Another Reason Why It's Important to Spay or Neuter

Rotty's needing our help

I received the following plea this weekend:

A past client of mine has a female (spayed) purebred Rotti that needs a home. Her husband is bedridden and terminal, and she doesn't have the time or energy to give the dog what she needs."Harlett" is 14 months, spayed, and about 100 pounds. She is housetrained, but her other training has been neglected, so she can be a little full of herself. She loves all people, kids, and dogs Cats are an unknown.

So we said yes, we would help.

I then received this:

I just heard that you said you have room for the 14mo rotti, Harlette. I just spoke with the owner. She wants to know if you also have room for Harlette's brother, Harley. The owner's husband's condition has gotten worse, and Judy just can't take care of everyone.

It's very sad that this woman may lose her husband, and now the 2 dogs she loves most in the world. I am praying for him and his well being. We will get these two a good home.

Here are some pictures of Harlett. She is beautiful. More on Harly when I get details. Spread the word if you know anyone that wants to adopt these beautiful dogs.

What Rescue Is, and What It Is Not

What Rescue is and What Rescue is Not

The following information may seem harsh, rude, and perhaps even ignorant. If you plan on pursuing adoption from rescue please continue to read no matter your opinion. The following things are meant as information only. These are not all truths in our rescue, but many of them DO fit, and we want you to be aware of the rescuer’s side of rescue.

We will spell this information out as plainly and distinctly as we can, so that hopefully it cannot be misunderstood or read incorrectly. You may not agree with some of the things said on this page, but please understand that these are the realities of many rescues. This is not to say that it should excuse rude or ignorant behavior, but it lets you have a behind the scenes view.

You may have encountered rescues who didn’t ever reply to your e-mail, never returned your call, never contacted you about your application, wouldn’t let you adopt a dog, wouldn’t let you foster a dog, or a rescue person who was impolite to the point of being rude. As you read the following page you will be given an insight to a rescuers day/week/month, and perhaps you will begin to see why so many rescuers are hardened, snippy, crabby people who don’t seem to be living in the same world as everyone else.

If you take offense to anything below we regret that, but if you are offended it may let you know a little more about yourself and your thoughts on rescue prior to reading it. We are not here to lecture anyone, and if you feel after reading this that you cannot for some reason adopt from our rescue, please find one that you feel you can adopt from.

When you are finished reading this you still may not agree with how some rescues handle themselves (and even many rescuers feel this way) but hopefully you will at least understand a little better WHY they are like that. Our goal is to help educate you about rescue….what it is and what it isn’t.

WE’LL START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND

RESCUE IS NOT A SERVICE FOR YOU … PERIOD . NOT FOR YOU TO FIND A DOG, OR TO GET RID OF YOUR DOG. Rescue is a service for the dogs. We care about them, the dog is who we are here to help. Helping you find the dog of your dreams is a result of that, but our main concern here is the dog and what is best for each individual dog.

RESCUE IS NOT A SHELTER THAT YOU CAN JUST STOP BY TO VISIT, PICK OUT A DOG, AND TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES YOU. THERE IS NO PLACE TO DROP BY AND WINDOW SHOP, NO BUSINESS HOURS, AND NO TIMES WE ARE OPEN.

Rescue is a group of people that love dogs. Those people open their homes and hearts to the dogs, give them a place to live, and love them until they find a loving home. We take applications, screen them, and then have people come and visit with the dogs in our homes .. .. See …. no shelter involved. There is a volunteers’ home on the end of any phone number you are given. Please respect that.

RESCUE IS NOT DIAL A DOG, DIAL A PERSON THAT WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT MY TROUBLES, DIAL A PERSON TO UNLOAD MY DOG .. I’VE HAD IT FOR 10 YEARS AND IT SIMPLY DOESN’T MATCH THE FURNITURE ANYMORE.

Rescue is a phone number or e-mail that reaches right into the home of a volunteer who has little time to deal with the guilt you are feeling over giving up your dog or tossing them out like last nights leftovers. They have even less time to deal with you see-sawing back and forth between keeping the dog and giving it up. If you’ve taken the trouble to find a rescue and call or email, then 99% of people have their minds set on getting rid of the dog. Don’t lie to us or to yourself. Simply tell us the reason you are giving the dog up and answer the questions we ask. If we are going to help you the least you can do is help us speed up the process. Please do not think us cold or callus, but we don’t have time for every person giving up a dog to cry on our shoulders. We’ve heard all the reasons for giving up a dog before….. including;

allergies, moving, housebreaking issues, money issues, new baby, too hyper, barking, sick, injured, nasty, uncontrollable, landlord doesn’t allow, parents said no, owner died and nobody wants the dog, divorce, marriage, too many animals, doesn’t like new dog, doesn’t like old dog, chases cars, chases cats, sheds too much, too much trouble, new job, wants too much attention.To the other extreme, which includes;

it’s cross-eyed, it’s ears don’t stand up, it doesn’t match the new couch, it looks at me funny, he doesn’t like it here, and he’s told me he’s not happy.

We’re not cold hearted, we simply have too many things to do and not enough time to do them all and still listen to how sorry you think you are about getting rid of your dog. If you have done everything you could do before coming to rescue, you should not feel guilty. We understand things happen in people’s lives that make hard choices a necessity. We are not judging those who have done everything they could yet still have to give up the dog. We just want those who haven’t taken the responsibility seriously to understand that we are not here to offer emotional support to them when they’ve made a stupid decision and refuse to take responsibility for it.Rescue should be one of your last resorts. Try obedience training, try crate training, try everything you can before you make the decision to give up your dog. When you’ve done all that you can, then call us and let us know why you’re giving up the dog in the least amount of words you can. We’ll ask questions, you answer them. Quick, Simple, and Honest.

RESCUE IS NOT A PERSON SITTING AT THE COMPUTER OR PHONE ALL DAY JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO CALL OR EMAIL. WE’RE ALSO NOT RUNNING HOME DAILY HOPING WE’LL HAVE LOTS OF EMAIL AND ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGES. WE’RE NOT RUSHING TO RETURN YOUR CALL OR EMAIL.

Rescue is a group of people who already have a life, a family, a full-time job, their own dogs, foster dogs, 50 e-mails a day looking to adopt or give up a dog, 20 phone messages a day looking to adopt or give up a dog, calls from shelters needing a rescue to take a dog who is about to be put down, not to mention applications to process, vet appointments for foster dogs…..and countless other things that rescue involves.

Of course, this does not include the volunteer eating, sleeping, and having a life, I almost forgot.

RESCUE IS NOT A WAY FOR YOU TO FIND A PUREBRED DOG FOR LITTLE OR NO MONEY Rescue is a safe haven for dogs , with people that know and understand the quirks and personality of each dog, and have the knowledge needed to handle a particular breed, it’s medical requirements, and who can access an application to be sure it would be an appropriate home for that breed.

RESCUE IS NOT A BABY-SITTING SERVICE FOR YOUR DOG, A KENNEL, OR A PLACE THAT WILL TRAIN YOUR DOG

Rescue is a place that dogs who are homeless, about to be homeless, or in a shelter, come into where they will receive the medical attention, physical attention, and behavioral attention they need. Rescue is most times the only thing standing between a dog and a lethal injection.

CAN I GET A DOG FROM YOUR RESCUE THAT IS NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED?

Rescue is not a place where you can pick up a “girlfriend”for BUTCH or a “boyfriend” for FIFI so that you can irresponsibly mass produce puppies, sell them to homes that may very well want them for Pitbull bait, toys for the children, something for the kids to take care of, or something to neglect and then later abandon.

All rescue dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption so that no “Accidents” happen. You won’t get a dog unaltered, don’t even bother to ask. If the dog is too young to alter, it WILL be fixed when it is old enough as per the adoption contract. Not a choice. It is mandatory.

RESCUE IS NOT A PLACE THAT WILL TAKE THE MOST VICIOUS, NASTY, AGGRESSIVE DOGS AND KEEP THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN THEIR OWNERS MIND WHILE THE DOG IS MISERABLE.

Rescue is a place where the nasty dogs that are not safe for anyone to own, handle or be within 5 feet of are humanely put to sleep where they will be happier, and people will be safer. If YOU don’t want to deal with your dog that bites, whom you’ve loved for 6 years, what on earth makes you think that someone else would want it biting them or their family?We do work with every dog to see if they are just frightened, or have an issue that is fixable, or if they are just nasty. Those who are scared or have an issue that is fixable we work with and allow them time to adjust and overcome their fear. Those who are nasty are put to sleep - PERIOD. Some people think a rescue that euthanizes is horrible, and that’s fine,but let us fill your house up with dogs you cannot sneeze around without getting bit and let us see you still save the lives of 200+ dogs a year.

RESCUE IS NOT A MAIL ORDER SERVICE TO FIND YOU THE DOG OF YOUR DREAMS, THE DOG THAT LOVES KIDS, CATS, EVERYONE, DOESN’T BARK TOO MUCH , IS PERFECTLY HOUSEBROKEN, IS 3 POUNDS, DOES TRICKS ON COMMAND, AND KNOWS HOW TO ACT IN EVERY SITUATION.

Rescue is the place that gets calls from shelters and owners who have a Dog in need. Sure, we may come across a dog like the one described above, but chances are it will be adopted quickly and it will be a long time before we see another one like it.

We work with each dog to make them better pets than they were when they entered rescue, but we aren’t miracle workers. Every dog has his own personality, and that is what matters. If you want a dog that fits a few certain requirements - okay, that’s realistic. But trying to find one that matches perfection is not going to happen anytime soon, and if one comes in that is perfect we have a line 5 miles long of people waiting for it…

CREDIT FOR THIS BLOG GOES TO ROTTIE RESCUE OF NY!

Nature is wonderful

I wanted to post something cheerful and positive. Nothing was really coming to my mind after the week I have had. (although my wonderful husband did send me flowers today "from the dogs" thanking me for saving them). That was super nice and thoughtful. But I did get this wonderful video that I thought really captured the innocence of animals. As I always say, they want nothing from us but love.

Check out this great video of a Moose and her babies playing.

http://www.wimp.com/babymoose/

Caesar-An old soul

When Caesar arrived off the transport the other day, I had to take a moment...literally. I called my husband in hysterics. As I said, I feel the pain of these animals sometimes. I looked at this poor dog and I could see through to his soul. The pain and suffering this animal has endured is beyond anything I could ever imagine. His face and body were covered in scars and patches of hair were missing. He looked like he had given up and had just about had enough. Sometimes I can be thick skinned about seeing the abuse. And then there are the days where I just can't believe than any human being would ever do such awful things to an animal. It doesn't register.

When I saw the look of defeat on this dog, it hurt me. I hurt knowing he was suffering, and looking at him in the state he was in reminded me of the pain he was feeling. My heart broke for him.

Despite all that he has endured, he is so gentle, so kind, so loving...Here is his brief bio...

Caesar is a 2 1/2 year old male boxer. He was found out in a rural area in Georgia protecting a litter of puppies that weren't even his. It seems that he was very badly abused by someone; You can see the scars all over his body. Despite this, he is one of the most gentle dogs I have ever come to meet. He loves people, loves to be pet and held, and really is just a sweetheart. He is very docile and is good with other dogs and cats too. You would have to meet this dog for yourself to see how amazing he is. He has touched everyone he has met (including the vet's office). Everyone is amazed at how special and loving he is.

Soooo...Caesar was neutered today and had several teeth removed. His teeth were broken and one of his Canine's was rotten. I got a call from my vet today around 5pm. He sounded upset. He said that he had never seen anything like this before. It shocked and disturbed him. While neutering this poor animal, he found BB's shot on Caesar. BB's shot on his testicles, his groin, and his back leg. Someone would have had to of held him down and literally shot him in his testicles and around them to get as close and precise as these shots were. There were several of them. Of course Dr. J removed them all and ended the pain he had probably had for a while.

How long had he been this way? How long had he suffered? Why on earth was this dog still kind to us humans? We certainly weren't deserving of his trust. And yet, he tried to curl up on my lap when I laid down on the floor with him. He kissed everyone who he came into contact with.

I have contacted my friend Debb in GA (who helped pull him thank God) to investigate this because we would like to press animal cruelty charges. I know she will do what she can to find out who did this. But the chances of finding this person are very slim.

Here are some pics of this wonderful boy and a video. More on him and his new life soon. He is being loved on and taken wonderful care of now. He will suffer no more!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU2dC8-Wr5Y

Update on Kayla

They all arrived today-the new dogs from the south. Scared of the unknown. Not knowing they are the lucky ones...

One of the newest who I posted about the other day is Kayla. She is VERY sweet. Submissive. Scared. When she first came in, it was quite pitiful because she peed in submission when I went to pet her. She was obviously fearful of being hit. But within a few hours of being held and pet, she came out of her shell. It amazes me everyday how dogs forgive. Her pictures now show a smile coming out. More on the other new rescues later....It has been a LONG day. We had a very sad case about a boxer named Ceasar that I adore, but that is for another day and another blog. They all touch my heart in some way and leave a mark. I know it sounds cliched, but it's true. I feel like I feel their every emotion as if they are my own. Every scar. Every ounce of sadness and pain. Every sorrow. I feel them too....

http://muttsmatterrescue.webs.com/kayla.htm

New arrival coming Tues who really needs our help

So, here was the plea and photos I got the other day from Debb in SC, regarding a dog in the south that needed help.

Bad situation here folks. This dog lives at a crack house. They routinely beat her. But everyone is afraid of them. They are currently in jail. They usually release after about 3 days. A neighbor has taken her to the vet for medical care.

She found her laying in the ditch after another beating. but she can't take her home because they know her. we have to get her out of the county (possibly state)as soon as possible.please crosspost this.

The vet said she's fine just scared. She got her shots, rabies vac, hw test (negative). She has an ulcer on her eye but the vet said that was healing. No broken bones. We ARE leaving her there overnight but that is it. We can't afford more than one night. We gave her a bath there and had her dipped. She was wrapped up in fleas and ticks. We just need to get her out of the county.

Can anyone help?

Look at the photos above, how could we resist this plea?? The photos below are from the other day while she was in a temporary foster. This was after she was pulled out of the ditch. She arrives to us this Tuesday morning. I am told she is very gentle, but has a sad little soul. We hope to give her back her smile. More on her when she gets here. She has been named Kayle. With a little time and TLC, I know she can grow to be the dog she was supposed to be...happy and proud.