The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Sr Dog Project Reunion June 2

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, May 18 and noon to 3 Sunday, May 19, in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.


I love all the pictures and messages I receive from those who've adopted dogs from us.  The one above is of Skipper (Skip) and his best friend Amelia. I knew this adoption would work when I saw how gentle Skipper was with Amelia, letting her hold the leash while he walked slowly without pulling.  I'm told the two are devoted to each other.  When I first met Skipper, he was in a cage at Jefferson County Animal Control and was one scared little guy.  How things do change and how we do love hearing about the dogs who've gone on to find homes.  That's why we've scheduled our second adopter reunion for 11 to 3 Sunday, June 2, in the Frenchtown Dog Park at 10th and Emmet, three blocks from the Soulard Farmer's Market. Please come! 

Our first reunion was heartworming and left us with a few lumps in our throats as we saw so many of the dogs who had once been our foster dogs.  If you adopted from us, mark your calendar and plan to attend.  We'll have lots of activities including food and drinks for human and canine consumption, off leash playing for well-behaved dogs, attendance prizes and and adoptable dogs.  Admission is free.  No retractable leashes, please.  They can become a hazard.

The following pictures are just a few of our alums.  This is  Molly (then Honey) who was adopted 7  years ago when she was 7 years old.  She is living a life of leisure and is shown here with her summer hairacut.

Next is Pickles,a senior lady who came to us from southern Missouri.  She arrived with a severe skin infection, which has cleared up beautifully.  In the care of her new owner, who is a groomer, Pickles keeps up appearances.

Beauregard, now Buddy, is a more recent adoption.  He went to a new foster home only to end up staying.  He's perfect, his new human mom declares. And here he is with a new kid friend.

These are only a few of the more than 3,000 dogs we've helped find new homes.  We're hoping some of them will reintroduce themselves to us at the reunion we're calling "BarkFest."

If you have any questions about BarkFest (the Sr Dog Project Adopter Reunion), call 314-604-0783 or email phamster71@yahoo.com.

 

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

 

 

Give these dogs a chance!

Saffron...senior Boxer

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, May 11, in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.

 

    Saffron will make someone a great dog, but she's not right for everyone.  We take in some dogs that will work well for almost anyone, and others who need a special situation.  Saffron is one of the latter.  She loves her people, but she doesn't love other dogs.  She needs to be an only dog.  She also needs someone who doesn't mind that she's a lady with a grey muzzle. We think she's about nine  years old.

    Somewhere out there is someone who will give Saffron a chance.  Her foster home (one of only two foster homes with no other dogs) is giving her plenty of attention and training.  She's learning to walk nicely on lead and to ignore other dogs also out walking.

    So Saffron deserves a chance.  She's loyal to her people and good with children.

    And then there's Carmella, another senior lady who needs a special situation.  Carmella also loves her people.  She's also just fine with other pets.  But she hates being left alone.  At her first foster home, she chewed out of her crate and broke off a tooth doing it.  Left uncrated, she tore down the miniblinds.  She then went to a home without miniblinds or crates.  All was going well until the new foster left her in an upstairs bedroom.  The bedroom had a window with a built-in air conditioner.  Carmella chewed through the wood around the air conditoner and squeezed out onto the roof above the porch.  Needless to say, a crowd gathered.  Carmella, the window and the air conditioner all survived, but she then moved over to my place.

    Carmella is doing fine here.  I don't have miniblinds or window air conditoners.  I do have a dog door, which she uses when I'm not at home.  I usually don't crate her, and she's perfectly fine here as long as she can see out of the windows and slip out into the yard when she's felling claustrophobic.  I also learned one other thing about her.  She's ok being crated in a plastic crate.  Maybe she just likes being a cave dog.

    Someone should give Carmella a break.

Both Saffron and Carmella are Red Ribbon Dogs.  That means their adoption fee is only $50 and will be waived for a senior citizen. You can help us expand our Red Ribbon Program by voting for us in the Monsanto Grow St. Louis Contest. Find the Vote Now box at www.monsanto.com and look for Red Ribbon Program, St Louis Senior Dog Project.  The grant would help us cover veterinary and other expenses for senior dogs so that we can lower and even eliminate their adoption fees.

Saffron and Carmella are both also eligible for free vet care through the Stray Rescue Vet Clinic in St. Louis.

Another dog who needs some help -- if not a break - is Samson, the German Shepherd being treated for a rare bacterial pneumonia.  Our bill for him is high and climbing.  Here's my favorite Samson photo and the link to our Chip In site for those who would like to donated.

Here's the link to help this handsome guy.https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/extraordinary-sam-needs-some-extraordinary-medical-care-/53203

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

 

It's great to have a friend

Flora, right, and her bff

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, May 4, and noon to 3 Sunday, May 5 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here. 

 

Sometimes a friend makes all the difference.  Flora, the Blue Tick Coonhound, exploded with energy every day....more energy that some humans could handle.  But when she finally acquired an equally energetic playmate, we knew she'd found the right home.  Her new humans say that Flora and their other dog played for six hours straight they day of Flora's adoption.  Then they came inside and insisted on sharing the same dog bed even though they each had one.

Another dog who found a friend is Willie (formerly known as Daniel).  This little dachshund mix puppy even looks like a perfect match with his new friend. That's Willie on the right.

And Miss Finley (formerly Blair) came to us as a pup.  She looked to be part beagle and part Great Dane.  She also went to a home with a built in best friend. She's on the right below.

We all know that some dogs need to be with other dogs while others would rather be the only dog.  When we're lucky, we get it right and everyone is happy.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

 

Tate the Bionic Dog

Tate...sometimes called Tatum

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, April 27, and noon to 3 Sunday, April 28 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got, and if you're 55 or older, ask about the Purina program.

 

To begin with, Tate is lucky to be alive.  He was hit by a car and turned in to Ivan Animal Hospital to be put to sleep.  He had a broken leg and a dislocated hip -- on opposite sides.  Repair would be dificult, recovery long.  But the vets looked at this young and otherwise healthy dog and decided to give him a chance.  They asked if we would take him if they offered a deep discount on the surgery.

Game on, we said.  First step, fixing the broken leg.  Tate came home with his leg in a cast and instructions not to run.  Leash walks only and plenty of rest.  Mind you, it isn't easy to keep a young border collie quiet, but we tried.  And he healed.

Finally the caste was off and Tate began walking on is own and then running awkwardly because of the hip problem.  Time went by.  Tate moved to a new foster home and went in for surgery on his hip.  He needed  more rest and more limited exercise.  By now, these limitations were really becoming annoying.

Today?  Tate is a runner, only occasionally favoring one back leg after vigorous exercise.  He simply can't stop running at times.  He may not truely be bionic, but he certainly is a brand new dog with a long life ahead of him.

After all he's been through, Tate is now ready for adoption.  He is a very active dog who loves to chase squirrels.  He's affectionate and playful.  He's happy to be alive.

And he's ready for a home -- a home with a secure fence so he'll never run in front of another car.  Come on.   Look at that face.  

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

Duchess and Tiny Find a Home

Duchess and Tiny when we first met them.

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, April 27, and noon to 3 Sunday, April 28 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got, and if you're 55 or older, ask about the Purina program.

 

Duchess and Tiny, a bonded pair of chihuahua mixes, have had a rough year.  Their owner become too ill to care for them.  When that happened, they were boarded with their groomer for several months.  It was a good arrangement with a good person, but it still wasn't the new home they needed.

We took them in recently and  promised we would do everything we could to place them together.  We readily saw how they huddled together and enjoyed each other's company.

So Sunday we were thrilled to send them home with Gerilyn, who had met them Saturday.  She couldn't adopt right away because she needed to make sure her husband was ok with her bringing home two dogs instead of one.  He agreed to the plan, and Gerilyn returned with her daughter to take Duchess and Tiny home.  They look pretty happy in the picture below, and they left with a bounce in the steps and wagging tails.

Some of our other adoptions were the yorkies Summer and Hannha, Susie the beagle, and Bella the Black Mouth Cur.  Here's a picture of Bella.

And we'd like to say thanks to a couple a terrific young persons.  Samantha delivered a van load full of dog food, dog toys and other supplies that she'd raised for  a Bat Mitzvah project.  The picture shows only a fraction of what we received because of Samantha. The pup she's holding has since been adopted.

Mary delivered some blankets to make dog crates more comfortable and attractive.  She and others in Girl Scout Troop 1406 made them.  Her's Mary with a few of them.

Thank you all.  And thank you for those who have donated to help Sam the German Shepherd.  We're half way to our goal of raising $1,500. Here's the link if you would like to help us meet our goal.

https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/extraordinary-sam-needs-some-extraordinary-medical-care-/53203

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

But it's raining!

Sammy, Devin, and Lola....refusing to brave the rain.

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, April 20, and noon to 3 Sunday, April 21 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got, and if you're 55 or older, ask about the Purina program.

 

How do you lure dogs outside on a rainy day?  Here's what I do.  I march boldly outdoors like a drum major leading a marching band, all the while singing some diddy about how We're Not Afraid Of a Little Rain, Follow Me!

Then I stop, hair already plastered to head, feet sinking into a muddy puddle, rain bouncing off my ears.  I turn around, and there they are stopped in the doorway and wondering What In The World is Wrong With Her Today.

Sigh.  Ah well.  We'll try again later.

That's Sammy the German Shepherd on the left.  He came to us after spending the first two years of his life spending most of his time tied to a tractor in a filthy barn.  He'd been sick most of his life too with a lung infection.  After several months of not getting better on meds that should have helped, we took him to Veterinary Specialty Services for a series of expensive tests.  They found puss and blood in his lungs, bone loss in his nose due to chronic infection, and finally a rare multi-drug resistant bacteria growing in his lungs.  He needed oxygen therapy to help him recover from the anesthesia.  We are now raising money to pay for his high and ever climbing bill, but we now believe he will eventually recover.  He is one very nice, gentle big dog. Here's the link to Sammy's Chip In. https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/extraordinary-sam-needs-some-extraordinary-medical-care-/53203

The little black dog in front is Devin, an eight-week-old black lab mix with four white paws.  He was in a local shelter before we took him over.  He's a cuddly bug and already almost housebroken (except on rainy days).

The hound mix with the red-tick coat is Lola, who was found in the country in a spot known as a dumping ground for unwanted pets.  Funny about that because she is almost perfect.  She's housebroken, friendly and believes herself to be a lapdog.  She's about three years old and will make an excellent pet for someone.

Not pictured above because he couldn't get past those blocking the door are Gideon, a new rescue from Jefferson County Animal Control.  He's handsome and only about a year old.  We brought him home the day before his scheduled euthanasia.  Here he is.

And Piper, a three month old puppy already walking well on lead and working on the housebreaking (except on rainy days).  Here's Piper.

And Carmella, who is somewhere between 7 and 12 years old and has been waiting for her new home far too long.

Yes..they are all with me.  Controlled Chaos.  Usually controlled but sometimes just chaos.

We've also taken in (fostered elsewhere) a senior chihuahua, a senior Minpin who needs a hospice home, two other littermates of Piper, and a 12  year old shepherd mix who was a neglect/abuse case in St. Louis Couty.

Recent adoptions included Amanda Nicole, Mac, Bye, Meisha, Tuxedo, Daisy, Wynona, Dazzle and Cherie.

I've had to turn down numerous request to take other dogs in need and have also talked with a few people who can't keep the dog they adopted from us. Those calls are daily frustrations.

We'll be back at Kirkwood Petco this weekend.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Black dogs and others

Keno is in his new home

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, April 13, and noon to 3 Sunday, April 14 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got, and if you're 55 or older, ask about the Purina program. 

 Common knowledge is that black dogs are hard to place, especially big black dogs.  Keno is a big black dog who is also a senior dog.  He spent several months in a St. Charles shelter before we took him in.  Then last weekend Keno, above, found his home and is doing well.  Yeah Keno.

And Keno wasn't the only black dog to find a home last weekend.  So did Diente, a little black dog with an unfortunate underbite.  No one would call him beautiful, but his new owners say they love him and we'll never get him back from them.  Diente was such a sad dog when we found him at a local shelter.  I was worried about him, but no more.  Here's Diente.

I was surprised that it took any time at all to place Caroline.  She wasn't a small dog, but she was housebroken and generally an all around great dog.  She finally found her home last weekend.  Caroline came to us after she was found as a stray with puppies.  No more puppies for her.  Here she is, enjoying life as someone's pet.

We never expected to have any trouble with Daniel.  His only problem initially was getting well after animal control picked him up running loose.  He had diarrhea and a sore on his neck.  Dr Ivan and Dr Sullivan nursed him back to health, and he's now doing fine.  Here he is with his family.

And our newest adoption -- just yesterday -- was the gorgeous and very active Flora who went with a young and active couple (also gorgeous).  We'll miss Florar but are cheering her on in her new home. 

And there were others, including a black Pomeranian, the beautiful blue merle Aussie mix Tina, and a shy shih tzu Donna. There will be others this weekend. 

We've also taken in some new dogs, such as Katy the black lab, and a bonded pair of chihuahuas whose  owner went into a nursing home.  We took in a couple other chihuahuas -- Seymour the senior chihuahua, and Daisy, who is four years old.  They'd both been turned into the Southeast Missouri Humane Society.  More on all of them later.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog PRoject

I'm feeling good

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday and noon to 3 Sunday, April 6 and 7 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got, and if you're 55 or older, ask about the Purina program.  

I'm feeling good because I took a long walk today and watched three dogs romp in a field with room enough for some serious running.  One of the dogs -- a lab, of course -- jumped into the Big River, swam across, and swam back.  Another, Bella the Blue Tick Coonhound, ran so fast that she disappeared into the horizon and then reappeared as a speck that gradually blossomed into a dog.

I'm feeling good because Skip the Mini Aussie found his new home today.  I drove him out for a home visit and ended up leaving him at his new home.  My last impression was of Skip rolling over on his back to invite a tummy rub from a preschool girl. Later I heard his new owners were already out buying him toys, bed, food, and whatever else he needed.

I'm feeling good because earlier this week I rescued a black lab from Jefferson County Animal Control on the day she was scheduled for euthanasia.  Katy is now being treated for fleas, a skin infection and ear infections, but she's otherwise a healthy, young, friendly lady who will make a great pet. On the same day I also came home from the shelter with a black lab puppy.  Really cute.

I'm feeling good because today I answered more calls from people looking for dogs than for people wanting to get rid of them.

I'm feeling good because Daniel the dachshund no longer has diarrhea.  He's feeling much better. 

Of course, I could choose to be gloomy.  There's always a dog with serious problems.  And I still end up saying no more than yes when people contact me about dogs in need.  I wish it could be otherwise.

But today I'm feeling good.  This morning I received a call from a shelter that had taken in a dog I'd adopted out 10 years ago.  I was worried at first, but was relieved to hear that the owner was already on the way to pick the dog up.

I'm feeling good because we have so many great dogs in our program now.  Dogs of all sizes and ages. Tina the Aussie mix and Sage the border collie.  Amanda Nicole the sweetheart of a little brown dog.  Luiji the little smooth white dog.  Keno the senior flat coated retriever mix. 

So I'm feeling good.  The weather is nice.  The yard is a little less muddy.  I'm thinking about grass seed and vegetable gardens.

I'm feeling good because Diente, the little black dog with the unfortunate underbite, is sitting on my lap.

We'll have adoption events 11 to 3 Saturday and noon to 3 Sunday at the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh.  Some lucky baby boomers (those 55 or older) will find themselves able to adopt a dog without paying a fee thanks to the Purina Pet Adoption Program.

And I'm feeling good.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

A Blog With No Pictures

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, March 30 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got.  

For some unknown reason, I'm unable to post any pictures today.  So you'll need to imagine the adorable picture of Muddles the Catahoula mix carrying Louis the Chihuahua on his back.  That was going to be the picture on the top.

Then I was going to feature Caroline the pointer/dalmatian mix -- a lovely black and white dog with spots of all sizes and a lovely personality.  She is to my mind an almost perfect dog.  She's playful but not overly active.  She plays well with  others, never has bathroom accidents, loves children and adults.  Her main flaw, if it even counts, is a history of chewing on shoes.  Well, what were those shoes doing in her path anyway? 

Then I might have run a picture of one or two or our recent adoptions.  Happy dogs with happy people, youngsters with goofy smiles, dogs setting forth on new lives.

I also wanted to show you Skip, a Miniature Australian Shepherd pulled from Jefferson County Animal Control today.  We're also taking in a hound puppy from Ivan Animal Hospital.  A local shelter sent the puppy there because it was ill and therefore unadoptable.  Now it's well and very adoptable. We're callng him Daniel.

So may I'll just remind you again of the Purina Pet Adoption Program, which will pay the adoption fee for persons 55 years and old.  To me, 55 seems pretty youthful, but the Purina folks are trying to persuade Baby Boomers that they'd feel even more youthful with a dog. 

And speaking of feeling more youthful. It's such a nice, albeit muddy, day that I'm about to take my own dog Shenzi for a walk.  I might have posted her picture.

So I'll just encourage you all to visit us Saturday 11 to 3 at the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh.  Adopt a dog..or just pet one.  That's ok too.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Hero for the 55 plus crowd

Hero...a Japanese Chin is free to a qualifying person 55 plus.

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...even   puppies.    We'll have dogs for adoption from 11 to 3 Saturday, March 23 and noon to 3 Sunday, March 24, in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh .  To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go  Here.  Thanks to Purina, we have funding to offer free dogs to persons 55 and older for as long as the funds last.  Do come and see what we've got.  

 

Thanks to Purina's Pet Adoption Program, we are able to offer several of our dogs to persons 55 and older at no fee.  One of them is little Hero, above, a Japanese Chin.

Hero is about 5 or 6 years.  He is housebroken and generally an all-around great dog.  He is fine with other dogs but sometimes can get a little possessive of his person.  He'd probably be happiest as someone's only pet.  Hero would be great for a couple or a single person.  He's also fine with older, respectful children but might be a little nervous around toddlers.   Hero walks well on a leash, is very laid back – will be a great dog for that special person. To meet Hero, contact his foster mom, Millie, at mkaycrook@sbcglobal.net.

Our grant from Purina wll cover the entire adoption fee for Hero and many others now with St. Louis Senior Dog Project.

One of the others is Beauregard, a 5 or 6 year old beagle boy, who shows in this picture that he'll be just fine with the grandchildren or the neighbor's kids.  Beauregard will be at the Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3 Saturday to meet any interested persons.

And here's Brandy, a 5 to 8 year old schnauzer/terrier mix.  She's quite the lady -- housebroken, friendly, and happy to take you on walks or just sit on your lap. She will also be at the Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3 Saturday.

And here's just one more-- although we have others.  This is Muddles, a cute, medium-sized dog who is very well-behaved and  mellow. If you're looking for an easy dog, Muddles is for you.

The funds won't last long, so if you're 55 or older and ready to add a dog to your life, now's the time.  We guarantee you'll feel younger if you do.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com