Dog blog sharing tips, dog treat recipes, and advocating for often misjudged breeds.
Author: Sarah Lukemire
Fur mom to Lola & Rio, free-spirited personality, coffee addict. Blogging to create positive awareness for pit bull type dogs. Committed to creating a world in which all dogs are treated fairly and equally. Read more >>
Ya’ll know I’m a sucker for a brindle and look at this guy! Oxford is stunning. Those eyes remind me of Mama Emma’s…
Not really sure why Oxford has been waiting forever for his home but he has and that’s why we’re stepping in to give this guy a turbo boost in *hopefully* exposing him to his ‘furever’ family.
Our Adoptable Dog of the Week post is dedicated to special dogs who are in rescue but still looking for their perfect home. Please consider sharing this post — you might help Oxford find his ‘fur-ever’ home!
View Oxford’s profile on Wags & Whiskers
UPDATE: Oxford has been adopted as of May 2014!
Male Pit Bull | Good with dogs & cats | House and Crate trained | Best with older/respectful children | Knows lots of commands and tricks!
[Tweet “Meet Oxford: beautiful brindle pitty & Adoptable Dog of the Week #MN”]
A little more about Oxford:
“Hello! My name is Oxford, but you already know this much. The name fits me very well since I am nothing but a sophisticated and very handsome gentleman! I really enjoy going on my daily walks, playing with my foster brothers (a great dane and a pit bull), playing fetch, playing with toys and bones and snuggling with my foster family!
I know a lot of fun tricks including sit, shake, lay down, roll over, stay, high five, and I keep learning daily! I am house trained and crate trained.
While I do not live with children on a daily basis, the neighborhood children I meet on a daily basis I am very respectful to. I really enjoy the children who like to give me treats and rub my belly but I should go to a home with children 13 or older!
I would LOVE to become a part of your family if you would give me a chance. I promise to love you unconditionally and give you puppy tail wags and kisses daily!!
If you are interested in meeting Oxford, please fill out an application on www.wagsmn.org or use the contact form on their website.
A couple months ago, I asked our friends on Facebook what type of dog treats they’d love to see and we received a ton of requests. Carob cupcakes, carrot treats, chicken wild rice, and so many other great ideas.
And then…life happened.
We had a few eventful weeks presented to us and before I knew it, I never shared this recipe with you. But I feel like I’m finally able to breath, regain focus and get back into a normal routine with life and this blog.
Lola and Rio literally sat in front of the oven the entire time these were baking. When I had to photograph them they were both on pins and needles waiting for me to give them one (I might have snuck them a little taste). If they could talk, I’d be willing to bet they’d tell you this is their favorite dog treat recipe yet.
I loved making them, too. As you know if you’ve read my previous DIY dog treat recipes – I love simple. And healthy. You will not see me feeding Lola and Rio a cheeseburger, ice cream cone, or french fries (I save that for myself). I’m not judging you if you do, but I just don’t think they need it and I want my babies to live a long, healthy life.
This recipe was inspired and adapted from Kol’s Notes.
Your pup will love these DIY chicken wild rice dog treats that resemble mini muffins!
Author: Sarah at Lolathepitty.com (adapted from Kolchak Puggle)
Serves: 12
Ingredients
1 cup wild rice, mashed (may sub with another rice)
1 cup chicken, diced fine or shredded
3 Tablespoons rice flour (I used Bob's Red Mill)
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, diced
1 egg, beaten
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 deg F.
Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir until well incorporated.
Using a spoon, press mixture into each cavity, packing tight and filling nearly to the top.
Bake for 25 minutes or until top begins to turn golden brown.
Let cool completely before serving.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (or freeze).
Recipe from LolathePitty.com. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words & simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.
3.2.1284
The rice flour was just brown rice flour from Bob’s Red Mill (if there’s ever a specialty flour you need, I guarantee they make it and it’s at most grocery stores).
To save time, I actually used canned chicken in this recipe. I was able to find an organic, canned chicken without any preservatives so I gave it a go.
And if you’re like me ten years ago (prior to living in Minnesota) and are going, “Huh? Where the heck can I find wild rice…wait, what is wild rice?!” just substitute with brown rice or whatever rice you’d like.
Many of you have been following the story of the two strays that we took in earlier in April.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about you can catch up and begin by reading ‘an eventful week’.
Well, Mama Emma delivered her pups this weekend! 10 of them. When we found out she was in labor, we immediately drove down to her whelping foster’s house. What an amazing experience is all I can say…
Life being brought into the world right in front of your eyes.
For more photos (and videos!), you can check us out on Instagram and Facebook!
All of the puppies were healthy and Emma did practically all of the hard work herself. A new puppy was born just about every 30 minutes since she went into labor. There are seven boys and three girls. No wonder she is passed out…
Look at the little white one!
I am so relieved that this is over for Emma, she was clearly quite uncomfortable the last couple weeks.
Not to mention the last couple days – she looked fit to burst! She gained approximately 15 lbs from the first week we had her. After the pups are weaned she will never have to go through this ever again.
So glad we found Mama & Rusty – everything that day was truly meant to be. I cannot even imagine their lives if things had turned out differently that day.
Emma and her puppies will be available for adoption through Secondhand Hounds at the end of June.
Our Adoptable Dog of the Week post is dedicated to special dogs who are in rescue but still looking for their perfect home. Please consider sharing this post — you might help Ginger find her ‘fur-ever’ home!
I know Ginger isn’t a “bully breed” but Ginger needs our help. She needs a family that is willing to work with her little quirks. She’s not a bad dog, she just needs patience, persistence and a caring family. Her past is unknown but it has somehow affected her. She is great with other dogs and cats and would really like a cuddle buddy! It’s people that she is uncertain of. Strangers are questionable to her and even a simple body movement is scary to her. Read more about Ginger below…
GSD/Belgian Shepherd Malinois| 2 yrs old | crate & house trained | Good with dogs & cats | Fearful of new people
[Tweet “Meet Ginger! Adoptable Dog (GSD/Malinois) of the Week from Wags & Whiskers in MN”]
From the foster:
“Ginger has a medium energy level Ginger is not demanding of your time or attention and would be perfectly happy chewing on her Nyla bones and sniffing around the yard all day. She can be convinced to chase a few balls (especially if it is a big Jolly Ball) in the yard but is also content to chase bugs. One of her favorite games is Tug and she gets so pleased with herself if she can convince someone to play. Ginger loves to wrestle with other dogs, play chase, and would love to find a dog who lets her snuggle with them. She is also very well behaved with cats. Ginger would do best in a fenced yard with a high privacy fence as she can get over short chain link fences.
Besides an hour or so of play time and regular exercise, this big lover is content lounging with you or other animals for the day and responds well to your energy level. Ginger also rides well in the car and will look out the window or lay down for a snooze. She is kenneled when the foster family is away from the house and like most dogs, needs to be supervised to make sure she isn’t getting into anything she shouldn’t when she is out of her kennel.
The most wonderful and special thing about Ginger is how incredibly sweet and loyal she is. With Ginger, there is never a question if she likes you because her love and devotion for you are displayed so openly. Every time you return to the house she greets you like she hasn’t seen you for months and is so grateful you returned to her. When sitting on her level she buries her head into you for ear scratches and will sometimes end up sprawled across your lap or at the very least with her head somehow resting on you as she falls asleep.
Ginger has both food allergies and environmental allergies. She does great on Natural Balance Grain Free formula and her other allergies are beginning to get under control after seeing an allergy specialist. She will need shots every month and possible medications when her allergies flare up.
Unfortunately we don’t know everything about Ginger’s past. At 2 years old, she is very fearful of strangers and can have a hard time in new situations appearing aggressive. She shows her fear by barking, and because she is a big dog, it’s a big bark. Ginger doesn’t hide and cower but instead lunges and barks to signal to people that she wants them to go away. She should never be off leash or loose around strangers.
She needs an especially dog savvy owner who can continue working with her reactive behavior to strangers and understand that it is not a behavior that goes away overnight. Before Ginger is comfortable with you even simple body movements seem scary and threatening to her. Ginger will need a companion committed to working with her in training classes and being conscientious of what she needs in new situations and when meeting new people. Ginger usually needs multiple meetings with a new person before she feels comfortable around them and may need a dozen or so meetings before they can even approach her or allow her to be off leash.
Ginger has met with a veterinary behaviorist and will be going on anti anxiety medication in combination with intensive training to hopefully help her overcome some of her fear. This regimen began January 2014.
Ginger has not spent a lot of time around children but from what is known about her a home with children 14+ would be best.
When using a halti collar on walks Ginger walks nicely at your side. With avoidance of other people and always being aware of triggers, Ginger is doing a better job on walks. She is not capable of walking in a park or sharing a sidewalk with other people (it is still too scary). At this time a crowded public park or dog park will be too much for Ginger and she should not attend either. She does best getting her exercise and socialization at her current doggy daycare (Dog Days in St. Paul), playtime in the yard, and walks in a quiet neighborhood.
Ginger isn’t perfect, but once you meet her, and she has the chance to trust you, she really is the most loving and wonderful dog in the world. She has come such a long way but continues to wait for an adopter who is willing to embrace her behavioral imperfections, continue to work with her anxieties and show her the love that she will endlessly give to her owner every day.”
If you are interested in meeting Ginger, please fill out an application on www.wagsmn.org or use the contact form on their website.
Lola is such a cooperative little model for me…I have to give her props. Doesn’t she look cute in her new dog pack?
I’ll admit, we already had a dog backpack that we bought last year and ended up wearing it TWICE. Ugh, don’t you hate when you do that? Our excuse was it didn’t fit right because it didn’t. It sat there and flopped around on her back which was not at all what we intended.
Lola can be hard to fit because for one, she’s a little pocket pitty and usually in-between sizes and for two, her girth(chest) measures about two to three times bigger than her waist. I know, I’m jealous too. But this makes it hard, especially when fitting a backpack.
The nice thing about this Kurgo dog pack is that it is fully adjustable. Seriously, I think it took me about 10 minutes to adjust all the straps (each strap adjusts on the top and the bottom) where it was snug so it won’t bounce around, but not too tight.
Copy this code for 20% off: KURGO20WIN then click on the photo below:
The pack fits like a harness, with a chest plate and the straps are non-restricting. The top has an ergonomic padded/ventilated design and fit very comfortably.
The leash hook is on the back which also happens to double as a bottle opener. Nifty…
The pouches/saddle bags are a great size (and adjustable). They are big but not TOO big where they are getting in the way. As you can see, we have them adjusted so they sit right on the side of Lola’s body.
I could probably fit their dog food, water and any emergency kit supplies in it without weighing her down too much. I was chatting with Beverly over at Hiking with Fido and she mentioned that a good rule of thumb she uses is don’t allow them to carry over 15% of their body weight. This of course depends on how far you are going, medical conditions that your dog may have and their activity level. If you want your dog to carry more, condition them to do so first.
update – after using this dog pack for a few months, I noticed that it can be difficult to ‘balance’ out. Either that or Lola walks unevenly. I also noticed that on long hikes it seems to rub under her arms and irritate her skin (after all, she has virtually no fur there) – I might try adding a fleece cover to the straps and prevent some of that rubbing.
Our Adoptable Dog of the Week post is dedicated to special dogs who are in rescue but still looking for their perfect home. Please consider sharing this post — you might help Prada find her ‘fur-ever’ home!
Prada’s story breaks my heart…She had been used primarily for breeding before being brought into rescue. Then in November or 2011, Wags & Whiskers brought in Prada and her ELEVEN puppies. All of her puppies are now grown up and have been in their forever homes for some time, but Prada is still waiting. It’s now 2014 – that is an awful long time to wait. Let’s help this sweetheart’s perfect family find her.
Prada | 3 years old | House trained | would make a great running partner! | friendly with other dogs (but gets too excited sometimes)
[Tweet “Meet Prada! The Adoptable Dog of the Week. Let’s help her get adopted by sharing!”]
From the foster:
“My name is Prada Jane, but I also have the name PJ, Peej, Prada J, Prodigy and the list goes on. If you call me any of these names, I will wiggle my butt and give you kisses if you let me! I am a three-year-old pit bull and I have had a rough start to life, but I don’t let it get me down. My previous owner used me for breeding. My most recent litter was 11 puppies and my owner got rid of all of us.
I am a happy ball of energy and I would do best in an experienced home where I can get lots of exercise. I would make a great running buddy! I know my basic commands and how to walk nicely on a leash. I get along with other dogs, but sometimes I get a bit too excited. I am just so happy to get to be a dog now.
I am still learning some of the joys of being a pet, and it makes me grin from ear to ear. I would love it if you came to meet me and considered making me a part of your family. I promise to greet you with a wiggling butt and a wagging tongue ready to give you kisses.”
If you are interested in meeting Prada, please fill out an application on www.wagsmn.org or use the contact form on their website.
It hit me the other day when I was talking to someone who wasn’t a “dog nerd” (yes, I’m categorizing myself as a dog nerd) that not everyone is sure how animal rescues operate. So while this may be common sense to many of my friends, I think there are many people that can benefit from this little inside scoop. Just as I’ve learned with everything in life, you can never assume. Plus, I figure the more information we can get out there about rescuing and adoption animals – the better.
Much of this information I’ve learned from volunteering and fostering with a rescue in Minnesota, Secondhand Hounds, and I’ve also consulted with another friend of mine who is a director of an animal rescue.
So here’s the low down:
What does an animal rescue do exactly?
Animal rescues are essentially the ‘middle man’ for dogs, cats, and other animals that for whatever reason, do not have a home. They network the animals and find them temporary (foster) homes until they are adopted into a permanent home. Some rescues have limited shelter space for a small number of animals if they cannot find a foster immediately.
Is there something wrong with the animals that are in rescue? Why are they in rescue?
Dogs do not always end up in a shelter or rescue because they have some kind of freakish disease and no one wants them (yes, I’ve been asked this). So no, not necessarily. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. They are just like any dog you buy or adopt. You may not always know their past and you may want to get a DNA test done if you are concerned about the breed, but being in rescue does NOT automatically indicate that there is anything ‘wrong’ with the animal – their lives just didn’t have as fortunate of a start as others.
Are these animals “put” in rescue because there is something wrong with them? No, they did not choose to be in rescue, they’ve just somehow ended up there because of one of the following: they were abandoned, they were surrendered by their original owner, they were lost and their owner never came to claim them from the shelter, they were seized from a hoarding situation, they came from a breeder that was shut down, they were saved from a dog fighting operation, etc. These are just a handful of the reasons that a dog may have come to be in rescue.
Shelters and rescues have a great selection of adult dogs, puppies, and even purebreds for adoption. According to ArfDogs.org, on average, purebreds account for about 25 to 30 percent of a shelter’s dog population. And the fees are usually much less than the purchase price from a pet store or breeder. Plus your dog comes vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
Where do rescues get their animals from?
Rescues have animals come in from many different places. Here are just a few:
– Animal shelters
– Owner surrenders
– Craigslist or other online sites (There are many dangers of ‘selling’ a dog for a small re-homing fee online)
What is the difference between an animal shelter & a rescue?
An animal rescue makes sure that the animal finds a family to adopt the animal. Rescues do not euthanize a dog in order to make room for another (however they may put down a dog that is seriously ill). These rescues have very limited space as most of the animals are kept in private foster homes (just like yours and mine) and are supported primarily by grants and donations.
Shelters handle the stray dogs within the community and receive animals affected by state cruelty and neglect laws. They also receive pets that are dropped off by their owners for various reasons. There are two types of shelters:
No-kill shelters: accept animals on a voluntary or space available basis. A no kill shelter does not euthanize animals who can be adopted or when the shelter is full. They may euthanize animals who are terminally ill or considered dangerous.
Traditional/open admission shelters:accepts any and all companion animals regardless of health, temperament, or space available, with no limitation. These shelters have high euthanasia rates to make room for incoming animals.
Why does it cost so much to adopt a dog?!
It doesn’t. I can tell you first hand that it is actually A LOT less expensive to adopt a dog than buy one elsewhere (or even be given a dog). Lola did not technically come from an organized rescue group (rather we intercepted her before she ended up in one or somewhere else) and the first year we had her, we spent over $1,000 in vet bills. Mind you, this was just your basic vaccinations, deworming, blood tests, spay, etc.
This illustration below shows a rescue dogs true cost:
Poster via ArfDogs.org
How do I find a dog that is with a rescue group?
Dogs that are available for adoption within a rescue are often found on Petfinder.com, public adoption events, social media sites, or on the rescue group’s website. You can do a Google search for rescues in your area and then follow them on Facebook – trust me, you’ll soon find yourself involved.
Why do I have to go through an adoption process? Why can’t I just go and see the dog I want to adopt?
Most rescues do not have a physical location where they keep the dogs. The dogs are kept in individual foster homes, sometimes very far away. Also, since these animals are already very likely on their second (or more) home, there is a screening process. A potential adopter must fill out an application to meet the animal and the rescue will then (most commonly) distribute the applications to the adopter who will then arrange a ‘meet and greet’ with the interested adopter and the rescue dog. This may take place over one or more meetings. Typically we have just met with the potential adopters once and we then both decide if it went well and if we would like to proceed and fill out the adoption paperwork.
Quite often though, rescues have adoption events where the fosters and volunteers will bring the dogs to a central public location for the public to meet the dogs.
What is required of a foster? How do I get involved?
A foster provides in-home care for animals in need until they are adopted. To become a foster, you first fill out an application with the rescue group and the rescue will then make sure that you have a safe home for the animal – that’s it. This is usually a very fast process as rescues are very short on foster homes. Oh yeah, and it’s free with most rescues. Yep – that’s right, the rescue pays for the vet bills of the animal, the food and even the crates/toys/etc. You just provide the shelter, care and love!
Once an animal is placed with a rescue group, they will stay in the foster home until they find a home. Sometimes this takes years. Sometimes the dog is transferred to a new foster home. While the dog is in rescue, the rescue group is responsible for all the costs of owning a dog – as you can imagine, this can get very expensive with as many animals as rescues have!
In these next couple questions I’ve consulted with Darren, who is the director of a local rescue in Minnesota, Across America Boxer Rescue.
How do the rescues learn of the dogs that are out of state that need rescue?
“This varies by rescue and how involved they are in social media. Most rescues get info from their members/friends/acquaintances or cross-posters (this is the most prevalent one) tagging them, posting to their page or individual pages as well as emailing them of available dogs. These dogs can be in a shelter or on Craigslist.
Most rescues also have several shelters they either work with or have a relationship with. Those shelters then know what breeds they pull and will give them heads up when they have a dog come that is in need. For instance, our rescue has a great working relationship with Indiana Animal Control (IACC) and Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), two VERY large Midwest ACC’s that many dogs go to and thankfully many get saved!” – Darren Alick, Across America Boxer Rescue
Who do the rescues work with to transport dogs from state to state?Are they all volunteers or are there people whose job is just to transport?
“It depends on who you are using and where the dogs are being transported from and to. I personally do not know of a rescue in our area that uses paid transports. There are three main transporters for the southeast, south and midwest that I know of. I have worked alongside of two of them when they transport for my rescue and rescues I also volunteer for. All three are volunteers who fully coordinate a transport form start to finish. Meaning they layout out the distances, the stops, arrange for overnight homes as well as ensure all drops-offs go smoothly and everyone is sticking to the schedule. Each segment or “leg” of a run is calculated for distance and time to help everyone keep to that schedule. The drivers within that pool and who drive each leg are also volunteers, doing it for the love of knowing they’re contributing to saving dogs from otherwise terrible situations and euthanasia. Lori Weese, who transports for our rescue, also runs dogs for several other rescues within that same transport. Sometimes the dogs may be going to several different rescues, the transporter is just responsible for that portion of the rescue process.” – Darren Alick, Across America Boxer Rescue
Do you have any questions about animal rescue? Ask away!
I’m sitting here with that same lump in my throat I had when our first foster dog, Weeser left. It’s been an eventful couple of weeks but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Emma left our home last night and went to stay with a whelping foster family.
Since we found out last week that Emma or “Mama” was indeed pregnant (and an estimated 20 days away from having her puppies), the rescue and I have been reaching out to find a whelping foster. Meanwhile, I had grown so attached to Mama so I was also trying to see if we could somehow make it work to whelp Mama and her puppies ourselves. But ultimately I knew that I would have to recruit the help of several friends (yet to be determined), to help fill in the gaps of my schedule and then there was still that week that I was out of town…But I wanted to try. This could be a very rewarding and beautiful experience and one that doesn’t always come around.
I also questioned if the rescue would even be able to find another foster and if that foster would be willing to work with her. I did not want to risk her being ‘returned’ – too much moving around is not good for any dog, let alone one that is carrying a litter of puppies. I was getting to the point where I was beginning to prepare having her in our townhome until she and the puppies went to their ‘furever’ homes. I haven’t gone into too much detail about mama, besides that she is one of the most loving, precious and sweet dogs I have ever met. Truly. However, Mama is very timid and protective of that belly. She is a dog that needs very slow introductions. She has many traits which are indicative that she spent some time as a stray. It worked well with our dogs, but after several slow and controlled introductions. While she’s not aggressive, she is definitely not the type to run up and play with another dog. After all, she barely knows what a ball is and really doesn’t know how to play. She thought that Lola and Rio were fighting when they were wrestling and became obviously bothered.
(I have set up a fundraiser for mama Emma. Please consider donating to her YouCaring fundraiser.)
The first couple nights, she would lightly growl at Rio and Lola if they came into her ‘bubble’. She wouldn’t lunge, she would just warn. Lola knew and respected this and Rio quickly learned not to bother a pregnant mama! I was constantly working with her and we made so much progress in the two short weeks that she stayed with us. I had to show her that Lola and Rio are our friends and good dogs also. They were not there to hurt or harm her. And she slowly learned to trust them. Mama and Rio even played a quick game of tug until Rio chickened out after a play-growl, lol. Every single day meant progress and it was such an amazing thing to witness.
But every day also meant she was that much closer to having her pups and there’s no doubt that she was feeling it. Her belly grew bigger and rounder every time I saw her, or so it seemed. I knew that if a whelping foster was going to be taking over, it needed to happen fast. I did not want to be moving mama around the last week that she was expected to deliver. She needs time to settle into her new place and a family that is home enough to monitor her. She needed someone with this patience and understanding. I had to move my heart out of the way and do what was truly best for Mama and pups, who could give her the care that her and the newborn pups would need.
Then Sunday rolled around and I received a text message from the foster coordinator who said she had found a family who could take Emma. As soon as I was off work, I called the family and spoke with them on the phone for about 30 minutes – it was definitely a good sign. They came over to meet Mama that night and as expected, she was fairly shy but I was completely open with them about her “issues”. They were willing to do everything they had to and sounded like they would be able to give Mama and pups more care and attention that possible for us, as hard as it was. Had it been anyone who I had any doubts with, Mama would still be with us. So as rewarding of an experience this would have been for the human involved (me), I had to think about what would be best for Mama. After all, this is about the welfare of the dog, Mama…
Please consider donating to our YouCaring fundraiser where 100% of the donations will be used towards medical expenses and goods needed for Emma and her pups.
In the meantime, I’ll be curled up on the couch with Lola, Rio, a spoon and a jar of peanut butter. Or ice cream.
P.S. I will be visiting Mama (and the puppies!) and will continue to keep everyone updated. And who knows, we may even foster Mama once the pups are gone – we’ll see how the story unrolls. Thanks for all of your support.
Let’s see…where did we leave off? Oh yes, we were still unsure if “mama” or Emma was pregnant and we had a rescue lined up for Rusty but he was still needing a foster after his vet visit.
We had a pretty quiet weekend with them and the schedule was kind of like this: sleep, eat, feed dogs, take two dogs out at a time to go potty, take dogs on walk or give them some exercise & repeat. Not like this is really any different than having two dogs, but it just takes more time.
Sunday, after work (I also have a part time waitressing job that I’ve had since college) we took Emma and Rusty for a long walk. They were both super out of shape, or so we thought. The seemingly short, one-mile or so walk transformed from them walking beside us, to them slowly falling behind us. Meanwhile Lola and Rio were romping around at Camp Bow Wow, a doggy daycare they go to when we both work long hours.
Monday rolled around and I arranged to bring Rusty to a vet which is about 30 minutes away after I got home from work. I let Rusty and Mama say their goodbyes (okay, I know they have no idea what this is) and I myself was heartbroken. I hated separating these two. They were companions. But it was hard enough finding each of them a rescue to go to last minute let alone the same rescue with the same foster. And then you run into the issue down the road at the time of adoption, would the adopter take both of them?! The chances of them making it through all of that together, I knew, was going to be near impossible and we didn’t exactly have a lot of time on our hands.
Turns out, Mama seems to be doing fine without Rusty, she’s just her normal self…sweet, a tad bit crabby but ever so loving and affectionate. She melts my heart.
Then comes Tuesday – I dropped Mama off at her vet appointment to get an x-ray to confirm whether she is pregnant or not. I was literally on the edge of my chair at work all day. I even called the vet’s office at lunch to see if they had seen her yet (she was a walk-in) and they informed me they had an emergency come in so they would be able to check her out in about an hour or two. I was desperately hoping that they would call and say, “Nope! She’s actually not pregnant, it’s just looking that way from a recent litter”. But that was not the case. Mama is pregnant. She is about 40 days in and it is unclear how many pups she is having.
I lost focus from everything I was working on. I was upset, I feel bad that she has to go through this, again…I know this can be a controversial subject, but I asked if the rescue ever does a gravid spay in these instances – they do not. Plus she is pretty far along. I contacted the foster coordinator and told her that we are unsure if we can take on the task of the whelping foster. She was aware of this when they agreed to take her in as their rescue animal and said she would start looking. It breaks my heart, I love this girl.
Wednesday rolls around and I check my email first thing in the morning only to find out that Rusty is heartworm positive. My heart sunk…It all makes sense. The lethargic behavior, the exhaustion and heavy breathing after a light walk. I felt like an idiot for not recognizing those signs. I also feel for the small rescue that took him in. They do not have many of the resources and donations coming in that other, larger rescues have.
*Please consider sharing Last Hope’s donation link. Heartworm treatment alone is about $400 for the rescue and plus the cost of keeping Rusty in rescue for that much longer is tough on a small rescue.*
I then began to think, what if Mama is heartworm positive? What if that is the reason that she is so tired, lethargic and breathing heavy in combination with the pregnancy? I’m stressed. And since they cannot treat a pregnant female, we will have to wait until after the pups are finished breast feeding to confirm and treat her if she is positive. Please tell me she isn’t, this sweet girl could really use a break.
Please keep us in your thoughts and we will continue to keep you updated. You can also follow along on our Facebook page.
Dogfighting. It’s everywhere. It’s sad to think about, it’s downright sickening, but it’s happening and right under our noses. The ASPCA has dedicated April 8th as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day, so a few bloggers and I have got together to help spread the awareness. #NDFAD
So…how can you help!?
If you see a dog on Craigslist or posted anywhere on the internet (especially for “free”) – notify local animal rescues that may be able to help. Rio was a CL puppy who was pulled off of the site by a local rescue. Bullies on Craigslist = no bueno.
If you come across a profile or account on Facebook/Instagram/etc. that is clearly a red flag, DO NOT report the page or add your own comments. Save the photos, the information and contact local authorities. Banning the page/reporting the person does nothing but make it disappear from your eyes however many miles away on the internet. The evidence given to the right people can do a heck of a lot more. Dog fighting is a very secretive enterprise that is hard for law enforcement and investigators to infiltrate.
If you know of or have suspicions that someone might be involved in dog fighting, report it to officials.
Remember: dog fighting can be taking place anywhere. Whether in a basement, a remote area, a planned location, your neighbor’s house. Anywhere. Also, the dogs used are not necessarily all kept in the same location. They come from houses, apartments, condos…And large operations travel across the U.S.
Look out for heavy scarring on a dog. Fighting scars are typically found on the face, front legs, hind end and thighs, and can include puncture wounds, torn/mangled ears, and facial swelling.
source: Taters Time to Shine
Things to remember:
– There are many breeds of dogs used for fighting worldwide. Breeds include: Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, the Tosa Inu and the Presa Canario. The dog of choice for fighting in America? The American Pit Bull Terrier and other pit bull type dogs. But this doesn’t mean that other breeds or mixes are exempt. Other breeds, even non pit bull type dogs may be used in street fights or as the “bait” dog which is used to train the fighting dogs. Often these dogs are stolen (or ‘found’ online – see above). M.K. Clinton is all too familiar with this. Dog fighting is rampant in her city and she suspects that her dog from college was stolen and used as a bait dog.
According to the ASPCA, law enforcement has divided the most common types of dog fighting into three categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting and professional dogfighting*:
Street fighters engage in dog fights that are informal street corner, back alley and playground activities.
Hobbyist fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a sideline for both entertainment and to attempt to supplement income.
Professional dogfighters often have large numbers of animals (50+) and earn money from breeding, selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road.
– Not all dog fighters treat their dogs the same; street fighters may starve their dogs to increase aggression, unlike many professional fighters who invest a lot of time and money in conditioning their animals. The dogs are commonly given quality nutrition, steroids and muscle supplements. Narcotic drugs are also commonly used to increase aggression and mask pain or fear during a fight.
Meet Vinny & Crash – two adoptable pit bulls through A Rotta Love Plus rescue in Minnesota. Crash was actually pulled from a dogfighting bust on the west coast.
