Madalin's Used Dogs Rescue

Just a case of extreme neglect

2011-06-29T07:14:00.019-05:00

Penelope came from a VERY unfortunate situation. The conditions in the yard were filthy. No one was taking care of her AT ALL...not even just a little bit!! She, quite obviously, was NEVER being fed.

She was DYING!!

AND she had puppies!

She really put our USED DOGS motto to the test.

Rescue efficiently, not emotionally.

Getting really angry, rude and sad would not have done much for Penelope. SO, we just changed her life in the most immediate way we could.

We focused on WHAT could be done for her, HOW it could be done for her and the very important part about HOW WE COULD MAKE IT AFFORDABLE!

We did not waste time on who to blame. Although of course people should be held accountable, holding this person accountable would NOT have helped Penelope!! The laws are a little weak and take a really long time to pursue. The property where Penelope and her puppies were, has already had ALL their dogs removed by authorities SEVERAL times!!! So to me, that is another issue that needs to be dealt with, but not at the expense of Penelope. Perhaps when I have a minute, I will look into what the actual laws are for habitual offenders, if ,in fact, there are any.

This was "JUST" a case of extreme neglect. I think time prosecuting is better spent on bigger cases of abuse. Although, of course for Penelope, this case is as important as a case can be. That's why we didn't want her to be "evidence". We wanted to make her life better! And it is.

She is no longer the skeleton of a dog that she was, in the filthy yard she was stuck in. Her body is no longer riddled with necrotic tissue.

She is a happy dog. She enjoys her days. She loves visitors. She is almost done with her meds. USED DOGS is getting her stronger everyday so that she can be treated for heartworms. She WILL find a home.

BUT, WE MUST GET HER BILL PAID!!!

In order to be able to rescue another dog on another day, we CAN'T owe our vets. USED DOGS appreciates our vets SO MUCH. One way we show our appreciation, is by paying them in a timely manner.

Our vet did all of this for Penelope for an incredible rate! Easily $1000.00 less than is should have cost. The whole veterinary team at Algiers Animal Hospital really gave of themselves for this girl!! Quote from the vet "Penelope is an awesome dog!"

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contribute to the cost of her care if you can!

PLEASE consider making a donation to her care. You can donate on thru PayPal on our facebook page. Or you can donate directly to the vet. If you would like to donate directly to the vet call me at 504-442-3647. Or call Algiers Animal Hospital directly at 504-364-1556. If you do call the Vet, please be considerate and remember that they are a very busy practice. All donation are very much appreciated, but it would be best if the smaller ones were mailed to us or sent thru PayPal. You can also mail a donation to: USED DOGS PO Box 741163, New Orleans, LA 70174

THANK YOU!

Update on the Family of RED DOGS that taught me a great lesson

2011-06-03T12:44:00.024-05:00

ELLA was just adopted. This is her lovely new family. She has moved to Connecticut. And not a moment too soon. Hurricane season has just started and it is record-breaking BOILING HOT today here in New Orleans.

Remember Ella? She was one of the puppies from the previous post. "TRAPPED: A RAGS TO RICHES LOVE STORY" .

Here is a photo of ELLA on her first day here:

I personally learned so much from these three little red dogs.

Because they had no real contact with humans before we trapped them, we knew that it would be a bit of a challenge to get them comfortable with people. Having raised and prepared dozens of litters of puppies for adoption, I figured that when I started seeing certain signs, things were going to be A-OK.

And as I had kind of predicted and hoped for, they began to show those signs. They went from not even wanting to make eye contact with anyone to running up to greet me and see whether I had brought treats when visiting their kennel.

However these little guys fooled me. Their mix of breeds probably played a significant role. Being a mix of Chow and Akita, they were only like this when completely in their comfort zone around other dogs. I found this out when I brought one into my home to see how crate and potty training was going to go. The first one immediately panicked and tried to jump out a second floor window. Once the window was closed she continued to try, hitting the glass.

The second one growled at me.

My heart sank. I was going to have problems. Finding adoptive homes for puppies that growl and try to jump out windows is not an easy task. perhaps not even a prudent one. I called the person who had adopted their brother many weeks ago. To my relief, things were going well. Django had bonded well with her.

We had to redefine their comfort zone and fast! A new routine was devised and with patience and consistency, they began adjusting really well. And now Ella is adopted and Miles is in a great foster home!

TRAPPED A rags to Riches LOve Story

2011-02-14T12:49:00.027-06:00

USED DOGS has a whole litter of red-haired, fluffy residents to introduce to you …

We got them just in time. They were very timid at first, hiding their heads and looking away. But they have made steady progress and now come running up to us when they see us coming. They are ready for homes of their own. And MOM is just super! We named her Nina ; she is not feral at all. She licked our hands from inside the trap! She prefers affection to food! When she wags her tail, (which is whenever you call her name) her tail vibrates and her ears wiggle along with it! It is SO CUTE ! ! She is a little ragged, but she is (gasp) HEARTWORM NEGATIVE!!!!

Here's the story of how this little family was rescued:

For about a year we had seen and heard about a potentially feral dog roaming the streets in our neighborhood. USED DOGS decided to step in when we heard that the large field where she made her home, was being prepped for construction. It could have been very dangerous for her to be put in a situation where construction workers would decide her fate. They could scare her, accidentally injure her or call a group that would not have given her a second chance. So USED DOGS decided it was definitely time to catch this girl. USED DOGS has experience in trapping and that was clearly the best option to get a hold of her. The situation was also becoming more urgent because recent sightings of her were telling us that she had just had a litter of puppies and it is very important to get the pups as early as possible to give them the best chance at socialization. USED DOGS was relying on intel from the neighborhood to keep track of her whereabouts. We heard about some puppies under an unoccupied house. We were hoping that these were hers, but when we went to the house there were no puppies in sight. We were reassured that the puppies were absolutely there, so after surveying the location we set the trap the next day and within twenty minutes we had a momma and a pup!

And it was indeed our girl!

Neighbor sources told us that there were definitely more babies under the house. It was going to possibly be much more difficult to get these babies, because they had seen their mom and siblings get caught by the trap and might understandably be a little wary of the trap. Any experienced trapper knows that the key to overcoming this problem is some very enticing bait! So enticing that even though the dogs are scared, they simply just cannot help themselves, but go towards the very fragrant and delicious food. Thanks to some foolproof bait and a little patience we had two more puppies in two hours!

**A word of caution- trapping should not be undertaken by just anyone. We were trained in safe trapping by some really great professional trappers during Katrina.

We are beyond thrilled to tell you that mama dog is not at all feral. Shortly after rescuing her, we got a lick on the hand and then a lick on the nose! She seemed very relieved to be rescued by us, which tells us that at one point she must have had a home.

Her puppies were much more timid, but they are coming around with the help of treats and attention. It did not take long for them to start following visitors up the kennel gate to check out what kind of goodies they had. Unfortunately, one of the male puppies is shyer than the rest, but it is understandable because he has definitely been through the most. When we found him he had several wounds on one leg. Luckily we got him just in time because his infection was on the verge of becoming extremely serious. Every day his injury is getting better and better. It is sad to think about what would have happened to him if we weren’t able to get him the medicine he needed.

We are just thrilled at how successful this whole mission has been and we could not have done it without the help of the neighborhood. The momma and her puppies have a great chance at finding homes because they are comfortable with people and we got them in time to socialize them. Although Mom is petite, these pups are probably going to be around fifty to maybe 60 pounds of fluffy love.

We decided to name them after jazz singers. Momma is Nina, the two males are Miles and Django and the little girl is Ella. We would love to find them each their perfect family match because they deserve it!

LAST Chance for a GOBBLE GIVE AWAY!

2010-11-14T14:20:00.004-06:00

Hurry Guys! The Gobble Giveaway ends Tomorrow, Monday.

Gobble Giveaway!

Big Paw Designs has all kinds of cool gifts for pet lovers.

And they a portion of some of their gift sales goes to USED DOGS!

Check them out!

A Rescuer's Rainbow Bridge

2010-10-09T08:20:00.003-05:00

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the soft green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.

Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of her work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.

"So does GOD", was the reply.

~ Compliments of our sister rescue, The Dog Liberator of central Florida. The dogs shown in the video all passed away while in their love and care, before they could find their forever home.

Woof Fleur De Lis

2010-09-25T11:23:00.001-05:00

Those of us who live in New Orleans take great pride in our city and jump at every chance to celebrate its unique history and culture. Well, here is a great opportunity to benefit our rescue while doing your jumping!!!

Big Paw Designs has created a pewter collar charm that embodies the spirit of New Orleans and the love of pets. A portion of the profits goes directly to help Used Dogs Rescue! At only $10, this charm makes a lovely gift for any Mardi Gras or New Orleans loving pet or pet owner.

Click on the photo or on the link in our side bar for more information!

To remember the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina - we are doing a Buy one Give one for Used Dogs Rescue. Buy one of the five items that benefit Used Dogs and in addition to the portion we normally donate, we will GIVE an additional dollar for each "Used Dogs" item sold in September.

What Katrina Meant to USED DOGS

2010-09-06T22:57:00.018-05:00

Today, September 6, 2010, was a peaceful, lovely and almost cool day. So very different from 5 years ago. No helicopters all over the sky like the Vietnam War. No shiny new stolen trucks cruising the streets at night full of kid with guns looting. They slowed down in front of my house one night, the dogs began to bark and I heard the kids step on the gas and disappear.

I started rescuing before the winds had died down all the way. So many fences came down and I saw everyone's dirty dog laundry. It was heartbreaking, but at the time there was no time to be sad. I was jumping fences and avoiding the live wires from downed power lines. I was assaulted by what I realize in hindsight were probably desperate drug addicts.

5 years ago I had been on my own for days. It was about this time that the army came with rifles. They told me I had to leave. There were dogs, mostly pit bulls, running ALL OVER the streets. I told the soldiers that I would handle the dogs. After conferring amongst themselves, they told me I could stay. Soon after, 3 awesome women from Nebraska found me and came bearing supplies. I had a lot of supplies. I was prepared, but wow was it nice to see them. I sent my first few loads of dogs out with them.

The Military started showing up at my house at the end of each day with a list of addresses where there were pets in need of food and water or rescue. As they did their house to house checks, it was obviously hard for them to see these pets and not be able to help. Often I saw soldiers with groups of dogs following them. They were not allowed to interact with the animals. They started bringing me water, ice and military rations.

USED DOGS' Katrina rescue #1

This guy spent the WHOLE storm on a chain with no shelter. No food or water.

There were many, many more. Hundreds upon hundreds.

USED DOGS' yard post storm:

With help from some great volunteers from Pennsylvania, we kept rescuing from dusk until dawn for around 35 days. More supplies arrived. I didn't stop until the animals I was finding were starting to all be dead.

My route continued to grow as I fed dogs in place that were safe in yards. For me this wasn't a time to judge. I knew some of these dogs had families that loved them, because I had driven past their houses for years.

I argued with a guy over local Jazz legend Clarence Frogman Henry's dog . This kid wanted to ship him off to Washington state. Frogman was in New York doing a fundraiser. He didn't realize there was a part of his fence loose and "Boomer" got out. Several firemen came to my assistance and helped me retain possession of the Great Dane. "Boomer had been injured. Dr. Gutter was around and he made a house call. Boomer and Mr Henry were very happily reunited.

But I am not writing this to dwell on the sorrow. I am writing this, hoping that in someway it will be part of the cathartic process that with time will help my heart to heal.

This dog I actually named. Most of the dogs that I sent thru LaMar Dixon had numbers. There were SO MANY. But this guy I named and he really stole my heart. I never found out what happened to him. I tried. I sent him off to Nebraska with some very fine people before before there was any "system" for the dogs to be processed thru. I so hope he found happiness and love in a home.

65% of all the dogs that were rescued out of Katrina were pit bull or pit bull mixes. 95% of all the dogs were NOT spay/neutered. Those statistics spelled out a part of my post storm mission. USED DOGS had the first Low to No cost Pit bull spay/neuter program available after the storm!

Olga Featured by Facebook's Save A Dog!

2010-08-30T18:55:00.004-05:00

Guess what - Olga has been selected as the Dog of the Week for Facebook's Save A Dog application! How neat is that? We didn't even know until today. Her "week" was August 23-30. What's more, our Sarah was the Dog of the Week for July 26-August 2. I have no idea how that happened, but it is cool!

Sarah was the dog that brought me to rescue by walking up to me on the streets and collapsing at my feet. That was many years ago. In reality, she has become my mascot of heart.

Olga was one of a litter of nine puppies born in an abandoned house here in New Orleans. Shortly after that, the house caught on fire. As a neighbor stood watching, not knowing what to do, out of the house came the momma dog carrying a puppy. She deposited the puppy on the neighbor's doorstep then dashed back into the burning home. She repeated this time and again until all nine puppies were safe! That brave momma and eight of the puppies have long since found their forever homes, but Olga has not. Now seven years old, she has matured into a lovely, petite dog of great intelligence. Although very attached to me, I still hope that one day she will have a home of her own.

Tsolta has been adopted !!

2010-08-21T12:18:00.003-05:00

WOW! That's a first!! We didn't even get out the door before we had an adoption!! Zsolta has been ADOPTED!! AND she is going to live the life of an artist!

But not to worry, still come an meet the dogs today. Mimi is still looking for a home of her own!! We will be a Petcetera, 3205 Magazine Street at Harmony (Uptown New Orleans) Mimi or Stanya would just LOVE to watch the Saints game with you tonight!!

Csaba - ADOPTED!!

2010-08-15T21:08:00.013-05:00

Csaba has settled into his new home. He now lives with a very nice lady named Janice and her daughter.

From Csaba/Max's new home:

Hey Madalin,

Max is GREAT!He already sits on command, and follows me around wherever I go.
My younger daughter was in town this weekend, so now he has met her and knows she is family.

Janice found us on Adopt-A-Pet.com, one of over 20 websites that we just started posting on through Rescue Groups. I'm happy to say that Janice's phone call was not the only one generated by these new postings. Did I mention that it has gotten busy????

Csaba was reunited for a minute with his sister when I picked him up for their spay/neuter appointments. The were so thrilled to see each other again! However this photo was taken after they were all tuckered out from a massive play session!!

Anyway Csaba is all settled in at his new home! And by the way, don't call him Csaba anymore. His name is MAX!! So much for the Hungarian theme! LOL

But his sister Zsolta is still looking for the perfect picnic spot! She spent some time with me here after her Spay. She is a great little girl. Although she was shy when we first got her from between the houses, she learned how to get love FAST. She is loving and sweet and patient. She did great with her crate training. And she is really growing into her beauty! Lovely!

Rabbit Adoptions, Reunited Puppies and A Big Thank You!

2010-08-05T09:58:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone,

Wow! Isn't it amazing how one minute you feel like you've got everything under control and the next *bam!* you're going 90 mph! That's what it ha been like for the last couple of weeks. But don't get me wrong ~ it's all been good! Truthfully, I cannot believe the supportive response I have gotten to our new blog and Facebook page. We already have over 100 facebook fans, 300 blog views and 12 followers. I guess people really are interested in what we are doing! Who knew? Not me. Thank you. It has meant a great deal to me to know that people care.

A couple of great thing to bring you up to speed on. First, big news for small rabbit ~ Mae Fern has been adopted. She was so happy to leave us with Amey. Who could blame her? How would you like to be a rabbit living with all these dogs? Amey found us thru the House Rabbit Society. A big THANK YOU to June for letting Amey know that of all the rabbits in town Mae Fern needed a new home the most. That put Mae Fern ahead in the line...in front of all the little baby bunnies!!

You remember Csaba, our little Rottweiler puppy? Guess what ~ we just rescued his sister, Zsolta. These two had been running the streets making it on their own. Someone caught Csaba but couldn't get Zsolta. But then, two weeks later, guess who was found trapped between two houses? Oh yeah, Zsolta! What was cool was how these two puppies acted when they saw each other again. They were so happy. I'll make a separate posting for Zsolta with more details, but I just had to share here!

I really need some financial help getting Csaba and Zsolta fixed. I don't have the funds to do it without their adoption fee, and I don't want to adopt them until they're fixed. See the Catch-22? If you can help just a little bit, that would be huge for me. I have a vet who is very reasonable but can't do it for free. You can use the Paypal button, but please let me know so I can thank you!

One more time, thank you to everyone who has joined us on Facebook and this blog, who encouraged their friends to do the same, and who sent me supportive posts and messages. Suddenly I no longer feel alone! You are the best!

~ Madalin

Zsolta the Puppy

2010-08-05T09:23:00.005-05:00

Zsolta is a lovely puppy, probably a Catahoula Leopard Dog and Lab mix. You can see the "leopard" markings in her coat. Beautiful! Check out her photo album.

Zsolta and her brother Csaba were living on the streets until someone decided they deserved better. She was able to catch Csaba fairly easily but not Zsolta. However, two weeks later, who did she find trapped between two houses but Zsolta. Smart girl got herself through the fence but couldn't work her way back out.

So now we have both of these adorable puppies. They had a tough start on life but have bounced back well. If you are interested in adopting one of them please e-mail me at madalin@useddogs.org. If you can't adopt but would like to donate toward getting them fixed and fully vetted, that would be huge! You can just use the Paypal button at the top of the right column of this blog.

Spread the word. Let people know that there are lots of Used Dogs needing a loving home!

Welcome!

2010-07-25T21:20:00.003-05:00

Welcome, my friends, to the Used Dogs blog. This is a new venture for me, and I hope that you will join me in it.

Rescue can be an overwhelming and sometimes lonely path. "Overwhelming" because the stream of pets needing rescue is unending, and "lonely" because the pets in our charge require constant care, allowing us no time for vacation, break or even, it seems, a cup of coffee. As a result, volunteers quickly burn out and friends move on.

Did that sound like whining? I hope not. It certainly isn't my intent. Instead, it is one of the reasons I have started this blog. It is a place for me to journal my experiences, to share my insights and, hopefully, to help get pets adopted. And so, let us begin!

First, a bit about me. A native of New Orleans, I moved to San Francisco and worked in the film industry for several years. In 2002 I came home to visit my mother and saw all the abandoned dogs wandering the streets. I was horrified and decided to take action. Along with a friend, I started Used Dogs, a rescue with dual purpose ~ the saving and re-homing of abandoned pets and the advocacy of spay/neuter programs. We were making good headway ~ successful dog placements, fund raising to assist low-income pet owners in the spay/neuter of their pets, volunteers helping with the dogs ~ when along came Katrina! It knocked the wind out of sails and the resources out of our organization. We lost most of our fund raising and volunteers, including my co-founder. That was hard. Very hard. But if you live in New Orleans, it is a too-familiar story.

We've kept plugging along, making a difference where we can. Just when I wondered if perhaps it was all for naught, I was contacted by a casual friend who was starting a new radio show. She wanted to know if I would be interested in doing a "Doggie Minute" on the weekly show. You have to ask???? And then, through the miracle of Facebook, I "bumped" into a high school friend after 30 some-odd years, a friend involved in rescue in Florida. She helped me set up this blog and brainstorm ideas for rejuvenating our efforts. Serendipity, luck or a blessing? I don't know, but I do know that I feel that things are starting to move forward again.

I'm excited. I think that great things are going to happen. I hope that you will join me on the journey and perhaps together we can turn the tide of abandoned pets. We can make a difference!

~ Madalin

Fly Right and Adopt Video

2010-07-22T07:43:00.005-05:00

Enjoy this video of some of the dogs currently available for adoption. Dogs and .... What? A rabbit??? Okay, if you say so......

Click the bottom right corner for a full-screen view.

Csaba the Puppy ~ Adopted

2010-07-20T06:38:00.010-05:00

Csaba is a precious little puppy. And I do mean little ~ some of these photos were taking with him standing on the kitchen counter. But don't be fooled ~ he's going to be a good size fella when he grows up.

He is such a little champion. We rescued him from the streets where he was trying to make it. Such a loving spirit, I adore the photo of him with his kitty. We all need a buddy, don't we? :) Well, maybe Csaba is meant to be your next buddy!

You can see additional photos of Csaba on his photo album.

7 August Update:

Csaba has a new home with Janice and her daughter. However, his sister Zsolta is still waiting for her home!

Mimi the Shepherd

2010-07-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

If you're like me, you have your favorite New Orleans restaurant that no one knows about. You want to tell others, but you're afraid if you do it'll become trendy and no longer your own.

That's how I feel about Mimi, a three-year-old 45 pound Shepherd. For two years she has been waiting for a home of her own, and mostly that is my fault. She is such a delight, filling a special role in our pack, that I have been reluctant to let her go. Terrible, but what can I say!

There are several things that make Mimi unique. First, she has a natural nurturing spirit that makes me think she has some Australian Shepherd in her. When we have litters of puppies, she steps in and fills the momma role, tending to them and teaching them the ropes. I've never had another dog do this and it amazes me.

Mimi is also very smart, as you would expect in a shepherd, but knows how to work it too. If she doesn't want to do something, she flips onto her back and gives me a sideways look and a smile. I'm not kidding! She loves kids and other dogs and shows this by wagging her tail in a circle, not side to side. Absolutely adorable!

Well behaved and housetrained, Mimi is also a looker. She has this beautiful red-tinged coat with black highlights that just make her eyes jump out at you. Don't look~ she'll melt your heart!

Stanya the Lab

2010-07-03T20:42:00.001-05:00

I understand that everyone has good times and bad times, but what I don't understand is people who just abandoned their pets. That's what happened to Stanya. Her owners moved away and left her and her sister in the backyard. What were they thinking. A whole week went by before a neighbor called me and asked me to help. What could I say but yes? Fortunately Stanya's sister has found a home, but this pumpkin is still waiting.

Really Stanya should be easy to adopt. She has a very sweet, even temperament and does great with both children and dogs. If she has a fault, it is that she is a bit lazy, but when you are talking "Lab" that is more of a miracle than a fault!

I think that Stanya is the perfect dog for more people than they realize. She doesn't demand a lot of exercise (we only think we want to jog with our dog), she isn't so smart that she is always planning The Great Escape (why get a dog that can come up with creative ideas when bored?) but she isn't so dumb that she doesn't understand that the mailman is allowed to come to the door! She is a right-down-the-middle kinda dog, mellow, easy going and oh-so-pretty!

Pedro the Lab

2010-07-03T20:31:00.002-05:00

Pedro is an example of why I stay in rescue despite all the heartbreak and stress. You see this beautiful young loving lab today and think, "What a sweet dog." What you don't see is the dog I rescued several months ago. That dog was all skin and bones, full of worms and heartworm positive. You can see his backbone clearly in this photo taken shortly after I got him.

His life has been turned around not just by food and medical care, but by the love and attention that only a foster family can provide. Yes, he is one of the lucky ones to be in a foster home, a home with both adults and kids to help him rediscover his inner-puppy. And as a lab, well, that didn't take long at all!

Pedro absolutely LOVES children and is great with other dogs. He does fine in a crate, something that is especially important when hurricanes threaten.

Personality-wise, he's a little rambunctious, but he learns fast. he is really goofy and sweet. an all around good dog.

As I mentioned, he is heartworm positive, but don't let that stop you from welcoming him into your life. I can have him treated rather reasonably or he can continue to take regular monthly heartworm pills which will slowly kill off the worms.

Pedro is a great dog. I mean, really, how many dogs would let your kids put a flower hat on their head????

Liam the Basset Retriever

2010-07-03T20:14:00.001-05:00

Liam is Kate's son. I rescued three of Kate's litters, for a total of 23 puppies! Liam is the only one who has not been adopted, and for the life of me, I don't know why.

First, he is a very unique dog (I don't want to hurt his feelings by saying, "funny looking"). Without a doubt, he is a mix of several breeds, but his legs have Basset written all over them, his general stance reminds me of a long-haired Dachshund, and his coat and forehead say Flat-Coated Retriever. Oh, and he loves the water and will actually curl up in his water bowl. Yeah, Retriever.....

Liam is truly a happy-go-lucky fellow, playful and adorable. But here's the reason he doesn't get adopted ~ when strangers come around or he is in a strange environment (read "adoption event"), he becomes very shy and withdrawn. This isn't terribly unusual but people just can't see past it. My gosh! I just know that given a couple of hours in their home he'll be the life of the party. Oh, how I wish people would believe me. So instead of having a home and family of his own, Liam is still at the rescue, waiting for the person who can see past the moment and into his heart.

I mean it ~ Liam is terrific. In addition to being super outgoing and confident here, he is not a jumper at all. Despite all of the dogs and people we have coming and going, he has never snapped or growled or anything like that. He is just about perfect!

Kate the Corgi

2010-07-03T20:00:00.002-05:00

There's just something about Kate! You would think a dog with her background and her health issues would be a grumpy-gus, but not so. Instead, she is a little clown!

Kate survived on her own living in a large wooded area. Well, not totally on her own. The guys at the auto shop that abutted the property fed her and did what they could, but they couldn't stop her from breeding. And boy, did she breed! After I rescued her third litter for a total of 23 puppies, I really felt like I needed to stop this cycle. My reluctance was do to the belief that she was feral, and feral dogs are usually euthanized. What to do? What to do! Well, I found a vet who agreed to spay her, no matter how feral she was!!! So I trapped her, only to realize she was not at all feral, just abandoned. Joy!

Needless to say, Kate had a bit of a recovery period, not just from being spayed, but from the trauma of having been abandoned and forced to make it on her own. But she is such a litter trooper, she pulled it all together and became the affectionate family dog that she had obviously once been. Imagine my distress when, after all that, she started having health problem with her back legs. We did acupuncture and aquatherapy, and she got a lot better. But unless someone really special comes along, I expect that I will probably just have until she dies because she is incontinent. Now, I know that there are special people, ones who will go the extra mile for that special pet, and it is my hope that Kate will be found ~ she deserves it!

Let me share with you one of my favorite "Kate" stories. When her leg problems first acted up, they were pretty severe. In fact, her back legs were paralyzed. I took her to the vet where she spent the night in one of their crates. Or at least, that's what they thought. Somehow, this clever little survivor figured out how to get out of the crate, pulled herself into the front waiting room and feasted all night on the bags of dog food they had displayed for sale. When the staff arrived the next morning, there was Kate, surrounded by torn bags. It was quite obvious which brand she preferred ~ it had a big ol' hole and a significant amount was eaten. That was one happy puppy!

In the meanwhile, Kate is happy and spunky as can be! She has so much fun out in the yard everyday. She runs the playgroup she is in. She is SO FUNNY. One time, when she was at the animal hospital, basically with two back legs that weren't working, she managed to get out of the vet's cage at night and traipsed around the vet office, sampling from all the dog food bags they had out for sale in the waiting area!!! They could tell which brand she like best, because that bag had the most food missing with the biggest hole in it. She had just taken little samples from the other bags!! Kate is my volunteer Hazel's FAVORITE!! They have a lot of fun together. One day I hope that Kate will light a spark in someone's heart and find her forever home!

Mae Fern the Rabbit ~ Adopted!

2010-07-03T15:44:00.002-05:00

How did a rabbit end up at Used Dogs Rescue? I ask myself that all the time, as does Mae Fern!!!

This bunny is adorable. She is about 7 years old, very healthy and has a great temperament. She even walks on a leash. Mae Fern looks forward to the day she walks out of our rescue. What do you say?

July 31 Update

Mae Fern has been adopted by Amey! How happy her new mom is, and oooooh!, how happy is Mae Fern to be waiving good bye to all the dogs! Another happy ending!

Guillermo the Shepherd

2010-07-03T15:39:00.002-05:00

Guillermo ( Memo is his nickname!) is a very charming dog. He is a favorite with the vet techs, and that tells you a lot since they see so many dogs! What is it about him? I call it contagious joie de vive. (For those of you who forgot everything you learned in French class, that's Joy of Life) Guillermo is just a very happy, spunky, playful, energetic puppy. He gets along with most other dogs but has an undue fascination with birds, so to be cautious, I think we'll skip homes with birds, cats or other small pets! He also enjoys his quiet time in his crate, a real blessing with a dog. Sadly, Guillermo has never really had a close relationship with a person of his own until he came here. He's eager to start a forever one. One who will understand him Any takers?

Memo was found during Hurricane Katrina with his pal Poncho. Poncho has been adopted, but Memo is STILL WAITING :(

A volunteer favorite, this is what Hazel has to say about Memo:

"Memo gives me so much love. When I visit, I feel that he isn't looking for the treats; He is looking for me! Sometimes he ignores the goodies I bring because he is just wanting to lick me and love me and tell me he is happy to see me. Pretty much all dogs are capable of great love and loyalty, but I believe that when Memo gives his heart, it is given forever. After visiting, I always think to myself that, of all the dogs --all of whom I love-- Memo was happiest to see me."

Dimitri the Pit Bull

2010-07-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

When I look at Dimitri, I think, "Mardi Gras!" I guess it is the markings on his face; they remind me of a Mardi Gras mask. Handsome, don't you think?

Dimitri has a great temperament. He gets along well with most dogs and is a good listener. He has had some hard times and not been treated well but is still very eager to give us a second chance. He is such a great dog, playful and patient. If you come meet him, guaranteed he'll put on a good show and impress you!

Sarah the Pit Bull

2010-07-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

Sarah is a lovely Pit Bull. She is rather small, fawn with white markings. There is some scarring around her face leading me to believe that she has been subjected to some hard times. Sarah is ready to forget all of those and start anew in a loving home. How about yours?

Olivia the Boxer

2010-07-03T14:05:00.005-05:00

What can I say about Olivia except, "EARS!!!" Really, they are beyond the pale! I think if we get a strong wind, she'll just blow away. And the funny thing is, she'd probably be think that was a hoot! I'm not sure where she got them from. My guess is that she is a hound/boxer mix, but those ears? Maybe there is some Dobie in her family tree....

This girl is nothing but fun and energy. She has never had a down day and finds joy in each moment. I can't imagine a home that wouldn't be lit up by her happy spirit! I mean, look closely at her photo. Her tail is actually blurry because it is wagging so fast. That's my girl!

Olga the Shepherd

2010-07-03T14:02:00.002-05:00

Olga was one of nine puppies born in an abandoned house. Shortly afterward, the house caught on fire. The neighbor came out, not knowing what to do. As she stood there, she saw a momma dog emerge with a puppy in her mouth. The dog deposited the puppy on the neighbor's doorstep and then dashed back into the burning building. Over and over she repeated this until nine puppies lay safely at the door!

We have long since found homes for that brave momma and eight of her puppies (all named after gymnasts) but Olga still remains waiting, seven years later. She has developed into a petite, intelligent dog who has grown very attached to me. The feeling is mutual, but oh, I think she deserves a home of her own.

Olga has a lot of German Shepherd in her (I just couldn't help myself with the name!) but it is slightly softened by a touch of lab. Her diamond-shaped markings give her eyes an exotic and rather soulful look, but her heart is all gold. She isn't pushy and so has been overlooked by those who come to meet the dogs. They've missed a gem!

Ophelia the Fox Terrier

2010-07-03T13:58:00.004-05:00

Ophelia is a lovely cross between a Fox Terrier and a hound. One of the reasons I actually prefer mixed breeds over pure breds is that you almost always get the best from both breeds and skip the downsides. And that describes Ophelia! She is just an easy-going, fun to be with kinda girl who always is remarked upon by those who see her. Some might go so far as to call her a babe-magnet, but far be it from me.... lol!

Lily the Bull Terrier ~ Adopted!

2010-07-03T13:50:00.004-05:00

Lily is a great little Bull Terrier. She loves people, is very smart and affectionate, and her favorite napping spot is your lap. Having obviously been neglected, she craves attention and prefers to be with you at all times. However, she is very good when left alone as long as she has some toys to play with or a bone to chew on.

Lily gets along well with other dogs and appears tolerant of cats. She is house-trained and has learned to walk on a leash. She is still very puppy-like and loves to play fetch or run with her toys from one end of the yard to the other.

September 3rd Update:

I'm happy to say that sweet Lily has been adopted.... by her foster family. Sadly, their own dog passed away and left a big hole in their heart. Fortunately Miss Lily was right there to help them through their loss. They quickly realized that they already had their next dog!

Roman the Boxer

2010-07-03T13:46:00.002-05:00

Roman is the most loving, charming, endearing, beautiful, large, rambunctious dog you will ever meet. (Can you tell I think he is special?) He has a very unique spirit and, though a bit of an alpha dog, gets along well with most everyone! On top of everything else, Roman is soooo handsome! This is a dog you just have to meet! I think I'll add a few more exclamation points!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Volunteer

2010-07-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any rescue, and we are no exception. We need volunteers in every aspect of our endeavor and welcome you to come aboard. Some areas that you may want to consider are:

Fostering ~ as a foster you take the pet into your home. Nothing prepares a dog faster and more thoroughly for a forever home than a foster!
Walker ~ as a dog walker you not only exercise a dog but teach it to trust human leadership.
Playpal ~ proper socializing of dogs require that they learn how to play with us. It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it! :~)
Trainer ~ teaching a dog basic commands such as sit, stay, and come help to make it unique among the hundreds of dogs needing adoption and so increase its chances substantially
Care ~ cleaning dog runs, washing dogs, feeding everyone ~ one of the most important jobs in establishing trust with our dogs.
Photo and videos ~ quality photos are huge. If the little thumbprint on a computer search engine isn't good, then no one will go to that dog's information page and it will just languish in rescue. When photos are combined with video, oh-my-gosh!, suddenly the dog goes from being a picture to a real-life personality filled puppy!!!
Fund raising ~ adoption fees do not even begin to scratch the surface of our expenses. Without fund raising we just won't last.
Writing skills ~ if you fancy yourself gifted with the ability to turn a phrase, then we would welcome your help in updating our posts about the dogs.
Graphic design ~ I know we could do more in this area, but it is not my strong suit.
Computer skills ~ if you are someone we can call when the computer does the crazy things that computers do, you would be a blessing!
Bookkeeper ~ someone? Anyone? Please?
Legal advice ~ just to have someone available should we need it would lift a heavy load from my shoulders.
and more.... If you have a talent, we have a need!

To learn more about volunteering with us, contact me directly at madalin@useddogs.org . I look forward to hearing from you!

~ Madalin