Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all enjoy your day with family and friends.


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HOLIDAY TO-DO LIST

✔ Play reindeer games (let everyone join in).
✔ Wear your heart on your sleeve--or your scarf, or your hat.
✔ Start spreading the news.
✔ Walk in a winter wonderland.
✔ Don't forget to recycle.


• Form group to sing carols.
People will yell “Shut Up” and throw things.
Some things might be food.

• Roll giant snowball down hill.
If timed to intersect passing cat,
Could fill you with good cheer for entire month.

• Stupid laws don’t allow dogs to drive cars.
But is no law against sleds & sleighs.

• Say Prayers.
Don’t forget part about sausages.

I am Thankful...

❦ I am thankful for my wonderful beagles. I can't imagine my life without my Tracksie and Tiggles... The relationship I have formed with them has taught me an earthy wisdom about living in the world. -I honestly couldn't ask for better dogs.

❦ I am thankful for all the amazing people out there that foster the animals that I can't. Fostering a needy pet is one of the most important things an animal lover can do. I am so thankful for those people that can welcome those animals with open arms. You are all super heroes.

❦ I am thankful for the people who care enough in this world to make a stand. I am thankful for the people who wont allow 'the way things are' to be an excuse for allowing it to continue. I am thankful for the people who open their hearts to the chance of pain, in order to allow a soul to feel loved and do whatever they can to help one in need.

❦ I thankful for all dogs and cats and animals of the world. I could get lost in all their eyes every hour of everyday. Animals are truly amazing.

My Gotcha Day (12/10)

Wednesday will mark my 2-year anniversary for being adopted into my loving family.

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home.
I had no place to go, no one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets, in rain and snow.
I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore, My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat or to gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you was whispered in my ear."
"You'll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear."

"You will be dry, you will be warm, you'll have enough to eat."
"And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet."
I was afraid I must admit, I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I last let a human come so near.

I knew it was them in a heartbeat, I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting for a special dog like you".
Now every night I say a prayer to God that be.
"Thank you for the life I live and all you've given me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Dogs live simplistically.
They expect little and own nothing.
They give generously without even knowing it.
Sharing time with these amazing companions repeatedly reminds us of how simple, yet enjoyable, life can be.

With another year about to come to an end, and the inherent craziness that seems to come with the holiday season, this is a good time to learn from, and cherish the dogs in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was on Internet Superstar!

Check it out!
http://revision3.com/internetsuperstar/2008-09-11dogst er/

101 Ways to Help!

If you cannot adopt or foster a dog, could you help:

1. Transport a dog?
2. Donate a dog bed or towels or other *bedding* type items?**
3. Donate MONEY (collect your change for a week or a month and donate that!)?
4. Donate a Kong? A nylabone? A hercules?
5. Donate a crate?
6. Donate an x-pen or baby gates?
7. Donate a food dish or a stainless bucket for a crate?
8. Donate a leash?
9. Donate a collar?
10. Donate some treats or a bag of food?
11. Donate a harness, collar or a gentle leader?
12. Walk a dog?
13. Groom a dog?
14. Donate some grooming supplies (shampoos, combs, brushes, etc.)?
15. Go to the local shelter and see if that dog is the breed the shelter says it is or go with rescue to be a second opinion on the dog?
16. Make a few phone calls?
17. Mail out applications to people who've requested them?
18. Provide local vet clinics with contact information for educational materials on responsible pet ownership?
19. Drive a dog to and from vet appointments?
20. Donate long distance calling cards?
21. Donate the use of your scanner or digital camera?
22. Donate the use of a photocopier?
23. Attend public education days and try to educate people on responsible pet ownership?
24. Donate a gift certificate to a pet store?
25. Donate a raffle item if your club is holding a fund raiser?
26. Donate flea stuff (Advantage, etc.)?
27. Donate hw pills?
28. Donate a canine first aid kit?
29. Provide a shoulder to cry on when the rescue person is overwhelmed?
30. Pay the boarding fees to board a dog for a week? Two weeks?
31. Be a Santi-paws foster to give the foster a break for a few hours or days?
32. Clip coupons for dog food or treats?
33. Bake some homemade doggie biscuits?
34. Make book purchases through Amazon via a web site that contributes commissions earned to a rescue group?
35. Host rescue photos with an information link on your website.?
36. Donate time to take good photos of foster dogs for adoption flyers, etc.?
37. Conduct a home visit or accompany a rescue person on the home visit?
38. Go with rescue person to the vet to help if there is more than one dog?
39. Have a yard sale and donate the money to rescue?
40. Be volunteer to do rescue in your area?
41. Take advantage of a promotion on the web or store offering a free ID tag and instead of getting it for your own dog, have the tag inscribed with your Club's name and phone # to contact?
42. Talk to all your friends about adopting and fostering rescue dogs?
43. Donate vet services or can you help by donating a spay or neuter each year or some vaccinations?
44. Interview vets to encourage them to offer discounts to rescues?
45. Write a column for your local newspaper or club newsletter on dogs on dogs currently looking for homes or ways to help rescue?
46. Take photos of dogs available for adoption for use by the Club?
47. Maintain web sites listing/showing dogs available?
48. Help organize and run fundraising events?
49. Help maintain the paperwork files associated with each dog or enter the information into a database?
50. Tattoo a rescued dog?
51. Microchip a rescued dog?
52. Loan your carpet steamcleaner to someone who has fostered a dog that was sick or marked in the house?
53. Donate a bottle of bleach or other cleaning products?
54. Donate or loan a portable dog run to someone who doesn't have a quarantine area for quarantining a dog that has an unknown vaccination history and has been in a shelter?
55. Drive the fosters' children to an activity so that the foster can take the dog to obedience class?
56. Use your video camera to film a rescue dog in action?
57. Pay the cost of taking a dog to obedience class?
58. Be the one to take the dog to its obedience class?
59. Go to the foster home once a week with children and dogs to help socialize the dog?
60. Help the foster clean up the yard (yes, we also have to scoop what those foster dogs poop)
61. Offer to test the foster dog with cats?
62. Pay for the dog to be groomed or take the dog to a *Do It Yourself* Grooming Place?
63. Bring the foster take out so the foster doesn't have to cook dinner?
64. Pay a house-cleaning service to do the spring cleaning for someone who fosters dogs all the time?
65. Lend your artistic talents to your club's newsletter, fundraising ideas, t-shirt designs?
66. Donate printer paper, envelopes and stamps to your club?
67. Go with a rescue person to the vet if a foster dog needs to be euthanized?
68. Go to local shelters and meet with shelter staff about how to identify your breed or provide photos and breed information showing the different types of that breed may come in and the different color combinations?
69. Go to local businesses and solicit donations for a club's fundraising event?
70. Offer to try and help owners be better pet owners by holding a grooming seminar?
71. Help pet owners be better pet owners by being available to answer training questions?
72. Loan a crate if a dog needs to travel by air?
73. Put together an *Owner's Manual* for those who adopt rescued dogs of your breed?
74. Provide post-adoption follow up or support?
75. Donate a coupon for a free car wash or gas or inside cleaning of a vehicle?
76. Pay for an ad in your local/metropolitan paper to help place rescue dogs?
77. Volunteer to screen calls for that ad?
78. Get some friends together to build/repair pens for a foster home?
79. Microchip your own pups if you are a breeder, and register the chips, so if your dogs ever come into rescue, you can be contacted to take responsibility for your pup?
80. Donate a small percentage of the sale of each pup to rescue if you are a breeder?
81. Buy two of those really neat dog-items you "have to have" and donate one to Rescue?
82. Make financial arrangements in your will to cover the cost of caring for your dogs after you are gone - so Rescue won't have to?
83. Make a bequest in your will to your local or national Rescue?
84. Donate your professional services as an accountant or lawyer?
85. Donate other services if you run your own business?
86. Donate the use of a vehicle if you own a car dealership?
87. Loan your cell phone (and cover costs for any calls) to s/one driving a rescued dog?
88. Donate your *used* dog dryer when you get a new one?
89. Let rescue know when you'll be flying and that you'd be willing to be a rescued dog's escort?
90. Do something not listed above to help rescue?
91. Donate a doggy seatbelt?
92. Donate a grid for a van or other vehicle?
93. Organize a rescued dog picnic or other event to reunite the rescued dogs that have been placed?
94. Donate other types of doggy toys that might be safe for rescued dogs?
95. Donate a roll-a-treat or Buster cube?
96. Donate clickers or a video on clicker training?
97. Donate materials for a quarantine area at a foster's home?
98. Donate sheets of linoleum or other flooring materials to put under crates to protect the foster's floor?
99. Donate an engraving tool to make ID tags for each of the rescued dogs?
100. Donate frequent flyer points so that rescue can fly a dog from another area to safety?
101. Offer to be a rescued dog's flight escort, especially if your work requires you to travel frequently or you work in the travel industry?

Charitable Gift Giving: What Animal Shelters are in need of

By donating a few items to your animal shelter (or your favorite veterinarian's office), you'll be making a huge difference... and you'll feel GREAT about doing it.
The best part: No one will judge you for the type, quantity, or value of items that you choose to drop off at the shelter.
Most animal care facilities are in need of so many basic necessities just to keep the place running, that most places would be thrilled to receive just about anything that's dog or cat related!

So, let's see what may on your local animal shelter's "Wish List" this holiday season...

For The Dogs & Cats:
*Dog food and cat food - unopened bags & cans
*Dog crates - all sizes
*Cat carriers
*Dog beds/pillows (new or gently used)
*Cat litter
*Stuffed dog toys
*Chew toys for dogs
*Blankets, towels, comforters (new or gently used)
*Sheets & towels - all sizes
*Bowls - all sizes (plastic or metal)


For The Facility:
*Laundry detergent
*Dish washing detergent
*Paper towels
*Bleach, bleach, and more bleach
*Clorox and Windex wipes
*Brooms (bleachable)
*Metal dustpans
*Postage stamps
*AA batteries

*Gift certificates to feed stores, pet stores, or office supply stores


And don't forget... you can always give the gift of your time and expertise by volunteering at the shelter!

The Starfish Story

If all the available shelter dogs were to find homes, each person would need to adopt 7 dogs. A family of four would need to adopt 28 dogs! It can feel overwhelming, and often times people wonder if they are making any kind of difference at all by adopting "just one dog" from a shelter or rescue. Yet, through the continuing education of rescues, the collective efforts of spaying and neutering and people remaining committed and bonded to their pets through times of stress and change; A difference is made.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference to that one."

I STOLE YOUR DOG TODAY

I STOLE YOUR DOG TODAY
Copyright Jim Willis 2002


I stole your dog today. No, I didn't set a foot on your property, but from the condition of your dog, I can imagine what it looks like...the word "junkyard" comes to mind.
I found her along a road, with a heavy chain wrapped around her neck, still attached to rotten boards from her doghouse, with rusty six-penny nails protruding. Not only did I know that most of the town had already ignored her, judging by where I found her, but I knew that if she had gotten into the woods the "cross" that she dragged behind her would have wrapped around a tree until starvation or thirst killed her. The local populace is usually deaf to the sound or blind to the sight of an animal in need, unless they decide to shoot one for trespassing.
That her ribs showed, that her ears were filthy, that her overall condition was poor and that her coat and eyes were dull, were good indications that you didn't deserve her. But just to make sure, I checked with the local authorities for a report of a missing (unlicensed) dog matching her description and to see if you'd placed a "lost dog" advertisement in the local newspaper. You hadn't, which I can only surmise means that you do not miss her. That's rather convenient, because the fact that she is not spayed, probably unvaccinated, and possibly heartworm positive means that restoring her health could cost me around a thousand dollars.
Perhaps it may be some small comfort to know that she doesn't miss you. In fact, her very act of escape made it clear that she'd had enough of your brand of pet guardianship. It took her about a day to realize that I'm not you, that I won't hurt her, that despite our brief
acquaintanceship, I love her. It took two days for her to realize that the other animals who live here accept her and that one of the joys she has been missing has been the companionship of other dogs. It took three days for her to appreciate the ecstasy of a home cooked meal and that a couch is meant to be reclined on, and that she no longer has to
sleep outside - in fact, when the thunder starts, she'll get a hug and her ears rubbed, and I'll make a fool of myself with baby talk.
She has a beautiful name now. Already in the first week she has come to look more like she should. Her eyes sparkle and she has learned to wag her tail in greeting. She has stopped flinching when I make a sudden movement, because she knows now that I won't beat her, in fact, she rarely leaves my side. She's even become brave enough to bark at a cat and today I watched from the window as she initiated play with the other dogs. No, it's clear she does not miss you or her former life of neglect on a chain.
Of all the things that have become apparent from my brief relationship with her - such as the forgiving nature of the dog, their wonderful ability to heal and to trust, the fact that love can work miracles - one of the most apparent is what a fool you are. She was possibly the
most trusting, loyal and loving being in your life, and you consigned her to a life of filth and loneliness until she made the best choice she's ever made when she broke free. Perhaps her guardian angel helped her escape. Lest anyone should mistake me for an angel, I will admit that one day I hope to be as good as she; I believe she forgave you within the first twenty-four hours of her new life for the about four years of her previous "life," while I still wrestle with the part of me that hopes that one day you will burn in Hell.
It's not clear yet whether she'll remain here or whether I'll find her a loving home where she can count on more individual attention than I can give her, but one thing is certain, this is one bit of stolen "property" who is never returning to you. So sue me, prosecute me, plead with
the courts that she is rightfully yours...I'm convinced this is the best "crime" I've ever committed. Hardly anything has pleased me more than the day I stole your dog. I need only look into her beautiful brown eyes to know that she'd defend my decision with her life. If we have one prayer, it is that you will not replace her, and if we have one special day to commemorate together, it is the day I stole your dog and the day she stole my heart.
Too bad we can pass this along to the hate group people who accuse rescuers of *stealing* dogs just like this one..

Today was so much fun!

Well today mommy took Tracksie and I to the Three Dog Bakery! I got a Pupcake (which I ate in .03 seconds) some Beagle Bagels, a wetfood pouch, and a new leash. We met a dogster pal, Sienna, and I think that it was the best part! :D
After that we went to a few other places like Petsmart, then Petco, and All the Best Pet Care.
Then, of course, it started to RAIN and we had to head home :(

I can't wait until next time when mom is going to take me to Mud Bay, Raileys, Urban Beast, Scraps, The DD Lounge, and Magnuson Park!