Dogs Deserve Better

I am so happy to say that I had a part in getting two of the heartworm positive dogs from my last post to a permanent rescue in Minnesota. They were living chained at their owner's house where another dog had been poisoned with antifreeze by neighborhood kids and they have now arrived at Homeward Bound Rescue where they will be treated and loved.

Since volunteering as a Dogs Deserve Better rep for Mississippi, my heart has been broken and I have lost a lot of sleep. When it rains, I think of those precious faithful dogs sitting through it wondering what they did wrong. Today it was 100 degrees and stifling and every chained dog lays patiently in what shade, if any, they can find.

I have been overwhelmed with the number of dogs I have seen or been told about in Starkville who spend their lives on chains or in pens. What is the purpose of a dog you keep chained in your yard? You don't play with him or enjoy him in any way. He is a lawn ornament that you feed and ignore.

There is no other animal that we treat the way we do dogs. Animals bred to be our companions, our loyal helpers, we leave to sit alone in their own feces, to be bitten by insects, to be attacked by other animals their chains won't allow them to escape. We leave them starving for attention and sometimes for food; yet they do not, cannot complain. They only sit and wait for us to change our minds, knowing they will instantly forgive us if we do. They do not demand respect from us, so we forget to give it even though they, above all creatures, deserve it most.

You can learn more about the dangerous and inhumane practice of chaining a dog for life and about ways you can help at Dogs Deserve Better.

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made." - M. Acklam

Charlie in Indiana

If you live in Indiana, please pass this on for Charlie. He is looking for a forever home!
Isn't he a handsome boy?! Read below for his story...

This is Charlie, he is a 4 year old mix. Of course, we have no idea with what. He has spent his life chained to a tree with the ground having dumped cement on it. He came to me in June of '07, very thin and no toe nails.

His owner took him to the vet because he was poisoned. The vet got him better but then heartworm tested. He was positive, of course. His owner wanted him euthanized. Said he didn't want that disease around his other dogs. Even after all the explanation of what heartworm's are, he was still to be euthanized.

That's when I stepped in and took him. We had him treated for his heartworm's, vaccinated, neutered all that good stuff. He stayed with us for 7-8 months until he went to another rep. There he tormented that cats and got into one fight with their small Chihuahua. He then, after 3 months living there, came back to us and was immediately adopted out.

His new home had no cats, which he hates, and 2 boys (8 & 9) to play with. He was taken to ball games and ran around in the backyard to play with the boys and their friends. He does show possessiveness of a toy or bone when he has it. You just have to leave him alone. He does jump really high and there is a small portion of fencing that was only 4 feet and he cleared it with no problem. He loved every visitor that came to visit. He's an absolute sweet boy who knows simple commands.

Then last week he was on the trampoline playing with a few other kids (why he was on the trampoline we'll never know) and the boy that lived there started to fall off the trampoline and grabbed Charlie by his back legs and took him with him. During the fall, Charlie, who was startled, turn around and bit the boy below the chin. Instantly, after they hit the ground, Charlie licked the boy with tons of kisses knowing he didn't mean to bite him. The boy was taken to the hospital with a small gash from the bite. I've seen pictures and it's ugly, but not severe.

The boy supposably got grounded for having Charlie on the trampoline, but now Charlie has to find another home. His owner doesn't think it's fair for Charlie to be in a home with boys that don't understand the reponsiblity of taking care of the dog. Of course, I feel the same way about the owner. His owner, however, did praise his behavior and everything about him. He was sad to let go of him, but didn't think his kids were ready for a dog.

He spent 3 months at this home and now needs a new one. Preferably without cats and small children that don't know how to behave around a dog.

PLEASE HELP ME FIND CHARLIE A HOME OR A FOSTER HOME!!!!

Jamie Shively PH: 765.506.0607 Dogs Deserve Better, IN Rep

Good News!

The German Shepherd I posted about last Friday has been taken in by Animal Action Rescue in Decatur, GA and named Logan. They sent out a new picture and he already looks so much better. He is being treated for heartworms and will be neutered there, but he still needs to find a loving home. AAR set up a webpage for him (http://animalactionrescue.chipin.com/logans-medical-care) where you can view more pictures, read his story, and donate to his medical care.

Come on! Do something good for Logan! He is a sweet guy who needs a quiet foster home to recover in. If you or someone you know would like to take in Logan you can contact Animal Action Rescue at GTigger719@aol.com.