Brother Wolf Tips

If you are expecting a juicy piece of gossip, I hate to disappoint you.  It is no secret that I am a great supporter –and frequent visitor – of Brother Wolf.  Over the years, I have learned a few tips when visiting the shelter and want to share them with you.

When you visit the shelter, do not expect all the animals on the website to be at the shelter.  (Ok, maybe this is not a big secret, since they disclose it on the website.)  The shelter environment is very stressful.  The dogs and cats are confused about their noisy surroundings, the change in routine, the loss of the family, et cetera.  Brother Wolf has foster families who take some of the animals for a night or a long-term visit.  If you are interested in a particular animal, it is best to call the shelter first and see if he or she is at the shelter.  The staff can provide you with contact information if the animal is in foster care.

The next tip is that there are better times than others to visit.  Look on the website before you go.  On Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, some of the dogs are out for hikes with Outward Hounds.  They seem to be gone for a couple of hours when they do.  A particular dog in which you might be interested may be out on a hike, so call before you visit.

The hikes are great for two reasons.  If the dog is not on the hike, you will find the shelter to be much quieter while the other dogs are gone.  On the other hand, if your dog is on a hike, find out when he/she will be back.  The dog should be much more relaxed after all that exercise.

Also, if you are counting on meeting dogs at an adoption event, consider the weather.  They tend to send fewer dogs, if any at all, on cold, snowy, or rainy days.  It might be better to visit the shelter instead.  This seems to be more of an issue in the winter time, as you would expect.

The last tip involves your interaction with the animals there.  They have hand sanitizer everywhere; use it after touching every animal and/or surface.  You will help prevent the spread of disease between animals.

You will see treat buckets attached to some kennels.  Even if you are not interested in a particular dog, it teaches the dog manners so give him/her a goodie.  The dogs know that they are supposed to sit for the treat and will oftentimes do it without you having to ask.  A gorgeous pit bull named Miss Piggy will even stare at the bucket, reminding you to give her a goodie.

I hope these tips help you find your buddy.  Good luck!

Rescue Mommy

Valentine's Day is Tomorrow

If you are looking for a last-minute gift and live in the Asheville area, check out Brother Wolf’s website.  Once again, they offer Puppy Grams.  They will take a puppy to your sweetie for a few minutes of cuddling, along with a flower, card, and some chocolate.  Their website is www.bwar.org.

Another reminder – keep the candy out of reach of your furry friend.  Chocolate is highly toxic.  You would not want to spend Valentine’s Day (and a small fortune) at the emergency animal hospital because your buddy decided the heart-shaped box was meant for her.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rescue Mommy

Westminster Dog Show Returns

Forget the Super Bowl.  This time of year brings two things we love at our house – the Puppy Bowl and Westminster Dog Show.

I know, I know – we promote adoption of rescue pets on this website.  Keep in mind that a lot of purebred dogs end up in shelters too.  Right now at Brother Wolf, they have a bona fide St. Bernard and dachshund along with pit bull terriers galore.  I saw a mastiff and Doberman Pincher at another shelter.  If you want a purebred dog, you can find one at a shelter or through a breed rescue group.

OK – enough preaching.  The show is very interesting if you are a dog lover.  It is fun to see all the different breeds.  The commercials are usually good too, because companies have rightly learned that we pet owners spend money on our furry children.

If you would like to watch, the show begins tonight on CNC at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Tonight’s show will feature dogs from the hound, toy, non-sporting, and herding groups.

Tomorrow night, the show begins again at 8:00 p.m. EST, this time on the USA Network.  The sporting, working, and terrier groups are features.  The show closes with Best in Show. 

Gracie hopes that a rough-and-tumble dog likes her wins this year, instead of a fluffy, fancy-pants dog.  We agree.

Rescue Mommy

Puppy Gram

Don’t forget – Valentine’s Day is next Thursday, February 14.  Once again, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is selling “puppy grams.”  Your sweetie will receive a visit from a cute puppy (or adult dog, by request) at the time of your choosing.  He or she will also receive a flower, card, and chocolate.   It is all about the dog, though; who are we kidding?

You will definitely score points for originality.  Flowers die.  Chocolate makes us fat.  Puppy breath and sloppy dog kisses are unforgettable!  Make sure someone snaps a pic with your sweetie and the dog.  You may need it in the future during an argument.  ;-) 

Reserve your Puppy Gram early.  For more information, visit www.bwar.org.

Rescue Mommy

Kiki is an Old Lady

We know Kiki is old.  It seems she has been a part of our household forever.  She is so active, though.  Unlike a lot of old kitties, she does not spend the entire day sleeping.  She will patrol the house.  She will snuggle in your lap if Gracie is not being too difficult about it.  She carries around her “baby,” a little stuffed toy that she has always regarded as a kitten.  She still jumps onto the kitchen counter, albeit via the bar stool and then onto the counter. 

Her coat is black on top, with white underneath.  She is a walking Oreo cookie.  Over the last few months, we have noticed more gray hair in her face.  That’s it.  Otherwise, you would not guess she is an old cat.

I finally decided to look up Kiki’s medical records.  Because she is a rescue kitty, we do not know her exact age.  When we adopted her, the vet estimated she was about two or three years old.  We thought she was 1.5 years old.  If we use our guess, then Kiki is 18 years old.  We were stunned. 

We hope we are not jinxing ourselves by talking about how fit and healthy she is at 18.  The point of this post is simple.  If you are thinking about adopting an older cat, consider Kiki’s case.  Just because a cat is 10 years old, it does not mean that you will enjoy the kitty’s presence for only a couple of years.  That senior cat could live many, many more years.

As always, we want our furry children to live forever.  We wish Kiki continued health and hope we can look forward to more years with our feisty grand dame. 

Rescue Mommy

Book Review: Comet's Tale

Comet’s Tale:  How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life by Steven D. Wolf with Lynette Padwa

A friend of mine gave me this book for Christmas.  I immediately asked, “Does the dog die at the end?”  He was somewhat confident that the dog did not but was not sure.  I flipped open the book and saw the story began in 2000.  It is now 2013.  I bet that dog dies, I thought.

I hesitated for weeks to read the book.  After losing three pets in four years, I cannot stand to read a “dog book” with a negative outcome.  I do not think I will spoil the story by telling you it is safe to read the book.  Comet does not die at the end.

The book begins with Steven Wolf being fired from his job as a lawyer.   His partners feel his medical condition make him unpredictable, a liability.  Then, he moves to Sedona, Arizona to escape the brutal Nebraska winters that make his debilitating back condition even more painful.  His wife and daughters remain behind in Nebraska.  Mr. Wolf is now alone and in pain.  The life he knew is gone.  The future he must have imagined – continued professional success, happy children, thriving marriage – is now just a dream.  He must have felt incredible isolation and hopelessness.

Then, he has the good fortune to meet a lady from a local Greyhound rescue group.  Some weeks later, he adopts Comet, a beautiful greyhound who transforms his life.

What follows is a tale of quiet courage from a dog who was left behind at a race track.  We learn a little bit about the deplorable conditions these elegant creatures endure in the name of “sport.”  The main focus of the story, though, is the relationship between Steven Wolf and Comet.  The dog goes from pet to caregiver with ease.  Mr. Wolf describes many situations in which Comet’s devotion to him outweighed the fear she must have felt.

I really liked this book.  Mr. Wolf does a great job in describing Comet’s quiet dignity.  He is also blunt about how his medical problems pulled him away from those he loved.  He is candid when discussing the relationships with his wife and daughters. 

As I read the book, I often thought that Comet saved his life.  She provided more than physical support.  At times, I got the impression that she was his only link to the outside world.  Without her, I question whether or not Mr. Wolf could have kept on living.

On the dust jacket, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson says the book makes him want to adopt a greyhound.  He is right.  After you read this book, you want to know more about this elegant breed.

The only criticism I have is the book lacks pictures.  I want to see Comet!  I suppose the dog on the dust jacket is her.  Frankly, I do not have the courage to scour the Internet for photos.  I am afraid I will learn the inevitable has happened – and I do not want to think about that.  I prefer to hang onto the happy story of a dog who saved the life of a grateful man.

Rescue Mommy

Puppy Bowl is Back!

Forget the Super Bowl.  At our house, we watch the Puppy Bowl.

Each year, Animal Planet presents its solution to that tedious sports event that occurs on the same day.  Starting at 3:00 p.m. EST, you can watch puppies play on a miniature football field.  All of the puppies are rescues.  From what I have heard, they are all adopted.

Hamsters (or some sort of furry rodent) provide analysis from a blimp hovering over the field.  Yeah, it is not really hovering over the field, but it is a cute idea.

At “half time,” they bring cute kittens to run around the field.  Even though I am not a cat lover, I admit the kittys are adorable.

They change the puppies during the game, so you have the opportunity to see just about every breed.  The puppies look as if they are having a blast.

Check your local listings.  If nothing else, you can cycle between the human and canine versions of the big game.  It is super cute!

Rescue Mommy