If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. ~St. Francis of Assisi

Twiggy (formerly Julie)

Twiggy and Duffel at new home in Northern Massachusetts.


Updated photos of Twiggy (formerly Julie).



< Twiggy with new family.










Twiggy, Duffel (adopted from the Gulf Coast last year) and Delilah (adopted from memphis last October, also came up to Windham with Kyle) >

Maggie

Maggie
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Update Received: Fri, 16 Feb 2007

Hey Renee!

These are not the best pics of maggie - but thought I would send them anyway! She is still doing great and is the best dog ever. She sits at the front door every single day 5 minutes before my neice and nephew's bus drop them off. Yes, she still sucks on her blankets and yes, she runs mom's house! :-)
~ Angie

Daisy

Daisy
Originally uploaded by friendsfurlifeinc.

Melanie adopted a little dog in these pics-she named Daisy-the end of January 2007. I helped her find this little dog out of a lady’s home in Greenville TN. Her name is Daisy. Her story-she was orginally obtained for a little boy cause he wanted a dog. She was chained up outside for the first 6 months of her life. Then he wanted a lizard, fish, cat, etc. The family said something has to go and because he never developed a relationship w/ this little dog, the little dog was destined for the pound. A neighbor across the street said she’d take her to rescue her but didn’t have a place to put her. This little gal stayed outside in a fenced in yard through all this cold weather we have been having. Melaine had been looking and praying for a little dog like this after her senior dog died. Everything was running amuck in finding one. I found out about this one through another rescue person in the Greenville area and Melaine went and got her. She is doing wonderful-gets along very well with her other little 3 legged yorkie and the cat. She’s sleeping in the bed with them, plays all day with her new little buddy, and is doing wonderfully with no housebreaking accidents. Melanie says you can tell she’s very grateful. She’s about a year and ½.

A picture is worth a . . .

Freeeeeedommm!

You're home early!!

Another Maizie update

Maizie Update: Friday, February 9, 2007:

...and with that smile she always has, I just can't be mad at her.

We went out for a walk this morning and she ran and ran and ran in the snow. Then her paws got filled up with snow and that was the end of that game. Mom had to take off her gloves and de-ice the puppies paws. The little ones I'll actually tuck into my jacket and carry them to the house, no way with Maizie "heavy butt"! ~ Laura

Maizie Update: Thursday, February 8, 2007:

...boy-she has come out of her shell-shows how happy she is. even though miscevious (Sp)!! i just can't see what is exciting about chewing up plastic (the remote). i had one chew up my blowdryer!

Your God Child has tried to eat a remote control, learned how to jump over baby gates and can sneak through the smallest space between the deck rails. She's not doing very will in obedience, I think she has ADD, but she does okay at home without the distractions.

I'm trying to teach her to sit when people approach her, she really likes to jump up, but when people see her smiling face their hearing turns off and they hug her when she tries to jump! Got to love her!! ~ Laura

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Cat's Pajamas

the cat
Originally uploaded by timloco.

When God made the world, He chose to put animals in it, and decided to give each whatever it wanted. All the animals formed a long line before His throne, and the cat quietly went to the end of the line. To the elephant and the bear He gave strength, to the rabbit and the deer, swiftness; to the owl, the ability to see at night, to the birds and the butterflies, great beauty; to the fox, cunning; to the monkey, intelligence; to the dog, loyalty; to the lion, courage; to the otter, playfulness. And all these were things the animals begged of God. At last he came to the end of the line, and there sat the little cat, waiting patiently. "What will YOU have?" God asked the cat.
The cat shrugged modestly. "Oh, whatever scraps you have left over. I don't mind."
"But I'm God. I have everything left over."
"Then I'll have a little of everything, please."
And God gave a great shout of laughter at the cleverness of this small animal, and gave the cat everything she asked for, adding grace and elegance and, only for her, a gentle purr that would always attract humans and assure her a warm and comfortable home.
But he took away her false modesty. ~Lenore Fleischer Cat's Pajamas

Adam

Update February 8, 2007: Adam is doing GREAT. . . . He is beginning to get his manly figure back and seems to be more alert and protective of his home turf. He is beginning to Strut His Stuff a lot more. He is ideal for our family. Now he ownes us all. :-) ~ Buren

ADAM went to his wonderful new home in Sevierville, TN on January 20, 2007! He's very happy with this large extended family and loves it! They have 14 grandkids between them and they are over at their grandparents home all the time! Adam is eating up the attention! He gets daily walks (and is slowly losing his weight) and he's getting lots of rides in the truck! Adam loves to ride-he loves to watch the birds and all the sights. He has a bed beside their bed and has settled in well. They say he's adjusting very well-great with the activity, great with all the attention and hasn't had any accidents in the house! Can't wait to see the new and improved (lighter) Adam in the days to come.

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
***
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.
***
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