April Adoptions!

This month, six dogs and two cats found new homes! We are so excited for them to be joining their new families! 

Please click on the image to view a larger version. 

Dawson is a three-year-old shepherd/husky cross who loves to play and be active, but he also loves to cuddle—he's basically the whole package, which is why we are not surprised that his foster family fell in love and decided to make him a permanent member of the family.

Wyatt is an Australian cattle dog/blue heeler mix. Wyatt was found as a stray and will not get much bigger than he is now, and currently he weighs about 25 pounds. Wyatt is very affectionate and is known to cuddle up to humans and other dogs. He was not up for adoption for that long, which wasn't surprising. Everyone who meets Wyatt instantly becomes a fan!

Justice and Thornton were featured in our "Cats of TAGS" post a couple of months ago, and we are excited to announce that this mother-and-son pairing have been adopted together. Justice is a beautiful tabby who was rescued by TAGS after being found under the Oshawa Court House. She gave birth to a litter of kittens not long after that, and all but Thornton found homes. Now, these two are inseparable and love to cuddle and play.

June Bug (nicknamed Joobie) is an energetic, fun-loving Shetland sheepdog/beagle mix. She loves other dogs and is very smart, so she's already learned a lot since TAGS first rescued her. She's quick to give kisses and always has her tail wagging, so when her new family met her, they just knew she was the one they were looking for all along.

Squirrely is a 12-year-old hound mix. This lady's life has changed a lot in a short period of time, so we are very happy for her that she has found a new home and that things will settle down for her. Squirrely lived with the same family for a long time, but she and her sister, Sarah, found themselves at the pound when their family lost their home and could no longer take care of them. Both of these seniors were confused and scared, but then they were rescued by TAGS and put into the foster system. Unfortunately, Sarah had a massive cancerous tumour and the tough decision was made to euthanize her. Squirrely has been a trooper throughout all of it and remains healthy, with clear eyes and a spring in her step. We are so happy that she has been adopted into a great home with a family who will love her for the rest of her days.

Violet is a one-year-old border collie mix. Violet is a beautiful and gentle dog who loves to play. She's even happy to play on her own if another dog isn't around. She loves to run and spend time outside, and loves belly rubs! Violet just joined the TAGS program at the end of March, and she's already been adopted. We love when this happens!

Raggs is a 10-year-old cairn terrier mix who is pretty energetic for his age and loves to snuggle. He gets along with dogs, cats and kids and has a lot of love to give to everyone! This adorable guy had a family he loved very much, but they took him to the pound with the explanation that he was getting too old for them. We are very happy that this sweet guy has been given the second chance he deserves!

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Congratulations to all the dogs and cats who were adopted in April! We are so excited for all our furry friends and their new families! Personally, I am especially happy for our senior dogs, Squirrely and Raggs, as it can be difficult for seniors to find homes. If you are interested in adopting a senior but aren't sure what to expect, you can read about one of our volunteer's personal experiences. 

Why I Volunteer: Jenn

Oakley at PetSmart.

I volunteer in animal rescue because I love animals. 

...Obviously, right? But it's about more than just loving them. It's about believing that they deserve more respect and love than they receive. And it's about fighting for their rights when they cannot do so themselves.

I read a quote once (and unfortunately I do not remember where) that said: "One day, you will wake up and realize a lifelong dream that you never knew you had."

I suppose a realization of that nature is how I ended up applying to be a volunteer with TAGS. I was on the website looking at adoptable dogs and cats and fantasizing about actually being able to adopt one (I live with my parents, who have decided that our two cats are enough for one house), and then I landed on the In Memorium page. I was so moved by the stories I read. Not only had this rescue organization clearly changed the lives of all the people who were sharing their memories, but I was overwhelmed with happiness for the dogs. Their lives had been changed for the better because they were adopted, yes, but the real moment their lives changed was when they were rescued. After having such an emotional reaction to these testimonies and memories, I instantly knew that I had to be involved somehow. However, I wasn't quite sure how I would be able to help since I couldn't adopt or foster at this point in my life.

Cali at a Pet Valu Adoptathon.

Looking through the volunteer application cleared up any questions I had. There were several areas that needed volunteers and that interested me for different reasons, so I knew I would be able to help out in one way or another. During my interview, I was asked if I would like to be a part of the TAGS Social Media Committee, which was just forming around the time I submitted my application. I thought this was a great way for me to volunteer as it could be done from home, and I could use skills I gained while studying for my degree in journalism. That said, I also wanted to do something hands-on with the animals I would be writing about, especially since wanting to be around animals was part of my initial motivation for applying.

As a result, I am also part of a large group of volunteers who take turns showing dogs at local PetSmart and Pet Valu locations on the weekends. The shifts usually pass by pretty quickly—I spend the time alternating between getting to know the dogs we have in the store and talking to customers about TAGS and our adoptable dogs. A large chunk of the time also goes to story swapping—everyone loves to talk about the furry friends in their lives, so there are always lots of quirky stories being exchanged. (Note: I really do try to keep my cat stories to a minimum. Really, I do. It's just that my minimum is probably someone else's maximum.)

Rocky at PetSmart. Love this little guy!

I enjoy my roles, but at the end of the day, I volunteer in rescue because too many dogs and cats are homeless, neglected, abused or misunderstood. I volunteer in rescue so that I can be part of an organization that educates the public about pet health, training, the needs of animals and responsible pet ownership. I volunteer in rescue because I want the number of dogs and cats being euthanized each year to go down, not up.

I volunteer in rescue because I love the feeling I get when I find out one of the TAGS animals has found his or her fur-ever home.

If you can't adopt...foster.
If you can't foster...volunteer.
If you can't volunteer...donate.
If you can't donate...educate, network and share.
Everyone can do something to help animals in need. 

Wordless Wednesday: Hello? Hello?

"Hello? Hello? Trixie, sometimes I feel like you aren't even listening to me!" –Quinton

Poor Quinton. His foster sister Trixie is deaf! 

Trixie was adopted in December, but Quinton is still looking for a home. 

Are you interested in hearing what Quinton has to say? 

Fill out an adoption application and come meet him! 

This is a blog hop.
You can check out other participating blogs by clicking on the picture below.




Featured Adoptable Dog: Max

When meeting Max, most people have to fight their urge to take him home and cuddle him all day. I myself was wondering if he'd just escaped from Build-a-Bear. He's been in the TAGS program since February. His current family had to make a hard decision to surrender him. They wanted the best for him, as they realized that they won't be able to take care of him anymore, due to unexpected family troubles.

Max sees a potential "petting assistant" in every person who approaches him. He will lick your hand, wag his tail and melt your heart. Not necessarily in that order! And after each petting session, he expects a cookie. You can't blame him—if you are good at something, you should never do it for free. And he is mighty good at being your teddy bear that came to life!

Max's Hobbies

He likes to chew on ropes or sticks and is used to roaming free in a big backyard. His favourite treats are apples and carrots. 

Tricks

He knows how to "sit" and "wait," and he'll do these with extra eagerness if you have a treat at hand.

Walks

He walks well on a leash. He's a medium- to high-energy dog, so the more you can exercise with him, the better he will feel. 

Friends

He gets excited when meeting new dogs, and he gets along with all of them, thanks to his calm and friendly nature. Max is always trying to win cats' hearts, but they don't appreciate his efforts at playing. Max is also very good with children. 

Overall, he is a laid-back dog who will be happiest if you give him some belly rubs, treats and a nice walk outside. In exchange, he will always be there for you to cheer you up just by being cute and fluffy!

That's the spot!

He was falling asleep from all the rubbings!

If you think Max may be the dog for you, don't hesitate to fill out an adoption application form so that you can meet him at our dog park! More details about him can be found on our website.

Why Spay or Neuter

Source: CSRA Humane Society

Neutering refers to the removal of an animal’s reproductive organs and is a term used in reference to males, whereas spaying is used in reference to females.

Why Spay or Neuter?

Since TAGS is a rescue, most of the dogs and cats in our program have come from shelters. Shelters are brimming with unwanted dogs and cats—and to my surprise, many are puppies and young dogs! Pregnant female dogs or a litter of puppies can often be found at shelters due to an accidental breeding situation. Spaying or neutering your pet is the most effective way to help control the pet population and save animals from euthanasia in shelters.

Every year, thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized because there is simply not enough room for them in shelters. Additionally, several thousand animals from shelters every year are used for experimentation (research, teaching and testing) purposes. Although Ontario has laws to protect shelter animals from such a fate, there are other provinces where such laws do not exist to protect these vulnerable animals.

Benefits

Spaying and neutering have several benefits for your pet’s health. Spaying females prior to their first heat cycle can eliminate the risk of breast cancer and prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer, thereby reducing veterinary costs. Neutering males helps reduce or prevent testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate gland—also helping to reduce future veterinary costs. Additionally, neutering your male dog can help prevent undesirable behaviours such as marking, humping, male aggression and an urge to roam. Also, if you have more than one pet in your household, spaying or neutering will help all the animals in the house get along better.

Costs

One of the biggest issues around neutering an animal is the costs associated with the procedure. If you live in Durham Region, there are many veterinarians who provide an affordable service and will often give out their rates over the phone. Additionally, the Ontario SPCA provides spay/neuter services at a much reduced price—however, wait times for these spots are high, so I recommend getting on the wait list as soon as possible if you are considering going this route. Spaying and neutering can be done as early as eight weeks old; however, any time between eight weeks and six months is optimal, especially for females due to the beginning of their heat cycles.

There are many benefits to neutering your animal—but the biggest one is the ability to help save the lives of perfectly healthy but unwanted shelter animals. Do your part and help save a life!