The Chicago Crew Has Left The Building...

We are no longer very active on Dogster--this is one of our last postings. We can be found on FaceBook. Pawmail us for the name...

To our friends, we will keep you close in our hearts.
We are forever grateful for the support you gave us the summer of 2008.
Thanks for the memories...

With love,
The Pearls and The Chicago Crew of Angels

Sweet Quincy

One of our oldest Dogster pals, Qunicy, #51184, brother to Cosmo, lost his fight against the dreaded C. After all three of the Chicago Crew went to the Bridge in the summer of 2008, Sully & Socks sent us this card, which I share with Quincy's family:

Why?
That's what we ask,
The truth is,
we may never know
for sure why.

But we do know
that there is no single
"should have done"
or "could have done"
or "did" or "didn't do"
that would have
changed that why.

All that love could do
was done.

An Angel Celebrates her Gotcha Day

A wise man once said "When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight". We choose to remember the days you came into our lives, not the terrible days that you left...

Sweet LuckyLucy celebrated her 11th Birthday/Gotcha Day (2nd at the Bridge) on July 31st. We've written a diary entry on her page in celebration.

Thank you so very much for all the joy you brought to our lives and to the lives of all who met you in your work for As Good as Gold, Golden Retriever Rescue of Northern Illinois.

Happy Birthday/Gotcha Day/Barkday to two of our Golden- Angels...

A wise man once said "When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight". We choose to remember the days you came into our lives, not the terrible days that you left...

Dearest HoneyBunny celebrated her 17th Barkday/Gotcha Day (4th at the Bridge) on May 30th. And on June 2nd sweet Remo the Red celebrated his 16th Birthday (2nd at the Bridge). We've written diary entries on their pages in celebration.

Thank you both so very much for all the joy you brought to our lives and to the lives of all who met you.

Wonderful, Beautifully-bred Rescue Pups Like Us

The current Dogster poll has got our collective backhair up!

The question: If you could add another pet to the family, what would it be?

The first two answers:
- A wonderful rescue pup.
- A beautifully-bred dog.

Our question: Why not both?

Over 25% of dogs in shelters on any given day are pure bred dogs. Pure. Bred. Dogs. Or, as the poll so cleverly words it "beautifully-bred dog(s)". So how about SAVING a life and adopting your next "beautifully-bred" dog?

If you are leery of shelter dogs (and, as shelter dogs, HoneyBunny and Perky ask Why???????) you can contact any of the hundreds of reputable "beautifully-bred" Rescues across the United States, rescues like the one LuckyLucy came from. For info on breed specific rescues, go to www.akc.org, and click on Breed Info, select the breed you are interested in and then click on Breed Rescue for lists of breed-specific rescues by state.

So, again, we ask, why not both?
Why not adopt a "Wonderful, Beautifully-bred Rescue pup" and save a life?

Until there's NONE, rescue ONE!

For those filled with great sorrow...

"When you are sorrowful
look again in your heart,
and you shall see that in truth
you are weeping for that
which has been your delight."

--Kahlil Gibran

Does Nutro Really Believe We'll Let This Go?

This was our "restrained response" to Nutro's front page request for comments :

"Want to thank you and Menu Foods again for putting my 10 yr old Bulldog into hospital for a week (3 days on 24 hour IV fluids to flush his kidneys). And, not to mention the cost of quarterly* bloodwork to monitor his kidney values and special prescription dog food for the remaining 1 1/2 years of his life. Ours was one of how many vet documented cases forwarded to the FDA from around the country? Oh, that's right--the FDA never released that info..."

*Edit: Dad reminded Mum that for the first NINE months after the poisoning, WIN had MONTHLY bloodwork to check his kidney function. After that, he went to quarterly.

####

Mum worked as a manager at PetCare, PetSmart and Petco for many years. She regrets the many times she recommend Nutro wet. One dog in particular haunts her to this day--the Friday before the Menu Foods scandal hit, she recommended the canned Nutro Ultra to a couple with an ailing dog as a way to possibly stimulate the appetite. She wonders what happened to that dog.

I think Nutro will be surprised that our memories are still so vivid and visceral. But then again, they shouldn't be, really. Our furs are more than "property".

#### Edit ####

Since this was posted on WINston's page, we've heard from several Nutro demo reps offering their assistance if we were to seek restitution. The offers, and the kind comments, are appreciated.

The saddest thing was the reporting to the FDA was in the tens of thousands, but the FDA/Nutro held that "confirmed" deaths were only in the teens. OK, "confirmed" IMMEDIATE deaths, but what is the REAL number of deaths from the recall? The number of cats and dogs put into renal failure that didn't pass immediately, but lived a much more shortened life with compromised kidneys and died in renal failure? Nutro might have killed 17 outright, but also tens of thousands over the course of the next couple of years.

Yes, we have documentation of the vet diagnosis and medical bills, and at the time of the recall we had our Nutro receipts and actual trays from the cans to provide lot numbers. That's why our vet felt it was a reportable case directly attributable to Nutro. At the time there was a process to submit claims to Menu Foods/Nutro. But with the FDA backing them on such a limited number of "confirmed" cases, we decided it wasn't worth the heartbreak to submit everything and to be told no.

Thank you all for your continued support. It means a lot to our family.

For the Families Left Behind...

Why?
That's what we ask,
The truth is,
we may never know
for sure why.

But we do know
that there is no single
"should have done"
or "could have done"
or "did" or "didn't do"
that would have
changed that why.

All that love could do
was done.

Share your life with a couch potato

A cover story in the Thursday 01/07/10 Easy section of the pawrent's Chicago SunTimes was titled: RUNNING FOR HOME Hundreds of greyhounds available for adoption after dogracing track closes.

The demand for greyhound adoptions has skyrocketed after the closing of Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin (just over the Wisconsin/Illinois border).

Greyhound adoption and rescue groups in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan are joining forces to temporarily house the greyhounds in kennels or foster homes while they search for people to adopt the dogs.

Rescue groups also are in need of volunteers as well as donations--money, dog food, dog crates, vet assistance and help in transporting the dogs.

For more info on adopting these 60 mph Couch Potatoes (seriously, these are the most laid back dogs--Greyhounds are gentle dogs and are not high-strung, despite their racing history, animal experts say. They spend most of their time sleeping, though they do have spurts of energy) you can contact the park directly:
• Dairyland Greyhound Park, Kenosha, Wisc.: The adoption center will remain open until all dogs are placed. Call (262) 612-8256; www.dairylandgreyhoundpark.com

Also on the park's website are links to many of the adoption groups in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan involved in this rescue effort.

'Tis the Season to Give--But Be CAREFUL!!!!!

In this, the season of giving, your local shelters and rescue organizations are in desperate need of funds. Donations are down because of the recession. The recession has also doubled, tripled, quaddripled (!) the need for shelter/rescue services as more people are being forced to give up their pets due to loss of home and/or job.

But please, please, PLEASE don't just throw your money away! Check out the shelter/rescue organization you plan to donate to very carefully. Don't be swayed by flashy advertising or mailings. One way of ensuring that a rescue/shelter is a legit non-profit organization is to check it out through GuideStar.

From the As Good As Gold--Golden Retriever of Northern Illinois website www.asgoodasgold.org :

Guidestar
With so many nonprofits in America, how can you determine which are legitimate organizations that deserve your support? How do you know if your gift will be tax deductible? GuideStar is the answer. All 1.5 million nonprofits listed with GuideStar are formally registered with the IRS or have proven they meet all IRS criteria for exempt organizations. As Good as Gold is included in GuideStar's list of 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

####

And, make sure that legit rescue/shelter you've supported in the past is STILL a legit organization. As Good as Gold was started by a group of rescue volunteers that LEFT a Golden Retriever rescue which we will not name here (a rescue that was eventually shut down by the Attorney General of the State of Illinois).

So, 'tis the Season to GIVE. But if you can't give financially, how about donating another precious commodity--your time? Volunteer at the shelter/rescue. Or contact that shelter/rescue and ask about their "Wish List". Many times shelters/rescues are looking for items that you may have around the home. Here's an example--the Wish List from Dixie and Burt's Shelter, the Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster, Indiana:

Items Needed:

13 and 55 Gallon Trash Bags
Lysol/Disinfectant Wipes
Windex and refills
Brooms/Dustpans
Bleach
Laundry Detergant
Large Towels
Blankets
Paper Towels
Powder-Free Latex Gloves
Hand Sanitizer
Mop Replacement Heads (large stringy kind)

6-Foot Nylon or Leather Leashes & Collars
Stretch and Scratch cat execise cage attachment
Double Dish Plastic Puppy Bowls
Cat & Dog Shampoo (regular, flea & tick)
Bagged Timothy Hay (for Rabbits)
One Touch Ultra Test Strips
Cat Condos
Large Dog Crates
Kongs/Dog Toys/Cat Toys
Pet Beds
Kuranda Dog Beds

Rabbit & Guinea Pig Food
KMR (Kitten Formula)
Esbilac (Puppy Formula)

Postage Stamps
Gift Cards (Petsmart, Walmart, Meijer, Target, Office Max, Staples, Petco, etc.) & Gas Cards for Animal Transport Vehicle
20lb. Copier Paper (colored and white)
Card Stock Paper (colored and white)
dry erase markers

####

So, look around your house. Look in the closets. In the basement. In the attic. In the garage. You may have many unused, unneeded items that your local shelter/rescue would welcome with open paws (plus it would declutter your house and add to the positive Fung Shui). :D