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.

All Dogs Are Working Dogs

Libby

When I was speaking with my sister recently about her Yorkie, Libby, who is almost two years old, she was telling me how she finds Libby’s typically fearless terrier behaviour endearing. I got a sense that she believed it was just Libby specifically who has this “attitude,” so I thought I would make her aware of the background of Yorkshire terribles terriers.

My sister looked completely shocked as I told her about the creation of the Yorkie to hunt rats in cotton barns and textile factories of Yorkshire, England. In typical older-sister fashion, she brushed off my history tutorial and refused to believe her fluffy little Libby had been meticulously designed for mass murder.

Many people fail to realize that their dog was created for a purpose—be it ratting, hunting, retrieving, herding or, in many cases, just being outright adorable. What may seem to us like a quirky behaviour or habit may actually be from the breed’s past.

Roxie, a JRT, collecting her hot dogs into a neat and tidy pile.

I grew up with a bichon frise, a dog derived from the Portuguese water dog.  Apt swimmers, PWDs would retrieve the fishing nets for fishermen out on the fishing boats. Only the ones who did the best job returning with the nets were continually bred. So heaven forbid my bichon greet me without a present! It turned into a fun game when returning home—what is he going to bring us? (Casper was a good boy and usually brought us one of his toys.)

Other than the history lesson, this information comes in handy when considering, is your dog happy?

My dog Casper, at work as a therapy dog.

As humans, we usually consider our dogs’ mental health in terms of giving them the things that they seem to like—such things as the occasional opportunity to have their head out the car window, a play date with a friend, or a favourite treat. However, is this true happiness for them? Or is it the one thing we humans habitually dread that they are longing for in those restless dreams? Do our dogs want jobs?

I am convinced that there is no happier living thing on earth than a Labrador retriever carrying a stick on a walk. These jobs do not necessarily have to be breed specific, but usually any activity that requires dogs to use their minds will make them feel most useful.

Hogan, mid-jump at agility. This photo was taken from his blog.
http://www.wordwitlox.com/dogblog/2013/01/hogans-heading-to-his-first-agility-trial/

Activities like agility are great for energetic dogs, and they don’t necessarily have to be overtly athletic. And for the social butterflies out there, I highly suggest therapy dog programs. Nothing is more therapeutic than a dog. Absolutely nothing. 

Boomer, still available for adoption. I don't know if he has any retriever in him,
but anything resembling a tennis ball gets his attention.

Why I Volunteer: Nick

And Why You Should Too.

Without a doubt, animal rescue is a morally righteous hobby. It is hard to disagree when you look at the state of animal welfare in our society, from general overpopulation, punitive training techniques, to puppy mills. But everyone finds their way into activities in different ways, and mine was purely self-serving.

I grew up with a family dog. After doing much research, my family purchased a Bichon Frise from the most reputable breeder we could find. Neither of my parents had grown up with dogs, so this was largely uncharted territory. After taking our hamster to the vet for an ankle injury, my parents finally gave in to our pleading. And so Casper joined the Iordanis family.

My two sisters and I with 2 year old Casper.

I have two older sisters, so adding another male to the bottom of the totem pole was great for me. Casper and I definitely saw each other as brothers. He slept at the foot of my bed, and we ate lunch together most days. As much as Casper and I were brothers, he absolutely loved my grandpa.

Casper, hanging out with the oldest people he could find.

When we told my grandpa we were getting a dog, he offered to build a doghouse for “it” to live outside (what he was accustomed to in our native Greece). Little did Grandpa know, in the following years when he would babysit Casper, the little dog would sleep in his bed—kicking Grandma out to the spare bedroom.

The love Casper had for my grandpa (it became mutual) got my mom to certify him as a therapy dog with St. John’s Ambulance. While he had a great time at Sick Kids’ Hospital, what he really wanted was a retirement home.  Seniors were Casper’s “speed.”

Casper on the couch with Andrea. He does kids too!

I moved away from Pickering for four years to go to university. I noticed how much I missed the companionship of a dog, but I was pretty busy trying to balance my textbooks on top of my case of beer. Casper would freak out when I came home for a weekend but then would remember, hey, you left me, and would give me the cold shoulder for a while. Unfortunately, Casper passed away at the age of 14 the summer after I graduated from university.

About a year later, I conceded that I needed—not just enjoyed but needed—a k9 in my life. However, at this point in my life I am not really in a position to own a dog. So what’s a guy to do?

Well, why not volunteer? I know there are some dogs out there who could, at the very least, tolerate my presence. So I interviewed with TAGS and haven’t looked back since. In my time at TAGS, I’ve learned a lot about dog behaviour, which is critical when volunteering in rescue.

Buttercup, a dog I helped socialize and ultimately helped get adopted.
Read my blog post about Buttercup here. 

I have found great inspiration in these rescue animals. Many of these dogs are abused and have had horrible lives, but they do not hold that against me—the next human in line holding their leash. When they first come into the program, there can sometimes be an Oh boy, this one’s going to be tough to get adopted feeling. Then we get pictures from adoptive families with their dog, and the dog doesn’t even resemble its former self.

Boomer, the TAGS dog I am helping socialize right now.
He is still available for adoption!

The best feeling in the world for me is seeing a dog at the dog park after it has been adopted. My personal favourite is when the dogs see their family start to leave, and they bolt toward the door as if to say, “I’m coming, I’m coming. Don’t forget me! I want to be in this family!”

Many people say that they would have a hard time volunteering in rescue because they would want to keep them all. To that I say you are missing the whole point. When you volunteer in rescue, you are not trying to save one dog—you are trying to save as many as you can. So while that may mean seeing some of your favourites get adopted, it also means that there is another soul out there who is down on their luck and needs some help.

Casper volunteering at a retirement home.

Saving one dog is better than none, but saving 90 dogs (amount of adoptions by TAGS in 2012) is considerably more rewarding, and that’s why you should volunteer in rescue too.

Casper, looking under a canoe.
Casper Iordanis 1994 - 2008

February Adoptions!

Wow! For a short month, February sure was busy! 

We are so excited to announce that seven dogs and two cats formerly in the TAGS program have now found their fur-ever homes!

(Please click on the image to see a larger version.)

In the spirit of rescue, and perhaps because some of us still have a bit of leftover Valentine's Day sap hanging around, I would like to say this: 

Thank you to everyone who helped these animals find homes. While each and every TAGS volunteer is passionate about saving lives, we couldn't possibly be so successful without the help of people like you, our readers. By sharing our Facebook photos, re-tweeting our pictures, and spreading the word in general that we have so many fantastic animals available for adoption, you are truly helping to make a difference. 

"You can't change the world by saving one animal, 

but you can change the world for that animal." 

- unknown

The Cats of TAGS!

Happy Monday! Or should that say Meow Monday?

Cat ladies—and gentlemen—this post is for you. Today we are featuring the cats of TAGS! They come in different shapes, sizes, colours and genders, but they do have a few things in common: all of these furry felines are litter-trained, spayed/neutered, have up-to-date vaccinations and are available for adoption through TAGS. 

(Click on the image to view a larger version.)

Alara is an eight-year-old female who uses her voice to get what she wants: whether she's hungry, thirsty, or just wants attention, her meows and chirps get the point across. She loves to sleep in boxes but loves getting treats even more! This silky soft feline has lived with many dogs during her time in foster care and doesn't seem to mind them one bit (she does make sure they know who is the boss, though!). Alara's foster mom loves her for her independence and her persistence and the way she makes her feel special by climbing into her lap for cuddles. 

Cali is new to the TAGS program, so we are still learning more about her. What we do know is that this four-year-old calico loves attention and would be happy being pet all day long! She currently lives with a couple of dogs, and if they approach her nicely, she takes no issue with them: she was even caught snuggling with one of them! Cali's foster mom describes her as a "gentle soul who loves attention and purrs up a storm if you so much as look at her."

Justice is a beautiful tabby who is approximately five years old. She was found under the Oshawa Court House. Shortly after being rescued by TAGS, she gave birth to a litter of kittens. All but one were adopted, and she and her remaining kitten (Thornton) are both available for adoption through TAGS. Justice is a small cat who is very friendly and would make a great addition to any home! 

Little One is a black, short-haired female who is just over a year old. Little One was surrendered to TAGS with her sister, Monkey, because their owners were unable to give them the care and attention they need. Her silky black coat makes her irresistible; you can't help but want to pet her! Little One and her sister, Monkey, are quite bonded to one another. They both love to play and cuddle. 

Monkey is a tortoiseshell who, as you can tell from the photo above, is not very photogenic. Don't let the picture fool you, though! This one-year-old female has kind eyes and a silky coat of brown, tan, orange and black. Like her sister, Little One, Monkey is playful and cuddly.

Archie is our youngest TAGS cat. This male tabby is about six months old, so he is spunky, curious and very loving. His foster mom says he loves to give her lots of kisses, and he gets along with her other cats. Archie was found cornered by some dogs who were taunting him, but he has since learned to trust the dogs he lives with and gets along with them just fine! Archie can't wait to join your family—we promise his curious personality will never cease to amuse you! 

Thornton is a black and white male who is approximately four years old. As mentioned above, he is Justice's last remaining kitten, and as such, he loves to snuggle with his mama. Thornton is more timid than his mom and is nervous around dogs.

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Did you know? 

The process  for adopting a cat is similar to that for adopting a dog, but there are a few differences: 

1. The adoption fee is $100 instead of $345.
2. The meet-and-greet and the home visit steps are usually combined.
3. We skip the eight-week follow-up workshop.

Put in an application to adopt a cat today! 

January Adoptions!

Whew. Hard to believe it's already February!

TAGS has been having a busy but wonderful 2013 so far. When we weren't hosting a Pub Night fundraiser or sending our adoptable dogs to college, our volunteers were taking two lucky dogs and their new families through the TAGS adoption process. 

Click on the image to view a larger version. 

Azrial, also known as Zee-Zee, is a ten-month-old sweetheart. TAGS rescued this border collie mix in September from a high-kill shelter in Kentucky. Azrial's long legs make her a great runner, and although they cause her to look a bit awkward sometimes, they just add to her charm. Last fall, her littermates, Chappie and Blossum, were adopted, and we are so happy that Zee-Zee has found a home now too.

Zee-Zee at the TAGS dog park on her adoption day.
She fits right in with her new family! 

Clover is a Maltese mix and her age is estimated to be around four. Clover catches the eye of everyone she meets because she is small, spunky and adorable! Clover was rescued from a puppy mill, where she was used as a breeding dog. Now that she's been happily placed in her fur-ever home, she can spend her time playing and snuggling instead of tending to pups. 

Congratulations, ladies! 

Did You Know TAGS Microchips?

One of the least known aspects of the TAGS organization is its microchip clinics.

In an effort to provide the community affordable care for their pets, TAGS offers microchipping of cats and dogs for the very affordable price of $30.

But what is a microchip?

A microchip is the size of a grain of rice that, when scanned, relays a number that correlates with the pet owner's information in a database.

Perhaps the most interesting fact about the microchip is that the chip itself does not actually emanate any type of signal unless it is triggered by a scanner. The technology is called RFID, or radio frequency identification. For more information about this technology, check out its Wikipedia page.

Here is a photo of a disassembled microchip package.  The black item on the right is the actual chip.  The item on the left is the needle, which is attached to a plunger, which pushes the chip through the needle under the skin. Normally you cannot see the chip because it comes loaded with the needle, but this package for some reason came disassembled.

How is microchipping done?

Microchipping is a painless procedure through which the chip is inserted under the skin. We apply rubbing alcohol to the back of the dog’s neck and rub it into the skin to help desensitize and sanitize the area. Then, similar to a flu shot, a needle is inserted, and a plunger pushes the chip through the needle under the skin. Sometimes you will see blood at the site of the puncture. Blood is made more visible by the use of the rubbing alcohol. Letting the puncture site scab over is the easiest way for the skin to recover.

Since the chip is inserted under the skin, it is impossible for the identification marker to be lost, unlike collar tags. And a chip lasts the lifetime of your pet, although it is recommended that on your next trip into the veterinary office, you have the chip scanned to ensure that it is working properly.

Here is a photo of a needle out of its package, attached to a plunger gun. The quarter in the photo gives you an idea of the size of the items. The needle screws on to the applicator and is used only once for sanitary reasons. The applicator guns can be reused as many times as you'd like.

Why get microchipping done through TAGS?

While veterinarians can microchip your pet, their cost to do so is substantially higher than what the TAGS clinic charges, which is just $30. We are able to offer this service for a low fee because our organization is 100% volunteer, and we schedule our clinics in locations that invite us in just for the day.

Microchipping is the best way to ensure your pet is recovered quickly if lost. I highly recommend that not just dogs but also housecats be chipped since catching a cat who has made a break for the door is what inspired one of my favourite phrases: This is harder than herding cats!

TAGS runs microchip clinics almost every month. Check our website or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to see when our next clinic is. 

Guess the Breed Contest: DNA Testing

Many of the dogs we see go through our program are interesting mixes.

Well, one of our past adopters couldn't keep guessing and decided to DNA test her two TAGS dogs.

Cora

Dusty

If you guess a correct breed in the comments section of her blog by Sunday (Jan. 13), their mom, Cathy Witlox, will give you your choice of prize: either a custom hand-knit doggy sweater for your dog or a donation in your name to an animal charity—we know a good one! ;)

Go to http://www.wordwitlox.com/dogblog/ to guess their breeds.

I Wanna Pit Bull

Now that I’ve been volunteering in rescue for a few years, I am finally ready to start considering what type of dog I would get in a perfect world. For the record, I am not yet ready / able to give a dog what it needs; I am merely daydreaming.

I’ve come to the conclusion that my dream dog would be the biggest, baddest, meanest-looking, most horrible dog ever in the world. At least, what the general public believes to be the meanest dog in the world.

I’ve made it two years in rescue, and it is safe to say I have caught the bug. I thrive off taking a dog who is misunderstood and slowly wearing them down to where they are amazing family pets. I have found that the longer the challenge takes, the bigger the satisfaction.

That is why I dream of having a pit bull. Just saying those words widens the eyes of 99% of the world.

There are many dangerous dogs out there, but the pit bull specifically comes with a built-in reputation. Therefore, helping one of these “dangerous” dogs become a healthy, happy, friendly dog would be even more rewarding.

I wish I could have a pit bull because I want a dog that instills fear in others and to show them that they have nothing to fear at all. I would even argue that breed-specific legislation (known as BSL in dog circles) results in pit bulls being more dangerous by putting restrictions in place that make them harder to socialize, but I will save that argument for another post.

What I find most amazing in rescue is that dogs who have been abused or neglected, and sometimes both, still find it within themselves to love humans. Nothing would please me more than to have a pit bull who is a lap dog to show friends and strangers that this dog who was once abused or neglected wants nothing more than to give you a kiss and lay its head on your lap.

I must say that this is a selfish dream. The satisfaction I would get from achieving this goal would send me over the moon. So I guess my biggest target in this article is the reputation of pit bulls and the people who want them for that reputation (which mischievously now includes me—but I have good intentions!).

A truly dangerous dog is one that has never learned the power of its own bite and is owned by someone who does not care about the dog’s well-being. When you look at it that way, it is difficult to see how breed has anything to do with it.

In my view, a ban on a specific breed of dog puts Ontario in the ignorant category of society. Other areas have reversed their bans—most recently, Edmonton—because they are discriminatory. There is a large discussion about the statistics since many bites are by mixed breeds, making it difficult to attribute “badness” to one specific breed.

According to the Toronto Star, “More than 85% of Edmontonians identified improper training, poor supervision and irresponsible dog owners as the main cause for a dog attack.” What do Edmontonians understand that Ontarians don’t? They understand that there is no dog that you can’t get to react any more than there are people who won’t react when they are scared enough.

Anyone who works in rescue knows that my saying I want the meanest, baddest dog ever means that I will probably end up with the least threatening dog ever, a teacup Chihuahua.

November Adoptions!

We are excited to announce that over the past month, two TAGS dogs have gone through the adoption process and found their fur-ever homes!

Blossum, who is about 8 months old, is a smart, cuddly border collie mix who was saved from a Kentucky kill shelter along with her littermates back in September. Her brother Chappie was adopted in October, and once Chappie's new family got to know him better, they just knew they wanted a lifelong friend for him. They contacted TAGS again and decided to adopt Blossum, too!

Elijah is a playful two-year-old who loves kids, other dogs, and even cats! This English springer spaniel mix was saved from gassing and is happily enjoying life with his new family.

Blossum and Chappie—reunited and it feels so good!
 (Photo cred goes to their new mom, Courtney!)

(Their sister, Azriel, our featured dog from earlier this week, is still looking for the perfect family.)

Congratulations, Blossum and Elijah!