Good Reading

Mommy found this on a website: Hearts United for Animals and it spoke to her rescuers heart! Read and enjoy she says cause it speaks volumes of truth. She said me, Mason,Chyanne and Skylar are/were living testaments to it!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sadie Kate


Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider a Rescue Dog

(Our thanks to Mary of Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. for use of this wonderful gem!)

"Why on earth would anyone want to adopt a rescue dog? After all, aren't they like used cars? Who wants someone else's problems? If the dog is so wonderful, why would anyone give him away? If he was a stray, why didn't someone try to find him? I'd rather buy a puppy so I know what I'm getting, and besides they're so cute!"

Rescue groups often hear a variation of this conversation. Manyprospective dog owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e,6 mo.+) "pre-owned" dog is better than buying a puppy. But there are a number of reasons why adopting a pet from a rescue that carefully screens and evaluates its dog can provide an even better alternative.

Here are the "Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider a Rescue."

10) In a Word--Housebroken. With most family members gone during the work week for 8 hours or more, housetraining a puppy and its small bladder can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent schedule with frequent opportunities to eliminate where you want them to. They can't
wait for the boss to finish his meeting or the kids to come home from after school activities. An older dog can "hold it" much more reliably for longer time periods, and usually the Rescue has him housebroken before he is adopted.

9) Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least 10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before he cuts every tooth. And don't even think about shoes! Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine
stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from couches, and at least one dead remote control. No matter how well you watch them, it will happen--this is a puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.

8) A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and 4am and 6am. He misses his littermates, and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile with him. If you have children, you've been there and done that. How about a
little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue dog??

7) Finish the Newspaper. With a puppy running amok in your house, do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your dog will be sitting calmly next to you, while your workday stress flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.


6) Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something dangerous. Those puppy visits can add up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your donation to the rescue when adopting an older pup should get you a dog with all shots current, already altered, heartworm negative and on preventative at the minimum.

5) What You See Is What You Get. How big will that puppy be? What kind of temperament will he have? Will he be easily trained? Will his personality be what you were hoping for? How active will he be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions are easily
answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster homes can guide you to pick the right match. (Rescues are full of puppies who became the wrong match as they got older!)

4) Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself. Rescues routinely get calls from panicked parents who are sure their dog is biting the children. Since biting implies hostile intent and would be
a consideration whether to accept a "give-up", Rescue Groups ask questions and usually find out the dog is being nippy. Parents are often too emotional to see the difference; but a growing puppy is going to put everything from food to clothes to hands in their mouths, and as they
get older and bigger it definitely hurts (and will get worse, if they aren't being corrected properly.) Most older dogs have "been there, done that, moved on."

3) Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. While that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be superactive
(when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons Rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until death do them part.

2) Instant Companion. With an older dog, you automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to do what you enjoy.) You will have been able to select the most compatible dog: one that travels well; one that loves to play with your friends' dogs; one with excellent house manners that you can take to your parents' new home with the new carpet and the new couch. You can come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning up after a small puppy.)

1) Bond--Rescue Dog Bond. Dogs who have been uprooted from their happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new people. Those who have lost their families through death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a t errible mourning process. But, once attached to a new loving family, they seem to want to please as much as possible to make sure they are never homeless again. Those dogs that are just learning about the good life and good people seem to bond even deeper. They know what life on
the streets, life on the end of a chain, or worse is all about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.

Unfortunately, many folks think dogs that end up in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for Rescue to get $500 dogs that have either outlived their usefulness or their novelty with impulsive owners who considered their dog a possession rather than a friend or member of the family; or simply did not really consider the time, effort and expense needed to be a dog owner. Not all breeders will accept "returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal welfare organizations, such as Rescues, or the owners trying to place their own dogs. Good Rescues will evaluate the dog before accepting him/her (medically, behaviorally, and for breed confirmation), rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/she is ready and to a home that matches and is realistic about the commitment necessary to provide the dog with the best home possible.

Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased pup will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and breeders can do that), but it does give many of them a chance they otherwise would not have. But, beyond doing a "good deed", adopting a rescue dog can be the best decision and addition to the family you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!

Howl-a-ween tips for all da doggies on dogster

My mommy gets dis e-letter from ASPCA and dey had some good tips for all us howl-a-ween doggies and deir parents and she fought maybes dere are other doggies dat might not know or realize dese facts ... so here dey are!!

NO SCAREDY CATS THIS HALLOWEEN: TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR PET PARENTS
Attention, companion animal caretakers! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to these common-sense cautions that’ll help keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.

3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

Yappy Howl-a-ween to all youse dogster doggies out dere!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Some chick thinks she needs to rule the roost ....

Ok, we gots this "new" sister a few weeks ago .... and she older dan all of us. Well, she thinks dat she can just waltz right in and try to take over this house like she owns it! Well, I keep telling her dat it ain't a happening! Mommy says dat I have my own quiet way of taking over and ruling da roost but I have even had to sink down to barking at her! And dang nabbit, she just won't listen! She doesn't realize that mommy is all mine so I haf to remind her of dat. But I haf been in trouble for picking on her at dat time. Mommy says she still loves me lots but I haf to share her now just likes Mason had to learn to share her when I came into da house. Geez, first I haf to share my toys wif da girl and now she expects me to share her attention too!?!?! I don't think so!!! :::: Sigh :::: I will figure out a way ... I will haf my cake and eat it too!! I haf even been paying more attention to daddy than I haf in the past to try and make her more jealous. It works sometimes. She gets a little jealous sometimes. But then again she realizes dat daddy is going away for a few months clear across da country (though I don't understand what dat means!!) for a school so she will haf all her doggies to herself during dis time (which means a very full queen size bed!! She tried it dis morning .... she says dat queen size bed doesn't hold us all very well!!) so she has to be happy wif da time he spends wif us instead of jealous!! But I am still gonna put dat new sister, Skylar, in her place. She talks more dan my sister, Maggie, too!! And I thought she never shut up sometimes! Eye yi yi!! Dat Skylar talks for me and her!! Mom thought it was so nice having such a quiet house wif so many doggies. Ha!! No more quiet now wif Skylar around! And she is da oldest dane around here!! She is a whole 5 years old!!! I yam 4, Mason is about 4.5 and Maggie is 3 now. But she has more energy dan all of us. Mommy says she puts da energizer bunny to shame! She is kinda funny dough ... she will throw a toy up in da air and catch it like me! She does it more often dan I do dough. If she would only realize dat she is da bottom of da pecking order dan peace would prevail around here again!

Well, da couch is calling to me and I must answer it's call cause it is what us danes (but Skylar!!) do best!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sadie Kate

This may of been the outcome of one of my pups!

My name is Sadie Kate and I am a rescue. But in a prior home, I was allowed to have some puppies. I was probably just a puppy myself when it happened. Us great danes take a whole three years to totally mature and reach our full growing potential. Although my current mommy thinks I am totally beautiful, she realizes that there may be things about me she doesn't know about me that could show up in any other puppies I would have had in the future. So even though I am soooo beautiful and have the sweetest disposition, I was spayed. She says genetics is a tricky thing and unless you study genetics and know what you are really doing, it is best to leave the breeding to the experts. It is much more than putting two beautiful dogs together hoping to have more beautiful puppies. It means getting xrays to make sure no bad hips are passed on, it is knowing each dog's ancestory to know of any potential faults in the family lines. It is alot more work than people think. You don't really make any money as a responsible breeder cause you spend so much money making sure the pups you have are good for breeding! And then if they are not good enough to make a better bred puppy, a responsible breeder would find homes for the pups with a contract that the pups are spayed or neutered at their new home. There are so many homeless doggies out there (I know, I was one myself and lived amongst many others before I was saved by my mommy!) that need good homes. Don't let this sad story be the future of one of your pups! There are designer dogs by the ton in your local pound, SPCA or Humane Society. Give a homeless dog a break and provide a home to them instead of creating a puppy that is the next rescue!

Please rescue and don't breed!!!

My mommy got this from a dogster friends (Thanks Abby!) and felt it was a good thing to pass around.


I AM FAMOUS NOW

I was born today. One of ten. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half
brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she
only has puppies. No more loving hands. No more fun trips...just puppies.
She is always sad when they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and my 3
littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would
be famous. I wonder-is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked
me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says, "BE BRAVE".
My ancestors were. Did they go to "good homes", like mine? I'm hungry
because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't
bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and
pretend I am in a big green fields with butterflies and robins and frogs. I
can't understand why they kick me.

I am quiet but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me
good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the
ground, then goes away before I can come too close for touching and petting.
Sometimes my food smells bad but I eat it anyway..

Today I had ten puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry at my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty.

Now I have eight puppies. They got cold in the night and I could not make
them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them
all out on the porch, we could get some food?

Today they took us away. Someone grabbed my puppies. They cried and
whimpered. We were put into a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous
now? I hope so because I miss them. They are gone, and this new place smells
of urine, fear and sickness. Why am I here? I was beautiful and proud like
my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came although I tried to be good.

Today someone came. They put a rope on me and led me to a room that was veryclean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table and someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!! Then I felt tired and laid down in the arms of someone who cared.

I AM FAMOUS NOW. TODAY SOMEONE CARED.

-Author unknown


Thank you for reading my story!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sadie Kate

My Tail of Devotion for Sadie Katherine

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

My mom gets excited about such simple things!

My mom just has to be the mostest goofiest person. I don't get what the excitement is all about! All it was was that I had to go outside! And alls I did was whine and woof! I think dat she thought it was my sister, Maggie, who was whining. Cause when she gots up and saw me standing dere and Maggie laying on da ground sleeping, she gots all excited! Ok, so I talks like da rest of dem!! What is da big deal!?!? I wonder if all mommies get excited over silly stuff like dis?!? Boy, I would really hate to see her if I did something really cool ...!! I guess I have really gone through some changes since coming to live here wif every woofer. But I loves the attention I gets ... even from dad. I can get nervous wif him sometimes. I wish I could tell them in words what I went through in my past homes. Maybe that would tell them why i act the way I do sometimes wif him. But he tries his best to make me comfortable. And he gives me lots of love. A guy like that can't be all bad can he?? Maybe one day I can trust him wif all my heart. Until den, I will love him wif what I can give! Cause I really do find him interesting and really do want to play wif him. Us woofers haf alot of fun wif him when we do play. I mainly sit and watch then attack Maggie while she is wrestling wif Dad. Dat is alot of fun! But anyways, I just had to tell every woofer how goofy my mom is! She gets so excited over the silliest things!! BOL

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sady Kate

My new "pet name"

Ok ... I am not sure if I should be offended or happy that Dad gave me a new nickname. To start with, Maggie is baby girl (cause she is the baby of the pack); Mason is big man (for obvious reasons! He is the tallest of the pack!); Reba is little girl (she got that nickname when she was a pup mom says. Just cause she was so little) then Shelby is little man (again, he was a little bit of fluff when he was a pup too). So dad and mom have been trying to think of a nickname for me. Finally dad came up with one they both like .... Bitty girl!! I cannot believe they are picking on me cause I am the smallest dane in the pack!! Can you believe that they would make me feel so self concious about that?!?! But at the same time, it is meant in love ... I don't know ... it is all confusing!!

Oh ... I was reading past diaries and thought I would post some more changes. For one, I bark a lot now!! I am feeling quite confident that I am not going anywhere so now I have a home to protect and a family to keep safe. And I do a good job of it!

I also now feel quite comfortable with the furniture. I crawl up on the loveseat with mom all the time to relax and get attention. And when Dad goes to bed before mom does, if Maggie doesn't get the couch first, I will usually crawl up there and sleep. I didn't realize that furniture could be so comfortable. Of course I still like the back rear corner of the livingroom which is behind the loveseat and recliner in that corner. I am still with the family but feel like I am alone too.

Mom is trying hard to teach me commands. I will do them when prompted with food and a little work but mom says I am still too stubborn to do it on my own. Not so sure what she means by stubborn. Is that a good thing?!?!

Mom says I am still very sweet and do not hardly get into trouble. But she says she imagines that will change the more comfortable I get. Sometimes some of us rescues take longer to open up to our true personality. Mom says if we are lucky, maybe I am this good. She has her hands full with Mason and Maggie!! Especially Maggie! I love my brother and sister. They are so fun to live and play with!

Well, I think that about covers it! Had to tell everyone mainly I have a new nickname!! Oh boy!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sadie Kate aka Bitty girl

I am still full of surprises!

I surprised my mommy and daddy today! While dad tried to play wif me and wrestle wif me outside today, I actually barked at him! Mommy said to dad, "Did she just bark at you!?!?!" ... like it was a big deal! Ok, so I don't bark too much. I mean most people complain dat their kid talks too much ... my mommy and daddy complain cause I don't talk at all! So I just had to show dem dat yes, I do haf a voice! I am just very choosy about when I use it! But my mommy and daddy get excited about alot of things I do. It is like dey never see my brother and sister do it! I just don't get it! But I guess maybe I shouldn't give up all my surprises all at once! Keep em guessing! Plus it is fun watching their faces! Hehehehehe

Woofers! Snuffle! Woofers!

Sadie Kate

(as my mommy likes to call me! Daddy is trying to come up wif a new "pet"
name for me ... maggie is baby girl, reba is little girl, mason is big man and shelby is little buddy .. so now he is trying to come up with one for me!)

Wow Time flies!

I have finally settled down some and decided to spend some time on the computer (since mom is home from work finally!). I have not been on the computer in a long time! And so much has happened. On my mom's day off a week or two ago, she took me in to see how much I weighed ... I now weigh a respectable 130 lbs!! I have gained a whole 27 lbs since I have been at my new home. I get lots of good food. Mom put us on a new diet. She has discovered that I may be allergic to beef products. So she restricts my intake to lamb, chicken, turkey, or duck. She is afraid to try me on venison! When I eat beef, I get horrendous gas (so she says) and diarrhea. So no more beef for me! Mom has found out that I will sometimes bring an item I have in my mouth and I am not suppose to have it, if asked, I will bring it to you. So I do have a new trick ... sometimes! Sometimes I like to run away with it or I just drop it right where I was called. And since the last time I have been on the computer, I am learning that dad is not such a bad guy. Mom seems to think that I was greatly abused by men cause I was afraid of dad when he first came home. But now I play with him and seek him out for attention. We have fun. I am still a little leary of him but I am learning that quick movements from him is fun not a bad thing. Usually he is pushing me away to make me come back to him. Or trying to wrestle with me. I am slowly starting to blossom mom says. I have been here for almost 5 months now. She says it usually has taken her fosters about 6-8 months to show their true personality. I have come to love my brother and sister very much. I play alot with my sister and sleep alot with my brother (or what I mean is he sleeps "on" me!!). Mom is trying to teach me to sit on furniture like a real dane does! I actually surprised my mom and crawled onto her love seat with her this past week! Her jaw about dropped. Now dad is trying to make me comfortable on the couch. I never stay on the furniture long though. It makes me nervous. Mom seems to think that maybe I was beaten when I got on the furniture at my other home. And dad found out a secret too about me too. He came into the livingroom the other day with a long black belt to put it on ... wow did it scare me! I would not go ANYWHERE near him. So they think maybe that was one item I was chased around with. Mom had to hold me so that I would check out the belt and then she rubbed it on me and showed me that it would not hurt me. I am not quite as scared of it but I still don't like getting too close to it. Mom says maybe after time I will get over my fright. All these thoughts will be occassional nightmares. We love our new livingroom. We have SOOOOOO much room to play in. And mom and dad still have their livingroom. So everyone is happy. Well, I have had enough time to rest up from playing. Need to get up and get my sister up to play!

Talks to everyone later!

Woof! Snuffle! Woof!

Sadie

How to wrestle

Wow oh wow!! We are moving to a new house ... which at first was a very scary thing cause I had absolutely no idea what was going on. The last time my people were moving, I went to that kennel place which the people were very nice but it wasn't home. It was kind of noisy and I couldn't run around like crazy. So I thought "Oh no!! Not again!!". But I am still with them. It is only to the house next door so right now we run from one house to the other cause the chain link fence was torn down (the land lord is making mom and dad put in a privacy fence) so we have two yards to run around in!! Wahoo!! But the best thing about the new house is the livingroom. It is a very BIG room! Mom says they figured out by the measurements that it is 667 sq feet large! They lived in an apartment in KY only 900 sq ft!! So we have a huge livingroom to play in. And I am learning to wrestle with my foster sister and brother. Sometimes me and my sister end up fighting cause I can get a little rough but most times, we have a ball wrestling and chasing one another. I play with her more now than Mason does!! And sometimes it is all of us wrestling. Mom says that can we can get VERY loud sometimes when that happens but it is fun for her to see all of us playing together. It is so much fun now that I can play too!!! I am making up for lost time. I even play good by myself. Mom and Grandma were watching TV the other night and I grabbed a toy and threw it up so high. They were impressed by my toss! It was so high and straight up!! I didn't notice .. I just picked it up and tossed it around some more. I LOVE toys! And I have soooo many to pick from to play with. Sometimes I cannot make up my mind so I pull most of the stuffies out to play with them all. Mom sometimes fusses cause it takes her a good 3 or 4 minutes to pick them all up!! She likes to buy stuffies for us though. Dad gets upset she says but he gets over it. She does alot of repairing of them too so it isn't like they get a hole in them and then they get tossed out. But I am loving life now since I can play and act like a normal dog. It was so hard staying still for 6 weeks when all I wanted to do is play! Hey!! Gotta go play!! Maggie is up from her nap!! That means I can get her to play with me!!

Talks to you dogsters later!

Woofers!!

Sadie K!