November Recap!

TAGS had a busy November! 

In addition to our regularly scheduled sessions at Whitby PetSmart and local Pet Valu locations, our volunteers were busy this month with several exciting events. Tags Dinner (November 16)

TAGS hosted its volunteers and supporters on Saturday, November 16th for a dinner to celebrate its 26th year serving the Durham Region community. A silent auction was held which raised over $1,000 for the organization.
A big congratulations goes out to the volunteers who were recognized at the dinner! We had 41 "One Year" milestone achievers, two "Five Year" keeners, and FOUR volunteers who were honoured for reaching the 10 year milestone. It was a very inspiring night, thank you to all of our volunteers for their contribution to TAGS, we couldn't do it without you! 

10 Years with TAGS! 
Photo credit: Heather Harton

The festivities were capped off with a slideshow of all of the dogs adopted in 2012 and 2013, bringing back memories of some of the lives TAGS has managed to improve and save in the past two years. 

UOIT Puppy Room (November 20)

What an uplifting day! Quincy, Jasper, Snoopy, Roxy, Sheldon and Biscotti were dispatched to the UOIT campus to bring smiles to stressed out students as they prepare for their exams.
Snoopy, a 9-month-old Dalmation mix was the most energetic dog to come out to play, while Sheldon, a Chihuahua mix and Biscotti, a Cocker Spaniel/Hound, preferred to win hearts by cuddling up to students.

Biscotti working the crowd.
Photo credit: Heather Harton

TAGS also visited the UOIT and Durham College campus earlier this year. Another visit is planned for early 2014.

Pet First Aid (November 24)

This course was taught by veterinarian Dr. Tanya Varley, or Dr. Tanya as she prefers to be called.

Participants learned:

-How to correctly bandage a wound on the leg, using gauze and sticky vet tape
-What key items to have on hand in a Pet First Aid Kit
-How to correctly administer CPR using compressions and breaths for small and large dogs and cats
-What human medications can be used for treatment of some animal ailments & which ones NOT to use
-What human food can be given to our pets to cure an upset tummy and which ones NEVER to give
-Having the knowledge and the confidence to treat a sick or injured pet and when to go to the vet

Oliver's mom learned how to bandage a wound.
Photo credit: Julie White

Needless to say, a broad range of subjects were covered throughout the day. Dr. Tanya answered any and all questions directed at her, which added to the value of the session by far. It was also interesting to learn her perspective on when you need to go to the vet versus knowing when it may not be necessary. This distinction is not always clear. We were also able to discuss more intense subjects such as dealing with an emergency situation in the event a veterinarian was not easily accessible. It was stressed by Dr. Tanya that it is an owner's responsibility to avoid unsafe situations: there is a fine line between letting your dog enjoy itself, and knowing when it is a good idea to stop an activity when it could be unsafe or dangerous.

Adoptions
November was also a very busy month for adoptions! Our adoption committee has been very busy these past few weeks reviewing applications, scheduling home visits, and walking potential new adopters through our adoption process. We'll reveal the adoptions on TAGS Tails this upcoming Monday, December 2. 

New Arrivals

Learn more about these dogs on our adoptions page.

This post was written by Nick.

Wordless Wednesday: I'm a Goat!

Mulligan was being cheeky at PetSmart Whitby last weekend.

He decided to channel his inner goat and climb on his foster mom!

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Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Christmas is one month away!

 That means it's time to get your annual Santa photos taken with TAGS!

Date: Saturday, December 14

Time: 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
Location: Pet Valu (Kendalwood)
Cost: $10 and all proceeds go to TAGS

Please share this event with your friends by joining our Facebook event and inviting others!

We will also have a booth set up in the store that day with an 

adoptable dog or two, so be sure to visit!

Happy Holidays! 

Featured Adoptable Dog: Jasmine!

Our volunteer and foster mom Julie sent us some useful information about her new foster dog, Jasmine!

Jasmine is a 65 pound St.Bernard mix who is estimated to be about 8 years old.  She has a beautiful face that beams love toward everyone she meets. Her deep, soulful eyes definitely have a way of pulling people in, and once she has them, she showers them with love.

TAGS rescued Jasmine from a shelter in Shelby, Tennessee. Apparently Jasmine was a stray before being at the shelter, but I feel like Jasmine is way too well behaved to have been a stray. I believe she was betrayed by her family and left behind for no reason, and I can only assume that her family regrets that decision. She is a perfect dog.

Jasmine is a social dog, amazing with anyone who wants to pet her and give her attention. If you so much as indicate that a tummy rub could be in her future, she will be on her back in a heartbeat. Even if you're just standing there with your hands by your side, you can expect Jasmine's head to nudge you for a few head scratches. But as much as she loves people, she  also loves other dogs and often wants to play.

She's adorable upside down and right-side up! 

More than anything else, Jasmine loves to hang out with you and make you happy. Since beginning her stay with us, she has learned how to go up and down the stairs, just to be with us. I’m so proud of her for wanting to learn, and her motivation is very endearing.

Jasmine is fully house trained and walks very well on a leash. She sits and listens well, and is classy like her name suggests! I would love to see Jasmine adopted by a family who has kids and another dog for Jasmine to play with. She is very young at heart and I believe she will continue to age well with youthful energy around her. However, because she is so easy going, calm and gentle, she could probably be happy in any home! But...she is a big girl so a roomy home might be nice!

Scrub-a-dub-dub, Jasmine's in the tub!
(at Clarington Dog Wash)

I really cannot say enough good things about this dog. She is a gentle , sweet, loving dog that wants to be loved forever. She really is a treasure and deserves a wonderful forever home of her very own!

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Since Jasmine is over the age of 7, she is considered to be a senior.
Therefore, her adoption fee has been reduced!
The regular adoption fee is $345 but the cost to adopt Jasmine is half of that!

Interested in adopting Jasmine or one of our other special seniors? 

Check out her bio and submit an adoption application online! You will be glad you did. 

Wordless Wednesday: Riding Shotgun

Jill & Colt decided to share the front seat!

(p.s.: They are siblings now! Colt was adopted by Jill's family this month.
Stay tuned to find out who else found a home in November.)

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This is a blog hop. 

Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

What Blossom's "Gotcha Day" Showed Me

Woof!

I'm Snoopy and I am new to TAGS -- so new that I just got sprung from the pound on the weekend! At first I just thought I was going out for a walk, but then I got to go on a car ride! After my car ride I had a check-up, a bath, and got to go pick out a new toy at PetSmart. Along the way I got to sniff and lick so many great people. I really was expecting to go back to my cage after all of the excitement, but instead I got the best surprise of all...

...I have a foster home! No more pound life for me! This means that I get to run, play and hang out with other dogs and cuddle up with nice people. It's all been very exciting!

Just chillin' at my new foster home. 

Oops. Just had a bath and already dirty again.
At least I look more like my Dalmation side this way! 

That's me with my new toy in the car on the way "home."
I was pooped after all of the excitement!

At my foster home I live with two dogs named Chappie and Blossom. They tell me I am not the first "foster" brother they've had, and by now they know a bit about how things go. Apparently I will live here for a bit and then one day I will get my own family! I asked them how they know this for sure, and they told me that they went through it too, just last year.

Chappie telling me about being a foster dog. 

Chappie and Blossom are siblings who were rescued from a place called Kentucky in September of 2012. Their sister Azriel came with them too. They said life in Kentucky was no fun at all, but then they moved to Canada where they lived in a home with a few other dogs, like what I am doing now. As part of a foster dog's job, they had to go and hang out at pet stores every so often to try and meet their new family. Chappie got adopted first, and about a month later his new parents decided they just had to reunite the dynamic duo, so Blossom got adopted too and the rest is history. 

Now, I didn't want to be rude, but their story seemed a bit far-fetched.  From my experience so far in life, a dog doesn't stay in one place for too long. And they definitely don't get to be part of a family.

However, I was proved wrong last night! My new foster family threw a party just for Blossom! They called it her "Gotcha Day." I learned that humans who own rescue dogs celebrate the day they adopted their new furry friend because they don't know when their real birthday is.

Happy 1st Gotcha Day to Blossom!
(that's me in the bottom left)

Hearing them all talk about how happy they were to have Blossom in their lives for a whole year now really gave me hope. I can't wait to get adopted so I can have my very own Gotcha Day.

Wish me luck!

- Snoopy 

Where To Find Us This Weekend

Every weekend TAGS sets up a booth in Whitby PetSmart on Saturday and Sunday from 12-4p.m. We can also be found at various Pet Valu locations across Whitby and Oshawa on Saturdays.

We use this opportunity to talk to visitors about the dogs TAGS has up for adoption, the adoption process, and areas where we could use some more volunteers. However, no matter how interesting the volunteer on duty might be, the main draw is, of course, the animals we have there with us.

This weekend we have quite the line up!

See you there! 

Wordless Wednesday: What A Big Tongue You Have!

All the best to lick you with, my dear! 
Bessie tried out for the part of the Big Bad Wolf, but she didn't quite fit the part. 

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This is a blog hop. 

Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

Sign Up For Our Pet First Aid Course!

You cannot predict when an accident will happen to your pet, but you can most certainly be prepared for it- especially as the cold weather and the holidays are approaching since the number of injuries usually increases at this time of the year. Remember these useful tips when you find yourself in this situation:

Roxy is available for adoption.

1. Don’t panic. Staying calm and acting quickly are key. If you manage to make decisions fast, you could get ahead of the problem, preventing it from becoming more serious. 
2. Console your dog. Talk to him or her using a calm and relaxed tone in your voice. Your animal is just as much in shock as you are, so it’s your job to make sure he or she is in a resting position. 
3. Move your dog carefully. If necessary, always move your injured dog as smoothly as possible, especially when you are about to transport it. Make sure to support his or her head in the case of head injuries or trauma. 
4. Stop the bleeding. Stop bleeding by putting pressure on the wound with your finger or a bandage. 
5. Remove everything that’s blocking the airway. Clean your dog’s mouth of excess saliva, vomit or blood to make space for the air-flow. Apply CPR if necessary. 

Enroll now in our Pet First Aid Course to find out more details and to gain practical experience that could save your pet’s life one day! Taught by Dr. Tanya Varley, a certified veterinarian the course runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Coffee breaks and a free lunch are included. 

Don’t forget to bring your pet!
Location: Quality Suites, Bloor and Grandview, Oshawa.
Date: Sunday, November 24
Cost: $99

E-mail us here or call us (905-263-8247) to register!

(This post was written by Audrey)

Why I Volunteer: Emilee

This post has been contributed by one of our long-time volunteers, Emilee Gassien. She was the first TAGS volunteer to reach the 10-year milestone mark and is the unofficial Mrs. Clause for TAGS. In this piece, she tells us how she became involved with TAGS and how her roles have changed over the years. 

I met Kathy Asling, the founder of TAGS, at PetSmart about 13 years ago. At the time, I had a little Schnauzer named Gracie. I had just retired and was looking for something to do to make myself feel useful again, and TAGS seemed like a great place to do just that. I gave Kathy my phone number and told her to contact me when she had a chance.

A few weeks later she called, but the timing was no longer good for me. Unfortunately, I had just lost my beautiful Gracie. She was hit by a car and I was devastated. I told Kathy I would call her again when I was feeling better. A few months later, I was ready, and my journey with TAGS began.

Over the years, I have helped TAGS in a variety of different areas. I have volunteered at many a PetSmart shift, I've assisted with home visits, and I do a lot of fundraising for the organization. I set up booths at our events to sell baked goods and products, and I am often at the booth again when we have our TAGS display showcased at places around the community, such as the Oshawa Centre. Every year I host a yard sale for TAGS in Port Perry, which has become quite the "yard sale town" over the past few years.

Emilee at the TAGS booth during the Furry Friends 5K last June.

While volunteering with TAGS I have also fostered several dogs; my first foster dog was a giant Schnauzer, and I instantly found fostering to be very rewarding. It is so nice to see a dog you have cared for go to their forever home.

The last rescue I fostered was Eddie, formerly known as Vedder. Eddie is a Havanesse and since I already have two Havanesse of my own, the foster coordinator at TAGS thought my place would be the best place for him. Well, they were right...and they were also wrong. We fell in love with him, and as his adoption papers were signed, I'm afraid my days as a foster parent ended. That was two years ago.

Over the years, I have seen so many great dogs find forever homes. Really, there are too many to count at this point. It is so rewarding to know that I had a small part in making that happen.

* * * * * 

Emilee has clearly helped TAGS immensely over her years of being a volunteer.
We would never be as successful at fundraising without her dedication and effort.
Click here to find out how you can help, too!

Wordless Wednesday: Two Peas In A Pod

Molly (adopted in August) and her foster sister
Willow (still available) are so close, it's difficult to tell them apart!

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This is a blog hop. 

Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

Volunteer Bloggers Needed!

Do you like what you see on our blog? Do you think you could help make it better?

We are looking for volunteer blog contributors. As a reader of TAGS Tails, you already know that we like to share original content about pet health, events, the pets we have up for adoption, and good news about our adopted pets.

We have a few regular features we like to keep up with, like our Happy Tails and our Wordless Wednesday posts, but we also have specialized articles when a contributor thinks of an interesting idea for a series, such as our informative Pit Bull posts, or our fun TAGS Awards series.

Now, we want to add some new things to our repertoire, and for that we need new people with new ideas! That's where you come in.

If you are interested in gaining some social media experience, please submit an application to volunteer on our website. In your application (the link is at the very end of the page), mention that you are interested in helping out with the social media committee. You can contribute once a week or once a month as we are flexible and understanding of school and work schedules. If you have any questions before applying, feel free to contact us or leave a comment down below.

We can't wait to hear from you!

-The Social Media Committee

Bosco is bored of the same old content.
Help us spruce up our blog! 

October Adoptions!

Congratulations to all five dogs who were adopted this month! 

Please click on the image to see a larger version.

Buffalo came to TAGS from a shelter in Kentucky on August 10. This 9 pound Chihuahua mix has a lot of love to give - if you let him come to you.

Bailey was surrendered to TAGS when her family decided that they weren't being fair to her by leaving her home alone so often. Now this happy dog is in a new home where she gets lots of attention!

Hope, still a puppy, was found locked in an abandoned out house on a farm. Luckily, the person who found this Collie/Shepherd/Husky (who knows, really) mix brought her straight to TAGS so she was able to get a second chance.

Dexter was sprung from the pound a few months ago. Once out of there, he turned into a completely different dog - happy, carefree, and playful.

Diamond, like Bailey, was an owner surrender. Her family said she didn't fit in with them and they wanted to find her a new home as a result. This adorable, funny little dog quickly, and easily, won over the hearts of her new family, and now fits in just fine!

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As you can see, the dogs adopted in October came to us through a variety of different ways. TAGS is constantly getting requests to take on more animals. Unfortunately, we need more foster homes in order to be able to accommodate these requests. If you or someone you know is interested in being a foster parent, please apply on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!