The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Three Old Dogs

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats. See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Miss Pearl, Mocha and Clyde: All three of these senior dogs found themselves alone and abandoned in area shelters not too long ago.  Their prospects didn't look good. Each was about 10 years old.

Then an animal control officer in Jefferson County called me about Miss Pearl,  Could I please take her?

Shelter employees at another facility emailed about Clyde, a senior border collie.  And others called about Mocha, a chihuahua who was terrified at the shelter and not likely to find a home.

They didn't find their new homes instantly with us, but each became healthier and happier while in their foster homes.   And alll three were among those adopted this past weekend.

This is Miss Pearl.

This is Clyde.

And this is Mocha.

We celebrate all our adoptions, but maybe we cheer a little louder when one of our seniors finds a home.

This past weekend we also placed Belinda the yorkie pup, Charlie the cockapoo, Natalie the bichon,and Baby Lisa the papillon.

This past Saturday, we picked up some dogs at a puppymill auction.  These dogs will now be adopted out as pets and will not end up as breeders.  I'm already receiving applications for some of them.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Two Black Dogs

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and findiing homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help us win a grant. Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Mo, also known as Mooter, and Meecho have two things in common.

They are both black dogs.  And they see a bright future ahead and a past they're lucky to have left behind.

Mooter, above in the hat, is a spaniel mix who spent most of his life at the end of a chain.  He was one of three such dogs we took from a situation where more than 100 dogs were living on 3 acres in rural North Carolina.  Mooter's only shelter was a blue barrel.

Now Mooter is adopted.  He has a new home and his own family.  The future looks good, as it does to Abby and Sara, the two dogs that come with him.

So, way to go Mooter.

And now there's Meecho, above.  A few days ago several rescue groups received an email from a St. Louis City manager asking if we'd please consider some of their dogs that had been in the Pound way too long.  After checking out their pictures and visiting the Pound, we decided to take Meecho, a beagle/lab mix who'd been there  since mid August.

Meecho is now ready for her new home, and we hope she'll be as lucky as Mo.

We're really impressed with this lady.  She's about 5 years old, housebroken and friendly with everyone.  Her tail now is constantly wagging.

And we already knows she enjoys car rides.  She sad on Kati's lap on the way home from the Pound and poked her nose against the window, watching the outside world fly by.  But before long, she just settled down for a nap.

Good luck awaits you, Miss Meecho.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Faces we remember

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And vote to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

We'll have dogs at the Arnold Petsmart 11 to 3 Saturday and at the Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3 Sunday.  Come on by.  You might meet your new best friend.

It seems the phone never stops ringing and the emails go on forever, and too  many of them are requests to take dogs.  We received an email from the St. Louis City Pound about several dogs that had been there for 3 and 4 months without a single application.  Staff and volunteers at other shelters emailed and called about other dogs, and individuals jumped in with their pleas about dogs they could no longer keep, dogs whose owners had died, dogs that needed new homes. Sometimes I want to hide in a corner somewhere with ear plugs and a blindfold.

So it's nice to receive some cute pictures. These are two recently adopted dogs.

This is Frankie in his Christmas get up.

And this is the former Nano, now Heidi.

Monday I did take two dogs from the Franklin County Humane Society.  Today we took a dog out of  the St. Louis City Pound -- Meecho, a plain black lab/beagle who'd been there since August.

And this weekend we'll rescue a few dogs from the puppymill life.

We do keep busy.

And I sure hope we have more adoptions to announce.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Our Christmas Beagle and others

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Virginia is busy with her latest Christmas Beagle.  Flower is being bathed and beautified, costumed and prepared for this Sunday's adoption event at the Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3. She's even having her nails done.

Flower is Virginia's third Christmas Beagle, and each of the previous two found homes before Christmas. Will Flower make it number three?  We sure hope so. 

Flower is a friendly, active dog we rescued from Jefferson County Animal Control. When we took her in, she had a condition known as Cherry Eye, which made it difficult for some people to see her inner beauty.  One surgery later, and Flower is now as beautiful as her name.

And she's the 2009 Christmas Beagle?  How lucky is that?

And while we're on the subject of Christmas, here's a picture  Cheri sent of Tober (on the right) with his housemate Lucy in their picture with Santa.  Tober was a very sick dog when we took him from the St. Louis City Pound.  He's now living it up in his new home...and he's plenty healthy.

We also received new of Chloe.  Karen and David adopted Chloe in November and wrote to tell us she just celebratd her 13th  birthday. They wrote, "We adore her."  Chloe was rescued from the St Louis County animal shelter. 

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Working for Miracles

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help us win a  grant. Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Conventional wisdom says you can't find homes for senior dogs. I hear it all the time.  Only the age changes. You can't place dogs over the age of 5, 6, 7, 10.  Although I'll admit it gets harder as the numbers get higher, we do it all the time.

Conventional wisdom also says you can't place black dogs;plain brown dogs are pretty hard to place too.

Again, we do it all the time.  And this week it looks like we've found homes for three senior dogs -- two of them black, the other mud brown.  These are the three dogs -- Mo, Abby and Sara -- that had been living their entire lives at the end of chains.  And now they're expecting Christmas presents.

So I'm crossing my fingers that the miracles will continue.

What about a home for a three-legged cat?  This is Sergio, a young cat someone used for target practice, shattering the bones in one leg.

And what about a home for ancient Becky, a Chihuahua/Italian Greyhound mix?  She's on medication for arthritis and is definitely a slow mover.  But then, so are some of you.  Maybe for Christmas someone will give a home to an old dog who just needs a place to live out her days with love and comfort.

And what about a snoring, senior beagle with a flower on his head?  Maxwell is about 12 years old. See the pic. I'll bet a dog with a flower on his head is a lucky dog.

Okay, more miracles.  That's what we need.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Abby finds a lap

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in a finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help up win a grant.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

For 20 minutes today, Abby sat in a lap and practically purred with pleasure. Chances are she's never passed a better 20 minutes.

While Abby was relaxing with Liz (in picture), Liz's mom was filling out paperwork to be Abby's new foster home.

I wrote about Abby in the previous blog, "Abby, Warts and All."  Today she came to her first adoption event.  We had trouble coaxing her into the store because the smooth floor frightened her.  But eventually she calmed down and enjoyed meeting people.

Then she met Liz and her mother. They heard her sad story and decided they would like to be her new foster home...and eventually maybe her permanent home.

Abby will have one dog friend in her new home and several dog-loving children.  Her days of living at the end of a chain are over.

As I wrote in the last bog, Abby will become more beautiful as she becomes more loved.  I think she's blossoming already.

Today we also adopted Wilson the dachshund into a new home.  Opal the little black chihuahua is now officially adopted too -- by her foster mom, Lesa.  Flower the beagle went home with a new foster mom, Virginia, who likes having a "Christmas Beagle" every year.  Along with a holiday bell on her collar, Flower will soon have painted toenails.  Oooh.  Won't she be pretty.

And Tabitha the Pekingese went on a road trip to meet her new family.  More about Tabitha later.

Yesterday I adopted Meghan the schnauzer into her new home.  I liked that her new people made a point of repeating that Meghan was going to have a good home with them. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) we'll be back at the Kirkwood Petco, I-44 and Lindbergh, trying to find a few more homes for our dogs.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Abby, Warts and All

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  Keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Abby is the color of mud.  Her coat is as brittle and sparse as an ancient brush.  She's a little tentative when first she meets anyone new. That's a wart on her muzzle and a couple more under one eye.

And she's old -- maybe 11 years old.

But she's wagging her tail at me now, peering around the kitchen doorway.  If I walk over to her,she'll squirm a lttle with pleasure as I pet her.  She watches whatever I do.

I can see her becoming more beautiful as she becomes more loved.

Abby's story is a sad one.  She's lived most of her life at the end of a chain with only a blue barrel for shelter.  She is one of the three dogs we accepted recently from a situation in North Carolina where a local group was finding homes for more than 100 dogs tethered on about three acres.  Of the three, Abby is the shyest, the most damaged. 

Someday her coat will be soft and full.  I know it will.  She'd lost much of her coat because of bacterial and fungal infections.  It's now beginning to grow back.

Abby has soulful eyes, pleading eyes.  She's quiet; she's housebroken; she's undemanding.  Whatever anyone gives her is more than she's ever had before, more than she's even imagined.

She loves living indoors now and tries out all the dog beds she can find.  She mingles with the other dogs but is sometimes a little fearful and defensive.  Perhaps she's had reason to fear other dogs in her past.

I think her fondest wish would be a home where as the only pet she could soak up all the love, for it's love she's missed all her life.

And  then when she is thoroughly loved, she will blossom.

And everyone will call her beautiful.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

One cute picture

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  Keep voting to help us win a grant. Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Today I give you one cute picture.

 
That's Ginger (formerly Chimay) on the left, and Ted (formerly Wicket).  They are now already best pals.  Ginger joined Ted a few weeks ago.  She's a Schnauzer/Brussells Griffon mix.  Ted was adopted out almost a  year ago.  He's all Brussells Griffon,  Both are fun, playful, and sweet.  They look like a pretty happy pair and an undeniable cute couple. We love it when people keep us updated with pictures and news about the dogs adopted from us.

Keep those pictures coming.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Louie sure is lucky

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Louie is a Springer Spaniel adopted almost 4 years ago.  He is now in Florida with his human pal, Becky, who sent a few pictures.

Becky writes that it took Louie "between six months and a year to really come out of his shell and adopt an adorable, happy, fun, personality."

 

Today Louie smiles every day, and well he should.   Says Becky, "He gets a lot of exercise.  I take him for many walks a day and he is up to three miles running with me."    Louie and Becky live only 20 steps from the beach, which is Louie's favorite place in the whole world.  "An hour of swimming and running on the beach wears him out good."

Becky adds, "Thank you so much for giving me such a wonderful companion.  He has been such a great addition to my life!  I love him to death!"

 

 

Ellen Elick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Meet Max

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org. And keep voting to help us win a grant. Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

When I met Max last week at the Jefferson County Animal Control, he stood up on his hind legs, pressed his front paws against the bars of his cage, and coaxed me just close enough to kiss me on the nose.

He was a big Chocolate labrador Retriever, six years old.  Or maybe he was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.We finally settled on lab.  

I learned that he'd been picked up as a stray.  He'd been playing with some neighborhood children, and one of the parents had called animal control.  Last week he wasn't available because an owner might still show up to claim him.  Animal Control did locate the owner, who signed Max over to the shelter, saying he could no longer afford him.

So today I met him again.  I checked him out with other dogs; he played nicely.  He liked all the people  he met too.  And so I drove off with him and headed to the vet clinic.  On the way I felt his ribs and noticed how thin he was.  I ran my fingers down the ridge of his spine.  He didn't mind; he was busy enjoying the view as he sat in the passenger seat.

Later today I learned the bad news.  Max had heartworm disase, whipworms and roundworms.  He starts treatment tomorrow.  In a way, this bad news is his good news.  Had he not ended up in the shelter, he most likely would have died of heartworm disease.  Now he has a chance.

And he's a good dog.  One of our  newest foster homes has volunteered to take care of him while he recovers from his treatment.

If you'd like to help us pay for his heartworm treatment, you can pay through Paypal.  Just click on the button below.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com