When Chance and Blue were about 2 years old, they were found crossing a busy street in Los Angeles together. Chance (the all white pittie) is both completely blind and deaf; and it appears that Blue was acting as a seeing-eye dog, guiding Chance safely through traffic and to the other side of the street!

Bridgette Boone is the Director of Fresno Bullies Rescue, a volunteer-based, non-profit, no-kill sanctuary dedicated to rescuing bully breed dogs (i.e. American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bull Dogs, Bull Terriers, etc.). She doesn’t know how long Chance and Blue were wandering the streets, but believes it must have been quite awhile, since they were both dirty and underweight. And although not much is known about their background, she feels they were definitely from the same place. The fact that Blue was guiding Chance is amazing, and the bond between them is so tight, that it must have started at a very young age .Chance and Blue were fostered by Nicole and Ross Cox. The arrangement was supposed to be temporary– but Nicole and Ross soon fell in love with the duo and decided to adopt them both.

The two dogs have very distinct personalities. “Chance is just a sweetie,” Nicole says. “He loves affection and has become very gentle.” He initially had some behavior issues that he needed to overcome: He would spin around in circles, and chew on his tail, to the point that the tip no longer had any hair, and would bleed. He would also grab onto people’s clothes and try to play tug of war with them. However, with patience and loving guidance, he has learned to overcome his securities, learn socialization skills, and has adapted well to his new environment. (And thankfully, he has overcome both these traits!)

Chance really loves to just run all over the yard, especially in the rain! (Apparently being out in the rain was something Helen Keller loved too.) He also likes the feeling of running through squishy mud. He gets easily distracted when he’s in the backyard, and it’s hard to keep his focus, because all he wants to do is run. He can’t even be fed outside, because he’ll just take one bit of food, and then run off.

As for Blue, he “is a goofball and loves to roll around and get his belly rubbed. He also likes to cuddle (with Chance and with us). He is a gentle giant. He loves to play with other dogs, even my sister’s 7 pound Chihuahua and was great with her!”

Blue loves to go on walks, and loves to meet new people. (Chance likes to meet new people too, but it’s still a challenge to get him to walk on a leash!) Blue also loves fruits and veggies! There hasn’t been one found that he hasn’t liked yet.

Chance and Blue continue to share an incredibly close bond. “They love to wrestle with each other!” Nicole says. “It is so fun to watch this. Blue definitely holds himself back a little to make it more even and it’s great to watch Chance search for Blue and tackle him to the ground.”

“They have even learned to coexist with our 2 cats. Every once in a while, Blue will give them little kisses. It’s really cute! They are both very smart boys and learn quickly. I don’t think we could have found a better match for our family.”

Bridget agrees. “To actually meet these two dogs is an experience in its self. Chance is amazing, and Blue is stunning. Nicole & her husband are such wonderful people and Chance & Blue are thriving with them. I am so glad that they found a forever home together and finally are able to live the lives that they deserved.”

Check out Chance and Blue’s PHOTO GALLERY as well as the VIDEO staring these two special dogs.

No comments »

Emma, a 10-pound schipperke, was found trotting down a busy highway in the pouring rain. When she was picked up and taken to a local animal shelter, her condition was deplorable: scraggly, matted, filthy, and with a serious case of pneumonia. It was obvious that Emma had recently had a litter of puppies, and, I suspect she was a “puppy mill” dog. These dogs are only productive for a limited period of time, and are often put up for adoption – or sometimes simply abandoned – once they can no longer be used for breeding. It seems that, in Emma’s case, at the tender age of 3 or 4, she had outlived her “usefulness” and was unceremoniously and heartlessly dumped on the side of a busy roadway.

Luckily for Emma, Sam Ebbert and her husband, Bob Grove, live nearby. Sam is the coordinator of the Schipperke Rescue of Oregon. When a “skip” lands in a nearby shelter, or an owner needs to surrender a dog, Sam will often be contacted for her assistance in helping find it a good home. In the meantime, the dogs are fostered at Sam and Bob’s, where they have the run of the house and the fenced-in acre of land. There is good food, plenty of treats and an abundance of love, along with veterinary care, behavioral assessment and, if needed, re-socialization and retraining. At any one time, Sam and Bob can have several foster dogs at their home – primarily purebred schipperkes, occasional “skip” crosses, and sometimes what Sam calls “skip wannabes.” As she puts it, “If a dog is black and weighs less than 25 pounds, they give us a call.”

And that’s what happened in Emma’s case. When she arrived at Sam and Bob’s, she still had pneumonia, along with a bad case of kennel cough. Although after several months of loving care her personality, and she was ready for a permanent home. Around that time, I had just said goodbye to Haida, my very special forever dog, who had succumbed to cancer. Haida was a schipperke, and because she was such a wonderful friend and companion, I’d fallen in love with the breed.

After Haida died, I knew I wanted to adopt a shelter dog. I started searching on the Internet, and came across the Petfinders website. I was amazed to find dogs of every conceivable breed – including schipperkes – as well as cats, rabbits and other animals. I was saddened to realize that homelessness in animals doesn’t discriminate. Petfinders is an inspiration in itself: well-organized and searchable, it features pictures and descriptions of animals for adoption in shelters across Canada and the US, as well as links to individual shelter sites. Of course, if you’re like me, you might have a hard time browsing through the profiles of so many adorable dogs – I wanted to adopt them all!

But as soon as I was put in touch with Sam and Bob, and heard about Emma, I knew she was the dog for me. When I first met her, and in spite of Sam and Bob’s careful attention, the signs of her mistreatment were abundant; she was painfully thin, and in some areas she had very little fur. She was timid and shy, but with a wistful expression on her little face, that told me that despite all she’d been through, she was full of hope.

Slowly, Emma’s personality began to emerge, and she is now a gem of a dog. Her coat is thick and shiny, and people constantly remark on how beautiful she is. She is funny and smart and sweet, loves to cuddle and enjoys long walks on the beach. She is usually a “Diva,” and very well behaved, although she does get into mischief from time to time. I was visiting a friend and went upstairs to see her refurbished bedroom floor; when I came back, the banana loaf my friend had put out on the coffee table was gone. It seems Emma had taken advantage of our temporary absence, and had jumped up onto the coffee table and cleaned off the entire plate.

Emma has been the “boss of me” for three years now, and she’s blossomed into a truly dear little girl. And she is not just healed, she’s helping to heal others. Emma is a therapy dog, visiting senior’s centers, and spreading cheer to just about everyone she comes into contact with.

1 Comment »

Don’t overlook a shelter dog! That’s the message from Hope for Paws, a non-profit animal rescue organization based in Los Angeles, Calif.They created these videos, which show the power of love. (Viewer Warning: Kleenex may be required!

Edie experienced negelect and abuse, and was scheduled to be euthanized. Thankfully, there’s a happy ending to this tail.

Chase was abused by her owner for three years. Watch her remarkable turnaround – in just three days.

Kudos to the folks at Hope for Paws, for all the great work they do. You can check out their other videos Watch and enjoy – then pass them along!

No comments »

“It’s not what you can’t do – it’s what you can do, that counts.” – Nigel’s motto.

Nigel, a Border Collie/Spaniel cross, was hit by a car when he was about a year old. A Good Samaritan who stopped to help picked up the injured pup and took him to the local vet, where it was discovered that Nigel had severe nerve damage to his left front leg. The vet hoped that with time, the feeling would return to the limb, but if it didn’t it Nigel would have to undergo an amputation Nigel didn’t have a collar or microchip; and even though information about him was posted on various websites, no one came forth the claim the dog. So after emergency treatment, he was transferred to the Oregon Humane Society, and a search began for a foster home until the fate of his leg could be determined. The Humane Society sent out a notice to all their volunteers, asking if there was anyone who would be able to take care of the dog.

Nigel doing Flyball

Denise Stidmon was on her way to the shelter when she got the email. There had been a bad snow storm, and she had volunteered to come and walk some of the dogs. So she decided to go and take a look at the injured dog. “When I saw him, here was this petite 11 month old dog (he’s only 30 lbs) with a big smile on his face and a waggy tail. I was immediately smitten with him. There was no doubt that he was coming to my home to heal from the trauma he had endured.” Denise intended to foster Nigel until he was well enough to be placed in a permanent home. But it wasn’t long before she realized that Nigel had already found his forever home. “Nigel and I bonded completely,” she says. “In part, it was because of his “can do” attitude, but more so was the fact that nothing seemed to get this dog down. He’s such a happy-go-lucky guy. On his right leg, he had some pretty bad wounds that I had to clean out on a regular basis. I knew it had to be painful but he was so good about it. He also was really shy with new people and would always turn to me for comfort. I realized I’ve been given this special gift of a dog and decided to adopt him.”

Shortly after that, the vet determined that Nigel was never going to recover the feeling in his injured leg, and he had amputation surgery. As Nigel began to heal, it became obvious that despite having only 3 legs he was an athlete at heart. “Nigel is extremely agile. He could jump up on my bed, which is about mid-thigh high. I was really impressed,” Denise says. “When I have him come inside, he likes to run full out and then skid once he hits the kitchen. He does it on purpose like he’s a race car driver. It cracks me up. The first time I threw a tennis ball for him, he caught it mid-air. He also is wicked fast at the dog park. I would take him to the dog park where he would outrun other dogs, especially to get the balls. One time at the dog park he was beating another dog to get the tennis ball. The guy turned to his dog and said, ‘Dude, you’re getting beat by a 3-legged dog!’”

Because of this, Denise thought Nigel would enjoy agility, a sport where a handler directs their dog through an obstacle course, and is given points for both speed and accuracy. They started attending classes, and “I was amazed at how quickly he took to the equipment and embraced this new challenge.” Denise says. “Nigel may not be the fastest agility dog, but the look of joy on his face makes him a winner in every competition. He had soon mastered jumps and most of the obstacles, including the A-frame, which is very steep. But there was one particular obstacle that worried Denise. The walkway is a narrow path about four feet high, and Denise was concerned about Nigel losing his balance and falling. But Nigel just “put his right leg dead center of his body and literally used it as a tripod. It’s how he balances himself. So, Nigel went up the walkway and just bounced along like he always does. It didn’t faze him a bit.”

Nigel is obsessed with tennis balls, so Denise thought he might enjoy flyball – a dog relay race involving jumps and a tennis ball that is popped from a box. “He is never one of the fastest dogs at flyball tournaments, but his happy wagging tail tells me that there is nothing else he would rather be doing,” Denise says.

But it’s not “all play and no work” for this exuberant dog. Nigel is a trained and certified Pet Partner® with the Delta Society® and he and Denise regularly visit children at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital who have prothesesis or are in wheelchairs. The children are especially appreciative of their 3-legged role model. “It is in the halls and rooms of the hospital that Nigel has taught others and me the most valuable lessons about celebrating life and living each day to the fullest,” Denise says. “Children see the way that Nigel’s physical limitations don’t stop him and they soon realize that they can find joy and accept each day in spite of life’s challenges. On one memorable afternoon at the hospital, as a woman and her sick three year old daughter watched Nigel catch a ball, she remarked, ‘See sweetie, Nigel is special, just like you are’.”

Nigel also helps Denise with her volunteer work at the Humane Society, acting as “big brother” to other pups that she fosters. “He loves puppies and teaches them appropriate manners,” she says. “Nigel is a very confident dog. So, with the puppies, especially the shy ones, they pick up on that. They take cues from him.” And Nigel accompanies Denise to the OHS, where he helps socialize the younger dogs. “It’s amazing to watch Nigel help bring these puppies out of their shells. Since he’s so relaxed and doesn’t mind the puppies jumping all over his head, the puppies start getting relaxed and will start taking treats from me and let me pet them. It’s like Nigel told them not to worry and that everything would be okay.”

Of course Nigel has his quirks as well. “Nigel is a pig and will eat anything. When we’re at flyball practice he is shameless. He goes up to every member on the team and begs for treats. He knows how to “sit pretty” which is him sitting on his back legs balancing with his paw up. Since he’s so cute and only has 3 legs, he gets a lot of treats. “

Nigel can also be pretty stubborn. Sometimes when we go to the dog park and he’s not ready to leave he’ll just sit there. When I call him to me I swear he shakes his head “no” to let me know he’s not done playing yet.” His stubbornness extends to getting people to play with him, too. “He’ll bring a ball to you and put it in your lap. If you don’t throw it, he picks it up and puts it back in your lap. He stares at the ball then stares at you. There is no doubt as to what Nigel wants.”

Perhaps one of Nigel’s biggest eccentricities has to do with his relationship with water. He adores water, especially puddles. But because he has only one front leg, when he jumps in puddles the water invariably splashes. And Nigel just can’t resist trying to bite it! It’s a source of never-ending fascination, and quite amusing to watch him walk along “going splash, bite, splash, bite, splash, bite.”

Nigel also appeared, alongside Denise, on a televised fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society. It’s easy to see why Denise refers to him as a “can do” dog!

2 Comments »

Elizabeth always knew she wanted to adopt a rescue dog, so when the time was right, she started searching on Petfinder.  Right away, she saw a picture of a spunky hound dog mix, read a bio, and said to herself, “That’s the dog I want!” Elizabeth is an art lover, and a fan of Picasso, so she felt P.Casso (Casso for short) would be the perfect name!

Casso had been found wandering the streets in St. Louis, and rescued by the Illinois Birddog Rescue.  When Elizabeth first met him, he was staying in a foster home. The spunky dog was 1 ½ years old, and had irreparable nerve damage to his left hind leg. He was probably hit by a vehicle – most likely a truck, because he was skittish around trucks for quite awhile. Although the leg will never completely, heal, Casso is still the fastest dog in the park. He just picks up his hind leg and runs on all three!

When Elizabeth took Casso for x-rays for his hind leg, it was discovered he also had buckshot scattered throughout his body. It was permanently embedded in his elbow, paw, and close to his heart. Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon in hunting dogs. The vet recommended leaving the pellets in place, because they had developed a significant amount of scar tissue and some were precariously close to vital organs.

However, about a year ago Casso suddenly developed lameness in his left front leg. The lameness was caused by the rifle pellet in his elbow joint that was lodged between the two bones and was crushed between when he would extend his leg fully. He had surgery to remove the pellet, which was the size of a pencil eraser.

Even though Casso had a rough start in life, he is making up for lost time. He lives a life of luxury – languishing on the couch for hours, and basking in the sun any chance he can get. He loves attention, and is happiest when someone – anyone, for that matter – is petting him.

Casso’s one idiosyncrasy is his absolute hatred of water. While he will patiently endure a bath, he will also walk gingerly around any and all puddles. He is curious and creative, too – much like his namesake, Pablo Picasso.

Elizabeth is incredibly grateful for having Casso in her life, and wanted to find a way to give back. So she joined Canine Therapy Corps a network of volunteers and their therapy dogs based in Chicago that offers rehabilitative therapy to those with physical and emotional challenges.

Casso took the Canine Therapy Corps (CTC) test, and became a certified Therapy Dog. Today, he and Elizabeth volunteer at Haymarket Center. They work with chemically dependent men and women in rehabilitation, some of whom are in residence as an alternative to serving jail time.

During this 8-week program the participants work on obedience and agility with the dogs. At the end of the session is a graduation, where each participant demonstrates their newly-acquired skills. During the course of the program, they also work on anger management, and develop communications skills, self-awareness, and self-esteem.

About three years later, Elizabeth adopted D. Vinci (named after another famous painter!) Vinci is an English setter, and Elizabeth recalls the first time she saw her. “This little dog was just over a year old and had already had a litter of pups. She was a very timid girl. I fell in love with her immediately,” Elizabeth says. However, it didn’t’ take long until “she began to blossom into the sweet dog she is today. “

Unlike her brother, Vinci tends to race straight through water, bushes, over other dogs and sometimes fences. She is indestructible and seems to be invincible, Elizabeth says. True to her breed, she is a maniac for birds. “Vinci will sit on the back porch for hours on end watching the pigeons in the neighbor’s yard. Absolutely everything stops for her when she has a bird in her sites.”

While this trait made passing the CTC test challenging, Elizabeth says it has proven to be an asset when working with clients at Haymarket Center. “Thankfully that level of attention has translated to her work as a therapy dog. She so easily and readily focuses on whomever she is working with in the program. While Casso tends to take his time responding to certain commands, people often comment on how quick Vinci is to obey.”

Casso and Vinci have also started working with Safe Humane Chicago, a unique program that aims to create safer, more humane neigborhoods by promoting treating animals in a compassionate, caring way. As official “Ambassador Dogs,” official ambassadors, P.Casso and D. Vinci (along with Elizabeth, of course) visit schools to teach children about responsible pet ownership, how to approach an animal safely (including how to avoid a bite), the importance of spay/ neuter programs, and why dog fighting and animal abuse are wrong.

Elizabeth is enthusiastic when she talks about her rescued companions, who occupy a very special place in her heart. “The happy truth is the level of resilience many rescue dogs display, I can speak only for the two that I have adopted, but it is rare that we see evidence of their past mistreatment. If and when we do it is usually a sudden fearfulness due to a loud noise, a raised hand or leg or simply a person holding something that may look harmful to a dog,” she says. “I’m so proud of how they have given back. Their ability to love and be loved is boundless and they have changed my life and the lives of many others in countless ways.”

No comments »