Archive for January, 2009

In Montcalm County animals have more to fear from a trip to the animal shelter than just being left behind. As terrible as it may be for a pet to be surrendered by their owner, they also face life in a harsh, unforgiving research laboratory if chosen for such a fate. Unbelievably, some Michigan shelters still allow this practice and many animals are pulled from their crates and sold for such use.

Scooter, an 18 month old black lab mix, was headed for just such a life. He had just recently been turned in, and before he was given a chance for adoption he was chosen by a dealer that profits from taking shelter dogs and selling them to laboratories, where they are caged and used for testing everything from drugs to cosmetics (including Botox), very often with lethal results.

Scooter was lucky to escape such a horrible fate. A Montcalm area organization stepped in and removed him from the shelter, but when they couldn’t follow through on his rescue they called Wishbone for help. Of course, we were glad to provide him with a second chance and brought him in to our care.

Scooter is a smart, active dog with lots of energy. He loves to play, and could make a great Agility dog. He loves to be active, and would make a great companion for someone who has the energy to play with him as he grows up. He is loyal and loving, and seems to do well with other dogs, although they would probably need to be as playful as he is.

Please contact us if you would like more information about Scooter, or would like to meet him in person. You can also download a pre-adoption form here -CLICK- if you’re interested in giving him a second chance.

Scooter, like so many other animals in the West Michigan area, needs a loving forever home with someone like you. He will reward you with unconditional love, and ask for nothing but your love in return. Well, that and a couple of Frisbees.

Thanks for your interest in Scooter, you can also find more information on the tragic practice of selling animals to research here –

http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research

http://www.jethrosplace.org/campaign.htm

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=104521&catid=14

It’s been 2 weeks since Chance has moved into his new home.  He & Bear are having a ball…litterally.  Chance drools them all up & Bear rips the balls apart to remove the squeeky!  Chance had his first visit with Dr. C last week.  His BUN levels are still dropping YEAH!!  And he has gained 4 pounds since his last visit in Holland.  Dr. C will see him again in 30 days to check his levels, but wants Chance to maintain his special diet.  He is such an amazing little man.  He has warmed up to everyone that has come in contact with him since we’ve moved him home.   Attached are a few pictures of their new beds…Bear is sleeping in his new bed all night long.  Chance however, starts out in his bed, and then sneaks into bed with us once the lights go out.  Chance still likes to snuggle all night long, which we wouldn’t have it any other way, although he is a bit of a bed hog – LOL!!!  Thank you again to everyone who cared enough to rescue him and help bring him to us.   We will keep updates on his health and also send out photos too..  Happy Saturday to all!

Sincerly,

Chance’s Mom & Dad & Bear

It’s been a few days since Chance went to live with his new family, and we all miss him already. Even those of us who had little day to day interaction with him feel the void, the news related to his ongoing recovery and the process that made it possible filled us with hope every day. He truly was a miracle dog, and he touched us all deeply. We’ll have updates from time to time, and hopefully pictures, but for now we’ll turn our attention to some of the other animals we’ve taken in. Although they haven’t seen the horrific treatment that Chance survived, they are all desperately in need of help.

We are currently helping several dogs who are special cases, and will be posting news and updates, as well as requests for help as we move forward. Our goal has always been to provide an alternative to animals that may not have any left, and that task has grown substantially since we started. We currently have four special needs dogs in our care, and would love to hear from people interested in helping with their recovery and rehabilitation. Over the next few days we’ll be posting their stories, and also ways you can help if you’re interested. All of them have come to us from tragic circumstances, but with your help and support we can provide them with a second chance and a permanent, loving home.

Check back often for updates, and as always your comments are welcome.

Wishbone

Monday 6:00pm

Well Chance’s new parents took him home Saturday night. Here’s a picture of the new clan, foster mom and dad are in there too. Can you figure out who ?

It was really heartwarming to see Chance bound across the room and practically leap into their arms. He had done a three day sleep over with them last week to test the waters. He obviously loved his new home and new brother Bear also pictured here.

As foster mom said, it’s bittersweet. We’re ecstatic he has found a great new home, but we feel so sad to see him leave. Despite our rather large clan, our home is quiet tonight without Chancey Pants as mom called him.

We all promised to stay in touch for regular updates and visit again soon. In the mean time we’ve encourage his new mom and dad to make use of this blog and post their own updates and pictures to the Chance fan club.

Thanks again to everyone that made this possible for Chance. You are all super stars in my book !

One ‘Chance’ in a Million!

It has been both an honor and a privilege to offer a safe haven for Chance to heal. With all that he has been through in his short little life, the fact that he is still alive, is nothing short of a miracle. Apparently, his mission has not yet been accomplished. He has the spirit of a survivor…..you can see that in his big, beautiful, brown eyes. As his physical wounds continued to heal, we watched as he let himself trust our intentions and receive our love. Chance blossomed like a flower in our home. He is a sweet, gentle soul…..who thrives in the presence of a sqeaky toy or tennis ball. We called him our “gifted” child; as he possess wisdom far beyond his years. He is truly one of a kind….a absolute joy! I will miss him terribly, but am thrilled at what lies ahead for this very deserving creature. For a moment, I just want to thank the trail of lifesavers who came together for a common cause. Each an every one of you gave this little fellow a second Chance!

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the unsung hero/heroine of this story…..the anonymous neighbor who heard Chances cries for help and called 911. Without this courageous gesture, Chance would not be alive today. We thank the officers that came to his rescue and to Allegan County Animal Control for calling our rescue group knowing that without immediate veterinary care, he would not have survived his shelter stay. We thank the local television stations and newspapers for diligently covering the story and spreading the word about this heinous crime; it opened up the floodgates of support, nationwide! Your thoughts, prayers, love, concern, donations, cards, volunteers, and interest are what collectively helped Chance pull through.

To all or you who filled out applications for adoption: bless your hearts! Taking on the responsibility of a “special needs” dog is no easy task; but that didn’t seem to stop any of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for wanting to see to it that the second half of Chances life is the antithesis of the first. After days and days of sifting through the applications, talking on the phone, completing the vet reference checks, and home visits; a forever home has been decided on for the little guy. For those of you who have been carefully following the blogg, rest assured that Chance was integral in choosing his new family. He has a new big-brother named Bear (who is also a black lab). Bear and Chance became instant friends; playing with one anothers’ toys, chasing each other around the house and yard, and resting side by side. In anticipation of their new arrival, Chances parents have filled the house with new toys (which is what he lives for)…..his special food, and even told us that they recently bought new day beds for he and Bear, with bedspreads donning their respective names. How cool is that? If that doesn’t warm your heart and give you peace of mind that Chance will be living well from this point on, nothing will. They are truly wonderful people who are bursting at the seams to take their little guy home.

Chances story reminds us of an ever present problem; with each passing day, there are more and more animals flooding our county shelters, cast into the streets to fend for themselves, or mercilessly abused or neglected. May Chances story and his perpetrators prosecution be a way-showing for us all. Let us have zero tolerance for senseless abuse and neglect. Your outpouring of interest and support, have shown the power of unity for a worthy cause. Please stay connected, stay concerned and do what you can to help those who cannot speak for themselves. Here’s to our four legged friends……may they live long and prosper! Woof!!

Most Sincerely, Chances foster Mom.

Wednesday, 7:00pm

Well folks I had several really great pictures of Chance to post, but managed to corrupt all of them transferring from the camera to my laptop.  ::sigh::  So I have reached back in the Chance archive for this one…Chance and his favorite wubby.

That’s right !  Chance has a new home !  After a follow up vet visit this week, Dr. Heitman has given the go ahead.  By this weekend he will be sleeping under a new roof with a loving family.

Selecting a family for Chance was the hardest thing Foster Mom and I have ever done.  We had many, many, folks interested in fostering or adopting Chance.  We had a vision of what we wanted for him and tried our best to find the family that could offer that vision.

In the end, we had to choose between three final families, each one perfect, loving, and compassionate for their pets… fabulous homes.  How do you choose ?  I joked that if Chance could tell us he wanted a home with a purple shag carpet, you’d better believe we’d be looking for a home with purple shag carpeting.

It truly was heart breaking having to deliver the news to the other families.  Sherry and Tom, your hearts filled the room when we met, we so admired how you put Chance and Barney ahead of your own feelings.  Joyce and Jim, what a wonderfully complete home you have for your dogs Wally and Gerti.  Your dedication to them is inspirational.  Bless you all and thank you.. thank you.

To everyone that called, mailed, donated, or prayed for Chance’s recovery… I can’t even express how thankful we all are.

Let me close with this thought.. Chance was fortunate on so many levels, starting with the neighbor who saved his life that day, the animal control officer and shelter that delivered him into our hands, the news media that told his story, and to all of you that responded and helped us provide the care needed for his recovery.

…. but most lost or abused pets are not that fortunate, some find homes, most do not and lose their life.   Here are three things you can do to make a difference;

1.  When you see a donation jar for your local shelter at the checkout counter, dump in your spare change… they need it.  No shelter can survive without donations. State and county budgets and grants don’t even put a dent in their operating costs.

2.  Consider fostering a dog or cat.  By necessity, animals in shelters are euthanized after a short period, there never is enough space.  By fostering a dog or cat until a permanent home is found, you are saving a life.

3.   Volunteer at your local shelter… the animals need your love and attention. Hold the cats, walk the dogs, help feed them and clean the pens.  There are never enough volunteers.

Good night all. Mom, Chance, and I thank you.

Not every story has a happy ending. Two lost pets can follow drastically different paths depending on the support and commitment from rescue groups, volunteers, and foster homes available for their care.

Read about two recent cases. One has a very happy ending, but one does not.

… The Story of Blade and Biscuit