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Wishbone’s Pet Food Pantry

In partnership with The Van 92.7, Holland MI, this month is “National Go Fetch Month”. Part of Wishbone Pet Rescue’s Goal is to significantly reduce the number of dogs and cats brought to the Allegan Animal Shelter, by helping pet owners feed and keep them in their own homes.  Please help us raise money or collect pet food odnations to support our Allegan County Pet Food Pantry.  Evey little bit helps!

ITEMS TO BE DONATED INCLUDE:  Dog/Puppy Food, Dog bones/Rawhides, Dog Toys, Cat/Kitten Food, Treats, Cat Litter, Leashes and Collars.

EVERYDAY ITEMS:  New/Used Towels, Disposable Gloves, Grooming Aprons, Used Blankets, Bleach and Dish Soap.

Please support pet rescue in memory of

Susan Rippey

(October 19, 1941 – April 20, 2012)

With the possible exception of a stupid arrogant teen-age hostess at the front door of a restaurant, nothing upset or bothered Susan more than people abusing or abandoning pets. Susan and her husband Michael bought the 1860 farm house at 11 Fremont Street, Douglas, in 2009. They spent the summer of 2010 here while wintering in Florida, and then moved to Michigan full-time in May of 2011. Last August, as they were just starting to become more involved in the Douglas community, Susan was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. After a long struggle, she died quietly and peacefully at home on April 20.

As her many friends know, Susan was one-of-a-kind. A “Navy brat,” she was in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked and in Guantanamo Bay during the Bay of Pigs. Since she retired from LIFE Magazine in 1993 her main interests have been creating beautiful homes and gardens in Chicago, Florida and Michigan, and of course, her family, friends and dogs.

Susan and Mike have had three rescue dogs, including Goldie (left) and Scooter, shown above helping Susan recuperate from hand surgery.  The family hopes you will honor Susan’s memory by giving what ever is comfortable for you to Wishbone Pet Rescue.  Your gift will be matched by the Rippey family-up to a total of $5,000 -with a like donation to another great organization, Pet Rescue by Judy,in Central Florida.  Your donation is fully tax-deductible.

Thank you so much!

Next time somebody tells you there’s nothing wrong with doing a little backyard dog breeding on the side to make a quick dollar, tell they’re wrong.  Tell them about Lucky.

Lucky arrived at the Allegan Animal Shelter last week.  His owner could not care for him.  He is the product of a breeding experiment gone awry.  Believe it or not, he is the result of a Rotweiller-Dachshund cross breeding.

And the result ?  Lucky is almost completely blind, he is deaf, and has hydrocephalus.  The swelling on his brain has affected neurolgic function and development.

We had one of Wishbones veterinary consultants examine him to make a determination whether he has any chance at a life.  His diagnosis was Lucky, at 12 weeks old, is too young yet to make a determination.  Since he is still developing, it is possible he may yet gain some senses and the swelling on his brain may be reduced.

We are giving Lucky 3-4 weeks and crossing our fingers.

To give him his best chance Lucky needs regular attention and stimulation.  He’s living in darkness without sound.  Touch and smell, as his only interaction with the world, are extremely important right now.

We are looking for a home to take him in as a foster for a few weeks.

If you have the time and a strong heart to give Lucky a chance, please contact Karen, Wishbone’s Adoption Co-ordinator, immediately at 800-475-0776 and select “Adoptions” or e-mail her at adoptions@wishbonepetrescue.com.

Well after several weeks of starts and stops, the Wishbone Volunteer Blog is live.  Please visit it for up to date postings of news, events, and volunteer activity at the Allegan Shelter, as well as fundraisers, adopt-o-thons, and more. 

You can reach the blog at the link below, but I have also added a permanent link at the bottom right of this blog for future use. See you there !

Wishbone Pet Rescue Volunteer Blog

Allie’s digging her new life, literally ! Now that spring has arrived in Saugatuck, it’s time to hit the beach. Allie’s dad sent us pictures of her first day at the beach.  Enoy !

Sometimes one story’s end is the beginning of another.

Last August, Quincy, a young male German Shepherd from the county animal shelter, came into our lives.  As sometimes is the case, he was a mess.  Fleas, intestinal parasites, kennel cough, and the coup de gras.. heart worm.  Despite his ailments, he was a joyful boy, loving all that came in contact with him.

Our young rescue had little money at the time.  Kennel and veterinary care for young Quincy mounted quickly.  Just bringing him to health to prepare for his heartworm treatments consumed over $500 within a matter of weeks.  His medical costs were met out of the pockets of our members… we were glad to do it and accepted no reimbursement for it.

As we prepared for Quincy’s heartworm treatment, a young couple from Illinois spotted him on Petfinder.  They happened to be vacationing in a near by town and made a quick detour to meet him.  I believe it was truly love at first site.  They returned to Illinois with Quincy on their minds and as we worked through their adoption application, we all quickly came to the conclusion it was a great match.   Quincy’s heartworm treatment, and it’s uncertain outcome, was still pending.  Never the less, the couple made the eight hour round trip back the following week to pickup Quincy and take him to his new home.  I knew it was a perfect fit when I watch Quincy bound down the hallway as they arrived and practically leap into their arms.

In the following weeks they successfully treated Quincy’s heart, and just last month we learned he received a clean bill of health during his follow up vet visit.  .. we were all elated.

But.. this is not where the story ends…

Several months ago we were contacted again by the animal shelter.  They had a 10 year old German Shepherd, Buddy, belonging to a fellow doing time in the county jail.  Though he clearly loved his companion, he could not care for him and had no family to help, so he relinquished Buddy to the shelter.  Rather than put him down, they asked if we might help find him a permanent, stable, home and we agreed.

In a story reminiscent of Quincy, Buddy too was a mess.  His frequent exposure to the outdoors and lack of preventative medications, left him with both intestinal parasites and heartworm.  For a dog of advanced age such as Buddy, heartworm treatment is a serious affair.

We brought Buddy into our rescue and began the long process of bringing him to health and preparing him for his heartworm treatment.   I won’t go into details about heartworm and the required treatment, but you can read about it < here > .  A critical aspect of the treatment is after care.  Activity must be restricted for a period of at least four weeks.  This meant that we could not begin Buddys treatment until we found a stable foster home, perferably with a family open to the possibility of adopting him permanently.

Our little rescue once again faced mounting medical costs and the urgent need for a forever home, or at minimum a loving foster environment for Buddy.

Well my friends… I believe angels watch over these kids.

Within a week of each other two wonderful events came together.   A wonderful family stepped forward and offered to foster Buddy while he recupperated from his heartworm treatment, and then Quincy’s mom and dad,  elated with the their boys clean bill of health, donated a substantial gift to pay for the treatment of our boy Buddy.

And just like that, Buddy’s life turned from a question mark, to a happy ending.  I can report to you that as of this week not only is Buddy four weeks out from his treatment and doing great, his foster family has decided to make him a permanent family member.  ….we are elated.

Most of you probably know the rescue business, and most of you know there is as much heartache as joy in the work we do.   But it is stories like this that make you believe we are all cut from the same cloth.  One hand helps another, and one by one, we make a difference.

… and that my friends is what I call “paying it forward”.

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

Friday, 4:00pm

Wahoo, these cute little kids have a new foster family. Thank you for your quick action! They are still looking for a forever home, so if you are interested in adopting one or both, please contact Wishbone Pet Rescue at adoptions@wishbonepetrescue.com.

URGENT NEED FOR FOSTER HOME

Tuesday, 12/30/2008

Poor Casey and Lucy… they were surrendered to a local shelter after being passed around to a couple of different homes. Casey (6 year old male) is a very sweet boy and and Lucy (8 year old female) is a dear heart. They are current with vaccinations, heart worm and spay/neuter.

They have been added to the list for euthanization at the facility and without a foster home, Wishbone cannot help them.

Could you be the foster family that gives them a second chance?

Please contact Wishbone at fosters@wishbonepetrescue TODAY so that these two sweet dogs can be saved.

Currently in Wishbone foster care and looking for a new forever home.

Thanks to the generous commitment of a foster family, Biscuit an 18 month yellow lab mix was able to be saved from certain euthanization.

Updates on Biscuits life will be posted as we receive them from her foster family.

For more information visit Wishbone Pet Rescue’s Adoption Page