10.28.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:24 pm by LSSTLAR
The first few weeks in rescue, all the Humane Society Mill Babies have had to just get healthy enough to get all the basics. Between upper respiratory infections, fleas, worms, and ticks, their introduction to their new lives has been being handled and cared for non-stop. The first two that could be altered were Margo and Hugo, both now in their foster homes awaiting adoption. We expect most of the other to reach that step in the coming week.
Here are new photos after a day at the spa:
Anna (6) and Milla (5) look like twins
Mature gals Nadja (7) and Estella (10)
And newcomer Tyra Mills North who was too sick to make the transport.
There are more photos to come, so keep an eye out for the transformations. They are adapting quickly to inside living, wagging their tails and acting like normal dogs. They are all so small and will need people to help them grow as foster parents until their forever homes come along.
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10.19.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:11 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Dallas, Texas - October 19, 2007. While the rest of the world has been entranced by Ellen Degeneres and “Iggy-gate,” several dog rescue organizations in Texas were working hard in their “spare” volunteer time this week to ensure that shih tzu dogs rescued from horrible conditions of neglect were whisked away to foster homes and forever homes in California.
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue, working with the Humane Society of North Texas in Ft Worth, the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue of San Jose, CA, STARS of Texas and other groups in the DFW area, helped ensure that the majority of the shih tzu dogs confiscated by the HSNT on early in October are looking at a bright future.
When the Humane Society of North Texas confiscated over 90 shih tzu dogs from a horrible breeding situation in Ellis county, the local rescue groups became extremely concerned. Having been overwhelmed with an extremely high number of dogs this year being left at animal control shelters and turned in by owners no longer wanting them, it was not looking good that there would be enough local foster and forever homes to save a huge number of dogs.
We were about to have an anxiety attack. Just in the past few months, since May, we’ve taken in close to 130 dogs and that, alone, was taxing our volunteer system. Trying to absorb more than 8-10 of the confiscated dogs would have been impossible. Many dogs that come from an over-breeding situation like this are very, very unsocialized. It often takes weeks and even months to get them to the point at which we can put them into a regular family environment.
After the HSNT was awarded custody, everyone got to work to find alternative out-of-area groups that could absorb the ones that the local rescues could not handle.
The Humane Society adopted out close to 60 to citizens of the area, Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue, STARS and other local volunteer breed specific groups were able to take in 21, but another ten had no committed rescue in sight. Thankfully, the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue of San Jose, CA stepped up for any and all that the local groups could not handle.
Lone Star ended up with ten. They are all unbelievably sweet, but extremely shy – like most dogs that come from such a situation – they are not socialized to just common living situations. Many have ulcers on their eyes, most have horrible skin and coat. After a quarantine period at our veterinary clinic, they will go into foster homes for rehabilitation.
Thursday night, excited Lone Star volunteers gathered at the HSNT to load up the remaining dogs to start what will be a 1750 mile trek west for these little dogs. Many of these dogs had skin issues, eye problems and upper respiratory conditions. Congregating at the home of one Lone Star volunteer in a Dallas suburb, the volunteers began the arduous task of grooming and bathing these ten tiny travelers.
Carmen, who worked unbelievably hard to get these guys safe.
Let’s get this party started
Ahhh. That feels good!
Before dawn on Friday, Lone Star volunteers started out on this trek of love to save these dogs. Late Friday night, they arrived in Phoenix, AZ where the ten shih tzu will be turned over to Loree Levy-Schwartz, the chairman of the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue.
Loree and her veterinarian husband, Monte Schwartz, working with friends in Phoenix, have set up a temporary “hospital” for these little dogs and Monte will treat all of the major problems before they set off for the final drive to his clinic in San Jose. There, the lucky little dogs, who started this journey matted, flea infested, dirty and ill, will be put into temporary foster homes while the ASTC Rescue searches for loving, approved forever homes.
“It is amazing that through the many miles between us, we are able to network and save lives,” commented Levy-Schwartz. “Networking is what it is all about. I want to thank everyone involved for all they do and are doing. I have to put in a special thank you to Monte, my husband, who dropped everything to come with me to Phoenix and donate his time, money and a ward in our hospital, for these little ones. Let their new lives begin!”
And we agree. This is an amazing cooperative effort among several groups, whose only thought was to ensure that the little dogs that had such a horrible start in life would live the remainder of their lives in the very best approved permanent homes. It’s so sad that there has been so much negative energy against rescue organizations caused by Iggy-gate or Ellen-gate, or whatever you want to call it - energy that should be focused on trying to save the lives of shelter dogs on death row. Preparation for this trip from Dallas, TX to San Jose, CA has consumed most of our DFW volunteers for the past week; and it just shows how dedicated volunteer rescuers are and the lengths they will go to save a few dogs.
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10.15.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 10:47 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Whew it’s been a whirlwind weekend. Two full days of fun at the Old Town Spring Petfest PLUS working day and night to get 7, no 12, no 16, no 25, no 27 shih tzu safe from the HSNT confiscation!
But, mission accomplished! At the end, there was a total of 27 dogs that were released rescue-only. After hours and hours on the phones, several visits to the HSNT shelter for pictures and temperament tests, we were able to find a place for all of the remaining dogs to go!!
YEAH!!
And, we met all the fundraising challenges over the weekend and have raised all we need, right now, for the little tzu babies we were able to take into our program!
YOU ALL ROCK.
Here is an update our the sick ones:
Milla - sweet adorable Milla was sent to a foster home on Friday because she was so sick and congested. As of Monday, doing much better. She is cleaned up and mat free now. She had a fever for most of this weekend but it seems to be gone now. She is also breathing normally and is not as congested as she was on Friday. She likes to eat and has a good appetite so it’s been easy to get her to take her medicines and supplements. She is past the worst, we think, and out of danger for pneumonia.
Tyson - Tyson had also developed an URI, but is also responding to baytril. He is coughing much less now and on the road to recovery.
Nadja - also was starting with a runny nose, but again the baytril has started her on the recovery path.
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We were able to arrange to send seven of the NINE left at the shelter last week to an American Shih Tzu Club Rescue foster organization in California. They will be leaving the DFW are on Friday morning with two Lone Star volunteers driving them as far as Phoenix and the ASTC person coming from the Bay Area to meet them. YEAH!! The other two are coming to Houston to be fostered by another ASTC member here in Houston. This resolution made me able to sleep at night! ALL ARE SAVED.
Here are the NINE last ones to be saved:
These are some LUCKY little tzu. Aren’t they pitiful looking?
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10.13.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 10:48 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Wow, you guys really are ANGELS!! Today, we met the $500 New York Challenge thanks to all of you!! I thought it interesting that a cool guy from New York City jumped on the chance to help some little ole Texas pups!! Go NYC!!!
So, as of right now, the HSNT Puppymill Fund is at $4,380!! You guys ROCK!! So far, we’ve gotten aggressive on the antibiotics and the two that had URIs are slowly responding. One more, Nadja, just started coughing, so she’s on antibiotics now. The only expensive additional stuff so far is one eye enucleation - Nadja. That bumped the funding needed to $5,925.
Milla (with possible pneumonia) is in our extra-outstanding medical foster home under careful watch. We are hoping, hoping, hoping that she starts getting better and no ICU is needed. I’m sure you are hoping too.
Thanks to the following for their unbelievably generous donation!!
Wendy Reimer, Vicki Wakefield, Deborah Knoepfel in memory of Barkley and in honor of Harley and Chewbacca, another LSSTLAR alum, Ginger Guest-Warnick, Janet Bello, Brandy Zender, Rosemary Cody in honor of Brigitte and in memory