Parting Words

During the last three years, you have listened to our opinions about a few things.  We firmly believe that the best pets are “rescue” pets.  All across the country, millions of animals of all breeds, sizes, and ages are waiting for homes.  Many of them will be euthanized because no one wanted them.  If you are considering a pet, we encourage you to look at your local animal shelter or rescue group. 

We know that some people are adamant about getting certain breeds and really do not like the whole shelter experience.  We can understand that.  Rescue pets might not be for everyone.  PLEASE adopt from a responsible breeder if you do this.  Do not support a pet store, where most of the animals come from puppy mills. 

Visit www.akc.org for a list of breeders for the particular breed you want.  Be sure to thoroughly research the breeder.  Just because they have the AKC designation, it does not necessarily mean they are responsible.  Do your homework.  You are starting a lifelong relationship.

And, for those of you who have pets, please be kind to them.  You are their world.  Your actions define how they see other people and how they will react to similar situations in the future.  Please use positive training methods.  Please provide them with the best food and vet care you can afford; it is an investment that will help them later in life.

If times get tough, we encourage you to seek help from your local rescue group.   Lots of people have turned to them for support.  There is no shame in doing it.  In fact, they would prefer you keep your pet and want to do whatever they can to help you. 

We appreciated the opportunity to talk to you these last three years.  Who knows?  We might pick up again in the future.  For now, we are going to sign off by asking you to hug your pet for us.

Best wishes and furry kisses,

Rescue Mommy, Rescue Daddy, Kiki, and Gracie

Heatstroke

Friday, June 21 was the official first day of summer.  I have already seen two dogs left in hot cars while their pet parents dashed into a store.  It only takes minutes for the temperature to become dangerously hot in a car, even if you are parked in the shade.

Here’s a link to a good article about heatstroke:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgarden/pets/articles/d139

I intend to print it and keep copies in my car.  Yeah, I will be that obnoxious person who lives it on someone’s car window.   Let’s all be obnoxious.  Maybe we can save some lives.

Rescue Mommy

Time to Call It a Night

You may have noticed that we did not have fresh posts last week.  Maintaining the website has become a bit of a chore.  We have mulled over whether or not we wanted to continue.  We decided to skip a week and see how things felt.

While we enjoy talking to you and telling you about the training progress, interesting happenings, and other things, it has been hard to find fresh ideas every week.  This is particularly true in the Rescue Pets blog that is “written” by Kiki and Gracie. 

We have decided to stop maintaining the website.  This will be our last week online.  We will keep the domain name, because we may decide to restart it in the future.  Right now, we would like to spend more time working with Gracie and doing other things to help our favorite rescue group, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

Please enjoy the last posts in the Rescue Parents Speak blog.

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

Angel May Be the Problem

As you know, Gracie has refused to her usual walkie route for several weeks now.  It takes her by the electric fence that has zapped her two times as well as the neighbors’ overexcited dog who outweighs her by at least 40 pounds. 

I received a call one evening last week from the neighbor.  She was worried because Angel had not returned home.  Gracie must have overheard the conversation and decided Angel was gone for good.  The next morning, she trotted down the road, ready to walk the old route.  We passed the neighbors’ house.  No Angel.  Gracie was confident and happy as she explored her old haunt.

In due course, we headed back toward home.  As we rounded a curve, there stood Angel.  Gracie was devastated.   She frantically looked to me for support.  Angel pounced, so happy to see us.  Fortunately, she was distracted in a few moments by a cat and raced away to give chase.

Since that day, Gracie has refused to take the same route.  I am beginning to think her refusal has everything to do with Angel and very little to do with that electric fence. 

Any ideas about how to tackle this problem?

Rescue Mommy

Dental Care is Important but Often Neglected

Do you brush your dog’s teeth?  Be honest.  We all know we should do it.  Bad dental health leads to a host of serious health complications, just as it does for us humans.  Most of us do not brush our dog’s teeth, though.

Last week, I took Gracie to vet for a dental cleaning.  At her annual checkup last fall, the vet recommended that her teeth be cleaned.  Well, it is expensive, and I admit I put it off.  While we were on vacation, I noticed that dry kibble seemed to be a problem for her.  She rolled it around her mouth as if she had a sore tooth.  I decided I had waited long enough and made the appointment.

She did indeed have a problem with her right fang tooth.  It had decay underneath the tooth that caused some bone loss.  The vet worked her magic, though, and corrected the situation.  Fortunately, the tooth was still viable so no extraction was needed.

Seeing Gracie after the procedure broke my heart.  She whined for the rest of the day, subsiding later in the evening into deep, pitiful moans.  She was disoriented from the pain medication.  She clung to me like Velcro, desperately needing reassurance.  She could not jump.  My usual firecracker was in misery.

Fortunately, she was more like her usual self later the next day.  For the last week, she has enjoyed a wet dog food only diet.  It will be fun switching her back to the mixture of wet and dry food she usually has.

I am now resolved to brush her teeth.  It will be an interesting challenge but one that is necessary.  After seeing the results of NOT doing it, I cannot bear to put Gracie through trauma again. 

I will keep you posted as I attempt to implement a dental care regimen.  It is something we all know that we need to do for our dogs.  If we are honest, most of us just do not do it.  I must suck it up, though, for the greater good.  Gracie cannot brush her teeth – and Kiki definitely will not assist!

Stay tuned.   The next training adventure begins.

Rescue Mommy

Have Lunch Plans Tomorrow?

Doc Chey’s restaurant will host a special fundraiser tomorrow to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.  A portion of their proceeds will be donated to the group.  If you are in downtown Asheville and looking for a great place to eat, consider visiting Doc Chey’s.

For more information, visit Brother Wolf’s website at www.bwar.org.  Happy spring roll!

Rescue Mommy

BWAR Community Yard Sale Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue will hold a community yard sale at their shelter.  You can buy a table and sell items you no longer want.  Or maybe you can pick up a treasure for yourself.

For more details, check out the “Events” page on www.rescuepetsrule.com or visit Brother Wolf’s website at www.bwar.org. 

Rescue Mommy

"Shelter Me" Documentary

While on vacation, we happened upon a fantastic documentary on PBS.  Titled “Shelter Me,” the documentary showed various stories about rescued pets. 

We learned about program at a women’s prison that gives the incarcerated ladies an opportunity to train dogs.  The dogs are eventually used as assistance animals for people with disabilities.  One of the ladies said the program rehabilitated her as well.

For me, the most moving story was that of veterans whose dogs helped them with their struggles with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).  The dogs saved their lives.

If you have an opportunity to see the documentary, I highly recommend it.  It is available for sale on Amazon.com.  Check your local PBS station; maybe they will air it sometime soon.

Rescue Mommy

Time Out

Well, allowing Gracie off leash during our play sessions made her a little too confident.  Over the weekend, she decided this new freedom gave her license to bolt and explore other areas.  Fortunately, she stopped when my voice reached a decibel level only heard by dogs.

She crouched low and feigned the pose of a “bad doggie.”  However, when I picked her up and carried her back to the house, she held her head high.  Her tail wagged mischievously, and her nose twitched as she inhaled all the smells from her higher vantage point.  She had no remorse.

The same thing happened the last time she was allowed off leash.  She eventually reaches a point where she decides to push the boundaries.  So, now we have to reestablish those boundaries.  She will be on leash for a while.  It will be the canine equivalent of “time out.”

Rescue Mommy