Update

Wiley when we first saw her at the Lancaster Shelter-

Wiley today

Major Tom when we first found him in downtown Los Angeles

Major Tom today

Lena when we first saw her at Bakersfield Shelter-

Lena today

Deep South

There is ‘hearing of’..and then there is ’seeing.’
So Nikki and Lane and I headed to South LA this Sunday the 26th, as we were following up on dogs of interest from the last visit.
Reviewing: the dog that Nikki is smitten with -now known as Wee Peeper- was a definite pull today. Wee Peeps had a ’sibling’ (blood relative maybe, but definitely dumped by the same woman) who was also on the red list and the mother of seven (count em) pups. We felt it only right to meet her while we were here bailing.
Also – I and then we, had fallen pretty deep for a ten month old Great Pyrenees mix on our last trip here, that actually smiles when you talk to him. No kidding. He was abandoned by his owners and he is still smiling. Hmmm. The big kid was definitely getting sprung today as well.

So that makes two that we were intent on taking with us.
Two, for certain.
Ah, original intent……it is so…original.

So we walked over to the Annex to check the ’sister’ mentioned. We were warned that she was not so friendly…and aggressive even. We expected as much around all her pups. She was not having us at all on the approach, but really, who could blame her, given the last bit of her life.

The amazing Carlos, volunteer deluxe Andrea and the three of us, then sat out on the lawn with her.

Pups now out of sight, she was still hugely cautious, not interested in our (or any) movement or any contact….but something. Something there. Gut feeling. Hers/ours. Might have her for years working through her stuff…and we knew that. She -like her sister- is so Nikki’s type and despite her present less than effusive demeanor, Lane, Nikki and I all felt it was right for her to become a Mutt Scout….make that for ‘them’ to become Mutt Scouts.
Cut back to the shelter with Lane away getting the van and Nikki and I waiting for the paperwork to be processed on Wee Peeper, ‘The Untitled Great Pyrenees Project’ and now this family of eight.

Fact: like everyone we wish there was no need for shelters.
Fact: we rescues and so many volunteers, do everything within our power to pull from these red and green list so as to avoid any euthanizing.
No matter where you stand on any of this -or if you stand anywhere near it – the ones that should be at the top of the ‘verbal discourse’ list, should be the constant effen line of people that come to shelter to drop off their dogs. ‘We are moving,’ ‘The dog is old,’ ‘Our landlord found out,’ ‘She had her puppies and we are gonna keep them’….the excuses go on and on….but what remains are the massive amounts of innocent and terrified animals that are literally dumped like trash for the shelter to deal with. I understand hardship, but this is something else. Many of these dogs not only suffer abandonment, but also abuse. Some of it from human ignorance….some of it, sick, stomach churning abuse.

photo copyright Nikki Audet

Who could treat an animal like this?
These are people that have missed out on the loyalty train. These are people -as I attempt to not skip down the ‘judgment sidewalk’ – that dump their living ‘inconveniences’ in someone else’s lap.
And of the abusers? Well, they do not qualify for human status, as we see it.

Twisted irony: This is a people problem…and yet who is it -actually- that suffers?

In fact, after many under breath fantasy consternations directed at these people dumping their
dogs the entire time we were waiting – in came a family of five doing the very same, each carrying a dog in their arms. You remember after Popeye ate from his spinach can and proclaimed : “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more,” ….well the three of us left our paperwork, went to observe the canine family that had been dropped off there and were forced into a mini meeting outside that quickly resulted in us adding them to our own roster.

Do we need five more last minute dogs? No.
Do we have room for five additional dogs? No.
Do we have fundage to cover five on top of the ten? No.
Do we think we are solving the epidemic of overpopulation by adding these to our ranks? No, certainly not.
We were there in the middle of it and made a call.
That is actually the easiest part….it is the day to day that can kick your butt.

So, who amongst is looking to add to their family, sponsor a homeless youth, foster ’someone’s inconvenience’ or offer blankets, newspaper, bedding or monetary donations to the vet checks, spaying, neutering, shots and micro chipping to the additional family of five?

anyone?…..anyone?……..the more support -our fine friends- the more we continue to save.

and a reminder: we are a full non profit. 501c3. your donations are tax deductible…and life saving.

thanks for reading.

individual pics and descriptions are coming.

damn. sitting here at the computer and viewing all these brilliant photos that Nikki took of these new Mutt Scouts, I am moved once more. These are all fine and amazing dogs.
They -like the others before them- will be resilient and grateful. It is a head trip for me, the realization that we -daily- work to restore these animal’s faith in the human beast. It is an honor to help them to a second chance….afford them a life beyond anything they have ever known. And like the unnamed Pyrenees, it is the thing that keeps us Scouts smiling as well.

Jf

the wee peeper

I happened to spot this thing online on the red-list

She reminded me of a certain someone….my very own Loni Donegan

Oh, I don’t know…something in the eye(s)

So Jf and I drove down to the shelter today.

She is alot smaller that I thought..only about 10 pounds

But how cute is she???

I mean SERIOUSLY.

She has no time left so we’ll be going back tomorrow for her.

I have since discovered that her brother

her sister

AND her sisters seven pups

are all at the shelter too…All Red-listed.

Yikes.

And this total beauty

#A1050009

So here comes the broken record…

Adopters? Fosters?

Anyone?  Anyone?

The little Muppet

Fozzy Bear was rescued from South Central Animal Shelter. Cute as they come, you would think someone would snatch him up out of that place right away. And they did…three times. Poor little Fozzy was adopted from the shelter three different times and then dumped back three different times for biting. Alas he was put on the euthanasia list.

The day we pulled him from the shelter was literally the day he was scheduled to die..alone.

He came to my house for a while and what a character, he could make you laugh for days at his antics!

Fozzy Bear found an incredible home. With two incredible people who would appreciate his antics and who would never give up on him no matter what he did.

That was back in 2004.

I recently received this note from Fozzy’s family

“Nikki- do you remember us and the nut-job little guy Fozzy Bear. Oh what a light he shined on us and changed our hearts forever. For the past four years he has taught us how to live in love. He is very ill and tomorrow our friend Dr. Ruderman will come to our home and help with the inevitable transition. I thought you’d like to know. Please look at my albums…”Book of Fozzy” for only some of the precious moments we have shared. He was the center of our universe for four years”

Fozzy the ring bearer

What I wrote back is in a nutshell why I do rescue. It’s hard hard work, it consumes your life, it drains your bank account, and sometimes it is just unbearably sad. But I would do it all over a million times over because I love dogs and they all deserve someone to carry them in their hearts forever.

” So sorry to hear about Fozzy.
Remember that when I pulled him from South Central Shelter he was going to be killed that same day. Can you imagine? I am so glad you both gave him such an amazing opportunity of life and love. Instead of dying alone in a city animal shelter he died with the people who loved him and that will keep him in their hearts forever. I thank you for that and I’m sure Fozzy is thanking you too.
What an incredible character that little guy was..thanks for loving him so much!
-Nikki”

Rest in Peace little man.

Oh Brother.

SARAH - ID#A1028469

We’ve been spending quite a bit of time at North Central Animal Shelter where, as of right now, over 100 dogs are red-listed(in other words..on the verge of being euthanized)

First let me take a moment to introduce one of our newest members- rescued right off that very red-list.

Lafonda!!!!

103 pounds of love- Rottweiler/Doberman mix

this girl is nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G…..

This was Lafonda on her first day at the shelter. She was terrified to say the least. Update coming soon with her new photos

Now comes the part where I beg any and all of you reading this right now to consider fostering ANY of the other 100 dogs that are about to lose their lives because the shelter is just way too crowded. Here are just a few of the great dogs..

TONTO - ID#A0521596

SAM - ID#A1034285

KELLY - ID#A1029051

SNOW - ID#A1043734

FELICIA - ID#A1033483

LINDA - ID#A1040578

Another sweet update

Go Willis!

Fritz, Kathy and Willis

an excerpt from Kathy’s email to The Mutt Scouts..

“I have never witnessed Fritz play with any dog like he is regularly playing with Willis. It almost brought me to tears the first time we saw it happen, because I knew that my baby boy was going to be okay without Heidi. In fact, I think he is getting happier every day! He loves Willis, and I only see that growing stronger over time. I’m so thankful that Fritz and Willis are each enjoying each other.”

Thank you so much to Kathy, Bryan and Fritz for giving the little misfit a chance!!

Hurray Moses!!

A note from Moses’ new home…

“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you… so much for choosing us to be Moses’ guardians! It’s going to be life changing experience owning a dog but its a very good life changing experience. I am practicing my alpha leader moves.

I thought I was a happy person before but now I just can’t wipe the smile from my face. Having a dog around is just such a comforting thing. When he greeted me with kisses this morning my heart just sunk. He is the sweetest thing. We already have some play dates set up! Can’t wait for those. Here is a picture of me and Moses.

Thanks for all the good advice. The gentle leader is working. He didn’t like it at first but on his second walk this morning he didn’t seem to mind so much. And he walked really good with the leader.

I am so very happy we ran into your group. You guys are doing amazing things with these dogs and it really makes a difference in people’s lives. I can’t tell you how much I love Moses. And everyone he has met loves him and his name. Kudos to your lady friend who named him. Best and thank you many times over!”

-Kelly

Meet Dean.

Dean’s Story
one good luck…one bad luck.

Dean and his sister were adopted as puppies. His sister got to live in the house…Dean was kept in the back yard. His sister got lots of treats, affection and a warm bed. Dean was kept in the back yard….always….no playtime…no visitors, no bed…..forgotten…
Eventually the idiots that adopted him, stopped feeding him. Not his sister. A relative to the idiots saw what was going on and brought Dean to the shelter. Dean sat in a cage until the people there put him on a list to be killed. Nope. We stepped in. We want to rewrite the rest of Dean’s story.
One of the sweetest pies in the entire bakery, this one year old adorable, larger Terrier mix is waiting for you and the rest of his story.

Major Tom

Well it has been twenty days since my last post pleading for a foster home for a very sweet dog found in downtown Los Angeles. Unfortunately he has not had any luck!

So again, I’m pleading that if you have a little extra room please consider helping this guy out!

As you can see from the photo, someone has spent some time at the vets! He’s been neutered shots given, cuts cleaned and….

got some xrays taken.

Which revealed that at some point during his time on the streets this poor guy had one of his paws run over. All four toes are broken! So he is sporting a cast right now.

Between the giant cone on his head and the cast, you can hear him coming a mile away.

He is house-trained, great with other dogs and really a really well-behaved dog all around!

If you can foster, adopt or donate towards his care please contact us.

themuttscouts@gmail.com

Emergency foster home needed

Beautiful young dog seen limping around the warehouse district of downtown Los Angeles for weeks. My neighbor almost ran him over one night and was able to steer him into an alley . Then she called us and we finally got him!

Something happened to him along the way and he has some pretty nasty wounds.

We cleaned him up and will be addressing his wounds. There is only one BIG problem! We have NO where to put him.

He needs a foster home. Please consider helping this great dog. He is about 10 months old- and is really the sweetest most special guy!!

He was soo thrilled immediately to be off the streets and to feel safe. It was so heart warming.

He needs your help.

Please email

themuttscouts@gmail.com

if you can foster , adopt or donate towards his care.