The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

More adoptions today

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit dog rescue organization.  See our adoptable dogs and a few cats at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

Another adoption Saturday, and boy are we all tired.

Byt a few more dogs have found homes.

James was a stray in the St. Louis City Pound, a matted shih tzu whose true brindle coat only became visible after he was shaved almost to the skin.  That's his "after" picture.  Look below for "before." He's a happy, friendly young dog who lingered too long in the Pound.  Now he's home with his lucky new family.

Another Pound puppy, Maggie, a lab mix, also found a home, and so did Charlie, a miniature pinsher mix who lost his former home when his owner lost hers.  Now he's settling in with a young couple who can't wait to see just how snuggly he becomes when invited to hide under the covers.

Cheddar, a miniature pinsher/chihuahua mix from St. Louis Animal Control, also went to a new home this week.  And Claire, the St. Louis County Animal Control poodle mix who has recovered from pneumonia, has met her soon-to-be-new-owner and will go home later next week.

Petey, the catahoula/whippet mix, has an application and may go to his new home next week.

Not our biggest week, but a good one.

Goodnight all.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

ST. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Wendell and Blue

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-or-profit all-volunteer dog rescue organization.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

Wendell is happy.  He's Katie's "go along" dog, so his days are busy.  But he can't stand to let his foster mom out of his sight.  If she leaves him in the car for awhile, he whines and stares at the point where he last saw her.

I know.  I waited in the car with Wendell while he whined and watched and seemingly wondered if he'd ever see Katier again. Me?  I didn't count.  He had eyes only for his own special person.

Wendell is a handsome blue doberman we found in the St. Louis City Pound a couple months ago.  Once we took him out of there, we started treating him for what at first seemed like a bad sinus infection. But his problem was more serious than that.  Wendell had a cancerous nasal tumor.

Surgery has made Wendell more comfortable, but the fact remains: He has cancer and the only treatment available is one we can't easily afford. Radiation could give him up to two more good years, two more years to continue being the happy dog he is now.

Without radiation, he may still spend the rest of his live as a happy dog, surrounded by love and delighted with his daily car rides.  But we don't know how long that life will be -- measured in months instead of years.

Blue the beagle is another dog with an uncertain future.  I took her in for an x-ray because she was spending almost 24 hours a day just resting on a dog bed.  The x-ray showed a large tumor on her spleen.  Our vet removed the tumor and thinks it may turn out to be benign.  That would be good news for Blue.  But she's still an old girl recuperating from surgery.

We're pulling for both Wendell and Blue. 

Tomorrow's another Saturday adoption day at the Kirkwood Petco (11 to 3) .  Maybe Penny Perfect will finally find her home.  And maybe many others. Come on by -- even if you're not ready for a new dog.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Why we don't need more rescue groups

See our adotable dogs and cats at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit all-volunteer dog rescue organizations specializing in older dogs but rescuing dogs of ages and even a few cats.

Ellen's Notes:

I may be wading into shark-infested waters here, but I wonder if we really need more rescue groups in the St. Louis area.

That doesn't mean we don't need more rescue people.  We do.  We need more foster homes.  Every new foster home means we can save more dogs.  We need reliable fosters who will love their rescues, care for them in their homes, and prepare them for successful adoptions.

New rescue groups don't translate into saving any more dogs.  And sometimes these new groups are jumping in with more heart than wisdom.  I've learned recently of new rescue groups that can't pay their vet bills.  I've learned of groups that can't place their dogs. I've heard of groups that keep their rescued dogs in outdoor pens.  I've heard of the wrong kind of cost cutting.  Groups that don't pay for microchips.  Groups that won't pay for dentals.  Groups that don't get their rescues in for vet care until after they're adopted.

This is my advice: This isn't an easy business.  There's no money in it.  No fame.  No glory.  Mountains of paperwork.  Plenty of heartbreak.  And some fine and joyful moments.  But you can enjoy those moments by voluntering with an existing group.  Then maybe after a couple years, when you really know what you're getting into, and if you see a need you can't meet any other way, then go for it....but ease into it.  Take care of a few dogs well...and then a few more.

Or you might take a different approach. You might recruit, train and place foster parents with existing groups.  Now there's a real need.

Another problem with the recent mini explosion of new rescue organizations is that more groups are competing for the limited resources out there -- the donations and grants that keep things going.  Everyone has to operate with less.

It doesn't take long to realize that rescue doesn't end when you get a dog out of a shelter and celebrate the victory.  And there are still more dogs needing homes than homes needing dogs. Getting more dogs out of shelters doesn't mean getting more dogs into homes.  Who takes care of the unadoptable dogs? And for how long?

And how can we connect more recalcitrant pet owners with low cost spay/neuters? Rescue is only half of the solution.  Spay/neuter means fewer dogs needing rescue.

We need more people in rescue.  We need more foster homes.  But right here in the St. Louis area, I  don't think the answer is more rescue groups.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com 

When I have nothing to say

Check out our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  We're a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but rescuing and finding new home for dogs of all ages including puppies and a few cats.

Ellen's Notes:

Today is one of those days when I don't have anything to say. Nothing about dogs.  Nothing about life. Nothing about love. Nothing good.  Nothing bad.

Today I watched dogs play in the snow.  Today I cleaned house and replaced an old thriftshop bedspread with a new thriftshop bedspread. When you sometimes share your bed with as many as six dogs, you run through a lot of bedspreads and you learn to love resale shops (because I also run through sofas, chairs, sweaters, shoes, pillows and so on).

Today I worried about Blue the beagle who spends almost 24 hours a day sleeping on a dog bed.  She goes back for another vet visit tomorrow.  And I worried about Rusty the poodle, who not only sleeps most of the time but also growls at anyone who gets near him. He will go along with Blue.

Today I heard nothing about Midnight, the lost lab mix, and I'm beginning to fear I never will.

And today I started work on another grant application to help with dog food and other supplies. And today we cancelled a fundraising committee meeting because of the snow

And today I took pictures of Lady the Aussie, Barry the Schnauzer and Crackers the Yorkie and posted them on our website along with ones of a puppy named Franky and several cats. That's Barry in the picture.  He has beautiful eyelashes.

Today I had the snow plowed out of my driveway and finally drove the new van up it. 

Today I heard from several people needing to "rehome" their dogs and a couple shelter volunteers wanting us to take others.  And I talked to a few people who are interested in adopting a pet.  I received a nice email from Barbara who has adopted several senior dogs from us and says she will always adopt the old ones even though she knows too well the pain that can come too soon.  Her email told me one of her old dogs had just died; another was sick.

Barbara is one of those who deserves a free pass to heaven.

Even when I have nothing to say.....

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Goodbys and Hellos

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization.  You can see our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

Goodby.  Hello.  That's life.  That's certain a big part of dog rescue.  We are always saying goodby to our foster dogs as they leave us for new homes.  And almost at the same time, we greet new rescue dogs.

And then there are other goodbys.  Brody passed away Monday night.  I wrote about him several days ago when it looked like we wouldn't have him much longer.  Curtis, his foster dad, said Brody was a joy to have around -- even if it was for only a few months.

Among the dogs we'll soon say hello to is Cody, a 12-year-old border collie/aussie mix whose owner went into a nursing home.  Ordinarily I don't accept dogs from the other side of the state, and ordinarily I'm cautious about taking dogs 12 years and up. But there was something about his picture, and I had a foster who said Brody might fit in fine at his place.

So Cody will join us Saturday.  We're told he's housebroken, good with children and other pets. All good things.

Barry the Schnauzer and Lady the Aussie came through their surgeries fine today, and got back here before the snow started falling again. 

Our new van is running again, but it couldn't quite make it up my steep, snowy driveway. 

The snow keeps falling.  Schools are closing. Two dogs are sleeping on the slipcovers I put over the ripped and chewed sofa and loveseat.  Doesn't look all that bad.

Goodby.  Hello.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Sooner & Other Snow Dogs

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is an all-volunteer dog rescue organization.  Our adoptable dogs and a few cats are at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

I don't know why it is, but some dogs that won't step out into a light rain positively love snow..even sharp ice-chipped snow, the type coming down right now.

Smokey , my black lab, is in and out, in and out.  He stays inside just long enough to shake off clumps of snow and then charges out through the dog door for more wonderful winter torture.  Cloud Dancer, my American Eskimo mix, is joyful.  No surprise there.  Bubba the Aussie is sprinkled with white as well.

And look at this picture of Sooner.  Doesn't he wear snow well?  Sooner is about 9 years old and ready for a new home.  He loves other dogs and people too....but he's a little shy at first with humans. We're hoping he finds a new home soon.  Tracey, his foster mom, keeps taking new pictures of him,thinking the right picture might just draw in the right human for Sooner.

With the weather outside, I wonder if we'll make any of tomorrow's vet appointments. Two at my house have spay/neuters scheduled, and other foster homes are also wondering about tomorrow's appointments, I'm sure.

One of my appointments tomorrow is for a 3-year-old tri-colored female Australian Shepherd.  Her owner died leaving several Aussies behind.  Relatives are trying to find them all homes.  I picked up Lady Sunday.  On the way back, I experienced the second auto breakdown of the week, this one with the van I'd just brought home to replace the car that had bit the dust two days earlier. So I spent another day dealing with car troubles.  But I think the end is in sight! I think everything will soon be okay!

And the new Aussie girl is wonderful -- very sweet and affectionate.

Another appointment is for Barry, a young schnauzer. Barry is a puppymill rescue.  He still runs away from me...but not as quickly as he used to.  He'll come around and eventually be a wonderful, normal dog.  I'm sure of it.

But I'm not sure how he'll feels about the snow.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Annabelle

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer dog rescue organization.  See our adoptable dogs and a few cats at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

I always thought Annabelle was a drop-dead gorgeous sort of gal, but others might call her a plain dog of indeterminate breed.  Here's her picture.  What do you think?

When I first met Annabelle, she'd just weaned puppies and was heartworm positive.  She was with me through her treatment and recovery.  Finally she was healthy, spayed, up to date with shots and ready for a new life.  That was five years ago.  She found her new home with a single man and another dog.  All went well until recently when I learned that Annabelle's owner was losing his home and could no longer care for her.

So Annabelle came back to me, and I wondered if we'd have trouble finding her another home. I figured she was at least 10 years old.  And she was a big dog...maybe even part St Bernard.  But to her advantage, she was a well-behaved girl, healthy, and good with other pets.

I figured we'd find her a new home.  It just might take awhile.

It took a week. Annabelle is happy in her new home, and her new owner is so happy she's offering me and as many volunteers and friends as are interested to a free tour of the Wild Canid Center in Eureka where she is a docent.  Wow. And thank you Annabelle.

Annabelle's new home includes an 11-year-old Great Dane/Lab mix named Jack who was missing his 15-year-old Belgian Shepherd companion who had died recently.  Jack needed a pal but he wanted one close to his own age.

Annabelle was the perfect fit...and she is now a "dearly loved and a very special part of our family."

 

We believe in a lot more than second chances here. 

 

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Congratulations to --

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is an all-volunteer not-for-profit dog rescue organization.  She our adoptable dogs (and a few cats) at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

Congratulations to all the dogs who found homes today at our adoption event.

And that includes Carrie the Red Tick Coonhound, who is officially adopted and now has reason to smile.

Also adopted was Rooster, a Japanese Chin; Scout, a black shepherd mix; Tinkerbell, a senior chihuahua; Sandy, a yellow lab mix; Romeo, a gorgeous coton de tuleur; Loo, a chihuahua; Coco, a malteese, Molly, a shih tzu, and Tallulah, a shih tzu. 

Babba, another chihuahua, has an adoption pending.  Petie, the catahoula/whippet mix, has a couple prospects who may yet come through for him. So does James, a shih tzu from the St. Louis City Pound.

Charlie the black lab from Jefferson County Animal Control, now has a foster home.  We boarded him for a week after his original foster bailed after the first day.

A long day, but good for adoptions. First event with the van that replaced my late PT Cruiser.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Goodbye to Duke

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is an all-volunteer not-for-profit dog rescue organization. You can see our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.com

Ellen's Notes:

When we took Duke out of the St. Louis City Pound, I dubbed him a "Twilight Senior," figuring he wouldn't be with us long. He had a significant heart murmur, and he was old, really old, maybe 10, 12, 14 or even 16 years old.

Old. Sweet.  Amusing.  Cuddly. But old. So we found him a special home with a young couple who accepted the challenge of loving a dog that might not be with them for long.

Kyle and Teresa took Duke to softball games.  They bought him toys.  They conscientiously gave him his heart medication.  They loved every minute they had with him.

And in return, Duke just kept on living and loving them back. For a surprising four years. Four great years.  I'm not sure what Duke's early years were like, but for his last four years, he was a king.

Duke was Mr February in the 2007 St. Louis Senior Dog Project Calendar, a lazy poodle mix against a red background. 

Yesterday I learned we were about to lose him.  In the end it wasn't his heart that failed him, but his kidneys. 

Before taking him in to the vet today for his final visit, Kyle and Teresa took his final pictures.  One of them is on this page.

Goodby Duke.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

News and No News

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit all volunteer dog rescue organization.  See our adoptable dogs and a few cats at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Ellen's Notes:

Now that I'm trying to write something every day, I'm more aware of how much is happening all the time.

If I'm lucky, the good news beats out the bad news and the no news.

Looks like Carrie the Red Tick Coonhound will be adopted this weekend.  We also have an application for 14-year-old Robyn, one of nine dogs we rescued from a research facility.  That's her picture.  When I first learned of these dogs I thought that placing them would be some kind of impossible dream.  If Robyn has found a home, we've placed seven of them.  Two to go.

Of course, we've got a lot of interest in some of our small dogs and puppies. Others are calling and emailing about Sandy, Sam, Rusty the Poodle, Werner the minpin, Cynthia the Pomeranian and others. But I'm still waiting for someone to come for Penny Perfect.

And I've heard from people who are happy with the dogs they adopted recently....especially Molly the collie mix, Rusty the Yorkie and Leigha the shepherd mix.

Today also included its share of calls and emails about dogs in need of rescue. 

We have our sick dogs, too.  Claire is recovering from pneumonia but isn't completely well yet.  Brody is still with us but probably not for long.  He's the lab mix I wrote about two days ago.  Wendell the doberman had surgery to remove most of his nasal tumor.  We hope it will make him more comfortable.  

It seems like almost every day I hear about a formerly adopted dog that has died. Today was no different. I'll write about Duke the old poodle mix later.

And what's a day without a trip to a shelter to pick up a dog?  We'd adopted Crackers out a few years ago, and I received a call yesterday telling me he'd been picked up running loose. He's  now back with us and scheduled for a grooming and a vet visit.

And no news about Midnight, the missing dog.  A few rumors -- both good and bad -- but no news.

And as for my car which broke down yesterday.  It's done for. I'm shopping for a van I can transport dogs in.  Imagine that.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com