Blind Dogs See with their Hearts!

"Hubble" Available for Adoption

Adopting any orphaned animal is always a good thing, but unfortunately it is the dogs who need the most love that are often overlooked. This is especially true in shelters that don't have a no-kill policy. Dogs that are sick, disabled, or old are the first to be put down. Sometimes, they don't even get a chance to be chosen for adoption.

"Blue Snowball" Available for Adoption

But we all know that what really matters is what's in a dog's heart, not their appearance. Blind Dog Rescue Alliance (BDRA) certainly knows this well. BDRA is a group of volunteers spread out across Canada and the United States and they're committed to saving blind and visually impaired dogs.

BDRA also has a sanctuary. These dogs tend to either suffer from health problems, extreme shyness or are just simply senior citizens. 

"Wasabi" Available for Adoption

Caring for blind rescue dogs certainly comes with special needs. Challenges include thinking of ways to keep them safe and ways to let them know where they are. For example, noisy tags are put on all the dogs so that the blind dogs can hear where the other dogs are. Dogs are also taught special commands, such as "watch" or "step" that can be used to prevent the dogs from bumping into things or to warn them about curbs, stairs, etc. 

While adopting out blind and visually impaired dogs can take a lot of effort and convincing, BDRA receives lots of support from volunteers and foster homes. Their adoption stories are full of happy endings. For example, an 8-year old beagle mix named Malcolm was in a shelter for 7 months before BDRA swooped in and scooped him up. He has cataracts in one eye, but that doesn't stop him from being a wonderful and loving companion. He's been in a foster home for a year and a half now and is a great companion to the two cats and three other dogs that share the home!

"Antares" Available for Adoption

We can all agree that dogs offer a special kind of companionship, but there's something about blind dogs that particularly pull on our heart strings. Maybe it's because we know they need us as much as we need them. Or maybe it's because we know that even though they can't see with their eyes, they still see with their hearts.

Want to support Blind Dog Rescue Alliance? Visit their website: http://www.blinddogrescue.com/
And LIKE them on Facebook! 

Interested in becoming an Animal Wellness Ambassador? We donate 40% of subscription sales to a rescue organization whenever someone orders using their rescue code. Find out more: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/

Rescuing the Little White Dogs

There is an image of the common rescue dog: starving, skinny, full of mange, injured, destitute. While this description is true for many dogs that arrive at shelters, there is another common type of rescue dog: the purebred dog that an owner spent hundreds of dollars on, only to discover the breed wasn't the one they really wanted.

This type of rescue dog is so prevalent that a number of rescue organizations exist to mitigate the high numbers of abandoned purebreds. A nice idea to keep in mind the next time you're thinking of buying a purebred dog is to adopt one from an organization that specializes in rescuing the breed you're looking for. These organizations are experts in the breeds they work with, and can offer great advice and tips on how to care for the dogs.

There's also a need to help surrenders: people who have to give up their dog due to any number of circumstances, such as a new baby, moving, and divorce. The thought of giving a beloved dog to a shelter can be heartbreaking, and purebred rescues serve a very real need by placing these dogs with foster homes.

When we were at the Toronto Woofstock in June, we ran into one of our Ambassadors that is a purebred rescue organization. We were delighted to see Animal Wellness Ambassadors "Westies in Need" (WiN), and even more delighted that they were selling chocolates as a fundraiser. (Have you ever been to one of these trade shows? Dog cookies and treats everywhere, but few for humans! We'd been craving something sweet all day!)

Westies in Need is the largest Westie rescue organization in Canada and a registered Not for Profit. They are a volunteer rescue group, providing care for Westies that have been surrendered, taken from puppy mills or are in danger of losing their lives in local Animal Control facilities. 

WiN does not have a shelter or physical location. Instead, they operate through a tight-knit network of rescue coordinators and foster homes, trying to rescue as many Westies as possible. 

Their mission: "Rescue Westies, get immediate medical attention to those in need, foster Westies in a safe, attentive environment, find them loving and forever homes and to also educate the general public to the need for spaying and neutering dogs and the perils of puppy mills."

At Animal Wellness Magazine, we love all breeds of dogs. As for Westies, how can you not fall in love with them? They look like little puffs of white clouds. And have you seen one in a bow tie? It's like a dapper little old man. Too cute!
  

The success stories on the WiN website  are full of Westie cuteness and heartwarming tales. There are stories like Faith's, who was found wandering, alone and scared in Taipai, Taiwan. A Facebook fan from Taiwan contacted WiN, who got her placed into a shelter. Faith is scheduled to fly to Canada on July 18th to her new home!

Faith's story is just one of many. WiN's volunteers are constantly working and fundraising so they can give forever homes to all their Westies. WiN has a Toronto Westie Walk and Fun Day on September 8th, 2013 and an  Ottawa Westie Walk and Fun Day on September 15th, 2013. Love Westies? Consider participating!

WiN also has an active Facebook Page. Drop by and give them a visit! You can also visit their website:
http://www.westiesinneed.com/index.html

Want to get involved in our Ambassador Program? Click HERE for info: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/

No-Kill Mandates Save More Animals!

At our magazine, we are big believers not only in animal wellness and improving animals' lives, but also of saving animals' lives. After all, almost everyone who works at the magazine has a rescue dog, cat, or horse (one of us even has a rescue rat!).

This is why the statistics from kill shelters saddens us. Every year, millions of animals are killed in shelters. We understand the challenges shelters face- things like funding and lack of resources can put shelters out of business- and don't fault shelters who do all that they can to be no-kill but sometimes fall short. 

What we can't stomach is hearing stories like Sabrina's- a dog who had a family that was on their way to pick her up for adoption, but was killed before the family got there because the shelter did not stick to the mandatory 72 hour hold time. 

Sabrina's story was told by members of Triumphant Tails and there is now a petition circulating that addresses the horrible practices at Galveston County Animal Resource Center. 

There are plenty of amazing shelters and refuges dedicated to being no-kill and we'd like to see them thrive. It's the reason we started the Ambassador Program. Sometimes people need an incentive to donate, and this way their donation helps a shelter AND gets them a subscription to our magazine!

We recently welcomed a new Ambassador to our program and they are a perfect example of the work that goes into keeping a shelter no-kill. Joey’s Feline Friends (JFF) is a non-profit, no-kill shelter and rescue organization dedicated to the care of abused, abandoned, and physically-challenged cats and kittens on the island of O‘ahu.

They have been in business since 1997 and shelter between 200-300 cats and kittens at any given time. Maintaining a no-kill mandate has meant high vet bills, relying heavily on volunteers, and routinely running diagnostic testing.

So what does this all mean?  It means that while they continue to do the work, the donations and the volunteers are not sufficient to carry the load.  It means that after 20+ years of dedication, there is a risk of Joey's Feline folding. Most of all, it means that they urgently need your help.  They've helped thousands of people over the years. The cats are still here, and they still need the food and the care.

We'd like all shelters to be no-kill, and hope that the No-Kill Conference in Washington, D.C. on July 13-14 will achieve their educational goals. In the meantime, everyone can help simply by donating to or volunteering at a rescue organization. If working with animal rescues has taught us anything, it's that the power of one person really can make a difference.

Want to help save Joey's Feline Friends? Please visit their page and make a donation! www.joeysfelinefriends.com

Want to become an Ambassador or learn more about the program? Click here for info: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/

Braving the Southern Alberta Floods

There is a lot of hard work involved with rescuing animals. Volunteers and workers put in countless hours caring for rescued animals and arranging adoptions. However, these tasks just barely scrape the surface of the work rescue organizations really do.

Recently, we've heard a lot about the efforts of rescue organizations during natural disasters like the tornado in Oklahoma. Operating a rescue organization is difficult enough under normal circumstances, but what happens in the wake of an emergency?

Last week, the beginning of a devastating flood hit Southern Alberta. Not only were rescues and shelters swamped with incoming animals, but they had to care for their existing animals, too.

Boston Terrier Rescue Canada was one of these groups and admirably rose to the challenges the flooding presented. A large transport of rescue dogs was scheduled prior to the flooding. These dogs were on their way to foster homes and desperately needed the care and attention the fosters would provide.

A lot of the rescue dogs were so malnourished that their ribs showed through their taut skin. Some of them desperately wanted to cuddle, but were afraid to get too close.

Then the flooding started and Boston Terrier Rescue had to make a decision: did they forego the transport or did they go ahead with it, even if it meant extra work and braving the flooded roads?

Boston Terrier Rescue decided to continue with the scheduled transport and their decision speaks volumes of the kinds of dedicated people who work and volunteer with rescue organizations.

Thanks to Boston Terrier Rescue, a number of dogs will be placed with new homes and will get the love they deserve.

If you would like to support or donate to Boston Terrier Rescue Canada, please visit their website at http://www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/

Would you like to become an Animal Wellness Ambassador? 40% of every subscription you sell will be donated to a rescue of your choice! Click here for more information: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/

You can also help by purchasing a subscription! Use this promo code: Save Calgary  
40% of your subscription will be donated to rescue shelters in Calgary, Alberta!
https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/sub2013/subscribe.php

The Lovable Side of Pit Bulls

Up for adoption at love-a-bull.org

Is there any other breed of dog that receives as much discrimination as the pit bull?

Debates are endless about the pros and cons of the breed. Anti-pit bull groups lobby governments to pass laws banning the breeding and selling of these misunderstood dogs. People focus on breed-specific details rather than seeing the animal as a whole, which is sad because pit bulls can be very loving and gentle dogs.

At Animal Wellness Magazine, we try to look at things differently. Animals are our companions- they are living beings with emotions, personalities, and a variety of behaviours, and that goes for all breeds, regardless of their reputations. 

Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding pit bulls means that a lot of people are misinformed about how to care for these complex animals, which leads to shelters and rescue organizations filled to the brim with pit bulls. We're grateful for organizations like Love-a-Bull, because the idea of a gentle, lovable pit bull being on death row simply because of its breed is heartbreaking. 

In human terms, we think of this kind of social stigma as racism, but when applied to animals, people somehow justify it as being okay. 

Luckily, not all people think this way, and pit bull rescue organizations have emerged to help this beautiful breed. 

For example, the people at Love-a-Bull are doing some amazing work. One of their favourite stories involves two pit bulls that were service dogs for a family that had a child with autism, a child who had limited mobility because he had both lower legs amputated below the knees, and a father with cancer. Can you imagine the help their service dogs provided?

Unfortunately, after making a recent move, the family's new landlord threatened them with eviction due to their put bull type service dogs' breed. Even with confirmation from the family's pediatrician and dog trainer, the landlord held firm- all because of the stigma surrounding pit bulls.

Love-a-Bull made sure this story had a happy ending. The organization was able to secure the necessary documentation for the family to stay in their housing and keep their dogs!

Love-a-Bull has many more heartwarming rescue stories on their website. The organization also needs support for dogs waiting to be rescued. Visit their website to show their pit bulls some love! 

We'd like to see the myths dispelled and proper care given to a breed that is capable of much love, generousity, and kindness. A lot of this will come with education, and we're happy to contribute as much as possible! 

Interested in our Ambassador Program? Visit our website to check it out and help save more animals! 
Also, we need more LIKES on Facebook to spread the word about this great program! Help us save animals' lives. It's as easy as clicking the LIKE tab on our Facebook Page!

Animal Best Friends at Rocky Ridge Refuge

There's an important life lesson that's been reinforced throughout the years at Animal Wellness Magazine: animals have a lot to teach us.

With all the war that exists and all the fear of other people because maybe they are "different" from what you know, it is always heartwarming to see that even in the animal world differences can be overcome. 

Of course, the cutest instances of this are interspecies best friends. Sure, some of you must have a dog and a cat that get along, but what about a puppy and a capybara? Or a dog and a goat?

At Rocky Ridge Rescue, animal friendships abound! This refuge was the inspiration of one woman, Janice Wolf, who currently runs the rescue all by herself. The real beauty of her refuge is that she takes in sick, injured, and exotic animals that wouldn't be accepted at other rescue centers. Maybe the animals realize the second chance they've been given, because they are all so keen on supporting one another!

While all of the animals at Rocky Ridge are special, a few stand out for their extra special personalities. For example, there is Cheesecake the capybara who loves to adopt puppies. Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, and have very sweet and nurturing personalities. How fortunate that the orphaned puppies that come to Rocky Ridge are welcomed by a new mother? Sure, she may not be of the same species, but when it comes to being a good parent, it's love that is the key ingredient anyway.

Another angel at Rocky Ridge is Butterbean, a bull terrier who likes animals with hooves. She's got a baby goat that's a best pal. They love to snuggle and play! And when Janice discovered that Bazinga the miniature horse had dwarfism, Butterbean was there to offer nurture and support.

There are so many things we can learn from Rocky Ridge Refuge. For one, that the power of a single person is greater than we realize. For two, that we should never let differences stand in the way of friendship and love.

If you'd like to donate to Rocky Ridge Refuge, please visit their website: www.rockyridgerefuge.com

Want to become an Ambassador or learn more about the Ambassador Program? Visit http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/

When Animals Rescue Us

Never underestimate the healing power of animals! Sometimes, we think we are rescuing animals, but they are really rescuing us. 

The Canadian Foundation for Animal Assisted Support Services partners people struggling with physical, emotional, and social challenges with companion animals. There is one heartwarming story after another on their Storytelling Page of how an adopted pet helped someone overcome a life challenge. 

One girl overcame her stutter because she was motivated to train her SPCA-rescued dog. "In the second class the instructor told me that my dog would never learn as he could not understand me. I was told to speak clear. I was very upset, as I wanted to speak clear and I wanted my little Timi to learn. The next week I came back and to everyone’s surprise I was speaking very clear, giving clear commands and praising my dog just the way my instructor Paul told me to. I was so happy! My dog came first in the class."

A man who was blind and deaf from Usher Syndrome gained his independence back from a guide dog named Nemo. "Usher Syndrome is a condition that takes away your hearing early in life and your vision later in life. I was diagnosed at the age of 32. My life was turned upside down. I lost my job, driver’s license and hobby refereeing." Now Nemo accompanies him wherever he goes and he is currently an international speed skater. 

When asked why being an Animal Wellness Ambassador is important, the Canadian Foundation for Animal Assisted Support Services explained, "Our vision is to be the philanthropic leader that sustains the innovation, coordination, and integration of Animal-Assisted Support Services within Canada's health-care, social service, and justice sectors in order to improve the quality of life of people with physical, emotional, and social challenges. Being an Ambassador is important because we are indebted to all the wonderful animals in our lives and represented in organizations across Canada."

Pets teach us so much and ask for so little- they deserve nothing less than the best of what we have to give so they too can experience love for just being.

For more information about Animal Assisted Support Services, Click Here.

Want to get involved? Learn about the Ambassador Program on our website! animalwellnessmagazine.com