25 Years Young!

Nick Iordanis, one of the very dedicated TAGS volunteers, recently attended The Animal Guardian Society's big anniversary event and kindly reported on it for us here. To all those who supported this fund-raising gala, thank you! It was a great success!


On Saturday, October 13, TAGS hosted a 25th-anniversary gala. 

It is not often that a volunteer group makes it to 25 years, so doing so is definitely a cause for celebration!

The venue was the Ajax Convention Centre.  Doors opened for cocktails at 5 p.m., and the mingling continued until attendees were asked by DJ Rusty James to take their seats at about 7. 

About 100 silent auction items were donated by local businesses and adopters to help raise funds for TAGS. Some of the more memorable ones included a TV and autographed Leafs jerseys. Throughout the evening, party guests continually visited the silent auction tables and made bids. After all, it was for a good cause.

After TAGS founder Kathy Asling spoke about the long road her TAGS journey has been, she was presented with a gift for her 25 years of dedication and service by TAGS president Andree Wagar. 

Before the dance floor opened up, a video presentation finished off the evening’s formal festivities.  Titled “Desperate Measures,” the video included only a fraction of the dogs saved by the volunteers at TAGS over its 25-year history.

At the end of the day, over $7,000 was raised for TAGS—a great success!—and partygoers had a fantastic time!

Special thanks to the volunteers who made the night such a success: Erin Roux, Adrienn Tordai, Lana Croxford, Karen Koene, Pauline Parsons, Annetta Wange, and Nikki DeGroot. 

And here’s to many more years of rescuing animals in need!

An Adoption Tale: Chloe

After adopting her dog, Chloe, from TAGS, Nikki DeGroot decided to start volunteering for us! So not only has she given one deserving dog a great home; she's also working to get great homes for so many more! Here she shares the story of her adoption of Chloe.

I adopted my dog, Chloe, from TAGS in May. Chloe is one of the eight shepherd/retriever pups that were rescued from the Kettle Point Reserve. She is now seven months old.

Chloe living the good life now!

I first heard of TAGS from a high school friend via Facebook and began to monitor its website. When I saw the Kettle Point pups, I just had to meet them! At my meet and greet at the TAGS facility, I saw Chloe. It was love at first sight.

The next step was the home visit, where I was interviewed by two TAGS volunteers and Chloe’s foster mom. It was a great experience. I was very impressed with the structure and the volunteers’ professionalism. From there, I was approved to have Chloe for an extended visit.

During the extended visit, I got the opportunity to really bond with Chloe and see if we were a good fit for one another. I must admit, though, that week was very overwhelming. I had forgotten how much work puppies are! However, it is all worth it. At the end of the week, I signed the adoption papers, and she became part of my family.

Everyone who meets Chloe loves her. Her unique colouring gets a lot of attention on our walks. Everyone in my neighbourhood now knows Chloe by name.

Chloe at seven months old

Chloe was even able to help a boy who lives at the end of my street overcome his fear of dogs. Every day, this little boy, about five years old, would stare at Chloe from his porch as we walked by. He seemed scared but intrigued. One day I asked him, “Would you like to pet her?” He nodded his head yes. Each day following that, he would get a bit braver, and now he runs to her, sits next to her, rubs her belly, lets her kiss him, and so on. He waits outside his house every day for Chloe to visit. And the feeling is mutual. Chloe gets so excited when she sees him. The little boy also has two older brothers who were very scared as well, but now since they see that their little brother isn’t afraid, they, too, love Chloe.

So now Chloe has three little friends at the end of the street, and every day she looks forward to playing with them.

She is a beautiful, kind dog, and I thank TAGS for rescuing her and bringing us together.

My adoption experience has been so wonderful and rewarding. Thanks to Chloe, I will always have a rescued dog in my home.   

9+1 Things to Do to Prepare for Your Newly Adopted Dog

Adrienn Tordai began volunteering for TAGS in June 2012. She loves to run wild and chase squirrels with the family dog during long walks. Check out her 9+1 list on what to do before your adopted dog arrives.

Adoption is one of the greatest ways to help an animal in need. By giving a homeless pet a new home and a loving family, you become a hero. But there is much to do before all the paperwork is finalized. Aside from getting the most obvious accessories like a bowl, a bed, food, and toys, find out from this 9+1 list how you can be fully prepared for the arrival of your new family member.

1. Schedule dog walks

Dingo is available for
adoption through TAGS.

Make sure that your family—especially the children—are aware of the responsibility of having a dog. Set up a “walk schedule” adjusted to each family member’s free time and shared among everyone equally. Don’t be surprised, though, if the kids’ enthusiasm lessens after the first few weeks. Create programs that involve everybody so as to ensure bonding with the dog occurs on a family level.

2. Fix your fence

Even the friendliest, calmest dog can get stressed out in a new situation, so it’s very important to check your fence for holes or weak sections in order to avoid any successful escape attempts. This is especially important if you live close to a busy street.

3. Travel safely

Sometimes you will have to transport your dog to the vet/dog park/Uncle Joe’s, so you must have the appropriate equipment in the car. Start with a seat belt designed for dogs for your dog’s safety. Petsmart carries seat belts ranging from $9.99 to $44.99.

Another useful thing is a seat cover hammock to keep your seats fur-free. It’s also waterproof. Less cleaning for you, and the dog still gets to enjoy the car ride and the view. One of the cheapest online is $31.79 at Dinodirect.

4. Know your signs

Many people put “Beware of dog” signs on their door or gate to discourage potential bad guys. It’s a good idea until your dog bites a burglar who ignored the sign. This sign could work against you, implying that you were aware of your dog being dangerous. Use more neutral signs instead, like “Dog on premises,” which you can buy for a couple of bucks at Petsmart.

Plan for emergencies. You can help protect your pets by putting a decal on your front door with a message for firefighters: “In case of fire/emergency, please don’t forget our pets.” You can get these at your local pet store, alarm company, or fire department.

5. Introduce other pets

If you already have a dog, you’ll want to make sure that he or she gets along with the new member of the pack. Uniquely, TAGS provides not just a home visit but also an extended visit, where your future dog stays with you for up to a week, so by the time the new pet is transferred to you, your dogs will greet each other as old friends.

6. Choose your vet

If you don’t already have a vet, look around in your area for one. Ask your friends with pets about their experiences. Don’t wait until the last minute to register your pet with a clinic. It is best to bring him or her to the vet for a checkup shortly after adopting. This is a list of veterinarians in Durham:

http://durhampet.net/Clinics&Hospitals.htm.

Marley is available for adoption
through TAGS.

7. Pet-proof your home

Many household items can be dangerous for a dog. Start with hiding electrical cords away, so your dog won’t chew on them. Simple things, such as blinds, drapery or long cords at the window can be strangulation hazards. Put all medications in a safe place up high, because determined dogs will chew certain things to the smallest pieces possible. Remember, that chocolate is one of the most poisonous foods for a dog. Also, if you have any plants at home, have a look at the listof indoor and outdoor plants that can be deadly to dogs.

8. Prepare for your training classes

When you adopt a dog from TAGS, an eight-week behaviour training course is included. TAGS subscribes to positive reinforcement training methods, so your dog will get lots of treats. To prepare yourself and your dog for the course, test a few different kinds of treats to find which ones are of the highest value to your dog—which ones he or she will work for. These are the ones you’ll want to bring to class. You should also have a six-foot leash and a lunge lead (available at Dollarama) for your training lessons.

9. Think about vacation planning

Where will your pets go when you go on vacation? With you? Or will they stay at a friend’s house? Maybe a pet hotel? Decide ahead of time what you want to do with them while you are on holiday. Unless you are taking them with you, you’ll want to scout out your options. Visit the boarding facility to see where your dog will sleep, ask whether your dog will be walked or have playtime with other boarders, and find out how your dog will spend the days. To ensure you enjoy your holiday, you want to know your dog is getting good care (you can try http://www.brooklinpetcare.com/).

+1 tip

If possible, try to arrange to be free the first few days after the new dog arrives. This will give you some time to get to know each other. As tempting as it may be, don’t invite a huge crowd to see the newcomer because that will just stress out your little one. Let the dog explore his or her new home freely, and slowly start to introduce boundaries. After a while, your rescued dog will feel as if he or she has always lived there—safe, healthy, happy, loved.

Do you have any other adoption tips to share? Pictures or videos of your adopted dog? Don’t hesitate—tell us in the comments!

Summer Safety Tips for the Four-Leggers

Ashley Farrugia adopted Mulligan from TAGS in May 2011 and enjoys spending lots of time outdoors with him. Here she shares some tips for keeping a dog healthy and happy in our summer weather.

This summer we have had quite a few days of the mercury rising over 30 degrees Celsius. While it is easier for us humans to keep cool (after all, we have sweat glands and can go to the fridge or freezer to get a cool treat whenever we want), what about our fur babies?

Mulligan’s yearly appointment was in March, and since Chris and I are very active in the summer and we take Mulligan everywhere we can, I asked the vet for some summer safety and first aid tips so that Mulligan can have a great summer too! Here are some of the tips he gave us:*

1. If your dog gets bit by a horsefly, deerfly, or mosquito and is prone to swelling, you can give your dog 1 mg of Benadryl (in capsule or tablet form) per pound of body weight. Liquid Benadryl contains alcohol, so you want to avoid that. Dogs with certain medical conditions shouldn’t be given Benadryl, though, so talk to your vet first.
2. Just like in the winter, dogs’ paws can split or become cracked—they don’t get to wear shoes on the hot pavement! So keep an eye out for any signs of discomfort when walking with your dog.
3. Swimming or being in the water frequently at a pool or in a lake does not necessarily cool dogs down. Watch for warning signs of heatstroke—panting, licking the lips, and a tongue that is practically on the floor. It may be time to let your dog have a well-deserved “time out” inside where it is cool.
4. Keep fresh water available at all times!
5. Use clear Polysporin to help keep a surface cut from becoming infected.
6. Believe it or not, dogs can get sunburned. Make sure there is a shady spot for your dog to lie down in if he or she is going to spend the day out in the sun.

Above all, please do not leave your dog in the car with the window cracked open when you run into a store! If you can, leave your dog in a nice, cool place——like home. When leaving your dog at home is not an option, make sure you pull over every few hours to let your dog stretch and have some cold water. If you’re travelling with another person and have to make a quick stop, opt to have someone stay in the car with the dog.

Some of Mulligan’s favourite ways to beat the heat are

• eating frozen watermelon cubes made by his mom (that would be me) 
• eating the waves at the cottage (I mean this literally————he will be frolicking in the water and see a wave coming, so he will open his mouth and go headfirst into it. He always looks quite happy that he has got some of the wave in his mouth!)
• going on very early morning and late evening walks (5 to 6 a.m. with me and 9 to 10 p.m. with Chris)

* I am not a vet, so please contact your vet prior to administering any medication to your pet. Also, as a dog lover, I am very passionate and have strong opinions about leaving a dog in the car. These are just my thoughts.

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