Wonder dog

This blind Chow mix had a very sad beginning. When I say beginning I mean the first 10 1/2 years of his life. He was unlucky enough to end up in the hands of a hoarder.

After the hoarder was raided by animal control – Crash as he was called by this hoarded spent the next 2 1/2 years in the cage you see him in below. He was terrified in this cage. Absolutely terrified for two and a half years!

He had no chance- he was blind, he was a senior and he was completely terrified and unsocialized. We sent his photo and story around and a miracle happened. Someone fell in love with that face and went straight to the shelter to adopt him!

Below is an update from Crash now known as Wonder’s owner.

Wonder is doing great. He made such progress in the first 6 months. At first he was skittish and afraid of everything including me. Then he learned to trust me each day at a time. Taking him on walks at first was terrible. He was so afraid to walk outside of the gate of my driveway that I literally had to drag him to the front yard, then to the corner of the sidewalk, etc. We practiced everyday and finally got him to walk 3 blocks round trip, a total of about half a mile.

Now, he is lazy. He only wants to do 1 block. At the corner where we are supposed to go straight, he will pull me to turn the corner instead, so not to start the 2nd block. How can I argue with a 72 pound chow? He has put on quite a bit of weight since I got him from the shelter. I could see his ribs back then. He wasn’t skinny but I didn’t like seeing his ribs. He used to be scared of other dogs, even their bark as we walked the neighborhood. About a year after I got Wonder, I found a chi mix on the street where I used to work. I took him to the shelter hoping somebody would be looking for him or adopt him but nobody did. So, I gave him to a friend in SF bay area. She kept him for 9 months and returned him due to aggression issues. I took him back to see how he was acting and it turned out that he is just fine. She never took him for a walk and hardly played with him. Wonder and Lucky did so well together that I decided to keep him (for Wonder).

They play together, eat their dinner side by side, we go on the 1 block walk together. It was really perfect timing for Wonder to have Lucky come into his life. After a year of getting used to me and our routines, he was not afraid of dogs anymore and was friendly with Lucky. I noticed how much happier he is with Lucky around. And Lucky is happier now too and no longer aggressive. Wonder is not aggressive at all. He gets excited if the cats are standing in front of his face but he doesn’t attack or lunge at them. He only growls if Lucky tries to steal his bone from under him. He is on daily senior vitamins and glucosamine for his joints. He even has VPI pet insurance. But so far he is healthy, no problems.

A few months ago, Wonder’s volunteer, Lenora, from the Baldwin Park shelter got in contact with me after I told my story of rescuing Wonder to some other animal people (its a small world). She came to visit him and he immediately recognized and remembered her. He did a thing with his paw that I never saw before and she said that he would always do that to her. It was amazing. He also licked her face profusely and let her pet him all over. He only lets me do that and no one else can hardly touch the top of his head. It was very touching for both of them to be reunited. Apparently, she had not seen him for about 1 1/2 years. She told me stories of what happened to the other Bemis dogs, some sad, some happy.

You are welcome to email me any time for an update or stop by Pasadena for a visit with Wonder. He is really a WONDERful dog and the best dog for my household. And he has even taught Lucky not to chase the cats and just look at them. It’s funny how they learn and copy from each other. Lucky chews on grass and this one bush just like Wonder. He is a good companion and role model for Lucky.

I dread the day Wonder passes away. I am guessing he is about 13 years old. But everything seems to be okay. Just a little arthritis and walks slow, but otherwise he is fat and happy! He is the first dog I have had since childhood and I don’t know what I would do without him. Thank you so much for posting his story on your website. It touched my heart and he continues to touch my heart everyday.

Keep in touch!

Tis the season

Tis’ the season…family gatherings and the spirit of giving mix with the smell of lovingly prepared meals and cooler temperatures….but not for all. This very season tens of thousands animals remain homeless, displaced, abused and in need.

We here at The Mutt Scouts are in the human race as well and know that times are tight for many across the globe, but as we are in the world of animal rescue, we humbly come to you and ask that you might spare anything you are able, to assist us in helping those in dire need. There are others of us that may be looking for that year end write off, or work in companies that have a ‘matching’ pledge for non profit donations. However. Where ever.
We remain committed to them and while many of you applaud the efforts, but freely acknowledge that you could never do the work due to its heartbreaking content, this is an opportunity to support and know that every penny you donate is going to saving and re-writing the tragic stories that these dogs have been cast in.

Yes, we are a full non profit.
Yes, we will gladly give you a tax receipt for your donation.
Yes, we would be honored if you reposted this.
Yes, if you knew all the stories and saw all the sights you would be moved to tears…
but here is a way for you to be moved to action, instead.

We thank you and we carry your strength and support with each life networked, rescued, rehabbed and adopted out.

Holiday Blessings, Abundance and Gratitude your way.

Re-upping their faith in the
human race…with your help.
The Mutt Scouts

after photo of Nico taken by Deena Crouch

thanks to Lin, Deena, Kelly Gibson and The Hamilton Humane Society.

donations can be made by clicking the paypal donation tab on the top of this post.

thank you – be well.

Olive

This sweet little black four month old stray Lab x pup was being passed around the internet due to supposed physical manipulation from her former “owner” and her less than gentle handling in this picture. We made double time up to Bakersfield, found her, loved her and headed the hell outta there with she…and some seven others. What this kid needed was a dose of genuine affection and immediate physical attention.

Look at her today, with her beautiful family: human, Charlotte and canine sibling, Tilly. A happier and more well adjusted crew you will not find.

Thank you both Charlotte and Tilly for giving Olive the gift of permanence and stockings full of affection this holiday season.

Thanks also to the Heigl Foundation for help with her initial care and to Olive’s foster family Todd and Cash for easing her into her new found freedom…the promise of the good life, which we make to all of our rescues.

Meet Jessup!

Jessup is a 20 pound low rider.  He was rescued on his last day at the shelter.

He loves to play with other dogs.  He has great manners and is house-trained.

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!!