The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Mr Nubbins and More

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.  Vote every day until the end of July. We're currently #1 in Missouri and #45 in the country but the only thing that matters is where we are at the end of the contest.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

I'll never forget Mr. Nubbins.  None of us will, I'd guess.  Nubbins was some kind of chihuahua mix....and some kind of character too.  He was one of our all time curmudgeons.  Let's just say he had a bit of attitude and liked to demonstrate it at times.

But the rest of the time he was darling.  Ever known anyone like that?  Of course, you have. 

We found Mr. Nubbins at the Franklin County Humane Society.  After several failed adoptions, he finally met a young couple who saw his inner softie.  They say he's doing fine but still has his moments.  As he ages, he still enjoys his walks but now prefers that they not be that long.

As for my day, it wasn't exactly quiet.  Some good.  Some bad.  I learned this morning that Tippy is starting to eat and doing better.  She's the little Lhasa mix with pneumonia I wrote about a couple days ago.  If all goes well, she might come home tomorrow.

But while Tippy's getting better, we now have another hospitalized dog -- Wade the border collie mix puppy has Parvo, a contageous disease sometimes fatal to puppies.  Wade is one of a litter of six puppies we took in a few days ago.  Only time will tell if the others will sicken as well.

The people who adopted Charlotte the Springer Spaniel puppy decided today that they weren't ready for another dog.  I wish they'd thought of that yesterday, but I'm glad they did the right thing and brought her back today.

Phone rang a lot today about dogs needing rescue.  Not enough room.  Not enough money.  And no place to hide.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

News of the Day

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 dogs at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And please continue to vote for St. Louis Senior Dog Project as we try to win a grant.  Vote every day from every computer you have!  Contest continues until the end of July.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

Here's the big news.  Kaci the plain brown dog I wrote about two days ago has found a home.  In fact, she was the first dog to find a new home at today's adoption event.  And I was actually told to apologize for calling her a plain brown dog. "That brown probably shines like gold in the sun light," said Linda.  So after a long wait, Kaci has caught a little luck.  And yes, the lady who adopted her read about her in my blog.

Tippy the Lhasa mix dog with pneumonia is still in the hospital, but she's hanging on.  We'll hope for better news tomorrow.

Rambo the Springer Spaniel is officially adopted.  So are Charlotte the Springer Spaniel and Nemo the Cocker Spaniel, both of them puppies and thus easy adoptions.

But I wouldn't call Sissy and Daisy easy adoptions.  Sissy is a 10 year old Pekingese.  She's shown here looking a little like a long-eared bunny.  Daisy is a Pug also about 10 and blind to boot.  The same person adopted both of them. One more person receives a free pass to heaven.

Buddy the Sheltie with allergies went home with a new foster mom who probably will adopt if things go well between Buddy and the other sheltie in the home.  The other sheltie also has skin problems, so this household already knows how to work with allergies and skin issues.

We might have people considering a couple other dogs too.  Time will tell.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Hang in there, Tippy

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.  We're at # 1 in Missouri and now # 44 nationally.  If we're still #1 in Missouri at the end of July, we win $1,000.  If we climb into the top 10 nationally, we could do even better.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

When I was at the St. Louis City Animal Control this week to pick up Kaci, staff there also showed me Tippy, a black shih tzu/lasa maybe mixed with poodle sort of girl.  She was older -- 8 to 10 -- and she was one of the most pathetic looking dogs I'd ever seen. 

Tippy was lethargic and obviously ill. She was so thoroughly matted I was surprised she could move at all.  She didn't look like she'd be alive in another day, so I agreed to take her with me.

Tippy had come in as a stray.  Incredibly, she had a microchip.  But when the shelter staff reached the owners, they faxed in their consent to turning the dog over to the shelter.  They didn't even come to see her.   Even more incredibly, when staff showed me the lump that was a dog, Tippy wagged her tail.

While still at the shelter, I called Sue to see if she could do an emergency grooming.  Then I called Webster Groves Animal Hospital to see if I could bring the dog in.  Staff there, who've seen their share of horrors, were still shocked.  The vet who saw her thought she might have pneumonia and wasn't sure she'd make it.  Under all those matts, Tippy was very thin, very weak.  And yet she wagged her tail.

After a couple injections of antibiotics, Tippy went home with Sue who struggled with one of the most difficult groomings she's ever tried.  The pictures here show Tippy as she first looked and Tippy after she was cleaned and shaved clear of the matts that were literally strangling her.  She looked and felt much better afterwords.

But this morning, Tippy was still listless and not eating or drinking.  She is now hospitalized and receiving IV fluids and intravenous feeding.  An x-ray showed some lung infection but nothing more serious.  We're waiting results of blood tests.  She might pull through.  We hope she will.

So let's all pull for Tippy.  If a dog this sick can still wag her tail, she deserves our help.  If you want to help with her expenses, please donate below.

Hang in there, Tippy.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Just a Plain Brown Dog

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 on voting!  We're No 1 in Missouri and #45 in the nation, but we won't win a grant unless we're on top when the contest wins at the end of July. We could also win a weekly award if we receive the most votes on a given week.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

Kaci is just a plain brown dog. What could be more boring than that?

She's not young (age 7), she's not a dazzler (plain brown).  She looks like her ancestry could include some bull terrier or even pit bull.  The rest of her might be beagle or boxer or shepherd or who knows what.  She's a sweetheart and not too big.  She was Cathy's favorite dog at the St. Louis City Animal Pet Adoption Center.  Cathy's the adoption coordinator there, but even her best efforts couldn't find Kaci a home during the two months Kaci was there.

Cathy wasn't the only one begging us to take Kaci.  Kaci was clearly running out of time.  Nobody seemed to want her.

Yet, look at that smile. Right now she's resting on a dog bed in my house.  She's getting acquainted with the other dogs.  She tolerated her bath.  She even comes when I call her name.

But she's still just a plain brown dog and not that  young.  How will we ever find her a home?

These are the things that go through my mind when I accept a dog that isn't anything out of the ordinary.  And Kaci is just a plain brown dog.

But she's a good dog, and that means she's not all that ordinary.  She's a nice size, too, maybe only about 30 or 35 pounds.  She's housebroken and friendly, and she has very cute ears.

But she's still a plain brown dog.

She waited so long at the Pound and survived only because of her sweet and gentle personality.

Now she needs a break.

Anyone for Kaci?

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

News from Brownie

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.  For for St. Louis Senior Dog Project every day!  We're #1 in Missouri and #45 nationally but all that really matters is where we are when the contest wins at the end of July.  Here's the link again.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

Brownie is one of our recent rescues.  We heard about him from St. Ann Animal Control.  He was coming from a handicapped person who wasn't able to take care of the little shih tzu.  We understood that the dog spent most of his time in a cage.

So we took him in and found him a home.  That was only a few weeks ago.  This week Ashley send us these pictures and let us know he was doing just fine.  And doesn't this look like a happy face?

Ashley told us Brownie is doing great and is now named Jackson.  "He is the sweetest little boy and has been so wonderful from the start of the first day.  He is making his home here and is getting pretty comfortable."

The next picture is Brownie/Jackson with his summer haircut.  The final picture shows him before his haircut.

Congratulations to both Ashley and Jackson.  Sounds like you're both pretty happy.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Another goodby

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.

Here's the link where you can vote to help St. Louis Senior Dog Project win a grant. Vote every day.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

There are days when I wonder what's wrong with people.  Those are the days when people are giving up dogs because they're moving or getting a new dog or a divorce or whatever. I see neglected and abandoned dogs.  I see sadness. I hear pettiness.

Then I hear from some of the wonderful people out there and take heart.  Yes, there are good people, unselfish people who give of themselves to make life better for others.

We heard last week from Laurie who'd adopted Lucy (formerly Prissy) from us a year ago. Laurie called to tell us Lucy had died from pancreatic cancer.  She also wanted to thank us for rescueing her and letting her (Laurie) have the opportunity to make Lucy's last year of life a special one.

Laurie is the one who deserves our thanks.  She adopted an elderly partially blind dog knowing she wouldn't have it for long.  But instead of worrying about herself, she thought about how she could make this old dog happpy for the time it had left.

We'd received Lucy/Prissy from a veterinarian who had been asked to put the dog to sleep because it was too old and her owners were getting a puppy.  Instead, the vet talked the people into signing the dog over so it could have a chance at a new home.

This isn't the only time a veterinary clinic has intervened to save a dog's life.  And those dogs have gone on to better lives.  Some are alive many years later.

As I've said a number of times before, people who adopt senior dogs earn an automatic pass into heaven.  At least in my world they do.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Little Dog With Broken Legs

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.  Vote every day until the end of July.  Here's the link.  Thanks!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen's Notes:

 Some of you may remember Gloria, the little dog with two broken legs. We raised enough money last year to pay for surgery for her legs.  Then foster mom Norma spent many weeks and quite a few sleepless nights keeping this dog calm enough so her legs could heal.

I'm happy to report that Gloria, whose name is now Olive Mae, has recovered completely and is now in a wonderful home where she and her dog mate Otis are "like two peas in a pod.  They can't be separated even to take a bath," report Karen and Dan.

Olive Mae and Otis are now even attending doggy day camp. Such a deal!  What could be better than that?

We thought you might like to see a couple "after" pictures.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Tango's Great New Life

See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  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.

Ellen's Notes:

Tango is a chocolate brown German Shorthaired Pointer with a grey muzzle.

"He's a wonderful senior gentleman, " I was told.  And he was languishing in a Kansas City shelter with little chance of getting out alive. "And he really doesn't act his age."

So Tango came our way with another chance for the good life.  He found a foster home with Curtis, who soon discovered that Tango knew quite a few commands -- sit, stay, down, come.  Tango also showed himself to be quite the adventurer, nudging up a partially open window and jumping free to explore the neighborhood. Lucky for us and Tango, he stopped to visit a friendly neighbor and made it home safely.

Ordinarily, It's hard to place a large senior dog.  Some would say impossible.  But one day I heard from a couple looking for a second dog.  They wanted one that might be a good companion for their own somewhat senior dog.

The arrangement turned out even better than we could have hoped.  Within days of Tango's adoption, we heard all was going well.  Then a couple days ago Kelly sent me several pictures that say it even better. Tango with his toys.  Tango with his shades.  Tango at the beach. And Tango in the lake.  Wow.

Sure looks like he's a happy dog.  Also looks like he's growing younger.

And here's the link again so you can help us win a grant.  Vote everyday for the St. Louis Senior Dog project.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Adoptions and more

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.

Ellen's Notes:

Sometimes our adoptions are all in the family. First one person adopts a dog, then along comes a relative who's also dog seeking.  This week I received an inquiry from a familiar email address and wondered if the sender was seeking a second dog.

No.  Sherry had adopted Lynn (now Lucy), the chihuahua pictured here.  Her mother, Anne,  was using Sherry's email to inquire about Gretchen, the next picture.  Anne adopted Gretchen Saturday morning.

Also adopted were Autumn the Shih Tzu, and Gracie the Poodle.  Sophie Trophy will be visiting a potential new home tomorrow.  Rambo may also be meeting possible adoptors tomorrow or Monday.

And yesterday we received several cute pictures of a puppy adopted last weekend.  Her name was Sassy when I pulled her out of Jefferson County Animal Control.  Lyndsey, her foster mom, renamed her Elsa.  Then her new family settled on Milly.  So Milly it is, and here she is.

And here's the link again so you can vote for St. Louis Senior Dog Project and help us win a grant.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Report illegal breeders

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.

Ellen's Notes:

Tomorrow's another adoption day.  We never know how well we'll do -- especially on holiday weekends.  Will we meet people with time on their hands and a lazy summer ahead of them?  Or won't we meet anyone because everyone is out of town.

We'll be there at the Kirkwood Petco Store 11 to 3 Saturday and at the Lucky Dog boutique in Webster Groves.

I'll be bringing Gage, Tiffany, Sophie Trophy, Rambo, Gretchen and maybe others (or fewer) depending on how many will fit in the van.  And many other will be coming as well.

Meanwhile, here's a website to visit if you'd like to report any unlicensed breeders.  Since you can never know if someone is licensed or not, go ahead and report anyone who's breeding dogs in substandard conditions.  Missouri is taking a step toward addressing the state's puppymill problm with the launch of Operation Bark Alert.  To report an unlicensed breeder, go to www.MDA.MO.gov/animals/AFCA/barkalert.  It's a start.

And keep on helping us win a grant.  Follow the link.  We're No 1 in Missouri, but we still need to climb higher in national rankings.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com