Adopt-a-thon Saturday!

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday?  Come to the Dream 4 Pets adopt-a-thon at Superpetz in Troy, OH!  It's at 1490 W. Main St. from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, April 16th!  Rumor has it the Easter Bunny will be there to pose for pictures with kids!  :)

Here's a preview of some of the dogs you can meet at the adopt-a-thon:

First up is Chloe, a 7-year-old spayed female Lab mix who weighs 50 lbs.  She's low energy, loyal, non-aggressive and loves companionship with people.  She's a little shy around strangers and children, and needs a bit of training to walk on a leash.  But she's not a barker and only jumps when excited.  Dream would recommend a fenced yard for her!

Next up is Cleo!  She's a 9-year-old Flat Coat Retriever mix who is spayed and weighs around 70 lbs.  She loves companionship with people and other dogs, and loves to run & play!  She's a little shy around children and strangers when she first meets them, but she's loyal and loves attention when provided.  She's non-agressive but will bark when startled.  She will follow you as you walk even when she's not on a leash, but would still love to have a fenced in yard!

Meet Bear!  He's a 7-year-old neutered Shepherd mix who weighs 65 lbs. He's friendly to adults & children, but will bark at strangers at first.  He loves attention and will bark for attention--he'll jump and run when he's excited! He'd make a good watchdog because he's protective of his house & yard - he'll bark!  He walks well on a leash & doesn't pull, but he needs a fenced yard!

Next up is Ginger!  She's an 8-year-old spayed Sheltie/Chow mix who weighs 65 lbs.  She loves companionship with people and other dogs, has lots of energy, and is friendly to everyone!  She loves attention & will bark to get it - she will also bark to protect her house & yard.  She doesn't pull on a leash but needs a fenced yard because she loves to run!

Next up is King, a 10-year-old Shepherd/Chow mix who is up to date on his shots and is heartworm negative.  He's shy at first but warms up quickly, has a calm disposition and isn't a barker.  He's good with other dogs!  He lived with a senior citizen for most of his life, enjoys car rides, loves going on walks, and is house-trained!

Last but not least, is Ralphie, a Newfoundland mix I featured once before.  He's at the Shelby County Animal Shelter but will be at the adopt-a-thon!  Here's a refresher on what the shelter staff had to say about him: "Ralphie is a super sweet dog. He is well mannered on lead and he has the biggest brownest round eyes and he knows how to use them... Watch out girls he will melt your heart!!! He will just gaze into your face with those eyes like he wants to tell you something.. And most likely he would like to communicate that he is much too nice of a dog to end up in a kill shelter with no one to love him. He was dragging a cable attached to his neck when found and brought in..no owner has come in to claim him how sad to be a throw away pet chained in the back yard."

Be sure to stop by Superpetz this Saturday between 10:00 and 3:00 to see if one of these dogs steals your heart! 

Sally & Sarah - in URGENT need of a good home!

Hi everyone!  I was alerted to the plight of these two gorgeous girls by a Dream 4 Pets volunteer.  Please read this post & pass it on to everyone you know - the woman who owned these dogs must have had a beautiful soul & I'd love to help her beloved dogs find a wonderful home!  Read on...

"Hello Everyone,

It is with great sadness that I am sending this e-mail out.

Sally and Sarah, pictured below, are two 9 1/2 year old Shepherd mix siblings in need of a new home due to their owner's passing, and the remaining family's inability and/or disinterest (unfortunately) in taking their mom's dogs.

(This photo was taken on the porch of the Dog Palace, with Sally on the left and Sarah on the right).

I placed these two as very young pups with this woman, at a time when I was doing rescue, but during which Second Chance Rescue had not yet been officially formed.

They are healthy (these are recent pictures), and would be updated on anything that isn't current prior to placement. I have included below a description of the dogs from the daughter of the woman who adopted them from me:

About Sally and Sarah:

Sally and Sarah are sisters, they are 9 years old and weigh about 55 pounds.  They have lived a most wonderful life with their dear friend, Ricky, a mixed Labrador.  All three dogs are rescued and have lived together at our Mom’s home.  Ricky will be joining our Mom in heaven as they both will be leaving this earth together.  Ricky has been my mother’s protector for over 14 years.  Meanwhile, Sally and Sarah have tenderly cared for Ricky as he aged and have been his “ears” since he lost his hearing, his exercise coaches and his caregivers.  Sally and Sarah are truly very sweet, gentle and loving pets. (note: they are good with children)

Sarah is a little bit slighter built than Sally.  The easiest way to tell them apart is Sarah’s tail is straight while Sally’s tail is curled.  Sarah likes to smile and chatter her teeth when it’s time for a dog treat.   And both dogs are very good at sitting for treats or when asked to sit before placing their dog bowls down. Mom built the dogs this wonderful “Dog Palace” that we fondly call it!  Inside is a heater for the winter and a ceiling fan for the summer.  Mom could always see them from a window in her bedroom that looked into a glass door on another side.  The dogs have always had the freedom to go in and out with a large grassy dog area just for them.   She created several series of fenced areas so her dogs could join her on the front veranda of her Victorian house where they spent many summer days together enjoying the coolness.  She also created fenced areas on to the back deck which was off the kitchen so they could join her in the warmth of sunny days.  On the coldest of winter nights she would bring them into her laundry room inside.  Sally and Sarah would whine would they needed out … but they really were not inside very often. 

Mom did try obedience training with them but she would rather have them around her in the fenced areas.  They do love to go for walks on a leash but that is something that Mom did not do very often.  Plus if you walked one the other two would whine and bark that they were not with them.

More pictures:

Sarah waiting for a dog treat. 

Sally who was curious about the camera! 

The Dog Palace with Sarah on the porch

On behalf of our dear mother, who loved her pets so deeply, we can only hope that Sally and Sarah will find another kind and loving person to care for them in their aging years.

The last conversation I had with the woman's daughter just a short bit ago suggested I have a very, very short time frame in which to find a place for these two (the daughter I am talking with lives out of state and will be returning there shortly, and the daughter who lives locally does not, for whatever the reasons are, appear to be willing to temporarily take care of these dogs until I can find other arrangements).

I cannot handle the family euthanizing 2 healthy older dogs, that I have know since they were pups, and that I know meant everything to their mom, just because they, for who knows what reasons, are not able/willing to take care of them.

PLEASE help me to find a place for them. I will check out any interested party before placing them, to ensure that they are going to a loving home where they will be properly cared for. SERIOUS RESPONSES ONLY. I will ask that an adoption contract be signed for each of the dogs (standard Second Chance Rescue contract).

Contact me via this e-mail. ASAP!

Thanks,

Sue"

Her e-mail address is Drsuerdvm@aol.com - e-mail her or call her if you are able to give these sweet girls a good home!  She also gave us her phone number, but I do not want to post anyone's phone number on the internet--if you are seriously interested in Sally & Sarah, post a comment on this blog which includes your e-mail address and I will send it to you!

 

Willie, Willy, Jett & Harley!

Today's first dog is Willie, an adorable Shepherd mix at the Darke County Animal Shelter.  He's six years old and has some of the most soulful eyes I've ever seen!  He was born with a deformed foot but he still gets around really well.  According to the shelter staff, he's very friendly and loves people!  If you'd like to give Willie a forever home, call the Darke County Animal Shelter at (937) 547-1645.

Meet Willy!  He was brought in to the Miami County Animal Shelter as a stray along with Wonka, the mohawked terrier I posted yesterday.  He's a terrier mix (age unknown) and the shelter staff describes him as friendly, playful, and sweet!  If you'd like to adopt Willy, call the Miami County Animal Shelter at (937) 332-6919!

Our last "shelter" dog of the day is Jett, a Pug/Terrier mix currently at the Shelby County Animal Shelter.  He's 8 months old and the shelter staff says he's VERY calm, super sweet, and would make a great companion dog.  If you'd like to be his companion, call the Shelby County Animal Shelter at (937) 498-7201!

Now I would like to move on to a dog who isn't in a county shelter, but still needs a great home!

Meet Harley!  He's a 4-month-old Puggle (Pug/Beagle mix) whose former owner happened to be walking into the Clark County Humane Society's shelter when a Dream 4 Pets member was walking out - apparently his former owner bought him from a pet store and then realized he was a little too rowdy for her toddler.  Well, the Dream member took one look at his sweet face & knew she couldn't let him get stuck in a shelter, so she applied to be his foster mom!  Harley is due to bark in a higher octave (i.e. get neutered!) tomorrow - he's had two sets of shots and has been wormed.  He's very playful and loves playing with his foster mom's Beagles.  He's not completely house trained yet & is also working on crate training--he's very smart and will learn in no time!  If you're interested in adding Harley to your family, contact the Clark County Humane Society at (937) 339-2917 to set up an appointment to meet him.  You can also see him at Petsmart in Springfield (1705 N. Bechtle Ave.) during their adopt-a-thon this Saturday from 11:00 to 4:00!

 

There are two other dogs I will be featuring today, but their story is so touching I'm going to give them their very own entry!

Two purebread, housetrained, show quality Golden Retrievers - in need of homes!

This Craigslist entry was shared with me by the folks at Dream 4 Pets - please pass this along if you know anyone who could give these dogs a home!

http://dayton.craigslist.org/pet/2315365585.html

Here is the text from the ad - the owner writes better about his dogs than I ever could:

"We have two AKC registered male Golden Retrievers who are seeking new families. They are father and son. It is not necessary that they are placed together, only that they are placed with a family who loves dogs and will care for them thoughtfully. They would make terrible guard dogs because they wouldn’t harm a stranger any more than they would their owner. Usually, Titan does bark when a strange vehicle pulls in the driveway, but what he’s thinking is probably “Hey, my ball’s over there, let’s play”.

Comet was born in 2002 and Titan in 2003. We purchased Comet when he was 6 weeks old for my youngest son for 4H. He and Comet were in 4H for two years and participated in obedience and showmanship contests at The Great Darke County Fair. He also trained with the Greenville Area Dog Club for a couple of sessions. Comet’s greatest fault is that he likes to chase cars, therefore we have been keeping him contained in the barn or tied. We have had three Goldens ran over by vehicles and we don’t want that to happen again. He would do fine in your house if you so desired with only a little training.

Titan was born in the back room of our house. Last year he was my youngest daughter’s 4H dog. He also participated in 4H obedience and showmanship contests at the fair. He is normally outside, but would also make a good inside dog with minimal training. He loves to play, especially “fetch”, although sometimes he won’t bring you back the ball to you. I think he wants you to “fetch” also.

Neither of these dogs would harm anyone, but I don’t know how they would react to cats. We’ve never had any because my wife is allergic to them. They have and will chase and kill rats, mice, moles, rabbits, and an occasional ground hog. They both would be happiest to be in a family with children to play with, and the more the better. Both have always been around children and are no threat to bite. I wouldn’t expect them to be protectors as they have never been protective of anything, but as companions they are excellent.

So, if these dogs are so great, then why are they looking to place them with someone else? My youngest son is attending both high school and taking college courses and preparing for his senior year and then college. He really doesn’t have the time to care for Comet as he should be taken care of. We lost our youngest daughter in an auto accident in December. She and Titan were pretty close and I think he really misses her. I just don’t have the heart to spend the time with him right now. In another year or so it will be just the two of us here and we already have one Golden in the house and little desire to run around with two others to play with them like they need.

Both dogs are in excellent health and up to date on all their shots through May.

P.S. The pictures are of Titan. Comet is slightly larger and a bit redder in color."

He lists his contact information as timmyb74@yahoo.com and his phone number as (937) 997-4271.  E-mail him or give him a call if you want to give one of his dogs a home!

"Golden retrievers are not bred to be guard dogs, and considering the size of their hearts and their irrepressible joy in life, they are less likely to bite than to bark, less likely to bark than to lick a hand in greeting. In spite of their size, they think they are lap dogs, and in spite of being dogs, they think they are also human, and nearly every human they meet is judged to have the potential to be a boon companion who might, at many moment, cry, "Let's go!" and lead them on a great adventure."
~ Dean Koontz

Monday's Amazing Adoptables!

Today I got the wonderful news that Sprocket, the last of the 108 Piqua dogs to be stuck in a traditional shelter, has been adopted!  It makes me happy to know that he'll finally know what it's like to go on walks in the sun, lay on something other than sawdust or concrete, and have a family all his own to give hugs to!  Hopefully the dogs I feature today will find great homes as well!

First up is Alaska, a 3-year-old St. Bernard mix that's been at the Darke County Animal Shelter for quite a while.  (I know she's been there since at least February!)  According to the shelter staff, she's a big sweetheart who loves people and will make a great friend!  If you're interested in befriending this gorgeous gal, contact the Darke County Humane Society at (937) 457-1645 - her ID number is #01211118!

Are you looking for a punk rock pup?  Look no further than Wonka, a 4-year-old terrier mix that appears to have one awesome mohawk!  He was brought in to the Miami County Animal Shelter as a stray.  According to the staff, he is very friendly and playful!  If you want to add Wonka to your family, call the Miami County Animal Shelter at (937) 332-6919!

Last but not least, we have Angus, a Shepherd mix that was dumped in the runs outside the Shelby County Animal Shelter. (I think he looks like he might have a bit of Bernese Mountain Dog in him!)  The shelter staff says he's very quiet, well-mannered, walks well on a leash, and will not jump on you.  If you'd like to give Angus a good home, contact the Shelby County Animal Shelter at (937) 498-7201!

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."

~ Louis Sabin

Sunday Sweethearts

Even though most of the area shelters are closed on Sundays, I still wanted to post & show you some of the pups who'll be waiting for folks to come visit them when the shelters reopen on Monday!

Meet Maizey!  She's a sweet Boxer/Labrador Retriever mix available for adoption at the Darke County Animal Shelter.  She's approximately 7 months old, is current on her vaccinations, and loves kids!  If you'd like to add Maizey to your family, contact the Darke County Animal Shelter at (937) 547-1645 - her ID number is #03241124.

Next up is Clyde, a Pug/Beagle mix - that's right, he's a Puggle!  He was brought in to the Miami County Animal Shelter as a stray and is approximately two years old.  He's a little hesitant and withdrawn but is starting to come out of his shell after spending two days hanging out with the shelter staff.  They said: " We discovered that although he is hesitant with us, he seems to be much more comfortable with children, surprisingly enough! When he heard a child's voice, he was walking over to the gate to find them. Today we kid tested him (on an older child) and discovered that kids may be his type of "people"! He seemed to much rather hang out the little boy, than he did with us big people! I am not sure that I would trust him with very young children, but he did very well with the 9 yr old boy who was here. "  If you're interested in giving Clyde a home, contact the Miami County Animal Shelter at (937) 332-6919!

Meet Conan!  He's a Beagle/Coonhound mix at the Shelby County Animal Shelter.  He's approximately 7 or 8 months old, keeps his pen clean, and walks VERY well on a leash!  If you'd like to adopt him as a walking partner, contact the Shelby County Animal Shelter at (937) 498-7201!

"Dogs are our link to paradise.  They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.  To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing is not boring--it was peace."

~ Milan Kundera

Sprocket's Story **UPDATED - News from Sprocket's Foster Home!**

**UPDATED 8/19/11 - News from Sprocket's Foster Home!**

Just wanted to post a quick update about sweet Sprocket, who is doing wonderfully in his foster home but is still looking for his forever home! 

Here's a pic of Sprocket from July 8th, a few days after he got to his new foster home.  He was hanging out in his foster mom's office.  :)

Here he is on July 14th - can you tell he made himself at home right away?  :)  After spending so much time in shelters, he was probably relieved to be somewhere safe! 

And here's the latest picture, from August 8th.  This picture never fails to make me smile, because when I first met him, he had nothing to sleep on but wood shavings that were caked with his own waste.  To see him snoozing on a clean, comfy dog bed warms my heart!  :)

Sprocket's foster mom says he's one of the easiest foster dogs she's ever cared for - if she didn't already have several dogs of her own, she'd want to keep him!  He's great with her other dogs and is FULLY HOUSETRAINED!  (Hooray for Sprocket!) 

If you're interested in giving Sprocket a forever home, visit http://www.gotspots.org/ and fill out an adoption application!

**UPDATED 7/5/11 - Sprocket's Happy Beginning!**

Most people have heard the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child," but today I'd like to paraphrase that and make it "It takes a small army to rescue a dog!"

Early this morning, I got a text message from the director of Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue, letting me know that our original plan for pulling Sprocket from the Miami County Animal Shelter had hit some unexpected snags.  It was basically some red tape, and we weren't going to let it slow us down!

So I started texting back and forth with my friend Julie, and she consulted another friend of ours who we know through volunteering with the Piqua dogs, and by putting our heads together we came up with a new plan - Julie was going to pay the adoption fee & pull Sprocket on behalf of the rescue group.  I okayed this with the director of SCDR, gave her Julie's contact info, and let them work out the details.  And at about 10:30 today I got a text message with the following picture from Julie - it's Sprocket, taking one last look at MCAS on his way to freedom!

Julie immediately started giving Sprocket great treatment - giving him a bath, then taking him to the vet for a checkup.  She & I decided it'd be nice to take Sprocket for a walk in a local park before it was time for him to meet up with the transport group who'd be driving him to his new foster home in the Cincinnati area.  So on my lunch break, I met Julie & Sprocket at the park, and let him enjoy some fresh air!  Sprocket took a nap in Julie's backseat on the way there:

Of course, as soon as Sprocket saw all the trees and wide open spaces, he perked right up!  Here he is, checking out the view at the park:

And here he is, investigating my camera:

And here he is, getting excited because Julie was holding up a treat:

And here's Sprocket's gorgeous smile!

And one last one...look how happy he looks to be on his way to a new life!

Unfortunately I had to go back to work, so I gave Sprocket a few more hugs and we parted ways! 

At 4:00 today, Julie & Sprocket met up with the transporter who was driving Sprocket to his new foster home in the Cincinnati area.  Here he is, getting ready to head on down the highway!

I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up with Sprocket's progress through Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue - if so, I will be sure to post updates!  That's why I called this update Sprocket's "Happy Beginning" - it's definitely not a "happy ending," because it's the beginning of an awesome new chapter in Sprocket's life - one where he'll be taken care of in a wonderful foster home by folks who will teach him the things he needs to know to be a great dog!  Then, when the time is right, SCDR will match him up with the perfect family for him!  :)

Thanks to everyone involved - the folks who volunteered alongside me when he was first rescued, those who've followed his story from the beginning & have helped to promote him on the internet, the newspaper reporters & camera crew that covered him, the county shelters who took care of him while he waited for adoption, Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue who agreed to take him in and went above & beyond to make that happen, Julie for pulling him out of MCAS, the transport drivers who got him to Cincinnati, and his new foster family!  I can't wait to see what the future holds for Sprocket!

**UPDATED 7/3/11 - Sprocket's getting closer to rescue!**

Well the troops have rallied from all across the internet, and we're getting closer to rescuing Sprocket!  I found a wonderful rescue group called Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue - you can visit their site at http://www.secondchancesdalrescue.com/ - and e-mailed them.  They responded quickly to say they'd be able to take Sprocket!  They have pulled dogs from Miami County Animal Shelter before, and are contacting all their area adopters & fosters to get him pulled from the shelter and placed into a foster home, where he can be housetrained and eventually placed into a forever home that's right for him.  I'm very excited that Sprocket will soon be getting a chance at a happy life - and I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as things progress!

**UPDATED 7/2/11 - Sprocket needs a new home!**

Some of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning may remember Sprocket - he was the last of the dogs rescued from One More Chance Rescue & Adoption in Piqua to be stuck in a traditional kill shelter.  I turned myself in to his very own public relations representative, and even managed to get Channel 7 to put him on the news and the Piqua Daily Call to write a nice article about him.  The links, as well as Sprocket's whole story, can be found below.

Unfortunately I received a call today letting me know that Sprocket - now known as Bosley - is at the Miami County Animal Shelter.  The folks who adopted him in April turned him in because he's having trouble being housebroken and they don't have a fenced in yard to help him. 

Here's some info that the Miami County Animal Shelter posted on Sprocket's profile: "Bosley needs a Hero! He was originally one of the dogs from the "Rescue" in Piqua that was shut down due to cruelty and neglect. Bosely was transfered to the Darke Co. Animal Shelter and finally adopted out through that shelter (his name at that time was Sprocket). Bosely has since been neutered, is now current on all vaccines, and seems to now be in very good health overall. Bosley was brought to our shelter, because he can't seem to pick up housebreaking and the adopters were unable to put up a fence where they lived, so keeping him outside was not working out. Bosley is a real lover. He needs someone who understands his issues and can go the extra mile with him!"

I feel SO bad for Sprocket - adopted as a puppy, only to be returned and have to spend 5-6 years of his life suffering neglect at the hands of an animal hoarder who disguised himself as a rescuer - stuck inside a dark warehouse, not being fed or given clean water regularly, forced to live in his own waste.  (Is it any wonder why he's having a bit of trouble with potty training?  He's lived in a kennel his whole life!)  Then finally rescued from the hoarder and taken to an animal shelter...getting adopted...and yet somehow ending up back in another animal shelter!

He really is a wonderful dog- VERY sweet and affectionate!  I'm going to see if the Piqua Daily Call will write another article about him, but in the meantime want to get his story out there via this blog.

If you, or anyone you know, might be able to be Sprocket's hero, please contact the Miami County Animal Shelter at (937) 332-6919!  Or take the time to stop out at the shelter and meet Sprocket/Bosley!  Here's the shelter info:

Miami County Animal Shelter
1110 North County Road 25A
Troy, OH 45373
(937) 332-6919

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

If you can't adopt Sprocket, please share the link to this blog wherever you can.  The more people who see it, the better chance he has to finally find his forever home!!


**UPDATED 4/11/11 - Sprocket has been adopted!!**


Say hello again to Sprocket!

I've featured Sprocket on this blog a few times before, but recently got some new information about him and wanted him to give yet another moment in the spotlight in the hopes that I will finally be able to help him get a home! 


As those of you who've read my previous posts know, Sprocket is the LAST of the 108 dogs rescued from One More Chance Rescue in Piqua to still be stuck in a traditional "kill" shelter.  While the director of that shelter has said he wants to keep his promise to Sprocket to find him a good home, he's been there for two months and obviously can't stay there forever!  Two weeks ago I turned myself into Sprocket's personal publicist and managed to get the Piqua Daily Call & Greenville Daily Advocate to write articles about him - you can read the article at:


http://www.dailycall.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=171713&SectionID=86&SubSectionID=164&S=1


I also managed to get Channel 7 to feature him on the news!  You can see Sprocket in action at:


http://www.whiotv.com/video/27392692/index.html


I called the shelter this past week to see if it had helped, and while they said they'd gotten several phone calls, only two families had actually come in to look at him and nothing had worked out yet.  Also this past week, I was browsing dog listings on Petfinder and discovered something that has made me even more determined to do what I can to help Sprocket find a home outside a shelter's walls!


While I was browsing the dog listings on Petfinder, I started noticing dogs who looked awfully familiar.  When I saw this picture, I immediately knew I was looking at some of "our" Piqua dogs:

There was no mistaking that sweet face--I knew it was Sprocket!  One click later, I realized that Petfinder had erroneously restored some of One More Chance's original posts about the dogs.  (Once news of the animal cruelty charges broke, Petfinder graciously removed all the shelter's listings from their site, and it seems to have just been a glitch that restored them.  They have since been removed again.) 


During Sprocket's time at One More Chance Rescue, he was known as Canada.  He is not, as we guessed, an English Pointer Mix - he's actually a Dalmatian/Black Lab mix!  And thanks to a computer glitch, we now know his history.  One More Chance posted this on 4/28/09:


"Canada is a Dalmatian/Lab Mix, was saved as a tiny puppy from being killed at another shelter.  He was adopted, but later returned due to the owners lack of time to spend with a young puppy.  Canada is a great big teddy bear, he loves to snuggle and is waiting very patiently for someone to come and take him home with them.  He is a very energetic and fun boy who would love to romp and play in a fenced yard.  He is not yet neutered and is 4 1/2 years old.  Canada, like all dogs kept at a rescue facility, is not house trained, but could quickly learn.  He loves everyone and would love to belong to a forever family!"


On 12/1/09, there was another entry:


"Please make this the year that Canada gets a home for Christmas.  He is such a loving dog, please don't let him spend his life in a pen.  He needs a yard to run in, a warm place to  lay, and people to walk and play with him.  I'm praying that God will bring a wonderful family for him THIS YEAR!"


As we all know, that didn't happen.  Instead, Sprocket has been stuck with the other dogs at One More Chance Rescue--kept in deplorable conditions, getting no exercise, not getting food & water regularly.  It's through no fault of his own that he hasn't been adopted yet--we've heard many stories about people who tried for years to adopt dogs from One More Chance, but the man in charge would never part with them because he felt the people wouldn't take as good of care of them as he could.  (He has a distorted definition of "care," and is truly a hoarder, NOT a rescuer.)


In all honestly, I was shocked to learn that this amazing dog who LOVES everyone he meet & can't wait to dish out hugs has spent almost his entire life (except for his brief adoption period) stuck living in a pen in a shelter!  If you would like to FINALLY give this sweetheart the forever home he deserves, please contact the Darke County Animal Shelter.


Here are Sprocket's details one more time: Dalmatian/Black Lab mix, 6 years old, weighs 70 lbs., current on vaccinations and microchipped. ID #02231119.


And here is the shelter's information:


(Removed, so as not to confuse folks as to what shelter he's currently at!)


If you have any questions about Sprocket, leave a comment on this entry & I will do my best to get answers for you!  Thanks for reading, and be sure to pass this link on to anyone you think might be interested in giving Sprocket a home!

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.  He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world... When all other friends desert, he remains."

~ George G. Vest

Grab some Kleenex, then watch this video!

Yep, I'm a total sap & cried at this one!  Such an awesome dog & an amazing story!  (Don't worry, you'll cry happy tears!)

Puppy Power!

The theme of today's post is...PUPPIES!  Because who doesn't love puppies?  :)  There are tons of puppies available in area shelters right now - if you're looking to add a furry little bundle of joy to your family, check these guys & gals out...and be sure to visit the shelter websites because there are more where these cuties came from!

These two sweet little gals are Shepherd/Lab mixes available for adoption at the Darke County Animal Shelter.  (The shelter site doesn't know an exact age, but says they are under a year old and they estimate they will be around 50 lbs. when full grown.)  They are current on all their vaccinations and, according to shelter staff, are very playful!  If you'd like to give one of these sweethearts a forever home, contact the Darke County Animal Shelter at (937) 547-1645! Their ID number is #03071107abcdef!  (I'm guessing there are six of them--all girls!--and these two were chosen to represent them!)

Next up is Barney!  He's one of a litter of Lab/Rottweiler mixes dropped off at the Miami County Animal Shelter!  He and his littermates are about three months old and are very shy--they're not aggressive at all and just need to be socialized and learn how to be loved.  (Update 4/9/11 - The shelter gave them baths this morning and let them stay up front to socialize--they're still shy at first but if you sit on the ground and wait, in under a minute you have a lap full of puppies!  They're already coming out of their shells!)  Definitely check out the Miami County Animal Shelter's site - Barney's siblings are just as cute as he is!  If you're interested in adopting Barney or one of his siblings, call the Miami County Animal Shelter at (937) 332-6919! 

Last but not least, we have Marmaduke, a ten-week-old Great Dane Mix!  (Yes, he's only ten weeks old--someone's going to be a big boy!)  In addition to having incredibly adorable ears, he is super sweet and very playful!  If you want to give Marmaduke a home, contact the Shelby County Animal Shelter at (937) 498-7201!

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
~ Bern Williams

Scars give character!

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;

the most massive characters are seared with scars."

~ Kahlil Gibran

Both the dogs I'm featuring today are survivors of Jeff Burgess's One More Chance Rescue in Piqua.  They've been through a lot in their time stuck in that dark warehouse, and have the scars to prove it.  While they may have a few minor physical imperfections, they more than make up for it in personality!  Both are being taken care of by area rescue groups, but desperately want to find their forever homes!

First up is Luckie, a 4-1/2 year old Mastiff/Labrador Retriever mix!  He was featured on Channel 2 today as the adoptable pet of the day!  :)  He's a total sweetie & loves to give hugs!  He's currently being cared for at SICSA (Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals) in Kettering.  He's been there since February 27th, and the SICSA staff says he's been experiencing some kennel stress lately and they'd really love for him to find a good home soon.  If you're interested in adopting Luckie, contact SICSA's Kennel Manager at (937) 294-6505 ext. 11 or at kennelmanager@sicsa.org !

A fellow volunteer tipped me off that this sweet gal was still waiting for a home at the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center!  The shelter site doesn't have many pictures up, so I had to use a picture from her days at One More Chance in Piqua.  By process of elimination with their listings, I believe that the Montgomery County ARC has named her Lulu - she's a 6 or 7 year old black lab and is just as sweet as can be!  (Look at that gorgeous smile!)  She's been at the ARC since February 14th and would love to find her forever home!  Her adoption fee is $75.00, which includes vaccines for DHPPC, Bordetella, and Canine Influenza, microchipping, spaying, worming, and a heartworm check!  If you want to adopt her, call the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center at (937) 898-4457 or e-mail them at AnimalShelter@mcohio.org ! 

I can't speak highly enough about these two, and how they've managed to hold on to their awesome personalities, even though they spent god knows how many months neglected at One More Chance.  I'd love to see them find the forever homes they deserve!  Please pass this link on to anyone you know who might be interested in them!