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. 

In the Defence of Quincy

Last Saturday, I had my monthly PetSmart shift. I was at the Whitby location with another volunteer and two adoptable dogs, Colt and Quincy.

As usual, the dogs are what attracted customers over to the TAGS booth. Then, we humans took over, answering questions about the pets up for adoption, the adoption process and our need for more foster homes. It was a pretty standard shift, complete with lots of doggy eye-candy (I love seeing all of the different dogs and their owners walk through the door!)

Tell me there isn't some teddy bear in there. 

But this time, in addition to answering the standard questions, I spent a fair bit of my four hour shift defending Quincy, a 10-year old Bichon Frise/Mini Poodle mix who from some angles looks like he could also be mixed with teddy bear. Why would I feel the need to defend such a cutie? Well, Quincy no longer has any of his teeth, and as a result he shakes/rotates his head often and plays with his tongue. It's almost as if his tongue falls out of his mouth, and he tries to get it back in. I suppose at first glance, it is a bit distracting and "weird." I happen to find it very endearing, and found myself imagining that he was listening to a song no one else could hear and couldn't help but head bang along with it.

Nevertheless, I felt like Quincy was repeatedly, and unfairly, judged for this quality and this quality alone. It is normal for people to have questions, and of course, that is what we are there for, to answer questions about the adoptable pets. However, I felt like I rarely got the chance to talk about Quincy's good qualities so I wanted to share them now.

Quincy's qualities
Quincy is a normal dog who will make a fantastic pet when he finds his forever home. Yes, Quincy is a senior, but you would never know it if the lack of teeth didn't give it away. He enjoys playing with his foster siblings and has a youthful personality. When I took him for a pee break outside, he was peppy and eager to sniff everything - even though it was cold and wet outside.

Despite being unable to defend himself, Quincy is polite and well-trained. He let other dogs approach him, and politely approached other dogs in return when we were out for our walk break. While he was exhibiting signs of nervousness in his crate (in the form of adorable squeaking noises) he didn't bark even once during the whole shift. He only seemed to do the tongue thing when he was in the crate or otherwise unoccupied: if distracted by a walk or a toy, you'd never know that he has such a habit.

Quincy showing off his (lack of) pearly whites. 

Where did his teeth go? 
When Quincy was found, he was wandering around a busy street. He was in very rough shape and all of his teeth were rotten and infected right into his gums, which was undoubtedly painful. The decision was made that he would be better off having them all removed. This was back in the summer, and Quincy has been doing great ever since. He doesn't seem to miss his teeth at all and is healthier for it.

(What) does he eat?

A common question I received on Saturday regarding Quincy was, funnily enough, not "what does he eat?" but instead, "Does he eat?" which I found to be quite amusing. Of course he eats! Quincy requires a diet of soft food and even then, it needs to be cut up into very small pieces. It's definitely more work than simply pouring kibble into a bowl. And sometimes Quincy gets bored of soft food, so his foster mom gives him small pieces of kibble that she has soaked in warm water. Putting the mixture through a blender is also a good idea to ensure that he will get his proper nutrients.

                                                                              

A Final Plea

I understand that it can be daunting to take on an animal with special needs, but I can assure you after spending some time with this guy that the pros outweigh the cons. I hope you will give Quincy, and other dogs you meet who may be a bit "different," a chance to be welcomed into your home. I believe without a doubt that Quincy would make a great pet. I hope he finds his forever home soon, where he can settle in and peacefully spend the rest of his days, head shakes and all. 

August Adoptions!

Congratulations to all nine dogs who were adopted last month!

Click on the image to view a larger version.

Some Facts About the August "Adoptees"

• Chewie was named through a contest on our Facebook page. He got his name because the contributor thought he resembled Chewbacca!
• Shorty and Ruby are brother and sister! As seniors who came as a pair, it was difficult to find them a home, but they won the hearts of their foster family and have now become a permanent fixture.
• Spike has been with TAGS since last September and his high level of energy was a lot to take for the first few families who came to meet him. Luckily, the right match came along!
• Jill is a social butterfly and is happiest sitting at someone's feet chewing on a bone.
• Rya is a beautiful Beagleman (Beagle/Doberman Pinscher mix) who is so great with children, all of the kids who lived in her foster home's neighbourhood used to flock to her whenever she went out for a walk.
• Becky is 15 years old and was found as a stray. Her front teeth have been worn away, but that doesn't stop her from loving treats of all kinds! She always finds a way to eat them even if it takes her awhile.
• Molly was adopted by her foster mom in record time because of an immediate bond that was formed between them. They were caught snuggling under a blanket on Molly's first night!
• Johnny M went on an adventure and was lost temporarily during his extended visit. After he returned (on his own!) his new family knew they couldn't bear to see him go again and signed the adoption papers as soon as they could.

July Adoptions!

Congratulations to all six dogs who were adopted this month!

Click on the image to view a larger version.

Zoomie is a one-year-old basset hound mix with ears made out of silk (or so it seems). Zoomie was a stray who ended up in the pound before she entered TAGS foster care. In her foster home, Zoomie showed just how happy she was to have a second chance by being very affectionate and playful with everyone she met, so it's no surprise that she caught the eye of a family looking for a new furry friend.

Frances is a three-year-old boxer mix who was found as a stray. She had some cuts and scrapes on her when she first entered TAGS foster care, but despite what happened in her past, she is an affectionate, loving and easygoing gal!

Maddie is about eight years old. This Australian shepherd mix came to TAGS from a shelter in the United States, where she was in danger of being put to sleep due to lack of space. Maddie is a fantastic family pet who loves other dogs, children and attention, but she ended up at a shelter because her previous family thought she was too old. Luckily, a new family has welcomed Maddie into their home, and she couldn't be happier!

Noelle, now named Nell, is a rat terrier mix who is approximately 1.5 years old. Nell loves to run and play, especially with other dogs. Nell came to TAGS from a shelter in the United States just before Christmas, so compared to the other dogs adopted this month, she has been waiting the longest for the right family to come along. This energetic gal charms people with her adorable face and silly antics.

Xavier is just under a year old. This Jack Russell terrier mix is very smart and loves to play with other dogs and people. Xavier was in a pound before being rescued by TAGS, and even though he was very scared there, he completely came out of his shell when he was given a chance to be a dog again.

Chester is a copper-coloured Corgi/Cardigan mix who is approximately one year old. Chester lived in a shelter in Tennessee before entering TAGS foster care. Chester is a happy, playful and outgoing guy who loves attention. He likes to cuddle with people and dogs, but he could do without cats—they are scary!

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Thank you to everyone who has helped spread the word about the great pets we have available for adoption. Sharing photos from our Facebook page, retweeting our tweets and using old-fashioned word-of-mouth can make all the difference for some of these dogs! 

June Adoptions!

They say every dog has its day, and this month, that was the case for nine TAGS dogs who had their luck turn around when they were adopted into new homes! 

Please click on the image to view a larger version.

We love hearing from our adoptive families to find out how their new furry family member is doing. Here's what we've heard so far about the dogs adopted in June:

Tiny is a one-and-a-half-year-old Rottweiler mix. She came to us from a pound in Sudbury, and this fantastic dog didn't have to wait long to find her new home (we love when that happens!). Tiny now lives with two other dogs on a five-acre piece of land with access to a lake. Her new owners say she is always the first into the water and has even learned how to blow bubbles!

Tex is a one-year-old shepherd mix who is now named Tubbs! Tex was adopted with Yukon, a one-year-old Lab and heeler mix who has been renamed Crockett. Being so close in age, these two make great playmates for each other, and they bonded with their new family quickly.

Tex and Yukon (now Tubbs and Crockett) with their new parents.
 Check out that smile on Crockett's face! 

Scooter is a Pomeranian mix who was dropped off in a "doggy drop box" at a pound after it was closed for the night. Despite being abandoned in such a cruel way, Scooter has a great personality and so much love to give. This furry guy loves attention, and if you pet him just the right way, he makes cute little snorting sounds!

Scooter with his new dad. 

Pecan is a senior cocker spaniel who came to TAGS as an owner surrender. Pecan is hard of hearing but otherwise healthy and still has some spunk. Unfortunately, Pecan's previous owners allowed her ears to become very infected and inflamed but she received treatment from TAGS, and her new family has reported that she is doing much better.

Pecan visited TAGS volunteers in a PetSmart
 recently to show off her new family.

Congratulations to all of the dogs who were adopted this month!

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If you've ever adopted a dog or cat from TAGS, we want to hear from you! Write to us about your furry friend, and we will share your story on our blog. We want to know about their likes, dislikes, quirks, anything! Please don't forget to attach new photos, as well! You can send your stories (200-300 words, please) as a private message to our Facebook page or email it to tagsinfo@animalguardian.org. 

Age Is Only a Number

When we started looking for a new dog, we had no intention of adopting a senior. Only 10 months before, but feeling way more recent, we’d experienced the tail end of years of watching our senior dog, Roxie, decline, until we ultimately had to make that tough decision all pet owners dread.

Roxie on her last day with us.

So when we were ready to bring another dog into our house, we bypassed all the listings for older dogs and set the maximum age of our next dog at two years—old enough to be housebroken and beyond the destructive puppy stage yet young enough to spend many, many years with us. We searched Petfinder.com, finding many possibilities but settling on a year-old Basenji mix named Amy who was available through TAGS. We wanted to meet her right away, so I called the TAGS phone number to see if it could be arranged. Fortunately for us, Amy was being shown at PetSmart that day. We had less than an hour, though, before TAGS would be packing up.

We left the house right away and raced from north Ajax to south Whitby to meet our next baby. Amy was a beautiful girl, to be sure, but once we were there, it was the sweet-looking, shivering beagle in the next crate who tugged at our heartstrings.

“How old is she?” we asked the volunteer.

“Judging by her teeth, the vet estimated her to be five,” she said.

My husband and I looked at each other. Five. Possibly middle-aged already. Too old.

Cora's adoption picture

But after looking into her slightly cloudy eyes that she averted from us nervously, I just had to ask more about her. Her rescuer, we learned, had named her Cora. She was a death-row rescue from Kentucky, had been in the program for only two weeks and was a very timid dog who would need some time to adjust to new people. My heart ached for her.

But five!

It was hard leaving Cora that day even though we struggled to get her to interact with us—she was just so timid. But once we were in the car and on our way home, I asked my husband, “What do you think?” feeling certain he’d echo my fears of (1) her being too old and (2) her questionable ability to bond with us. But I so hoped he'd see, as I did, that we could do right by her—and that age really is irrelevant after all.

“I think she’s a lot older than five,” he said tentatively. Yes, she did look older than five.

“And so you think we shouldn’t consider her?” I tried to hide my disappointment.

Pecan is one of the senior dogs
currently up for adoption through TAGS.

He hesitated. “I think we could give her a great home,” he said. He added that he was worried about my concerns about her age but that he thought we should apply to adopt her. She’d gotten to him, too! I was thrilled!

We rushed home, filled out the application, followed up almost immediately with a phone call and had a home visit just two days after our first meeting. A week to the day after our seeing Cora at PetSmart, we picked her up (and her new stepbrother, Dusty, who TAGS recommended to be a good companion for her) for her extended visit, and she’s been with us ever since!

Once our vet met Cora, he confirmed our suspicions about her age. He felt that although her teeth did indeed suggest five, her body condition, cloudy eyes, energy level, and facial whiteness hinted at her being closer to ten. Even this soon after her adoption, we shrugged it off. The day we met her, we had learned a great lesson: Age really doesn’t matter when it comes to finding the dog of your heart. And in Cora, we certainly found that.

Some of the advantages we've found of adopting an older dog are these:

·         Their energy comes in spurts, rather than being constant.

·         They have less interest in chewing slippers, remote controls, blankets, etc.

·         Often, their greatest joy is just spending couch time with you.

·         They often already have some training behind them, and even if they don’t, it’s true that you can teach an old dog new tricks. (We take Cora to agility lessons!)

·         It’s incredibly rewarding to give a senior (i.e., “less adoptable”) dog a loving home.

So if you’re looking for your next pet, don’t discount the older ones. They have so much love to give, and it just may be a senior dog who can wheedle his or her way into your heart, if just given a chance.