Zora - RIP

Zora was a “throw away” dog.  To her “owner” Zora was trash.  I have never seen a dog look like Zora in all of my life.  5 months ago Zora was a bag of bones.  She was rescued from a horrible situation.  She was not fed in weeks – no water – no human interaction – no wind/weather break, no blanket, no bedding.  Zora lived in an outside kennel with a cement floor and an igloo dog house.  But sadly, she had so much waste in her doghouse that she wouldn’t go into it anymore.  When it would rain, snow or sleet on Zora – she would literally freeze to the cement.  She would have to pull her poor body off of the freezing surface – and pulled her skin off while doing it.  She was simply waiting to die at the hands of her “owner” who couldn’t be bothered with her care.  This once beautiful, hard working, wonderfully trained police dog – had wasted away to almost nothing.

Rhonda rescued Zora and welcomed her into her home – and into her heart.  Zora was so emaciated that she could hardly lift her head and her body was literally curled in on itself – her only protection that kept her alive was to curl into a small ball and keep her internal organs as warm as she could.  Her poor skinny body had open sores, scars, bruises…   Rhonda could see beyond all of that.  She could see the beautiful soul that still shined bright out of those big sad brown eyes.   It was unknown if Zora would last through the first night because of the frost bite, dehydration, starvation that had caused her organs to begin shutting down – but she did live through the night.   Rhonda held Zora in her arms and hand fed her through those first few nights.  In the coming days and weeks Rhonda would cook liver, boiled chicken, rice… anything to put fat on Zora’s bones.  Her total focus was on Zora – and bringing her through this horrible life that she had lived before coming to live with Rhonda.   A warm place to sleep, a full tummy, gentle hands, quietly spoken words of encouragement – Zora thrived!

As time passed, Rhonda and Zora fell more and more in love with the life they had made together.  As Zora grew stronger – there were plenty of walks and off leash runs together.  Zora had perfect house manners – and Rhonda felt very safe knowing that Zora was watching over her as she slept.   And Zora felt very safe knowing that she had Rhonda to protect her from ever having to live the hell she had lived before.  Both Zora and Rhonda were happy and it seemed that the dark days had passed.  They pulled each other out of a hard winter – and looked forward to many happy years together.  They were absolutely dedicated to one another. 

Sadly, on Monday, April 25^th, Zora passed away due to an unfortunate accident at a boarding facility she had stayed at for one day.  Rhonda is absolutely devastated!!  Everyone that knew and loved Zora was stunned and heartbroken.  Both for the wonderful dog – as well as for our dear friend Rhonda.  Her loss is complete.  There are no words that can comfort Rhonda. 

While we all know – time does heal.  We also know that when we lose a loved one – our lives are never the same again.  Zora was a bright and shining star – and our world has dimmed with her passing.  We believe that every tear that is shed for this girl – is a tribute to this wonderful creature that blessed this world for such a short time.  As a dog lover, we know that this was not “just a dog” – but a beloved  companion, a friend, a family member.   This dog had lived through such a tragic life –  she was no longer “trash” – she was no longer a “throw away” dog…  but at the end… Zora mattered.  Zora was loved.  Her life meant something.  And that is the best that any one of us could hope for!

RIP ZORA

Brandy - The Heinz 57 dog!!! ADOPTED!!! (Update below)

Brandy is a sweet young Heinz 57 in the truest form.  We have no idea what breeds are in there, but if there was such a thing as a sweetheart mix, she would be it!  She is only around a year and a half old, but has already had a litter of seven puppies.  We fixed that and she will no longer have the ability to have any more puppies.  She can now enjoy her young life playing with other dogs and soaking up as much attention as she possibly can from her people.  Brandy was never taught to properly socialize with other dogs so she takes a little time to warm up to them.  We are working on that with her and it doesn't take her near as long to decide to play, but she really needs to bond with that special someone and learn that they won't let anyone hurt her ever again.  She can even be hesitant at times if you go to grab her collar and will whine and gently mouth you while rolling on the ground.  We don't know what her life was like prior to getting her, but suffice it to say, it will only get better from here.  She is improving every day and does enjoy getting pet and loved on as much as possible.  She also really loves playing with the dogs in her foster home, and she can certainly run fast.  She would probably love to be an only dog or maybe just have one doggy companion to play with in her home.  She seems to enjoy the company of the male dogs in the house the most so if you would like one of each, Brandy may just be your girl.  Brandy is potty-trained and crate-trained as well as up to date on shots and spayed so all she needs now is the right home and family to call her own.  Update: she is doing good. slept by me all night. i am at store now buying her girlie collar. she loves watching the ducks and has made driends with li
ttle puppy next door. she rarely barks and came to me and put her front feet on me and whined to be let out this morning. he loves her walks and does qu
ite well. dick said she fell asleep on the patio watching the ducks and just woke up when i just called. she follows me everywhere. and loves on me alot
. put her head on dicks shoulder once. she listens to him but she is a mommys girl.
FWD: she laid her head on her pillow while i laid beside her for a long time thismorning kissing me

Lacy Lane - Shih Tzu

Lacy is a sweet sweet girl that enjoys the company of other dogs, of people, and even of cats. She likes to snooze the day away in the arms of her person - or on her own little bed. Lacy is 8 years old, housetrained, crate trained, walks gently on the leash, is spayed, up to date on normal vaccines (nincuding heartworm preventative and rabies vaccine). In short, she is the perfect little dog. She weighs about 13 lbs and is a sweet 8 year old love bug. Her Email julie.smith@odtr.org for an application!!

Jojo - the Lab mix puppy! ADOPTED!!!!

Please meet Jojo!! Jojo was tied to a pole behind a local business - abandoned, alone, scared. Poor Jojo was there for about 6 hours before someone finally called ODTR. One of our favorite volunteers immediately went to pick up this scared little pup (at about 10PM!!) and took her to her new foster home. We have started her on her puppy shots and she has been wormed. Jojo is a typical lab puppy. We are guessing that she is approx. 12 to 16 weeks old. She is playful, funny, smart and quick to learn. Jojo would love nothing more than to be someone's best friend. And to finally be able to trust this someone - that they won't abandon her just when he needs them the most!! ODTR will take good care of your best friend until you are ready for her. She will be loved - but HURRY UP!! The puppy fun has just started!!!!!

Ruby - Mini Dauchshund Mix - ADOPTED!!!!

Ruby is nothing but sweetness and puppy kisses. This is one really awesome dog - that needs a break!! Ruby was turned in (with her momma, brother, and sister) to a high kill shelter. One Dog at a Time Rescue took the pups (a doxy rescue took the momma) right away!!! Rubys sister and brother have found a home - but poor Ruby has been overlooked...This is one really fun little girl.  She loves to burrow into the pillows and "hide" - or if you have a blanket handy - that will be a hiding place too!!  But all you have to do is call her name - and she comes running for a hug!!  She is so gentle.  She loves her toys - but has never chewed on anything inappropriate.  Ruby is one of the most beautiful girls you will meet!  Her body has soft, shiny gray fur - but her feet, tail, ears, face are black.  She is just gorgeous!!!  I can't seem to get a good picture of her with that black face - but she is a real show stopper!!  Ruby is playful and energetic but loves nothing more than snuggle time with her favorite person. She is spayed, UTD on routine vaccinations, HW negative and on preventative, weighs 11 lbs.. She is working hard on her house manners - and is doing great!  She is crate trained and just lovely. Please think of Ruby when you choose your next best friend. She will spend the rest of her life making great memories with you!!!

Roscoe is still here!!!

Roscoe is a beautiful Husky/Bernese Mountain Dog mix - full of playful fun and happiness.  Roscoe was rescued from a high kill shelter - and has truly learned that life is so much better than what he could remember!  Roscoe spends his days with his dog buddies, living the life of a pampered boy.  He has a terrific foster family that love Roscoe very much.  He has a fenced in yard to play in - and that is MUST with our dear Roscoe.  He has fun energy - and loves to run and play.  But, he also enjoys cuddle and snuggle time just as much.  Roscoe would do best in a home with a dog companion - and no cats.  They fascinate him - a little too much.  :)  Please think of Roscoe when you choose your new best friend.  He will fit the bill  nicely!!!

Please meet Ally! ADOPTED!!! (Update)

We believe beautiful Miss Ally is a German Shepherd/Husky mix young girl. She is house broken, crate trained, UTD on vaccinations, and spayed. She is currently living in foster care where she is working on her basic obedience commands. She is a wonderful girl with kids and other dogs, and Ally does just fine with cats. If you'd like to make Ally a part of your family, Update: Ally is doing wonderful...she is a very sweet girl.  My cats still haven't warmed up to her, but I have one that is getting a little braver each day and another that is trying to follow her lead, but not with as much success.  The third one still hasn't come out of hiding.  I have found Ally is a cuddler when she is not in play mode.  She has already made friends with the associates at Pet Smart...one associate was introducing her to everyone.
I think I've worn her out this morning...we went a nice long walk to get her used to the neighborhood and then we played tug-of-war with one of her new toys...she is zonked out right now.  Thank you so much for letting me adopt her...she is a great addition to my family!

Please help Tiny!! - ADOPTED!!!

Tiny is just a puppy. Some days Tiny is able to play and roam his yard, chase his buddies, watch the winter turn to spring with longing of warm days in the sun! But there are more and more days that Tiny wakes up in the morning – and he hurts so badly that he cries out loud. His foster momma will help Tiny walk slowly and painfully into the kitchen where he is made comfortable in a warm pile of blankets so that he can watch the children in his foster home prepare for their school day. He lays quietly while he watches the other dogs run and play and wrestle with the children’s socks. Tiny’s big eyes brighten with excitement when someone comes near enough to gently touch his big head or give him a quick snuggle. Sometimes he can see a piece of toast hit the floor and watches quietly as one of the other dogs in the house swoops in to grab that morsel of food – and Tiny sighs. Tiny wants to get up and join in the chaos and he will attempt it… but it hurts so much. Later in the morning when things calm down a little bit and his pain meds kick in, Tiny will heave his soft body up off of the floor, take a few painful steps, stretch his sore muscles and slowly walk over to his foster momma and rest his large head on her lap – his gentle brown eyes will search hers – as if asking “WHY can’t I play like the other dogs in this house? Why does it seem like my life is over – instead of just beginning? I haven’t lived very long – is this really what life is about? Is it supposed to hurt this bad?” They will continue to stare at one another – while his foster momma hugs him and reassures him, “Tiny, I promise your life will not always be like this. You have an army of people fighting to help you. Please don’t give up. You ARE loved.” If tears really could heal – the tears his foster momma sheds would make things so much better for sweet Tiny. And while Tiny can feel the love of his foster and rescue family – Tiny wants nothing more than to run and play – PAIN FREE.

Tiny is a Great Pyrenees/Yellow Lab mix –he weighs 82 lbs and is only 10 months old. He is currently in rescue and is waiting to be adopted to a forever family of his very own. Please help us give this big baby the much needed hip dysplasia surgery that will give him the pain free life that most puppies and the people that love them take for granted.

Tiny wants to eat scraps of toast found on the floor, chase butterfly’s in the yard, and play tug with his children’s socks!! Please help One Dog at a Time Rescue in Warsaw, Indiana provide this puppy with everything he needs to be happy and live the rest of his life without pain. It shouldn’t hurt to play like a puppy – when you are just a puppy!

Please donate to the Help Tiny Fund. Any amount you donate will give our sweet boy the relief he so desperately needs.

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· Email: sandy.courson@odtr.org

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Or, you can mail checks to (Tax ID# available upon request):

ODTR

PO Box 76

Warsaw, IN 46581

(please add HELP TINY FUND in the subject line of the check)

Thank you from Tiny – and from One Dog at a Time Rescue.

UPDATE!!!

How small does a dog have to be, to be considered a puppy? 3 lbs? 15 lbs? How about 85 lbs!!? That’s what Tiny weighs at just 11 months of age. He is all long legs and big curiosity! But, unfortunately, due to the luck of the draw – this puppy also has severe hip dysplasia and is unlike most puppies you might know. Tiny is slow to get started in the morning. He will finally get up and romp and play gently with his foster brother and sisters. But, Tiny gets so very sore if he plays too roughly or for an extended period. He will come and lay down beside his foster momma and watch the other dogs in the house play and frolic with ease. You can see in his sad puppy eyes that he wishes he could play as hard as the others – but, already in his young life, Tiny knows he has limits. Our gentle giant (Golden/Lab/ Great Pyrenees) has SEVERE HIP DISPLASIA in both hips and mild arthritis. This sweet boy is basically living in an old dog’s body, with the spirit and spunk of the sweet puppy that he is!! Since my first email to let you know about Tiny’s issues – ODTR and Tiny have been very, very busy!! Tiny has been seen by three different veterinarians and specialists – and they all agree on one very important thing! TINY IS AN AMAZING AND WONDERFUL DOG!!! But, while some think that surgery could be the answer for Tiny’s dysplasia, another local and very respected veterinarian believes that Tiny is an excellent candidate for physical therapy and pain management therapy instead of surgery. Due to his young age and the fact that this is not a NEW development – Tiny was born this way!!! … She believes that he would do WELL with this treatment. It is strongly believed that while Tiny will always be a “special needs” kind of guy (due to his daily meds) – he can live a very long, healthy, relatively pain free life!!! That is what we want for our boy!!! One Dog at a Time Rescue and Tiny have had a POURING OUT of well wishes, offers of prayer, and donations – and because of those very things… we have been able to do everything in our power to assure ourselves (and Tiny – and potential adopters) that Tiny is going to be OK!!!! We are so thankful for the kindness and generosity that we have received on behalf of our very special young dog. Your generous donations have gone to the extraordinary veterinary care that Tiny has received. From expert consultations, x-rays, to blood tests, to laser therapy (starting next week), to medications – Tiny has received TOP NOTCH care! THANK YOU for playing a part in this!!! But our work is not done!! Tiny will continue to need his special medications and hopefully we will be able to continue offering him the therapy (whether physical therapy or laser therapy) that he would benefit from until he is safely placed in his forever home – and his new family can take over his care When Tiny finally meets his new family and settles in – One Dog at a Time Rescue will settle a new dog into Tiny’s place. We have set up an emergency medical fund called “The Tiny Medical Fund” in honor of our first “special” dog – and with continued donations we will be able to help other dogs with veterinary assistance due to medical issues that may have caused them to be euthanized without the help and care that ODTR and our generous friends could provide. One Dog at a Time Rescue is working hard to provide the care and help our special foster dogs need to become loving, healthy, and happy members of a family. Please help us by donating to The Tiny Medical Fund. Your help, generosity, and kindness will be greatly rewarded simply by knowing – YOU have made a difference in a dog’s life. YOU have been directly responsible for SAVING a dog’s life. YOU have rescued a dog from the life of sickness, pain, disease… and death.

Tiny Update - 04/15/11

How small does a dog have to be, to be considered a puppy? 3 lbs? 15 lbs? How about 85 lbs!!? That’s what Tiny weighs at just 11 months of age. He is all long legs and big curiosity! But, unfortunately, due to the luck of the draw – this puppy also has severe hip dysplasia and is unlike most puppies you might know. Tiny is slow to get started in the morning. He will finally get up and romp and play gently with his foster brother and sisters. But, Tiny gets so very sore if he plays too roughly or for an extended period. He will come and lay down beside his foster momma and watch the other dogs in the house play and frolic with ease. You can see in his sad puppy eyes that he wishes he could play as hard as the others – but, already in his young life, Tiny knows he has limits. Our gentle giant (Golden/Lab/ Great Pyrenees) has SEVERE HIP DISPLASIA in both hips and mild arthritis. This sweet boy is basically living in an old dog’s body, with the spirit and spunk of the sweet puppy that he is!!

Since my first email to let you know about Tiny’s issues – ODTR and Tiny have been very, very busy!! Tiny has been seen by three different veterinarians and specialists – and they all agree on one very important thing! TINY IS AN AMAZING AND WONDERFUL DOG!!! But, while some think that surgery could be the answer for Tiny’s dysplasia, another local and very respected veterinarian believes that Tiny is an excellent candidate for physical therapy and pain management therapy instead of surgery. Due to his young age and the fact that this is not a NEW development – Tiny was born this way!!! … She believes that he would do WELL with this treatment. It is strongly believed that while Tiny will always be a “special needs” kind of guy (due to his daily meds) – he can live a very long, healthy, relatively pain free life!!! That is what we want for our boy!!!

One Dog at a Time Rescue and Tiny have had a POURING OUT of well wishes, offers of prayer, and donations – and because of those very things… we have been able to do everything in our power to assure ourselves (and Tiny – and potential adopters) that Tiny is going to be OK!!!! We are so thankful for the kindness and generosity that we have received on behalf of our very special young dog. Your generous donations have gone to the extraordinary veterinary care that Tiny has received. From expert consultations, x-rays, to blood tests, to laser therapy (starting next week), to medications – Tiny has received TOP NOTCH care! THANK YOU for playing a part in this!!! But our work is not done!! Tiny will continue to need his special medications and hopefully we will be able to continue offering him the therapy (whether physical therapy or laser therapy) that he would benefit from until he is safely placed in his forever home – and his new family can take over his care

When Tiny finally meets his new family and settles in – One Dog at a Time Rescue will settle a new dog into Tiny’s place. We have set up an emergency medical fund called “The Tiny Medical Fund” in honor of our first “special” dog – and with continued donations we will be able to help other dogs with veterinary assistance due to medical issues that may have caused them to be euthanized without the help and care that ODTR and our generous friends could provide. One Dog at a Time Rescue is working hard to provide the care and help our special foster dogs need to become loving, healthy, and happy members of a family. Please help us by donating to The Tiny Medical Fund. Your help, generosity, and kindness will be greatly rewarded simply by knowing – YOU have made a difference in a dog’s life. YOU have been directly responsible for SAVING a dog’s life. YOU have rescued a dog from the life of sickness, pain, disease… and death.

To donate to The Tiny Medical Fund:

Odtr.org (Paypal)

Or you can mail a check to (Tax ID available upon request):

ODTR

PO Box 76

Warsaw, IN 46581

(Please put “The Tiny Medical Fund” in the subject line)

Thank you so much!!! And stay tuned for more TINY UPDATES!!!!

(and I love replies... send me an email!)

HONEY! The Pure Bred St. Bernard!!!!!! ADOPTED!!!

Please meet Honeypie Sugar Bum – the dry mouth St. Bernard.  Honey comes to us from a very busy family that just can’t give her the time and attention that Honey wants so badly.  Honey has lived outside in a warm kennel her whole life.  But One Dog at a Time Rescue is committed to finding that perfect family that wants this precious girl inside their hearts – as well as their home.  Honey is a smart girl and will learn house manners quickly, with patience and guidance – she will be your perfect companion and friend.  Honey is 2 years old, weighs about 130 lbs and will be spayed and heart worm tested and on preventative, UTD on her rabies vaccination – and preloved before adoption.  Ready for a new life as in indoor/outdoor pampered pooch.  She has those big kind brown St. Bernard eyes that you could fall right into.  She is a beautiful, beautiful girl. (her adoption fee is $150)  UPDATE:  Honey is heartworm positive.  :(  She is currently going through HW treatment and will be available for adoption when that is complete.  Estimated availability date: June 2011