The meeting with foster mom Michele – and wee foster brother Odie – was awesome.
Michele is brilliant, savvy, and a nurturer…and Odie – at first uncertain of this new ‘giant’ – warmed up quickly to all-loving Penny.

Post holiday, we received a note from Michele on Penny’s Day of Thanks:

“Thanksgiving day was a blast. It was my small family and FIVE DOGS! It was awesome and everyone got along famously!! We took lots of pics which I will
post very soon. Each pup had their own plate of turkey and ham to “gobble” up. Penny was in heaven. After her supper, she sprawled out on the shaggy living room
rug and took a “tryptophan” induced nap. ..
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Just so excited to have Penny in my home : )”

…You’ll Have Good Luck.
And so many days of it, sweet Penny.

More soon.
Thank you all for your outpouring of well-wishes for Penny.
She loves getting them…we pass ‘em along in affection.

Upon exiting, she skipped right to her vehicle waiting.
First stop: The Spa.
We went to go visit Karen at Eco Dog Wash and Day Care, on Pico.

If you do not know Karen – or her amazing facility – please make it a priority.
Karen would not hear of us paying for Penny’s ‘freedom wash.’

Smelling like an herbal oasis, we next cut through town, and headed to Penny’s vet appointment.
So polite as a passenger, aside from many stares over at her driver, and a couple lean-ins for some affection, she sat
in her seat and harness, like a straight A student.
Only once did she stir.
Driving up Vermont, and stopped at a light,
looming large outside the window was a near 8′ x 8′ poster of Tom Cruise’s latest Mission Impossible installment.

Penny did not favor Ethan Hunt’s hooded self, and gave him two single, don’t-tell-her-but-hilarious, old lady barks.
And we were off.

Penny went to see the awesome folks at Montrose Pet Hospital, where
she is getting a full work-up and exam.
Such the gold star student, Penny sat right in front of me
and faced the door waiting for the compassionate Dr. Mitchell to enter.
Those brilliant ears in flight.

Today on her calendar:
Penny will be meeting her skilled and sweet foster parent, Michele.

Thank you to all of you that were – and are – rooting for her.
She has been heartbroken, sitting in the shelter, uncertain
as to what happened…or why.

The old gal was far from a worthless, pitched Penny….
She is a gem, and her happiness…worth millions.

http://www.ecodogwashla.com/

http://www.montrosepethospital.com/

Penny was literally dumped at the shelter as a punishment. The woman, complete with auto coolant running through her veins,
told the shelter that her kids ‘stopped taking care of the dog,’ so she discarded ‘the dog’ there.
When Penny went in for a goodbye lick when the woman handed her over, the lady pushed her away and scoffed.
Not really sure who this ‘special citizen’ was trying to punish, but only one kid is truly suffering.

Penny is sweet, kind, thrilled for attention, and gentle with all she met…AND she is need of a foster.
Do not assume that this almost 13 year old is ready for retirement, just yet.
She still has some dance left…true, it might be less hip-hop, and more waltz…
but she has a spirit, a engaging and charming soul, and she would like to continue living.

We wish to honor that.
We will take her on: food, medical, all….
we just need one willing to share a roof, while we search out her twilight dwelling.
Is that you? Can you help an older lady in need of a safe spot?

Here she was when we first saw her.  Just a number in a cage.  Her head was slumped so low it took me quite some time before she would raise her head a bit so I could take this photo.

We received an update from her mom today…

So, what’s this for? The Mutt Scouts are hatching a big plan for a crazy successful 2012 which will require some funds – The clicks o’ the link above will give us a shot at a much needed grant. A way to help our four legged friends in a Bigger! Better! More PAWsitive way!

Every one counts – Your votes will give us a chance to make this dream a reality!

So thank you, dear friends, from the tips of our tails to our big wet noses. We love you so much!

WATUSI!

This sweet 3 year old, neutered, 60 lb guy was found as a stray by a friend to the Mutt Scouts. She responsibly took him to the shelter to be scanned for a chip as he had a collar on (no tags) and appears to be someone’s pet. Alas, no chip was found and no one has claimed him. The bad news is that his time at the shelter is going to be very short because his breed – as most of us dog people know, one of the most loyal and loving unless trained and tortured towards aggression – does not get a fair shot. Yes, he is a Pittie, but he is sweet as can be and deserves an awesome home.

We are hoping someone will go and rescue him from the West Valley Shelter – he’s there, waiting for you! His ID # is: A1260316. You can call the shelter at 888) 452-7381 but don’t wait! Act on this now!

Another option would be finding a kind soul to foster him. We will network him to find his forever home and take care of all his needs – food/bed/medical. We just need someone with love and a roof to buy him some time before he joins his new family.

Time is of the essence! Please, save Watusi!

It is not likely that the woman of which I write, Sophie, will even read this homage, as she does not use the internet, and I communicate solely through email with Sophie’s daughter.
Sophie claims her English is not good enough to write me…I claim her spirit is an inspiration, and a reminder that there are those among us that still move forward with grace, and motivate not for gain…but because their moral compass knows no other direction.

I met Sophie one day in a vet’s office when she brushed by me, to get to the front desk, to ‘get her dog.’ She told the receptionist she had some money for Charlie, and she then produced an impossibly small, folded piece of currency, that was the size of a ‘letter tab,’ as on the computer keyboard in front of you. This bill – hidden in the inner seam of her garment and handed to the sweet receptionist, Izzy – was to be applied it ‘to Charlie’s bill.’  Once paid, Sophie quickly disappeared behind the door and returned minutes later with a good sized, handsome, and obviously please-to-see-her Lab-Shep mix kid, who I would come to know as Charlie.

I was instantly charmed by Sophie’s energy. She is a minute big, and yet a warrior. She inspires a smile and a bow at the same time. I spoke to her and she shared the story of Charlie, which I know you would be so much more enthralled with, if the charismatic Sophie could explain it to you herself.

Nevertheless: Sophie was on a walk with her own dog, who is not a large fan of other dogs. She travels the same streets in her neighborhood, and on this day saw a man kick a dog and yell at it. Sophie scolded at the man, telling him: “You don’t want this dog – you are mean to him. I take dog…you don’t want it.”

And that is what she did. She took her dog home, and showed back up to the man’s yard and demanded he come out and hand her over the dog. He complied. Sophie then took the dog, Charlie (her name for him), to the vet and got him his shots, and left him there to be neutered, which she paid for herself. Actually, Charlie has been boarded there since that very day – months ago – as Sophie works daily to find him a worthy home. In fact, they know her well at this clinic as Sophie is constantly taking abused and neglected dogs from this neighborhood out of peril, and footing their bill, until she finds them “a home where somebody love them.” As I know the neighborhood well, I know she is of absolute truth. There are on any given day, more than one dog running the streets, dogs on chains in yards, and in situations that would make most look the other way.
Sophie tells me that she sells things to get the money to fund her extremely independent venture. Paying for surgeries, and boarding at the vet, do not come cheaply.

This kid Charlie is a good-looking kid, his posted pic does not do him justice. It is the same pic that is on his flyer which is pinned to the bulletin board in the vet’s office. I stopped by the office today and snapped a couple more photos of the young, happy, and ready-for-the-world guy. He was so very excited when the technician brought him out…he literally sprung straight up in the air, figuring that Sophie was on the other end of the door, and had come to visit and take him for his afternoon walk. After all, she has become what Charlie knows of consistency and affection, as she visits daily, and has dutifully paid for his boarding for months now. In this neighborhood non-puppies, and non-purebreds do not fly off the shelves…and yet Sophie remains vigilant.

Charlie is kind, he loves kids, dogs, and walks – as the flyer states – and is in need of a home.  A good home. And yes, Sophie checks on all the dogs she places, and has even taken one back when a woman did not do as she promised with regards to leaving the dog in the yard all day, and not getting him his follow up vaccines.

We know what a financial hardship rescuing can be, as it is….but cannot fathom what it is to commit to securing the well being of a dog, and to go at it alone, and without reaching the audience you so well deserve. Even more difficult in today’s economy. And especially when disposable income is somebody else’s luxury.
Please..let us help Sophie – and Charlie – find him an affectionate and nurturing home.

I told Sophie that if there were more Sophies in this city…in this world – we would ALL be better off, and feel the impact of her kindness and strength .
She bowed her head, thanked me and smiled. She smiled in such a way that I knew for certain that Sophie has never been acknowledged before, for doing what she does to help dogs. That slayed me. You want to see grown tattooed man shed eye water, then get me next to someone so noble, that has no idea of their worth.

As Sophie was leaving, I told her to hold on and I went to my vehicle and retrieved a fair bit of dog food that I wanted her to have. I offered to carry it to her home – it was not light – but she absolutely would not hear of it. “No no no,” she insisted. “Give to me, I strong.
I strong,” she repeated.

Way more than you even realize, Sophie.

…And then some.

This sweet guy was found by friends to the Mutt Scouts, roaming the street and starving. Such a lover, and so desperate for someone to simply hold him, he followed them all the way home. As soon as he was picked up and held, he fell fast asleep from exhaustion.

Because of his snappy red, albeit frayed, harness, these fine people responsibly took him to the shelter where they assumed his family would come find him and save him from his misery. But this was not the case, and Melvin is struggling in the shelter. He needs out, and fast because as a chihuahua, his time is extremely limited.

How about you? Can you find it in your heart to help this sweet guy? Please RUSH to the North Central Animal Shelter – 3201 Lacy Street. His ID is: A1239150. As soon as you meet him, you’ll fall head over heels. Please help Melvin be mighty once again!

Then there’s this guy – Linus.

While at the shelter taking pictures of Melvin, I couldn’t help but notice the sweetest, saddest eyes and this beautiful soul. At fifty five pounds and two years old, Linus was found as a filthy stray, likely having chewed his way through the rope that kept him miserably tied up all day – you can still see the frayed rope attached to the top of his collar. When I pulled out a treat for this sweet love, he didn’t jump or bark, but rather sat like a gentleman and then ever so gently took the treat from me.

This dog deserves a good life, finally. Look beyond the filth, into his eyes and we think you’ll agree.

Linus is also at North Central Shelter at 3201 Lacy Street in Los Angeles – his ID is: A1237769. He’s waiting so patiently for someone to come love him.

(Text & Photos: Elizabeth)

Please take a gifted minute and look at this little guy.
One of the most heartbreaking pictures of absolute cruelty, ignorance, and abuse.
The amazing vets at Westlake Village Animal Hospital feel like Kenny has been suffering these two broken front legs for OVER TWO MONTHS…and yet his ‘human’ just stepped forward to drop him off at the vet.
Trust that her information is now being handed over to the necessary authorities, but the focus now is to relieve him from pain, and stop his decline.
Kenny is a little 1year old Chihuahua/Papillon mix who was abandoned by his owner because he sustained serious injuries. According to Dr. Daniel, his two front legs were severely fractured, and he has NEVER received medical attention.

His left leg literally forms a 90 degree angle with the ground. When he attempts to walk – and because the fracture is complete – the broken bones do not even make contact. The lower half of his leg simply lies on the ground.
As horrific as this injury is, it is not even the harshest part. Kenny’s right leg is now necrosing, as the tissues are dying at the foot and ankle. Because the injury caused a bone to be exposed on his foot, infection eventually set in. Unfortunately, this leg needs to be amputated.

With the amputation of his right leg, the healing process of the left leg will be all the more difficult. He will have to bear all weight on that fractured leg, at an odd angle, and it will be very stressing to the healing process. This healing process will take four to six weeks, at a minimum. The total cost for these services is in the $3000 range.
This is a lot of medical info and numbers, but you can trust one thing: We are so very committed to helping Kenny not only far away from the pain he has endured, but also placing him on the fast-track to learning that not all humans are bad…and that he is so very worthy of affection.

Through this all Kenny has remained such a sweet, cordial, and trusting little man.

The Mutt Scouts are pleased to partner with One Dog Rescue on the care of little Kenny.
Please remember that all of your donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c3.
Absolutely any sized donation is welcome, and profoundly appreciated either through our Paypal (Click HERE)….or directly to Westlake Village Animal Hospital, at 805. 497. 4900. Please ask for Reni, or Natasha.

We will see to it that Kenny walks again…and each step will be a tribute to those that encourage him forward with their compassion and assistance.

Thank you kindly.

* This is a guest post by our incredible foster for this guy, Kelly Gibson!  Photos by Jen Petit.

Ed E. is up for adoption – if you’re interested in meeting him, please fill out our online form HERE. Thanks!

Isn’t he the cutest little thing ever??

We’re fostering Eddie for The Mutts Scouts - an awesome rescue based out of Los Angeles. Eddie was born 2/16/2011 so as of this writing is 4 1/2 months old. He’s a pure-bred boxer that was surrendered to the Scouts by…let’s call him a Good Samaritan.
Eddie is adorable and loving and funny and everything you would want and expect from a puppy. He loves to play with anything he can get his mouth on; we’ve provided him with every kind of toy under the sun and he plays with them all, each one as enthusiastically as the next. He also loves playing fetch and is very proud to bring the ball (or whatever’s been thrown) right back to you.

Yes, he has one blue eye and one brown eye and, if you know boxers, you know what that means! Yes, Eddie the Hopper is deaf. Truth be told however, you’d never know it. We’ve been working with him on his training and have gotten him into such a strong “focus” as his default behavior that he rarely takes his eyes off his foster mom, except when he’s zonked out from all his playing. This makes it very easy to call him or to get his attention. He also knows “sit” and “off” and we’re working on “wait” and “down.” Little Eddie is a smart boy and loves learning new things.

There isn’t a dog or person that Eddie doesn’t like. He plays with all of his foster brothers and sisters, and the ones who don’t want to play just have to change their mind because Eddie is a very determined pup!
Eddie is looking for a forever home that will keep up with his training, provide lots of playtime activities, take him on Great Adventures, and love him all the rest of his days. If that sounds like you, please contact The Mutt Scouts at themuttscouts@gmail.com .

Eddie’s waiting…