Harry Radio - Letter Home

Dear Reader,

          My name is Harry Radio. Yes, it is quite a unique name. But you see, I am quite a unique dog. To no fault of my own, I was born in a state where animal laws are few and most that are actually existent often are not enforced. You can find out more information about that here KY Dog Laws. In fact, Kentucky has been voted #1 for Animal Cruelty several years consecutively. Sad, but true.
          So it was there that I found myself in a back yard. I had an owner. (Which is defined as the following: noun 1. a person who owns). She was not a best friend, a companion, or even a real acquaintance. If I was lucky I would get my water refilled. Even luckier, there were days when she may throw some food out my way. But for the most part I was on my own, left to fend for myself without many resources available. It wasn't long before I began to suffer from malnutrition but despite my hunger pains, I had hope that someday things would get better. 
        They didn't. 
        After a little more time I was so hungry and malnourished that I developed mange.(Read more about the two kinds of mange here Sarcoptic & Demodectic Mange) Yes, I know it sounds gross. Trust me, I have lived it. Red patches began to appear as my hair fell out. And though I didn't have a mirror handy, I am certain that I was not exactly a pretty sight. It was then that I finally started losing hope. It got so bad that eventually I lost my will to live and gave up on ever getting better. My owner saw my condition. She knew that I was suffering and yet she still turned the other way. (You can imagine what that did for my mental state.)

      But somewhere out there was someone that was at least watching. They (whoever they are) made a call to a local organization pleading for me as I could not plead for myself.I have no idea who they are still but I can never thank them enough for speaking for me when I had no one else. Because you see this simple act of kindness, a simple phone call set in line a chain of events that changed my life forever.
     Help came! They did! They really did! (Pardon my excitement!) And despite the way I looked they still held out a gentle hand and rubbed my head. I didn't realize then what it all meant. My will to live, my will to fight had diminished. The light and love in my eyes were as they say "burned out". But these wonderful people, picked me up and took me right out of that yard. 

Here is a quick look at my Freedom Ride out of there!!











       Now I am not one to seek revenge or anything like that. Dogs are loving, loyal creatures that just don't think that way. But my rescuers, my earthly angels, refused to let my owner get away with what she had done to me. Refused to let her rest when she had left me so alone, helpless, and sick. Many will be relieved to know that she was charged with animal cruelty and sentenced to probation and required to pay some restitution for my medical bills. And though this angers some people to think that she got such an easy time off after what she did, I have moved on from that horrible experience and would rather leave the past in the past. (Refer back to my previous mention of animal laws in the state of Kentucky. This was really the most they could hope for in this situation :( ).
      Tears come to my eyes as I begin to relive the first couple of months of my rescue life. To say I was pampered would be an understatement. This woman, this saving grace, not only touched me but welcomed me into her house! I slept in an actual bed and was given all the food and water I could ever want. In addition to that she also gave me medicated baths and literally nursed me back to health. With my change of location and life I began to get a little pep back in my step. I had a new reason to live. 

     This whole time, they had no idea even what kind of dog I was! Finally, my hair began to grow back and guess what!? I'm a Border Collie mix. I knew I was smart! My rescue life began in 2013. Today, I still live with the rescue but to be honest, I am very excited to find a family of my own. One to love me and to be more than just an owner. Now that I know those people exist, I can't wait to become a part of a family. I am a young fella and am truly a gentle soul. I will be your best friend, your loyal companion, your fellow couch snuggler. 
      And even if you can't adopt let my story mean something to you. Let it mean that you will do something when you see an animal suffering or abused. Let it mean that you will be their voice and that you will not be stopped until that animal is safe. No the laws here aren't great, but that doesn't mean that we have to stand by and watch cruel things happen to those like me that are unable to speak for themselves. 
      And thank you to all of those that had even the smallest hand in my rescue. You gave me a new start to life, a true second chance and I will never forget it.

                                                                                                   For Second Chances, 
                                                                                                              Harry Radio

                                                      

      

Letters Home

Dear Two-Legged Human Friends,
    Hello there! My name is Squiggles and I am a seven year old CoJack (Corgi/Jack Russell mix). I spent my entire life with one family. Seven years worth of birthdays, family time, and holidays. That was until about a month ago. My family took me into a vets office and left me there. I was very confused (as you can imagine!) Though I'm not entirely sure what happened, I was spayed and told that things would be okay.

    

    I am one of the few lucky dogs that gets to live in a foster home as I wait to find my true forever family. My foster folks explain that this is my road to a new life and they are here to assist me on this next part of my journey. (Shew! Glad someone has my back!) Being the outgoing girl that I am, I transitioned into my foster home just fine. I love every one that I meet, dogs included! I have five foster siblings here (4 chihuahuas and a pit bull). My foster momma says that they were once just like me and found a family to love them. (I must say this makes me feel better about my situation). 

               

   
    As you can imagine I became very stressed from this ordeal though I hid it fairly well by playing and getting to know my foster family. However, my body didn't handle it so gracefully and I began to have seizures due the changes in my life. (Easily understood once your entire world has been turned upside down!) A trip to the vet ensured that everything was fine, despite my circumstances, and that my seizures could be helped with a simple medication (and pretty cheap they say). Apparently I get this medicine twice a day though I have no recollection of such...unless it is hidden in that yummy peanut butter that I get everyday. 
    After two weeks of meds (I'm still curious about this-perhaps I should ask about the peanut butter thing) I am feeling much better. I love being outside, running in the yard, chasing balls, (even in the snow!) My foster mom brags because I always potty outside (like that's some kind of amazing feat). I can also sit (well kind of..I usually just lay down but she apparently also things that is "just too cute".) I get along well with the other dogs here, especially the big one because he will play with me! I would love to find a family with kids and/or dogs to keep me company! I may be seven but to be honest I sure don't feel it! Foster lady says I act like a two year most of the time- a 16 pound bundle of fun! So here I am, waiting for my forever family to come find me. For a family to love me just the way I am despite my circumstances that honestly, were no fault of my own. 
    My foster family says that some lucky family will find me and I will make their life complete...and in return they will heal that part of my heart that was left just a little broken after being left behind. Until, then, I'll be here waiting; playing and enjoying my hang out spot until the next part of my journey begins!

                                                                              Tail Wags & Licks,
                                                                                         Squiggles
                        

What You Didn't See in the Rear View

What You Didn't See in the Rear View

It was one of the colder winter days in Kentucky when a high-kill shelter director was making her way to work. On the side of the road she noticed a small dog lying in a ditch; it had obviously been hit by a car. The dog made no attempt of movement or wiggling and as many animal lovers would do I am quite sure that she cringed and her heart hurt a little bit. For the next four days she would drive by this lifeless body. On the fourth day she noticed that the dog had began to move. Panicked, she pulled over to help. The dog was taken into the shelter where, as discovered was a he, would lie for another five days without vet care; as the shelter is ran by the county and can't afford such amenities as emergency vet care.

Now for those that believe in a higher power, or divine intervention, karma, or what have you, a rescue spontaneously dropped by to view the shelter for the first time that same week. The rescue, Homeward Bound Canine Rescue & Rehabilitation, had been assisting a local man with a large number of dogs and it just so happened that the director decided to stop in the high kill shelter on this very cold, Kentucky day. The director and another volunteer spoke with the shelter director and she immediately showed them the small dog that had been left on the side of the road. Not really knowing what could be done, the rescue decided to take the little dog with them and at least provide him with some much needed vet care.

Imagine, not eating, not drinking, and being very sick for such a long period of time. Most of us can't imagine that because we live in a first world country with comfort at our very finger tips. There is this in addition to living in a state where animal laws are practically non existent. Where animal shelters are not there to actually help save and provide shelter for animals but to take them in and then discard them like a piece of trash. Are you sad yet? Are you cringing at the thoughts yet?

So the dog made his way to another county in Southeastern Kentucky. It was clear that he had a leg injury so that was the first thing he was checked for. The leg would require 6-8 weeks of restricted activity, not that he was at all active, and was given pain medication to help him stay comfortable. After another couple of days, volunteers noticed that the little dog was not eating, not drinking, and wouldn't take his pain medication regardless of what yummy treat it was hidden inside of.

For the sake of time and argument, lets say that faith stepped in yet again. One of the rescue volunteers decided to take this little guy home into foster. (Without fosters we in the animal rescue world wouldn't able to continue our efforts. Fosters make such a difference in the life of rescue pets.) After another x-ray it was revealed that this poor fella, who would later be named Tater, also had a broken jaw; thus, his reluctance to food and water. A feeding tube was inserted to help him get the nourishment he needed as well as liquid pain medication.

After almost a year, Tater is still a part of Homeward Bound Canine Rescue. He is still with his foster parents, whom he loves dearly, and is living out his life one day at a time there. His foster mom noticed that he had many quirks while being in her care. And to anyone that meets him, he can seem a bit off at times. There are days where he's up running and playing and then there are days where he wants to sleep all day. After further examination the rescue learned that Tater had also suffered from a small break in his neck as well as other broken bones throughout his body. He also has fluid on his little brain which contributes to his quirkiness. And though he does not suffer from seizures, the vet is certain that those will come with time. In fact, the veterinarian said that he had never, in all of his experience known of a dog to suffer so much and still survive.

So what is his happy ever after? Well, Tater is seeing what it is like to be cared for a loved despite having health issues. He will remain a permanent member of Homeward Bound Rescue and in the care of his foster home for the rest of his life, as long or short as that may be. He receives medication on a regular basis to help with his discomfort and headaches. Furthermore, he is spoiled rotten with toys and a clothing collection that is larger than most humans.

This is Tater's story but sadly, he is only one of many animals that are hit by motor vehicles and then left for dead. What you don't see in the rear view is the pain and suffering that most animals like this endure while dying alone. What you don't see in the rear view are the people that almost wreck trying to swerve and then pull over to help. What you don't see are the tears that rescuers cry when we have to consent to have the animal euthanize d because her back is broken and she paralyzed. No, many stories like Taters don't have happy endings. Many dogs like Tater never find a way off that lonely road or out of that cold, wet ditch.

We believe that Tater's story deserves to be told; as an honor to him and in remembrance of all those that have been left behind. It is also in our hopes that Tater's story will inspire us and teach us that we should always stop, turn around, double check. We are here to coexist with these animals, to ensure their safety when they cannot do it for themselves, and to show a little compassion now and then. Tater is a special little dog, a living tribute to the dangers of the world to those that are so small and helpless. Help Tater and dogs like him by sharing his story and by doing more than just looking through the rear view.

On A Mission

Monday, May 26, 2014

On A Mission

Homeward Bound Canine Rescue & Rehabilitation

     There are hundreds, thousands of people across America that are involved in rescue. It is a volunteer job like no other. I'm certain that most people don't realize the work, sweat, and tears that go into saving animals. I know that before I became a volunteer, I had no idea. It is my goal that this blog will reach out to rescuers - we know & feel your burdens. Perhaps this blog will touch you in a way that helps you keep going..one day at a time. Even more, I hope this blog reaches non rescuers. Perhaps it will help you to better understand who we are, what we do, and why we do certain things. Mostly though, I pray that awareness of the over population problem in the south will be magnified, recognized, and one day rectified.

A little about us.....

      This rescue was founded by an animal lover like no other. She didn't wish for things to get  better; she felt a need, made a goal, and got her hands dirty.  Still, after several years, after the rescue has grown, she  is happiest when she's  with the dogs, giving baths, or cleaning up messes. Her heart belongs to the dogs in the shelters . Her need to help animals never falters. HWB was able to find loving homes for over 850 dogs and to transport over 1,200 to other reputable rescues last year. As you can imagine, it required hard work, diligence, amazing supporters, and commitment.

      For those that don't know, rescue is 24:7..,we eat, breath, and live it day in and day out. Our families get pushed to the side so we can stay on the phone for hours trying to find a foster or rescue to step up before an animal is put down. Our own pets get pushed aside while we run to shelters and lend a loving hand to the dogs that have no one.  We even neglect ourselves and our plans to meet the calls of rescue; shelter runs, transports, sharing, cleaning, adoption events, updating websites, and so much more. So if we seem tired, please understand. 

     HWB dedicates it's services to dogs; though we do get the occasional cat,bunny, or pig. 
(Yes, pig.) HWB pulls dogs that are on death row in shelters, beginning with the sick/injured, older dogs, and the dogs that are looked over because maybe they aren't fluff balls or purebreeds or whatever people look for..I will say that all of our dogs have unique stories & personalities that will suit many families- from 3 pound Yorkies & chihuahuas to 130 pound Great Dane & mixed breeds...we never discriminate. 

      We give vet care. We plead for fosters. We work our volunteers like there's no tomorrow because for some of these shelter dogs there is no tomorrow. No, they say that we can't save them all...but I say we can sure try!

Please share our Facebook page, petfinder pages, and blog! Help our animals by spreading the word. Everyone can do something...what will you do today?

Baby It's Cold Outside

                                            Baby It's Cold Outside


      If you live here in Kentucky (go big Blue!), it has probably been a long time since you saw snow like we have gotten recently. I don't know about the rest of you but I have 4 small dogs, one big dog, and a foster that's about 16 pounds. My foster (Squiggles) and big dog (Ollie) looked a little bit like this during this week......
                                                                                                      Now don't get me wrong..I didn't force them out into the snow. Those two actually wanted to go out and play..and they did. The other four however stayed inside..and continue to do so! But now things have changed again and we have seen temperatures in the negatives...way in the negatives..which is definitely something we are not used to! Even Squiggles and Ollie don't want to go out for too long (who cold blame them!) Especially when momma wraps them up like this....
   Sadly, we have already had reports of dogs freezing to death, falling into frozen ponds/rivers, and lost dogs running down the road suffering from hypothermia. Thus..this blog. Here are some tips and advice on how to keep your dog warm and what to do if you see a dog suffering from hypothermia. And some advice on what to do if you know a dog hasn't been provided adequate shelter and fresh water. (Now we are in Kentucky folks, many don't care much about animals so we really have to rally together on this last one!)

How to keep your pet warm...
Well, there is the obvious...BRING THEM INSIDE!

                                     

 But they have a dog house..they should be fine! NOT NECESSARILY! With temperatures -17 degrees dogs can still freeze to death in a dog house. If you absolutely can not bring them in then check with local rescues...some are offering to shelter dogs with no other option for FREE for a short period of time. This will take some Google and research on you part. 

Always provide your pets with fresh water and adequate shelter..and don't think for a second that there aren't people out there watching.....

Who to call......
Guess what? If you legally cant remove an animal from its home then neither can rescue. There is something you can do though! 

1. If you think you can do so SAFELY - speak to your neighbors or the person that has the animal. Offer them help. You never know how grateful some people are when it comes to their animals and they have no other options.  
2. Call local animal control. (I know that no one wants to do this. But, when it comes to life and death sometimes we have no choice.) You will need to report the incident, have as much information available as you can including an address for the location where the animal is being held. 
3. Sometimes animal control will handle the situation and check on the animal. Not always though. The next step would be to contact local authorities as well as the county Judge Executive if the shelter is not a non-profit. The JE is the big guy in charge when it comes to Animal Control funded by the state. 
4. Call the local humane society or the Humane Society of the United States. There isn't much they can do so far away, but the more reports they get the better! (Especially from this area of the world).
5. And possibly the most important step of all..call, call, call. Do a follow up call to see if they went out to check on the dog....be persistent!! 

Hypothermia in dogs... 
 
     What to do...

1. Warm some blankets on a radiator or in the clothes dryer with haste.
2. Wrap the dog in the blankets.
3. Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it against the dog’s abdomen. Do not use it unwrapped, as this will burn the skin.
4. If the dog is conscious, give him warmed fluids to drink.
5. Check the dog’s temperature every 10 minutes: if it is below 98°F (36.7°C), get immediate veterinary attention.
6. Once the temperature is above 100°F ( 37.8°C), you can remove the hot water bottle to avoid overheating. Keep the dog in a warm room.    
7. http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_hypothermia SOURCE

Frostbite
 

And..if you are snowed in, iced in, too cold to go out...then enjoy some good snuggle time with your fur friends..I'm sure they welcome it!
 

   

 

It's All in the Breed?

It's all in the breed?

     *The blog below is solely based on the creator and writer of this specific blog entry. It does not necessarily represent opinions of Homeward Bound Rescue or its affiliates.* 

     As a rescuer, I will always tell people to adopt. This particular blog will cover some information on choosing the right dog, breed, and how much adoption helps ALL animals, not just the one you are adopting. I'll go ahead and also say that rescuers can be very strong in their convictions as we see things that many don't see. We touch mangy heads that many people won't touch. We save dogs that many people won't save. All dogs are important, all dogs love and feel in the same ways, so before you go ranting about your AKC registered pooch, please know that every dog in rescue is just as valuable and amazing---we'll get more into that later.

Do breeds matter?

     Um..of course they do! Just because we are in rescue doesn't mean that we only rescue mixed breeds or that we feel as though one breed is superior to another. It also doesn't mean that we look down on dogs that are purebred...quite the contrary. One of the most important things to remember about true rescuers, we love dogs...period. All dogs. Not only purebred, not just mixed breeds...ALL dogs. (In fact, many of us carry the love of dogs over to all animals. Of course we aren't a self proclaimed vegan rescue..but if saving our planet, taking a stand on animal abuse, helping our water supply, and becoming healthy is of interest to you then by all means message me :) )

     Okay..so back to the breed thing. Yes, breed is important. I strongly feel that each person has their own breed. The biggest thing to remember here is that despite our efforts to end the over population problem by preventing breeding, dogs have been bred for specific traits for years and years and years. Due to this you begin to learn characteristics of each breed. (But also remember that all dogs have their own personality...so just because your bestie has the cutest most well behaved little Yorkshire Terrier you have ever seen doesn't mean that you'll get the same!) Knowing what kind of dog will fit your lifestyle is essential! For example, if you are a runner that spends a lot of time outdoors being active, then you're probably not going to want a dog that tends to be laid back and snuggly all of the time. At the same time, someone with a laid back lifestyle is going to want to go out and adopt a high energy dog...regardless of how stinkin cute it is! 

Here are a couple of links to get your started on choosing the right dog for you!

Pet Finder 

Cesar Adoption Tips 

     So, yes, breed traits can be important when finding a dog that suits your lifestyle..not just to benefit you but to benefit them! A high energy dog that never gets to release that energy will be very unhappy and often destructive just because its needs are not being met. So what does this have to do with Homeward Bound? Well! I'm glad you asked!!

     Homeward Bound takes in dogs of all breeds and sizes and backgrounds. Like I posted in a previous blog, we get anything from a 3 pound chihuahua to a 140 Great Dane. We get mixed breeds, purebreeds, emotional issues, abuse cases, shy dogs, hyper dogs..you name it we've had it at some point! So please don't ever think that you can't find the perfect dog for you in a rescue! They aren't defected or bad dogs..they've just been caught in a world where the breeding is out of control and the shelters don't have room...it's no fault of their own.

Adopt vs. Buy

                                     

     So many people ask me how much our dogs cost...nothing can irk a rescuer more. But at the same time we try to remember that many people don't understand that there is a huge difference! Adoption of a dog reimburses the rescue for vet care only...and many times with our special needs cases, it only covers part of their vet care. With rescue dogs you typically get all vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, flea/tick/heartworm preventative...and the list goes on. This varies from rescue to rescue. But what you pay to adopt a dog is usually equivalent to what you would spend on a spay/neuter alone.  Plus, when you adopt from rescue that opens up a spot for another dog to be pulled from a shelter.

AKC Registered

     I will do my best to keep this factual..even though the mere mention on this triggers a rant instinct. Below is a link to a page that gives info on this topic

AKC Registration 

If you seriously need a piece of paper to tell you that your dog is what you think it is, then maybe the problem doesn't lie with the breeders or the dogs or the AKC. I'll end my rant there.

Purpose

So exactly what was the purpose of this blog? Mostly, I get many questions about breeds and why they should adopt instead of going to a breeder or flea market...(also remember that many of these dogs are bred continually and more often than not are not taken care of..also known as a puppy mill. Yes, I've seen it..witnessed it..rescued from it. Often they also come with health issues due to over breeding..but that' a topic for another day.) 

At the end of the day..a rescue dog is just as wonderful as a purchased dog.. They are loving, caring, and unique.. Visit your local shelter or rescue today and truly save a life. I promise it will be one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do!