Triumphant Tails Inc: Before and After Stories that will Melt your Heart

Kym Ann Dabideen-Denton, Co-Founder/President

Triumphant Tails, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit All Breed Canine Rescue Organization.  It was founded by myself (Kym Ann Dabideen-Denton) and my husband, Ron Denton.  We became a recognized non-profit organization in April 2011. Since that time, we have helped to re-home more than a thousand homeless canines by way of networking efforts with rescue partners, providing nationwide transport, holding adoption events and, of course, by pulling them into our own program and adopting them to forever families.

Our business address is P.O. Box 338, Kemah, TX 77565. We do not have a “facility” that we operate out of. Rather, we utilize the assistance of a handful of foster families in and around the Clear Lake, Texas area (southeast Houston suburbs on the Gulf Coast) to care for the dogs we pull into our program. 

We are an “All-Breed” rescue organization which means that we do not discriminate against mixed breeds. Although I spent nearly all of my younger years (through adulthood) showing purebred dogs, I feel that every life is valuable and should be afforded a second chance, regardless of the dog’s heritage. Purebred rescue groups are abundant. Groups that will take any breed (and, most especially, the Pitt Bulls/mixes) are harder to find – and almost always at full capacity.

We are a small organization with usually no more than 20 dogs in our program at any given time. We feel that although the numbers of homeless pets in need are staggering, it’s important that we keep the number of dogs we pull down to a manageable number so that each dog can receive quality care and the attention they deserve until they find their way into forever homes.

A large part of what we do is to work closely with our local shelters to help in the re-homing efforts of dogs still waiting at those facilities. We have become closely affiliated with the La Porte Animal Shelter which is a small, low-traffic facility that does euthanize when space becomes an issue. They have only 21 kennels and need to keep at least 2 available at all times for emergency/quarantine cases that may come in. Because of that, and the overwhelming amount of strays in La Porte plus owner surrenders they take in, we are networking their dogs nearly around-the-clock to get them in the public eye.  I can frequently be found at the shelter helping to care for the animals and/or with my camera in-hand photographing the dogs in the play yard for networking purposes. We also bring the shelter dogs to our adoption events from either (or both) the League City and La Porte Animal Shelters.  We frequently have 20+ dogs available for adoption at those events.  We are one of the few rescue organizations that bring current shelter dogs to our adoption events. Most rescue groups take only the rescued canines within their program.

Since the La Porte Animal Shelter does not have a veterinarian on-site, our organization is the one they call on for emergency situations – dogs which come in requiring immediate medical attention. These cases have ranged from dogs that were struck by vehicles, extremely emaciated (severely neglected) dogs, dogs which have severe skin issues, newborn puppies, dogs with severe heartworm disease, and dogs with embedded collars, to name a few. If a dog comes into the shelter in a condition which either threatens their lives or which makes them “unadoptable” until treated, we usually end up with them. We take them to the wonderful vet clinic that we partner with (Angel Animal Hospital in Pasadena, TX) and do everything within our power to keep them alive and to restore them to good health. By the Grace of God, most of these dogs have all gone on to live happy, well-loved lives in forever homes post-trauma.

Our canines come from various venues including resident shelter dogs (many of them from death row) and dogs that are living on the streets of Houston. We do not typically accept owner-surrendered dogs into our program.

We spend a lot of time networking shelter dogs and have transported dogs (by driving them ourselves) to other rescue groups nationwide that are willing to take them. Our travels have included driving dogs to Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and various parts of Texas. We have averaged about 30,000 miles on our vehicle in a 5 month timespan. In addition, we have arranged transport by air for several dogs to states such as Colorado, Montana and California. We frequently incur the vetting and transport expenses to get these dogs to safety. We’re just happy to have somewhere safe for these shelter dogs to go.

VOLUNTEERS

Our volunteer base is wide and fluctuates as most volunteer programs do. We have a volunteer coordinator, Ginger Kerrick, who keeps an email database of people who have offered to volunteer as help is needed. Fortunately, Ginger is a NASA employee and is able to recruit many NASA interns each season to assist us at our adoption events (which is where most of the volunteers are needed). At least 50% of our volunteers all come from NASA. She, and they, have been a Godsend to our organization.  

We have only five “regular” foster homes, including Ron and I. The dogs enjoy all of the usual comforts of home while they are in foster care. We work on getting them housetrained, crate trained, leash trained and taught basic good manners to help assure their transition to their new home is a successful one. All of our dogs are fully vetted (vaccinated, spayed/neutered and micro-chipped) prior to being re-homed. We require a home visit prior to adoption approval.  Occasionally, we will reach out to others for foster care assistance on a temporary basis as well (such as when we’re awaiting transport for shelter dogs to our rescue partners or if we have a shelter dog requiring ongoing vet care).

We largely utilize Facebook as a means of notifying the public about adoptable pets, transport assistance needs, and upcoming events. Sometimes, followers will see those posts and offer to help out as needed on an occasional basis.

The volunteers who join us are avid animal lovers and enjoy socializing with the animals. The thrill of knowing that another forgotten pet has just landed a wonderful forever home because of the time and effort expended by people who care is what it’s all about. It keeps the momentum going – that quest for another life saved.

FUNDRAISING

A large portion of the funds required to run our organization on a day-by-day basis is funded by us, personally. We do not hold regular fundraisers due, mostly, to lack of time (certainly not because of lack of need!). Occasionally, we will have volunteers who will organize a small fundraiser on our behalf. Other donations come in related to a dog with specific medical needs  – those “hard luck cases” that require emergency or ongoing vet care. In those instances, I post a plea for help on our Facebook page and create a fundraising account through “YouCaring.com” to raise money to assist us with those expenses.  We’ve had great success in getting sponsors that way but the donations are never on an ongoing basis.

We live in modest housing and go without, as many true rescuers do, to fund our mission.  There is no greater reward – no million dollar mansion or Lamborghini in the world – that could replace the joy in our lives that these beautiful canines fill. Nothing is as important to us as the lives that we are able to save. We are happy to make those sacrifices.

For anyone wanting to assist us by way of donations, they can be made to us via Paypal to kymann@TriumphantTails.net (Paypal receipt will reflect payment to Triumphant Tails, Inc.), by check to Triumphant Tails, Inc., P.O. Box 338, Kemah, TX 77565, or by calling in a payment to Angel Animal Hospital at 713-944-2424. It is not uncommon for us to write monthly checks to Angel for anywhere from $1,000-$4,000and that’s just for vet care alone (for our rescued canines and current shelter dogs requiring vet care as well).

FAVORITE STORY

There are numerous stories I could share, all of which have touched my heart and altered my life in some way, but I suppose the biggest hardship case we’ve had is that of our beloved “Solitaire” (she has now become the organization’s mascot at our events).

In March of this year, we received an email from a Houston resident who asked us for help. She attached a picture of a dog in horrible condition. The picture was taken of a homeless dog at a gunite pool manufacturing company. She was missing most of her fur and her feet were bloodied and swollen unlike anything I had ever seen. At first appearance, it looked as though she had been badly burned.

We set out, two days in a row, to try to capture Solitaire. She was terrified of people. Day one resulted in her escaping under a fenced area that we could not access. Day two started off the same way – but, by the Grace of God, an employee happened to be passing by the facility that day and stopped to inquire as to what we were doing outside the fence. When we explained that we were trying to help the dog inside the fence, he unlocked the gate and let us in.

Through much patience, we were able to finally capture Solitaire. We rushed her to the emergency vet clinic for medical treatment. She was suffering from what our vet said is the “worst case of Demodex (mange)” he has ever seen. Her nails were so long, and her feet so swollen, that many of her nails were imbedded in her paws. She was covered in fleas and ants, and was underweight. There is no doubt that Solitaire wouldn’t have survived much longer in her condition. As her story unfolded on our Facebook page, she captured the hearts of animal lovers nationwide.

Today, six months later, Solitaire is sleeping at my feet.  She will never recover fully from the mange but her feet are no longer swollen. She runs and plays as any other dog does. She has grown fur in places the medical professionals didn’t believe it would ever be possible and she has gained about 20 pounds. She looks like a completely different dog. She has never had an accident in our house and immediately took up residency on our couch as though she had been a house dog all of her life. All she needed was for someone to give her a chance – someone to show her kindness and love.  She will live out her life with Ron and I. We’ve overcome so many obstacles with her and have created such a bond that it would be impossible to re-home her now.

If you have the time, watching her videos as the capture and her progress unfolds will tell far more of her story than I can put into words. Solitaire has her own Facebook page where four of the videos are posted. Start with the first one and you’ll see how very far this precious dog has come. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solitaire-Solly/232774806847001?ref=hl

 WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT RESCUE

The most obvious response to this question would be the value and joy in saving the lives of these dogs which otherwise wouldn’t stand a chance.  For me, it goes much deeper than that. I feel that we all have a purpose in life and that, if we listen to our hearts, we’ll know what that purpose is. There have been hundreds of instances where I have crossed paths with a dog which, on its face, we didn’t have the manpower, resources, or funds to be able to help. But my heart told me otherwise. I listened – and the answers came. Donations came in, foster homes came forward, and those dogs were able to survive and go on to live healthy, happy lives in forever homes which cherish them.  They are nothing short of miracles, the kind of miracles that keep us going in the face of adversity time and again. There is ALWAYS hope through faith. We have an abundance of both.

Further information (although outdated somewhat) is available through our website at http://www.TriumphantTails.net and through our Facebook page. I am most active on Facebook which is where 99% of our support network comes from. I post updates, network the shelter dogs and other strays which are found and in need of homes, and announce our upcoming events there on a daily basis.

Blind Dogs are Beautiful

We interviewed quite a few people about their experiences with our September Rescue of the Month, Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, and just had to share this woman's story. Debbie has fostered and rescued dogs that are blind, deaf, injured, and have medical conditions, but she thinks they are the most beautiful dogs in the world. Thank you, Debbie, for viewing the world from such a beautiful perspective.

Interview with Animal Wellness Magazine:

            AW: Why did you adopt blind dogs?

About three years ago, my senior Bichon had to have his second eye removed due to uncontrollable and painful glaucoma.  It was a tough adjustment for him and I did a lot of research to try to help him as best I could.  I had no idea what to do and what not to do!  The Blind Dog Rescue Alliance was very helpful and caring and I knew right away I wanted to be a volunteer.  And shortly after that, I fostered and adopted my first blind dog – and have only adopted blind dogs ever since (the blind seniors have my heart)!                                    

AW. What are the challenges for each of your dogs?

Currently, I have three adopted blind dogs, and have one forever foster.  One of the blind dogs and my foster are also deaf.  In addition to blindness, each is a senior who faces other medical issues.   I had to think about this question for a bit because my dogs have been here for a while and each knows “the lay of the land”.  But of course, they had to learn my home and yard when they first came.  As my seniors do not go for long walks, we did not experience any challenges there, although I do like the two who can hear to learn vocabulary such as “stop” and “forward”.  My blind Schnauzer had a difficult time with housebreaking (due to his history and not his blindness) and learning how to go down the stairs. Going UP is much easier!  But going down requires a dog to step off into space, and that is scary.

AW:   Do you use anything in particular to help with anxiety?

My current dogs are quite easy going.  With the Bichon I mentioned earlier, I used a Thundershirt and few different types of medication. 

AW:  Do you use any special training techniques?

I do try to teach vocabulary like “stop” for an emergency word – meaning the dog needs to stop right away as there may be a hole or another obstacle in his path.  I also try to teach “up” and “down” for steps and curbs, and “forward” for when we are walking.

AW: How do you ask people to approach your dogs?

I ask people to hold out their hand so my dogs can smell them first.  No different than meeting a sighted dog.  I also tell them they can talk to my dog if they want!  I talk to them all the time!

AW: Please provide a brief background about your dogs and their history.

Watson is a Schnauzer from the Tampa, FL shelter.  He was rescued on the day he was to be euthanized.  He was likely a backyard breeder dog and was turned into the shelter as a “stray”.  Watson is completely blind due to SARDS, is hypothyroid, has Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome, and an adrenal disorder.  He’s got a round belly, very thin hair, and his back gets pimples, but boy, he is the most handsome fellow to me.  And he is the sweetest, most affectionate and loving boy in my house! Watson goes to rescue events to spread the word about blind dogs and all they can do, and loves to meet lots of people!  I've included a picture of Watson at a rescue event.

Sae is a Yorkie mix who was rescued from the Manhattan shelter.  We also don’t know much of Sae’s history.  He is completely blind, almost completely deaf, and has a history of pancreatitis.  He also has a mass on his spleen that my vet and I are monitoring.  Sae was very timid when he first came, and was afraid to leave the exercise pen.  He did not like to be held or touched.  Sae is very careful, and moves very slowly.  He reminds me of someone’s very old grandfather, shuffling around. Sae has come a long way in the year he’s been here.  He’s such a careful and gentle boy!  In fact, I’ve brought Sae to school with me to help me introduce a book about a blind mountain climber.  We have a blind student at school who is afraid of dogs, and she loved to pet Sae during his visit.  It was a wonderful moment.  I've included a picture of Sae at school, resting in my classroom.

Tequila (Tiki) is a completely blind Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix.  He lived with an owner who was unable to keep him due to a health issue.  Tiki also has stomach issues and is on medication.  Tiki is a smaller fellow who used to love going to rescue events and meeting people.  As he’s aged, he prefers to stay home.  Tiki loves to be held and cuddled and will sit in my lap while I’m working on the computer.  He also dances for his food and will go up on his hind legs to be picked up.  He loves to be held in my arms like a baby!  Tiki is the smartest one in the house and even knows a few tricks!  

Unfortunately, people often believe that blind dogs can’t do anything (I’ve even had someone ask me if my dog could walk because he was blind) and don’t understand what a wonderful quality of life blind dogs can and do have, so I thought I’d share some of the things that blind dogs can do!    

In addition to what I mentioned above, Watson loves squeaky toys and is almost never without one.  His favorite thing to do is flip them all over the place and pounce on them, and while he may take a few seconds to find them, he always does!  He also chases the cats and runs in the yard. 

Sae enjoys coming to school with me, and is gentle and kind with all of the students he meets.  The best moment was the one I’ve already mentioned above (when the blind student who is afraid of dogs reached out to pet him).  We also have a volunteer whose blind dog goes to the library to listen to students read, and another volunteer whose blind dog is a certified therapy dog.

Leo, my blind and deaf forever foster, will be 18 in January and will be here one year on 9/17.  He is unstoppable!  He loves boxes and books and leaves and twigs and weeds and tearing my bills and pulling magnets off the fridge and knocking over the garbage ….  And I have to watch him like a hawk!  He can find the only crumb on the floor, and if I put a box down for 30 seconds, he’ll find it.  I’ve even had to empty the bottom shelves in the bookcases!  He even has his own Facebook page and with almost 500 fans! 

Animal Wellness Magazine is donating 40% of subscription sales to Blind Dog Rescue Alliance when you subscribe using promo code AWA149. For a great magazine and to donate Subscribe Here.

Blind and abused, but still going strong!

Many rescue dogs come with special needs, and more so when they are blind. One of the reasons we chose Blind Dog Rescue Alliance (BDRA) as our Animal Wellness Rescue of the Month for September was due to the heartbreaking thought of dogs who are not only blind, but have also been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Can you imagine being both blind and abused?

BDRA networks to find foster and forever homes for blind and visually impaired dogs throughout the United States and Canada. BDRA also has a sanctuary for dogs that do not find homes. Karen Belfi, one of the founders and president of BDRA, adopted her first blind dog back in 1999. He was up for adoption for 2 years, and no one was interested. He was gorgeous, and so sweet. She thought, how could people not want him, just because he couldn't see? He was born blind. Karen has since fostered 20 dogs through BDRA.

Eye problems can be an issue in many dogs, especially ones reaching old age. We often receive questions from readers about remedies for eye problems, and tips for helping their dogs cope with visual impairment. Some BDRA rescuers generously weighed in and have offered some great advice from their experiences of fostering and rescuing blind or visually impaired dogs.

The biggest challenge is training, since in addition to regular training, dogs also have to be taught how to find their way around. One tip is to teach the dog a “watch” command. They know to slow down and feel for an obstacle. "Step" is for stairs, a curb, etc. Other good verbal commands are “stop,” “forward,” and “wait.”

In houses with multiple dogs, putting noisy tags on all the dogs, so the blind ones can find the others is very helpful. A light tap on the nose to signal 'No' as well as citronella collars can help for training purposes, too. Sometimes people put scented dots on the floor that can lead to doors, etc., but these are not very effective with dogs that do not have keen noses. Stairs are not challenging for going up, but going down requires a dog to step off into space, and that is scary.

BDRA has many helpful tips on their website. If you’d like to donate to BDRA, they receive donations through their site. As well, Animal Wellness Magazine is donating 40% of subscription sales whenever anyone subscribes using promo code AWA149. Subscribe here to help BDRA and get a great magazine!

There was a constant thread in the emails we received from BDRA rescuers: blind and visually impaired dogs are more like other dogs than people think. They can be friendly with strangers, playful, calm, sweet, and al around terrific companions. Despite the challenges with training, blind dogs are, for the most part, the same as any other dog!

We partnered with some great companies who donated to our Rescue of the Month. Thank you to these companies for donating to BDRA with us! 

Be Pawsitive - A monthly box of organic dog treats that give back!

Wondercide Organics - Natural and organic solutions for pets, plants, and people!

Canine Omega3 (Ascenta Health) - Omega3 supplements!

Saving Mexico's Stray Dogs

There are times in Mexico city when there are more dogs than people. The overpopulation of stray dogs is a universal problem, but in Mexico it is especially catastrophic. Thousands of dogs are rounded up monthly and are exterminated by electrocution. The dogs endure brutal lives in the streets only to meet an equally brutal end.

One of the causes for the high numbers of stray dogs is a lack of spay and neuter programs. There is also a lack of veterinary services, funding for shelters, and education. While the problem may seem insurmountable, there are people and rescue organizations working hard to improve the situation.

Fiona Animal Refuge (FAR) is one such organization. In 2011, three retired, rock climbing women- Ann, Michelle, and Dottie- found a dog chained to a tree. The three women rescued and cared for her and named her Fiona. Unfortunately, Fiona didn't make it, but she inspired the women to start the Fiona Animal Refuge so that they could help other dogs avoid the same fate.

Baby Lupita- found in oil pit

In addition to rescue and adoption, FAR provides free spay and neuter services, flea and tick medication, food, shelter, and education for the community. A lot of the dogs rescued by FAR come from extreme conditions. One little pup was even found in an oil pit.

FAR tries to find homes for the rescued dogs within the Mexican community, but often times adoption comes from the United States. This was the case with one of their toughest rescues, Chuy. A mile from the town of Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Chuy was either dumped or wandered up the mountain in search of help. Red mange covered his starving little body- he was four months old. A kind Mexican working at the LaPasada Rock Climbers Campground took him in.

"Chuy"

FAR was working out of a truck at the time, so Chuy hung out with all the climbers hoping for a permanent home. Enter Leigh and Paul from Oregon and the love affair began. They were committed to giving  Chuy a better life with them from the moment they saw him.

The U.S. border is easy to cross with a dog in a car, but not to fly. You need a health certificate, human plane ticket, cage, and transport. All doable, but expensive, plus Chuy was not 100% recovered. He still looked pretty rough. But Leigh and Paul were determined, they wanted only Chuy.

So, "Saving Chuy" began. FAR drove him to San Antonio, got his health certificate (a miracle in itself) a cage and a VERY pricey plane ticket. Chuy arrived in Oregon for Christmas 2011 and his new life with two devoted people began. 

Chuy and Leigh 2013

One year latter Paul and Leigh had a "Saving Chuy"  anniversary party and raised almost $1000 for FAR. Dottie Cross, one of the founders of FAR, had a visit in Wyoming from Leigh and Chuy in July 2013. He looked like a different dog. Who says miracles don't happen? 

Fiona Animal Refuge is an Animal Wellness Ambassador. 40% of subscription sales from Animal Wellness Magazine is donated to FAR when using the promo code AWA121 

Subscribe here: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/sub2013/subscribe.php

Or donate directly to FAR: http://www.potreropups.org/

Interested in becoming an Ambassador? Visit our website: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/

Rocky Ridge Refuge- Taking in the Toughest Cases

Animal rescue shelters are almost always overwhelmed by the amount of animals that get dropped off at their doors. They are filled to the brim and are usually strapped for funds. This means that the toughest cases- the animals who have severe medical conditions- are often euthanized. Adoption comes with a whole host of challenges with dogs that are healthy, let alone with dogs that also have medical conditions, and it is understandable that the dogs who need the most love are the ones who do not get adopted. 

It is important to understand that rescuing animals is a community effort. Shelters need to rely on fosters, volunteers who transport animals, people in the community to behave as responsible owners, and animal sanctuaries to take in the cases that no one else wants.

There certainly are many wonderful animal sanctuaries that are committed to saving the most unfortunate animals, but one that stands out is Rocky Ridge Refuge (RRR). Run by Janice Wolf, with the help of people who offer to transport animals for rescue and adoption, RRR takes in animals when it seems like all hope has been lost. 

One of the recent additions to RRR is young Pitbull that was abandoned in a house for two weeks and then once let out was attacked and chewed up by another dog. Wolf named this young sweetheart "Reuben James" and he is now up for adoption. 

Wolf also takes in many cases of dogs who have mange. She has a great track record for helping these dogs heal. With the support of volunteers and RRR Facebook fans spreading the word, these dogs are adopted into loving homes. 

One of the toughest cases that came to RRR was a Dachshund who was thought to have a severe lip injury and they had no funds for this care. The dog had been sitting at a vet clinic nearby due to no space at the shelter. it was discovered that EVERY tooth in his head was rotten and had to be removed, and severe osteomyelitis had eaten away much of the jaw. The vet clinic, a dental specialty service, said it is the WORST mouth they had ever seen! Thanks to RRR, and extensive surgery, the Dachshund has been recovering. 

RRR also provides sanctuary for exotic animals, who are usually turned away at shelters due to unsuitable facilities for exotic species. At RRR, there is Cheesecake the capybara, Crouton the tortoise, Squatch the wallaby, and a whole host of other interesting critters! The beautiful thing about these animals is that they all get along harmoniously despite their different breeds. 

Each month, Animal Wellness Magazine chooses a "Rescue of the Month" based on comments and nominations on the Animal Wellness Facebook page. RRR is our August Rescue of the Month! We are donating 40% of subscription sales to RRR when people subscribe using the promo code AWA089: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/sub2013/subscribe.php

Rocky Ridge Refuge has puppies that need adoption! Apply here: http://rockyridgerefuge.com/adoption-form/

The Animal Wellness Rescue of the Month program is supported by some fantastic companies who donate products and funds to our rescues. SPECIAL THANK YOU to these companies for donating to Rocky Ridge Refuge (Click on links below the logos for info):

http://www.smoochypoochy.com/

http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/

http://savvybeasttreats.com/

http://ambertech.com/

The Street Dogs in Brazil

"There are many reasons why a person becomes a dog rescuer. For me it was a necessity and even though I rescued many dogs I never considered my self a rescuer until recently. It was a way of life without a label it, was something that just had to be done."

-Dogs in Brazil

For many people, rescuing animals is simply a way of life; animal rescuers cannot imagine living any other way. When Jan and Carlos witnessed the devastation from one of Brazil's biggest natural disasters- the 2011 floods- one of the first things they noticed was all the dogs that needed emergency care. Brazil is home to a very high number of street dogs, and rarely do these dogs ever find homes. 

Since the 2011 floods, Dogs in Brazil has become a registered Brazilian charity. Jan and Carlos rescue street dogs and often keep the ones they cannot find homes for. 

Recently, a story from a Dogs in Brazil supporter came to Animal Wellness Magazine. Kelly McBride shared with us how she met Jan and Carlos in 2011... via Twitter! The power of social media has been a useful tool for rescue organizations, allowing them to connect with people from all over the world. The story below is about one of these connections.

"How I Met Dogs in Brazil"

I got to meet Jan online after the Brazil floods. The more we got talking the more I realised the amazing things she was doing with her husband Carlos to rescue and save street dogs in Brazil. 

Back in the good days before the floods, they ran re-homing programs. I’d really love to see them get back to that! After the floods, they were just trying to survive with their rescued dogs. I think they had 21 dogs then.

They were both animal lovers who didn’t set out to be rescuers, but they could never turn away from the suffering of a lonely street dog needing help.

Jan & Carlos were the first to NOT think about themselves and volunteered to help people and animals in the disaster zone. They knew back roads and where among the first to reach many isolated people with food.

Jan told me the horror of driving through areas until government help arrived. She said it smelt of death and there were still dead bodies stuck in trees of people who had tried to escape the flood.

When I met Jan, and came to know of Dogs In Brazil, she was upbeat. However, she was losing her home as a result of the floods and had no idea where she, Carlos, and the dogs would go. 

Well, Jan didn’t know the support of her Twitter and Facebook friends. We raised enough for a bond and to rent a house for a few weeks. Then supporters kept helping with the rent.

Dogs In Brazil (which is Jan and Carlos) drew attention from GAWD (Global Animal Welfare Defence) who wanted to help set them up as registered charity in Brazil. A private donor helped pay for the charity status and lawyer's bill, too. They all knew, like me, that everything Jan and Carlos did for these dogs was charity.

Around that time in Australia, I came across a company offering grants. The theme was to grant your dream to help anyone around the world make the world a better place. I wrote a nomination for Dogs In Brazil for Jan & Carlos and it was accepted. We just had to get the most amount of votes in a month.

OMG did we spend many sleepless nights! We tweeted and emailed and shared on Facebook. We received overwhelming responses on Twitter, including from famous celebrities like Bif Naked, The Barbi Twins, Ken Wahl, Brian Ray, and Joanna Krupa. I put notices up on my staff notice board, made flyers I stuck under shop doors and in letterboxes. We won and Dogs In Brazil got $5000! They used most of that to build wire fences so dogs could run in the yard without being eaten by some wild animal.

I love these guys and while they have an official webpage through GAWDS, I’ve been creating one for them too: www.dogsinbrazil.com "

By Kelly McBride

Dogs in Brazil is an Animal Wellness Ambassador. We will donate 40% of every subscription purchased using their promo code AWA155

https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/sub2013/subscribe.php 

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Rescuing the Bostons

We all know that people who volunteer and work with rescue organizations are dedicated and hard-working individuals. What's truly wonderful is when that hard work is recognized and rewarded.

For example, after rescuing and helping homeless and needy Boston Terriers on her own, Ana-Maria Davies was approached by the Boston Terrier Club of Canada to create the BTCC Rescue Program and represent the Club as BTCC National Rescue Representative. Over the years, these endeavours turned into a non-profit charitable organization called Boston Terrier Rescue Canada (BTRC).

Rather than operate from a central facility, BTRC is a network of volunteers and individuals that work to rescue and place Boston Terriers in foster and forever homes. They also provide safe havens, medical care, transport, and training. 

We definitely understand why the BTRC volunteers are so committed to rescuing Boston Terriers! Referred to as the "American Gentleman" this breed is highly intelligent and very easily trained. They are also super friendly, despite their occasional stubbornness. And they are oh-so-cute! 

We recently started a donation program that we coordinate through our Facebook page. Based on recommendations from our Facebook fans, we choose a rescue organization every month and make a donation.

The best part of the program has been hearing all the wonderful stories about rescue organizations and animal adoption! We received recommendations from people who supported both big and small organizations, from all over the world.

We were very impressed by the support and dedication shown by the supporters of Boston Terrier Rescue Canada and are proud to announce BTRC as our July rescue organization. Thanks for all the hard work you do!

BTRC is an Animal Wellness Ambassador. 40% of our subscriptions purchased using their promo code will be donated to BTRC! It's a great way to donate- you help rescue dogs AND you get magazines full of natural health information! Just enter code AWA031 when entering your payment info: https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/sub2013/subscribe.php

Several companies donated to BTRC with us. We'd like to thank DERMagic, Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage, ZippityPooDa, and Rope-N-Go. It's important to support the companies who are contributing to rescue organizations. Please visit them on Facebook and thank them for their donations! (Just click on the company names above.)