Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue

Today I feature Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue. I'm prompted to do this because of Gus. Gus was found wandering Tampa's streets by Ginny, whose household includes two rescued hounds. Ginny tracked down the owner. His story was that the dog was given to him by a friend as a hunting prospect. But Gus was coughing alot. His solution? Kick the dog out on the streets and be angry at the friend for giving him a defective dog. He wanted nothing to do with the dog and relinquished him to Ginny. She contacted Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue who promptly came to take Gus for veterinary care. He tested positive for heartworms and underwent treatment. Unfortunately, Gus' condition had progressed to the point of compromising his heart. He will probably require heart medication for the rest of his life. His heart condition puts him at higher than normal risk were he to undergo anesthesia, so future elective surgeries, such as neutering are not likely. But he is a happy, playful, congenial fellow who has easily stolen the hearts of Ginny, his foster Mom, Sylvia and all who have met him at TBBR. He deserves a loving home, one he can count on for the rest of his life. To learn more about Gus, see his webpage on the TBBR site.

Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue was started in 1999 by a single woman, Betty Roberts. By 2003 she had gathered volunteers and they forged a non profit organization. They are the only non profit rescue group in Florida dedicated exclusively to rescuing beagles and beagle mixes from shelters and abusive or neglectful situations. Their goals are to care for, rehabilitate and rehome dogs regardless of age, medical or behavioral problems. They also strive to educate the public about the Beagle breed. They require their volunteers to be knowledgeable about the breed and work to make sure beagle adopters are aware of the breed's traits and requirements. TBBR is working to be a continung resourse of information and training to new owners after adoptions. Long term, they hope to acquire permanent property where they can hold their own adoption events, meet ups, fund raisers and training. In 2007, TBBR found new forever homes for 253 dogs. As with most rescue groups, their ability to care for dogs relies on the number of foster homes they have. If you are a beagle lover and are interested in fostering, volunteering, or donating, contact TBBR.

Moose, The Lucky Basset

Here is a rescue story from Phillip:

I suppose my dog rescue story is not as glorious as some. My dog was not abused and did not come from a bad home. Most people love Basset Hounds and Moose gets attention everywhere we go. So why is there a need for a Basset Hound Rescue? This is a dog that perfectly illustrates the need for researching your dog before you adopt! Basset puppies are adorable, and since they are short people think of them as small dogs. My vet says however that my 45 pounder is in the same category as much larger dogs since the only things smaller about him really are his legs. He was in a a condo with no yard to explore, and a big big voice! (the better to annoy all those neighbors with) Another thing that is typical with these dogs is a very contrary attitude. Deliberately disobeying is not uncommon.

Basically Moose was in a good and loving, though totally inappropriate home. My family has had hound dogs all my life and I am all too familiar with Beagle's and Basset's idiosyncrasies, so when I heard about this guy with a Basset Hound I decided to go for it! That was just about exactly two years ago and I have never regretted it once. I love this dog more than anything and I feel so lucky that his old owner couldn't keep him. I do know that for anyone out there that has a good amount of space and is patient, and is willing to trade that patience for more love than you ever bargained on, maybe you should contact the Suncoast Basset Hound Rescue. As with most breeds of dogs, there are a LOT of these guys out there that need good homes!

Abused Dogs Get New Park

The Tampa Tribune reported this week that dogs at Hillsborough County Animal Services who are held in isolation now have a fenced in grassy area to roam and play. Previously, they had been stuck in cages for months, sometimes years until their abuse and neglect cases were settled in court. Volunteer Karyn Ringhauer was instrumental in starting the project to make the dogrun a reality. The community jumped to contribute, including local high school teens. Read more about this success story in The Trib.

What Do You Do When You Find A Stray Dog?

Hearing other people's rescue stories made me realize how far we have evolved on the dog rescue front. When I was growing up, if you found a stray dog, your parents might have let you put a bowl of water and food outside for it to eat. Then, if it worked its magic on their hearts or you presented a good enough story about how you'd take such good care of it, they'd allow you to give it a bath and keep it. If not, the dreaded "pound" was called and the dog was hauled away.

Nowadays, many animals are microchipped and most are licensed and tagged, allowing for quick ownership checks. In the event that no owner is found, there are multiple choices of rescue organizations that you can call for help. Still, there are people out there who may be unaware of how to handle the situation when they find a stray animal. Here are tips taken from my own experience and the United States Humane Society website. Another site with useful information is the Action For Animals Network.

1) If you're the type who cannot drive by a dog seen wandering down a busy street, keep a collar and leash in your vehicle along with a blanket or towels, a water dish and some strong smelling treats like dried liver.

2) Keep a list of phone numbers for local animal shelters and rescues handy, as well as a 24 hour veterinary clinic.

3) If possible, keep the stray dog separate from your own pets, until you're sure it isn't carrying disease or pests and you can safely integrate it into your household.

4) If you're thinking of keeping the animal, first make an honest effort to find the original owner. Place a Found ad in the newspaper. Many newspapers offer this as a free service. Take the dog to a vet clinic to have it scanned for a microchip. Call the local shelters to report the dog, so they can process the information. The shelters should also be able to clue you in as to local and state laws about claiming ownership of strays. If the dog looks like it hasn't wandered far, place poster ads in your neighborhood or use the internet to announce the dog's discovery. Some neighborhoods now have community email groups. There are lost and found animal registries like the Lost Dogs Database. There is even a lost and found section on Craig's List.

5) If you're not interested in keeping the dog, there are many rescue groups out there you can call for assistance. Almost every breed has a state rescue organization now and in the Tampa Bay area we have multiple choices in groups who take in pets of any kind. There's a list of breed rescues and shelters at Florida Rescue website.

Golden Needs A Home

His name is Kaiser and he's in need of a family who can handle all the love he has to give. His family grew with the addition of two children who are allergic to him. The grandparents took him home, but now the grandchildren can't visit them without having an allergic reaction. This family is very sad to give up their four-legged loved one and hopes someone out there has a home that needs a good natured canine. Kaiser is 8 years old. A typical golden retriever, he loves to play and go on walks, and is great with kids. He's neutered, healthy and up to date on vaccinations. He's housebroken and knows basic obedience. He's lived inside all his life, so he needs a new home that allows him to stay indoors with a nice fenced backyard. If you're interested or know someone who might be, email me.

Lost Angels Animal Rescue

This month I begin a new feature on the blog, articles about Florida's rescue groups. I'll start with some in the Tampa Bay area, which is where I live. I'd like to feature rescue groups that you, the readers have had good experiences with throughout the state. If you have a group to recommend please email me and I'll contact them about an article.

Our first experience with a rescue group was with Lost Angels Animal Rescue, based in Hillsborough County. We were ready to adopt a dog and had been researching the choices for a few months. One Saturday in April, 2006, we visited Petco in the Carrollwood area, where Lost Angels was visiting with their adoptable dogs. Ella caught our eye and the rest is history. There were probably 20 dogs there that day, from puppies to senior canines. All were attended by caring foster "parents". Lost Angels strives to accept every stray they come across. They have been operating for several years and last year alone found homes for 734 animals. They are a non profit group relying on donations and fund raising. Their adoptable dogs can be seen every Saturday from 10a.m. to 3p.m.at Petco in the shopping center at the northeast corner of N. Dale Mabry Hwy. and Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Adoption fees range from $150-$400. They will also appear Sunday March 30 at Museum For Mutts Fandango from 11a.m-4p.m at the Palm Harbor Historical Museum, 3054 Curlew Rd. in Palm Harbor.

One of the adoptable dogs featured on the Lost Angels site is Ford. That's her sweet face in the photo above. She is a four year old shepherd mix, weighing about 70 lbs. and in need of a permanent loving family. Her previous owners kept her tied to a boat, and fed her hotdog buns, then decided even that was too much trouble, so they put her on Craig's List. Ford loves playing with children and is hoping for someone who believes she is worth caring for. Her adoption fee is $150. To learn more about Ford, call her foster Mom at (813)245-3110. To see other Lost Angels needing homes go to their website.

Happy St.Patrick's Day

Hobbit touching green for good luck!

So Many Products, What's A Consumer To Do?

I was raised with conventional medicine and have always taken my animals to conventional veterinarians. But in the last several years, I've tried to educate myself about the holistic approach and I try to incorporate that into my lifestyle, including my dogs' care. I have subscribed to The Whole Dog Journal for many years. It's a great publication that provides a full range of articles about natural care and positive training. There are often articles that thoroughly cover a topic about treating ailments with herbs, oils, essences, energy, etc. I'm usually excited about what I read, but feel overwhelmed by the number of options and uncomfortable with trying to treat my dogs without the experience to fully interpret what I read. I haven't yet found a holistic veterinarian. That would be a sure way to obtain guidance. There are several in the Tampa Bay area and we've only explored one option. We have been clients of Ehrlich Animal Hospital for almost twenty years. We trust them and are fond of the staff, who are all caring, efficient people. Our primary vet is agreeable to working with us on a holistic program for our dogs.

So, what I'd like to know from you, the reader is, what holistic veterinary clinics in Florida have you used and been satisfied with? (Please, just relate your positive experiences.) My other request is for experiences with products you have used that worked to make your dog's life better. Like the wraps, coats and head gear that are supposed to help anxiety. Or the dental product, Leba III that claims to clean teeth with no brushing. Here in Florida, so many dogs suffer from skin allergies. Has anyone found natural solutions to help relieve the itches? What food or supplements have you used with good results? How about shampoos?

Some products I have tried and liked are:

Fromm's Gold Dogfood with probiotics- I wanted my dogs to have the benefit of probiotics, but they disliked the taste of probiotics in a supplement form. They are doing well on this food.

Linda Tellington Jones Half Body Wrap- this is mostly a technique and can be done with a regular ace bandage. One of our former dogs was afraid of thunder storms. I used the wrap on him and it seemed to help calm him. You can see the wrap in Tellington-Jones' book "Getting in TTouch with Your Dog".

Bark n Bath Shampoos- very nice scents and all natural. Rinses out easily, but it takes some time to get used to low sudsing.

Easy Walk Harness- This is a gentle approach to walking dogs who pull. It's been very effective with Ella, who is a strong puller. It has multiple fasteners which makes putting it on easy. Adjustments can be made in several places, allowing for a good fit. Easy Walk Harnesses are available in most pet stores.

Doggles - Goggles for dogs. This item was submitted by Phil and Moose.

That's Moose to the right, modeling his Doggles. His veterinarian recommended them, so Moose could safely ride with his head out the car window, something many dogs enjoy. However, it can be a dangerous pasttime, since stray particles can fly in the dog's eyes and cause injury.

Dog eyeware offers a solution. I found them online at Target and Petco. Moose is sporting some from Petsupermarket.

Lucy and Scooter

Following is a story submitted by Lisa, who spends her day caring for two dogs, two cats, two young boys and a husband, and always with a smile on her face.

Lucy was adopted from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay as a puppy. She is happiest when she can spend the whole day hunting lizards in our yard. She never catches them, but loves it just the same. She is very protective, loyal, and sweet. She used to love to play ball, but in her twelfth year, she'd rather watch our kids play ball. Some call her the queen of our block.

Scooter appeared on our front porch one morning, curled up in the sun. We suspect someone dumped him in our neighborhood on their way to work. He was still a puppy, a short funny mix which may include lab, corgie, and, and who knows what else. We put up signs around the neighborhood and nobody recognized him and by the time we figured that out, he'd already stole our hearts. He's quite loving - always wants to curl up right beside you. The burrowing/digging hunter characteristic of corgies dominates. These days, Lucy and Scooter's most important role is introducing the next generation to doghood.

Nubs Part Two

An article in today's Tampa Tribune reports that Maj. Brian Dennis, the marine who rescued Nubs, the dog, was interviewed early this morning, Thursday, Mar.6, on the Skip Mahaffey Show. Monday's Ellen DeGeneres Show will also feature an update on the dog. Read more at tbo.com. A story about Nubs was posted here on this blog a few weeks ago.

Clipping Toenails? No Problem

Hobbit is hyper sensitive to touch, which makes doing things like clipping toenails tricky. I had progressed to the point of being able to handle his feet when he's calm, including touching his toenails, but I wanted professional guidance in adding the nail clipper to the equation. We made an appointment to have a private session with trainer, Jacqueline Munera of Courteous Canine. She has worked with Hobbit in group classes the last few months, so is well versed in his personality.

We started by sitting on the floor with Hobbit. He was relaxed and laid down. I had taught him to hand me his paw the week before. Jacqueline asked for his paw and treated him. Then picked up the clippers and treated him each time he nosed them. Then, she touched his paw with the clippers and treated when he didn't pull away. Finally, she asked for his paw, touched him with the clippers and treated. Then, with his paw resting lightly in her hand, she clipped his toenails. She didn't grab his paw in any way, which probably would have resulted in Hobbit withdrawing his paw. It was amazing to watch this dog, who had been a snarling, biting dervish when the vet tried to clip his nails, sit quietly and allow the same process to happen without any fear.

Here's a great YouTube video about nail clipping through clicker training.

March Happenings

Get Rescued in Gulfport- Animal rescue festival with auction, raffles, demonstrations, food and merchandise. Saturday, Mar1 from 11a.m. to 6p.m on Beach Blvd. in downtown Gulfport. (727)323-3892.

Florida Poodle Rescue 5th Annual Fund Raiser - Mar 28, 2008, 7-10p.m. at the St.Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Avenue, St.Petersburg, Fl. For more info see the Florida Poodle Rescue website.

2008 Bay Area Renaissance Festival Pet Festival - Saturday and Sunday, Mar.22 & 23, 10a.m.-6p.m., Museum of Science and Industry. at the corner of Fowler Ave.& 46th St. in Tampa, Fl. See more at the festival website.

Wine and Chocolate Bash - Sunday, Mar.16, 2-5p.m., 1719 W. Lemon St., Tampa, Fl. To Benefit Animal Coalition of Tampa, Spay/Neuter Clinic. See ACT website for more info.

Mutt Strut - Saturday, Mar.8, 9a.m.-1p.m., at Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, To Benefit the Humane Society Of Pinellas County. For more info go to Humane Society of Pinellas website

Animal Affaire - Saturday, Mar.15, 6-11p.m., at a historic Park Street home in St.Petersburg. Read more at Tampa Bay SPCA website.

Bark in the Park -Saturday, Mar.22, 8:30a.m.-12noon, Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. To benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Call (813)876-4150 or go to website for more info.