Rescue Dogs & Events

I love autumn - it's my favorite time of year though, since moving to MO, spring is close behind with the abundant flowers and flowering trees/shrubs. With the dry weather being moderated a bit with our recent rains, the escapes from Silverwalk have lessened - I finally did find all the holes and got them plugged up and yet, Margie and Ava (adoptable Beagle) still try. Margie has the wanderlust now..and Peanut(tier) is still digging. I was napping with multiple dogs on my lap the other afternoon after work. I looked at the dogs on my lap and thought of all the varied backgrounds they had:

• Katniss is skinny, has been multiply bred, has a horrible mouth, is HW+, was found almost dead in a ditch and yet, was curled up tightly next to me, trusting me;
• the puppies, Ralph Waldo and Diva, were napping there, too; RW now weighs as much as his mom Gidget (who is in foster care, finishing up her HW tx and then will be adopted after her spay) and Diva is a charmer, the life of the party - I pray they have forgotten their neglectful (to the death for their 5 siblings) beginning and cont. to shine and be loved after their adoption.
• Two foster Dachshunds, Angel and Luna, here for two years as their family is abroad teaching, were adopted at young ages, have been very loved all their home lives and will greet the return of their folks with joy.
• Seymour is my long hair Dachshund and right hand dog - he knows he's loved and always will be but he went to two homes before coming to me (he would defend the wife against the husband).
• Danny Quinn is the blue eyed double dapple Dachshund who was given up early by a puppy mill and put in my hands by my rescue friend at Recycling Rover; he, too, knows he's loved, both here and by many.
• Clementine, Beagle/Basset (I have a over-large chair) has lost 3 homes, none her fault. She now has cancer but we don't know how involved. She is not symptomatic, loves cuddling and letting me know what's happening outside. 

My point is not to say how many dogs can fit on my lap; with the weather finally chilling, they make a nice blanket though they don't like me to move - my point is shelter and rescue dogs come from varied backgrounds, as varied as those from which you and I come. Each dog in a shelter or rescue needs something from us - those of us who care for them while they await their new or first homes, their fosters, their adopters, the volunteers and those who donate goods and cash so we can continue saving these dogs. I speak of dogs because they are for whom I care but implicit are cats, horses, ferrets, rabbits, etc.

• Some need to learn we won't hurt them anymore. 
• Some simply need a new home when their other home(s) can no longer keep them.
• Some need intensive medical care, good food, a calm environment, and love.
• All need socialization and structure, which especially is where our volunteers and adoption events come in. Even when a dog is not adopted at an adoption event, they are still exposed to more people than me, they meet other dogs, they get to different venues with different floors (oh! poor Hickory Dock - I had Mami at Petco with Dock in the car; I thought she may be more comfortable with him inside, too, but when his feet touched the tile, he suddenly looked like Bambi on ice; legs splayed, on his nails, out of his element; he slowly adjusted and did well; he is such a social Coonhound but it took awhile for him to relax and put his pads on the floor. I wouldn't have known this or given him another chance to become accustomed to tile had I not brought him in that day - he's now adopted). 

The dog you adopt (and please adopt - if I don't have the dog of your dreams, I know so many other rescues and shelters who may!) will be different in your home than in their shelter/rescue/sanctuary, and usually to the good. I had one puppy several years ago who was a terror looking for electric cords. I bundled, covered and watched her closely.  Met her mom again after several months - never touched a cord in her new home. Give your adopted dog time, love, good food, security and watch them and you blossom! EVENTS:

1. Congratulations on Bark in the Park two weeks ago for HSSEMO! What a wonderful day and a great turn-out.
2. Congratulations to Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary on the Primo Vino Wine Tasting event this past Thursday night. Thank you, Ivas John Band!

3. Next up, Pet Fest this Sunday - It's in the parking lot in front of Busch Pet Products. HSSEMO, Safe Harbor, & Silverwalk will be there with adoptable dogs. 
4. Doodle Romp 2 is happening - if you attended Doodle Romp, you're in for a treat again. 

I'm sorry no photos but they took a long, long time to download; I'll check it out. Have a GREAT weekend!