August Dog Rescue Closing Its Doors

Posted by catharineflagg on Mar 12th, 2010 — 2 Comments

Team,
 
After much thought and discussion, it is with deep regret that I announce that we have chosen to dissolve August Dog Rescue.  The organization has been run by a core group of dedicated volunteers who also have very demanding full-time jobs and many of whom are undergoing significant life changes, and unfortunately the work load of doing it all and maintaining our high standards has become too much.  Our small size lent itself well to a focus on quality but, sadly, at this time our endeavor is simply not sustainable.  Please know this decision was absolutely not made hastily and was extremely difficult for all parties involved.
 
We will of course continue to oversee the adoption and placement of the dogs currently in our program, and we would greatly appreciate your help in finding homes for these dogs. 

In order to assist in the placement process, we are offering a reduced adoption cost of $100 to adopt one of our current dogs. The usual fee is $150.  Please note that we will still maintain the same strict standards and requirements that we always have had for adoptive homes. The current list of dogs in need of homes can be found here:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=TX1365.
 
In addition to our own adoption efforts, we are also working with a fantastic rescue group, Collin County Humane Society, to transition some of our fosters to their program.  They are much larger than we are and have awesome resources and a very dedicated management team.  I hope you’ll consider volunteering your time with them and supporting them if you’d like to continue to volunteer in animal rescue. If you’d like to be added to their email list and continue to help animals in the same fabulous networking way you’ve all become famous for, you can email their president, Molly Peterson, at mrtpeterson@yahoo.com.

I cannot thank each and every one of you adequately for your support and confidence and partnership in this awesome endeavor – many dozens of dogs (and cats!) now living in happy forever homes owe their lives and happiness to you all.
 
Thank you again,
Nancy

Dude Needs a Foster Family!

Posted by catharineflagg on Feb 16th, 2010 — Leave a Comment

Dude
Hello out there,

My friends at August Dog Rescue tell me that you all are really awesome about helping dogs in need find a good place to go, and so I’m hoping hoping hoping that will be the case this time! You see,
I could really could use your help!

My name is Dude, and I was on the euthanasia list at the Carrollton shelter 2 weeks ago …. I don’t understand why, but no one wanted me there and now no one seems to want me here. All this despite the fact that I keep getting rave reviews everywhere I go, from the shelter to the transporter to the vet staff! In fact, the Carrollton Shelter director, Joe, personally pled my case to the rescue group that took me in because he thought I was so special! He said that I am so sweet and really hilarious; he saw that I would dream about running free while at the shelter and so make whimpering noises and running motions in my sleep. I would really like a place where I could be free outside my dreams :(

Dude is a Shepherd and Mastiff mix, weighing in at 57 pounds, is 5 years old, vaccinated and neutered. His shelter name suits him well, for he is one chill dude who’d love a lap to snuggle up to. He is also big enough and energetic enough to join you for a jog or walk in the park should you be so inclined! At our adoption event this weekend, he was a hit, making buddies and charming everyone!

Dude has spent the last 2 weeks living at a vet while getting healthy, and now he is in boarding. He loves the other dogs in doggie day care, and he’s made best friends with every person he has met (he hasn’t had any opportunities to meet a cat while with us). Because we haven’t found a home for him to stay in yet, we don’t have any information about his in home etiquette, such as house and crate training.

Can you please help us fix that? We need a foster home for Dude!!

If you’re willing to give Dude a temporary home to call his own while we work to find his forever family, please contact Kate at katemwatts@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for your consideration, I’d really like to come be your friend,
Dude
DS

Thank you American Dog Rescue

Posted by catharineflagg on Jan 29th, 2010 — 1 Comment

Many thanks to American Dog Rescue (https://www.americandogrescue.org/) for providing a $1000 challenge grant to support the Carrollton Shelter Six!!

We appreciate the support of American Dog Rescue immensely and thank all of our friends there for making this special challenge, and achievement of paying the medical bills for the Carrollton Six, possible!

Last Week of 2009

Posted by catharineflagg on Dec 30th, 2009 — 1 Comment

Team, as this holiday season of gratitude is upon us, and 2009 is drawing to a close, we want to say thank you to each of you who has helped to make our collective animal rescue mission a huge success this year!
 
As you know, August Dog Rescue is a non-breed specific dog (and some cats!) rescue organization, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering, homeless, and misplaced animals in our Texas community.  We are committed to finding ideal forever homes for the animals who enter our program, and that task simply could not be done without the myriad and continued support of all of you!
 
In just four months, we have placed 41 dogs and cats in new homes and have taken 28 more into our current foster care program.  Between January 2009 and our official inception in mid-August, our team placed more than 75 homeless dogs in forever families! 
 
In addition to rescuing animals from death row, un-qualified homes, and the streets, we strive to be the organization that takes on the toughest cases which even other rescue groups cannot handle.  For example, you might remember the case of Ramzy, an abused Chihuahua with two broken legs.  As a team, we also helped Sabrina, a young Shepherd mix with a broken leg and hip.  We are currently looking for a family for  Junebug, a Cocker Spaniel with such severe eye issues that she was deemed a lost cause but whom, after two surgeries and multiple specialist visits later, now has eyesight!  This team also rescued George, a young Shepherd mix with a ruptured eye ulcer and a former owner who cut off his tail at home.  And I know many of you will remember this past Spring when we stepped-up for Queenie, a gorgeous Aussie mix who was skinned alive in her previous home and then ended up cowering against the median of Hwy 183!
 
None of this important work could be done without our amazing foster families, adopters, and volunteers.  Similarly, absolutely none of this could happen without the generous donations that support 100% of our efforts.  Even at rescue rates, it costs around $150 to perform the basic vetting for each of our dogs.  Additionally, we spend almost as much time at specialty clinics as we do regular vets, seeking complex surgeries for special cases, and each procedure can cost thousands.

I invite you to make a special end of the year gift to August Dog Rescue in order that we may continue this work in 2010!  Gifts can be made by logging on to our website at www.augustdogrescue.org or by mailing a check to August Dog Rescue, 4347 W. Northwest Hwy, Ste 120 #165, Dallas Texas 75220.

August Dog Rescue is a 501(c)3, non‑profit organization.  Donations are tax-deductible, and your generous support helps to ensure that we are able to continue to help those who are unable to help themselves. 

Thank you for your continued support, whether by email forwarding, fostering, or donating! 

Wishing you and your whole family – 2 and 4 legged – the happiest of New Years!

Ramzy now . . .

Ramzy

Pics with Santa Paws Huge Success!

Posted by catharineflagg on Dec 14th, 2009 — 1 Comment

Thank you to all who braved the weather to have their portraits made with Santa on Saturday!! A few highlights …..

ArnoldCharlie BudCoreyJunebugOliver and PepeErin

TONIGHT!!

Posted by catharineflagg on Dec 8th, 2009 — Leave a Comment

This evening, Tuesday December 8th 2009, is the final Garland city council meeting for 2009.

The animals facing death-by-gas-chamber in the Garland Shelter are hoping for and counting on your attendance!

Please consider taking a couple of hours of your evening to stop by the Garland leafleting and/or city council meeting tonight and show them that this issue is not going away!

5:30 PM-6:30 PM: Protest and distribute fliers at the Garland downtown DART station (on Walnut between Fourth and Fifth)
6:30 PM: Walk to City Hall for the city council meeting at 7:00 PM. The agenda is very short, and protesters will gather with our signs on Fourth St. after the meeting, to greet city officials as they exit.

If you cannot go to Garland in person (or even if you can!), you can still make your voice heard!  Call and write today:

District 1: Douglas Athas (dathas@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (214) 289-8779
District 2: Laura Perkins Cox (lcox@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (214) 364-9319

District 3: Preston Edwards (pedwards@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (214)714-8858
District 4: Larry Jeffus: (ljeffus@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 686-5698
District 5: John Willis (jwillis@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (214 957 7979)
District 6: Barbara Chick (bchick@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 276-2524
District 7: Rick Williams (rwilliams@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 495-9545
District 8: Darren Lathen (dlathen@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 465-0435

Mayor: Ronald Jones (mayor@ci.garland.tx.us); cc to his assistant BethDattomo (edattomo@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 205-2400
City Manager: Bill Dollar (bdollar@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 205-2465
Director of Health Dept: Richard Briley (rbriley@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 205-3464
Deputy Director of Health Dept: Jason Chessher (jchesshe@ci.garland.tx.us); Phone (972) 205-3460

Barnes and Noble Wrapping Benefiting August Dog Rescue!

Posted by catharineflagg on Dec 4th, 2009 — Leave a Comment

A group of fabulous volunteers will be providing complimentary gift wrap services at the Barnes and Noble across from Northpark Mall on the following dates – all donations given by happy gift wrapping recipients will go directly to August Dog Rescue!

Please stop by and also encourage your friends to shop at B&N Lincoln Park on the following dates – and giftwrap and donate of course!

Barnes and Noble: Lincoln Park, 7700 West Northwest Hwy. Ste. 300, Dallas – (214) 739-1124

Friday, December 4 — 9am-6pm (double shift)

Monday, December 7   — 9am-2pm

Tuesday, December 8 — 9am-2pm and 6pm-11pm (split shift)

Monday, December 14 — 9am-2pm

Tuesday, December 15 — 9am-2pm

Thursday, December 17 — 6pm-11pm

Saturday, December 19 –2pm-6pm

Monday, December 21 — 2pm-6pm

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

Posted by Nancy on Oct 29th, 2009 — Leave a Comment

The Kaufmann, Texas puppy mill was shut down last month …. and the owner was only charged with a misdemeanor. Incredibly, this is the best that can be done in Texas because we have no good legislation in this area.

You may remember the attempts to pass anti-puppy mill legislation this past Spring. Those efforts to more effectively shut down puppy mills and punish their owners were ultimately defeated by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. I mentioned this when publicizing the puppy mill raid in Kaufmann last week, any many people were surprised (and unbelieving! and horrified!).

At least one other puppy mill was shut down just last last month in Texas, in Nacogdoches. (this is one week in one state and these are just the 2 I was informed about!). There will be more in the coming weeks.

In preparation for the inevitable, and so that you might become motivated to 1) educate your vet and 2) pass legislation in the 2011 session, here is some information about why the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is the way it is.

In sum, the TVMA, like the AVMA, is a trade group and not an animal advocacy group.

Anyone who thinks the two are synonymous should review this great information compiled by Dr. John Pippin:

“Some people wonder why the Texas Veterinary Medical Assn (TVMA) opposed the puppy mill legislation this year. It is because TVMA reflects the AVMA position that animals are property and can be used as such by people: “The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes and supports the legal concept of animals as property.”

This principle explains why AVMA is opposing the recent Pew Commission report and is supporting standard factory farming practices:

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-17-2009/0005078770&EDATE=

Here is a link to the AVMA policy page: http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/default.asp.

For those who don’t know, AVMA supports the following practices (among others), and opposes all measures that would restrict animal breeding, farming, and other “property” uses:

Puppy mills Hunting Debeaking
CO gas euthanasia Animal experimentation
Horse slaughter Rodeos Declawing
Class B animal dealers
Unrestricted breeding
Foie gras
Animal exhibitions Debarking
Pound seizure
Culling of animals
Circuses and zoos Bullhooks
Classroom dissections

Just a couple of other statements from the AVMA:

“The AVMA does not support regulations or legislation mandating spay/neuter of privately owned, non-shelter dogs and cats.”

“Resolved, that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) affirms the responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as companionship, food, fiber, education, exhibition, and research conducted for the benefit of humans and animals, is consistent with the principles of the Veterinarian’s Oath.”

Small wonder that so many people consider AVMA to be an animal abuse protectionist group rather than an advocacy organization for animals. The mystery to me is why the many thousands of good and compassionate veterinarians in practice don’t replace AVMA leadership.

JJP”Life in a MillMill Dogs