The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homs for dogs of all ages and even a few cats. See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.
We had a good time last week at our Crazy Bowl fundraiser. Raising money through grants and donations is a fact of life here because we can't cover our expenses with adoption fees alone. Since we want to continue taking in older dogs and dogs that need extra care, we'll need to keep raising money. It isn't always easy or comfortable to be constantly asking for help, but this Crazy Bowl was really the most fun we've ever had raising money. Thanks to all who participated!
Lady the tri-colored tailless Australian Shepherd is still lost. She was last seen a week ago in Richmond Heights/Maplewood. Please call 636-222-0895 if you know anything about her.
Ellen's Notes:
Ella is in the sunroom hiding in a crate. All the other dogs are in the living room with me...except for one sleeping on my bed. Hrumph.
I'm worried about Ella. She's what we sometimes call "a real rescue." All our dogs are rescue dogs, of course, but sometimes we look at one and say, "Now that's a real rescue." By that we mean, here is a dog that had no chance without our help. And here's a dog who's going to need extra care and a special guardian, one who will patiently show her the love she's missed in her life.
Ella is a senior border collie mix. When we first heard about her, people thought she'd been hit by a car. One side of her was hairless with an angry red wound. Later we learned it was a "hot spot" and she's now on medication to heal her skin infection. I suspect now that the wound that led to her condition was probably a dog bite or scratch. She's not comfortable with other dogs. She doesn't try to make friends;she tries to stay away from them. When she's scared enough, she shows them her teeth.
Sometimes she's even afraid of me. I come towards her with a leash and she runs away from me. But she does show up for treats -- so I know there's hope. I'm hoping she'll find a new home soon, someplace quieter than my place, a place where she''ll have less to fear.
In time her hair will grow back, and so, I hope, will her confidence.
Another "real rescue" is Shelly, a senior schnauzer. She was a stray in a local shelter and obviously sick. Her urine was bloody; she was lethargic. She needed help right away, and her needs might not be inexpensive. I took her out of the shelter and straight to the vet's office. An x-ray showed she had bladder stones and needed surgery. Dr.Ivan removed a fist full of struvite stones that almost completely filled her bladder.
Shelly's feeling good now, but her new guardian will need to protect her against future urinary tract inections that might cause her to develop new stones. She's taking cranberry pills and may need to take antibiotics periodically.
She's a sweet girl. She deserves that special home.
Both Ella and Shelly will be at our adoption events this weekend 11 to 3 daily at the Kirkwood Petco, I-44 and Lindbergh.
I hope someone will be there to meet them and give them a chance. And if you want to help some of our "real rescues," just click on the donate button below.
Ellen Ellick
President/Founder
St. Louis Senior Dog Project
