A Very Special Boy Needs a Very Special Home

Rocket loves tennis balls.

Rocket, the five year old rat terrier, is a survivor.  He was hit by a car and suffered a massive spinal injury. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his owners at the time did not get him any treatment. For nine months he had to drag himself around by his front legs because his back ones were paralyzed. Thankfully he was finally surrendered to the Nevada SPCA and then fell into the arms of a couple of guardian angels – one who paid for his spinal surgery and another who opened her home to him for his recovery.

This brave boy now needs a forever home.

He gets along well with other mellow dogs his size. He loves people and tennis balls although he can’t be left alone with the latter as he will peel them like a fruit.

His ideal home would be with someone devoted to animals and who is home most of the time as Rocket cannot use a doggie door (he doesn’t have enough strength in his hind legs) so he needs regular bathroom breaks. He is crate trained and should be crated when left alone. He needs a carpeted home as he cannot get traction on smooth surfaces. He has been going through physical therapy at home which should be continued – gently stretching his legs and range of motion movements. He also likes to go for walks.

If you can provide Rocket with this loving forever home, in return he will provide you with companionship, fun, loyalty, and unconditional & unending love. Sounds like a pretty good deal!

If you are the very special person Rocket is waiting for, please contact his foster mom, Adrienne, at 702-497-1282 or diemarthadie@cox.net

Rocket loves grass... and tennis balls.

FUPI Pets of the Week – Pops and Wooby

Pops

Hi Everyone, I’m Pops! That’s me on the right. All 5 of my brothers and sisters have found forever homes but no one seems to want me. I’m a very happy and friendly kitten and I would love to have a home of my own. I just don’t understand why no one has picked me yet.

Maybe no one wants me because I have tested positive for feline leukemia. But I don’t act or feel sick and I don’t even need any medication. I’m just like any other kitten except I should only be around other kitties like me. I would love to have someone to play with!
 
Please don’t pass me by. Look at my baby picture below taken just 5 months ago. And I’m still a real cutie!

Baby Pops

Wooby

 

 

Hi, I’m Wooby. I’m an American Eskimo mix about 3 years old. I was found hanging around an apartment complex with a couple of my buddies. I don’t know what happened to my owners. They just left me. It was kind of hard living on the streets because I really love people. I’m a big cuddler! I also love to play and I’m a good boy but I need someone to teach me how to walk on a leash. No one ever bothered to before. I wouldn’t mind being your only dog but I might like one my own size too. Please consider me for your new best friend!

 

 

If you are interested in Pops or Wooby, please contact Foreclosed Upon Pets, Inc. at forecloseduponpets@hotmail.com or 702-272-0010

Sam’s Time is Running Out

Sam

Sam is a very scared girl and her time at Lied is running out. She also has separation anxiety. But in the right home she will bloom. She just needs someone with patience and a big heart to give her a chance.

Here is her bio:

Please give me a second chance at happiness.

My name is “Sam” even though I’m a female!  If you come to my kennel, my tail is tucked tightly between my legs and I looked terrified. If I could talk, I’d tell you what I’ve been through in my short 10-month life.  Give me a chance and take me out of my cage and I begin to relax as you can see in my picture.

I was adopted out once and returned because they said I destroyed things.  I’ve been so frightened in the past, that I don’t want to be alone; I think they call it separation anxiety. But if you commit to work with me and be understanding, I promise to give you lots of love in return.

I’m at Lied Animal Shelter and my adoption id# is 402250.  I’m already spayed so I could come home with you today.

There must be someone out there who can give Sam a foster or forever home and get her out of Lied before it is too late. She has been there 16 days and the longest they last there is 30 days. The clock is ticking…

Lied Animal Shelter

655 North Mojave Rd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
702-384-3333

 

URGENT: Gizmo Needs a Foster or Forever Home

Gizmo

 

Gizmo is a sweet, visually impaired dog who is becoming very depressed about living in a kennel. I know there is someone out there somewhere who can help her.

Here is her bio:

Gizmo is a Australian Shepard/ Cattle dog mix.
She is 3 years old, medium sized and spayed.
 
Gizmo was raised with another dog as an indoor dog.  When her female owner died, her male owner remarried.  The new wife threw the dogs outside to live.  Now they are divorced.  The man owner is a truck driver and cannot take care of the dogs.
 
Gizmo is a very loyal dog.  Upon first meeting her, she will be standoffish.  But when she gets to know you, she will be your loyal follower.  Gizmo is healthy except for her eyes.   She has problems seeing and we think she can see shadows only.  First time in an environment, she will walk into things but quickly remembers her surroundings.
 
Gizmo needs a forever or foster home immediately.  If you can help this dog, please contact  798-8663 or 591-6469 or Email: dogrescuelv@hotmail.com

Sammy Says Just Say No!

Sammy

 

Sammy, my pit-mix, has something to say to those of you supporting the NFL:

“Just say no! Just say no to supporting a morally bankrupt organization for whom $$$ means more than the lives of my kin. I mean I like a good game of catch as much as the next guy but seriously? They’re paying that, that… HUMAN millions of $$$ just because he can throw a ball? I can do that! And catch one too! Don’t you realize that while there are human animals, canine animals, feline animals, etc., we’re all part of the animal family? And you just don’t do what he did to family… even felines
 
By supporting the NFL you’re supporting their decision to put that, that… HUMAN on national TV and make some sort of hero out of him. He, and humans like him, helped give dogs like me a bad rap and because of that millions of us are killed every year just because of our breed or even if we just look like a pitbull. And truthfully, we are the nicest sweetest dogs. We are so eager to please our humans that we will do anything you ask of us. Unfortunately, that’s the problem when you ask us to do something bad. It isn’t our fault but we’re the ones who die for it. And now some of you who say you love us are supporting the people who gave that, that… HUMAN millions of $$$ and put him on national TV to be cheered. I don’t get it. I thought I was your best friend?”

Help Dogs Like Me:

Bad Rap

Animal Farm Foundation

Out of the Pits

Sack Vick

FUPI Pets of the Week: Rocky & Okie

Rocky

 

 Rocky was left in a backyard when his owner lost his home due to foreclosure. When he was rescued he was a dirty, matted, and distressed dog. But look at him now! His inner beauty is surely shining through. He is now a mellow, friendly, and loving guy. He is well-behaved and great with children of all ages. He is also good with other dogs and cats. He is a golden retriever and perhaps shepherd mix approximately six years old. He is just a great dog and will make some lucky family very happy.

 

 

Okie

Okie’s owner lost her home and had to move to Oklahoma. But she didn’t leave room in the car for Okie! And despite being sixteen pounds of  love, Okie really doesn’t take up that much room. She is very sweet and loves to be petted, scratched, and cuddled. She also loves people of all ages and gets along well with other animals too. She is four years old and just ready to purr her way into your heart. 

UPDATE: Okie has been adopted!

Rocky and Okie would be great pets for just about anyone. They love everyone – two and four footed alike! It’s a mystery as to why they have not been snatched up yet. Please come and meet them at our next adoption event!

 

House

 

Two cats were abandoned at Fire Station 38. So we named them Fire and House. Fire has been adopted but House is still waiting for her home to come along. She is a perfectly lovely & healthy cat who would love to snuggle her way into your heart.

If you are interested in Rocky or Okie House please contact us at forecloseduponpets@hotmail.com or 702-272-0010

Check out all our animals up for adoption at the Foreclosed Upon Pets, Inc. website.

FUPI Pet of the Week: Peanut!

 

Peanut playing

 

We found a Peanut!

Peanut is a “found” dog who is looking for a new home. She is about one year old and is very playful. She’s  great with children and other animals. She loves to be held and cuddled. And the very nice man who found her says he has not even heard her bark yet! So if you’re interested in Peanut let us know right away. A dog this cute who doesn’t bark doesn’t come along every day!

 

 

Peanut will be at the Petco on MLK and Craig Rd this Saturday, 9/26, hoping for a new home.

Peanut sleeping

Please contact Foreclosed Upon Pets, Inc.  if you’re interested in Peanut.

Peanut

So Sad, Too Bad

Sugar Bear

 

Sugar Bear was only nine months old when he was killed. His Crime? He was homeless. And he had only been in the Lied shelter for six weeks. But six weeks wasn’t long enough for him to find a home. Clark County city shelters took in 52,375 cats and dogs last year. 56.5% of them didn’t make it out alive. Over 30,000 cats and dogs, like Sugar Bear, were killed and I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say they were “euthanized”. The definition of euthanasia is “the act or practice of killing somebody who has an incurable illness or injury, or of assisting that person to die”. These dogs and cats are not being put out of their misery. Does Sugar Bear look like he is in misery? No, he looks like he is loving life and he should have had a long life filled with love. These 30,000 dogs and cats are being killed simply because, for the vast majority of them, they are homeless.

Stray animals, either picked up by Animal Control or brought to Lied by the public, are the biggest contributor to shelter overpopulation. Those cats (unless feral) and dogs belonged to someone at some point. What happened? Maybe they were just turned loose or maybe they were lost. But only 10% of the animals in the city shelters are returned to owners. So it seems a lot of people aren’t looking for their lost pets.

The number one reason pets are turned into the shelter by their owners? Because the owners are moving. I cannot fathom how cold and compassionless you must be in order to leave your cat or dog behind. But obviously a large segment of our society regards cats and dogs as disposable.

The other top reasons pets are turned into the shelter by their owners? Allergies (usually self diagnosed), home foreclosures/economic reasons, sick or injured pet that the owner can’t or won’t take care of, owner died or went into a nursing home (make arrangements for your pets, please!), owners had a baby so “beloved” pet is out the door, the pet’s behavior (whose fault is that?), new spouse/partner doesn’t like the pet (how pathetic is that!), and owner ignorance on the care of the pet. As you can see the majority of the reasons a pet is dumped into a shelter are due to human ignorance, selfishness, and irresponsibility. I am ashamed on behalf of my species. Everyone should be ashamed about this.

Too often people will hear the statistics, over 30,000 cats and dogs killed annually in Clark County, and say “That’s so sad.” “That’s too bad.” But that’s as far as it goes. Too many people don’t do anything about it. Too many people don’t want to even hear about it. Too many people don’t want to see the faces of these dogs and cats who are being killed, like Sugar Bear. But putting your head in the sand isn’t going to help all the Sugar Bears out there. If you’re ignoring the problem you may as well be sticking the needle in them yourselves.

Now I know people are busy. I’m busy too. But compassion doesn’t take a lot of time or money. It doesn’t take a lot of time to learn about the issues and then educate your family and friends about them. It doesn’t take any more time to adopt your pet from a shelter instead of buying one at a pet store. It doesn’t take a lot of time to write a check to support your local shelter (just forgo a couple of Starbucks each week). It doesn’t take a lot of time to forward on those e-mails about dogs or cats in need. It doesn’t take a lot of time to print out the flyers about the dogs and cats who need homes and post them on your bulletin board at work. It does not take a lot of time to call /write your legislators to advocate for more animal friendly laws. It does not take a lot of time to write a letter to the editor informing the public about the plight of these homeless animals.  It does not take a lot of time to confront (and educate) friends and family who did not adopt their pet from a shelter and/or whose pets are not spayed or neutered.

I’m also pretty sure most people could scrape up a couple of hours a month to go walk a homeless dog at the shelter or spend some time brushing a homeless cat or just holding a scared puppy. Socializing the cats and dogs in shelters increases their chances of being adopted. It doesn’t take a lot of time. Every little bit helps. How many hours a week do you spend watching TV anyway?

It is incumbent on all of us who claim to be animal lovers, or who claim to love our own cat or dog, or who just claim to be a decent human being to do whatever we can to help put an end to the killing of tens of thousands of cats and dogs in our community.

So do you speak out for these cats and dogs who can’t speak out for themselves? Or do you just say “So sad, too bad”? Sugar Bear deserved more than that.

 

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good people do nothing.”

Albert Einstein

 

What You Can Do:

Write to your legislators.

Find them here:

Nevada State

Clark County Commissioners

Put this, or something like it, as your e-mail signature:

Save a life, adopt a pet!

http://www.liedanimalshelter.org/

Get involved with a local rescue group.

There’s plenty to choose from, some are in the links on the right side of this page.

 Write a Letter to the Editor:

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas Sun

Here, I’ll even get you started:

To the Editor:

56.5 % of all animals going into Lied, our city shelter, do not make it out alive. When will Las Vegans start getting outraged by this and start doing something about it? I do not want my tax dollars being used to kill over 30,000 dogs and cats every year. I want my money to be spent instead on finding these dogs and cats homes and by funding low cost spay/neuter clinics and humane educational programs. Please Las Vegans, adopt your pets from a shelter and get them spayed or neutered!

 Feel free to edit or copy as is and send in. Maybe if enough of us do it, they’ll finally print something about it.

Sweet Jasmine

Sweet Jasmine and her adoptive Mom

Sweet Jasmine was one of the most traumatized dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels. 

From Sports Illustrated: “We were surprised at how little aggression there was,” says [Donna] Reynolds [executive director and co-founder of Bad Rap]. Many of the dogs had all but shut down. They cowered in the corners of their kennels or stood hunched with their heads lowered, their tails between their legs and their feet shifting nervously. Some didn’t want to come out. As far as they knew bad things happened when people came. Bad things happened when they were led out of their cages.  One dog was so scared that even the confines of her kennel offered her no comfort. Shelter workers used a blanket to construct a little tent inside her cage that she could duck under. Remembering that dog, [Dr. Frank] McMillan [the director of well-being studies at Best Friends Animal Society] says, “Jasmine broke my heart.” Read more.

Jasmine was not a fighter, she was probably used for breeding, so her whole life (four years) at Bad Newz Kennels she lived chained to a car axle in the woods. Except for when she as being forcibly bred. And she saw, heard, and smelled the death of dogs all around her.

After being rescued Sweet Jasmine, like the other dogs, lived alone in a kennel at an animal control facility in Virginia for four months. Once the Vick sentencing was over and the dogs were no longer “evidence” a judge decided to spare them death and have them evaluated for rehabilitation instead. Jasmine was initially set to go to Best Friends (who was awarded the most traumatized and abused dogs) but when a volunteer from Recycled Love, a Baltimore rescue group, saw Jasmine and crawled into her kennel to comfort her, Jasmine responded and it was decided she would go to Recycled Love along with another dog, Sweet Pea. That volunteer, Catalina Stirling, is the one who got to take Sweet Jasmine home.

It took several months in Stirling’s home before Jasmine would voluntarily leave her cage. Striling would have to pick her up and carry her outside to go to the bathroom. When Jasmine was done she would lie in a little hole in the backyard until she was carried back in.

“Play dates” with Sweet Pea helped bring Jasmine out of her shell. The two dogs had a genuine affection for each other and their adoptive families believe Sweet Pea may be Jasmine’s mother.

Jasmine lived with Stirling and her family surrounded by love for almost two years.  She had come far in putting her past abuses aside and would no doubt have come further. But sadly last week Jasmine was hit by a car and killed. Her family is grief-stricken. Perhaps her family can take some comfort in knowing that they had the honor of loving a dog who needed it the most. And that Sweet Jasmine’s story of how an abused dog can learn to trust and love will be an inspiration to many and hopefully save the lives of other abused dogs.

From Sports Illustrated: “Vick showed the worst of us, our bloodlust, but this rescue showed the best,” Reynolds says. “I don’t think any of us thought it was possible to save these dogs — the government, the rescuers, the regular people — but we surprised ourselves.”

Jasmine doesn’t know about any of that as she sits on the back deck of Stirling’s house. Stirling kneels next to her, gently stroking the dog’s back. “I used to think any dog could be rehabbed if you gave it food, exercise and love,” she says, “but I know now it’s not totally true. Jasmine’s happy, but she’ll never be like other dogs.”

It’s quiet for a moment, and the breeze blows a shower of brown and red leaves off the trees. Then Jasmine turns, looks up, and licks Catalina’s face. It is the sweetest of kisses.

Rest in Peace Sweet Jasmine

Sweet Jasmine

The Focus Should Be On the Dogs, NOT Vick

 

Sweet Jasmine

Update: As I was finishing up this blog post I found out that Sweet Jasmine, the most timid of all the rescued dogs who then turned into a Sports Illustrated cover girl, was hit by a car and killed two days ago. Although terribly sad, being in her adoptive home for a year and ½ at least she got to know love and compassion in her life, something the dogs Vick killed never got. Think about that as you watch him play (or preferably don’t watch him in Sweet Jasmine’s honor).

  

Hopefully this will be the last time I type the name Michael Vick. Even though he won’t yet be fading into oblivion where he belongs, I don’t want to focus on him and his vile acts anymore. And while I’m avoiding any mention of him I will also be avoiding anything to do with the Eagles and the NFL,  as well as any of the Eagles corporate sponsors (that means you Pepsi, Budweiser, Miller Lite, 7-11, AAA, Best Buy, Chrysler, Dunkin Donuts, Heineken, Taco Bell, Papa Johns, Pepcid, Snapple, Rite Aid, and Verizon). Because unlike these corporate sponsors, the Eagles, the

NFL, and Vick “fans”, my principles are not for sale for a dog torturing, dog killing, lying, unremorseful, pathetic excuse for a human being, just because he can play football well.

Whatever happened to the concept of athletes being revered for the good they do on AND off the field? Whatever happened to the responsibility of being a good role model?  Being exposed as a merciless dog killer should be a career ender for any high-profile position. And why is Pete Rose banned from baseball (he didn’t kill anybody) while he-who-will-no-longer-be-named is back playing football (along with various other felons)? Of course these are all rhetorical questions. I already know the answers. Because as our society has become more and more consumed by consumerism, enamored by celebrities and lifestyles of the rich and famous, and obsessed by winning at all costs, we have lost our freaking minds.

Georgia

I mean really, in what world is it acceptable to allow our children to look up to a man like he-who-will-no-longer-be-named? I think before every Eagles game the indictment of how he slaughtered those dogs should be read. And pictures of the dogs who were rescued should flash up on the big screen. Close-ups of their scarred faces and battered and beaten bodies. And a big picture of Georgia who had all her teeth removed so she couldn’t bite as she was forcibly bred on the rape stands. Followed by the words, “THIS IS THE MAN YOU WILL BE CHEERING FOR TODAY.”

Okay, I’m done. As far as this saga is concerned, going forward I will solely be focusing on the only ones who really deserve second chances: the dogs. And the only ones who truly deserve accolades: the people and groups who are rehabilitating, loving, and opening up their homes and hearts to the rescued dogs. I hope you’ll join me.

Instead of watching an Eagles game, how about spending some time at your local shelter walking some rescued pit bulls? Instead of spending any money on the NFL or any of the Eagles sponsors (Pepsi, Budweiser, Miller Lite, 7-11, AAA, Best Buy, Chrysler, Dunkin Donuts, Heineken, Taco Bell, Papa Johns, Pepcid, Snapple, Rite Aid, and Verizon), how about making a contribution to one of the groups below who took in some of the 47 rescued dogs?

Every Sunday throughout the NFL season, I will be posting follow-ups on the rescued dogs and where they are now, along with profiles of some great rescue groups, as a reminder that unlike the NFL, the Eagles, their sponsors (Pepsi, Budweiser, Miller Lite, 7-11, AAA, Best Buy, Chrysler, Dunkin Donuts, Heineken, Taco Bell, Papa Johns, Pepcid, Snapple, Rite Aid, and Verizon), Michael Vick (last time, I swear) and his “fans”, who only care about winning games and making money, there are still some people in this country who have their heads screwed on straight and their hearts in the right place.

And now, here are the ones who should be cheered and who should have been given 1.5 million dollars with a second year option of 5 million:

Best Friends (22 dogs)

Bad Rap (10 dogs)

Richmond Animal League (4 dogs)

The Monterey County SPCA (3 dogs )

Recycled Love (2 dogs including Sweet Jasmine)

Animal Rescue of Tidewater (1 dog)

Jhumpa