The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Sometimes it's just too sad

Clifford (now Griffon) resting by the pool

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 and noon to 3 Sunday, July 28 and 29 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh and 11 to 3 Saturday, July 28, in the St. Louis/Makenzie Petco. To see which dogs will be  there  as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

 

The picture at the top is a good news story.  He's another one of the Redbone Coonhound puppies who grew up at my place and found good homes.  We need the happy ending stories because sometimes this rescue business is just too sad.  And that's the kind of week I've had.

When something sad happens, as it did Sunday, I sometimes find myself trying to wind back the clock.  What if I'd turned at the last moment and said, "No.  I think I'd rather take that dog back home with me today.  He's comfortable with me.  You can foster some other dog."

Because if I'd said that, the dog would still be alive.  I know that.  I liked the dog.  He liked me.  He'd been with me for five days and I was already thinking of him as a keeper -- the kind I might want to keep for myself.

But he was also an "easy" dog -- a dog I thought would be perfect for a new foster.  So I sent him home with the new foster family, and within the hour he was dead.  Frightened in his new environment, he'd bolted, run into a busy street and been hit by a car.

Although all such losses are tough, this one was especially so.  He'd touched me and I'd felt particularly pleased that we could rescue him.  I felt pain also for the young volunteers who'd carefully brushed him at our adoption events.  And especially I felt for the new foster couple who'd been so excited about taking this dog into their home.

So another unhappy ending.  I also received an email this week from someone who'd adopted a dog from us five years ago.  That dog also had escaped and been hit by a car and killed.

It's not all happy endings.  Sometimes it's downright heartbreaking.

I read an essay by another rescue person who was frustrated and saddened by  the news that the sanctuary she'd send a rescued dog to had turned out to be a disreputable place that was shut down by authorities who found many neglected dogs there.  This person was ready to quit.  She thought she had rescued the dog...and then she had actually sent in to a worse situation.

That's what we all fear....or what we should fear most. We need to check carfully before sending rescued dogs on to new homes or other rescue groups or sanctuary.  These dogs deserve our best.  But sometimes even our best efforts aren't enough.  Something goes wrong.  Pulling a dog out of a shelter or an unhappy situation is easy.  Finding happy endings is not so easy.  We do find them, but not without a lot of sad days when things go so wrong.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

Home again and back at work

Clyde..one of four dogs we took in from the same 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. Meet and adopt your new best friend 11 to 3 Saturday and noon to 3 Sunday, July 28 and 29 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh. To see which dogs will be  there  as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

 

For four glorious days last week I didn't answer any calls or emails about dogs in need of rescue.  I can't tell you what a relief that was.  During that time I was visiting wineries and visiting the sites in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

But by day five I was twitching and anxious to read my emails and Facebook.  So after arriving at my daughter's home, I began once more obsessively checking and rechecking.  I don't know what I thought I would find.

Things didn't stop because I was on vacation.  Others took over.  Dogs found homes. Dogs came back.  Problems erupted and subsided.  Everyone pitched in to take on the daily challenges.  As for me, my daughter showed me how to defriend everyone on Facebook who sends me news about dogs in distant states.  I don't need to know about every dog that will die tomorrow if someone doesn't do something about it this instant.  We haven't run out of dogs in need right here in Missouri.  Correction, we haven't run out of dogs in need right here in the St. Louis area.

The easiest part of rescue is pointing out dogs in need of rescue.  The hard parts follow -- taking care of the dogs, getting them all the veterinary care they need, preparing them for adoption, finding them homes, and then paying the bills.  A dog isn't really rescued until it's in a good home.  Until that happens, you haven't rescued a dog.

Once home Tuesday the first thing I did was pick up five dogs that had been boarded during my absence.  These included four senior dogs we'd taken from a man who'd gone into a nursing home.  The dogs had been living alone for almost a year with a neighbor feeding them.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out what good dogs they are.  That's Clyde up there -- the most outgoing.  Here's Penny, who is the mother to the other three.

Isn't she gorgeous?

And here's Tim, another easy keeper.

I'm waiting on a fresh picture of Bonnie, the shyest of the four.  But trust me, she's beautiful.

I was worried about taking these four -- mom is 10 or 11 years old.  Her puppies are 8 or 9 years old.  But I've met them and now know they are robustly healthy seniors who are easy, well-behaved dogs.  They will make wonderful pets.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

Lucky once Lucky twice, Lucky Lady

Miami, now Deli, is one very lucky lady.  Here she is with her new pal Joseph.

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 and noon to 3 Sunday, July 14 and 15 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh. To see which dogs will be  there  as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

 

A couple weeks ago things weren't going well for the dog we later named Miami.  After running loose for awhile, Miami ended up in the West Plains, MO, Animal Control. That could have been it for Miami.  Not many people adopt pets from that small shelter.  And those pets that aren't adopted or rescued are euthanized in a gas chamber.

I think we all flinched when we saw the pictures in an email about several of these dogs then scheduled for the gas chamber.  We ended up agreeing to save four, including the lovely lady above.  Elizabeth and Andy drove to pick up the dogs.  Delfina agreed to foster Miami.  Melissa took two rat terrier mix puppies.  And Joan offered to take a tiny pomeranian mix.

Miami arrived dirty and smelly, but that changed quickly.  She proved to be one of the sweetest dogs we've ever taken in, and she quickly found a home.  We knew Miami was special when we saw the patient and loving way she responded to her new pal Joseph.  We received the picture above and another a few days ago.  Laura thanks us for rescuing Miami and said, "We are so grateful."

I think the picture says it all.  Miami, now named Deli for her foster mom, has finally found the life she deserves.  She was lucky once when she escaped the gas chamber and lucky twice when she found her wonderful new family.  She is one lucky lady.

We also received a note and picture from Laura, who reminded us that Ebony had just celebrated her third anniversary with them.  "We are overjoyed to have her.  She's a genuine sweetie" she wrote.  Here Ebony is with Brodie.

We've had several adoptions recently including Wally the Lab, Marty the yorkie, Kendra the schnauzer  Brady the chihuahua, and Chewy the Brussels.  Here's Chewy with his happy new "mom."

We've also had a couple returns and a cancelled adoption.  We've taken in a couple more dogs from Jefferson County Animal Control and some that were previously with a hoarder.  We're struggling to find foster homes for four dogs whose owner is going into a nursing home.  And I'm getting ready to go on vacation next week, so I've needed to line up temporary care for my dogs. We've had sick dogs and lost dogs, good news and bad news.  A typical week.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

 

 

My how they've grown!

Pumpkin...now Dixie...is a big pup now.

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 and noon to 3 Sunday, July 14 and 15 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh. To see which dogs will be  there  as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

And thanks to those who stopped by our beer booth at the Fair St. Louis and a special thanks to those who helped us.  We all survived and had a good time.

 

Last November I had nine Redbone Coonhound puppies and their mother living with me.  Charlotte had had her puppies in a ditch in rural Missouri.  A rescue partner transported them my way.  They each weighed about a pound when they arrived here.

They've certainly grown since then, but I'll always think of them as my babies.  They wore me out, delighted me and grew up happy and healthy, something I'd love to take at least partial credit for.

Last week I sent out emails to the people who adopted them, begging for pictures and news.  So far I've heard back about seven or the nine puppies -- and boy have they grown.  That's Pumpking up there.  She was my favorite.  Leslie tells us that she now weighs 44 lbs "fits great with our family, is loved by everyone, and she knows it." 

Susan told us about the former Riley now Sienna.  "She's smart and loving, great with kids and other dogs, happy, healthy, and a wonderful addition to our family."  Here she is with Mackenzie, Zackery and Alaina.

Cinnamon...now known as Red...is "the best," according to Cindy.  "I just hope she's done growing."  Here she is.

Nutmeg now Jenny is "the sweetest most loving dog I have ever known," says Shelly.  "All she ever wants is someone to play with or give her lovies.  ..She has been such an awesome addition to our family." Here's Nutmeg with one of her favorite humans.

Reba now Ally is also "doing awesome."  Here she is enjoying some down time with dad.

Seconding the "dogs need their rest" message is Copper now Truman.

And here's Boomer, who was the biggest of the pups and one of only two boys.

And in case you missed their puppy pictures, here's what Cinnamon looked like about the time she was adopted. They all pretty much looked like this.

And in case you were wondering, the mother is also adopted and doing well. 

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

Meet us at the Fair!

 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 and noon to 3 Sunday, July 7 and 8 in the Kirkwood Petco near I-44 and Lindbergh, and 11 to 3 Saturday, July 7, in the St. Louis/Mackenzie Petco at 7279 Watson Rd. To see which dogs will be  there  as well as other adoptable dogs, go Here.

That's Yankee and Doodle up there.  And they are both very dandy.  I pulled these patriotic little canines out of Jefferson County Animal Control today, so they will be celebrating their own freedom on July 4. They'll be relaxing in air-conditioned splendor.

As for me, I'll be spending the evening of July 4 at Fair St. Louis working in a beer booth where we'll be raising money for the St. Louis Senior Dog Project while also helping the crowds stay cool.

Boy, I hope I survive.  It's been almost 10 years since I decided I was too old and lazy to do anything on the 4th but watch fireworks on television. But now I'll be catching metrolink with thousands of others and wishing the temperature would drop just a little. I wonder how likely that is.

But I'll be there...and I hope many of you will stop by our booth at the north end of the arch.  Facing the river, that's the left leg. 

Now I'd better start resting up.

See you at the Fair.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]