Brownie, A True Miracle!
5/26/08 UPDATE - Hi, I am sending you this E-mail because I feel it is: 1. really uplifting and happy and wonderful (yay) and 2. really important. Please take - I don't know - 20 seconds to read this.
I found a paralyzed dog in Mongolia. Local street children beat her with a bat until they broke her back. She had no hope of regaining movement below the waist, and she was going to be euthanized; many people tried to discourage me from attempting to save her.
Long story short, I raised the money (over $1,800 from donors all over the country) to save her and fly her home (the US has no animal quarantine laws), and she is now in a temporary foster home here in America. Though the vets said she would never be able to feel or move her legs again, she is now not only walking, but running! I can't tell you how many people told me there was no hope, to just "give up".
I hope that someone, somewhere, might nremember this and one day help another "hopeless" case, be it animal or person.
Regarding animals abroad, lots of people see animals in need when traveling and think there is nothing they can do. There are always vet offices that can help. And, though not always the answer (dogs are not pets in Mongolia, and a paralyzed street dog would have perished in days), it is remarkably easy to bring a dog to the US.
Thank you.
Danielle Schreier
PS: If you are interested in more about Brownie, below is a letter about her first day in America.
Here she is six weeks ago in Mongolia, the day I found her, and here she is now:
The message below was received from Brownie's foster Mom...
Hi Danielle--
Thanks for your note! Brownie is way better today than she was yesterday. But then I don't think I would've been too chipper yesterday, either, if I'd flown from Mongolia to Seoul, then Seoul to JFK, all while traveling in the cargo hold. Actually, she had a great day today. I took her to PetSmart this morning to get some food and stuff, and although at first she was hesitant to go in, she ended up LOVING it there. She was very well behaved, but I sensed a kid-in-a-candy-store phenomenon going on in her little puppy mind. And everyone who crossed her path fell in love with her adorable face and her very waggy tail and, most of all, her sweetness and her affectionate nature. She really is a doll.
I met a woman in PetSmart who's a manager at one of their stores in CT, and she couldn't tear herself away from petting Brownie (who was very accommodating, and rolled over to allow full access to her belly--right after she peed on the floor a little further up the aisle). I apologized about the pee, and the woman said, "Please--I've never seen a dog that DIDN'T pee in here!"
Anyway, yada yada yada, I was standing outside the store talking to Ms. Brown (the person), who suggested that I attach the leash to a harness rather than to the dog's collar to offer a little more support while she walks, and four employees ended up choosing a harness for her, bringing it out to us and fitting it to her, and then not charging me for it because they loved Brownie so much.
I also took Brownie for her vet appointment this afternoon, and everyone in the waiting room was asking me all about her. She's a total people magnet! I haven't seen any evidence that she's afraid of men (though she ought to be), or kids (ditto), or dogs twice her size--she loves everyone, though I noticed she did lure in a few big dogs with her charm, then nipped at them when they were right in her face. The vet looked at the X-rays from Mongolia after examining Brownie (rather than beforehand), and said that given the severity of the spinal injury, the prognosis for Brownie could not have been good AT ALL, and that the fact that she's walking now is an absolute miracle.
In between PetSmart and the vet, I brought Brownie to my house in Hastings, and she kept me company while I was doing a little project. I'm not sure she'd ever seen grass before, as you mentioned the other day. Since she can't climb steps, I walked her the long way (via the lawn) to my front door, and I'd describe the way she got from the driveway to the house as nothing short of a joyous scamper. I couldn't believe that she was not only walking beside me on a leash, but almost running due to sheer excitement--and she didn't fall over at all. For a moment I forgot that this was a puppy that was once expected never to walk again.
Ever since we got home this afternoon, she's been snoozing off and on--but mostly on--in a little puppy heap. Today may have been one of the busiest, happiest days of her life, and she deserves many more.
Also, remember that striped knit scarf that was in her carrier? I washed it with some other stuff, because I thought maybe the vet staff had Brownie travel with it because it was special to her. I put it down next to her while she was napping earlier, and the next thing I knew, she was sleeping under it and on top of it and next to it. She seems to really enjoy it.
I can't think of any other news for now. I'll keep you posted as news happens...
2/6/08 UPDATE - Thanks to all the good samaritans who have assised Kandy and her family! Per Kandy, "I just wanted to thank you again for all your support and help. I've also just sent out 2 emails to people that I was referred to about helping rehome Scooby. I pray that they will be able to help! We also continue to get gift certificates for www.petsmart.com in our inbox. Because of this, it allows us to take our time in finding 'just the right home' for Scooby. And just yesterday we received a large bag of dog food, a can of dog food and several dog snacks in our mailbox. God is good. Again, you are an angel."
Dear Columbus Top Dogs,
Sweet youngster Scooby needs a new home as soon as possible! Due to financial difficulties his loving family can no longer keep him! Unfortunately, this is happening to many pets these days.
Scooby is a mixture of maybe Labrador, perhaps Shepherd and possibly collie with an easy care, beautiful coat of rich red gold. Look at that intelligent expression and sweet eyes! He has just reached his first birthday and is now officially a 1 year old. He is a large boy, who is active and still thinks like a puppy. So sometimes he forgets his manners and jumps up when excited. Scooby is still working on inside housetraining. He is taken from his crate and has learned "Tee Tee" and "Two Two" for those bodily functions. And if the opportunity presents itself, Scooby will get into the garbage, a normal dog reaction. Just a little patience and training will help him become a very special guy.
Scooby's friendly personality makes him responsive to everyone, strangers or kids. He can "Sit" on command and is getting used to being on a leash, and is working on "Heel!" Scooby is great around furniture and belongings. He loves stuffed animals and will play contentedly with them. When rescued from the Humane Society shelter, he was very jumpy, but with loving care he is now very relaxed and comfortable. He is trained to use a crate kept in the garage because he gets dirty playing outside during muddy months. . During the summer, when the ground is dry, the crate is kept in the house.
Scooby understands, that "Go to bed," is his cue to go into it, and obeys well. Because Scooby loves other animals, both cats and dogs, he would be ideal for a multi-pet household. He often lets the family's other dog, a small one, to come and lay with him in his crate for long periods of time. He also gets along with the family's cat, too. While Scooby isn't a guard dog, he will bark if he hears a noise, like a car pulling up in the driveway. He rides well in the car, either sitting or lying down.
Scooby is current on his shots and neutered. This good boy has really only two special needs: a loving home and lots of love! Please, please, consider letting this sweet guy share your life, don't send him back to a crowded shelter.
If you or someone you know may prove to be a good fit for Scooby, please contact Kandy kandyrich10@hotmail.com or 937-207-0115.
Posted 2/1/08
Ginger Needs a Loving Home!
GOOD NEWS - Ginger has been accepted into the foster program with Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue on 12/21/07. She will soon be adopted to a new family!
Dear Companion Pet Lovers,
We are making a special request to assist in the immediate placement of an eight year old, purebred Dachshund named Ginger currently residing in Hilliard, OH. This beautiful girl is a real sweetheart, full vetted (includes spayed), housebroken (may have an accident from time to time), crate trained and gets along great with companions pets, especially cats.
If you or someone you know may prove to be a good fit for Ginger, please contact Samantha at smckenzie@teamrms.com.
Posted 12/19/07
Ben Needs a Loving Foster Home!
GOOD NEWS - Ben was placed in a new foster home on 12/10/07!
Dear Columbus Top Dogs,
Ben is a VERY sweet boy rescued from a high kill shelter in Georgia. He is great with people and most dogs, and is a nice companion. Ben has heartworms, which can be cured with very strong medication.
While going through this process, Ben needs to be inactive so the medicine can go to work. He needs a loving home to recuperate. This should take about six weeks. All his medication is sponsored, his foster family would need to provide the home, food and care so he can be ready to go to his forever home! He will be available for adoption once the treatment has been completed.
Ben is about 45 lbs and is located in boarding in Georgia. Foster families do not need to give medication, as it is handled by a Vet. Details will be supplied. Transportation will be provided for Ben to his foster parents.
Thank you!!
Valerie Ratner
203-858-9155
Support the Great Work of Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue!
GOOD NEWS - Claus was adopted to Petie and Chuck B. on 9/21/07!
Claus, waiting patiently for his new family to arrive... Claus dreaming wonderful thoughts in his new bed!
Special Note from Kelly Smith: Second Chances Dalmatian Rescue (SCDR) - http://www.secondchancesdalrescue.com/index.php - completed the adoption process with a couple from Elyria on Claus's behalf and he went home with them last night. They did a home visit and everything for me and did not ask for any type of adoption fee for what they did. I was so impressed with Jennifer Brock, Shelley Siefert and Mary Modderman (who writes the witty bio's for SCDR). They stuck with Claus and me - really a great rescue! I am very confident in Claus and the new family!
Hello Columbus Top Dogs,
I told you all about Claus, the 12 year old Dalmatian that I have been attempting to re-home. It has been about three weeks and I have only had ONE call about him. I am at a dead end with this. I do not know what to do...
Since I have been involved with this I have learned that Claus was said to have siezures at one time. His current owner's ex-wife told him that when she owned Claus he had several siezures over several years. I am in the process of trying to talk with his vet and/or get my hands on his records to see if any diagnosis was ever made.
For right now, all I know to do is appeal to you and ask you to crosspost this and/or post Claus on your website (as a courtesy listing with my contact info). Claus has been sheltered, and that makes this task more difficult as he has not been exposed to kids or other dogs/cats in his 12 years of life with his family.
I think, with his sweet temperment, he would be ok with a very docile canine companion, probably one that was smaller and maybe female, so as not to pose a threat. No kids under 12. He is NOT arthritic or have any other "senior" type issues. He is very friendly and sweet and acts half his age.
This boy really needs a place to spend his last bit of life. I know there is a home for him, and I need all the help I can get finding it. PLEASE HELP ME!! If you need any addtional info PLEASE ASK!
Thank you,
Kelly Smith
Mount Vernon, Ohio
740.504.4653
Support the "30 for 31" Campaign!
As of July 9, I'm happy to report that the Hardin County Dog Pound "30 for 31" campaign is off to a GREAT start! Fifteen generous dog-lovers donated $$to help sponsor one or more of the many unfortunate souls who find themselves incarcerated in this place.
I still need help funding doggies' pull fees to keep them moving out faster than they are coming in. I've found approved rescues for some of the dogs already but I have to pick up the pace in order to stay ahead of the influx. Together we WILL empty this pound for one day!
Please help if you can.
You can PayPal donations to psg@wideopenwest.com or email that same address for information on where to send a check. All donations are assigned to help a specific dog, and we'll keep you posted on the status of "your" dog.
More info on the dog pound and it's inmates can be found below:
The Hardin County dog pound in Kenton, Ohio, has 30 concrete 2x3 pens. It's basically an oversized garage that's been used for many many years to house the strays/owner releases in Hardin County. Not too many years ago, they would gas the dogs by hooking up a hose to a car exhaust and running the hose to an opening in the garage door. I've also heard stories from one of the current pound employees about how, "in the old days," the warden at the time and his buddies would open the pen doors and let the dogs run into the neighboring fields and use them for target practice.
The good news is that neither of these methods for eliminating the dogs is still in use today; however, when the pound gets full, dogs are selected to be loaded onto the warden's truck and are taken to another county's humane society where they are put to sleep immediately. Although they are euthed with a needle stick, it's still an unnecessary and heartbreaking end to lives of dogs who otherwise are very adoptable.
Since March, me and another volunteer have been able to move more than 120 dogs to rescues. That's equivalent to emptying the pound three times over. All of these dogs were then altered and vetted by their rescues and most of them already have been placed into wonderful loving homes. Several are now living better than their previous owners and many of us .... cruising on the yachts of millionaire owners, living in luxury high-rise condominiums or otherwise being cared for by people who are very well to do and who value their pets as members of their family. Awesome endings for dogs who were just discarded or abandoned.
A number of the dogs are here because their owners relocate and can't or won't take their dog with them. Many more are just turned out in the streets because they are not wanted anymore and eventually picked up as strays. By far, the most heartbreaking circumstance is those who are just left in the outside drop-off pen after hours with no information about them at all...not even their name!
The pound does not have a spay/neuter program and because of the rural nature of the community, most residents don't vet their dogs at all, let alone get them altered. Every dog that is re-adopted back out into the community is another unaltered dog that generally will be allowed to reproduce several litters of puppies before it's abandoned or discarded again. Especially vulnerable are the pure-breed dogs that come into the pound. They are targeted by backyard breeders who adopt them out for a small fee and then use them to breed litters of pups they can sell for big dollars.
The "Thirty for Thirty-One" campaign is aimed at getting thirty rescues to each adopt one dog for the small adoption fee the pound charges rescues of $31. We can literally empty the pound for one day. That's thirty dogs who will be altered and vetted and removed from the vicious cycle of adoption, reproduction, abandonment that keeps the dog pound in business. We intend to use the dramatic results of an empty dog pound to reinforce our plea to the warden and the commissioners to implement a mandatory spay/neuter program so that any dog adopted from the pound....or any unaltered stray that is picked up and then returned to it's owner...must be altered before it leaves the custody of the pound.
Currently, not all the dogs housed at the pound are listed on their PetFinder site because some are strays being held for 14 days to see if their owners will claim them; however they do have 12 available dogs listed. (The dogs in pens 15, 22 and 2 are no longer available and either adopted or going to rescue.) That's only 12 rescues needed for one dog each!
Here's how you can help:
* Rescue one dog. (I will add your personal "spay/neuter" message to the campaign results sent to the county commissioners.)
* Donate pull fees for dogs to be rescued (you can designate which dog's fee you are donating)
* Cross-post this information to other rescue organizations asking them to help (a PayPal account has been set up to handle payments or donations of rescue fees. Transport can be arranged.)
Here's a link to the dog pound's PetFinder site....take a minute to click on the link and just look at the great dogs they have up for adoption! There's not a bad one in the bunch! Don't wait! We need you to act now!
Some of these dogs may not yet be pictured on the Petfinder site and also are available:
For more information about the campaign or a dog you would like to rescue, please contact Pam Gaudet at psg@wideopenwest.com
Thanks for helping to make a dramatic statement to the warden, the commissioners and the community about the need for a mandatory spay/neuter program for the pound dogs.
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