The Real Levi Page

BTW, here's the current page for Levi-
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/656293

One last miracle

I kept a Dogster page for Levi because he will always be a part of my heart and a part of my family even though he went to live in Ohio...

Levi is sick, very sick. I can't even describe what he's been through in the last few weeks but nothing is working to make him better. Once we found out what was wrong with him we thought he would get better but he didn't respond to treatment and has been slowly getting worse. His mom loves him so much and has spent so much time and money trying to get him better, it's just not fair that it's not working.

So this is it. If this new drug doesn't work to work in a few days there are no other options. Levi is miracle in the first place- he was scarred up, neglected, shot up with buckshot and dumped near a shelter in Kansas. It was amazing that his rescue even took place at all. But we need one more! One more big burst of positive energy- power of the paw- to help this drug work.

Levi, we all love you and are pulling for you! This is it, this drug has to work!!

Caring and Sharing 07

Former FM entered pictures of Buck and I for the Caring and Sharing contest but my story and everything FM does for homeless dogs won't fit in a caption so she wanted me to write it here.

Saving Buck and I is what FM is most proud of and why she entered our pictures in the contest. During the rescue of the Kansas 6-pack last year mom was mostly on the sidelines offering advice and encouragement. She was so disappointed that she couldn't have helped more. However, out of their rescue came some wonderful friendships and bonds with fellow Dogsters as well as 6 lives saved and in happy forever homes. =)

In the original story of the 6-pack, 2 male pups had already been placed in homes, it was only the females that needed saving. Well, ever since the rescue FM has occasionally checked petfinder for the town they came from wondering if one of those dogs could be the girls' brother, or mother. One day my picture popped up. Could it be? I looked so much like the girls and per my description I was the right size and age. FM quickly sent the link to her pals who knew the 6-pack better than anybody. It was agreed that indeed, it looked like I was their brother. Not sure how the rest happened but all of a sudden calls were made to the shelter, adoption fees were paid, I was sent in to be neutered, and life was going to change! Of course FM also checked out the rest of the dogs on the website and the group of friends decided to use their contacts to save Buck, a German Shepherd in the same shelter. FM decided that since she had more than enough room for two dogs, she was going to save two dogs.

So FM and another Dogster pal drove to Kansas, picked up Buck and I and took us back to Nebraska. Buck and I looked like we had had a pretty rough time. I was full of mats and kind of stinky but super, super sweet and no one could understand how a sweet guy like me ended up at the shelter. I also had some pretty nasty looking scars on my hind legs. Buck was scared and pretty skinny but once he was out of the shelter he blossomed! He loved people and wanted to do nothing other than please. I stayed with FM for a week then went to another FM in Iowa for another week and then finally to Ohio where my forever home was waiting for me. Buck stayed with FM for a couple days and then was boarded at her shelter while he waited for a foster home to open up. Buck was then sent to a GSD rescue in Colorado and was adopted shortly after he got there.

Although FM played a pretty big part in our rescue she never could have done it without the help of her friends and fellow Dogsters! There were a lot of people behind our rescue and FM just played her part. Oh, and when they saw me in person... it was 100% certain I was the 6-pack's brother.

Besides our rescue, FM also works at her local shelter 2 days a week. Because of her work at the shelter she has been able to help dogs get into breed specific rescues, or into forever homes and out of the shelter. She also fosters on occasion and helps with transports. Oh, and did I mention she adopted Raven, an unsocialized shelter puppy? She took Raven home to help socialize her and then Raven never left because she stole FM's heart. I thought she was pretty cool too. ;) FM has also been able to help organize an obedience class for former shelter dogs and their owners and she helps with off-site adoption events by transporting and showing off shelter dogs.

Whew, I think that about covers it. FM has to get ready to go to the shelter again tonight. They were short handed for the holidays so she agreed to help out!

DOTD?!?

Wow, from death row to Dogster's Dog of the Day!! How amazing is that??

It's hard to believe less than a week ago I was sitting on death row. I know the Hutchinson Shelter doesn't like to euthanize but they just have so many animals coming in that they end up having to euthanize about 50% of their animals, and Buck and I were almost two of them! Eek!!

I am so thankful for my rescuers and supporters!! They got together and got me out of there and it was no small task. Also my supporters showed a lot of love and support (and gave money) to help get me out. Just my and Buck's adoption fees and gas money to get me out was over $300!

FM just cannot believe what a great dog I am... really, I'm just about perfect. Wonderful temperament and spirit, despite whatever life I had before this.

Well thanks Dogster for bringing my rescuers together over the rescue of my sisters. FM says that these amazing women mean a lot to her and she is very thankful she met them. And hey, they became good friends and ended up banding together again to save me and Buck, so really, Dogster, you rock!! And to all the Dogsters showing me love and support and wishing me well in finding my forever home... words can't express how thankful I am for all of you too.

Adopt a shelter dog, FM would say they are diamonds in the rough but really, they are just precious jewels waiting to be discovered.

Life outside the shelter is G-O-O-D!!

I got groomed! Bathed, brushed, de-matted, de-skunked, and conditioned- the works! The groomer said I was a little scared but handled everything really well. She didn't dry me very much because that is what really scared me but I was a good boy. Then FM immediately ruined my bath by taking me to the muddy dog park.

I am getting used to my crate at night, I only protest a little. No more marking and no accidents in the house! I switched from the shelter food to Riley and Raven's food with no problems, which is great for us all. I have been going to the dog park with Raven and sometimes Riley or Buck. That is a blast! I run around and pee on things. Then in the evening it's wrestle mania with Raven and some cuddle time with FM.

Buck is being boarded at FM's shelter right now. He's in an area off to himself so it's a little quieter and not so stressful. He has a huge kennel and the volunteers say he is very sweet. FM went to go take him for a walk last night and it looked like he was doing good. He had eaten all of his food and was super sweet as always. On Saturday a woman who works with GSD's is coming down to do a full temperament test and hopefully take him home to foster him until a spot in rescue opens up, there's one in CO that we are specifically looking at since they already have a transport route set up.

The biggest news is what is happening with me!! Nebraska has been great (better than KS but it keeps raining here) but this is not my final destination. I have decided that I would like to reunite with my sisters and see more of the mid-west. So it looks like on Sunday I will be traveling to Iowa and meeting up with Loki and Lena (my twin!) and staying with their family for a few days... then it's on to Ohio where I get to meet Lainie, Luna, Lea, and probably Letta (but not right away). Lainie, Mellow, and Caelen's mom is going to foster me for awhile!!

Wow, did you follow all that?

Pup-date on the boys!

Both Uncle Buck and myself will be pulled on Sunday. The fees have been paid, I am getting neutered today (gulp!), and Uncle Buck tomorrow. Both of us are HW-, UTD on shots and microchipped!!

I got to go for a walk with a shelter worker yesterday. She said I was so excited I made funny grunting noises. Hey, you would be excited too! She says I am so sweet and she is very happy I am getting out of here. Me too!

Uncle Buck continues to be scared and shy but once out of his kennel he started to show his softer side and got some love and pets from a volunteer. It's just too scary of a place for a guy like Buck. Don't worry buddy, they are coming to get you out of here soon, hold on just a little longer.

Is it Sunday yet?!

Uncle Buck

You might be wondering about Uncle Buck, the GSD on my page. Well, since someone was headed to KS anyway they saw his sad lookin' face on petfinder and decided to try and help him as well. We are waiting on word from a GSD rescue that they can take him. My new FM said that she can easily fit two dogs in her dog so she might as well take as many from a kill shelter as she can!

Fate

If you have ever wondered about fate I can probably tell you a thing or two about its existence...

During December 2006, 6 beautiful chow/shepherd mix puppies were rescued from Hutchinson, KS. You can read more about their story here- Cutest Dog Ever. As fate would have it, their rag-tag team of rescuers became close friends and watched all 6 girls grow up in wonderful, loving homes. The original story had 2 male pups from the same litter getting adopted in their home town, it was the females that were unwanted and saved from a kill shelter.

Well, as fate would have it, a member of the original rescue team just happened to search Hutchinson's petfinder listings wondering if someday a brother or mother or father would appear... when one day, there I was. Could it really be? The picture was passed around and it was agreed that there was a strong possibility that I was a brother to the 6-pack. I was the right age, build and weight, similar face to Lena and Letta, and same ears as Lea. It was confirmed when Lena's mom asked Lena if I was indeed their brother after showing her my picture and she kissed her mom on the cheek! What else could the same rag-tag team of rescuers turned friends do but try and save me as well?

I will be picked up and transported to Nebraska on Sunday, 10/14. From there things are a little unknown but I will be safe, warm and out of the shelter, that much is for sure.

Please read about my sister's story here- Cutest Dog Ever. It truly is an amazing story filled up hope, happiness, foster failures, and forever homes, hopefully my own happy ending will be written soon as well.