FiNDiNG PeRMANeNT ADOPTive homes FOR homeless LAbS NOLA Lab News www.nolalabrescue.org Fall 2012 NOLA Inaugural Membership Drive After much thought, NOLA has decided to begin a formal membership program. The most important component of this program is the initiation of a newsletter which will communicate NOLA s activities to you. We hope it will also be a fun and useful publication for those that love dogs as well as those who are interested in NOLA s activities. Trent s history with NOLA Lab Rescue begins with a sad story of a family who loved him but due to a death and relocation could not continue to care for him. Unfortunately, this seems to be happening quite frequently and the often elderly dogs that are left behind struggle to find new homes. For a rescue group like ours, while seniors are generally easy and wonderful foster dogs (the experience of living with a family over the years often results in dogs that are trained, Happy Tails Your contribution to NOLA goes straight to work helping the many unwanted and needy dogs that we encounter. Please consider becoming a NOLA member. A form can be found on page 7. Gifts made to NOLA are tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor to learn how this might apply to you. by Kathy Leach Brainard well-adjusted, and low-key), it can be difficult to find forever homes that know that they are looking for these qualities in their new companion. (Continued on page 5) Why Join NOLA? Our mission is to provide: Permanent adoptive homes for unwanted, abandoned or abused labs; Medical care and foster homes for rescued dogs; Education to pet owners regarding spaying/neutering and responsible pet ownership; and Public information about irresponsible breeding practices and animal abuse in an effort to end both. Your Membership Funds: Vaccination, sterilization, heartworm prevention, and veterinary services for all dogs; Heartworm treatment; Rescue of canine seniors with high expenses; Orthopedic surgery for rescued dogs in need; Transportation of HW neg, fully vetted dogs from the overpopulated South to pre-approved foster and forever homes in Canada.
NOLA News Fall 2012 From the President Thank you to all volunteers, donors, and board members who have been with NOLA Lab Rescue through it s early stages and as it has rapidly grown in 2012. Together we have embarked on a long, arduous journey - but one with significant joyous milestones that have been reached along the way. The promise of additional lives saved and happy families created is what keeps us all working so hard. We have made two important choices along the way that we would like to share with you. NO dog entering NOLA s program must be perfectly healthy or immediately adoptable. We are proud to have hosted a number of senior dogs, heartworm positive dogs, and special needs dogs since our group was founded. Despite the financial and foster challenges that these dogs can present, they are deserving of a healthy and happy life and we are so proud to give them that chance. This would not be possible without our generous donors - and we sincerely thank you for supporting this important component of who we are as a group. in addition to not requiring perfection, NOLA Lab Rescue does not require that a dog be breed standard lab in order to be rescued. This is an extremely unusual stance for a breedspecific rescue but one which has made countless volunteers and adopters very happy. We have littles (see Zippy on the next page), we have puppies that turned out to not be labs at all, we have doodles (which are technically mutts), and a variety of other dogs with highly uncertain parentage. We love them all the same and feel that compassion for all dogs, not just our breed is a crucial part of our rescue activities. We ve often said, Tey have 4 legs and a heart, they deserve our help. that had to change when Max came into our care - he only has 3 legs! We like who we are and hope that you do too. Thank your for your incredible support! Kim This edition s featured photo comes to us from Marcia Leeder Photography. in addition to her business, Marcia has generously applied her skills to NOLA s dogs. A great photograph is priceless in helping an animal connect with its forever family. it conveys the soul of the animal and captures a person s interest and imagination. Thank you to all professionals who are willing to provide this invaluable assistance to NOLA! http://marcialeederblog.com Page 2 Featured Photograph NOLA By The Numbers 2012 Adoptions - 84 dogs in Foster homes - 42 dogs Senior Dogs Waiting Patiently - 10 dogs (hugh, burbon, hope, Shaman, Sampson, Casey, Zeus, Maddie, Andrew, & violet) Senior Dogs Adopted 2012-8 dogs Most Recent Mega Transport: Dallas, TX to Lafayette, LA to Nashville, TN (two cars) - branching to New boston, Mi and to Potsdam, NY to Ottawa, ON. - 6,616 miles (round trip) Fuel Cost (avg $3.42/gal in July, 25mpg vehicle avg) - $905
Fall 2012 Pooched Eggs Looking for a Special Treat? NOLA News Doggie Birthday Cake Submitted by: Kay billiot vining 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup soft butter 1/2 cup corn oil 1 jar baby food (meat, beef, strained) 4 eggs 2 strips beef jerky Plain yogurt or cottage cheese for icing Bella & Dakota Mix dry ingredients into beef mixture until batter is smooth. Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter. Pour batter into loaf pan. bake 70 minutes. cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Apply icing! Georgia Have a recipe to share? NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com NOLA has been unique since its inception in its commitment to rescuing dogs that have significant medical needs. in fact, many were chosen for rescue because of their special stories and the extreme situations that needed a solution. These rescues are part of what drives NOLA and its volunteers, but often come with unexpectedly high medical bills. The Chip-in widget has become a popular method of raising money on-line for issue-specific causes like ours. Please consider making a donation that will help NOLA provide superior medical treatment for dogs in need. First Day With NOLA Chip-In Zippy is an unusual looking lab. Or maybe not so much lab as just a dog in need that we want to help. She was found covered in fleas, severely emaciated, and quickly losing fur. in addition, she is anemic, has clogged eye ducts, has some slight scarring on her corneas, an umbilical hernia, and needs to be spayed. Of course we will be patching her up. This care is expected to last a couple of months and cost in excess of $600, which is why a special fund has been set up. Zippy s journey has already begun. her rescue from the streets of New Orleans started her on a journey that has brought her to a loving foster family and will address her medical needs. Zippy s future happiness is guaranteed. Please consider donating to her medical fund so that we can continue making progress towards her complete rehabilitation. http://nolalabrescue1.chipin. com/zippy Zippy showing off her speed - happy to have clean grass and a safe place to play Page 3
NOLA News Fall 2012 Best In Show The answer to important questions about labs The insolent outdoor cat. But I continue to hope that one day, when it s defenses are down, I will be able to thoroughly investigate it s qualities as a chew toy. Sherlock This Issue: Toys my lab has not destroyed! Sticks are always a favorite at our house - and we have an unlimited supply! - Becky Cheap toys: destroyed in seconds. Kong wubba still going strong after a year. - Sandra Tennis balls are a good option - at least it takes some time for the cover to be torn off. And if you live near an outdoor tennis court, errant shots present a cost effective supply of replacement balls - John The Winner Those that know that the best, most durable thing to play with is the enduring love and friendship of a kindred spirit. Rocky & Hilo Rudy Where to take your dog in... Guelph, ON There are eight 24-hour dog parks in the City of Guelph, Ontario. Many of these are trails that allow for longer walks. Guelph is considered a very dog-friendly city for multiple reasons. To start, all unused sports fields are leash-free after hours (5:00 pm in the winter and after 8:00 pm in the summer). here, many groups of people meet to let their dogs play. The parks have anywhere up to 25 dogs on nice evenings. it is a very community oriented activity. everyone knows each other - the dogs and the people. As mentioned, there are many trails that are used year round for dog walking, and also snowshoeing in the winter. As well, there is an unused quarry where some people take their dogs story by Brie Worgan swimming. it is a great place for the dogs to cool off in the summer. Want to share the scoop on your favorite town? NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com Page 4 Next issue: Craziest Moment With My Lab Send responses & photos to NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com
Fall 2012 Happy Tails - continued from page 1 On the other side of the equation, it can be difficult for human seniors to cope with the loss of a beloved canine companion and find a rescue group that is willing to look past the numerical age of the applicant and help make a match that suits the needs of both canine and human. Occasionally there is an opportunity for a perfect match to be made and we were fortunate enough to be involved in helping two old souls find eachother. Trent is an older Lab mix that landed in a bad situation through no fault of his own. he went into foster care in Louisiana and was scheduled on a recently completed mega transport. he was supposed to move to Ottawa, Ontario to go into foster care there with one of our volunteers while looking for that perfect forever home. Arrangements were being made, but then we heard about an elderly gentleman who was looking for a dog after his 15 year old lab had passed away a few months ago. bill is 90 years young and loves labs! We talked to bill and his family about their situation and Trent s personality. The most important thing was to make sure a plan was in place in case the dog outlived bill. Once we knew they had indeed made the plan Trent was diverted from the Canadian portion of the transport and rode to Dog Training Tip introducing a new dog into exercise can serve to distract your household can bring them from each other as well about issues that even experienced as forming a bond with the dog owners often find challenging. Practical strategies can include: handler (you!). be vigilant at meal times. There should be no growling, A leashed meeting on neutral staring, or eating out of each territory in which other s bowls. You will both parties are walking single file (one behind the other) for the introduction and walking home side by side if the need to be present to enforce desired behavior - often a simple blocking step and a stern remonstration can get the point across. Pick the empty dogs have been bowls up immediately Karma able to progressively when the meal is over. get closer without inci- dent. be reasonable. Your home and existing dog(s) are a if neither dog is food aggrescompletely new experience so give everyone time sive, using treats in a training to NOLA News Potsdam to meet bill. When Trent pulled up, bill was working in the yard - cutting wood with a chainsaw - so much for being old! The smile on his face when he met Trent was priceless. Afew accommodations have had to be made - Trent can only handle the stairs at the front of the house and needs a ramp to get up into bill s pick up truck. it turn out that these were not important issues and on Saturday July 28th Trent was adopted by bill - and they are perfect together. At last visit, they were both snoozing on the porch with a nice breeze blowing. Trent came to greet the visitors but went back to bill s side - where he belongs. adjust. Love, long walks, and lots of equal attention can go a long way to making the new guy feel at home. if you feel that the challenges of the introduction are beyond your skills (or are concerned about safety), consult local trainers or rescue groups. Tank Page 5
NOLA News Fall 2012 Adopt Me!! h i there, i am Titan. i will be honest and say i am not a perfect boy. People say i am very pretty and an eye catcher, so that s something positive. Lately, i have been learning what a pet and companion animal should be and how i should behave in order to make people say even nicer things about me. i am not a bad boy; i am still learning things nobody ever taught me before. in the last three week, i have learned what a leash is my avenue to experience outdoor life with people who want to care for me. i do not walk perfectly on a relaxed leash but if you remind me, i do try. i have learned to sit, stay and lay down on command and i do these things well when you ask. i also have good recall when you ask me to come to you. Just teach me how you want me to behave and i will do it. i do like exercise and a fenced back yard with tennis ball time would be great. i am best supervised and not free in a house yet, but please know i am not destructive - just curious! i do make friends with other dogs but it usually takes them a while; my foster mom says it is because i lack social grace and i just seem to send off the wrong message because i do not know what to do with my feet and head when i meet other dogs. i ride really well in cars and love when there are places to go. i really want a forever home but i need someone with patience and time. i will still need some training classes to get exposure and experience - if you are willing to work with me, i will be the best dog i can learn how to be. Please give me a chance to show you what a loving, smart, eager to please boy i am. i promise not to disappoint! leash is and know that it is not just a tether to keep me in place. i know that a For more information and photos on these dogs, as well as all others awaiting forever homes with NOLA, please visit our website at www.nolalabrescue.org or Petfinder at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=la259 Page 6
Fall 2012 NOLA News YES! Please sign me up as a NOLA member! Please select your membership level: $25 $50 $100 Other Name: Address, City, State, Zip: Email Address: Send to: NOLA Lab Rescue P.O. box 746 Destrehan, LA 70047 Chance was a life-changing, action-inspiring dog who entered my life and altered it forever. in the summer of 2005, i agreed to foster my first ever lab - due to a mix up at the shelter, the original dog chosen for me was sadly euthanized. i was heartbroken but have since come to believe that things Your generous donations are very much appreciated. Our registered 501(c)(3) has no paid employees and relies entirely on the support of donors and volunteers. Thank you In Memoriam happen for a reason - this is how i came to meet Chance, a 108 lab/great dane mix. it was love at first sight. Together, the two of us battled heartworm disease and weathered a hurricane. Chance became my constant companion and would go on home visits with me - everyone who met my gentle giant fell in love. During the fall of 2006, i noticed some lumps on Chance s neck - the vet diagnosed this sweet four year old dog with a type of Lymphoma that resisted two rounds of chemo. Chance was not a show dog - he was just a big old goofy boy that loved to sit in your lap and get love. Chance is the dog that got me started in rescue and one of the main reasons NOLA exists today. Thank you, buddy - i hope you are proud of us! Beloved departed pets always leave us with cherished memories. Share a photo and story with us at NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com Kathy Leach brainard Page 7
NOLA Lab Rescue P.O. Box 746 Destrehan, LA 70047 Return Service Requested Board of Directors Kim Breaux - President & Founder Kathy Brainard - Secretary Pam Hrycyk - Vice President Betsy Taylor - Treasurer nolalabrescue@gmail.com Personal Pet Portrait Did you ever dream of owning a portrait of your pet? The talented artist Melissa Schwab Shumard is donating her talent to raise funds for NOLA Lab Rescue. A minimum donation of $35 entitles you to a 9 x12 watercolor masterpiece based on a photo that you provide. Group shots, multiple pets, etc. are all options. Melissa is very flexible in her requirements and very reasonable in her prices. More information can be found at: http://www.nolalabrescue.org/portraits.html You can make the difference! Donations can be made online via our website at http://www.nolalabrescue.org/donations.html Will you help?