. Every single dollar helps us bring these dogs HOME.  

    
 
  

The Story of Lobo


  The story begins – a young male pitbull lives in an abusive home where drugs and alcohol play a role in the violence he witnesses on a regular basis. During an altercation between the male and female humans in the home, the dog bites the male as he is attacking the female. THE DOG.. is the one who is incarcerated. 
 Lobo at the Pound.
 
 
 Then.. this from Dog Days…  
  “A
call less than a week ago to ask if we could help a pit bull:   he bit
his caretaker but there were a few who believed he deserved a second
chance. Who is going to step in during the holidays to help a dog with a
bite record, sitting on a cold kennel floor next to a landfill?  *J   did, she went to visit him to see if he would be a good fit for her household,  *O  and  *N  visited him with food and treats, *T  went out to buy him a crate and  *P brought him treats and bones to keep him occupied in the pound while we were working on a solution.  Alex offered to adopt Lobo — not foster, adopt.   *K went out and bought Lobo a crate bed, training treats and toys and the Veterinary Hospital got him in for a neuter appointment with less than 12 hours notice.  *L   offered to donate money from her calendar sales to help pay for his vet bills and *J 
offered to send supplies from NJ. –Dog Days Village — you are an inspiration. 
Tomorrow the freedom ride pic and tonight Lobo sleeps peacefully at the
vet’s office, warm, well fed and dreaming of life with Alex!     Thank you
— Bless you! “
 
 
  A few of my blog buddies also stepped up to help in Lobo’s rehabilitation costs… and I want to thank you. You are part of my village, and you have stepped up for these dogs more than once.   I hate asking for money, even when it’s owed to me, but for causes like this, I will never have a problem sending the word out into the universe.  You never know where it lands, who it might stir, what might get accomplished with every small little contribution. 
  As of yesterday, thanks to the Dog Days Village –  Lobo was removed  after months of living on  the concrete slab, no bed- no toy- no other dog – type facility and is being neutered today as well as innoculations.. and he will go home with his ADOPTER!.. a woman carefully chosen who has experience with pitbulls and can give him the quiet, nurturing environment he needs to learn that not all humans are violent and abusive.   I’ll keep you posted. 
 And you know?…. It’s a beautiful thing. 
www.godogdays.org
 
 
 
 

Why I do what I do

  I can’t count how many times I’ve had the following or some version of it said to me – All of these statements were whispered in my ear by visitors yesterday.
 I don’t know how you can stand doing what you do with the shelter dogs. I walk into those events and I see all the sad faces, all the rejected homeless dogs.  I couldn’t do it, too sad. 
Or…
 Oh, these poor dogs, it’s crazy here, I don’t know how they can stand the atmosphere.
Or… 
  Why are there southern dogs here when we have dogs in shelters in Connecticut?
Here are my answers.  
  I can stand to do what I do because if we DIDN’T do it, these dogs would already be in a heap of dead carcases in a landfill or cinders in an incinerator.  It’s that simple.  Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to help others in need.  If no one ever had the courage to move beyond what they were comfortable with, to stand up and sometimes fight for what they believe in,  it would be an uglier and lonelier world for sure. And please understand, I am no hero.  I am just one small part of about 100 people who make this event come together, but how very gratifying it is to be a part of it..how very lucky I feel to have the opportunity.
 When I walk into an adoption event, I do see the longing, scared faces… but I also see saved souls. (yes, dogs have souls… if you don’t believe that, you’ve never known the love of a dog)
 Is the atmosphere chaotic?  Absolutely.   100 or so barking nervous dogs all in one location is not an easy existence.  However, the love that pours out over these dogs as the many volunteers prepare them to meet potential adopters is so clearly evident… and ultimately they find their forever homes, away from the cold hard reality of the kill shelters. 
Why do we bring in southern dogs?  What you are about to read in no way is meant to belittle my southern friends who are animal lovers and take great care of the animals in their charge.  The reality is  that  down south the amount of abandoned dogs is outrageous. So many are gassed or killed with a heart stick on a daily basis, the numbers would horrify you.   The spay and neuter rate is low and dogs breed prolifically, unchecked,  because of it. Apparently there aren’t enough people in the southern states  with the resources or the desire to make the effort needed to significantly reduce this problem.  The rescues we’ve come to know don’t have a heck of a lot of support, and so we are helping them find homes for their rescued dogs.  None of them are wealthy and most practically give the shirts off their backs to help these dogs. They are heros, every one of them. Our events are first open to Connecticut dogs, and once all Ct dog pounds that are interested have registered with us, we fill the remainder of the kennels with our southern rescue dogs.   A life saved is a life saved,  I don’t care where they hail from.
 If you think there is nothing you can do, it’s just not true.  Old blankets or towels you might otherwise throw out can be donated to your local shelter – just give them a good washing before turning them in.  Food can be donated, even a five dollar gift certificate to a Petco or Petsmart or local feed store is a help.  Volunteer to walk a dog or spend time with the cats at your local shelter.  That costs nothing.   If your economic situation allows, donate any amount to the known and reputable rescues or shelters.   Whatever you do, don’t turn away just because it’s a sad reality.  We can turn it around, we are already doing it one step at a time. 
 
Monty, seen below,  and 96 other dogs got a home this weekend. 
NINETY SEVEN DOGS HOMED. 

  
THAT, my friends.. is why we do what we do. 
www.godogdays.org
 

I can’t stand it

The hardest part of volunteering at the Dog Days events
is not being able to take one home. 
With four on the floor here at This Old House…
I cannot stretch the limits one dog further or I might find 
myself going it alone… lol..
If I had my druthers… Bo would be coming home with me tonight…
2 year old Dane/husky mix, lovable boy, about 80  lbs. 
Oh, he has the bluest eye…

Poor Jake was a bit overwhelmed at the Event.. there is an awful lot of
commotion and 100 or so dogs, some barking at any given moment…
We kept him outside the kennel area for much of the time showing him some love..
and a young man who works in a vineyard as come to his rescue…
Jake and his new Dad. 
 

THIS dog got a home 🙂
Off to Dog Days… 55 dogs homed yesterday… 50 still waiting …
Burnetts Country Gardens, Route 85, Salem… if you’re local and looking…
Come on Down!

ooh, those faces!!!!

 the “bus” arrives from Georgia… 
Volunteers line up for the handoff…

 
 
The dogs are walked to stretch their legs and have a potty break…
 
 
Then the vet gives each a check-up and medical papers check…
 
Love this dog… Jake… if I didn’t have four….
 
 
 
.and then the dogs are fed and walked again and  settled into kennels 
..and given some love. 
It’s a beautiful thing.
I’m teary, can ya tell?  

A divine Winter Vegetable recipe and a Dog Days update

  An old friend gave me this recipe a while back, and I finally got around to trying it out last night.  Oh my Lord, it is good.  And Light!  A perfect addition to any fall meal, but in my opinion, especially Thanksgiving.

Ingredients: 

Peel and dice the following –

1 1/2 cups diced carrots
1 1/2 cups diced parsnip
1 1/2 cups diced turnip
2 cups diced butternut squash
*Recipe calls for 2 cups diced celery root, ( this is not celery)
 I didn’t have any so I added more turnip. 
1 diced sweet potato
1 stick salted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup brown sugar, or more or less to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Dice all vegetables and put in big stock pot.  Boil in water till tender – turnips take a while. When all are tender, drain water and but veggies in either a food blender to puree or back in the stock pot to mix with an electric beater – adding in the butter and heavy cream and brown sugar and salt and pepper. I used the beater, so it’s not totally smooth, which I actually liked.

I’ve been told to double the batch because it is so popular and keeps well as a leftover.   I loved it and I recommend you give it a try.

 Off to Dog Days this morning to welcome the Southern hounds who will be joining us.  Say a little prayer to the powers that be that we find these dogs a good home.  They are at least now rescued from Death row. – Amen.

A pic of most of our site crew team, who spent Wednesday night setting up kennels for
120 dogs.  Thank God for the selfless volunteers, or this wouldn’t be possible.
 
We’ll see these hopeful faces in Salem this weekend..
 

..and hopefully we’ll see the happy faces of their new families too. 
Hooray for the Underdog! 

100 Dogs – 100 new chances at life

Saturday and Sunday were hot and humid,
but that didn’t stop some 80 volunteers from putting on an
Adoption Event that resulted in 100 shelter dogs and puppies
finding their forever homes. 
Each day, the event is open from 11am-4pm.
Ten hours total,  out of 135 dogs, 100 homes secured.
Simply amazing.
The remaining unadopted dogs went into foster and are free from kill shelters forever.  
You would not believe the mayhem that fills those hours.
The meeting, the greeting, the reference checks, the vet reference checks,
the interviews, the adoption paperwork.
100 Dogs.
100 Adopters.
10 hours.
Founder Lorin on the right rallying the troops
next to the owner of Bishops Orchard in Guilford, who was kind enough to let Dog Days use their
awesome farm facility.
As you can see… it takes a village.
In all the land you will not find a more dedicated group of volunteers
than the folks who come out for Dog Days.
My son on the left with some of his friends.
Don’t underestimate the teens of today…..these guys worked for 30 hours in total
setting up and taking down kennels, tents, banners, trash removal, car parking, hay bale moving, 
etc. etc. etc… it was dirty work, and they stepped up to do it.  
Such a great thing to see, so many young people getting involved
for nothing more than the love of the dog and helping less fortunate creatures.
And pizza . There is always pizza.
The Rangers and Scouts are an amazing crew…Adults and teens caring for the dogs
and helping families connect with them and choose the right fit.
This awesome group dedicated their weekend to the health and well being of
the shelter dogs and their new families.
Once the event is set up and all dogs have arrived with their rescues,
checked by the vet, bathed and given a day to settle in,
 The flood gates open at 11am on Saturday
and the forming of new families begins.
The interview to make sure the home an adopter wants to provide
is a good match for the dog.
Lorin Greene, look what you’ve done.
You Go Girl.
Dog Days is already fundraising for the next event,
to be held in Norwich in September.
If you’d like to volunteer some of your time or can make a monetary donation
of any amount, –  even $5.00 goes a LONG WAY! …
Click HERE for more information.
Hooray for the Underdog.

Good Dog

Hey local peeps!  Some of you know how much I love Martha’s Vineyard and one of my favorite stores/restaurant/bakery is The Black Dog, which originated on the Vineyard. I still have a BD t-shirt from a 1999 visit.    They have now branched out, and there are Black Dog stores in many places, not just the Vineyard.   The history of the Black Dog is legendary on island, and is the true essence of the place. For info on the founding of the Black Dog Tavern, click HERE.    Kinda hard for me to love the satellite stores that have popped up in other areas.  A visit to the original store and restaurant with a little history of the place and you’d understand what I mean.  It’s the vibe you don’t get anywhere else… the experience…and ofcourse.. the story of the original black dog.   exerpts from a story book…

“When a nor’easter blasts an island harbor, an orphaned black puppy finds shelter with the reluctant Captain Douglas, who vows, “This berth is only for tonight.” But when a neighbor promises to find a permanent owner, the captain agrees to foster the dog. As Captain Douglas prepares his topsail schooner for a six-month voyage, the unnamed dog wreaks havoc at home–shredding sails, knocking down a scrimshaw, chewing up charts and “piddling” on the oriental rug. At last the frustrated captain brings the dog to the harbor, where she proves herself an able sea-goer: “She knew where to go when the boat was coming about. She knew which side was to leeward.” The bond is set.” 

 This particular black dog became the mascot for the tavern, opened in 1971.
Original photo below.
Her  image is now depicted as a black lab most often, but she was a mutt,
and a stray mutt to boot. I’m thinking lab mixed with something else,
as is evident in the logo you see in so many places, made in her image. 

Anyway.. the Black Dog here in Mystic, CT put out this flyer, and I think it’s awesome. If you’re local and looking for a dog, give the Waterbury pound pups a chance.. Happens TODAY!!  see info below.

Looking for a new best four-legged friend? You may just find one at the Mystic Black Dog General Store. Tomorrow, June 8 from 11 to 4 pm adoptable dogs from the Waterford-East Lyme ACO are visiting the store. 10% of our Mystic Store sales that day will be donated to the ACO. So come on down and enjoy the fun.