Happy Ever After

These two lucky dogs were adopted last year at age seven. In this recently received note, it sounds like
their new family feels pretty lucky too....

"Retrieved"

 During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors. Now, ten years on, just 12 of these heroic canines survive, and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.  

Moxie, 13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler, Mark Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days.

Bretagne and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days

Guinness, 15, from Highland, California, started work at the site with Sheila McKee on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11 days

Handler Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from their home in Denver 

on September 24 and searched for five days

The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public. Traveling across nine states in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland, Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas, 34, captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their homes where they still live 
with their handlers, a full decade on from 9/11.

Their stories have now been compiled in a book, called Retrieved, which is published on Friday, the tenth anniversary of the attacks. Noted for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs, Charlotte wanted 'Retrieved' to mark not only the anniversary of the September 2001 attacks, but also as recognition 
for some of the first responders and their dogs.

'I felt this was a turning point, especially for the dogs, who although are not forgotten, are not as prominent as the human stories involved,' explained Charlotte, who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam.

'They speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective.'

Summertime

Does this picture really need any explanation? 

Dog Bite Prevention Week

That's right - there's actually a dog bite prevention week. Millions of people are bitten by dogs every year and several hundred thousand require trips to the hospital. Most of these could probably be avoided. 

When I was 7 years old I was bitten in the face - 24 stitches! I didn't have a dog of my own, but I LOVED dogs! I was visiting neighbors (who did not educate me about their dog) and had cornered the dog with a box of dog treats. I was going to feed him. I thought that would fun. He didn't like being in a corner. He didn't like kids. He didn't like that I had the treats. I teased him by pretending I was going to eat his treat. I was right up in his face. The skin on a child's face is very soft and tender. It tears easily. It was a horrible experience. 

I wish someone had told me that my behavior was intrusive and rude, had taught me how to approach a dog politely. It would have been nice if the owners had been paying more attention, especially if he was a fearful dog. Not all dogs want to be touched by strangers. Educate your kids!

Here's a great video on how to approach a dog. And if you want to read more on this or other behavioral stuff, check out the blog of Dr. Sophia Yin, an expert on dog behavior.

Chance to Win!

We have until tomorrow, May 14 to nominate our rescue group to win up to $20,000 in veterinary and pet supplies: http://www.drmartybecker.com/contest

Dr. Marty Becker, the resident veterinarian on Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show, wants to give more than $70,000 in veterinary and pet products to shelters and rescue groups. If you are a 501c3 organization or a municipal shelter located in the U.S., you are eligible.

Nominating EGRR is easy.  Simply LIKE the Dr. Becker Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DrMartyBecker) and post the name of our organization, our location and our web address on his wall. But hurry – you only have until May 14!

Dr. Becker will randomly select 50 finalists for the voting phase, which begins on May 18. The more times our group is nominated, the more chances we have to be a finalist. Read all the details at http://www.drmartybecker.com/contest

Baby Star

I don't have a heart wrenching rescue story to tell today. I just came across these pictures of Star as a puppy and HAD to share them. Star is 8 years old now. She has crachio pharyngeal dysphagia...it's a swallowing disorder, apparently genetic in Goldens. It means she has to be hand fed each meal. Yep, that's right, every meal for eight years! She chokes and has a hard time with water too, but she manages. I jokingly tell people she has a drinking problem. Bless her heart.

Our first rescue experience

We've had Goldens forever and love them dearly. Sam was our first rescue though. We got him about a year ago when he was 4. He was used as a stud and he was/is gorgeous. He had been tied to a tree and was rescued with 2 bitches and 9 puppies as I understand it. He got along with our 11 year old golden, Chester, who made sure he knew who was boss. Chester definitely kept him in line...along with some behavior training with us. We'd never had such a strong minded Golden but he's definitely coming around. Chester died suddenly in Dec and Sam has missed him...and of course we miss him too but we're so glad we got Sam to fill the void. Sam has been snowshoeing and hiking with us and definitely loves the outdoors and the smells of the wild. We keep him close but he is learning to be off leash and come when called. This has taken a number of months but we are definitely more trusting of his behavior now.
Sam is definitely a part of our family and tolerates our little 2 year old granddaughter who loves to poke at him and take him for walks. I definitely recommend EGRR as they helped match us with Sam, a wonderful good natured golden!

Shelby

Shelby was the greatest dog ever. I am Rory and I am twelve years old. Shelby is a free spirit that can run really fast. I remember when we first got her she was kind of chubby so we called her the "little red sausage". She also would destroy every toy she got. She destroyed a little rubber dog toy tire and I think she might have ate some of it. Shelby even jumped on our counters to eat two frozen chicken patties. That was amazing. I am sure that you have seen those commercials for that "indestructible" dog toy. Well, Shelby ripped the squeakers right out of it. She loved to play tug of war. I would pretend to be a fisherman and the couch was my boat and I would "cast" the rope and wait till Shelby grabbed it. She was so strong she could pull me off the couch. We got Shelby in august of 2006. She died today, February, 22, 2011. She had a tumor in her spleen that caused cancer. We will always remember Shelby as she plays tug of war in heaven.

Update on Jazz (Formerly Jasmine) Who I Adopted Spring of 2009

Jazzy has blossomed into a beautiful Golden Retriever senior citizen.  Thinking back to the afternoon that I picked her up at the top of Stevens Pass makes me realize how lucky I am.  She was an unknown but must have had some training because she arrived with lots of good manners.  And she is such a quick study.  I remember one of our leash walks through the park early on -I ended up being dragged, for s short distance, on my belly, while Jazz took interest in a duck.   Jazz is still prey motivated but does really well on the leash.  She is such a dignified lady.   As I leave for work each morning she bounds upstairs to sleep on my bed until I get home.  We are still working on her “other dog” crankiness, but with a few tips from the Academy of Canine Behavior she is no longer reactive to other creatures that we encounter.

Jazz is truly a love machine.  Toys are still not her thing but she loves her walks and car rides. We are both at our best when we’re together.  From that first night she has relished her brushing time and always enjoys a good back scratch.  Did she ever love rolling in the snow!  Wonder if it reminded her of her years in Wenatchee. Jazz wears her nine plus years very well with a beautiful gray mask. 

Must admit that after Clovis died it took me a bit of time to get in tune with this Jazzy red lady but I’ve come to cherish this wonderful creature and can only hope that I’ve enriched her life a bit as much as she enriches mine every day.

Linda S.

 

Comet's Story

Sometimes it's hard to witness the abandonment of dogs. People can be so heartless. But not every dog is carelessly discarded. Sometimes the rescue is a blessing to a loving owner. Comet's family was an elderly couple. Due to health concerns, the couple needed to move to a nursing home and couldn't take Comet. He was six years old when he came to the rescue and the owners loved him very much.

 I fostered, and subsequently adopted him (something I've been making a habit - but that's another story!) I was told me how broken up the owner was when he left Comet. A few months later, after Comet had worked his way into our hearts and home, I sent some pictures of him to his owner, along with a note telling him how happy we were to have Comet, and how much he was loved. 

I got a long letter back. He said leaving Comet was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.... harder than having to put a dying dog to sleep, even though that was a heartbreak as well. He was so grateful to know that Comet was in a loving home, and thanked me for the letter. It made me feel good to know that I was able to help not only a dog but also a family trying to do the right thing for their dog.