Featured

Daisy’s Dream Comes True

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Categories: Featured, Happy Tails, Latest News

Working in animal rescue can be extremely difficult. Hearing about beautiful creatures being euthanized at shelters, day in, day out, frequently gets overwhelming. Sometimes, the animal’s health is fading fast and it seems like the only humane solution, but far more often than not it’s a pet with many more years left in it, just the victim of overcrowding and overpopulation.

So when we’re able to intervene to save even one life, it helps ease the pain. Take the story of Daisy, for instance.

One day, Menna, one of our volunteers, was at Southern California Animal Hospital and noticed a strange energy in the office surrounding a woman and her Jack Russell Terrier, Daisy. It turned out that the woman’s husband was ill and they were remodeling their yard and, because she felt she could not longer take care of the dog, she’d taken her in to be euthanized. Apparently, she just wasn’t aware that there were other options for Daisy.

Not surprisingly, the staff didn’t want to put down a perfectly healthy, seemingly well-socialized pet, but they needed an alternative. Menna was able to intervene and boarded the dog for a few days while UHA looked for a foster or adopter for Daisy.

Around this time, one of our beloved rescue dogs, Lancelot, passed away and another of our volunteers, Amanda, decided to foster Daisy in his memory. Although she hadn’t felt quite ready, when she saw Menna’s plea along with the photo of Daisy, she knew she couldn’t resist.

Daisy-fenceAmanda explains, “Thankfully, I was able to step in straight away so that Daisy wouldn’t have to enter into the shelter system and be exposed to cold, stress and communicable diseases. I took photos of her at once and within two weeks we had two interested adopters.

The man who adopted her, Tom, fell madly in love with her. Even though initially his home situation wasn’t ideal (Daisy was a “bolter” and he didn’t have a front yard), he was willing to do whatever modifications were needed to make his home suitable for Daisy.

He ended up getting two doggie gates so that Daisy wouldn’t be able to shoot out the door into the street when they opened the door.

Daisy is Tom’s princess. He takes her everywhere he goes, and I think she’s probably got a rhinestone collar and matching leash!”

Indeed, it has been a fairy-tale ending for Daisy. As Tom puts it, “Daisy is a wonderful member of our family. We can we can hardly recall a time when she wasn’t a part of our daily lives. She goes everywhere with us. Whether it is uptown to get doggie snacks, off to have lunch or even a cross-country drive to visit friends and family, she is joyfully always there with her little tail wagging.

Her curiosity is unquenchable as is her lack of fear. She is so eager to see new things and meet as many dogs as she can. We have a wonderful vet whom she adores visiting! It’s so cute to watch her get excited about going into the office there when we go in there.

You can often find us at the Sierra Madre dog park in the mornings or venturing out and about through our neighborhood. She loves going for truck rides, so we’ll often take a little trip to new places for her to explore.

She is so happy.

Thank you again to you and your folks at United Hope for Animals for having the compassion and care to save her from destruction and bringing such joy and happiness to our lives.”

Amanda sums up, “Dog rescue is often heartbreaking when you see what some of these kind, innocent souls have been through, being neglected and mistreated, but when you are able to save a life, and give a dog that has plenty of years left a new happy home, it makes it all worthwhile. It really is a matter of just getting their sweet little faces out there in front of the public, and finding people who are willing to spend some of their free time helping these dogs get photographed and listed online to make a difference. Sometimes all you need to do is get a great photo and tell people a little about its personality and the before you know it the perfect person will come along.”

Check out these photos of Daisy in her new home – we think you’ll agree she’s content!

Daisy-grass

How to find your pet a new home

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Categories: Featured, Rehoming Your Pet, Responsible Pet Ownership

UHA receives many inquiries from anxious dog owners who have realized they won’t be able to take care of their pet for much longer but who don’t know how to go about finding a new home for it.

The number of calls and emails hits a peak in summer, when shelters are already rammed. Terrified dogs escape from their yards during the Fourth of July fireworks, people drop off their dogs when they go on vacation – either not knowing or not caring that their safety isn’t guaranteed – others move and make no provisions for their animals… the list is endless.

If you find yourself in the difficult position of having to look for a new home for your dog, the important thing is to be proactive. We’ve put together a plan of action you can follow.

I am attentive!

1. Above all, be aware that leaving your dog at a shelter should be a last resort, not a first port of call. Not everyone knows this, partly because the word ‘shelter’ implies a refuge, a place of safety, where an animal will be secure for as long as necessary, until a new owner comes forward.

Some people even think shelters can house a limitless number of animals and that they actually make money from taking them in and adopting them out. This couldn’t be further from the truth: most shelters are severely underfunded, adoption rates vary wildly from shelter to shelter and even most of the so-called no-kill shelters are full and have to turn away animals.

2. Start early. You can give your dog a much better chance if you begin looking for a new home as soon as possible. You might not want to give up your pet, but allowing yourself enough time to take the necessary action can make a huge difference in keeping your dog out of the shelter.

I love cuddles!

3. Ask a rescue group for a “courtesy listing” on their website and/or Facebook page. Even if a rescue is full and can’t take your dog it may well agree do this, by posting an ad on Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet that includes a description and photos and/or video, as well as your contact details. In return, consider making a donation to the rescue group as a thank you.

4. Make some good-quality marketing materials. Do not underestimate the importance of this. Whether you’re creating a flier, soliciting the help of a rescue group, or posting an ad on Craigslist, the quality of the description – and, in particular, the photos – makes a huge difference. Videos, which can be taken with most mobile phones, are also really helpful and can be published for free on YouTube, Facebook and the like. 

For the description, people will want to know:

•    Profile: what’s the dog’s breed, sex, age, weight, general personality and temperament?
•    Is it good/not good with: dogs, cats, kids?
•    Is it housetrained? Leash trained?
•    Medical information: Does it have any health issues? Is it up-to-date on vaccinations? Altered? Microchipped?

Include information on the dog’s personality – does the dog have any endearing habits? What kind of home would he/she do well in? You know your dog best, so the more intimate the description, the better. While people will want to know why you are rehoming your pet, the majority of the description should focus on the dog. Keep it positive.

In addition, when compiling a description, it helps to visualize the perfect adopter for your pet, and to write the description to appeal to that person.

For photos, people will want to see:

•    Multiple images – a good face shot and shots that show the body/size of the dog.
•    A happy, relaxed expression and body language.
•    An outside setting, with natural light, preferably on green grass.
•    For small dogs – show them in someone’s arms to help give an idea of their size.
•    Photos that show all of the elements the dog works well with – especially children and other dogs.
•    Avoid: dark photos, the dog tied up (get someone to hold the leash – it looks friendlier anyway), the dog looking down (it distorts its face/expression).

For videos, people will want to see:

•    How the dog interacts with people, other dogs, etc.
•    How the dog walks on a leash.

Take as many of these steps as you can and your dog will stand a much better chance of finding a great new home.

I am great with kids!

Gifts that Give

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Categories: Featured, Latest News

Consider giving a message of love this Christmas! A creative friend of UHA,  Ellen Ballon Dante, created this beautiful necklace to raise awareness of all the animals in local shelters that need forever homes. Purchasing one is a fun way to make a donation to the United Hope Animals in need AND spread the message. ALL the proceeds of this necklace will go directly to shelter dogs in need. The necklace is gold filled and sterling silver and run $90 (roughly 40% goes to the dogs). Solid gold is available for special order in yellow, rose and white gold. For ordering information, contact deityjewels@gmail, and be sure to mention United Hope for Animals: http://deityjewels.com/pages/adopt
 

Holiday Pet Portraits

If a pet portrait is more to your liking, be sure to attend the Holiday Dog Portraits event on Sunday, December 2nd from 1-5 p.m. at Urban Pet in Los Angeles at 7515 Beverly Blvd. Proceeds will go to charities, including United Hope for Animals. 
 
 
 

The Joy of Adopting a Senior Dog: In Memory of Maggie

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Categories: Featured, Latest News

For dogs unfortunate enough to find themselves left to chance in a shelter, their age has a lot to do with their odds of adoption.  The likelihood of an elderly dog getting a second shot at life and a loving home is frighteningly low.  However, because they often come with lots of good life experience, training, and manners, they can be the best companions.  You might find that opening your heart to a dog that has less time on this earth is too risky, but it could be worth it, even if for only a short while.  That old dog could be your best comrade and your favorite company, your most precious friend.

One little senior dog found herself advocated for by a team of United Hope for Animals volunteers when she needed it most.  She was abandoned at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, and she was weak and ill.  A typical Friday evening turned into a team effort to rescue this sweet pup, who would soon be named Maggie. While volunteer Claudia Angel phoned vets for a last-minute appointment, Director Laura Knighten coordinated with the shelter and with volunteer Janette Cooksey to transport her away from the shelter and to the life-saving medical care she required.  As it turns out, Janette not only gave that helpless elderly terrier a ride, she gave her a home.

Maggie

Maggie

Janette so beautifully writes of the joy she found in adopting a senior dog:

In July 2011, I was asked to pick up a Wire Fox Terrier from the Baldwin Park Shelter.  The Abandoned Terrier Rescue Association would then take the dog in to their rescue. 
I will never forget when I saw her in that kennel. We were told that she was a 1 year old pregnant female. Instead she was an elderly dog in very poor health.
With the help of Claudia Angel and Laura Knighten, I was able to adopt her that day.  Unfortunately, she was so sick I had to rush her to the vet.  Dr. Mitchell at Montrose Pet Hospital kept this poor little girl for a week.  She had pneumonia, along with many other health problems.  We weren’t sure she would make it.  But, she was a tough little girl and survived.  I picked her up from the vet a week later and brought her home.  The Rescue still wanted to take her in (no matter how old she was), but I felt so sorry for her.  I decided to keep her.
I have always adopted adult dogs (5 or 6 years old).  I have never adopted an elderly dog before.  The vet estimated her age between 15 – 17 years old or older.
 
She had many physical health problems.  She could not hear, had limited eyesight, she had no voice (she had been debarked), Cushings Disease, Liver Tumor, concave back and very bad teeth.  When the vet cleaned her teeth she told me that she had never seen such bad teeth in a dog.  Not only did teeth have to be pulled, but there was a foxtail wedged in the root of her tooth.
I could tell by looking at her that this sweet girl had a horrible life.  I believe she spent her entire life as a backyard breeding dog in a kennel having puppies. 
As I drove home from the vet with her, I heard myself saying “what am I going to do with this dog?”  She’s old and sickly.  And I shamefully admit I didn’t want to adopt her.  Little did I know the amount of love and joy this elderly dog would bring in to my life.  I named her….Maggie.
 
When I first brought her home she would cringe when I would try to pet her. She had no social skills. She was afraid of humans.  As time went on she let me pet her, hold her and she would give me little kisses.
Her greatest pleasure was meal time.  I don’t think I have ever seen a dog so excited about her meals.  Maggie had a joy for life.  She enjoyed the simple things….meal time and a soft bed.  She seemed so appreciative of everything I did for her.   Every time I looked at her, she would make me smile.
Maggie sleeping

Maggie in her bed

I have loved every one of my dogs, but Maggie was special.
Only a dog….only Maggie could have the forgiveness in her heart to love people again. After being treated so badly her entire life she was capable of loving people.
I learned more from this little girl than I ever thought I could. People would say that she was lucky that I took her in.  But I was the lucky one. She gave me so much.  Friends told me how kind I was that I took in this elderly, sickly dog, but it was Maggie that showed me how wonderful an elderly dog can be.
Although I only had her for a short time….I had to put her to sleep in July 2012, she taught me so much.
 
Maggie gave me an appreciation for the elderly dog. I would not hesitate to take another one in.  The senior dog that no one wanted became one of the sweetest dogs I have ever had. 
I miss her so much.  It was Maggie….this elderly, sickly Wire Fox Terrier that showed me how wonderful an older pet can be.
I am honored to have had Maggie in my life.  That elderly, sweet girl that I will never forget.  It is for her that I continue to rescue / adopt senior dogs.
Because of Maggie I recently adopted Buddy (aka Washington), a 17 year old Miniature Poodle who was surrendered by his owner to the same shelter.  He is such a sweetheart.
 
Buddy

Buddy

Thank you,  Maggie.  Thank you for showing me how wonderful an elderly dog can be.
 
 Thank you, Janette, for sharing with us Maggie’s story.  We are glad that she was able to spend the remainder of her life in loving arms.  
 
Maggie and Buddy have been lucky enough to retire in peace with people who truly care about their happiness.  Yet, so many senior dogs are passed over in their shelter kennels purely because of their age.  These dogs deserve to spend their golden years being loved.  Who knows in what condition they’ve spent their lives, but it was with people who gave up on them.  They need our attention just as much as the young pups that so easily steal our hearts.  
 If you are considering adopting an adult dog, please think about giving an elderly dog a chance.