Two year old Sweet Pea has experienced some scary things and has emotional scars to show it. She was uprooted from the family who had raised her and given to a local dog rescue with her canine sister in hopes of finding them a loving home together. However the rescue soon decided that these two girls were not going to fit in their program and they were left at a local shelter. Where they were split up when the Pekingese rescue said they would only take the other dog because Sweet Peas wasn’t a purebred. The dog Sweet Pea had grown up with and relied on was gone and Sweet Pea was left behind, terrified and alone. While walking the crowded halls we couldn’t help but notice her terrified expression and attempt to blend in with the wall. Sweet Pea was traumatized, everything she had once known as normal was different.
Tails from the Cages in the Back–Sweet Pea
An Af’Fur to Remember – 2012
May 2012 marks Must Love Dog NW’s third annual semi-formal dinner, silent and highest bidder auction event, An Af’Fur to Remember. This major blowout is our largest fun and fundraising event of the year and is important to the future of our programs. This year MLDNW has set our goal to have a facility of our own within 2012. This facility would allow us to have an area where we could offer training, education, meet and greets, socialization of our foster dogs, and have a primary location for record keeping and for those interested in MLDNW to come and see us. Af’Fur to Remember not only is a fun social evening but every penny earned goes to help reach our goals of early spaying and neutering, a facility, and no more homeless pets. The past two years Af’Fur proved to be successful and helped us reach some of our goals. We are hoping this year will be even more extraordinary in both fun for the guests and the potential allotted for MLDNW. Unlike the previous years, this year’s event will be in the spring opposed to the fall. Mark your calendars for May 19th and support a great cause! You can purchase your tickets at http://auction.mustlovedogsnw.com
We have just over one month left until the big day and are still accepting donations. Email benefit@mustlovedogsnw.com for more information on how you can make a donation.
Thank you all for your support and we look forward to what 2012 will bring for us all!
Sincerely,
Must Love Dogs NW
Adolescent Spay & Neuter
“10 Year Old Girl has a Baby—Does That Mean my Dog Should have a litter?”
I am sure you have heard of the 10 year-old Columbian girl that gave birth to a baby boy in early April 2012. I can also imagine that none of you are signing up your preteen girls to have children. As parents you are most likely aghast at the thought. You want your children to wait to have children until they are adults. No one really wants children having children, having children at an age that is perceived as too young can often lead to a dysfunctional life. A life that has limited opportunities, with the exception of being on an MTV show, displaying all your excellent mothering skills to the world and CPS.
Being in the pet rescue business one of the things we hear so often is a reluctance to spay or neuter dogs and cats. Spaying dogs and cats we are told should wait until the dog has her first litter. “It makes her better with children.” Poppycock.
Tails from the Cages in the Back
Seven month old Dakota has stolen the hearts of not only everyone in our rescue, but everyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him. He was transferred into our care with an advanced case of kennel cough but with some antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids he was able to battle through. However this was just the beginning of Dakota’s misfortune. Dakota was diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) at the beginning of February. He has a level 5 (out of 6) heart murmur and a very enlarged heart.
Walking the Dog Day
By: Trisha Zeller – MLDNW Volunteer and dog mom to three, foster mom to many…
In the words of Gloria Estafan’s 1980s Hit, Get on Your Feet — “Get on your feet. Get up and make it happen. Get on your feet. Stand up and take some action.” Or, as we dog lovers say, “Stand up and take your four-legged friend for a nice walk!” Need the perfect time to begin your new walking routine for you and Fido? Why how about Walking the Dog Day!
Walking the Dog Day is not a new found Hallmark card holiday — in fact, its origins can be traced back to some unknown dog owner somewhere in time who probably wanted to walk his dog, but could not quite commit to the time to begin. So we now have — Walking the Dog Day! Continue reading
Meet Annette!
A Person of True Magnificence
Volunteer Spotlight
In a dimly lit room a lovely lady, dressed in blue scrubs, smelling slightly of cinnamon, sweeps through the door. Behind her soft classical music can be heard. Her silky, lyrical voice is not creating words but rather soothing, reassuring, comforting sounds. The light comes up and you see in the back of the room, sitting in a bathtub, a medium sized dog that looks as if someone took sandpaper to his body and rubbed off all his fur. His skin is slightly swollen and he is obviously in pain. But his eyes are riveted on the beautiful woman before him.
Tails from the Cages in the Back – Never Say Never
Update on Atticus: The acupuncture worked and Atticus is feeling like a whole new dog! He is now available for adoption.
When our Shelter Shoppers are off doing their business we all wait eagerly as to what comes home to Must Love Dogs NW’s foster families. Recently a little fuzzy, indistinct, monkey faced dog came our way. We named him Atticus. We bathed him—over and over. We took his picture and we realized that we had a rare gem—we had a Brussels Griffon mix.
Spotlighted in the movie “As Good As It Gets,” the Brussels Griffon is in great demand. It’s easy to understand its appeal once you spend time with this snub-nosed imp with a remarkable intelligence. Brussels Griffons are small, weighing less than 12 pounds. They need little space and seem to get plenty of exercise hopping on and off laps—their favorite place to be. The breed is curious and an outstanding watchdog for its size. The Brussels Griffon is a sensitive, good-natured breed and is best suited to adults and older children who will treat it with the respect it deserves.
If We Only had GPS Too!
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This story begins about 6 years ago. One of my very best friends had gotten remarried, and her “new husband” didn’t appreciate her cat spraying on his things. So, knowing my deep love of animals, especially cats, she asked me if I would be willing to take Java. YES!!! Yes, Yes, I would. Now, he had been fixed when he was a kitten, but that never stopped him from spraying on things he thought were his, so, he was purely an outdoor kitty kat. He was the biggest LOVE and the bestest fighter you had ever seen in a yellow tabby cat. He’d sit on your lap for HOURS and drool, or fight a raccoon, and bring home a grown rabbit for you as a gift on the doorstep! I loved this cat.
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs
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February 7-14th is have a heart for chained dogs week. For many of us the mere thought of leaving our dog outside chained up all day is unimaginable. Some pet owners may think it is their only option for a number of reasons; perhaps their dog is too aggressive or destructive to be left inside, if there is no fence around their property it could prevent the dog from running away, etc. The owner may not understand the detrimental effects this is having on their dog’s well-being.
Let’s take a look at the risks associated with chaining and how this dangerous and inhumane practice impacts your dog’s physical and psychological health. The term chaining or tethering refers to fastening a dog to a stationary object or stake, most commonly outside in an owner’s backyard. This is used as a means of keeping the animal under control and does not apply to walking a dog on a leash.
So why is tethering bad for dogs?
Love Your Pet Day Warms the Hearts of Pets and Their Families!
For most pet owners, every day of the year is “Love Your Pet Day”! However, February 20th marks the national holiday when it’s all about the furry, the feathered, and the four legged. We’re all familiar with the “month of love” and Valentine’s Day, but by celebrating Love Your Pet Day now our pets can feel the love on their own special day too! Many e-card companies offer a multitude of sweet online notes to send off to your fellow pet lovers and their companions to help spread the love. Don’t already have a pet? Take advantage of this special occasion and look into adopting a new buddy to be that special someone you’ve been waiting for.