Thanks Dexter!

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to Dexter the Blue Heeler (a former Lucky Puppy) and his owners Paul Kreiger & Amy Shriner! Dexter came to The Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa so he would be sharp-looking and smelling good for Santa. While he was getting groomed, Paul & Amy went out and bought HEAPS of Canned Pedigree dog food and a great tire toy for The Lucky Puppy Rescue! Thank you so much! We're thrilled! And, by the way, they're doing a fantastic job with Dexter...he's a GREAT dog!

Donation

Michele Steed recently made a financial gift in honor of "a most wonderful Aunt & Uncle" that she is blessed with-Frank & Betty Beadnell.

Thank you Michele!

Honoring your loved ones with a financial gift provides food and medical care for dogs in need. Checks can be sent to: The Lucky Puppy, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950

No Room at the Inn:

Well...I had to turn down someone who was needing to surrender a sweet little housedog. Why? Because there's no room at the inn. We are most comfortable at around 7-10 dogs in the rescue. Up until yesterday, there were 25. And, as much as I hate to say it, that's way too many...even for us.

I thought about not posting this, because I like our blog to be all Perky (grin) and chipper, but I also think you all deserve the truth. The truth is, we are in over our head.

Dog rescue is very fulfilling. We've changed the future for many a dog and for many a family. But honestly, it's not easy and it's not cheap. And I never really expected it to be either easy or cheap, but I personally can not afford 25 dogs OR the price of caring for them. It was all fun at first, when we just added them into what we already do at Play n Stay Pet Camp. But when there are 25, that changes the amount of staff that are needed (because we can't do it all), which changes the cost of payroll, which changes the checking account drastically. (Play N Stay Pet Camp/me and Vanessa have been covering the cost of all rescue staff...payroll is paid by US, not by your donations.) Add to that the cost of vet care and feeding, and we could probably pay for 3 meals a day for all of the population in some small foreign country.

So, we're in a stuck spot. I know we could do more fundraising, more adoption days, more advertising, but we just can't right now. It would be different if it was our only job. Adding volunteers aren't the solution, because all of our rescue happens within our other businesses and our home. Foster homes aren't a solution for us either, because we need to have the dogs available when someone is ready to see them.

For now, our priority HAS to be Play N Stay Pet Camp, grooming, and special order puppies. (It will have to stay that way until donations can cover expenses OR I am "independently wealthy", which I don't see happening anytime soon). We just can't keep up at this size right now and we don't have it within us to go bigger.

So-for now-we will downsize as we can, without compromising what we believe is in the best interest of the dogs. A rescue organization in Pittsburgh took Big Momma and her six pups yesterday. They do well with Pit mixes and have a BEAUTIFUL facility.

That freed up some space in my kitchen. (No-I'm not joking...they were in my kitchen.)

We are also changing to a less expensive diet effective immediately. (We go through about 30# of dog food every other week.)

We are also considering a forfeiture fee for dogs that are surrendered, to help pay for their dog's care while we try to find them another home.

So, here's the moral of the story: If you've been "eyeballing" a dog on our site and have been considering making a appointment, PLEASE DO! We have some wonderful dogs who deserve to be someone's dog. They are beautiful and wonderful and special. Call me 740-695-4566.

If you are a dog lover who can't add to your pack right now, please consider generously supporting the dogs at The Lucky Puppy this holiday season. 100% of your donation goes to their vet care and feeding.

I do hope the little dog that I turned down finds a nice home. It's so tempting to say, "Just one more..." That's how I got to 25.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for the support that you have given us. We have been able to accomplish what we have only because of your faithfulness!

Donors

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed recently made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy Rescue in honor of:

"Macey" Tavoletti

"Neilly" Carson

"Katy" Heilmeier

"Oreo" Ciofani

"Tanner" Ferrell

and "JR" Dean

We are very sorry for their losses. Thank you to The Steeds.

We also received a donation from Wayne & Jean Neely, and their little dog Nikki. Thank you very much! The rescues definitely appreciate your generosity and so do we!

SURPRISE!

One of our Boston Terriers from a recent puppy mill rescue had a surprise litter of 3 puppies on Thursday morning! We noticed that she was big, but never dreamed that a puppy mill would send out a pregnant female. Lucky for her, she concealed her pregnancy long enough to land in our hands. The babies were delivered szsometime during the night and were clean and happy when we arrived at work on Thursday morning.

Bonnie and the babies are doing just fine! They are now living in the office at our house. Oh well...what's 4 more, huh?

I'll post pics as soon as possible!!

Thanks for your Lucky Puppy support!

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-Now Available:

The following RESCUES are available immediately and need homes. They can be seen by appointment by calling 740-695-4566:

"Teddy"
Young (approx. 9 mos. old) Male Shih Tzu Mix (probably mixed with Yorkie) RESCUE
Teddy was surrendered by his elderly owner because he had too much energy & was too much for him. He loves to play and is "all puppy". He gets along great with kids and other dogs. He is up to date on all shots, but still needs Rabies. Teddy is not yet neutered, but the cost of his neuter is included in his adoption fee. (Neuter IS required to adopt.)
90% housebroken, but progressing very well! Just needs consistent positive reinforcement to continue good habits.
Adoption Fee: $225., including neuter
Call 740-695-4566 to schedule an appointment.

"Hazel"
Hazel is a 3 year old Spayed Female Basset Hound RESCUE. She was originally a Perky Puppy that was purchased as a house pet, but ended up as a breeder in an outside run. She was recently sent to The Lucky Puppy for care and placement. We had her spayed & got her up to date on her shots. She is a great, loving, and playful dog! LOVES other dogs! She likes her crate is pretty much housebroken. However, she needs those good habits reinforced, because she will have accidents if you just let run all over the house with no restrictions.
Adoption Fee: $175., includes crate.

"Hope"
1-2 year old Spayed Female Retriever Mix RESCUE
Hope was rescued by a couple who found her to be neglected and in need of hospitalization. Although they were unable to keep her, they paid for her vet care and supplies to make her comfortable and happy. She has now been placed with The Lucky Puppy for continuing care and placement in a "forever" home.
Hope is spayed and is up to date on all shots, including Rabies. She weighs about 40 pounds.
She is very playful and loves kids and other dogs. She's 98% housebroken, but has occasional accidents if you forget to let her out. She tolerates her crate well, but can be an escape artist if it is not latched properly. She is VERY smart.
Adoption Fee: $125., including crate, collar, and leash.

"Buddy"
Male neutered Chihuahua mix RESCUE. 98% Housebroken.
Sweet, but can be nervous. Quiet home needed. Suspicious of strangers, but very, very loving to those he knows.
Loves to go for walks and LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to ride in the car!!!
Up to date on his shots and neutered.
He will be your BEST friend! Born 12/10/04
Adoption fee: $ 100., includes crate.

"Jelly Bean"
Male neutered Purebred Jack Russell Puppy RESCUE
Jelly Bean loves other dogs! He's a lot of fun and is doing VERY well on his housetraining. Up to date on his shots and neutered.
Born 06/01/09
Adoption fee: $ 175., includes crate

"Zoe Margaret"
Female Spayed Chihuahua Mix RESCUE
9 years old and hates cats. Gets along fine with other dogs, but will tell them off if they are misbehaving. (Thinks she is the dog police and can be opinionated.)
Loves to just hang out and do her own thing. Sweet temperament.
NEVER has an accident. Loves her crate. She is the PERFECT companion dog...not demanding.
Adoption Fee: $ 100., includes crate.

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-The "unadoptables"

Many of you check the web site regularly to see what rescues are available for adoption. Sometimes, there are rescues that never hit the site. They are dogs that for one reason or another, unless a miracle happens, will probably be with us for a very long time. We continue to love them and provide for their care and comfort "behind the scenes".


Here's a few:


"Happy" the Papillon:

Many of you felt Happy's pain after he was featured in this post, this post and this post. Happy has come a long, long way...but he is FAR from normal. He would do well to be someone's dog who was very gentle and understanding of his foibles and quirks and who would love him, even though he's not "right". ..someone whose life is very quiet and consistent. He's ready for that, but unfortunately, those homes are practically non-existent. So he hangs with us...loving our staff...loving his spot in the living room...loving his canned food (he is getting FAT). He's our special boy. We all love Happy and we are so proud of his progress.

Your donation of $30 a month will help care for Happy. Please consider supporting him.








"Midge" the elderly Toy Fox Terrier:

Less than a week after Albert was put to sleep, we got a call about Midge. Midge is an elderly Toy Fox Terrier that was found running the streets in a local town. She weighed 2.5# on the day that we got her. She was covered with fleas, polluted with tapeworms, and was malnourished. We THOUGHT she had a neurological issue, because she staggered and would fall over and struggle to get back up. Turns out it was ALL because of the malnutrition and the parasites. We wormed her, vaccinated her and got her on the road to recovery. She's a hefty girl now, weighing in at a whopping 3.75 pounds!

Midge is old. She has snaggly teeth and cataracts. She loves to ride inside our coat on these cold days. I think Midge is likely to live out her days with us...nobody wants to adopt an elderly dog...


Would you be willing to help support Midge? $30 a month will help pay for her care and keep her happy and safe with plenty to canned food and treats!





"Momma" the Pit and her 7 Babies:
Read about them here. Your donation of $25, $50, or even more will help get this dog and her puppies the care and homes that they need.


We are also in need on bedding, crates, and High Efficiency" laundry detergent (the only kind that can be used in our new washer).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION. Your financial and supply donations will help The Lucky Puppy reach more dogs.
You can mail a check to The Lucky Puppy Rescue, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
OR you can donate via PayPal.

If you think you may be the right home for one of these "unadoptables", please call Jessica at 740-695-4566.

BIG RESCUE UPDATE-Momma & Babies

About a week ago, we got a call about a medium sized dog who looked as if she would "burst soon with puppies" out by Seneca Lake. There were no houses for miles, and she was clean, so she was apparently dumped by someone who didn't want to mess with her and her babies.

We took her in and less than 5 hours later, we had 7 babies. (Actually, she had 8, but the first one wasn't alive.) She's young, but she's a good mom. She's a wonderful playful dog and is very appreciative of the warm, loving home that she and her babies have with us.

She's living in my kitchen temporarily. We thought we had a connection to a rescue in northern Ohio that would take her and all the babies, then raise them up and adopt them, but unfortunately, it fell through.

The babies are now 7 days old and will start their wormings in another week. They will be wormed every 2 weeks. Momma is eating us out of house and home, but she is still very thin. Unless we find another rescue that is equipped to handle her and her pups, the babies will be with us for at least another 7 weeks before they are able to be adopted. They will need to be vaccinated prior to their adoption, as will Momma.

If you are able to help in any way with her care, either by fostering her and her pups or making a donation to The Lucky Puppy, it would be greatly appreciated. You will play a vital role & help make a difference in the life of eight very special doggies.

You can mail a check to The Lucky Puppy, 67740 Airport Road, St. Clairsville, OH 43950.

Thank you!

A Lesson from the ANIMAL KINGDOM

If animals can love someone who isn't like them, we can too!

Friends forever.....The orangutan was in a rescue and not doing well. This old hound wandered in absolutely emaciated and the orangutan snapped to like his buddy had arrived. He stayed with the hound night and day until he was well and in the whole scenario, found a reason to live. They are now inseparable.

Best friends Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe the Blue Tick hound live at the Tigers sanctuary in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina . Suryia and Roscoe spend hours together every day - they're particularly keen on swimming. The three-year-old orangutan goes everywhere with Roscoe. A dog's not just a man's best friend, he's an orangutan's too!

Chihuahua Land...

OK-so The Lucky Puppy Rescue looks like Chihuahua Land! We have Tony (a 1 yr. old Male Chihuahua), Zoe Margaret (a 8 yr. old Chihuahua Mix), Buddy (a 4 yr. old Chihuahua Mix), and we just added another:

Today, we got Albert-reincarnated. Seriously. OK-maybe not really-but close. Today, we got an elderly deer-legged Chihuahua (or maybe Toy Fox Terrier). She only weighs 2.5# and was FLEA-INFESTED and has tapeworms. She is pathetic and old. Poor thing couldn't even stand up in the bathtub. I'm hoping she'll get stronger, when she doesn't have all the parasites sucking the life out of her.

She's got little fragile spindly legs (like Albert)...

NO! I know you are thinking I should keep her, since I had to put Albert to sleep, but I can't. I'm still rehabilitating Happy (who is doing much better). I feel like I'm running a dog nursing home on some days. Today's addition confirmed it.

Geez....

So, we are calling her "Midge". Short for "Midget". Or maybe we should call her "Alberta". Get it?

Memorial Donation

Wendy Patrone has made a Memorial Donation to The Lucky Puppy Rescue in honor of:

Cricket (6/26/94-7/13/09) and Baci (2/14/01-4/2/09) Patrone

Wendy, we are sorry for your losses.

The MOST AMAZING Video I have seen!

R.I.P. Albert

(Pic: Albert 12-03-08)

Albert was born on June 3, 1993. He arrived to me, 8 weeks later, as a snotty-nosed puppy that was supposed to be put up for sale. (Back then, I didn't know any better about how to buy puppies and we shipped them in from the mid-west, via truck.) (Many of you don't know that for a short period of time, back in the early 90's, I had a puppy store in Martins Ferry. Back then, it was called "Animal Attraction". What a stupid name for a business...)

Anyway-back to the puppy-He was so tiny and was the prettiest cream-colored puppy that I had ever seen. I decided not to "send him back on the truck" and that I could "fix" whatever was causing his snotty nose. I kept him in the house (away from the other puppies) and got an antibiotic for his cold. Of course, I was the one who had to play with him and love on him and keep him entertained. That was tough (did I tell you how cute he was?).

So-here we are-September 17, 2009...16 years later. I put Albert to sleep this morning.

He's seen it all. He's lived in 7 different homes with me and has seen the fiance, the marriage, the divorce, the Martins Ferry puppy store failing, my paramedic training and jobs, the launch of a church, the plans to launch another, the dream of opening another puppy shop, the success of The Perky Puppy, Play N Stay's opening and it's success.

He's seen me happy and sad, and for all intents and purposes, has watched me "grow up". He wasn't around during my childhood, but sometimes I think that growing up through our 20's and 30's is just as important.

Albert loved car rides, cats, and Pupperoni. He loved squeaker toys. And he loved to give you hell if you didn't feed him on time.

Albert's elderly years were spent as the house chihuahua at our dog hotel, Play N Stay Pet Camp. He was demanding ("I wanna go in the office, NOT the living room.") and for years, barked at all of the "intruders" (customers). Everyone loved him: staff, customers, and of course, me.

Occasionally, Albert would trip and fall down and get right back up again. It SUCKS to get old.

Albert's been getting thin and weak over the last few months. He would have good days and bad days. His appetite could often be described as inconsistent and finicky. He was incontinent. The spring in his step was gone. He stopped being himself a long time ago.

This week, Albert began falling a lot. He struggled to get back up and often couldn't. So we made the call to Dr. Steed to have Albert put to sleep.

Here's the part where I tell you that it was the most responsible and loving decision that I could make for him...where I admit that sometimes when we love something we have to set it free. Albert was a prisoner in his body, and he wasn't coming back. I had to do for him what he couldn't do for himself. I love him too much to let him keep falling.

Albert had cottage cheese and Pupperoni for dinner last night, which he gobbled enthusiastically. He got a bath this morning and went for his last car ride, all bundled up in a blue fleece blanket.

He's buried under a tree in the back yard in a nice shady spot. We will miss him.

Rest In Peace Albert. Run free. We love you.

RESCUE Update

Many of you have asked about the pathetic rescue dogs we took in a few weeks ago. (You can read more about them HERE.)

Here's a little update:

Happy, the Papillon is still a poor little thing. He was neutered and got his teeth cleaned last week He has a mystery limp that can not be defined. Occasionally, he will scream out in pain and will bite us if he is picked up wrong. Believe it or not, we can find nothing wrong with him. His area of sensitivity seems to change in location and severity. Some days, he won't let us touch either paw. Most days, he holds up his right paw. Some days he snaps if you touch his sides. Dr. Steed examined him twice and gave him a steroid shot. We've tried baby aspirin. Nothing seems to fix it.

Today, I was working on his shave-down to remove the rest of the mats, and he was petrified for me to touch his front feet or legs. He bit at me, then hunkered down like I was going to beat him. Hate that...made me cry. He does like to hide under stuff, so I am wondering if he was dragged out from under things by his front legs in a previous life and is just S.C.A.R.E.D. It's all we can guess. He is a very timid fellow.

Today, I put him on a leash and he did pretty well in the grass. I've got him at my house right now, just to give a little bit of quiet time away from Play N Stay. He's getting along ok and I would say he is acting like he is 10% housepet (better than I expected). We are encouraged and look forward to rehabilitating him to at-least a somewhat-normal state. It's going to take a long time. Please pray for Happy and that he would be healed and whole.

Mickie (or Munchkin) the Pom is doing VERY well. He was neutered and got his teeth cleaned last week (testicles were in abdomen, so it was a more complicated surgery.) He also had some sebacious glands removed from his scalp, so he's all shaved on top of his head with 5 stitches...looks like Frankenstein. He LOVES his crate and is very playful and fun. He's doing pretty well on his housebreaking and will likely be adopted out very soon.

Zoe Margaret was a Chihuahua Mix that came from the same place. She is short-haired, so she wasn't an unhygenic nightmare like the other two. She is sweet and opinionated...hates cats and complains if there is too much horse-play in her doggie playgroup. She's a great girl and is up for adoption now. She would make a great companion in a quiet home. If you'd like more info, please call 740 695-4566 to schedule an appointment.

I'll post some pics soon. Thanks for your interest and for your donations.

If you would like to help with their care, we appreciate it. The rescue's vet bills were $759. (including a Basset spay) last week. Every donation goes directly to rescue dog's care.

You can send a check to:
The Lucky Puppy
67740 Airport Road
St. Clairsville, OH 43950

Or visit PayPal.

Thank you.
The Lucky Puppies

Donors

The Lucky Puppy Rescue recently received donations from Elaine George and Brad & Denise Troy. Thank you so much for your support!

Rescue Update

RESCUES COMING SOON:

"Hazel" Purebred Female Blue Tri-color Basset Hound, born 09/17/06. She is scheduled for spay and Rabies vaccine on Friday and will be up for adoption after that. Was housebroken, but has been an outdoor dog for awhile. Just weaned a litter of pups. We will re-acclimate her to home life.

"No Name" Purebred Male Tri-Color Basset Puppy (8 weeks old). Son of Hazel. Up to date on shots and dewormings.


UPDATE on the Papillon and Poms that were rescued last week:

Their original names were Happy (Papillon) and Mickey (Pom), but we will be renaming them, so they can have a new identity AND a new life.

They were seen by Dr. Steed yesterday and both are on antibiotics for their severely rotten teeth. They are scheduled for tooth cleaning, neuter, and the Pom will get a bump on his scalp removed. All of this happens on Friday.

Although Dr. Steed's office is very, very fair with us on price, these vet bills will break The Lucky Puppy checking account. ($89. yesterday and est. $420. on Friday.) PLEASE-consider donating to their care. They need all the help they can get.





Thank you!

Memorial Donations

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy rescues in memory of:

"Frannie" Brensinger

"Rudy" Fasola

"Zeus" Vannest

"Buffy" Cook

We are sorry for their loss. The rescues say "Thank You" to the Steeds for their continued generosity.

First night of the rest of their lives....

WARNING: This post is NOT for the faint of heart:

Tonight, we got in three rescues. 2 of them were in DEPLORABLE condition.

Penny, Vanessa, and I (Jessica) spent two hours dematting, bathing, shaving, and clipping nails. We got them well on their way to feeling better. We even had to sedate one with Benadryl, so that he would relax enough to let us cut the mats out. They were both in a lot of pain.

As we were cutting out fist-sized mats that were tangled all the way to the skin and waiting for the Benadryl to take affect, Penny began singing "You are my Sunshine" to comfort them. I joined in and the tears started. It's probably the first time that they've ever had someone sing to them. It definitely won't be the last.

Their haircuts aren't perfect, but we didn't push them any further tonight. They both enjoyed their baths and the sweet-talk and cuddling they received afterwards. Tonight is the first night of the rest of their lives.

The tan one is a Pomeranian. He was so tangled, he couldn't stand right (see photo of him hunched up). The brown and white one is a Papillon. He was so tangled, he couldn't wag his tail (had a HUGE mat hanging off the back of him).

They won't be up for adoption right away. They will be neutered and get the veterinary care they need. Once they are ready, we will place them up for adoption.

If you would like to donate to their care, please send a check to:

The Lucky Puppy

67740 Airport Road

St. Clairsville, OH 43950

or call 740-695-4566 to make other arrangements.

Here are some BEFORE pictures:



The Papillon had a bunch of hair caught in his teeth and they are now infected and green. We got as much out as we could, but his teeth are loose and his gums are RED. He'll need a lot of oral work done (cleaning, tooth pulling, etc.) when he is neutered. I am sure he will need to be on antibiotics as well.

Here are a few AFTER photos:

Your support makes this possible. THANK YOU!

A BIG Surprise!

On Sunday, we got a surprise visit from a family from New York. It was the family who adopted "Happy" back in December from the Lucky Puppy Rescue. If you remember, Happy was a maltese puppy who only had 3 legs. Apparently, he either had a birth defect or his mama was overzealous when she cleaned him just after birth and accidentally chewed off his little foot.

Happy's name is now "Scooter Lee McCoy", and he is one happy little boy! Their visit was a great surprise, but what they brought with them was amazing! This generous family drove 5 hours to donate a truckload of items to The Lucky Puppy. They brought a toddler bed and mattress, dog beds, blankets, toys, bleach, paper towels, cleaning product, and lots and lots of dog stuff!

Julie DiPietro collected all the items from Scooter's new family-all dog lovers for sure-and transported them to us!

Thanks to Ray & Debbie MacIver and their dog Jasper for the big brown bed, the scarf and toy for a "lucky little girl rescue".

Thanks to Scooter's 29-year old Grandma for the doggie toys.

Thanks to Julie, Tiffany, Dave, Scooter, Peaches, and Rosco for all the other great stuff and the pictures!!

They also brought with them a check from Scooter's grandma, Carol Moore, and her dog Jack, in memory of the beloved dog Romena Lee Ford (pictured above), who belonged to Tiffany Ford, Julie's daughter.

It was great to see them and we were touched beyond belief that they made the long journey down here! They are truly friends of The Lucky Puppy!

Julie and Family-Thank you VERY, VERY much! The rescues are enjoying the beds and toys already! You're wonderful!

Scooter-We are glad you have such a great family who loves you as much as we do! You're a Lucky Puppy for sure!! XO

Update

Well-I imagine you all think I dropped off the planet. Good News!!! I didn't!

We've pretty much spent the entire summer at Play N Stay. There aren't computers there and even if there were, it's too much fun to play with the doggies!

It's been a very crazy cool summer at Play N Stay. We've broken every record and had a blast doing it! Our staff are INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, FANTASTIC, STUPENDOUS!! Seriously-we have the best team anywhere-GUARANTEED! We met a lot of new dogs and had a great time with our regulars as well! Every dog had a wonderful time! It is THE place for any great dog to vacation for sure! We're very proud!

Grooming (Soapy Puppy) is going very well! We've done some major transformations and makeovers over the last several months. I'll try to share some pictures soon.

As you know The Perky Puppy has been closed for the summer, which turned out to be a good move. We couldn't have pulled off at Play N Stay what we did this summer without all hands on deck. (Did I tell you our staff is great?) We have been doing several "special order" puppies over the summer and that has been really good. I love the trust that our customers place in us when they special order a pup with a deposit. We use the same standards to choose a special order pup as we do for the store. It's great to watch the owners faces when the baby they've been waiting for finally arrives!! NEAT! Perky Puppy will reopen sometime in the fall for the winter months and then close again for the spring/summer season. It has been the right move to make it a 4-6 month operation yearly.

We have been accepting and placing Lucky Puppy rescues at a steady pace. It's all been without much fanfare because of being away from the computer. We currently have 2 rescues available, Buddy-a min pin/chuihuahua and Tiny Tot/Jelly Bean-a baby Jack Russell. (Yes, I know that Tiny Tot/Jelly Bean is a funny name. We just can't decide and so our staff call him both!) We have 3 more rescues coming in over the weekend-a Papillon, a Pom, and a Chihuahua/Pom mix. They will need to be neutered and evaluated and will be available for adoption soon after.

I think that's a good summer wrap up! We hope you've enjoyed your summer. We certainly have...This is a dog lover's paradise!
Thanks for your support!
Jessica

Memorial Donations

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have recently made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy in honor of:

• "Emiley" Truex
• "Rickey" Hill
• "Snowhite" McConnaughy
• "Bear" Adkins

We appreciate their support!

If you would like to make a memorial donation, please send it to:

The Lucky Puppy

67740 Airport Road

St. Clairsville, OH 43950

THANK YOU!

JET EXPRESS: New Bathing System!

We've just installed a new Bathing System! We call it the JET EXPRESS Dog Bath, because it delivers the cleanest bath in town!

Now, instead of the old-fashioned bath, every dog who is bathed at Play N Stay Pet Camp (boarding) OR through the Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa (grooming) will receive our new JET EXPRESS at no additional charge!


Our new JET EXPRESS bathing system jet-sprays our specialized shampoos deep into the coat (at 20 gallons a minute), cleansing the skin (not just the hair) at the deepest level, and blowing old dirt & hair out away from the skin!


It's invigorating and most dogs absolutely LOVE it! (As a staff, we have agreed that we need to invent a people version of the same system!)


It's safe for all dogs, from short-haired to long, and from puppies to large breeds...even our 16-year old Chihuahua "Albert" loves it!


Call 740-695-4566 today to treat your dog! Ask for a JET EXPRESS Dog Bath!

Rescue Prices Lowered!

All of our rescue dog's adoption fees have lowered! We are nearing our CRAZY, over-booked time at Play N Stay and we need the space! They are also ready for good homes with owners who are all theirs!

Choose from Tippy, JJ, Teddy, Buddy, and Bugsy!

See them at ThePerkyPuppy.com!

P.S. These guys need toys. Please go through your doggie toy boxes at home and consider donating those toys that are no longer used by your dogs. We will clean them and give our kids some new fun! (No rope toys or rawhide please!) Thanks! ;o)

Perky Puppy & RESCUE Update

The Perky Puppy is officially out of puppies and closed for the summer. As always, special order puppies are still available (details are on our website under "see available puppies").

The Lucky Puppy has some GREAT rescues available right now that need loving homes! All are NEUTERED and up-to-date on their shots! Tell your friends! All are great, little house dogs!

Tippy is a GREAT dog! He would work well in just about any home. Here's his video:


Bugsy is also a great dog! He would be FANTASTIC with kids and doesn't mind cats at all! He LOVES to play! Here's his video:


JJ & Teddy were rescued from a Pomeranian Breeding Kennel. They are doing surprisingly well on their housebreaking! Best in a home where there aren't many kids. They can be separated if necessary. Here is their video:


For details on these dogs, please check our website or call us at 740-695-4566.

Road Trip

Hey All! Lots of fun stuff happening over here at TPP/PNS!

Big news for today is that I'm heading to Pittsburgh, where I will spend the day with a Grooming Salon owner and will hopefully also take a tour of Camp Bow-Wow.

I'll keep you posted! I'm EXCITED!

Talk with ya soon!

Pomeranian Rescue

We got a call this week from a Pomeranian Breeding Kennel. Due to the husband's health issues, they are needing to downsize and were inquiring about our rescue program, The Lucky Puppy. We spoke at length and have decided to accept the challenge. Here's how it will work:

Over the next few months, we will be acquiring (a few at a time) approximately 7 Pomeranians & 1 Papillon, ages 2 to 10 years of age. Most of them are not yet housebroken (we're sure hoping we can teach old dogs new tricks) and none of them are spayed or neutered. They were purchased as breeders and have lived in a kennel environment all of their lives. It is our plan to spay & neuter all adults, work on housetraining, and to find them loving, adoptive homes.

There were 2 puppies that are 1/4 Papillon and 3/4 Pom, that are 10 weeks old. (In case you are still stuck on the 1/4-3/4 thing, it's a Pom crossed with a Papillon/Pom.) They have come to us first. They will be adopted out at premium rate ($300. for brown and white, $350 for wolf sable). Their adoption fees are set high to help pay for the spays and neuters, care and housebreaking on the dogs to come next.

These puppies are BEAUTIFUL! They are up to date on vaccinations and dewormings and the adoptive family will be required to neuter them by 7 mos. Here are there pics:

If you are interested in filling out an adoption application, please call us at 740-695-4566.

Blueberries and Mud!

What do BLUEBERRIES and MUD have in common? And why are they being talked about on a dog & puppy blog?

Because VERY SOON, we will be offering Blueberry Facials and Spa Mud Masques for boarding and grooming clients at Play N Stay Pet Camp and the Soapy Puppy Doggie Spa!

Now, before you check out on me (I know you are rolling your eyes), let me explain a little more.

But first, GET YOUR DOG OVER TO THE COMPUTER, so that I can talk to him or her directly.

OK, dogs, here goes:


BLUEBERRY FACIALS: Believe it or not, Blueberry Facials are pretty cool! Here's why: Dogs-let's be honest-we KNOW that you can't wash your own face. And most people who bathe you won't wash your face either (often they just kind of bathe everything else and act like you don't even have a face). And if your people DO wash your face, it's often just a little "wipe off" of the hair...not really scrubbing your face. (And, you know, all of your people scrub THEIR faces...some even do it a few times a day!)

Our special Blueberry Exfoliating Face Wash (due to arrive this week) is specially formulated for dog faces and dog whiskers. It's tearless and exfoliating, so the spa attendants can really scrub it down in...which is very, very relaxing-it feels SO good!

After a nice facial massage, it rinses away cleanly removing 85% of those ugly tear stains and breaking down all of the mouth and slobber gunk that make your whisker crunchy and sticky. (And for those of you with really wet faces, either from tears, slobber, or your water bowl, your face won't smell like old socks anymore!) You and your owners will be delighted with the smell of Fresh Blueberries that lasts and lasts! (It's great for long, dangly ears too!)


MUD MASQUES: For all of our 4-legged friends with problem skin (dry, itchy, flaky, or hot spots), this is the spa treatment for you! Specially formulated mud with Dead Sea Minerals & Eucalypus Oil is massaged into your skin (not just your hair). If it's nice day out, you can wear your mud out into the play yard, where the heat from the warm sun will feel so good on your skin. (If it's a yucky day out, our spa attendants will lay warm, damp towels on your body, so the mud can penetrate over the next 15-20 minutes.) The mud masque then "goes to work", moisturizing your skin and coat, relieving the itching and burning that makes you crazy sometimes. Once the masque is rinsed away, you will be thrilled at the results! Your old dry hair and skin will be lustrous & beautiful!

All the neighborhood dogs will be so envious when they see the whole new you!

Both products will be available as a service and available for purchase, so your owners can do-it-themselves at home!

The Big Decision

OK...so if you've been following along, you know that each spring we struggle with what to do with a VERY slow puppy store (lots of lookers, very few buyers) all summer long. A few weeks back, I asked for your input. We had some good responses, the best suggestions surrounded utilizing volunteers at Play N Stay and trying to keep the store open.

After careful thought, we have decided that idea is likely to not work for us at this time. We are certain that there are available and reliable volunteers out there, but we are VERY dependent on our workers at PNS. If one or both called off or did not come in, we would have a mess on our hands. Perhaps as we grow, we will be able to have a volunteer or two be with 4 or 5 workers, but on most days at PNS, there is only 1 or 2 people on shift at a time. We need everyone to be there and to be on their A-game. And if they aren't, we need to be able to address that. We can set that bar high with our staff, but I'm not sure we have the systems in place to set it that high for volunteers, without compromising reliability. And we can't lower the bar.

But-thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. That may be an idea for 2 or 3 years from now.

So-(drum roll), here's what we are doing...(you may already know, if you've been on the Perky Puppy website)...

We're closing The Perky Puppy for the summer. We're selling out (or at least DRASTICALLY reducing) and will not be open to the public again until mid-August. We will continue to do Special Orders/Special Requests, which is a growing segment of our business. If we do "stock" any puppies, they will be listed on our site and shown BY APPOINTMENT to SERIOUS customers only. We will no longer pay staff to stand here while people just "stop in to look at the puppies". Honestly, we know that's a part of the business, but in the summer it reaches a very unhealthy level, and it doesn't pay the bills. (Of course...I could look into starting a petting zoo and charging admission. Nah! We'll save that for another time and place.)

SO-today is our last open day until fall. We are down to 5 puppies. The price on those puppies is somewhat negotiable. If they don't sell, we will move them to PNS and start housetraining them. They will sell from there for sure.

All of our staff will be working at Play N Stay for the summer. We've got some prety neat stuff happening over there. (Check back for info on Blueberry Facials and Mud Baths.) We think you'll be excited about what's in store! Keep your eyes on the website and the blog. We'll keep you posted. Again, Thank You for your input on this tough dilemma.

We appreciate your business! Have a great summer!
Jessica

Memorial Donation

Thank you to Darlene Kolodziej. She recently made a memorial donation to The Lucky Puppy in honor of Maxine Greiner.

It's Been Awhile/Dilemma!

Hey Everybody!

It's been awhile since we've talked. Sorry about that! I have been juggling everything to the best of my ability and just haven't gotten to blog much.

We've been analyzing and re-thinking a lot of what we do around here and why we do it...I think that's always a good thing to do...otherwise, we get into the habit of just doing things because it's what we do, not because it even makes sense anymore.

(Maybe you should consider starting a "stop-doing" list. Eh?)

Anywhoo...we are nearing the dreaded Perky Puppy Summer Slump. It's that time of year that causes us great anxiety. "Why?" you ask. Well, I'm glad you asked. I'll tell you why:

Every summer, the puppy business sinks like a rock. Just completely tanks. Apparently, most people are camping, swimming, boating, fishing, vacationing, cook out, etc. They really aren't looking at adding a new puppy to their life. So, we spend everything we made during the winter to stay open during the summer. So basically, we eat hamburgers in the winter (which we are always glad to see coming), and we eat beanee-weenees all summer. That's just no fun.

AND to top it off, it's crazy at Play N Stay, there are barely enough of us to keep it all covered without killing ourselves, and we keep trying to make it look like we still have a thriving puppy store, even when it's the bad season.

For a few years, before we had staff and Play N Stay, we just enjoyed the summer and sold puppies to the few people who called. That's been tougher in recent years, since we have staff who depend on their paychecks.

2 years ago, we tried keeping everything going without blinking. BAD IDEA.

Last year, we tried to go to "Open By Appointment Only". A better idea, but feeding, cleaning, and playing with the puppies everyday (even just 10 or 12), and keeping them all current on vaccinations was still expensive, since we were often next door at Play N Stay and had to "pay someone to be us" here with the puppies.

So...what should we do this year?

That's the dilemma.

Options:
Option #1: Close TPP for the summer, doing only special order puppies. Reopen mid-fall. Move all staff to Play N Stay for the summer, since we need extra help there. There are several successful businesses that operate this way. (Most extreme examples of seasonal businesses-Jamboree in the Hills or the Famous Houston's Chicken)
Option #2: Close TPP for the summer, carry a small number of select breeds (less than 6). Integrate them into Play N Stay's population. Hours on those puppies by appointment only. Pros: Still selling puppies...staff have to be there anyway. Cons: During the summer, it's hectic at PNS...don't need more work.

So-what do you think? What would you do if you were us? Can you think of something we haven't thought of? We want to hear from you. Email us at jessica@theperkypuppy.com

Thanks in advance. Well be making a decision soon! We'll keep you posted!

The Perky Puppy is now on Twitter!

We're now on Twitter! Don't know what Twitter is? That's ok...we didn't either until recently, but it's VERY cool! Here's how it works:

1. Follow us on twitter @theperkypuppy (Just click on the link and create your account.)
2. Set your new twitter account to notify you on your email or cell phone.
3. As new puppies arrive or prices are reduced, we will update our twitter account, and you will receive an update on your cell phone and/or email immediately.

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW! How cool is that??

DACHSHUND Day!

WOW! We're all booked up this weekend at Play N Stay, but the big play group looks funny because there are a BUNCH of Dachshunds! Today's group includes the following doxies: Louie, Oscar, Lucy, Charlie, and Josie!

GET A-LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG LITTLE DOGGIES!!!!

Donors

Thank you to Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed for memorial donations in honor of "Libby" Carter and "Bronco" Toothman.

If you would like to make a memorial donation in honor of a loved one (2-legged or 4-legged), you can mail it to:
The Lucky Puppy
67740 Airport Road
St. Clairsville, OH 43950

100% of your donation will go to care for rescued dogs and puppies.

Thank you!

Rescue Update

Duke went home today. He got a really good home...I think it will be a great fit.

Dexter is adopted and will go home on Sunday. He is a bit quirky, which his new owners understand. As with all of our adoptions, they will have a 7 day trial period with him. We are planning to keep in close touch with them, but think they both deserve a shot.

JOSIE is a 3 year old female, spayed black & tan smooth dachshund. She is housebroken and up to date on her shots. She loves to bully other dogs and is not patient with children, SO we want a home for her with an older person(s), with no other pets. In that environment, she will be PERFECT! She wants to sit on the couch with someone and be their best friend.

BlackJack is a small (35#) black lab mix. He is up to date on his shots and is neutered. He came from a beautiful family with young kids. They travel so much, they decided that he would do better with someone else. BlackJack is phenomenal with kids and is grieving his family. He is timid, but polite. It would be an absolute disservice to him and a family if he went to a family without children. He was housebroken for his original family, but has slid backwards for us. He needs someone to love him and to reinforce what they want from him.

We also have a Pom puppy and a Shih Tzu/Yorkie puppy available for rescue.

To see any of these guys, please give us a call at 740-695-4566.

Thanks! Please spread the word!

Update!

WOW! The last several weeks have been a blur! Here's an update in 90 seconds or less:

• Wheeling Home and Garden Show was a huge success! We met so many wonderful people and saw some old and new friends! Thanks again to Blue Ribbon Rentals for the sweet flat screen!
• We took Nike (our Blue Heeler) to the Home Show as a commercial for the 2 Heelers that are currently in rescue (Duke & Dexter). We've bben showing them all week. Looking good so far. Hopefully we will choose homes for them this weekend.
• We almost sold out of puppies at The Perky Puppy! We were down to 2! Yes-you read that right-TWO! Had to make an emergency trip out on the road, visiting breeders who weren't expecting us until next week. Thankfully, some pups were ready to go, so we are back up and running.
• Play N Stay has been rocking since Valentine's weekend! CRAZY!!
• Our groomer has been a grooming fool! We need her to grow two more arms, so we can double her up! That's a very good thing!
• I'm still not caught up from the Home Show...I need a Personal Assistant who will work for Dog Food...he he he...
• Vanessa has been sick for 2 weeks, but hasn't missed a beat. She's a champ!
• Ness is filling out a survey about pet stores. We are laughing...how many days are we open? How much in annual sales? How much is the average ticket sale? HA HA HA!!! We are WEIRD...aren't we??? Good thing they don't ask how much money we really get to keep. That would be BAD! No questions about how much fun we have...Why is that?
• We've taken in several rescues in the last few days. Look for updates soon. Many are special needs.
• We've got a real sweetie in the rescue named "BlackJack" that needs a family with kids. He had a family that couldn't keep him. He misses them terribly. He is lonely. We're trying to keep him happy, but he is grieving. Could make me cry.
• That's it. That's all I've got. More soon...

Thank you!

THANK YOUs go out to:

Gracie Major (a beautiful Morkie female) and her parents, David & Diana Major of St. Clairsville, for the monetary donation and the wonderful homemade card!

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed of St. Clair Animal Hospital have made memorial contributions in honor of:
"Kitty Girl" Clark, "Bozo" Lavorini, "Max" Morgan, "Happy" Neubauer, and "Sasha" Duncan.

THANK YOU from all of the Lucky Puppies!

THANKS Blue Ribbon Rentals

Our friends over at Blue Ribbon Rentals in St. Clairsville made us a sweet deal on a flat screen TV for the Home & Garden Show!

If you need any appliance rentals, please check them out!

Their phone number is 740-695-2033.

The manager's name is Paul, and he has 2 Dachshunds from us. Tell him we sent you!

THANKS!

CLOSED SATURDAY!

PLEASE NOTE:
We will be CLOSED this Saturday, Feb. 21st.
We will be at the Wheeling Home & Garden Show (Wesbanco Arena) with an assortment of puppies to view.
It's also a great opportunity to meet our groomer, Nancy!
HOME SHOW HOURS:
Friday 4-8
Saturday 11-8
Sunday 11-4
See ya there!

Donors

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to:

Dr. Marvin & Michele Steed have made memorial donations to The Lucky Puppy in honor of "Kodiak & Molson" Bean, "Chico" Olexa, "Keia" Donahue, and "Otto" Blazier.

Janet Richardson, and her dogs "Frankie" and "Freddie" also made a contribution to The Lucky Puppy after their recent stay at Play N Stay Pet Camp.

Thank you for your generosity!

THANK YOU!

A big "Thank You" to Amanda Keesey (as well as her dogs, Cooper and Jake) for the bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, and Bounce!

The rescues very much appreciate it!

We're going to court...

Well...they must've thought we were kidding.

So, we have 3 different families who have adopted dogs from The Lucky Puppy who don't want to comply with their adoption contracts.

One hasn't spayed her puppy (pup was too young to spay when it went home), so she is facing a $250. fine (agreed to in her contract).

One hasn't neutered her puppy (same deal as above), and is facing a $250. fine.

And one refuses to call me back and I am unable to confirm that their new puppy has received veterinary care. According to their adoption contract, they are now required to surrender the dog to us.

Certified Letters have gone out in the mail. The spay and neuter deadlines have passed with no action on the part of the new owners. The one who is refusing to communicate has a few days left until their deadline.

Then...we're taking them to court. I expect people to keep their word when they sign an adoption contract that is detailed about these issues.

We're serious about this stuff. They apparently thought we were kidding.

I'll keep you posted.

Worth Sharing

Donors

Thank you to the Burka family for the donation of a kiddie pool for summertime fun for us and the dogs! (I mean, uh...for the dogs! He he!)

Thank you to Leigh Anne LaRoche and family (including "Mocha" and "Joey") for the generous donation of cleaning supplies!

You guys are great!!!!

Rescue Update

Well...I've been sitting on some cool info...keeping the secret so I didn't jinx anything...

Here goes....

"BUSTER'S BEEN ADOPTED!"

Yep! You read that right. He got the perfect home. He's one of 3 kids. He now has two people siblings that are 9 mos. old and 3 years old. When his new mom made the appointment, she said, "I need a dog that's wild and crazy and can keep up with my 3 year old son. We'd like to look at Buster."

WOW!!! Now, for those of you who don't know Buster, he's got an ornery side that is a little reminiscent of Dennis the Menace. He sure can goober things up for himself. I was afraid he may end up homeless again, because he couldn't stay out of trouble.

However...reports so far indicate that it is PERFECT MATCH. Mom's working with him as diligently as she's working with her kiddos. She understands that he's had a tough road, and she is willing to be patient.

THANK YOU!!

Also...Abby the Japanese Chin/Beagle got a great home this weekend and many other rescue pups got homes too!! It was a very good weekend for them. Awesome!!!

The 2 Blue Heeler boys ("Duke" & "Dexter") are still at Play N Stay. They are doing well on their housebreaking and are working hard on manners and socialization. They are SO smart!!!

Thanks for all of your support! Your cards and emails and donations make a huge difference!! They keep us encouraged!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hey, brother...

Hey, brother, can you spare a dime?

Tis the season...we've been spending quite a bit on cleaning supplies, saving puppy mill pups, spaying and neutering, and have incurred an assortment of miscellaneous necessary veterinary bills. And even though we are offering a lovely assortment of rescue puppies, adoptions are down right now. And so is the Lucky Puppy checking account.

So...straight up and honest...without beating around the bush...can you help?

We've got a few leads on some of the rescues, but some are just sitting (especially Abby, Duke and Dexter). We're hoping something will shake loose soon. We are not in a position to lower rescue adoption fees right now, because TLP needs every dollar it can get. We are in a position where we must be very selective in the rescues we accept, because the funds are not there to sit on a dog for a long period of time. We need to accept only those pups that we feel we can place quickly. I hate that.

We also work hard to give the rescues the same standard of care that our other puppies get...only the best food, vaccinations, and dewormers, but that gets expensive too. I really don't want have to give our rescues any less than the best, but it may come to that if things don't change.

So...again, I ask, "Can you help?"

If you are able to contribute financially, that would be wonderful. You can do so at PayPal HERE. ANYTHING HELPS! You can even make a contribution on behalf of your pet and we will post it on the blog. Just include the details within the comments section on PayPal.

If you would rather purchase items that help the puppies directly, we'll take all the bleach, laundry detergent, dish soap, and paper towels you will bring. Copy paper helps too (for printing care sheets and adoption contracts).

You can also make a payment directly to our Lucky Puppy account at Dr. Steed's office in St. Clairsville. We are currently paid up there, but any credit on our account will help pay for future veterinary care on rescues. (Perky Puppies are always on a different account, so your money will benefit the rescues only.)

Please don't fret. We'll pull through this dry spell. We always have. The puppy business is very seasonal and we always make it through. We aren't going away, we aren't going out of business, and we aren't getting out of rescue. We just don't want to skimp on the babies. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Love,
Jess

I LOVE our groomer!

I LOVE our groomer! We're VERY fortunate! She is the PERFECT fit for us...smart, charming, not too dingy, not too serious, and very funny! Oh...and she's nice too!

So, if you haven't met Nancy and you haven't checked out our grooming services, you need to!

She is SO good to the dogs...they absolutely adore her...and she ALWAYS brings out the best in them! Many of them fall asleep on the table, because she is loving on them and reassuring them.

And best of all, they look fantastic when she is done.

Professional grooming includes Aromatherapy Bubble Bath, Ear Cleaning (and plucking if they're hairy), Hygeine Clip, Nail Clip, and Hair Cut and Style.

Other services are available.

It's $5.00 off this month. Please spread the word!

Call 740-695-4566 to schedule an appointment. Your dog will LOVE you for it!

Heat Wave!

Man! Am I glad for the recent heat wave! Trying to get 30 dogs to pee AND poop outside before the get too cold to remember why they are out there is NOTHING short of a miracle!

We cleaned up a record number of accidents at Play N Stay this week. Ugh!

But I have to say, if I was a 6 pound, 16 year old Chihuahua (like "Albert"), I'd have pooped in the office too. (wink)

I'm sure all of you dog-lovers were sharing in the suffering as well.

Glad it's over!!

"Anybody wanna go outside?"

AWESOME!

Oh Buster!

Oh dear.

Buster got kicked out of his foster home.

Seriously.

Well, sorta. Here's the scoop. He was doing pretty good, one-on-one...learning new tricks...going for walks...laying by his foster mom's feet chewing a bone in the evenings. Great!

BUT-He seems to kind of freak when he's left alone. Gets high anxiety when he's in his crate...barks...wants out. But he's typical puppy if he isn't in a crate when you can't watch him...ornery...like a little boy.

He needs a home where the family is home alot (OR he can go too), is very patient, AND preferably has kids or another dog that will wear him out!!

Rides great in the car! Gets along well with other dogs. Loves to have his belly rubbed and play.

I think that even though he is 1 year old, he's got the mind of a 5 month old. I think that with consistency, he will grow up to be a fine dog. He has already improved heaps, but he needs somebody steady to keep him moving in the right direction. That's tough at our place, because there's so many that need attention.

Anybody want to give the boy a try??

Email me at jessica@theperkypuppy.com

Thanks!

Killing Dogs

What is WRONG with people???

Came across a very small shelter within driving distance. Online, they talked about how small & desperate their shelter is AND how sad all these overcrowded dogs and puppies are AND how they work hard to keep from euthanizing, but sometimes have no choice, due to overcrowding.

So we called them.

Intended to offer safe placement for small dogs and puppies, so they wouldn't have to be euthanized.

Couldn't even get that far in the convo.

Here's what I got:
"What KIND of puppies do you sell?"
"You actually WORK with breeders?"
"Call us when you are COMPLETELY out of the puppy business. Otherwise, our board wouldn't be interested."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Less than a minute phone call.

She wasn't interested in hearing that for every dog we rescue from them, that's one less killed at their shelter (or any other shelter) and one less that we sell, that originally came from a breeder. Hello??? Isn't that your shelter's hope???

I've posted about this before (search archives for "Rescue Freaks"). I know rescue folks hate pet stores. But we MUST break this line of thinking and start to think creatively if we REALLY want to save dogs.

If this article angers you, you may be rescue freak.
Ask yourself if you REALLY want to save dogs or if you really want to just hate breeders and pet stores.

Which dogs will have to die, because this lady (and apparently her board) made this judgment?

What she doesn't know is that we had selected 8 dogs and puppies (from their website) that we would be interested in placing if they still needed homes. That's this time. We could probably do that once a month or even more.

Why are they not saying, "Let's find creative ways to keep from killing dogs, even if that means looking at things from a different perspective?"

Traditional shelters aren't working anymore people!!! We've placed 90 Lucky Puppy rescues in less than 4 months...THAT'S 90 FEWER Perky Puppies from Breeders!!!

Let's get it together for the sake of the dogs.

Thank you!

A big thanks to Amanda Keesey for donating a large bag of bath towels to our rescues! You are wonderful...thank you for your support!

Buster Update!

By gosh! I think the boy's got it!

Buter the Puggle turned 1 year old on January 3rd. As a birthday celebration, he stayed up late, chased his tail, and ate way too many treats! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSTER!

So....many of you have asked how he's doing. First of all, THANK YOU for caring about him (and us). He is doing well! He has 2 tricks now: "Sit" and "Go Poop". And he does both of them on command!!! OK...he does them on command about 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time, he struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder (common in Puggles), and THEN he'll only sit for a treat.

Oh! And I forgot, he does run into his crate willingly (but only after sitting for a treat). So that's 3 tricks. PROGRESS!!!!

He really is doing very well, but as I have said before, he really could benefit from one on one attention. SO....

(Drum roll....)

Happy Birthday Buster! YOU, My Friend, are going to a foster home, so that you can continue to learn to be a gentleman (also sometimes difficult for Puggles). A very generous family has offered to provide fostercare for Buster and pour their energy into him, so he will be more "adoptable". He leaves us Tuesday morning. Denise and Family: Thank you in advance for all of your hard and unselfish work!

For the rest of the Buster fans out there...please pray for him. He's come so far, but there's still a way to go.

Good luck Buster! We love you!