Happy Tails - November 2007

We have three more Happy Tails to share this month! Enjoy!

Sasha the Sox Fan

Frank and Heidi Rubino recently lost their beloved Rottwieller, Nikki, to old age related disease. They were heartbroken by her loss and missed their companion terribly, but their home felt empty without the pitter patter of dog paws.

They contacted us to see if Sasha might be a good match for their family. When the home visit was conducted, it was obvious that this family was a perfect match for any rescue dog. Their walls and fridge were filled with pictures of Nikki. They shared video and stories of both the good and bad times with Nikki - but even when revealing Nikki's imperfections, Frank's and Heidi's voices were full of love and compassion.

Sasha arrived at their home she was nervous and uncertain - but within hours, Sasha began to relax and to realize that she was in doggie heaven on earth.

Frank and Heidi's family are huge Red Sox and Patriots fans. As you can tell from these pictures, now so is Sasha!

Sasha now enjoys a beautiful fenced in yard, the premium dog food and treats, and more toys than any dog could want. Her new family taught her how to swim in the pool (with the help of a floatation device). She goes for daily walks with Frank and has learned her basic commands.

Sasha is doing great and is getting bigger. She sprouted up three inches! She's doing well with her commands and goes down stairs by her self now. She was afraid of the stairs for the longest time. She did not like the thunderstorms today either. She tried to hide under the covers, hahaha. She's a smart little cookie. I hear Heidi laugh a lot more now that Sasha is in the house. She's my little shadow, always has to go with Daddy. I cannot wait till she sees her first snow fall. - Frank

Frank and Heidi's family are huge Red Sox and Patriots fans. As you can tell from these pictures, now so is Sasha!

Thank you Rubino Family for giving Sasha the love and life that she deserves.

Ranger & Kali



Merrie and David contacted us looking for a playmate for their other rescued dog, Kali and thought that Ranger may be the "man" for the job. Kali is a dominant female Belgian Shepherd mix who had very specific requirements for her canine companion. Kali is rough on smaller breed dogs, and being a girl who likes to be in charge - she was looking for a submissive male dog of equal size. Interestingly, Kali, like Ranger, came from Tennessee, from another rescuer that we know quite well! After two meetings and an overnight with Kali, Ranger proved to be the perfect match!

Merrie and David are avid Dog Whisperer fans, and have done wonderful job training Kali in basic obedience and agility. We know with their guidance, that Ranger will go on to be a well-behaved member of the canine community (although we are not sure how agile he is!)

Things are going great! Ranger seems very happy to be here and is basking in lots of attention from the whole family -- and Kali seems satisfied that he understands her "boss lady" status ;-) . The two of them are enjoying walking and running together, and they've started initiating their own play sessions. They especially love playing keep-away and tug with "ducky"... See attached pix! Thanks again. - Merrie

Patches - The Big Eared Pup



Patches came to our rescue from a kill shelter where he had run out of time. He is a very high energy pup with the biggest ears ever! To find the perfect homes for Patches, we needed to find someone who would take him for long walks and runs to tire him out. Someone who was a firm, but gentle leader. Tony and Sara contacted us and had everything that Patches needed in a home! They had done their research prior to adoption and were prepared for crate training, obedience training, and socialization -- not to mention lots of exercise.

Patches is now living on Mount Desert Island, where he gets to go hiking and running.

Here is the latest update from Patches' new family.

I have been taking him for walks around other people and dogs, he is very gentle with the strangers who run up and start petting. He got mobbed by 5 little boys last night, he just sat and took it. Such a good dog!

He loves chewing bones. We gave up with the manufactured ones, they only last about a day. I went to the local butcher and got him a 14 inch dog bone... he is currently on day two and still chewing it like it mad. Kennel training is going well... almost will go in on command, still needs a little coaxing.

The Vet loves him... Patches has gotten his exam and first of two Lyme disease shots. I am taking him back in for the last Lyme disease and the heartguard in 3 weeks.

Patches has decided he is our personal guardian... those ears spike up and he starts scanning with the smallest of noises, it's quite cute the way he will contort his neck and examine things sometimes... pigeons confuse him. We love him so much, thank you for saving him! - Tony & Sara

In Memory of Morgan



Recently, one of our favorite DDB supporters, Patty, lost her longtime companion, Morgan, to old age related disease. To honor Morgan's life, a few of Patty's dog-lovin' friends from TPRC contacted us and made a donation to Dogs Deserve Better in Morgan's name.

Although I never met Morgan, I feel that I know her through the years of funny and heartwarming stories that Patty has shared with me.

To know Patty is to know a woman who lives for her dogs and for rescue dogs everywhere. As a result, we would like to share a little piece of Morgan's life with you and take time to reflect on how a deeply rescue dog can touch a soul.

Below is a short piece that Patty sent us about her wonderful pup.

Morgan blossomed into the sweetest and most lovable old girl I have ever met! From the time she was a pup, just rescued from the pound, she was always timid and shy. No matter how much coaxing and praise we used with her, it seemed as if that was to be her nature forever until gradually, she just blossomed!

One day, she decided she was no longer afraid of children, other animals, or people. She suddenly decided she loved the entire world!

We got spoiled with such a well mannered and obedient pup. A leash was never needed(though used whenever rules/law required it) and for a dog who never saw a day of obedience, we were in awe and ever so proud of our Morgan!

Any vet who ever saw her got kissed for walking into the room. The mailman's knees were kissed in the Summertime. And our faces were exfoliated frequently!

The only time I can recall Morgan being disobedient was at the ocean. There was nothing she loved more than to go splashing in and stay there! She may have shivered in the cold northeast Atlantic in October but she didn't want to get out. She would go temporarily deaf for the first call or two of her name. When we would become insistent, her head would go down and she would walk as slowly as possible toward the shore, giving us every opportunity to say, "Oh, OK. Five more minutes!" and toss a rock in for her to retrieve.

As she got older and arthritis was more of an issue, we'd coax her out to sit in the sun to warm her joints and rest them. She'd sense when we weren't looking and casually wander back to the shoreline and let the waves tease her paws, then her elbows, then her belly, and then her face would transform into the 9 month old puppy we had rescued from the pound 13 years earlier and she'd run and bounce through the water without hesitation.

On November 6, 2007, Morgan went to Rainbow Bridge to be with our other angel pups, Kasey and Gabby, and to play in the ocean with them until we get there. I know Morgan will be on the Bridge, waiting to kiss me when I get there and welcome me. And I will be there with sneakers on, ready to chase her down to the water's edge and answer her playful barks to throw more rocks!

Thank you Patty for giving Morgan the love and life that she deserved.

Please Join Us! Art For Dog's Sake - 11/17/2007

Art for Dog Sake - A Gathering of Artists

Saturday November 17th, 2007

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sprague Hall, Route 77

Cape Elizabeth

A diverse group of artists gathering with a mission: to help rescue dogs in need. A $2 donation at the door will go to Maine based rescue, Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing chained dogs & bringing them into the home & family

Participating artists include:

• Alison Bramhall/Festive Fish: Bold Vibrant Coastal Charts to brighten up any home or cottage & whimsical hand painted baby items.



• Tric Gardner/Stellaroos: Fun Dog Toys and other good stuff your dog will love!



• Ellen Maher/Chebeague Island Santa: Paper clay Santa's and Snowmen, so unique and one of a kind you've just gotta have one or two!



• Claudia Diller/Artist: Original Art Calendars and prints that will add a splash of color to any room!



• Nina Houghton/Sea Charms: One of a kind Sea Glass Jewelry tumbled only by the ocean's waves.



• Willa Wirth/Silversmith Extraordinare! Custom hand made Sterling Silver creations.



• Colleen Brazell/Colleen's Creations: Fun and splashy handmade glass beaded jewelry.



• Jim Williams/Mainely Lab Studio: Original works of art and cards featuring our favorite Black Lab!



• Marcy VanDale/MOF Creations: Fabulous fuzzy felted creations in an amazing array of colors. Hand bags and accessories.



• Carol Tanner & Dennis Proctor/Mother's Mountain:Dozens of unique, delicious products from our family recipes with continued emphasis on such attributes as all-natural, gluten free, salt free and fat free.



• Sue Worthing/Jubilee Beads



• Jeff Peterson



• Kathy Beeson



• Pat Graham



• Mary Sue Mainella



• Theresa Cady Libby

We would appreciate your support so come & bring a friend or two!

Directions: From Portland cross the Casco Bay Bridge and head South on Route 77. You will pass the IGA Shopping Center & Cape Elizabeth High School both on the Right. Just after Cape High turn Right on FOWLER ROAD, follow to the end. Directly across the intersection is Sprague Hall.

For more information on the event, contact: Alison Bramhall, FestiveFish@aol.com

For more information on the cause: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/, www.petfinder.com/shelters/ME52.html