Lately I’ve seen so many emails pleading for help with overflowing shelters – it is just so sad. Especially for the babies who haven’t even had a chance to know anything outside a cage. But then what about those senior citizens who get booted out without a look back and are so confused and frightened at the shelter? We only have so many foster homes and openings to take them in – the same boat as every other rescue operation. We could save more if we had more foster homes – perhaps you would consider this if you are reading this. Foster homes are so important for the puppy or kitten/dog or cat because the experience makes them more adoptable. They are happier and healthier and are more inclined to be housebroken and a bit more “settled” because they haven’t been cooped up in a cage. People tell us all the time that they don’t know how we can foster so many and not want to keep them all – well, if you can see all the emails and the happy faces of those who just adopted one of your “special fosters”, it is just so worth it. Plus the puppy kisses! The short term nature of fostering also can suit your lifestyle especially if they are little ones that only require your love and regular meals and perhaps a lesson in housebreaking. Also if you have two legged little ones, it can be a great educational experience as well as a social one. Children need to be taught early to contribute to the community in a positive way so they can be great adults. (We have three teens that help us out regularly at Pet Smart who all want to be vets but volunteering is a blog entry for another day.) Please consider fostering for us or another rescue group – we promise that you will be hooked just like we are and you can really make a difference for one little dog or cat.

So I’m halfway through the Beginner training class for my little Hershey Bar and what can he do? Sit, Down and sometimes Leave It. We need to practice more! Something totally unexpected is the way he “speaks up” in class just to get a little more attention! It is a peculiar whining vocalization that I never hear him do anywhere else. What a showoff! He also seems to like the down position and rolls over on his own, so that may be an easy trick for him to learn after class. I really advocate clicker training and although you might not always have a treat and/or clicker around, these are tools that you eventually do away with. But to see a dog all of the sudden “get it” is amazing. Then the sky's the limit! My sister and I once attended a weekend seminar about clicker training given by an English woman, and one of the exercises was to see how long it took for humans to “get it” – to respond correctly to the clicker. The final goal was to flip a light switch, but there were successive steps to get there. Click and treat for each right step (our treats were M&Ms). Every time, the dogs got the idea quicker than the humans! I’ll post a picture of Hershey’s graduation photo soon – he is just so darn cute! And his fur is like velvet.

ABC Nightline Investigates Puppy Mills

Well friends, once again, the cat is out of the bag - or should we say the dog out of the hutch! This Friday night, March 27, ABC's Nightline will be investigating puppy mills! ABC Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and investigators from Nightline travel the byways and back roads of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - visiting numerous puppy mills and filming Main Line Animal Rescue's volunteers as they rescue breeding dogs and puppies from Lancaster County's notorious Amish commercial breeding facilities. This promises to be a very special program. If you are involved in rescue, advocate on behalf of the millions of puppy mill dogs interned in our nation's commercial dog breeding facilities, or if you just simply love animals, you will not want to miss this. Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed, on camera, an Amish breeder while touring his facility - a first for network television. With approximately 500 dogs housed on his property, this commercial breeder speaks openly about an industry cloaked in secrecy and suspicion - the cruel factory farming of man's best friend. PLEASE tell your friends, your family, your coworkers - ABC Nightline investigates puppy mills - this Friday at 11:35 pm (Eastern Standard Time). Please take the time to forward this to all the rescues, shelters, and legislators in your area. It has been almost one year since Oprah's puppy mill show aired. That program received the highest viewer response of any Oprah Show in years. Now we need to spread the word about this very special Nightline. Only by educating as many people as we can, will we be able to help these animals. And after you watch the program, please don't hesitate to contact ABC and Nightline to thank them for casting such a strong light on the plight of our nation's puppy mill dogs.

We had another good adoption weekend, but as soon as one goes out another comes in. It is so hard to take a break from the torrent of needy animals – how can we say no? Especially to little Caramel who supposedly was 6 weeks old on the phone, looked more like 3 months old when we got her, but she's actually closer to 6 months when we checked in on Monday with Dr. Ruth of Whiteway Animal Hospital. Caramel is evidently so malnourished that her growth stunted, plus she has old and new injuries – a back leg she can barely put weight on (old), a bit up broken tail (new), and a couple of scabbed-over bite marks. Yes, she is a pit bull but she is a love -- now so happy she wags her stump, and has shown no ill feelings to anybody. My pack has already accepted her and is taking care not to hurt her. She is also starting to play a little but decided her tail is something to chew on... so back to the vet today for a clean amputation.

Meanwhile I just read about another good rescue – do any of you know Abigail Breslin of “Little Miss Sunshine”? Apparently she was in Roswell filming a movie and it just so happened the filming took place near the Southern Hope rescue facility who happened to put cute little puppies outside to get some sun. The cast and crew came over to make friends… and Abigail went home with one of the puppies! Check out the story and pictures in AJC: http://projects.ajcpets.com/gallery/view/pets/adoption/abigail-breslin-dog/?cxntlid=aa-movies-rtr

Little Caramel:

Calypso & LIbby Say Hello!

Hi Royal Potcake Rescue!
Calypso (Captain) and Libby (Bianca) got to visit with each other during my spring break a few weeks ago. They love each other, and play nonstop... when they get tired, they kick us off the couch to watch TV. They like being together so much that Calypso snuck inside Libby's not-so-spacious crate while she was in it! They definitelyknow they are potcake cousins, and they are depressed for days when they have to leave each other. We love our potcakes, and Calypso and I can't wait to come visit y'all at Petsmart whenever you get new potcake puppies. Thanks for such great pups!
Marcy

Not too long ago, I discovered that some of my dogs' favorite soft chews has sugar added! Why is that? Dogs don't have a sweet tooth, they just love to eat. So now they only get an occasional soft chewy treat and the rest of the time they get frozen carrots and marrow bones. Now I know why dogs need dental cleaning - for cavities! Then what did I see the other day while treat shopping & reading labels - 50 calorie snack pouches for dogs with lean beef and 90% Fat Free! Had to get that, of course, and they can't tell the difference!

Check out this website for some cute, cute pictures!
http://www.dailypuppy.com/

Fox5 Story on Low-Cost Veterinary Care at WellPet Humane
Tune in tonight to Fox5 and see a report on low-cost veterinary care provided at WellPet Humane. Reporters interviewed Dr Amy Orlin, and answered questions about the critical need for affordable veterinary care in our community. They also talked to clients. Wellpet's nonprofit veterinary services are there to help pet owners who are experiencing financial hardships. WellPet was launched in August of 2008 to end "economic euthanasia." WellPet's affordable, low-cost service is needed now more than ever. WellPet serves low income pet owners, rescues, feral cat caretakers and referrals from veterinarians as well as students, retired and those living on social security. Everyone can take advantage of special pricing on vaccinations, spay/neuter. Often we get pet owners who were given estimates for surgery or treatments from clinics or hospitals that they just could not afford. It's a tough situation. We are proud to be able to respond to those needs. Most of all we the staff takes great pride in sending an animal home, fully recovered from it's life-threatening situation. If you know of anyone who lost their job or has a current financial hardship please tell them about the WellPet program. Any support you may offer would be welcomed! Go to www.wellpethumane.com for more information.
Regards,
Bob Christiansen
President

Hello! I just wanted to let you know how well Firefighter Teddy is doing.. We renamed him Leo (short for Leopold) and he already responds to his name. He is doing great with housetraining and crate training (he is only crated overnight, from 10:30-6 or 7 when he wakes up). The first few days with a puppy and 3-year were a bit chaotic, but everyone has settled in very well over the past week. Oso [black lab] and Leo get along very well... they are starting to play together. The cat has introduced herself to Leo very, very slowly over the past few days (she finally got tired of hiding upstairs by herself and has ventured downstairs on her own a few times). Leo is a lot of fun, and a smart little guy. We are enjoying him very much! We'll try to bring him by Petsmart for a visit soon.

A good day at Petsmart today! The weather was spectacular, and lots of people were looking at all our cuties. Noah had a fun cart ride on the way to his new home....

I thought I'd share what I learned about at my neighborhood meeting last night. Rob, a librarian from the DeKalb County Public Library, told us about all kinds of things about our library system including the huge new building they are building in Tucker. Wow - it not only has meeting space for non-profits like us (150 seats), but they offer computer classes, book clubs and authors' talks, three times as many computers, new DVDs and free magazine subscriptions. Even self check out is coming! A new feature of their webpage is a list of subject guides, and I suggested Pets would make a great category. Check out the new and improved website at www.dekalblibrary.org. They even have their own blog (perhaps I'll see what they have to share for next time)!