TAGS (The Animal Guardian Society) and Guardians Promoting Animal Wellness (GPAWS) are partners in hosting an outdoor fundraiser event next Saturday, September 14, 2013. 100% of the money raised from the event will go to animal rescue.
Location and how to get there:
Tickets: $7 in advance and $10 at the door. *Kids under 12 are free* Email your ticket request to tagsinfo@yahoo.ca.
Door Prizes: Drawn every hour 12:00-6:45
Food
Combo: hamburger or hotdog, chips, corn, pop = $5.
Individual foods: burger: $3, hot dog: $2, water or pop: $1, corn: $1, chips: $1, coffee: $1
Events:
Demos!
Vendor booths!
Silent auction!
Doggy games!
BBQ & corn roast! (Food, food, food!)
Live music from Hard Tymes and other great bands!
Bring your family, friends, your dog(s)--everyone is invited !
*At the event there will be a fenced-in dog park. We ask that no dog is left unsupervised please.*
Vendor information: Be a vendor for this event for just $25 (two to three people per booth). Vendor does not need to be doggy/pet-related!
Last Friday we posted the first batch of awards the TAGS adoptable pets gave out to each other during a recent celebration. Today we are excited to present the next category of awards...the "Bests."
Please check back again on Friday, September 13, for the third and final batch of TAGS Awards, the "Most Likely To..." category!
It sounds like a yodel mixed with a bark!
(Shorty & Ruby were just adopted,
but weren't at the time of the party)
(It's in the name!)
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To find out more about any of these fantastic adoptable pets, click on their picture above! Or, if you already know you're ready to adopt, visit our website to submit an adoption application.
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.
One of the ways dogs come into TAGS is as surrenders. When I
originally began volunteering, I would look down on the surrendering families
with disdain. However, I have come to really appreciate the people who surrender their dog to be rehomed.
After a few years of volunteering, my attitude toward surrendering families has become "At least they love the dog enough to surrender it to
a rescue group." It takes a lot of courage to realize that the dog you own no
longer fits into your lifestyle. It takes even more courage do to something about it.
One lifestyle change that leads some families to this decision is the addition of two-legged family
members. Babies. Many people are taken off guard by how their family dog, who
they have owned together as a couple for years, suddenly changes when the baby
arrives.
To further investigate what is really going on, I have asked
TAGS founder and certified dog trainer Kathy Asling a few questions regarding the topic.
We often hear from surrendering families that
the dog has “changed” and has been acting aggressively. Has the dog in fact
changed?
OK, this will be the last photo of Casper,
I swear!
Dogs
are often adopted prior to couples having children, which is why it is of the utmost importance
to socialize your dog with children of all ages.
These dogs need to become familiar and comfortable with the sounds and the movements of
children from newborn to teenager.
If
the expectant family has not done their homework preparing the dog for the new
arrival, then, yes, you may see behaviour changes. Is this really
aggression?In my mind, no. It is more
often related to fear and uncertainty. What is this new thing that makes noises and gets my owners to run and
give it attention? Another common
mistake is owners who only give attention to their dog when the baby is
asleep. It is important to teach the dog to bond with the child.Giving the dog treats and attention while the baby
is awake will help the dog to learn that good things happen when the baby is
awake. Walk the dog when you walk the baby, and include the dog in activities with
the new baby that are safe.
What advice would you give to a pregnant
woman about her dog(s) from here on out?
Socialize, socialize, socialize! Ask friends and family, neighbours who have
young children to work with you and your dog. Prepare the dog with baby sounds—these can be purchased or downloaded—and play them over and over so the dog becomes familiar with them. Reward the dog with attention and treats as these sounds play. Help your
dog not to feel anxiety when they hear baby crying noises or laughter or
screaming. Teach your dog boundaries—are they allowed in the baby's room? Let
them smell the baby's clothes, blankets.... We all know that smell is a high form
of communication in dogs, so help them to get used to these new smells. And role play. Yep! Grab a
doll, wrap it up in a receiving blanket and go through the same motions you will
be doing with the new baby. Help the dog
to get used to the routine. I also
strongly suggest that if you have a dog that is very dependent on you for
entertainment, start finding toys that will provide the mental stimulation
your dog needs without you. There are many great products on the market today.
And
of course teach your dog basic commands: sit/stay, down/stay.This
will become very important when the baby starts to crawl and walk. Because they stumble and fall, a lot of dogs
become very nervous, so teach your dog a boundary of 4-5 feet away from the baby unless you invite the dog in
closer. Never, never, never, leave a dog
and child unattended. That should go without saying.
What is the best way to introduce a dog to
the new family member?
When the big day comes and you are coming home with the
new baby, be prepared that Fido will be very excited. Any of us who own dogs know that when we
leave and return, our dogs are always happy to greet us.
Trusting that you have done all your prep work
already, the dog should be fairly
calm. As long as the dog is behaving
calmly, you can hold the baby in your arms and allow the dog to gently smell the baby. Ask the dog to sit and offer a very
yummy reward, something your dog doesn't normally get but that is very high in reward,
like pieces of chicken. As long as the
dog behaves calmly, keep giving this wonderful reward. What does Fido learn? Yum! I like this “new
thing”—I get great treats when it's around!
It's always a good idea to ask someone to bring home a
blanket that has been around the baby at
the hospital so the dog has a chance to get the scent of the baby before you
arrive home.
Does the age of the dog matter? (Can an old
dog learn new tricks?)
Absolutely they can. Over the years, I have had many older dogs come to classes. Most have never been
taught formally before. Regardless of
the age of your dog, dogs love to learn. They need mental stimulation just as much
as physical. Teaching an older dog can
give them purpose and add some spice in their lives.
Today
we hear of people in their 80s and 90s getting degrees, so whether it's
humans or animals, never underestimate them because of their age.
