Maizie

Maizie
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Update January 15, 2007
You should see Maizie in the snow and ice!! She bangs her front paws in the snow and tries to catch the pieces that fly up. What a goof ball. ~ Laura
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Update: 12/20/06
Miss Maizie is settling in just wonderfully. She's already figured out she needs to go to the door and sit to be let out, she also has learned to sit on the deck so I can take her leash off and let her in. She doesn't have any interest in toys though. I'm not so sure she knows what to do with them just yet. ~ Laura

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. ~Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907v

Please help with your signature!

SIGN THE PETITION It only takes a minute!

Support Michael Herring, Richmond VA, Commonwealth Attorneys Office to Prosecute Dog Fighter

Remember dog fighters kill MANY innocent dogs to train ONE fighter!!! This is a window of opportunity to show support in requesting maximum sentencing allowed for this sort of human element. We do not have enough signatures! Please, please sign and pass this to the moon and back, I will have to fax this to Mr. Herring's Office first thing Monday and first thing Tuesday a.m. so that at least he can relay to the presiding judge that many people are watching and looking for stiffer sentences concerning this sort of offensive and disgusting activity. If you are in the Richmond area I would highly recommend that you attend if you are able to. Banning dogs is not going to solve any problem, getting the perpetrators that fight will slow down and hopefully eliminate this at some point.

I would like each and every one of you to remember the listings that are posted on dogs that have been used for bait, with missing ears, punctures all over their bodies and for those that have been so ruined by these people that they have to be killed because they are no longer adoptable. *I don't know if you remember Rufus on PBRC who had his entire face removed due to fighting*, it is because of people like this man that Rufus paid with his life and countless other dogs that are killed because they won't fight or are so damaged they must be euthanized once found by Animal Control. Dogs that are starved, made to run on treadmills for hours on end, isolated, chained, pumped full of steroids....having their teeth filed (bait dogs) so they can't fight back and are thrown in between two others to teach them how to fight, all the puppies and kittens that are used for bait, dying in the most horrendous way.
~ Sylva Penkov-Southwell

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/253475894

Animal Control in Blount County

For those of you who have not heard, we no longer have animal control in Blount County. In May of last year, Maryville increased the fee that they were charging the county to provide those services by almost 100% and the county was not able to pay that cost. At that time, and at the commission's request, several animal related groups in the area began working on a proposal for the county to open and maintain its own animal center. However, when the new commissioners and County Mayor took office in the fall, they basically blew off the issue. To several, the solution was that county citizens should simply shoot any unwanted animals. When the contract with the city officially terminated on December 31, the Maryville Animal Shelter began refusing animals brought in to the shelter by county citizens and will not answer calls from the county.

If you have visited the Maryville Animal Shelter, you know that it is not acceptable. The animals are held with little heat, no air conditioning, little or no food or water, no vet care (regardless of the severity of their injuries - gun shots, broken backs, severed limbs), unsanitary conditions where the facilities are not properly cleaned to prevent diseases and no public outreach or attempt to adopt the animals. Animals that are picked up or turned in as strays are held for 72 hours. Those that are surrendered by their owners in hopes of finding a new home are subject to being euthanized immediately.

I learned in a meeting tonight with some of the commissioners that some time around 2000, the county had a general fund of approximately $8M. Now, that balance is down to $800,000. The commission reports that it simply does not have the funds to pay the city for the services. I believe they would be wasting their money if they did. If you have been watching the news lately, you have probably seen stories of concerned citizens that have been calling the commission office about the issue. Tonight, Channel 8 ran a story from a woman that was cornered by a vicious dog in her driveway. She got her mother in the car and ran inside with her baby and 4 year old.

I have recently formed a non-profit corporation for some influential citizens in the county that intend to raise money to build a facility. The proposal is that the county team up with this charity in a way similar to the Young-Williams Animal Center in Knox County, jointly providing funds for the building and operation of a county shelter. Three commissioners were at the meeting tonight, and voiced their concern that certain other commissioners would oppose spending any funds to provide for animal control.

I am writing to ask to you call your commissioner directly and talk to them about your feelings on this issue. The county's failure to provide animal control is not only inhumane, but it is a health and safety issue. Last year, approximately 6.5 animals came into the Maryville Animal Shelter from the county per day. Do the math. And, consider that this number will actually increase because those animals that remain running at large will reproduce. The lack of animal control will result in traffic issues, bite risk and disease. As the number of stray dogs increase, those dogs start to travel in packs. Not to mention that this situation gives a poor representation of our community and depicts us as a bunch of uneducated yokels. You can obtain the phone number for your commissioner at http://www.blounttn.org/commiss.asp#Commission.

If you live in the City of Maryville or the City of Alcoa, call your council representative and let them know that you are not satisfied with the current animal control conditions. From personal experience, the animal control officers in the City of Alcoa and their supervisors are very unhappy with the current operations. I personally hope that they sign on with a new Blount County shelter. Don't take my word for it. Visit the shelter on Home Avenue. ~ Kandi R. Yeager

Action Alert - please sign petition!

This is about the little 10lb dog dragged behind the woman's car in campbell county. Even if you aren't in the East TN area, please still sign as we need support. I'm going to try to get information about the judge's phone number so we can call and let them know how we feel. The next court appearance is Febraury 20, 2007 (see recent article here).

***

Hi Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: "URGENT! Please help Bobo, the dog dragged behind his owner's SUV."

Please take a moment to read about this animal cruelty issue, and join me in signing the petition. Without your support, it is possible that the presiding Campbell County judge will send this dog back to the owner who dragged him behind her SUV. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/703063826

Thanks!
Margaret Lindop

Cross-post for rescue help

City of East Ridge Animal Services
1015 Yale St.
East Ridge, TN 37412

Phone: 423-664-0271
Email: czagona01@comcast.net
Petfinder Address: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN360.html
NEW OPERATING HOURS
Mon - Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2, Closed on Sundays

I was hoping that I could get some help in finding rescue for all our furry friends at the East Ridge Shelter in East Ridge, TN. I have a lady from CT named Kirby that has offered to pay the board on all four black labs. All the labs are going to Catoosa Vet Hospital tomorrow, they will all be spayed on the 8th of Jan due to Dr. Rogers schedule. Also Marjorie is taking Bonny the Basset, which I am taking to her tomorrow evening. Now that just leaves 25 furry friends that are in need of rescue help, some are under 30 lbs and several are large guys but all are highly adopt-able and deserve a chance at having their own forever home.

I have two employees at the shelter, Jen works the office and is suppose to be doing the rescues and Jonathan is the ACO. So it is hard for me to do any rescue work from the shelter during the day, so I do rescue at night when I get home.

We haven't had must luck with local rescues, so I have been using rescues from middle Tennessee. Mary Ruth Rogers has been a very big help with cross-posting and helping in any way she can. I have a gentleman that can do transport for me but he has MS and can only drive a short distance and can only handle small dogs.

I will work with any reputable rescue, we have no pull fee, but do require proof of alteration and rabies is provided. I can have the animals vetted here and provide a health certificate but we do not get a discount on the vetting, just the spay/neuter & rabies.

I keep petfinder updated everyday, and I make sure that Jen does also.

We haven't euthanized an healthy adopt-able animal for space since April or May, and we have only euthanized 6 adopt-able animals in a year . That is the reason we are covered up, people that live outside of East Ridge are trying to surrender their animals to us instead of the local Humane Society which is contracted for their area. Now people are having friends that live in East Ridge turn in the animals for them, or they are just turning them out in our city limits. Our city is about 10-12 sq miles, so you would think that since reopening in Dec of 05 that we would have caught all the stray animals in such a small city.

Any help in pulling would really help us, we just need space, I have 4 dogs outside that I need to get inside because of the cold weather. The dogs in the inside can go in or out, and at night I can close the door to lock them inside when its cold, but I can't do that right now because of several kennels having more than one dog in it.

My officer has been instructed not to impound any animal if he can return the animal to the owners home, but the animal must be able to be confined to the property or it has to be impounded.

We try very hard not to take in animals, when someone wants to surrender their animal we will provide rescue contacts and other options, but we still end up with the animal because the owner doesn't have the time to call the contacts and they think its our responsibility to find their animal a good home.

We do accept donations towards an animals adoption fee, we call these donations our Guardian Angel program. A Guardian Angel animal adoption is non-refund-able, all funds are used towards the spay/neuter and rabies and can not be re funded back to the shelter after services have been rendered by the vet. All donations for the Guardian Angel fund can be sent via PayPal to zagona@bellsouth.net. A donation receipt will be sent for any monetary donation received. These monies are paid to the vet by ERAS.

We have our volunteer releases available at the shelter, and would love to find at least 3 to 5 teams that could take animals out to Petsmart on the weekends, I would like to have 3 to 5 teams so they could rotate every other weekend. I would like several volunteers to transport adopted animals to the vet for alteration. We would be happy to have someone come to the shelter and take pictures for petfinder, we do this ourselves but on busy days the animal may not post until the next day.

Foster homes are very important for the shelter, we have several animals in foster care, to become a foster family you must have a fenced yard, and vet references. As a foster family you will continue to help place the fostered animal into an adoptive home. Any possible adoption must be handled at the shelter with the adopter and ERAS staff. Foster families are responsible for vet care, and general care while in foster care. ERAS will make sure that the fostered animal is current on all vaccines.

The shelter could also use blankets, but not electric please, hard rubber toys like KONGS that are easily Dis-infected. Monetary donations for placing weekly newspaper adds & flyers.

I would also like you to know that no animals are scheduled to be euthanized, please pass this on. I am the only one that can make that call. All animals that have "URGENT" beside their name are the animals that have been at the shelter the longest and they are the ones that need rescue help, but all need rescue help.

I just wanted to clear this up, if anyone needs to know anything just email me or call the shelter and leave a message and I will return the call.

Any questions can be forwarded to czagona01@comcast.net

Carl Zagona
East Ridge Animal Control Supervisor
1015 Yale St.
East Ridge, TN 37412
423-664-0271 shelter
www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN360.html
ACAT Board Member

Happy New Year ~

Chinatown NYC 2006 Year of the Dog
Originally uploaded by sayheypatrick.

to you and all fur babies!

Another Maggie

*This is a different Maggie than the one in recent posts below. This Maggie is a cattle dog mix.*
***
Update Received: Sun, 31 Dec 2006

Hey, Renee. Just wanted to say "Thanks" once again for helping me adopt Maggie. She is a sweet, funny, smart dog. She learns very fast and adapts well. (She's like Tylo in the regard that I can't understand why no one would want her). You should have seen her with her Christmas present. She opened it herself. I was surprised to see that she knew exactly what to do with it. (I'll email some pictures as soon as my aunt sends them to me.)

Except for having to have minor anal gland surgery, she's been doing great (she's fully recovered from the surgery and not having any more problems). She and Zack get along great and pretty much do everything together. In fact, he wouldn't let her out of his sight after her surgery. (I don't know how dogs know when something is wrong, but they do).

Also, she's got a superb natural protective instinct. While eating at my sister's one night, Maggie laid down in front of my month-old nephew's crib and watched every one that came into the room. When he would cry out, she would come get me and "mumble" until one of us got up and checked on him. She's very gentle with him, too. She moves slowly around him, and doesn't jump up when I'm holding him. Again, like Tylo, she's just an all-around great dog. Thanks, Charle

Belated Holiday Greeting

IMG_6255
Originally uploaded by Nova Scotia SPCA.

Hope your holidays were enjoyable for all of your family!

Maggie Update

Maggie Update
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Update received: Sat, 30 Dec 2006
***
Hey Renee!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Thought you would like to see a few pictures of Maggie! She is still doing great and enjoying life with mom. :-) We think she may be half kangaroo - because she jumps so high when she is excited! :-)

Another Charlie Update

Charlie Update
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Charlie was adopted on 11/14/2006.
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Renee’
Just wanted to say hello and hope you had a great Christmas. I know we did with the addition to Charlie in our lives. We have had so much enjoyment with him here and he has adjusted so well to us. He had a great Christmas, bones, treaties, new blanket and a visit to Grandma’s house in VA (who fell in love with him instantly). My Mom has about a ½ acre fenced in back yard and he got to explore till he dropped. He had goodies under the tree left from Santa and Grandma. He loves to “GO” and rides on one of ours laps on his pillow covered with his blankie so he can see out. He doesn’t miss anything that moves. He is so funny! He continues to have walks daily averaging 45 mins to 1 hour and loves the outdoors. Larry has been working with him and he has stopped barking at people when they walk by the car. He will sit, stay, shake paws and lay down. He is a great little dog. We couldn’t love him any more than we do but we try. We want to thank you again for our little angel. He has brought so much happiness to our lives. We hope the New Year will bring you much happiness and success with your organization. Thanks again. - Barbara

Bobby

Bobby
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

This is an update from October 24, 2006:
Bobby belonged to a young man living in Madisonville. He was living with his girlfriend in a trailer. The landlord found out about their having a dog and told them to get rid on him. he approached me and asked if i could help. i took in this little guy and contacted border collie rescue of east tn. He's a border collie mix. They were gracious enough to take him in. They named him Bobby. Bobby has adopted to a wonderful home in the Nashville area where he is adored by his family. They have three daughters that dote over him and love him to death. What a blessed little guy!

Julie a.k.a Twiggy

Update 12/22/06: Hi Renee...Just an update on Julie, who we have renamed Twiggy, after the seventies supermodel who was skinny, blonde, and wore mascara.
She is very sweet, and everybody loves her, though Lulu, the old Ridgeback, grumbles a bit. (She did that when the others came, too, and that won't last long.) She has fit right in, and loves to go for long walks on the farm. She is never tempted to run off, though I wonder if she has some hound in her, as she always has her nose to the ground. We start obedience school on Jan 9.
I have to take Lulu to the vet today about her ear, which is still not right, and will take Twiggy, too, to have the spay incision checked. There is still one staple in it, and though it looks clean and not swollen, it has still not completely closed. She continues on the antibiotics.
There was another lady in Windham picking up a dog from you, and she gave me a little bag of treats. It is quite a scene when the transport comes in. Lots of happy people and happy dogs. All the best for Christmas and the New Year, and thanks for everything. - Ann

Charlie

Charlie
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Update received November 27, 2006:
Charlie had a large Thanksgiving. He got to meet lots of the family and everyone loves him (of course) He also help Larry doing some grilling outside since it was so nice. He is really settling in. We couldn't love him anymore than we do. He is the best. Thanks again Renee, for bringing this Angel into our lives. We are truly blessed with his presence in our life. Here are more pictures of him. Doesn't he look happy? Thanks again!!! - Barbara

Gracie

Gracie
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Updated photo received December 26, 2006

Gracie (previously called Lane) was adopted out around March of 2005.

Maizie

Maizie
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Update: 12/20/06

Miss Maizie is settling in just wonderfully. She's already figured out she needs to go to the door and sit to be let out, she also has learned to sit on the deck so I can take her leash off and let her in. She doesn't have any interest in toys though. I'm not so sure she knows what to do with them just yet. - Laura
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Update: Tue, 26 Dec 2006

Renee,

You would be so proud of Miss Maizie, she was the star of the holiday gathering yesterday. She was calm, polite, friendly, just a joy to be around. I have some new pictures I'll get loaded this week and send to you.

We went to the vets Friday and there she also made a huge hit. Although she did crawl over the reception desk to get to me, onto the chair, desk and over the counter into my arms. She was very graceful doing this. Sandy took her around and introduced her to everyone, just like a big sister is supposed to do. The vet sat on the floor with us and Maizie pranced up to her and sat in her lap while she was examined. What a love bug.

She has only chased the cat twice, the second time she got the water bottle sprayed at her butt and that was enough. She now scurries by the cat with her tail between her legs :)

Her and Sandy have buddied up, although they still haven't figured out the play thing just yet, and they hang together in the house.

I think I'll get her into obedience 1 in January and see how well she does. She might beat her brother to CGC. Hope you are feeling better and the holidays were good to you. Talk to you soon
Laura

Jake Update

I received an update on Jake!

***

Hi Renee and Robyn,

Jake and I are doing great. He loves going for our walks (5 km, or about 3 of your miles) we do this about 4 to 5 times a week other wise we just do a 1 mile walk the other times. He has been doing better in the bathroom department and hasn't had any accidents for the past 4 days.

He does not like his crate at all. I think he must have been put in one when he was bad with his former owners. I tried for quite a while and I was finally able to get him in it, but he whimpered the whole time. He finally stopped whimpering after many tries with the door open, then we tried it with the door closed and the whimpering started again when with me there. Finally many, many tries later, he stopped the whimpering. Then after another 2 dozen tries, I tried leaving the room, again the whimpering started. The last time I left the house to get the mail and when I came back he was out of the crate and waiting for me upstairs. He had taken only the back top clip and somehow bent it completely backwards and squeezed his way out of that tiny hole. He also ripped his bedding to shreds that was in the crate. He was still wagging his tail though after I saw it. I decided that I wouldn't mention it to him, but I have kept the crate with the door open, just in case he decides it might be a safe haven for him at a future date, instead of a punishment room.

But a good thing is that any time that I have had to leave him in the house on his own, he has done nothing to the rest of the house. I just make sure I close all the doors. He knows when I come home, because he hears the garage door open or the chimes when I unlock the door and Jake is always there to greet me with his tail wagging.

I have gotten him a red halter harness and a red running leash that I can put around my waist. This way when he pulls me I have my whole weight behind me to counteract against his strength and not pull my arm out of the socket. He knows that when I get this leash out that we are going on one of our long walks and he gets so excited that he literally bounces/jumps off the floor a good 2-3 feet. I will sign us up for obedience classes in the New Year so I can learn how to deal with this so we can run together safely. I haven't been able to run much lately, unless I'm on my own, but then I feel guilty that he is not with me because of this; but the 5 km walk is still good. But we will get there together in the running; I am sure of this.

I had my 6 year old niece over last week-end. They got along great; she thinks Jake is like her own little pony and rode him like one with me holding her up. He was good about it and with her, Jake never pushed her or jumped on her, I was very proud of him. Her mom, my sister was scared to death when she saw the size of Jake, and very relieved when she came to pick her up and how she wanted a dog just like Jake. My sister is a cat person, so was somewhat relieved I hadn't made her daughter afraid of coming to my place anymore, as I always try to take her children at least every 6 weeks for a week-end so that her and her hubby can have some alone time.

I have had to do very little re-arranging of my house at all with Jake here. I have lots of glass vases and flowers that sit on my floor, but he has not gone near any of them. Time will tell I guess. Even his tail has not knocked anything down, yet. Jake is almost joined to my hip, wherever I go in the house, he follows me, upstairs or downstairs. If I get up, 90% of the time he gets up and follows me. I rearranged my office and he will now come in and stay with me for awhile, before retiring to my downstairs leather love seat. I have given up on trying to make him sleep on the floor by my bed because he would always wait about 2 hours and then just jump up and stay there the rest of the night. Did you know he snores like a trooper; I'm not sure who snores louder me or him.

We have had only one snow fall here about 10 cm, and he wasn't quite sure what to do when we went out for a walk, but like a trooper after a few delicate steps just walked in it. That snow fall is gone now. We will see how he does when it gets really cold and lots of snow is down. But I'm sure he will be fine. I have introduced to my surrounding neighbours and they are quite pleased with Jake and his demeanor.

Renee I can't say thank-you enough for letting me be the one to adopt Jake. Jake has brought such a balance to my life since I got him. Being single, I was becoming a total work-alcoholic and now I have a reason to come home instead of working till all hours of the night at client offices, since my separation.

May you both have a great Christmas, if I don't get a chance to email to you before then. My son, Derek, is coming home form Calgary for Christmas and he can't wait to meet Jake also. So Jake and I are going to the airport to pickup this evening.

Cheers!

Sandra

Jake's Transport North

Jake's Transport North, originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

These are pictures of Jake overnighting in Northern, Mass. while he's transporting to his new home in Nova Scotia.

Here are the pictures I took while Jake was here for his overnight. He is such a gentle giant and quite the lovebug. He is going to make a wonderful companion. He followed me around everywhere I went and greeted me at the door when I came in from my porch. I can say he is an easy one to fall in love with and so intelligent. He was an absolute pleasure to have here.

Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde, along with 2 other dogs, were pulled out of the Loudon shelter during Oct. The first two went on to a rescue called Liliac Grove Farms in New Hamp and were adopted out through them within a week. These two were too sick to be adopted out. They had coccidia. I spent a lot of money getting them nursed back to health. I called border collie rescue and they agreed to take them. Bonnie (the one that is more border collie adopted out November 17, 2006). Clyde the aussie shep/border collie is in the process of adopting out now!

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Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him? ~Pierre Troubetzkoy

Our Petfinder webpage

Hey all! Yea!! Friendsfurlife finally has it's own petfinder
site!! I'm still loading dogs / cats from our website and from the
arfnet site so it's not even been up a week. We've had over 300 hits
in less than a week! The website address is:
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN413.html