A Day in the Life of a Dog Rescuer

2010-06-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

The "Apology" Video

A rescue friend passed this video in to me today - and I think it says it all. People always ask us why a dog was given up or why the dog was left at the shelter, on the side of the road, on a chain. There is still a misconception that rescue dogs or shelter dogs must have something wrong with them - that is why the ended up homeless.

Of course - that is not the case. As many of us know - the problem generally lies with the humans not the dogs. The dogs just want to be loved and will be loyal to you no matter how badly you treat them. Any behavioral issues are so often the result of a dog's experience with the humans that promised to take care of him.

Okay - I am getting off my soap box now. Please enjoy the video and pass along so other might benefit.

2010-06-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Dangers of Obesity in Pets on Nightline

Those of you that know me - or have adopted a dog from me - have probably received a lecture about the dangers of overfeeding. Many roll their eyes or nod blankly hoping that eventually I will finish my speech.

This week, Nightline covered a terrific story about how America's pets are suffering from the obesity and inactivity of America's humans. The story also offered some insights as to how we can correct this problem without much effort.

I thought I would share the story with the few followers of this blog.

It breaks my heart when I see dogs that are middle aged (8-10) who can no longer run or go up and down stairs because of their weight.

With the number of obese dogs that come through this rescue - I have seen firsthand the health-related issues that accompany obesity. Most of these health issues can be avoided with proper feeding guidleines adding years onto your dog's life.

We recently took in Cheyenne - a morbidly obese Pit Bull who is only 10 years old - but can barely walk.

Her previous owner stopped walking her and started to feed her out of guilt when her husband commited suicide - leaving Cheyenne alone for many hours each day. We are walking Cheyenne every day now - to work the weight off her - but it is sad to watch. She struggles to breath after just a short bit of execise - and cannot lift her body up steps or into a car.

Eventually she will lose the extra pounds and be a happy, healthy girl again - but finding an adopter for a pit bull, not to mention an obese, senior pit bull, is going to be quite a challenge! The good news is that Cheyenne has a beautiful temperment and gets along with humans and other anmals without issue. So hopefully that will help her.

Here is a picture of Gouda - my own 10 year old Pit Bull. He is the same age as Cheyenne - but you would never know it. I keep praying that he will start to get old as he likes to climb book shelves, and open the refrigerator door in search of yummy snacks...It takes a whole day of running around to get him tired! The point being - that age is not a good excuse to have an overweight dog.

We are alway complaining that dog live such short lives - and having our best friend leave us behind this world after 10-12 years is heartbreaking. If we just focus on proper diet and exercise - many dogs can live well upwards of 15. Please give your dog that chance to be your share life for longer - excercise - feed quality food in moderate amounts. You both will be happier in the end!

2010-02-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

The Best Part of the Superbowl!

I am not a big sports fan - and confess that I did not see a single play during the Superbowl. I spent most of the evening in front of my computer...what a surprise. Fortunately, my rescue friend, Chris, called today to laugh about a commercial he saw during the big event. It sounded so hysterical that I looked the advertisement up on line. Here it is -- enjoy!

I LOVE this commercial because as a dog lover - I am always trying to discourage people from using these electronic collars. One way I do this is by suggesting that the dog owner wear the collar himself to test how the shock feels against his/her neck.

This ad is the ultimate doggie revenge! Nice job!

2010-02-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

"Fenced-in-Yard Required" - An ongoing battle...

As a rescuer of abandoned, abused, scared, untrained dogs - it is my job to ensure the safety of that dog in his or her new life. The process for ensuring safety has many components including evaluating prospective adopter through a rigorous application process that has many pieces (application form, reference checks, home inspection, evaluation of the dog's needs/behavior vs what the adopter's are looking for in a family member, etc).

One piece of the puzzle for placing a dog that causes a lot of discussion, conflict and angry emails with prospective adopters is the fenced-in-yard requirement.

Many rescues will require a fenced yard for every adoptable dog in their care. Others - a fence never even comes into the equation (the second category also tends to have many lost dogs and failed adoptions).

I fall somewhere in between. I try to evaluate each dog's personality and then make a decision as to whether it needs a fence for safety purposes or not.

Unfortunately - many of the dogs that come through this particular rescue end up needing a fence to keep them safe. This is not a random decision or standard requirement - it is just that many of our dogs come from living outside on a chain or from neglectful/abusive situations - which leads to a scared/shy dog with a tendency to run and/or a dog that is a skilled escape artist.

It is amazing to me how many people without a fence will inquire about a dog that has a fence requirement listed in its profile information - and then try to talk me into the adoption with statements such as:

"We have 100 acres for the dog to run on and do not live near a road."

To a rescuer that translates into:

"We have a 100 acres for a dog to get lost in - we have no intention of keeping him on leash eventhough he is a stated flight risk - we will never be able to find him before the bears or the hunters do."

Another favorite argument is

"We would never leave our dog outside unattended"

Rescuer hears:

"We will be standing right there when the dog takes off into the road and gets hit by a car."

Adoptive families often think we are being overprotective and unreasonable - but the bottom line is - rescuers spend A LOT of time trying to catch scared, lost dogs that escape when someone accidentally leaves the front door open or decides it would be a good idea to let their new dog off leash to see if he will come when called.

We also see A LOT of applications that include historical stories of family dogs that accidentally got loose, were hit by a car or never seen again.

So these fears and resulting adoption requirements are based on experience not complete insanity.

Just recently I spent 5 days in the woods trying to catch a scared Pekingese. Not a dog from our rescue - but she became ours once caught. Animal Control would not even send an officer out (that is a future blog entry for another day) - and we ended up having to use a live trap to catch the dog (which still took another 3 days - because the dog became more timid the longer she was outside).

Another lost dog incident touched me a few months back when I let a family without a fence adopt a dog that probably needed a fence. The applicants had such a terrific history of caring for rescued dogs and were very persuasive during discussions about recall training, obedience classes. They assured me that the dog would not be off leash until he had his recall 100% down. I believed them and moved forward with the adoption.

Less than 24 hours after the adoption, I received a call from a stranger which said "I have your dog." Yup - already lost - fortunately he still was wearing his rescue ID tag and he was only right down the road from his new home. That will teach me to second guess my instincts...

But in follow up - the adoptive couple proves again that they are as wonderful as they appeared to be in the application process - they consult with a trainer - who tells them that they are going to need to keep their newly adoptive dog on leash for many months before he will be ready to attempt an off-leash adventure. I was so relieved - as I now knew with the expert advice, the off leash adventure would be put on hold until after much training and bonding time.

A week later I receive an email from the adoptive family stating that they had almost lost their new pup AGAIN! They let him off leash in the yard and all of the sudden he took off and became suddenly ignorant of his name. If his new mom had not almost killed herself by doing a flying tackle - he would have been lost again.

I felt like banging my head into a wall - Both myself and the foster mom spent a great deal of time discussing the flight risk probability and proper training and assessment techniques to determine if and when the dog would be able to run off leash. I was up for many nights after that - sleeping with my phone - waiting for a "I have your dog" or "your dog was hit by a car" call.

Again - I went over the need for recall training with the adoptive mom - who then asked "How are we supposed to exercise him if he cannot be off leash?"

That question actually shocked me. I have 6 dogs of my own - none of which are ever off leash outside of a fenced in area - and all receive a ton of exercise. We walk them on leash. We take them hiking, snow shoeing, running and biking - all on leash. Never had a complaint from them or a lost dog - thankfully.

Fortunately - it has been many months since the last incident - and no escapes that I know of. I think the last episode made the family realize finally - that this dog was nowhere near ready to run free. I did offer to take the dog back into rescue if the off-leash requirement was a deal breaker - but fortunately - they are in love with their dog - running gene and all:) I think it is a happy ending.

Anyway - sorry for going on a rambling rampage - but please - if a rescue is requiring a fence for a dog- believe them - they know what they are talking about. They are just looking out for the safety of a dog who has probably been to hell and back - and trying to make sure that his life with his new family is successful and long lasting. If you are really in love with the dog that requires a fence - put up a fence. It is not that big of a project - and can be inexpensively accomplished with some welded wire and stakes.

To see pets that have recently lost their owners in Maine, please visit:
http://maine.craigslist.org/laf/

http://www.petfinder.com/classifieds/searchclassified.cgi?type=L&user_state=user

2010-01-30T21:47:00.000-08:00

DDB Valentine's Day Campaign - a List of Purebred Dogs Fighting to Survive Maine's Winter

Every Valentine's week, Dogs Deserve Better holds its "Have a Heart for Chained Dogs" campaign. For this outreach effort, concerned citizens and Dogs Deserve Better Area reps and volunteers submit addresses of chained and penned dogs accross the United States and beyond to DDB headquarters.

Groups of school children, scout troops, and other volunteers create personal handmade valentines to be sent to each chained/penned dog reported, in the hopes of getting a response from and opportunity to educate the "caretakers" of these forgotten pups.

It is an exciting program - In 2009 over 12,000 chained and penned dogs received valentines. This year our goal is to reach 15,000 "outside" dogs. Hopefully some of them will be brought inside the home as a result of our efforts.

As I am putting together my list of chained/penned dog addresses to submit to DDB - I notice a pattern. EVERY dog on my list is a purebred. I am not sure what that means - if anything...but it surprises me just the same.

My Valentine's list of chained/penned dogs in Maine includes

-- 1 Newfoundland - chained

-- 1 Golden Retriever - chained

-- 3 German Shepherds - 1 chained, 2 penned

-- 1 Beagle - chained

-- 1 Rottweiller - penned

I am also working on a case that involves a male Boxer that was until a week ago living outside in a fenced area 24/7 - but I cannot submit him for a valentine - as he is no longer an "outside" dog - but is now living inside an unheated garage with two other Boxers...very sad and frustrating. I am not sure which way of life makes me more upset.

The woman who owns the Boxer dogs is a breeder - who on her very cheery website advertises home raised pups in a family setting.

As she is making money off these dogs - there is very little chance of her releasing/re-homing her Boxers, or persuading her to allow her dogs to actually live as part of her family. GRRR. This type of case is the worst.

The only reason I can think of for so many of the dogs on my list being purebred is that perhaps it links back to the "sale" process of breeders.

Although reputable breeders screen the families interested in purchasing their puppies as thoroughly as reputable rescue groups do - requiring an application, vet/personal references, home visit and an adoption contract outlining the expectations moving forward (vet care, living inside the home, obedience training, humane treatment) - many breeders do not spend much time or effort screening prospective homes.

This lack of screening leads to families who are uneducated regarding the commitment that raising a puppy or even an adult dog requires, being allowed to bring a dog home. Once the puppy starts chewing on furniture or peeing in the house or the children lose interest - he/she lands outside on a chain for life because it is too much work for the family to care for the puppy.

I was actually contacted by a Mastiff breeder over the summer - who was requesting that I take in an adult Mastiff that was living on a chain. The dog had become aggressive towards the children in the family due to lack of training, socialization and inclusion.

The Mastiff had come from the breeder as a puppy - but she apparently did a poor job of screening the family prior to purchase and did not follow up with the family after purchase to ensure that the puppy was being taken care of properly.

She eventually received a call from the family demanding that she take this now aggressive, adult dog back or they would euthanize the dog. As the breeder had children of her own - she was unwilling to bring the dog back into her household. Thus she reached out to rescue.

This was a horrible situation that could have easily been avoided by a little screening and follow-up. I was saddened that I was not in a position to help this dog - I can only hope that this particular breeder has now implemented a more thorough evaluation process for her prospective buyers.

Do not get me wrong - there are MANY mixed breed dogs sitting out in the cold in Maine right now - they just do not happen to be on my current radar - they have not been reported to me yet. Some of these dogs come from shelters and rescue groups that also made mistakes with the screening and follow-up process - others come from accidental litters, were purchased out of Uncle Henry's or from "free-to-good-home" advertisements. Poor screening, follow-up and lack of humane education is to blame in most cases where a dog end up on a chain in someone's yard.

It is all bad - I just hope that this year's Valentine's Day campaign can bring a few of these unfortunate dogs a better life.

There is still time to send a chained or penned dog a valentine - if you know of one that needs help, please submit it to Dogs Deserve Better by visiting

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/Valentines2010.html

You can stay anonymous - and who knows - you might save a dog in the process:)

2010-01-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

Getting Back in Gear

I have been neglecting this blog for quite sometime - without any good reason accept that I really have not been motivated to write.

A few months ago I promised myself that I would get back to maintaining this site. This promise was made after I received an adoption inquiry from a woman in Hong Kong who was interested in a little Doxie that we had in rescue at the time.

Of course I would never consider sending a little dog across the world when a great adoptive home was waiting somewhere close by - but the inquiry made me curious. Why was this seemingly qualified adopter searching for a dog all the way in Maine? Are there no dogs or dog rescue organizations in Hong Kong?

These thoughts led to a quick Internet investigation.

As it turns out Hong Kong has a terrible overpopulation problem due to a large number of pet stores and puppy mills. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is in charge of strays - which are numerous - as residents tend not to voluntarily spay and neuter - and many, many dogs are just discarded on the streets when people tire of them. The AFCD does not allow private adoptions from its kennel - and most of the dogs are simply held for a reclaim period and then euthanized.

Only a licensed/approved rescue organization is allowed to pull dogs from AFCD of which there are few.

My search then led to Hong Kong Dog Rescue - an incredible rescue organization run by a woman named Sally Andersen. She created this rescue specifically to help save dogs from AFDC.

While browsing through the HKDR website I was overwhelmed by the number of purebred dogs available as well as the number of adorable mutts. It is clear that this rescue is in over its head with numbers of dogs that need help - but have created a strong support system for themselves in the community.

I referred the Hong Kong resident who inquired about our Doxie to HKDR. I was amazed that when she replied that she did not know this rescue existed, as it is obvious that Sally, the founder, spends every a great deal of time trying to make the public aware of her kennel and the plight of the Hong Kong strays. Hopefully my referral helped one dog find a home - as the adopter seemed genuine and thoughtful.

As part of my investigation into the life of dogs in Hong Kong, I started to read Sally's Blog (http://hkdr.wordpress.com/) - all about her daily stuggles and victories working to save these dogs. I am now addicted to her Blog, which somehow she manages to maintain daily. All I can figure after reading all of her blog entries is that Sally must never sleep!

Anyway - this long story ends with my realization that I need to make more of an effort to maintain my own blog and to share the victories and heartbreaks that occur in my own daily efforts to save dogs.

Thank you Sally for waking me up!

2009-11-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Shop local for your Holiday Gifts!

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/

2009-07-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-01-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Sweet Samantha

Sam is a Chocolate Lab who came to our rescue when our vet called and asked for help. Sam's caretakers wanted to euthanize Sam because she had ongoing skin issues and was having accidents in the home.

As Sam was only 4-5 Years old, and just the nicest dog in the world, our vet felt that she deserved better - and we agreed.

After running extensive tests on Sam, we discovered that there was nothing physically wrong with her other than food allergies. To keep her coat in good condition - Sam requires a grain free diet. The accidents in the home were the result of a steriod shot that her previous caretakers had given her in an effort to relieve her skin issues. Steroids are hard on a dog's liver and kidneys and a large dose makes a dog drink excessive amounts of water - which in turn makes them need to relieve themselves frequently.

Once in foster care and on a high grade diet - Sam stopped having accidents and showed no signs of her previous skin issues.

We were surprised at how many prospective adoptive families for Sam fought us on the condition that she be fed a grain free diet. Many felt that the cost of the food was prohibitive to adoption. As we feed all of our rescue dogs high grade food, we know that spending a little more on food, greatly decreases vet expenses - as lower grade foods can cause countless health problems such as allergies, hot spots, ear infections, urinary tract infections and even cancer.

After a month of screening applicants for Sam, we found the perfect family for her! Not only are they giving Sam the food that she needs to stay healthy - but have switched their other dogs to the same diet. Sam is now living in Edgecomb, Maine with two other Labs, cats and a family who loves her. She spends hours chasing balls and swimming. Here is the latest update from Sam's new family:

We really could not be happier with our trio of dogs. they do so well together and are such a joy to have in our family. Sammy completes the canine aspect perfectly! Sammy has decided that she likes to sleep with emmy (our older dog) on the couch downstairs at night. emmy really seems happy to have the company.

Everyone is GREAT! Sammy is SOOOO sweet and we are very happy to have her! Sammy and Emmy enjoy naps together and she and Lilly are ball-chasing buddies. I've tried to take some good photos, but whereas the dogs are always pretty busy, they come out as yellow and brown blurs and when they are sleeping (as you can see) Sammy appears as a brown lump!!!

Anyway, here are some pictures and a short clip of a "fetchfest" with the spunkier 2 of the girls.

2008-10-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

More Happy Tails! Shadow & Skipper

Shadow

Shadow came into our rescue early this past summer. He appeared to be a perfect pup (outgoing, good with other dogs, children, house trained) - but for some reason, we had a hard time finding him the perfect home. Finally - the perfect home appeared in September. A nice couple had recently lost their canine companion to old age related challenges. Their remaining pup, Sadie, was lost without her brother. Boy we were surprised when we met Sadie! She was Shadow's twin sister! Sadie did not welcome Shadow with open arms, but after a little time together, they have bonded and have become a dynamic duo! It goes to show you - good things come to those who wait! Here is the latest update from Shadow's new Dad:

Hi There,Things are going GREAT with Shadow! He and Sadie play well together now. He has settled in nicely. He is a wonderful boy. We have had no issues with him at all. We all love him dearly. Greg

Skipper

Sweet Skipper belonged to one of our family members who passed away. Skipper was lost without his mom. He became depressed and refused to eat. From there Skipper went to a rural shelter in Northern California. We could not possibly leave Skipper's fate in the hands of strangers - so with help from Dogs Deserve Better Rep, Pam Fanning in California, Skipper was pulled from the shelter and transported to Maine.

Of course we had to find the perfect family for Skipper. He was used to having his caretaker around 24/7 and was a very spoiled dog! Well, the perfect family came along...Skipper is now living with a wonderful retired couple in Saco, Maine. He appetite is returning. He accompanies his new family on walks to the beach, trips to the dog park and to their camp on the lake! Skipper is even learning to enjoy boating!

Thank you Arnie and Felice for giving Skipper more love and joy than he could ever ask for! You have no idea how much it means to us to know that he has found you.

2008-10-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

Adoption Update - Sophia (Formerly Face)

Sophia (formerly Face) came to our rescue three years ago from an overcrowded shelter in Kentucky. Sophia is fearful of strangers - but has found herself a member of a wonderful family that has gone the extra mile to help her overcome her anxieties. Here is the latest update from Sophia's adoptive mom:

Sophie is doing well. She still goes to daycare twice a week for socialization. She enjoys playing with the other dogs. I recently took her to a dog trainer for advice. Whenever company comes, she paces - she is fearful of strangers. The trainer suggested putting the leash around her neck and keeping right at my side when company comes for security, and not to allow anyone to touch her. This gives her time to observe without a stranger coming into her "bubble". Also to give treats and put the leash around her when someone comes to the door, because that is when she paces and barks. I've tried that a few times and that does help with the treats, but she still has a long way to go on that conditioning. She is great with my husband and myself. Spoiled. I just got done washing the couch cover because she sneaks downstairs at night and that is where she sleeps if she isn't in the bedroom. She leads a good life. Tries to catch the frogs in the lake in front of our house, watches for the chipmunk who lives in the rock wall, and plays well with the dogs at daycare. Here are a couple of pictures. Hope all is well with you. Maddy

Thank you Maddy for giving Sophia the love and life she deserves. Rescued dogs are not always perfect dogs. It is heartwarming to see a family dedicated to working through the challenges - one that sees the inner beauty of their canine companion and does not give up.

2008-10-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Tail - Diamond

We LOVE to receive updates on our adoptive dogs! Diamond was adopted from us approximately two years ago. She came to our rescue from a kennel in upstate Maine where she was living outside in a pen with her "brother" Demon. We were thrilled to receive the below update from Diamond's forever family:

Cleaning out my email and happened upon this one from last year! Here are a couple of recent pics of Diamond. She continues to do well. She has found her voice this year and knows how to ‘speak’ – mostly only when asked! She still comes to the office with me and hates it when I leave her home for any reason at all. She continues to be the precious gem that her name implies. She doesn’t like the water much – I think she’s confused and doesn’t realize she’s a lab. So we just have fun doing other stuff besides swimming! Hope you are still finding good homes for dogs who need them. Best Always, Ellie

2008-04-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

I Want To Quit

The below was sent to me by a fellow rescuer today. I thought it was great because it explains what each person that devotes their life to rescue goes through mentally, physically and financially on a daily basis.

"I Want To Quit!" by Joan Fremo, May, 2001

This week's contribution is late, and I want to apologize to my readers. It has been such a busy week with Rescue, and sometimes Rescuers just run out of time. Sometimes, Rescue can be very difficult... I'd like to share with you my feelings. The following is based on a recent post I made to my friends on one of my Rescue Email lists. I was not the only one experiencing "one of those weeks".

I want to quit! My health is bad. There are days I feel so terrible that I can barely move. My phone bills are outrageous, and I could have replaced my van with the funds I have spent these last 3 years---on animals that were not my own.

I want to quit! I spend hours and hours emailing about dogs. There may be 500 messages when I start---and at 4 AM, when I finally shut down the computer, there are still 500 emails to be read.

I want to quit! Gosh, I haven't the time left to email my friends. I can't remember the last book I read, and I gave up my subscription to my local newspaper---I used to enjoy reading it, cover to cover, but now it often ends up in the bottom of the squirrel's cage---unread.

I want to quit!I've spent days emailing what seems like everyone---trying to find a foster home, help for a dog languishing in a shelter---but his time has run out, and the shelter has had to euthanize to make room for the next sad soul.

I want to quit!I swear, I walk away from my computer to stretch my legs---let the dogs out---and come back to find another dog in desperate need. There are times I really dread checking my email. How will I find the funds, the help, to save yet another dog?

I want to quit!I save one dog, and two more take its place. Now an owner who doesn't want his dog---it won't stay in his unfenced yard. An intact male wanders... This bitch got pregnant by a stray... This 3-month-old pup killed baby chicks... The dog got too big... This person's moving and needs to give up his pet. I ask you, friends---what town, what city, what state doesn't allow you to own a pet?

I want to quit!I just received another picture, another sad soul with tormented eyes that peer out of a malnourished body. I hear whimpering in my sleep, have nightmares for days...

Many of the "Breed People" don't seem to want to hear about these dogs. Breeders either don't realize, or just don't care, how many dogs of their breed are dying in shelters.

I want to quit!I just got off the phone. "Are you Pyr Rescue? We want to adopt a male to breed to our female." How many times do I have to explain? I have tried to explain about genetics, about health and pedigrees. I explain that rescue NEUTERS! I usually end up sobbing, as I explain about the vast numbers of animals dying in shelters across the country, as I describe the condition many of these animals are found in. I wonder if they really heard me...

I want to quit!It is not like I don't have enough rescues of my own to worry about---but others have placed dogs improperly and aren't there to advise the new owners.

I want to quit!There ARE some unscrupulous rescues out there---hoarders, collectors, and folks who will short change the care of the animals to make a dollar. They save them all, regardless of temperament, putting fellow rescuer's and adopters at risk by not being truthful.

I want to quit!I have trusted the wrong people--- had faith and heart broken...

I want to quit!AND THEN...My dog, lays his head in my lap, he comforts me with his gentle presence---and the thought of his cousins suffering stirs my heart.

I want to quit!AND THEN...One of those 500 emails is from an adopter. They are thanking me for the most wonderful dog on earth---they cannot imagine life with out their friend---their life is changed, and they are so grateful.

I want to quit!AND THEN...One of my adopted Rescues has visited a nursing home. A patient that has spent the last few years unable to communicate, not connecting---Lifts his hand to pat the huge head in his lap, softly speaks his first words in ages--- to this gentle furchild.

I want to quit!AND THEN...A Good Samaritan has found and vetted a lost baby, "I can't keep him, but I'll take care of him until you find his forever home."

I want to quit!AND THEN..."Jamie took his first steps holding on to our Pyr." "Joan, you should see this dog nursing this hurt kitten!" "I was so sick, Joan, and he never left my side..."

I want to quit!AND THEN...I get an email from a fellow rescuer, "Haven't heard from you in a while---you OK? You know I think of you..."

AND THEN...A dozen rescuers step up to help, to transport, to pull, and to offer encouragement. I have friends I have never seen, but we share tears, joys, and everything in between. I am not alone. I am blest with family of the heart, my fellow Rescuers.

Just days ago it was a friend who shared her wit and wisdom, whose late night email lifted my heart. Sometimes it is friends who only have time to forward you a smile. Often, it is my friends who forward me the notices of dogs in need.

There are Rescuers who see a flailing transport and do everything they can do find folks to pull it together for you. Rescuers who'll overnight or foster your Dog while you seek transport. There are Rescuers not used to or comfortable with your breed, but who put aside their discomfort to help. There are Rescuers whose words play the music of our hearts. Foster homes that love your Rescue, and help to make them whole again---body and spirit. Foster homes that fit your baby in, though it may not be their breed. Rescuers whose talents and determination give us tools to help us. Rescuers we call on for help in a thousand ways, who answer us, who hear our pleas. Rescuers who are our family, our strength, our comrades in battle.

I know I cannot save every dog in need. I know my efforts are a mere drop in a sea. I know that if I take on just one more---those I have will suffer.

I want to quit! But I won't. When I feel overwhelmed, I'll stroke my dogs head while reading my fellow Rescuers emails. I'll cry with them, I'll laugh with them---and they will help me find the strength to go on.

I want to quit! But not today. There's another email, another dog needing Rescue. This piece is dedicated, with love and gratitude, to all my fellow Rescuers.

2007-11-25T16:55:00.001-08:00

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.

2007-11-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-11-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

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

2007-09-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Tails!

We have many happy endings to report this season. Receiving positive updates from adoptive homes is the reward the rescuers receive. It makes all of the sad stories, hard work and long hours worthwhile. We love to share these success stories with you, our supporters, as without your donations of time, foster homes, supplies, money and emotional support, we would not be able to save as many dogs as we do.

We hope you enjoy the updates on Honey, Snow and Grover posted below.

Honey Finds the Perfect Pack

Honey was the "Featured Pup" in our last newsletter. This girl came to a kill shelter in upstate Maine as a stray. She was timid, underweight, had recently given birth and her collar was starting to grow into her neck.

We believe that she might be a former sled dog. Several sled dog owners have told us that these dogs make terrible pets and cannot live inside of a home. Honey blows that theory right out of the water.

Honey is now living the good life, with three canine sisters, and several kitties. She enjoys romping the 1-acre fenced in yard with doggie door access to the home, and walks through the blueberry fields.

Here is the latest from Honey's new family:

Honey/Lena is doing great! She goes in and out the dog door on her own (when we are here.) She only rarely goes in her crate. We think she's telling us she doesn't want to be left in it when we leave, so today we closed the dog door and left her loose in the house with the other dogs. We just got back, and she bounded up to us, tail wagging like crazy.

We're having leash lessons with a Halti. She desparately wants to run with the other dogs, but I don't even dare let her off leash. I think she must have been in harness and pulled a sled. She's very savvy about getting untangled from the leash. I think she is very smart and that in no time, she will be confident and less spooked by everything.

We love her a lot, and she's been great with the cats too! Thanks again so much for bringing her into our lives and for all you do! Doris

Thank you John and Doris for giving Honey (now Lena) the loving home that she always deserved.

Two-Year Update on Snow!

Snow came to us several years ago from a kill shelter in Marion, Arkansas. He was a young, wild pup who hated to be left alone. He was full of love, but needed a caretaker who would spend time training Snow to be a good canine citizen. He went home with a wonderful woman named Maggie, who has given Snow everything he could have ever wanted, including two cainine sisters to play with! Below is an update from Maggie received a few weeks ago.

You may not remember me - my name is Maggie. Almost two years ago, I adopted my handsome Sampson a.k.a "Snow" from Dogs Deserve Better. I am writing to give you an update on the handsome boy.

He continues to have boundless energy and absolutately loves the water. He loves swimming and catching the Frisbee in the water, of course fetch the tennis ball continues to be an all time favorite.

His first year here was a bit rocky as he had a few bouts of colitis. That all seems to have been sorted out and there has been no further problems in almost a year now.

In this last year, he has acquired two older "sisters". (I adopted a couple's two Newfoundland dogs after they passed away a year ago - they were friends of mine). Sam loves his sisters both to tease and to hang out with. They are great friends and company for each other. The cat continues to be an issue for all the dogs, we have just worked out an arrangement that seems to be working for all.

Sam is quite at home now and is a continual joy for me, his issues with insecurity are lessening and having two big sisters to help him, has matured him quite a bit. I am sending on a few of my favorite pics of the girls and Sam. Hope that many more of your dogs find homes and as much joy as he has given me. Thank you for the work you do and thank you for Sam. Sincerely Maggie

Thank YOU Maggie! Please give Sam a hug for us!

Goofball Grover Driving Miss Heidi

Grover is a goofy Sheepdog mix that came to us from the same rural shelter in Northern Maine as Honey. This boy was too big for the little cage he was in -- and more than happy to jump right into our rescue van! It took us a while to find the perfect home for Grover as he is a young bull in a china shop. Fortunately, George and Betsy contacted us - who also had a young, goofy Sheepdog that needed a playmate.

Today, Grover and his Sister, Heidi have become a bonded pair. They spend their days at work with George or running around at doggie daycare. They also seem to really enjoy riding in the car -Sometimes Grover likes to drive - LOL!

Below is one of the many updates we have received from Grover's new family:

Just reporting in that all is going well with Grover. He and Heidi get along just fine and they attend doggie day care 2 days a week-currently Tuesdays and Thursdays. They actually play in two different groups at day care and so far, neither use the pool. They don't go in our pool either.

The other days they are usually with us. He's been great with the I-fence too-he really knows his boundaries, even when squirrels, chipmunks and birds abound.

Everybody thinks he's just the coolest dog and all ask what breed he is. I mean on the street, at doggie day care or when we're all in one of the cars. Some guess, 'they're sheepdogs. right?' but that's when we're in the car and they can generally only see their heads. When asked, we tell them what we know-an Old English Sheepdog/Airedale Mix. But of course, we get all sorts of other ideas from people. I think the tail throws everybody off? Universally, it's either, "big goofball or Giant Bengi.'

Thank you George, Betsy and Heidi for making Grover a part of your family! He is one lucky boy.

2007-07-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Maine's Proposed Animal Import Regulations - Our 2 Cents...

On May 21, 2007 the Maine Department of Agriculture released a statement announcing its intention to enact an emergency rule change that would tighten the animal import regulations for the State.

Amongst other changes, the new regulations would require Maine rescue groups to quarantine dogs arriving in Maine from out of state for 5-days in a "Commissioner approved" isolation facility. The purpose of this proposed rule change regulation is to control the spread of diseases prevelent in dogs and cats from southern states.

The intent behind the proposed regulation changes is good -- however, as written, the new import laws will not resolve the spread of contagious disease from the rescued animals and will make it impossible for many legitimate rescues (including ours) to continue to operate, resulting in the needless deaths of thousands of wonderful, loving dogs.

The new rules will negatively impact reputable rescues and not impact the individuals that are responsible for bringing the sick animals into the state.

What's the Problem?

Our rescue, like most, does not have the physical or financial ability to place our dogs in a Commissioner approved quarantine facility for 5 days. After rescuing 200 - 300 dogs from other states without a single incident of Parvo or Distemper - we do not believe this quarantine measure is necessary. Nor do we want to place our dogs back into a cage after they have barely escaped death and have spent 2-3 days in a crate while being transported to safety. We want our dogs to go to foster homes, where they can relax and realize how wonderful life in a good home can be.

A similar requirement was implemented in Massachusetts last year. Because of the new requirement, rescues based in Massachusetts that are continuing to rescue Southern dogs, have been forced to raise their adoption fees to amounts unattainable by average families. The result -- MA Residents are going to backyard breeders, and looking out of state for their new canine family members, either by adopting from out-of-state rescues or by adopting directly from Southern shelters without having the safety net of a rescue to qualify the adoptive home or ensure each dog is properly vetted.

As a result, the changes in regulations have not solved the problem of disease in the state, and may have even made the problem worse. Massachusetts has experienced at least 3 outbreaks in the last few months of Parvo, Distemper and an unidentified upper respiratory disease. Why? There are several possible reasons:

1) The dogs in question are not being adopted by or transported by reputable rescues. The "rescues" in question are ignoring standard health and safety protocols. The dogs are arriving unvaccinated and without being quarantined prior to transport.

2) The dogs in question are being adopted by private citizens directly from out-of-state shelters, without having the middle man of an experienced rescue facilitating the adoption process.

3) Contageous diseases such as Distemper and Parvo have a longer incubation period than the mandatory quarantine requirement.

Transporting dogs from rural shelters with high euthanasia levels and poor vaccination practices is dangerous. If proper vaccination, quarantine and transportation protocols are ignored or overlooked, the rescuer and/or adoptive family may end up with a sick dog and a large vet bill.

Reputable rescues that save dogs from high-kill, southern shelters will follow, and often exceed the existing legal health protocols.

What Are Our Health & Safety Protocols?

Dogs Deserve Better, as with most legitimate Maine-based rescues, quarantines all out-of-state rescues for at least two weeks prior to transport. All of our dogs are fully-vaccinated (Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza), tested for Heartworm/Lyme, De-wormed, given Heartguard, Frontline and travel with a vet-issued Interstate Health Certificate. All of our dogs are spayed/neutered prior to transport.

We also use a USDA licensed transporter to bring our dogs to New England, which costs $125.00 per dog - but is worth every penny to ensure the safety and health of each pup.

To the disappointment of many adopters, Dogs Deserve Better - Maine does not rescue puppies - we generally focus our efforts on dogs that are 6 months of age or older, as these dogs have a lower chance of getting out the kill shelters and because puppies are at a higher risk for contracting diseases such as Parvo and Distemper.

We abide by these self-imposed rules, to ensure the safety and good health of our rescued dogs.

What Will Happen if the Proposed Regulations Pass?

Reputable rescues are not the individuals that are bringing diseased animals into the State. Norma Worley, Director of Maine's Animal Welfare Program confirmed this herself. In an article published by the Bangor Daily News, Worley states: "according to state law, all dogs and cats imported from out of state for retail must have health certificates and be properly quarantined to ensure they are in good health before they are adopted or sold. However, when the dogs are brought in privately, the rules don’t apply." The rules don't apply when the dogs are brought in privately...exactly.

The new rules won't apply either... to private individuals who are not savvy enough to make sure that their new puppy will arrive with a full series of 2-3 vaccinations and an Interstate Health Certificate.

The new rules will apply to seasoned rescues that save hundreds to thousands of lives annually without incident - making it impossible for safe animal importation to continue and opening the door to increased disease when private adopters head out onto Petfinder.com and rescue a litter of puppies themselves without the safety net of an experienced rescue group behind them.

What is the Solution?

We do not know what the solution is. The issue of sickness in rescue dogs is one that comes along with being crazy enough to be involved in rescue. Rescue dogs, whether from Maine or from "away" generally have not received the vaccinations and health care that they require - which is why we rescue them. There is always the chance that a rescue dog or even a dog bought from a breeder will fall ill after itgoes to its new home, but a good rescue will do everything in its power to ensure a dog is healthy prior to being adopted. Without rescues - that safety net will disappear.

Some alternatives to the proposed regulations to consider include:

1) Exploring laws that will require local dog owners to maintain annual vaccination protocols above the mandatory 3-year Rabies vaccine. This will keep local dogs safe from contagious disease that they may be exposed to either from another dog or from a wild animal.

2) Requiring that all puppies that enter the State either through a rescue or through an individual citizen have at least 2 if not 3 rounds of puppy vaccinations. Puppies are the carriers for the majority of contagious diseases. Improving the protocols surrounding puppies, would go a long way to resolving these disease challenges.

3) Educating the public regarding how to select a rescue dog. Many of these health issues could be adverted if the public knew what questions to ask when adopting a rescued dog.

4) Imposing quarantine regulations and other restrictions on rescues that have a history of adopting out sick dogs.

What Can You Do to Help?

We would love for our adopters that have added a healthy canine companion to their family to let the Department of Agriculture know.

Attend the Hearing: Public hearing on the quarantine regulation will be held on July 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Florian Hall, 45 Commerce Street, (Department of Public Safety Building), Augusta, Maine.

Write a Letter: The public is invited to submit comments at this time or may elect to submit comments via email to shelley.doak@maine.gov or Donald.E.Hoenig@maine.gov or by letter to the address below:

Contact: Shelley Doak, Director, or Donald E. Hoenig, State Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health & Industry, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0028

Additional Reading:

Man Bites Dog -
http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid42179.aspx

Dog Rescuer, State at Odds over Rules -
http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=151376&zoneid=500

Maine Advocates Fear that Proposed Quarantine Laws will Shut Down Maine Rescues
http://network.bestfriends.org/maine/news/16245.html

Illegal Pet Importation a Major Statewide Problem -
http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Agriculture+News&id=37957&v=Article

2007-07-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Buffy & Jody Reunited (and it feels so good!)

Some of you may remember Jody - a sweet, shy, teenage German Shepherd/Collie mix pup that we rescued from a kill shelter in Tennessee last year. Jody was very fortunate to become a member of the Cyr family - where he is living the life of a very spoiled dog! He is no longer a shy, uncertain pup - but has grown into an outgoing, well-balanced adult.

What most of you do not know is that Jody has a sister, Buffy, who was abandoned at the same shelter. Both dogs had been adopted from the shelter as pups, and then returned at 7 months when their owners moved. We were originally going to take both Buffy and Jody into rescue - but at the last minute, Buffy was adopted locally by a wonderful, single woman.

6 months later - we received an email from our shelter contact, Karen. Karen told us that Buffy's caretaker had been in a terrible car accident, leaving Buffy alone at home. One of her neighbors returned poor Buffy to the shelter. Could we possibly bring Buffy North and find a loving home for her?

Karen reported that Buffy was quite shy, but very sweet and loving. We figured - what a perfect opportunity to reunite brother and sister. We contacted the Cyr family to see if they would consider fostering Buffy until we could find a forever home for her...Of course, we were secretly hoping that they would keep her and that we could later include a very happy ending in our newsletter:)

Our hopes and dreams came true. Buffy arrived in Maine several months ago. Upon arrival, she was extremely scared and looking for an escape route. When she first saw her brother, Jody -- she did not seem to recognize him, nor did she return the joyful greeting that Jody gave. However - it was obvious that these two were sibbling. It did not take long for Buffy and Jody to rekindle their birth bond or Buffy to relax and enjoy her new found family.

Here is an update from Buffy and Jody's Dad, Pat:

The dogs are doing great together. It is amazing how much they play and run with each other They move, play, and sleep together. Buffy has adapted well to the house and surroundings. She treats the cats with playful curiosity. She is eating well and really enjoys her walks in the woods with her brother. Today a golden retriever friend came over and Karen said they had a ball rolling with each other in the field.

Thank you very much to Pat and Karen Cyr for opening up their home to not one, but two of our rescued dogs! We could not have wished for a happier ending.

2007-07-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

CHAIN OFF 2007!

This Year's 4th of July Event marks our 5th Annual Chain Off, and we're going More Grassroots than EVER, with a Goal of at least ONE PERSON per state living chained to a Doghouse for 8-24 hours in our Fabulous "Unchain the 50" Campaign!

We're excited to announce TWO Main Unchain the 50 Events, East Coast and West Coast. The East Coast Event will take place at Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia and the West Coast Event will take place at Marymoor Park near Seattle, Washington.

Last year, one of our adopters and avid supporters, Erin Blais, chained herself to a doghouse in front of her house in Lewiston, Maine. She raised awareness to the plight of chained dogs and some donations to support our cause.

This year, Erin's husband, Steve, will be the one in the doghouse (ha ha). Please stop by to support Steve on July 7. Below are the details of Steves one-man chain off event:

Steve's Chain Off will be held
July 7 from 7am to 7pm

25 Louise Ave
Lewiston, ME
Tel: 777-1410.

Read more about Chain Off 2007

Read about last year's Chain off event

2007-03-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

How Do I Select The Right Food for My Dog?

It has been months since I last added to this Blog. I have had trouble coming back to it as the last entry was written during the end of my darling Brandy's life. I did end up taking her to the vet -- she went to the Rainbow Bridge quickly and peacefully. There is still a big hole on my heart and on my bed - that Brandy used to fill.

Anyway, it is time to move forward. I thought I would ease my way back into writing by addressing a non-emotional topic -- dog nutrition.

I have a question on my adoption application which asks prospective families what type of food they plan to feed their new family member. I am sure most roll their eyes at the question, thinking it superficial or not a "deal breaker" but l am here to tell you -- How you answer that question speaks volumes to me. The answer tell me how educated the applicant is regarding dogs and nutrition. If the answer is "Kibbles & Bits," "Dog Chow," "Iams" -- I know that the applicant has not done their research regarding what ingredients are good for a dog and what foods are considered "junk foods" with little nutritional value and potentially harmful fillers.

If an applicant answers "whatever the dog is eating now" or "whatever the vet recommends" it tells me that he/she is too lazy to do the research and to select the most beneficial food for their dog.

A low grade dog food can cause a wide array of medical issues in a dog -- including skin allergies, ear infections, urinary tract infections, thyroid problems, and cancer. Spending a little more financially on your dog's food can save you a ton of money in vet bills.

At any rate - enough my lecture. Below is a food grading system that I think might help current and future dog owners to evaluate the best nutritional choices for their dogs.

How to grade your dog/cat's food: (Some brands are rated at the very bottom)

Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points

2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference,
subtract 10 points

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points

4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source,subtract 5 points

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e.
"ground brown rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points

6) 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points

8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil,subtract 2 points

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points

13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is allergic to beef), subtract 1 point

15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points

2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points

3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points

8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point

12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count
"chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different
sources), add 1 point

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point

14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold/ Score 73 D
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Benful / Score 17 F

2006-11-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

When Is It Time?

A few days ago, I brought my Dalmation, Brandy, to the vet as her mouth was bothering her. I figured it was an impacted or broken tooth. To my shock and dismay, the vet diagnosed Brandy with an inoperable tumor located on the roof of her mouth and back of her throat.

We could try Chemo - but it will not eliminate the tumor - only shrink it if we are lucky. The side effects of Chemo sound worse than the tumor itself - and with Brandy already being an elder dog, I opted not to put her through it.

Brandy was sent home with anti-biotics and some very strong anti-inflammatories to see if the tumor would shrink and perhaps, Brandy could remain with us for awhile longer.

Unfortunately - Her mouth is the same - if not worse. She is gagging constantly from the pressure of the tumor against her throat..and now we are faced with the decision that no dog owner ever wants to make.

I have never had to make this decision before - and eventhough I know it is the humane course of action, am finding it impossible to pick up the phone to make an appointment for the death of my beloved Brandy. Our only other dog to pass was Bailey, another Elder Animal Refuge League resident. Bailey died in his sleep at age 16-17 - which was a shock at the time, but easier than the decision I am faced with now.

We have only had Brandy for about 4 years.

She had been turned over by her former owner who had lost her home and was living with her mother - Brandy was not welcomed into the new living situation.

I monitored the shelter's website for over a month - and watched Brandy sit and wait to be adopted. One day - I could not stand to see her shelter picture another moment - so I drove over to adopt her.

She was fairly old when we took her home from the Animal Refuge League...somewhere around 8 - 9. She was incredibly overweight - poor thing could barely walk when she came home with us. It took some time before she was limber enough to walk up the stairs to our bedroom.

Within a year she had lost about 30 lbs. She has skin rolls where her fat once was...

Brandy has been a wonderful dog. Even being older - she played with the other dogs in our home and always greeted with a wag of the tail.

Brandy is a barker - she will always let you know when she deserves a treat or wants to go out. She also speaks to us through a language of grunts and groans (groans of pleasure when her belly is rubbed)

She has always been good about staying near the home - unless it happens to be garbage day...One of our neighbors was throwing leftover meals into his garden for awhile (don't ask me why) and Brandy would disappear every day to have a garden feast. We would find her in the garden chowing down - butt in the air...tail wagging...LOL

In four years we have been through much with her medically. She had neck surgery when her vertabrea became so calcified that two were pinching her spinal chord - making her unable to walk. She almost died from the operation as she was unable to wake from the anesthesia. When the vet called to tell me Brandy may not wake up - I told her to stick a chicken breast under her nose:) Brandy did wake up and she was able to walk 100% better than she ever had.

And then there was the bloat incident last year - another huge scare. I thought for sure this was it. On the way to the Emergency Clinic I considered not doing the surgery and letting Brandy go. She had aged significantly, had been having bladder control issues, and I almost convinced myself that it was her time. Much to my surprise -- when the ER Vet asked me if I wanted to approve the surgery for Brandy - "Yes" popped out of my mouth. He looked at me as if I had two heads...Warning me that the anesthesia alone might kill her.

What do you know - Brandy pulled through again...and has not had a single accident in the house since the surgery. Her bloodwork is 100% normal - better than it has ever been...

Brandy is my second dog. She has a special place in my heart. She sleeps with me every night. We have been all over the country together. She thinks she is a lap dog and crawls into my lap, especially when she is not feeling well. She cannot get close enough to me - I often wake up with one foot on the floor and Brandy pushing to get even closer.

She sleeps with the cats - unless someone is looking - then she barks at them to get out of her space.

Here we are...Brandy is out of options...she is in pain and I have to call the vet...I have to decide to end the life of my loyal friend. Logically - I know it needs to be done ASAP. My emotional side as not caught up with my logical side.

I will miss you Brandy. I probably will not be able to sleep without you taking up the bed and protecting my back.

CDL

2006-11-21T04:40:00.000-08:00

Home for the Holidays?

For most, this time of year is full of joy and family. Everyone is scurring around preparing for guests, travel and celebrations.

In the land of rescue -- the holidays are a time of stress and sadness. Local adoptions drop way off as most people are focused on family events and planning and are not focusing on bringing a new companion home.

Unfortunately - this leaves the kill shelters full. Euthanasia rates skyrocket because dogs are not moving out of rescue or out of the shelters and as a result, no new dogs can come in...oir shelters have to "make room" for incoming dogs.

The pleas for help from shelters in the South and other over-populated areas fill my "Inbox" so quickly that emails are bouncing back. I feel helpless, as I would love to bring a whole bunch of forgotten dogs home for the holidays. ...but where to put them? My fosters are all full with dogs waiting to go to their forever homes. The inquiries from prospective adopters have screeched to a halt as attention moves to shopping, cooking, holiday festivities.

On top of it all -- the backyard breeders are advertising "Christmas Puppies" which will end up under someone's tree, while thousands of one-time puppies sit in shelters waiting for their lives to end.

The shelter in Memphis, TN euthanizes 10,000 unwanted pets a year. This is down from 16,000 showing that progress is being made...10,000! and that is just one shelter...

I guess the message is...

please please please spay/neuter your pets. Tell everyone you meet to spay/neuter their pets.
Take your dog to obedience training to ensure that he/she becomes a well-adjusted, well-mannered member of society and remains a welcome member of your household.
Consider adopting a rescue dog over buying a puppy. Puppies may be cute -- and rescued dogs may require some effort...but the reward is a forever grateful and loyal companion.

Sorry to be such a downer...I should not have opened my e-mail this morning.

CDL

2006-10-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

Island Adventure

Feeling burnt out from the pressures of dogs and family -- I decided to take a weekend off and go to our falling down shack on Vinalhaven. Of course, in order to get my "vacation" I have to take at leats three dogs with me, so that David does not have a melt down caring for all seven on his own.

On Saturday morning, I get up at 3:00 a.m. to make the 7:00 a.m. ferry leaving Rockland. As usual, I did not make reservations in time, so I am forced to show-up early and wait in the stand-by line. Gouda, Shasta, Jezabelle hop in the van and off we go.

David warned me that I should not make the trip as the forecast called for 60 mile/hour winds and rain storms - but being desperate for a break, I ignore his warnings and the weather report... Amazingly, the 7:00a ferry was full - so I had to wait for the 8:45a. By 8:00a the winds were blowing, the rain was pouring...but still - I refused to give up.

I gave everbody (including myself) a good dose of Dramamine. At 8:30a, I was waived onto the boat.

My van was in the very front position on the Bow - with nothing in front of us except for one chain across the entry way.

Needless to say - That the longest 1.5 hours of my life. 20 foot waves crashed over the top of van. The boat was flying up into the air and back down as it hit the waves. The dogs were panting and all trying to climb into my lap. I was green - the dramamine did not work for me - I spent the time reaching for the nearest bowl, as the seasoned ferry passengers sent looks of pity my way.

We made it - It was the last ferry of the day. The remaining ferries were canceled due to weather...LOL In fact, all of the returning Ferries on Sunday (mine included) were canceled as well - not that I was in any big rush to head back out into the open sea.

I stood out in the storm on a hill (the only place to find cell phone coverage on the island) and called David to let him know if my delayed return - who gave me the obligatory "I told you so." Very helpful...

Trapped on an island with three dogs during horendous storms. We lost electricity of course. But it was an exercise in forced relaxation - which was good for me. I could not clean, cook or work on the house....nor could I work in the yard...so we all just hung out and watched the storm and waited for the day that the ferries would start running again. It was nice curling up with the pups, by the wood stove, reading a book.

I needed the break - but now I am 3 days behind on my rescue emails. My inbox is full and rejecting new emails. Adopters inquiries have gone unanswered. Urgent pleas from shelters have been answered too late...

I can't wait to go back to the Island:)

CDL

2006-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Where have I been?

Recently my mother suffered from a massive stroke. She lives in the woods of CT by herself with her two very large dogs. I share this to uncover yet another challenge of being in the dog rescue "business." The call comes in and being the closest relative, I need to hop in the car and go to my mother's aid. However - what is to be done about the dogs?

With the number of dogs in my home and within our rescue as a whole, it is difficult to leave the house for a few hours...leaving the state for an extended amount of time is near impossible. When a family crisis occurs, it reveals the round-the-clock nature of this job.

The dogs need to be walked, fed, interacted with. Trips to the vet are ongoing. Communication with adopters, vet checks, home visits need to be done in a short timeline so that the prospective home does not find a dog elsewhere.

Rescuers themselves have a tendency to keep the behaviorally and physically dogs themselves - dogs that cannot be boarded or tended to by pet sitters or good-hearted volunteers.

So off I went - Three out of "my" dogs with me in tow - to bring the total at my mother's house up to five...meetings with doctors, social workers, physical therapists, home health aids, and pet sitters for my mother's dogs are non-stop.

I have no Internet access and no cell phone coverage in the woods of CT which makes me feel completely helpless should a dog-related emergency occur.

David, my "significant other" promises to try not to work his usual 14 hour shifts, so that our dogs are not left home alone with their legs crossed. During absence, two dogs escaped our fenced in yard, schedule medications were forgotten, prospective adopters became irrtated and opportunities for forever homes were missed.

My father calls to ask if I should perhaps reconsider my lifestyle - but those who are in rescue, know that it is not a profession of choice.

However - We made it through the first round - but my mother needs ongoing care and a live-in companion. Being a woman who will barely let the house keeper come into her home once a week - the challenge continues and more trips to CT are in my future.

Pleas for help from shelters and concerned dog lovers keep coming in -- the dogs keep coming in.

The thought enters my mind -- "Should I stop rescuing dogs and resume a 'normal' lifestyle?"

Then I receive a call concerning a German Shepherd that is currently living chained inside someone's basement that needs a place to go...

No - I am not going to stop...but I need to figure out a better plan...

2006-07-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July...Ugh

For most, the Fourth of July is filled with picnics, family gatherings, fire works and a spirit of celebration.

For dog rescuers...it is a different sort of day.

We started our Fourth by getting up extra early to let the dogs out for their run. We knew that within a few hours, the friends and family of our next door neighbor would descend for their annual Independence Day celebration. This meant children running around screaming and playing, a cookout, outdoor games...frequent arrivals and departures by visitors...basically, total chaos when it comes to a house filled with rescued dogs.

We knew, once the guests and helpers started to arrive, our ability to let the dogs outside would be very limited. We spent most of the day inside the house, trying to keep the dogs from barking...which occurs everytime there is any activity at the end of our driveway.

David and I spent the day watching the weather report, praying for rain. One station predicted hail, which thrilled us to death! In the end - the nice weather held out - and the planned events moved forward.

The worst part of the day was knowing that once the neighbor's celebration concluded, somewhere around 8:00 p.m. - It signalled the beginning of a new problem...FIREWORKS. We live right down the road from Martin's Point - a popular viewing spot for Fireworks.

Rescue dogs are often terrified of anything loud sounds...Thunderstorms send even our Bully Australian Shepherd under the couch. Fireworks bring a reaction 10 times worse than a thunderstorm...6 dogs barking, whining, attempting to squeeze on our laps, under the futon, run into the basement.

Oddly enough, the only dog who did not seem to be bothered was Louie...Our rescue that is scared of everything!

Otis, our fat Black Lab/Shepherd mix somehow managed to get under the Futon, but of course, could not find his way out. We had to lift the Futon up and coax him out when all was quiet.

When the Fireworks were over, the local amateurs started their homemade shows which lasted way past Midnight.

At that point, the dogs were so frazzled that they refused to go out. I don't know how they held their bladders for so long - We all breathed a big sigh of relief when 5:00 a.m July 5th rolled around - and life in our quiet, suburban neighborhood went back to normal again.

Erin's One-Woman Chain Off

As you may of read in the previous post, Erin Blais of Lewiston, Maine, in contingency with Dogs Deserve Better's Annual "Chain Off" Chained herself to a tree in her yard for 24 hours. This effort was to bring attention to the dreary, isolated life that dogs living chained 24/7 suffer. Erin caught the attention of two local new stations (Channel 6 and Channel 8) and was featured in a local newspaper's blog "Its a Dog's Life." Through sponsorships, Erin raised $200 for Dogs Deserve Better. Nice Work Erin!

2006-07-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

2006 Chain Off

Every year Dogs Deserve Better holds a "Chain Off" in PA (our National Headquarters) to raise awareness to the plight of dogs who live their lives tethered outside and alone.

This year's event is being held in Mundys Corner, PA beginning July 1, 2006 and continuing as long as two weeks. In today’s world of reality TV, our idea will spark great interest locally and nationally, because real people are competing to win the real prize of a New Chevy Aveo! As many as 15 people—from Pennyslvania, New York, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina—will live chained to a doghouse for as long as possible, up to approximately 2 weeks. The player staying chained the longest will win. (Meet the contestants.)

Tammy S. Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, will live chained at the contest location for 72 hours to raise awareness for chained dogs. She will live chained from 3 p.m., July 1 through 3 p.m., July 4th. She will gain her freedom on the 4th of July, symbolic of her quest to gain freedom for America’s chained dogs.

This year Grimes chains herself in memory of Ebb, a dog from Mahaffey Pennsylvania. She worked with concerned citizens Jill and Aric Sherwood for four years to try to free him from his chains, but they were never successful. Ebb suffered the loss of his eyesight, his hearing, and ultimately the last vestiges of hope before his death, having spent his entire life chained outside, sad and alone.

One of our local supporter's and mother to Kelsey, a former DDB Rescue, is holding a one-woman chain off event. Erin Blais will chain herself to a doghouse in front of her home in Lewiston Sunday, July 2 - through Monday, July 3. The event will be covered by Channel 8 News.

Please support Erin in her efforts.

Lewiston, Maine,
July 2-3, 2006
Erin Blais
24 Hours Chained to Doghouse
25 Louise Ave
Lewiston ME 04240
207-777-1410
7/2 @12 pm until 7/3 @ 12pm

2006-06-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Life has been pretty crazy in the land of the dogs

I am not sure if I have been too busy to journal...or just too frustrated.

Adoptions are really slow. Vet bills are huge. We are broke. And it is puppy season. Pleas from shelters and dog owners are coming in daily begging for help to find homes for adult and senior dogs.

Summer is here, which is usually busy - but everyone is looking for puppies - and I specifically try to steer clear of any dog under 6 months of age.

Puppies are cute - nobody can deny that! But not many people have the skills or patience to handle a puppy once it starts to grow and becomes a teenager...jumping, chewing shoes and hands, demanding continuous exercise.

The teenage phase is when many dogs end up in shelters, or back in rescue - and by that time, if the necessary training has not been done by the adoptive family, you are starting from scratch with a rebelious teenager.

I am always amazed when I receive an application from an adopter looking for a "young" dog - but when asked what kind of temperment he/she wants in a dog the adopter answers "calm, mellow, low energy." Young dogs are a lot of work, they need lots of excercise and training. If these needs are not met - then the pup tends to act out by jumping, barking and chewing.

Personally - I am a big fan of the mature dog. I make an extra effort to rescue them when I can. They may not be small and fluffy - but they are always loyal and thankful that you saved them.

They are generally calmer, housebroken and easier to manage.

People are often wary of older dogs because they think that they will lose them sooner. But if fed a healthy diet and given regular exercise, an elder dog can live a many years without issue.

Here are some great articles about the benefits of adopting a older dog

Questions about adopting an "older" dog - Senior Dog Project

The Benefits of Adopting an Older Dog - BestFriendsPetCare.com

Enough of my rampage:) Below are a few awesome "older" dogs that are looking for loving homes:

CDL

2006-05-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Dead Groundhog

They did it...Lucky and Louis found that Groundhog and killed it right in front of my eyes.

It was horrible. I tried to stop it - I threw my coffee at them and yelled and screamed - but they thought it was just a big game.

It was over in seconds. I feel horrible.

The dogs do not even realize that they did anything wrong. They are very proud of themselves and have spent the last 24 hours looking for new prey.

Okay - enough on that...I am feeling sick to my stomach.

Good news...

after months and months of trying - we finally were able to get a slip lead on Louis. It took hours of holding treats inside the loopof the slip lead. He is a smart boy...he was not falling for it at first...but cooked chicken breast eventually did the trick.

This poor dog must have been tied up and beaten or dragged behind a car or something because he is terrified of anything resembling a collar or leash. He runs into a corner and growls everytime he sees a leash.

We were able to get one on him a few months back. Once on - Louis collasped to the ground and did not move for 6 hours. Then he chewed it right off. Since then - He has not let us near him to try again.

He lets us pet him and rub his belly - but as soon as a leash comes out....zoom...he is gone.

This has posed quite a problem because without a leash - we cannot take him to the vet or anywhere - He has essentially been living his life in the house and in the fenced in yard. Not to mention - David and I are unable to go anywhere overnight together as one of us has to stay home to take care of Louis.

He originally came to us from a kill shelter in Arkansas with two other dogs named Tyler and Tess. Tyler and Tess were found by Animal Control tied to a tree with belts and so starved that they could not even get up. There was another dog tied with them that was dead. Louis was found in the same area - but he was not tied (my guess is that he chewed himself free).

It took Animal Control a month to catch him because he is so skiddish. When they brought him to the shelter, he recognized Tyler and Tess - went running over to them wagging his tail - big reunion!

Of course we took all three. These dogs would have never had a chance if we did not. They are boxer mixes which makes them unadoptable in the South - I think Louis might have some Ridgeback in him - because of the way his hair stands up on his back. He also has quite an odd bark.

Tyler and Tess gained 30 lbs each while with us and were treated for heartworm, demodex and god knows what else...Louis is still with us because of his scared nature. Having a leash on him will allow us to walk him, train him and to help himto regain his confidence...who knows - maybe someday he will be able to be adopted!

We took him for his first walk last night- which was very funny. He was so curious - but terrified at the same time. He smelled everything intensely - and then collapse to the ground...then his curiosity would get the better of him and he would walk and smell a little more...At one point he caught his leash on a sign post and had a total meltdown.

We finally got him and walking again and a fire engine, lights ans sirens blaring came cruising around the corner. I thought we were going to lose him. He was trying like crazy to back out of the collar.

Slow progress. Next week he goes to the vet...fingers crossed.

CDL

2006-05-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Groundhog Day

OMG - Today was a dog day.

I let the dogs out for a romp in the yard and they immediately surrounded my van.

Louis and Lucky were under - with Otis, Jez and Shasta circling and barking. I looked under the van to see what the commotion was about and saw nothing...but the barking, circling frenzy continued -- so I knew something was up...

I could not get the dogs back in the house ...soI ended up physically carrying each one up the stairs to the kitchen.

Once secure...I stuck my head under the rear bumber...and something that sounded like a bird screamed from my spare tire- told me to go away. I thought "Oh God - Did I run over a sparrow in the road?"...remembering that I had driven through a few earlier that day.

I am late for a foster home visit - but I do not want to drive until the animal in my spare is saved. I really don'twant to call Animal Control as they had been out last week when Lucky slipped under the fence to chase a passing Husky out for a walk.

At that moment, David comes home from work...Hooray! He gets under the van and losens the spare...Out runs a very angry Woodchuck. Well - the Woodchuck is long gone (I hope) - but he is still living under my van as far as Lucky and Louis are concerned. I cennot get either of them to even go pee...all they want to do is crawl under the van and find that furry critter....I hope he is gone...please let him be gone... CDL

2006-05-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Good News for Samantha!

We finally were able to get ahold of Samantha's owner. Patty, one of our supporters in MA picked Sam up on Saturday and transported her to Maine to go to her foster home on Sunday.

Sam is just a wonderful dog. She sure does not act like a 10 year old dog...I think she is younger. Great with kids, full of kisses. She loves to run and play catch - we think she might have some Aussie in her.

Unfortunately, Sam is terrified of other dogs. The two dogs in her foster home tried to play with her and she went running, screaming as if she had been seriously injured. This is one of the side effects of living a life of isolation - out on a chain. She probably has never met another dog or was attached by one while she was chained.

At any rate -- Sam is safe, and the meories of her former life are fading fast. Now we just need to find her forever home!

Another one saved:)

CDL

2006-05-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Challenging Day!

This day has been frustrating...I have working with another Dogs Deserve Better Rep to rescue an elder Husky mix named Samantha, chained outside her whole life in Mass.

It has taken months but we have finally found a foster home for her and someone willing to transport her to Maine.

All of the pieces are in place, but now her owner refuses to return our calls. He has given permission for us to take Samantha, but the was months ago. We need him to be home to sign a release when we go to pick Sam up, otherwise we cannot save her.

The worst part is...He is selling his home. He threatened to euthanize Sam if we could not find a place for her to go before he moved.

I am trying to convince the Animal Control Officer in the town to go to his home to remove Samantha personally - but so far, she has not responded to that idea.

On another note...Another rescuer sent the below poem to me and I think it is great!
You Know You Are a Rescuer

It is raining AGAIN today. The house is full of muddy footprints. Lucky has been out pulling drowning earthworms from the ground. Yuck.

CDL

2006-05-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

A Typical Day

It is about 5:30a when Lucky and Louis start pacing and whining - telling us that they need to go out to smell what the day brings...they want to check for the Paper delivery guy...They love to greet him with bark and squeels - much to our neighbor's dismay.

It's hard to be a rescuer in suburbia... We spend much of our time learning the schedules of neighborhood deliveries, such as the paper, mail, oil and garbage pick-up in an effort to keep the noise level down.

David makes coffee -- puts Louis and Shasta in their crates...then it is off for the first walk of the day with Lucky and Otis.

This is my opening to bring Brandy, our elder Dalmation, downstairs and out for her morning outing. Brandy cannot handlethe stairs anymore, and the other dogs want to take piece out of her because they sense that she is weak, so we have to make sure that the coast is clear when we carry her down the stairs from our bedroom.

While Brandy prances around the yard -- I fix breakfast for the dogs - in an effort to distract them when I bring Brandy back inside and up the stairs. I have about 10 minutes to complete the morning frenzy before David, Lucky and Otis return from their walk.

Once the feeding and walking is done - David leaves for work and it is back to bed for the dogs until the rest of the neighborhood heads off to work. I have to keep them quiet until the neighbors are gone and it is once again safe to enter the yard. Boy do I need the Home Makeover crew to build me a sanctuary in the middle of nowhere...

I check my email - I usually receive between 15 - 20 pleas for help during the night for rescuers across the United States, begging for the lives of the dogs on the euthanasia list the next day. Sometimes I read them and try to help a dog or two - sometimes I cannot even look.

The rest of the day is filled with rotated dog walks and outings, trips to the vet, to the dog park...responding to adopter inquiries, home visits for prospective adopters, scooping poop, cleaning crates, emails to past adopters checking up on their new family members, and sending out a pleas of my own for funds, foster homes and help dogs that are in danger.

Brandy has to go out every 3-4 hours because of her age - which means crating the rest of the crew each time she is due for her romp.

I am fortunate to have such a loyal group of supporters. My past adopters and their friends and family come through time and time again for my "urgent" need of the moment.

Our day usually ends around 11:00p...at which point I look around and realize, once again that the laundry has not been done, the clean laundry from weeks ago is piled up on the table, the bills have not been paid, and I have not spoken to my family and friends in months...I promise to do better tomorrow, but in the land of the dogs, the dogs come first and everything else falls to the wayside.