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Art for Dog Sake - A Gathering of Artists

Sunday, November 22nd 2009

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Sprague Hall, off Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth

A diverse group of artists gathering with a mission: to help rescue dogs in need. A two dollar donation at the door will be donated to Maine based rescue: Dogs Deserve Better.

It is our hope to raise money and awareness for this cause. We would appreciate your support so come & bring a friend or two!

Dogs Deserve Better is a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing chained dogs and bringing them into the home and family.

Dogs Deserve Better was the 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award. In 2008, our Maine chapter placed over 196 forgotten dogs from Maine & beyond in loving homes.

Directions:

From Portland cross the Casco Bay Bridge and head South on Route 77. You will pass the IGA Shopping Center on your Right and then come to Cape Elizabeth High School(also on your Right) Just after the Cape High you will see FOWLER ROAD turn Right here. Continue to the end. Directly across the intersection is Sprague Hall.Local

Artists supporting a local cause:

Alison Bramhall Festive Fish: Yarmouth, ME http://www.festivefish.net/

Jim Williams Mainely Labs Studio: Portland, ME http://www.mainelylabs.com/

Claudia Diller Art Calendars: Portland, ME http://www.claudiadiller.com/

Kaitlyn Duggan Pottery: Little Cranberry Island, ME http://www.kaitlynduggan.com/

Sihaya Hopkins Blossom Studio: Brooklin, ME http://www.blossomstudiobeads.com/

Nina Houghton Sea Charms: Portland, ME http://www.seacharms.com/

Sue Worthing Jubilee Beads: Portland, ME http://www.jubileebeads.com/

Mary Sue Mainella & Theresa Cady Libby The Formulaah: Portland, ME http://www.theformulaah.com/

Beth Weber Shelby Woo Accessories: Portland, ME Fashionable accessories for women

Lydia Webber Wild Lupine Farm Studio: Cape Elizabeth, ME Hand painted glassware

Lois Jordan Studio: Brunswick, ME Dog Portraits

Jeff Peterson Peterson Woodworking: Harrison, ME Wooden ware for the table & kitchen.

Kathy Chadwick Island Granite Works: Wiscasset, Maine http://www.islandgraniteworks.com/

Tracy Glessner The Belted Cow: Yarmouth, ME http://www.thebeltedcow.com/

Dean and Kristin Bingham Deans Sweets: Portland, ME http://www.deanssweets.com/

Tric Gardner Stellaroos: Cumberland, ME Fun dog toys and other good stuff your dog will love!

Show benefactor: Dogs Deserve Better http://www.dogsdeservebettermaine.petfinder.com/

SPONSOR A BAG - FEED A DOG!
EXCITING OFFER FROM TIMBERWOLF ORGANICS!


We received incredible news today! Timberwolf Organics has generously offered to donate one to two PALLETS of its wonderful top grade dog food to the Maine branch of Dogs Deserve Better.

One pallet of food contains 60, 33-LB bags of dog food - enough to feed our dogs for approximately 6 months. Two pallets would be enough to keep our dogs healthy and happy for ONE YEAR!

There is one catch - which is why we need your help...In order to collect on this generous offer, we must pay for the shipping from the Timberwolf Organics warehouse in Kansas to Maine.

Estimated shipping costs for one pallet of dog food is $700 - which sounds expensive, but actually works out to cost a little more than $10.00 per bag. Considering a single bag of this dog food costs $65.00 retail...this is an incredible opportunity for our rescue.

We would LOVE to take Timberwolf Organics up on its offer of TWO pallets, but we are not sure we can raise enough funds to cover the shipping...Estimated shipping for two pallets is $1000.

Please consider sponsoring the shipping on one bag of dog food ($10.00).
http://ddbmaine.chipin.com/timberwolf-organics-sponsor-a-bag-fundraiser


If we can find 70 people to sponsor one bag of food - that will cover the shipping costs for one pallet of dog food! If 100 people sponsor a bag...We can feed our rescue dogs for ONE YEAR!

In this economy - we really need your help. It is becoming harder every day for us to continue, and the numbers of dogs that need our help are increasing for the same reasons.

Our pups thank you for caring!

KAIDAN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY



Kaidan just celebrated his third birthday. Why is that an exciting event for us? Because we were told by vet after to vet to euthanize Kaidan. "It is cruel to keep him alive." "He won't live more than a few months." "He cannot possibly have any kind quality life." were just a few of the comments.

Kaidan came to Dogs Deserve Better Headquarters in PA almost three years ago as a puppy. He was rescued from a pen where he lived outside 24/7. The problem with Kaidan is that he appeared to have been born without hip sockets - or suffered from Ricketts or some sort of degenerative disease which eroded his hip sockets - nobody really knew which.

We went back and forth on what to do with this pup - he did not appear to be in any pain - but maybe he could not lead a good life... in the process of our decision making, we fell in love.

Kaidan just has the sweetest personality and love of life. It became impossible to consider not giving him a chance.

Along came Ann Hay - who refuses to listen to vets and is a big believer in the power of nutrition and love. She adopted sweet Kaidan - and later went on to adopt several more special needs dogs! Kaidan is living on a farm and enjoying his life to the maximum. He goes everywhere with his family. He has exceded all of our expectations.

Every year on Kaidan's birthday we receive an email from Ann with pictures and an update. Below you can see this year's celebration email and pictures:

Here are some pictures of Kaidan at his 3rd birthday party. He got a new wagon, which he needed since he chewed the wooden sides off his previous one. His birthday cake was banana with peanut butter carob frosting, which he really seemed to like!

Thank you Ann for being Kaidan's rescue angel. You give us hope that there is home for every dog! Kaidan - you are an inspiration - and a very lucky boy!

LOTS OF HAPPY TAILS!

We have lots of happy endings to report. Rescue can be a heartbreaking effort, but seeing our pups land in loving homes makes the endless work worthwhile. Hope you all enjoy the below updates:



Oscie and his new family

OSCIE - A young, shy Doxie that came to us from the backyard breeding facility in upstate Maine has gone to a wonderful home with the Pelser family. Here is the latest report from Oscie's new Dad:

He is still timid although he is wagging his tail much more especially in the morning and when I come home from work. He prefers to snuggle with Zoey our hound on the couch and we bought him a little bed for the living room he likes to go in from time to time. He still loves to snuggle with Wenda my wife and when she comes home from work (she works 3 nights a week as she is a nurse) he motions to her to come into the living room so he can snuggle with her. He loves the back yard and chases Zoey to play. They are starting to play together more and more. He will come over to her and nibble at her leg or ear to get her attention to engage her to play. We are looking to do some training probably not until the summer as our schedule with all our kids is pretty full. He is a great dog.



Maggie Mae & Ralph

MAGGIE MAE - A Senior Hound mix who came to us with her "brother" Woobie (below) after her human mom passed away unexpectedly is now living the life of her dreams in Mount Desert Island with her new "brother" Ralph. She has a fenced in yard with a view of the water and a new mom who is retired. What more could a dog ask for?

Just a little update on Maggie; all is going very well. She's really settling in and seems to be very happy. My neighbor and I witnessed the latest burst of energy while we were walking and it was a riot.

Another "milestone" for Maggie is her meeting with my neighbor's and their dogs. She was a perfect lady and became fast friends with Candy's Springer, Grypon. I think it was love at first sight for both of them. We all went for a walk and Maggie was actually trotting along for a bit. She was great with all the dogs and charmed the humans. She's an amazing, gentle girl and we love having her here.

She gets so excited when she sees the other dogs and hops like a baby lamb. ( neighbor's description!) Then she trots so fast, it's hard to keep up with her.

She also watches Ralph for signs of excitement and then she joins in. She knows when we're going for a walk and bounces around the kitchen when I get the leashes out. It's so funny to watch her.

Ralph is now her best buddy and they are doing great. She's just a very sweet, well-behaved girl and we're enjoying her so much. My neighbors love her too.Here' s one of the latest pics for your viewing pleasure. lolBarb



Woobie & Suki

WOOBIE - Maggie Mae's "brother" (see above) Woobie has found a home with Chuck, Tori and Suki, another Husky mix who came from our rescue. He is living the life every arctic dog should with a big fenced in yard and a Dad who likes to do things like walk around in the woods and go ice fishing - and a mom who loves to spoil dogs:)

He's starting to adapt really well. When Tori's home he's right at her side all the time. Chuck



Cocoa Pup (now Tomai)

COCOA PUP is another rescue from the breeding facility case - He now has a new name, Tomai and lives with 3 other little dogs in Vermont. Tomai has a big fenced in yard and a mom who works from home. From the picture above, looks like he is feeling right at home in his new life!

I just thought I would check in again to tell you that the little guy is still doing wonderfully well. He is totally accepted as one of the gang by canines and felines - they all just like him alot. He and Max and even older Belle, play like mad fiends most days. Then flop over in happy exhaustion. I have enclosed a picture of Tomai in just that kind of pose. Enjoy and thanks again for steering me toward him, Sherrill


Bay & Lena (Formerly Honey)

BAY - Many of you will remember Bay, a special needs Lab with a birth defect that causes urinary leaking challenges. Bay really lucked out when she was adopted by Doris and John! She is now living in Hollis, ME with Lena (Husky mix) also adopted from our rescue and two other pups. She has a giant fenced in yard, a stream to swim in and goes on daily hikes in the woods and fields behind her new home with her new family.

She's doing grrreat! All you have to say to her is, "Do you have to go outside and pee?" and she goes out the dog door and pees. Sadie has been playing with her on walks. Lena, who pretends she isn't interested in playing, has made some bounding motions toward Sadie and Bay when they play. Hannah is coming around. How is it possible to love someone so much so quickly? She is such a love! We are so happy we have her! Thanks so much for what you do!

Snowball is an 11 year old Pomeranian that came to Dogs Deserve Better - Maine with seven other dogs from a backyard breeding facility/kennel in upstate Maine.

Snowball has spent her whole life producing puppies. She lived outside in a pen 15-16 hours a day and then would sleep in a tiny wire cage at night.

Despite it all - she is the sweetest girl in the world. Quiet and cuddly. She is a true lap dog! She gets along great with the other dogs in her foster and does not cause any trouble at all.

Snowball was coughing and wheezing on the transport down to her foster home. We initially thought it was an upper respiratory infection.

Once at her foster home, a Mammary Tumor was discovered - a little bigger than a golfball on her groin area which was leaking fluid. The vet suggested that we do chest x-rays as this kind of tumor speads to the lungs when it advances.

We did the chest x-rays and bloodwork ($292.74) which thankfully showed no tumors in the lungs - That is the good news...The bad news is that the x-rays revealed an enlarged heart that possibly has fluid around it.

Snowball is having difficulty breathing because of her heart issue. We have her on heart medications that are helping greatly. Her foster mom sees improvement every day. Snowball has just started to run and play!

The next step is to do an ultrasound of Snowball's heart ($275). When it is possible for to undergo anesthesia (which might not be possible in the immediate future depending on what the results of the ultrasound show) - she will need two surgeries to address her Mammory gland tumor (estimated cost: $864.04).

Once she is healthy again - Snowball will also need a dental with multiple extractions...

These expenses are currently out of our reach and we urgently need your help.

http://ddbmaine.chipin.com/snowball

Our goal with this Chipin.com fundraiser is to cover the Ultrasound and Mammary Gland surgery exenses ($1140).

This little girl has been through so much in her life, and come through with a sunny disposition. We feel that she deserves a chance to spend her remaining years happy, healthy and warm. Please help us to help her!

http://ddbmaine.chipin.com/snowball


Not comfortable with Paypal?

Direct Donations for Snowball can be made to the Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic under Dogs Deserve Better - Maine

or via USPS: Dogs Deserve Better - Maine, PO Box 6103, Falmouth, ME 04105.

Want to see some of the other pups rescued with Snowball?

Visit www.petfinder.com/shelters/ME52.html

Thank you for caring about Snowball.

HADDIE FINDS HER FOREVER HOME

Haddie is an American Bulldog that came to our rescue from a neglectful home where she spent much of her time living outside on a chain. Fortunately for Haddie, she was only with her previous "family" for 3-4 months before she came to us. During that time she lost almost 30 lbs. Haddie was a product of improper re-homing. She originated from a family that loved her and took great care of her - their only mistake was re-homing her without the help of a rescue group.
After several months in foster care - Haddie has regained her weight and is living the life of a spoiled princess:) The best news is that Haddie has been adopted by her foster family - who refer to her as Haddie-Licious. Below are the before and after pictures of Haddie - What a difference it makes to a dog to be a part of the right family! Thank you Tess and family for loving Haddie!

UPDATE ON ANI

Ani is a Dalmatian/Pit Bull mix who came to our rescue after living alone in an abandoned house in Northern Maine. She was underweight and fearful when she arrived. She eventually found her way to the perfect home, with Jeff and One (her Rat Terrier sister). It was not an easy adoption. Ani and One struggled for quite sometime to work out their boundaries. But Jeff never gave up and now, as you can see, One and Ani are truly sisters. Thank you Jeff for giving Ani such a wonderful home! Check out Ani the Snow Bunny!