Over the past six months Arizona Basset Hound Rescue (AZBHR) rescued an incredible 52 Basset Hounds from a puppy mill in Pinal County. They were able to save and care for so many dogs because of their amazing big network of foster homes (97 dogs in foster care as of today!), volunteers, and donors with very big hearts! We had the chance to speak to AZBHR’s president, Kim Bruck, not only about this wonderful rescue’s work over the past decade, but how she’s helped over the past 5 years. As our Hero of the Month, we applaud her and all her volunteers’ efforts in saving the lives of so many Basset Hounds in need – over 1300 since they started, with 158 so far in 2009 alone!

Tell us about your rescue of 52 Basset Hounds from a puppy mill: How did you get involved? How did you manage to save so many?

Kim: AZBHR worked with Pinal County for over two years trying to close down this breeder and is very thankful to Pinal County and all their staff for the efforts in getting the owner to surrender the final group of Bassets as of Monday, August 3rd. As a result, AZBHR has 97 Basset Hounds in foster care as of September 10th… yes, 97! That is a RECORD for us as we usually average 60. Of the 97 dogs, there are 21 that are forever fosters who are seniors or have medical behavior issues and will be with their foster homes until they go to the Rainbow Bridge.

AZBHR would NOT exist without the many volunteers in our organization, past, present and future. AZBHR is an all-volunteer organization with NO paid staff. It’s because of the dedication and long hours our volunteers put in that we can help all these hounds! Most of the dogs have been adopted, but many are still waiting for their forever homes.

When and how did your rescue get started?

Once upon a time, Basset Hound “rescue” was something performed by Basset breeders and breed club members. In the late 1980s, when it became apparent that the need was far greater than the individuals and clubs could provide, the Basset Hound Club of America formed a committee called B.H CARES. By the early ‘90s, it was obvious that the rescue efforts were becoming greater than the club could handle, and B.H.CARES became a separately incorporated entity. We had association with the local groups, or “chapters,” who were totally autonomous. The national group served the same functions as had the original BHCA committee. One of the board members helped local Bassett Rescuers launch Arizona Basset Hound Rescue, filing papers of incorporation in 1999.

You have some interesting fundraisers going on right now! Tell us about your prizes, and how did you get them donated?

We are definitely in need of funds – our veterinary bills are currently over $70,000! We sent over 5,000 emails and letters to companies for donations for the Basset Ball. AZBHR also has a volunteer who does fundraising programs, Valerie Cree and she sets up the fundraisers such as the current Raffle for Ron Burns Limited Edition Artwork, titled Furever Homes™. The grand prize winner of the raffle will receive a limited edition of their choice from artist Ron Burns valued at up to $2,000. Additionally, three runner-up winners will be selected to receive a $100 gift certificate for Burns fine art. Visit http://www.ronburns.com to see Ron Burns’ limited-edition work. Raffle tickets are only $5 each, or a quantity of five is available for $20. Tickets go on sale September 1st and the last day to purchase will be October 23rd – drawing will be held at the AZBHR Howl event, but you do not need to be present to win. http://www.azbassetrescue.com/Events/Events.htm

What is the best part about rescuing Basset Hounds?

Knowing you have saved their life! That is what it is all about.

You can see Arizona Basset Hound Rescue’s adoptable dogs at http://www.adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/70689.html and also see even more photos, stories, & news coverage videos on their own website http://www.azbassetrescue.com too.

(Photo: www.ADogsLifePhoto.com)

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This week we found an animal shelter with a reality TV show that uses parolees for helping hands. Also, an 8-year-old third grader writes a book about pet adoption.

On 17 acres in the rugged terrain of Canyon Country, Tia Torres provides a place to live or work for six parolees, 225 pit bulls, 204 volunteers, two French bulldogs, 19 cats, a husband and four kids. But the rescue’s been a money pit requiring creative financing. So now she’s turning to reality TV — with Animal Planet’s “Pit Bulls and Parolees.”

“He never gives up,” Deni Bayer, 37, said of her son, a rising third-grader who spent much of the summer working on the book. “For him to sit still this long, any of his teachers will tell you, is a big deal.” The book’s initial print run is 150 copies; the book sells for $10. Joshua said he will divide the proceeds from book sales among Whipkey’s group, the Charles County Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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8:30 a.m., 9/1/09 Los Angeles California wildfires continue to burn out of control, threatening homes, people, and animals. “The Station fire” grew to more than 122,000 acres overnight last night, despite signs of improving weather conditions. We have put together this list of animal shelter and rescues that are assisting animals and people affected by the wildfires. If you hear any updates or have additions, please let us! This list includes: Animal Acres, Baldwin Park shelter, Basset Rescue Network, Gentle Barn, Irvine ACC, Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation, Pasadena Humane Society, Villalobos. Listing alphabetically!

Animal Acres
Acton, CA
http://www.animalacres.org
9/1 12:15am – found a more uptodate site with the evacuations and how to help Animal Acres here: http://kcdisasteraid.wordpress.com/ latest update 8/31 says they are “recruiting/managing standby volunteers for Animal Acres” for a 2nd evacuation, as where they were 1st evacuated to is now in the path of the fire.

Baldwin Park – Los Angeles County Animal Shelter
4275 N. Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
The nonprofit that organizes help for this shelter is Animal Advocates Alliance http://animaladvocatesalliance.org/category/adopt-now/
8/31 11:55pm: “The fires have burned away from Baldwin Park’s service area and as of right now we are actually not that inundated. However a lot of our resources are at the fire and anything and everything could change at any moment. So I guess what we’re really most in need of is adopters to help empty the kennels! Kindest regards, Ric Browde”

Basset Rescue Network
Acton, CA
Main website: http://www.bassetrescuenetwork.org (see Latest News)
Fire updates & donations: http://www.firstgiving.com/ActonFire_BassetRescueNetwork
They have 100 basset hounds and mixes.
2:44 AM, 9/1/09, Kennel Manager updates: “We are safe as of 2:44AM. Here from the property we would evacuate all animals with the assistance of several neighbors as during an evacuation it’s unlikely that non area residents could get through.” The shelter needs money for the expenses that comes with the smoke, ashes, fire and pending evacuation.

Gentle Barn
Santa Clarita, CA
http://gentlebarn.org (for donations)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Gentle-Barn/54967149038?ref=ts
8/31: they are taking in animals from the fires, as they are currently not in the evacuation area (but close by). “Jay headed out to the fires in Acton with our stock tailor to see if anyone needed help. So far we have four new horses and two new donkeys from the fires. we shall see who Jay brings home next.”

Irvine Animal Care Center
6443 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
http://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/cs/animalcare/default.asp
8/31: This shelter took in 40+ dogs from the Pasadena Humane Society to make room for fire evacuees. Those dogs need adopters, and they accept online donations too.

Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation
Acton, CA
Fire update page: http://lindablairworldheart.org/?p=749
(FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acton-CA/The-Linda-Blair-WorldHeart-Foundation/70244399672?ref=ts )
8/31 8:56pm: “Our first and biggest need are donations. We need financial donations to help us with the many costs that can/will arise from this crisis situation. We are also in need of donated crates, at least 42″ in size as our doggies are large. We can always use blankets and dog bowls as well…. If you are willing to help load dogs in crates and transport to our evacuation spot and don’t mind getting called in the middle of the night please let us know. You can email worldheartvolunteers@gmail.com for more information.”

Pasadena Humane Society
361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91105
http://pasadenahumane.org then click on “Donate Now to Fire Disaster Relief!”
8/31 4pm update: they currently have all the supplies and volunteers they need. Monetary donations are still being accepted.

Villalobos Rescue Center
Canyon Country, CA
http://www.vrcpitbull.com
8/31: have heard rumors they were evacuated, but have been unable to confirm – does anyone know?

Wildlife Waystation
14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd 91342 (818) 899-5201
9/1 update: http://www.scpr.org/blogs/fire-updates/2009/08/31/wildlife-way-station-receives-abundance-volunteers/

DO YOU NEED HELP getting your animals to safety? Please contact the Kinship Circle Disaster Aid Network. They stand ready to deploy volunteers. You can reach them at 917-596-9040 or http://www.kinshipcircle.org

Need wildlife help? Contact Valley Wildlife Care, a nonprofit, volunteer organization. They will intake ANY wildlife from the fires. http://www.valleywildlifecare.org 818-346-8247

(image is map of the fire per LA Times as of 11 p.m., 8/31/09)

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Below is a beautiful note we received from Patricia Chavous about the wonderful experience she had adopting not one, but TWO sweet polydactyl kittens (polydactyls, also known as Hemingway cats, have thumb-like appendages on their paws) from Whiskers in Waiting rescue:

Dear Adopt-a-Pet.com,

I want to thank you for your efforts in saving animals.

I have been in animal rescue for many years, I have lost both legs and can no longer help in this way. All my pets have been rescues, we chose each other through fate and need.

My family has had polydactyls since my great grandmother. For once I decided to chose kitties and go back to my childhood. I felt guilty because I always wanted to help those that had the most need.
Adopt-a-Pet.com helped me do that – I adopted two sibling polys from Missouri, from Whiskers in Waiting ten days ago.

They have fit in beautifully with my feral cats who have been with me for thirteen years. They have charmed everyone and have given my family great happiness.

Even though I am in a wheelchair, they climb the wheels when they are tired and sleep in my lap. They will be with my husband and me as long as they live.

Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Patricia Chavous

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One of the keys to a community’s success rate in helping their homeless animals is for local rescue groups to work together and support one another’s efforts. Los Angeles-based Molly’s Mutts & Meows was actually founded on this principle, so much so that it is inked into their mission statement.

Molly Wootton, founder of Molly’s Mutts & Meows, goes to great lengths to offer support and guidance to anyone in the community who wishes to help animals. Like many rescue groups, Molly’s Mutts & Meows does not have a physical facility, but instead relies on those willing to provide foster homes for animals until permanent homes are found. Molly attributes her tremendous success rate to her innovative methods of engaging volunteers; she allows foster home providers to go with her to the city shelters to pick out the animal they wish to care for.

Molly believes that including the volunteer in this manner fosters dedication, loyalty and a real commitment to the animal in their care. Molly’s dedication and can-do attitude are truly infectious, “We can save lives. People need to make adoption the first option,” says Molly, “We all need to get out there and educate our peer group. Those who have an adopted pet need to make it known and spread the message.” Check out all of Molly’s adoptable pets, or to find out how you can help, visit http://www.mollysmuttsandmeows.org/.

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Today, the world’s oldest dog turns 21.  Chanel, a dachshund who lives with her owner on Long Island, NY, wears goggles to protect her cataracts and long ago faded from red to grey.  She still is a much-beloved family member, though, treasured every bit as much today as she was when she was adopted from a shelter in Virginia as a puppy.

Every dog should be as lucky as Chanel.  In an idea world, all dogs would have a warm, safe home in which to grow old.  All dogs would have a loving family to take care of them in their later years.  Unfortunately, through a variety of circumstances, many senior dogs end up in the animal shelter.  Sometimes their owners, also elderly, must move to a care facility that doesn’t accept pets.  Sometimes, owners can no longer afford to care for a dog that needs age-related medical procedures or medication.  Sadly, in some cases the owners simply want a newer, younger dog.  It’s tragic, but true.

In honor of Chanel, let’s make today Adopt a Senior Dog Day!  Seniors make wonderful companions and they have so much love to give.  Please go to the “Search Dog” page, enter in your zip code, and select “senior” from the age menu.  Find a wonderful senior dog in your area.  If you can’t adopt that sweetheart yourself, post a link to the dog’s information page on Facebook, Twitter him/her out to your followers, or simply email a link to all your friends.  Let’s get those beautiful seniors out of the shelter and into the loving homes they so richly deserve!

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Hard workers who are committed to helping our county’s shelter animals come in all shapes and sizes.  The Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary in Texas’ panhandle is proof positive of that!

This very special rescue group is run almost entirely by children.  One historic spring in 2003 school teacher Dianne Trull was talking to her students about pet over population and one child earnestly inquired, “Why do the dogs have to die?”

Able to grasp the power in that moment and unwilling to tell her students that they were powerless to help these desperate animals, Diane instead took it upon herself to empower these young leaders.  As Diane puts it, together her students, her family and she set out to “change how the world works.  And change the world they have done indeed–in spite of tremendous obstacles– for themselves and the over 5,000 dogs and cats they have placed in loving homes!

Diane’s commitment and that of her students was tested early on when the community forced them out of their existing shelter and they had to move over 500 animals during a blizzard to another nearby location.  Regardless of season, the weather in Dalhart continues to pose some of the most challenging obstacles; Wind speeds get up to 70 mph and temperatures can range from 70 degrees one day to below zero the following day…not to mention tornados and hurricanes that frequent the area.

However, D.A.W.G.S. founder Diane is reluctant to focus on these challenges. She invariably brings the conversation back to focus on the animals saved and the amazing kids who, now in high school and mentoring other young students, are still hard at work helping the animals.

In an effort to protect the shelter from the forces of nature, D.A.W.G.S.  is now enrolled in a USDA conservation program that will match the funds they raise to build a natural windbreak out of trees. This is yet another challenge for the amazing team at D.A.W.G.S, a challenge we have no doubt they will meet.  Especially if we all put the word out and show them that they have the support of all of us. See: http://www.dawgsntexas.com/HTML/newdonations2007.html if you’d like to help.

And with volunteers like fourth grader Hannah, we know the D.A.W.G.S.   animals are in great hands; According to Hannah, the shelter is like “the little engine that could–we just keep thinking we can, thinking we can, thinking we can….and finally we make it!”

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A 10-year-old dog abandoned by her owner at the pound…a pit bull confiscated by police after his homeless owner is arrested for beating him…38 unsocialized corgi mixes removed from the home of a mentally ill man…an elderly chow mix rescued after spending over a week on the side of a Los Angeles freeway…what hope do dogs like these have? The answer: Pooch Heaven, a non-profit rescue, where there is no such thing as a lost cause.

Located on an 800-acre ranch in Southern California, Pooch Heaven is home to 50-70 adoptable dogs at any given time, as well as eleven “sponsored” pets (those who are not adoptable due to serious health or behavioral problems). One look at Pooch Heaven’s pet list will tell you all you need to know about this organization: they believe that all pets deserve a chance at a happy life, no matter their age, breed, or background. Many of Pooch Heaven’s pets have special needs due to physical disabilities or medical conditions, or are difficult to place because they are older. Once Pooch Heaven takes in an orphan, the lucky dog is set for life—literally. Pets who don’t find homes live out the remainder of their lives at Pooch Heaven, and adopters must agree to return their pet to Pooch Heaven if they ever become unable to care for him or her, no matter how many years have passed since the adoption. “Once we rescue a dog, we consider ourselves responsible for that dog for the rest of his life, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Jamie Lee, Pooch Heaven’s administrator.

Pooch Heaven is always full to capacity, and adoptions are sometimes very slow. “The puppies and young small dogs we rescue are very easy to find homes for,” says Lee, “but when we take in an older dog or a maligned breed like a pit bull or a rottweiler, we know that it may take months, even years, before that dog is adopted. We never give up hope, though, no matter how long a dog has been with us. Every one of these wonderful dogs deserves to live in a real home with a person or a family who loves them. We believe there’s a family out there for each of them.”

If you live in Southern California and you’re looking for a pet to adopt, check out the pets at Pooch Heaven! You can be the home that one of these pooches has been waiting for!

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This story comes to us from Robyn R. of Los Angeles:

HappyBeginnings1 Googled “rescue dogs” and got a plethora of photos from Adoptapet.com. I was overwhelmed by the amount of animals in need of a home. One of the first pictures I got was of a Cocker named Dakota. I knew this dog was for me and my two boys. We raced over to Friends of Animals shelter and a woman was just about to walk a dog and I just knew that it was Dakota!! I said, “Dakota!” and he looked up at me, and the volunteer looked at me incredulously and said, “Oh, you know Dakota?” Even though the photo I’d seen was just of his face and very small, I felt such a connection to this dog I knew it must be Dakota. I adopted him immediately! He is approximately 7 years old and doesn’t let a tennis ball leave his mouth! He has brought such joy into my life and my family’s. I kept receiving Search Saver e-mails about other available dogs and couldn’t resist getting him a buddy. We went back to the same rescue foundation and adopted Max, a very spirited 1-year-old Cocker. He is the clown of the family and keeps us laughing and moving! I get stopped on the street daily to tell me what beautiful dogs they are!

Thank you for enriching my life with these wonderful animals. Not only did I save their lives but they are saving mine by giving me unconditional love and happiness.

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This month, we’d like to introduce you to Southern California’s Bichon Furkids Rescue, a very special organization dedicated to saving the lives of a very special breed: the Bichon Frise (they also work with Bichon mixes and Maltese Bichons). They do a great job of it, too—although they’ve been in operation for less than a year, they have rescued and re-homed an incredible 80 dogs! Why adopt a Bichon? Explains Marti Colwell, co-founder of Bichon Furkids, “Bichons are wonderful dogs; they have an independent spirit and are intelligent, affectionate and lively. They are, by nature, happy and loving, and they respond well to training…and who can resist those adorable little faces with those huge black eyes and noses?” Marti and co-founder Mena Thiers are dedicated to making sure each Bichon goes to a wonderful home where their needs are met: “Bichons are naturally sociable,” says Marti, “and they’re happiest when they are part of a family that interacts with them a lot.”

Bichon Furkids is currently trying to find a forever home for a wonderful pair of pooches with a sad story. Casey and Bitsy (pictured) came from a home where they were neglected, never taken to a vet, never groomed, and never cared for. They slept together in a small, hard plastic crate with only each other for comfort. By the time they were lucky enough to be taken in by Bichon Furkids, both of them were suffering from terrible ear infections. Despite everything, they are affectionate, happy, playful as can be, and READY FOR A NEW HOME! They are a bonded pair, and must be adopted together. If you’re interested in being the hero who provides the happy ending to Casey and Bitsy’s story, contact Bichon Furkids!

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