Select Page

Thank You Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue Participants

Marina and PeteyA huge “thank you” to everyone that participated and helped us promote this event!  We couldn’t have done it without you.

If you missed the event, the links below are the posts in support of dog rescue/adoption – and perhaps a cat or bunny post or two – we love all animals!

I’m making my way through the list, not only are the posts incredible – so are the people behind them! Please visit the blogs below – I’m very grateful to the people behind those blogs. Together we can make great things happen…

 

Please Help Bloggers Unite For Dog Rescue

Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue

 

How you can help today

Please help us publicize Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue, a special online global event held on July 23, 2012 stressing the importance of dog adoption. Dog Rescue Success  is proud to partner with Blog Catalog, BTC4animals.com and YOU to harness a global online community to help save the lives of dogs in need.

1.) Grab a badge from the sidebar.
Paste the code from Dog Rescue Success‘s sidebar to your blog’s sidebar. This lets folks know you’re taking part and how they can too. Copy any of the event images too!

2.) Tell others!
Post this to Facebook and Twitter:

SPREAD THE WORD – BLOGGERS UNITE FOR DOG RESCUE – Promote dog adoption on July 23rd! #BloggersUniteforDogRescue>

ON JULY 23rd:

Post your Blog Entry

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY:

  • Blogging about a Dog Rescue related topic on July 23rd, 2012
  • Adopting a companion: https://theshelterpetproject.org/
  • Donating to a local dog rescue organization
  • Fostering a dog
  • Volunteering at a local shelter or rescue organization
  • Sharing this post across all forms of social media and encourage others to participate!

TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR BLOG

  • Millions of dogs are euthanized each year because not enough people are adopting dogs through local rescue groups and shelters.  Instead, many people purchase from pet stores not knowing that most come from puppy mills – read more at: https://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-scams-cons.aspx:  Additionally, many people underestimate the the time and dedication it takes to become a responsible pet owner, and surrender their dogs, or worse.
  • Local dog rescue organizations consist of volunteers who help by fostering dogs in their own homes while they search for permanent placement, taking dogs to adoption events, fundraising to cover medical and boarding costs to name a few.  Most rescue groups do not have the luxury of employees or people dedicated to promoting their efforts on a large scale. This is where Bloggers can give these unsung heroes and homeless dogs a voice.
  • As their own resources permit, these groups work with local animal shelters in an effort to place adoptable dogs that are scheduled for euthanization. The sad fact is that many dogs die every day before they find a “forever home”. The commercials you see on television about neglect and abuse are very real. Consumers can literally save a dog’s life simply by choosing adoption over a pet store or breeder purchase.
  • Per the HSUS, “Nationwide, only about 20 percent of dogs in homes come from shelters—the rest come from other sources. It would only take a relatively small increase in the adoption rate along with a modest reduction in the birth rate to go a long way toward solving the problem of euthanizing healthy and treatable dogs in many communities.”  We all have the ability to make a difference in the world by taking action. Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue participants have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of dogs in need.

RESOURCES

Learn more about puppy mills: https://www.aspca.org/Fight-Animal-Cruelty/puppy-mills

Need help for your rescue group?:

 https://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/resourcelibrary/adoptionsindex.cfm

Deaf Dog Rescources: https://www.catatonic.freeservers.com/penny/deafdogs.html

Dog Trainers: https://www.apdt.com/petowners/ts/default.aspx

Community Solution for Dog Rescue

I always seem to encounter amazing people in the dog rescue community. Kim Clune and the rest of the pack over at Dog House Adoptions are a perfect example. What really caught my attention about this group is how well they integrated the entire community in their dog rescue efforts. I’m excited to introduce this dynamic team to you and hope that their vision will inspire you.

Regardless of how we’re involved with the dog rescue community, there are a multitude of ways that we can incorporate new ideas to raise awareness, increase adoptions and facilitate the process of dogs and people helping and healing each other.

Dog House Adoptions – A new breed of Dog Rescue 

Dog House Adoptions - Lori Harris, Audra Bentley, Tim Clune, and Kim Clune

Dog House Adoptions – Lori Harris, Audra Bentley, Tim Clune, and Kim Clune

Q: Dog House Adoptions captured my heart at the “About” page. You’ve covered so many critical components of creating forever homes. You didn’t stop at rescuing; you took it several steps further by engaging and creating change at a community level. Can you share your long-term vision with us?

A: Our greatest goal is to celebrate the tremendous emotional value that a dog’s life has, no matter their mix of breeds or a lack of known history. We have spectacular dogs in our care, uniquely beautiful friends who would add immeasurable love to any family’s life through adoption, but why wait? And what if you aren’t in a position to adopt?

Our dogs have the ability to symbiotically serve a caring community who serves them in return. So, right now, we invite people of all walks of life to indulge in the healing power of dogs – from those who require occupational therapy that a little dog brushing or ball tossing can provide, to victims of domestic violence, those struggling withloss, or anybody who needs a little unconditional love. Meet our dogs. Walk them. Sit with them awhile. You’ll comfort them while they comfort you and that love gets paid forward at the time of their adoption.

To facilitate this best, I envision building a human dog house featuring all the comforts of home. A cozy living room complete with plush couches, fun paint colors, curtains, and art on the walls will make a great space for community members to spend time while facilitating training for dogs to stay off the furniture and not to chew. A kitchen and laundry room with all the usual appliances will acclimate the dogs to normal household operations and noises while helping to maintain the space. This environment would also allow prospective adopters to imagine their new best friend in their own home (a staging idea I borrow from my HGTV addiction). We believe this will encourage more dog adoptions and lessen return rates because each dog will have a great head start to being a good household member.

Q: I love your focus on education. Knowing that many local rescue groups
operate on very tight budgets; do you have any suggestions on how they might create similar programs or connections on a smaller scale?

A: We incorporated in April 2012 and are an extremely small rescue with very active board members. We operate on a shoestring budget – but nothing stops us from introducing ourselves to the community and inviting folks to come by. All it takes is one volunteer willing to offer their time and one community member willing to learn.

Marlene Wagner, a certified dog trainer, offered her time to teach about signs of stress in dogs and general dog safety at our first volunteer orientation. 15 people came. Many are now dog walkers and adoption clinic handlers. Marlene has offered our handlers and adoptable dogs free access to her Tails onTrails class to learn respectful, reward-based training suitable in any environment. We can’t wait for this to start! It costs us nothing, but the value to people and dogs is tremendous.

We also spoke with the Berkshire Farm where young adults are in need of positive experiences. A little dog encounter therapy could be the perfect means. We’re working on facilitating some terrific interaction with groups like this.

Another exciting adventure includes a local band called the Stray Dogs who play often in our county. Having never met, but finding them on Google, I asked them to write a theme song for us, which they did. It’s called “Pick Me” and they’ve played it at local venues inciting all kinds of fun conversations. Education doesn’t always have to come in the form a classroom!

The ideas are boundless once you start talking with people. By all means, engage everybody and use every talent they have!

Q: Dog House Adoptions is brand new with such ambitious goals. What made you decide to found this organization and would you recommend that others follow suit?

A: First, let me say that joining an established organization is far more ideal, as mentioned in Kyla Duffy’s guide, Road to Rescue – a resource we heavily rely upon. Help is always needed and resources are best spent directly on the animals rather than incorporation and other startup fees.

In our situation, towns had contracted with a local kennel to house the strays from Rensselaer County, NY and, at the end of a dog’s five day hold, surrounding rescues were often stretched too thin to help. The kennel owner cared for unclaimed dogs out of her own pocket while finding families to take them in. The need was very apparent.

Mike Arms, a man who inspired me during a talk onrevolutionizing rescue, offers a free, week-long ACES Workshop at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA . He teaches how to best to start and manage a new organization or improve upon one in existence. By all means, educate yourself before diving in, and get to this workshop if you can. We found it invaluable.

And, if you decide to move forward, enlist the help of good friends. Coming home wholly inspired, I shared what was learned with my husband, Tim Clune, and our friends, Lori Harris and Audra Bentley. Ultimately, this group became our hard working Board of Directors. Our friendship feeds our rescueand our rescue feeds our friendship – all in the name of helping people and dogs.
_

Thank you Kim and Dog House Adoptions for sharing your insight, we certainly enjoyed getting to know you! I hope everyone reading this will take a moment to visit the Dog House adoptions site online or locally.

Do you know of a dog rescue group taking a fresh approach to adoptions? Let me knowand they could be our next featured Rescue Group!

Detroit Dog Rescue

I grew up just north of Detroit and moved out of state in the mid eighties when automotive was just beginning to tank. In better days, I remember going to Detroit for Ethnic Festivals at Hart Plaza, the food in Greek Town, Tiger games, and the Joe Louis Arena to name a few.  I never imagined that it could get to where it is today – depressing beyond words.

With so many  people losing everything, the animal welfare is also at an all time low. I want to share a video and link to a  Rolling Stone story about Detroit Dog Rescue – DDR.  In the midst of so much chaos and ruin, it might be easy for some to look away from the dead and dying dogs in Detroit. Daniel “Hush” Carlisle is not one to look away, he’s stepped up to the plate in a big way, and I’m hoping he can lead us to Detroit’s biggest Dog Rescue Success story ever. It won’t be easy, but I believe we can help turn it around.

Please share these stories. The Animal Control system in Detroit is broken and the dogs of Detroit are paying for it with their lives. They need us now more than ever. Please help bring awareness to the problem as well as the organizations like Detroit Dog Rescue that are making a difference.

The Petey Chronicles II

Petey and Marina first day together

Emaciated and near death, Petey was rescued by an L.A. county officer who just happened to spot him and another dog in a backyard. When they were rescued, they were so emaciated that they had to be carried out, and it wasn’t certain if they would make it. Unfortunately, Petey’s sister did not survive.

From Bad to Worse

Petey became “evidence” in an animal cruelty case and was kenneled for six months. He had been used as bait in dog fighting ring – once the case ended and he was no longer “needed” he was scheduled for euthanization! What a horrific “remedy” for an already cruel and sad life Petey had to endure.

The Challenge

This is where dog rescue organizations become the heroes and advocates for those without a voice. When the officer that rescued Petey heard that he was going to be euthanized, she reached out to Forte Animal Rescue founder Marie Atake. Marie then rescued Petey and he was placed in a foster home until he could be adopted. In a perfect world, Petey’s horrific story would melt hearts at the dog adoption events he attended and he would find his “Forever Home” almost immediately. The sad reality is that older dogs are often seen as less desirable than puppies. I’ve had both in my life, and can tell you that while puppies are quite adorable, the effort required in those first few years can be ten-fold!

The Happy Ending

When I saw Petey online, he’d been available for adoption for almost a year. By then, he was five years old which is considered “mature.” I knew the moment I saw him that I’d be filling out an application for his adoption. After everything he’d been through, he was still so good natured that I really wanted to give him the opportunity to have a happy life.

There isn’t a day that goes by where I am not grateful for all of the wonderful people that worked together to rescue Petey – who has now been with us for six years. It was because of all of them, that he became a member of our family and found his “Forever Home”.

Pin It on Pinterest