Happy Tail!!

Recently we rescued Blue, as Australian Cattle Dog, from the Bowling Green shelter in Kentucky. Blue was dropped off at the shelter from a breeder who said she was "stupid". Blue is neurologically impaired and special needs so she was fostered by our board member Kathy, who works with special needs animals.

Kathy was also screening potential adopters and got a note from Kevin and Tim in Massachusettes, who drove all the way down for her. They have experience with special needs dogs and passed the "Kathy test" so we knew they were going to be good parents.

After they got Blue (now named Maggie) home they sent us news and videos.

"Maggie is really awesome, and she has fit in perfectly here. There honestly was absolutely NO adjustment period at all. She's just one of us, and it was instant. She and [their other dog] Kobi slept next to one another the whole ride home without any issues. She is eating and drinking great, playing like a wild girl, and could not be more friendly with us and with our other animals. Her tail NEVER stops wagging, and the kisses are abundant!!! We're really crazy about her! Thank you!! I'm so happy your shelter was willing to adopt out of state.

We only wanted a special needs puppy because we have the time and interest. Our local shelter (Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA) has lots of puppies all the time, but they rarely get a special needs. Tim and I realize from our experience with Ozzi how much love and reward comes with caring for a special needs dog, and were committed to finding one because for whatever reason we realize that these dogs are less "adoptable" because people think they are too difficult. Truthfully, they are not. Although Ozzi was diabetic and had multiple orthopedic and neurological issues, we never felt it was a big deal to manage him. It takes more time, and we're lucky to have it. As far as Kobi and Maggie (only one day's experience with Maggie...LOL), it's really nothing. I hardly consider either to be special needs. They are both independent in their own right, and just need more "watching over." I know that some people won't even consider a special needs animal, and Tim and I both use Kobi's (and now Maggie's) situations to educate people who ALWAYS come up to us when we're out to see the cute puppies. We figure if we can tell as many people as possible about special needs dogs, we might change the opinion of some, or even one person. So that's our hidden agenda!! We already know how much love these puppies have to give, and from our perspective, we are lucky to have them.

Much love,
Kevin and Tim"

Walk-a-Thon

On Saturday October 23rd we teamed up with Safe Haven of Pike County for a joint fundraiser to benefit both our organizations. We had a Walk-a-Thon at Airport Park in Matamoras.


We even had Fr. William McGinty of Church of the Good Shepherd & St. John the Evangelist in Milford do a Blessing of the Animals. Below is a video of the blessing.