The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Just another day

Steve, right, happy in his new 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 your new best friend  11 to 3 Saturday, November 1 in the Kirkwood Petco. To see which dogs will be there plus other available dogs, go  Here.

Are you an Amazon shopper?  If you are, you can help St. Louis Senior Dog Project while you shop online. Start your shopping at our Amazon Smile URL.

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/01-0584486

 

 

    Every day includes at least one good story.  Not too long ago Terri spotted one of her former foster dogs out for a walk.  I remember Steve.  We found him in the old St. Louis City shelter at Gasconade.  Not a pretty place.  And Steve was not yet the perfect dog.  Today his people say he is marvelous. He is loved, well socialized, and no longer afraid of strangers.  He's also now a talented frisbee dog.

    Way to go, Steve.  You're what it's all about.

    Every day also includes phone calls and emails from people want me to take their unwanted dogs.  One of the callers yesterday threatened to euthanize her dogs if I couldn't take them.

    Many days include calls about lost or found dogs.  In the past week I've helped two dogs find their way back home.

    Every day also includes frustrations. One dog at my place tore up a pillow off my bed (again).  Another dog chewed up my newest pair of jeans.

    And then there was the dog who became sick on a Sunday and ended up in a specialty clinic. The bill is over $2,000.  The dog is back home and doing better.

    Another puppy ended up overnight in a pet hospital.  This bill is over $500.

    Bills arrive almost every day.

    Donations also arrive --- but less often

    And as for Buster and Bear of last blog fame, they are both doing better.

    Buster still climbs over the six foot fence several times a day.  But he's now learned how to climb back into the yard.  I still can't catch him or put a leash on him, but he's getting closer all the time.  He also now goes into a crate for dinner, treats, and sometimes just to rest.

    I hired someone to work on the fence that Bear was pushing under to visit the small dogs.  After considerable time and expense, the fence is now keeping Bear where he belongs. 

    Thank goodness for Scarlet.  She's one foster dog who does everything right.  No going over or under fences.  No fight starting.  No pillow ripping.  She's just an all around nice dog who loves everyone. 

She's just a plain, black dog.  True.  But what a sweetheart.

Yes. Just another day.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

Crazy! They're driving me crazy!

Buster

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 your new best friend  11 to 3 Saturday, October 25, and noon to 3 Sunday, October 26, in the Kirkwood Petco. To see which dogs will be there plus other available dogs, go  Here.

Are you an Amazon shopper?  If you are, you can help St. Louis Senior Dog Project while you shop online. Start your shopping at our Amazon Smile URL.

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/01-0584486

 

Yes, sometimes dogs drive me crazy.  Right now I feel like Buster and Bear are pawing away at my last shred of sanity (yes, I do have some left).  And they're both such nice dogs!

Let's first consider Buster, who was one about a dozen dogs removed from a hoarder.  Buster is shy, so shy that it's nearly impossible to get close to him.  I can't pet him.  I can't even touch him.  I can't put a collar on him.  I can't attach a leash to him.  If I reach towards him with a treat dangling from my fingertips, he will stretch his head in my direction but not quite make it. Yep, he's shy.  Afraid of people.

But as long as other dogs are around, he seems content.  He plays with the other dogs.  He's excited about dinner.  He even wags his tail.  But let something scare him, and everything changes. Yesterday, the thing that scared him was the lady who comes to clean my floors.  Naturally, he was still running loose in the house because I couldn't catch him to crate him or put him in another room.  His response was to dart out the dog door and scale a six foot fence.  Gone.  I wondered if he'd ever return.  I knew no one would ever catch him.

He didn't return that first night.  The next night with help from one of the wonderful Missouri Shelter Buddies, I set out cheeseburger and other yummies by the gate.  I also set out sheets and unlaundered socks from his former foster home.  We figured he might be hiding nearby.  I crated all the other dogs and left the gate to the backyard open a crack.  About 2 a.m. he returned.  Now, how to get him inside.  The minute he saw me, he ran in the other direction.  Then he turned back and came to the front door.  I opened it wide.  He stepped in, looked to his right, spotted me, and backed away.  This went on for about 30 minutes until he finally came into the backyard through the gate and entered through the dog door.   I had him!  Almost.  He dashed happily inside and beat me to the still open front door. Gone again.  Another 30 minutes and I finally made myself as invisible as possible, and Buster crept inside to stay the rest of the night.

All went well until this morning when I saw him scale the 6 foot fence again. I tried coaxing.  I tried begging.  I even tried crying.  He would come to the front door and run away as soon as I got too close.  By now I knew he'd stick close by, so I left for my morning class.  When I returned, he was indeed waiting, and I once again opened the gate wide and hid in the living room, then scrambled outside to close the gate again. I was learning.  Buster was content to play with the other dogs and stay in the yard or house.  All went well until the lawn mower arrived.

All I will say is Buster is back again, and by some miracle he just walked into a crate and is now snoring there with the door closed.  I may get a collar on him yet.  Maybe even a harness.

And then there's Bear, the big dog who wants to be a small dog.  I know this because Bear keeps pushing under the fence that divides the big dog area from the small dog area.  I'm thinking Bear just wants to be a small dog.  He's happy with the little ones.  He even likes the cat.  Unfortunately for him, the little ones don't appreciate him or his longings.  So I've collected him back to his rightful place...oh, who's even counting how many times?  And I've worked on the bottom of that fence to block his access.   Let's just say my knee really hurts today. 

Bear is one handsome, sweet-tempered Golden Retriever size boy who was rescued from the home of a crack addict who was being evicted.  The addict, I'm told, left Bear alone in the house for days at a time.  I  worried we might have some housebreaking problems, but Bear learned housebreaking during the first hour here.  Now if he'd just learn he's not a little dog.

But how can I resist that face.  Wait.  Where is Bear, anyway?  Guess I need to go collect him again. 

Then maybe I'll get a collar on Buster. And maybe I'll take a nap.

And maybe I'll remain sane.  Unlikely, but still a noble goal.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Projet

 

Anyone for this dynamic duo?

Pebbles and Bam Bam

 

 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 your new best friend  11 to 3 Saturday, October 18, and noon to 3 Sunday, October 19, in the Kirkwood Petco. To see which dogs will be there plus other available dogs, go  Here.

 

        We're a little frustrated and perplexed here.  We've had Pebbles and Bam Bam for almost a year and a half.  They're way overdue for their forever home.

         This dynamic chihuahua duo does need to stay together.  But why should that be a problem?  They don't take up much space, and their playfulness with each other delights their admirers. 

        Their sad history should just make them more appealing.  They survived life with a hoarder who ended up charged with animal abuse.  When we first took them in, they were sad dogs in bad condition.  Now they shine with good health.  And although still shyer than your average chihuahua, both now love being held and cuddled.  They've come a long way.  Now they just need one of you to promise them a good home and plenty of love.  How hard would that be?

       We're hoping to finally find a home for this pair this week.  If Pebbles and Bam Bam do find that perfect home, we'll provide dog food, heartguard and frontline for two years.  We'll also pay for the eyedrops Pebbles needs every day.  Pebbles and Bam Bam are already Dixie Fund dogs, which means this special fund covers most of their adoption fees. Their new humans will still need to pay for other veterinary care, toys, treats and other normal expenses. 

       But Pebbles and Bam Bam are worth it.  And to tell you the truth, we think they are priceless....just like in the ads.

        The perfect home for Pebbles and Bam Bam would be with a patient, loving someone who is home a lot.  We're also looking for a smoke-free environment and a back yard with a privacy fence. 

        Might that be you?

        Meet Pebbles and Bam Bam from 11 to 3 Saturday, October 18, at the Kirkwood Petco on S. Kirkwood Rd (just north of the Lindbergh exit off I-44).

         See you there.

 

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]

       

          

Sad Beginnings, Happy Endings

Chachi now lives in Hawaii

 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 your new best friend  11 to 3 Saturday, October 11, in the Kirkwood Petco. To see which dogs will be there plus other available dogs, go  Here.

 

        Chachi was near death when rescued from a chain in his backyard.  His people had  moved away and left him behind without food or water.  Finally a neighbor noticed the dying dog and called the local animal control.  That was several years ago.  We took in Chachi and found him a new home and a new life.

     Sometimes we're amazed at how often a sad beginning turns into a happy ending.  We heard from Chachi's new people recently.  They are now living in Hawaii a block from the beach.  And that's Chachi up there enjoying the beach and the ocean view.

    Then there's Maggie.  She came to us heartworm positive and with a serious skin infection.  Neglect had been a constant in her life.  We restored her health and her confidence and sent her on to a new home with people who love her greatly and say she is a big part of their life, which includes daily walks.

    Maggie had a great summer, they said, and that summer included floating on a raft in the pool.  Maggie?  Floating?  Really?  And we thought you were a lab.

     Adalyn (now Maddy) was the top picture in my last blog.  This senior lady found her new home where she is "doing amazing."  Her eyes get more sparkly with every day.  Maddy now has her own orthopedic bed but prefers a lift onto mom and dad's bed.  She's on some new meds to ease her arthritis and is going on nightly walks to stay limber.  This is certainly a big change from her former life.  She came to our attention after she was found running loose with a bloody gash across her chest. She'd been living in a vacant house littered with broken glass.  Maddy is not young, but her new people are promising her a happy life for the rest of her days.

    This week I heard that one of our special dogs had died.  I was almost surprised that this elderly dog had lived as long as she had.  She was already quite senior when she came to us several years ago  Before that, she'd spent most of her life chained to a blue barrel she used as a dog house.  She found a good home and a good life and spent her last few years with plenty of love.  Abby even had her own Facebook page.  Odd as it may seem, I'm happy that people are crying for her today.  She was that special and will be missed.

    Abby wasn't the most beautiful dog in the world.  Her coat was always a little sparse and a dull brown color.  But those who knew her thought she sparkled.  Here's my favorite picture of her.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

[email protected]