The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Ziggy zigs while I zag and sag

Welcome Ziggy

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.  Meet and adopt your new best friend 11 to 3 Saturday, December 31, at the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh. To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

WE HAVE A WINNER of the baseball raffle.  Michael Ferguson, who adopted an Italian Greyhound from us a few years ago, wins the baseball signed by Albert Pujols.  Congratulations, Michael.  And thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

I'm officially now over my comfort level with dogs. As much as I love each and every one of my foster dogs, I'd like some of them to find new homes fast.  And I'm really looking forward to a four-day vacation scheduled the first part of January.

During my days away, I won't answer phone calls from people wanting to get rid of their dogs.  I won't read emails about dogs that will die if I don't do something right now. I won't even spend my weekend taking dogs to adoption events.  For a few days, I'll live like regular folks.  I'll even sleep in a dog-free bed.

As I sometimes say, I may be a little bit crazy, but I'm not a lot crazy.  I know my limits.  That's important because I don't have a facilty, and I don't keep dogs outdoors.  All dogs live in foster homes, and mine is the busiest foster home of all.  My current foster dogs are Royal, Latifah, Lucy, Willy Wonka, Ziggy, Cute as a Button, and Ziggy. Look them up.  They are not all small dogs.  They take up space.  I also have two resident dogs -- a crazy Chocolate Lab and an insecure Affenpinscher. 

The newest foster dog is Ziggy (picture at top), an Aussie mix pulled from the old St. Louis City Pound at Gasconade.  I gave him his name because when I walked him out to the van, he zig zagged all over the place.  I'd been feeling like a zig zagger myself these last two weeks -- too busy to walk straight.  Or was I just sagging? 

At home I do the "foster shuffle" when  zig zagging about the house because dogs are always bumping against me. If I step too high or too lively, the slightest bump could catch me off balance and knock me over.  Pathetic.  So I shuffle and stay upright.  And I yell a bit too much.  That usually happens if the dogs decide to exercise their barking privileges at once. 

They are a good bunch, thank God.  At least I'm not breaking up fights.  I'm not even mopping up too many accidents. Great potential pets.  Now if they will just find homes.

My sister lives in a separate part of the house and has three dogs of her own and several fosters.  Although these dogs aren't with me all the time, I do help take care of them.  See, things are even worse than you thought.  Yesterday, she took in a new foster -- Bitsee, a tiny poodle who was thrown from a car.  Here's Bitsee, 7 or 8 years old and now recovering from some rather extensive dental work.

Later today I'm picking up a small dog coming from the Southeast Missouri Humane Society.  He will go with my sister...or some other foster.

And I'll dream about the vacation days ahead.  Oh I know there are some of you who never want to leave your "fur babies."  Me, I love them all the more when I can get away from them now and then.  I'm hoping I'll adopt out some dogs this weekend because otherwise I'll be boarding most of my fosters for a few days. Or maybe I'll find people who will foster a dog for a few days?  Hmm?

In spite of feeling a little crazier than usual, I'm  pleased that we've helped so many dogs during the final days of 2011, dogs that otherwise might have been put to sleep. The center still holds, my house still stands, and so do I.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

New walking companions

Out for a walk are Jerry(now Nikki), Roscoe and Alfie

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.  Meet and adopt your new best friend 11 to 3 Saturday, December 31, at the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh. To see which dogs will be there as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

WE HAVE A WINNER of the baseball raffle.  Michael Ferguson, who adopted an Italian Greyhound from us a few years ago, wins the baseball signed by Albert Pujols.  Congratulations, Michael.  And thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

I'll always remember Alfie even though he was adopted from us almost 10 years ago.  He was one of the first adoptions during our first year in business.  Alfie was pretty shy and of unknown parentage, but he was adorable in a scruffy sort of way.  Over the years Laurie sent me pictures, including one of him wearing a life jacket while enjoying a boat ride.

So I recognized the name when Laurie adopted another dog from us a week or so ago. Laurie adopted Jerry, a little Maltese rescued from St. Charles City Animal Control.  I wondered if Alfie was still with us; after all, he'd be several years north of ten years by now.

Yes, I found out, Alfie is still with us and although a little hard of hearing now, he still enjoys daily walks of two to three miles.  Alfie and Roscoe the Pekingese are teaching Jerry (Nikki) the rules of the house and generally making him feel welcome. And all three, as you can see above, are now walking companions.

We rescued several dogs in the days prior to Christmas and found homes for quite a few too.  Here's Pamela and Ebony enjoying th Christmas in their new home.

And here's Darla the shy yorkie with her new human, Anna.

Lady the Pomeranian also went to her new home, but the people who thought they wanted to adopt Emily changed their mind.  They may still adopt from us but probably a smaller dog.  Root Beer and Blue Moon went home with their adopters but came back the next days when the couple adopting them came to terms with the extra work involved in taking in two new dogs.

However, as luck would have it, no sooner were Blue Moon and Root Beer back with us than someone else wanted to meet the two bonded Australian Shepherds.  As I write, they are visiting at a potential new home. 

This morning I picked up Ziggy, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix from the old St. Lous City Pound at Gasconade.  I dropped him off for grooming along with Lucy, a chubby Border Collie mix rescued last week from Jefferson Count Animal Control. 

I also took in a tiny white poodle (Bitsee) who'd been tossed from a car a week ago.  I haven't yet taken pictures of Ziggy or Bitsee, but here's a picture of Lucy, who weighs 74 lbs but should be about 40 lbs. 

Lucy is friendly, housebroken, good with children and other pets....and dieting. It's hard to understand how dogs can get fat.  After all, they can't get into the refrigerator without help, and you never see them waiting in line alone at McDonald's.

Even with those extra pounds, Lucy is still a charmer and she's trying to play with the other dogs.  Give her some time and she'll get her figure back. Go Lucy! All she needs now is a good walking companion.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Miracles here and there

Royal....will make a great walking companion

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.  No adoption events this weekend, but we could arrange something for those wanting to meet a particular dog. To see our adoptable dogs, go Here.

WE HAVE A WINNER of the baseball raffle.  Michael Ferguson, who adopted an Italian Greyhound from us a few years ago, wins the baseball signed by Albert Pujols.  Congratulations, Michael.  And thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

I was expecting a slow week.  We weren't planning an adoption event on Christmas Eve.

But it wasn't to be, and that's what has me pleased and excited.

First, we've got adoptions happening.  Darla, a frightened yorkie who's been with us more than a year, has finally found her home.  Foster mom Linda thinks her new people are perfect for her.  That's one miracle.

Now we've got someone asking to adopt the bonded pair of Australian Shepherds -- Blue Moon and Root Beer.  That'll make everyone happy but especially the two dogs.

And two Pomeranians -- Pamela Pepper and Ebony--are also going home together by Christmas. For awhile there I was wondering what happened to all the Pomeranian lovers.  Today I've heard from a former adopter who is hoping to take home another Pomeranian Christmas Eve.

Charlotte the Redbone Coonhound who came to us with nine puppies and Mary Jo the Treeing Walker Coonhound have home visits set up next week, so one or both of them may be in a new home by New Year's.

Liz the border collie mix is getting adopted, and Emily the black shepherd mix will probably go to her new home in a day or so.  We took Emily from the now-closed St. Louis City Pound on Gasconade that is still housing dogs picked up as strays.  Emily, her foster mom says, is almost perfect.  I might say the same thing about Royal, above, the other dog taken from the Gasconade shelter.  Royal knows several commands and is a delight to take for a walk. He doesn't pull at all!  He'll make someone a great walking or running pal....and an excellent watchdog too.

At my place, Royal loves to play with Willy Wonka, the 20 lb chocolate miniature pinscher mix, another recent rescue from Jefferson County. Here's this cutie who is one to two years old. 

As mentioned in my last blog, we've been rushing to get more dogs safe  by Christmas.  I pulled Bessie Beagle out of the Jefferson County after Tom read my blog and said he could squeeze in another dog.  Another dog I was planning to take was returned to his owner -- always good news.  But no sooner was one dog home safe but another was turned in by a family struggling to pay bills for a daughter injured in an accident.  They didn't think they could afford to keep their dog, one I will pick up later today.

We've also found foster homes for a shih tzu and a miniature pinscher, both being held at vet clinics.  The shih tzu was abandoned at the clinic's front door.  The minpin was brought into the clinic to be put to sleep after being hit by a car.  Now here's another miracle.  The minpin initially seemed to be paralyzed, but after a few days he started to move about.  Now he can run with only a bit of a wobble.  Thanks to Lesa and Kim and others who volunteered to help with these.  The shih tzu may actually have a permanent home by Christmas.

I've received several Christmas cards from people who adopted from us years past.  I read of Jack's three-year anniversary and of how Harley had turned out to be such a good dog for a retired couple.  Miracles all when I remember how they came to us.

I'm still strugging to find space for a couple other dogs -- an Aussie mix at Gasconade and a purebred Aussie elsewhere.  With a little juggling and wishing, it'll work out.  Or maybe I'll have an extra dog for a few days.

I'm sure I've forgotten a miracle or two, but here's the last one.  One of the shelters I pulled several dogs from during the past two weeks canceled euthanasias scheduled for today.  

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com 

And the winner is.....

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.  No adoption events this weekend, but we could arrange something for those wanting to meet a particular dog. To see our adoptable dogs, go Here.

WE HAVE A WINNER of the baseball raffle.  Michael Ferguson, who adopted an Italian Greyhound from us a few years ago, wins the baseball signed by Albert Pujols.  Congratulations, Michael.  And thanks to everyone who participated in the raffle.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

Corky, above, is another winner.  We got him out of a local shelter before Christmas and almost immediately found him a home.  Well, he is pretty cute.  But he's also pretty lucky because many shelters must reduce their inventory of dogs before the holidays so that staff can take vacations.  That can be bad news for dogs that don't make the cut.

But Corky was lucky, and so were Deke, Scrappy, Royal, Emily, Sierra, Kane and a few others dogs we pulled from shelters in the past week or so.  Today a couple of volunteers were off collecting two more dogs in need of immediate help, one being a 10-year-old dachshund whose owner had died. I have a couple other dogs on hold that I hope to get out soon. (Deke, Scrappy and Sierra are already adopted too.)

When people in rescue talk about the holiday rush, we're not talking about shopping or decorating the home, we're referring to the extra push it takes to save as many dogs as possible before Christmas and New Year's Day.

Here's a picture of another recent adoption -- Dusty (now Cannoli), a four-month-old Australian Shepherd who seems right at home under the tree. His new family find him playful and sweet and say he is "doing great!" He's a winner!      And so is his new family.

And here's a lucky fellow who spent awhile waiting for his lucky day.  Dudley was a very frightened puppymill dog when we first took him in.  The breeding facility where he lived had shut down, making him and others available to rescue groups. He is now looking very happy with his new human and is finally trusting people and enjoying life as a pet. Diane reports, "We're off to a good start."

And speaking of happy twosomes, here's a wonderful picture of Sunny (Sunshine) and one of his favorite humans. Pam wrote, "Sunny was wonderful when we first got her (despite being very quiet and very stiff!), but we never dreamed that she could blossom into the dog she has become.  She is the most happy, lovoing dog.  Her whole body wags, not just her tail!"  The picture is of Sunshine and Pam's daughter.

Doesn't that look like love? 

Winners.  I wish they all could be.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

Chia Puddum says hello

Chia Puddum, formerly Gia

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 adoptable dogs 11 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18 at  the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh, and some dogs Saturday, December 17 at the Bridgeton Petsmart.  For information on which dogs will be there, go Here.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

We knew her as Gia, a former breeder whom came to us as an almost 5-year-old.  She'd spent the first part of her life as a breeder, but she now had most of her life ahead of her.  She would now be a pet. Yes, she needed learn what this new life was all about and how to enjoy it.

Gia, a Brussells Griffon (see picture above), found a home and began the process of learning to be a pet.  She was still a little shy and mystified by life in a home, but she welcomed the change.  Imagine, she could have spent many more years in a commercial breeding facility until worn out from too many puppies.

It's been a year since Gia was adopted. Erin sent us some pictures and an email.

"I wanted to tell you that we love her so much... She plays, enjoys being with people, and is a bundle of energy.  She has about 75 toys " 

 Erin explained that the now-named Chia Puddum is no longer the shy little girl she was at first.  With confidence, she now pushes all those toys into the middle of the family room and arranges them in a big pile before beginning to vigorously throw them about the room.

Erin also sent pictures from before and after Chia Puddum's first haircut. 

I understand Chia Puddum now loves her visits to the spa.

Erin finished her email saying, "We just wanted to let you know what a great addition she is to our family. Thank you for allowing us to adopt Chia.  And we are so glad that she loves be ing here and is just as happy as a clam. "

And thank you, Erin, for adopting Chia Puddum and turning her into a dog who is "happy as a clam."  That's what we want to hear.

I've also received news from most of the people who adopted the Redbone Coonhound puppies.  Happy news in all cases except for Nutmeg, who came back to us because the other dogs in the family wouldn't accept her.  She'll find another place soon.

Ellen Ellick

President/Fouder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

 

Holiday pictures and Holiday Hopes

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 adoptable dogs 11 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11 at  the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh.  For information on which dogs will be there, go Here.

There's still time to enter our raffle to win a baseball signed by Cardinal's slugger Albert Pujols.  The raflle is live at Baseball Raffle. Wouldn't this make a great Christmas present for someone you know?

This is the time of year I receive pictures of many of the dogs we've placed.  Often the dogs, like Emma above, come with all the Holiday decorations.  And are they ever cute. 

We knew Emma as Starlight; her journey to her new home was a complicated one.  She was originally a puppymill dog rescued by a well-intentioned but substandard rescue organization that kept her and almost 50 other dogs outside in the cold.  Another group stepped in to take the dogs in from the cold but didn't have room for all of them.  That second groups asked if we'd take some of the older ones, including Starlight.

Starlight spent some time in one of our foster homes and found a new home where she is described as "doing wonderfully and is a great model ( as you can see)." Lisa says, "She is still a little leary of new people but continues to make progress.  I couldn't ask for a sweeter girl."

I imagine a lot of you would like a special picture that shows off your special pet.

Marian Brickner, an animal photographer, is offering to take a family picture with your adopted dog.  Half of the $25 fee will come back to St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  You will receive a Hi RES image of the best picture.  To arrange, call Marian at 314-564-5855 and check her out on this website: Pet Photography. 

Right about now I also have a lot of holiday hopes for those dogs that are having trouble finding a forever home.  What's wrong with Cute as a Button? I ask.  She's cute, little and loves sitting on laps and sleeping on beds.  She's playful too.

And what's wrong with Milo? I often describe him as the best dog in our system right now.  He's a friendly black lab who'll make a fine family dog.  He loves children -- even babies.  We trust him with everyone and every other pet. He is such a good boy.

And somewhere there must be a home for Maddie, the 8 year old rat terrier mix.  Let's just say she doesn't show well at adoption events.  She comes across crabby.  At home with me she just fine and very devoted.  She's also solidly housebroken and respectful.  She'd probably rather be an only pet, but she'll tolerate others if she must. She even comes with free vet care at the Stray Rescue clinic if adopted by a senior citizen.

I've taken in a few dogs this week, including two from Jefferson County Animal Control, one from an owner, and a couple from other shelters. 

And one dog came back (Latifah) in part because of  malodorous "gas."  I'm experimenting with her diet and seem to have that problem under control.

Recent adoptions include Prudence, Eve, Sheena and Lacey.

And my home is now puppy free.  All of the Redbone Coonhound puppies are in their new homes.  I really miss them -- sort of.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com