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 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