ARRIVING AT OARS ADOPTION CENTER IN NEENAH, WI!

We were so excited to finally get to visit the OARS Adoption Center. Isn't it the cutest building?! They have recently fenced in the yard which is fantastic because they now have 3 separate areas for furkids to romp and play in!

OARS volunteers have worked incredibly hard to secure a center where people can come to adopt cats/kitties, provide education, hold fundraisers, etc. It has only been open about 6 months but it looks like it has been there for years. The volunteers do such an amazing job and are so organized. Every animal gets a thorough examination after arriving there and any basic medical care (i.e., worming, flea/tick, etc.) is provided.

Finally...grass! This has to be one of the cutest puppies in the world (Millie)

1 of 3 newly fenced in areas

Raider is checking out the new surroundings with his foster mommy, Linda...freedom at last!

Just a quick flea bath Raider and you'll be "home" soon!

Russ holding the most precious puppy, Brie (now known has Bella)

Alfalfa is such a wonderful puppy- he was so gentle with the little ones!

Precious Zappy- just look at that cute face!

Amy doing the intake process with each pup and Kevin doing his part (I think he has the best part holding the puppies).

Cinnamon and Mac (now Lucy and Ricky) enjoying romping and playing!

It's Domino's turn! Amy with her hubby, Steve

On of the "Memphis" puppies- gorgeous little ones!

Blanche is the cutest little girl. She has such a blast playing with Zappy, Millie, and Mollie!

My hubby just LOVED Millie (who wouldn't!)

SECOND STOP...MADISON, WI!

6 hours after leaving St. Louis, we arrived in Madison, WI. Thanks to Connie and Pete, we were able to give all our pups a nice long potty break. Connie's friend is adopting Mitzi (Shepherd mix from Forrest City, AR) so she and Pete drove her to meet her new owner in Michigan! Thanks so much for helping and for working so hard to find Mitzi a great home- great to meet you both!

Connie and Pete with lucky Mitzi

Mitzi loved playing with her new toys- so great to see!

Mitzi has no idea how lucky she is either

Cute little Millie and Mollie

Khaki and Derby- Khaki is such a great mommy

Our precious pups- LOVE them!

How could you NOT think they are precious?!

Kevin with Alfalfa and Pete

Romeo enjoying the grass

Pete and Connie again

We had lots of visitors during our break and of course we spread the word that many many dogs need to be saved!

Thank goodness for puppy pens!

Last pose ladies!

THE "NIGHT" CREW: RESCUE TRIP TO WI!

On Friday, July 9th everyone met at Cracker Barrel in West Memphis to load all the lucky pups in the cargo van for their trip North to Wisconsin! Nearly 20 dogs and 1 kitty were amongst the lucky ones. Some came from the Forrest City Animal Shelter in Forrest City, AR; some from the Osceola Animal Shelter in Osceola, AR; and some just found us! One thing we know is that all of these precious pups deserved a chance and thanks to wonderful people who rallied around them, they will get one!

We just want to thank everyone involved in helping to save all of these furbabies!!! (You know who you are and we LOVE you!). People helped by posting/networking, donating funds, letting us borrow supplies, meeting us to help potty dogs/puppies, and even prayers! We cannot thank you all enough! Thanks to OARS for taking in the majority of these guys/gals as well as The Dog House for "housing" some of them to improved their chances of adoption.

It really takes a collaborative effort so THANK YOU ALL!!!! Kevin and I had a blast on this road trip and enjoyed meeting everyone along the way!


Amy with her foster babies, Mollie and Millie

Back row- Teresa, Cindy, Alyssa; Front- Katie with Molly Ann

Everyone's loaded!

Miracle looking at me like I'm crazy...no worries, you are off to a great place!

First "potty" break in St. Louis...2 am!

Kelly snuggling with Raider!

Kelly and Kevin still smiling...even though they are exhausted already!

Thanks to battery-powered fans, all stayed cool for the break!

Still smiling too...only 1/3 of the way there!

Janice with precious Andy!

ANOTHER LIFE SAVED BY FOSTERING...BUFFY

This is Buffy (he will be renamed shortly). Buffy has spent the last several weeks at the Forrest City Animal Shelter (FCAS) in Arkansas. His owners dumped him at the shelter because he "dug up the yard". Unfortunately, like many dogs in this area, Buffy tested heartworm positive. The wonderful volunteers from the Forrest City Area Humane Society (FCAHS) have begged for someone to take this sweet boy in. Alyssa in particular has worked incredibly hard on Facebook to network for this precious boy.

Finally, Aimee offered to foster this boy. The problem was....Aimee lives in Michigan! This is one of the reasons that sparked our "Woof Connect to Wisconsin" rescue road trip. We needed to get a few of our dogs to Wisconsin and then realized the need is greater, so a Cargo van would be necessary. Aimee is going to pick him up in Wisconsin and foster him along with another girl, Tiara, from FCAS. Not only that, but Tina in Maryland agreed to pay for his heartworm treatment!!! How great is that?!!! Oh the power of networking...

Buffy needed to out of the shelter as he was scheuled to be put to sleep. Thanks to my friend and long time foster, Teresa, Buffy will have his chance for a wonderful new life! She has graciously agreed to foster this handsome boy until he leaves on July 10th for his new life up north!

PLEASE consider short-term fostering to help save these precious souls. Thank you to EVERYONE who tried relentlessly to help this boy through emails, Facebook postings, etc. You should ALL be so very proud! Please consider donating even a little bit to help cover the cost of the trip that will bring Buffy up North (Chip-in is on the previous post).

Buffy with Mike, Cindy, and Katie- volunteers with FCAHS who picked him up from the shelter for me (thank you so much!).

Buffy isn't quite sure what is going on, but he's glad to be out of the shelter!

Loving his new yard!

YEAH...toys at Teresa's!

Buffy's extraordinary foster mom, Teresa (we love you!)

He is actually smiling now :)

Had to pose with Buffy too- he is one of the lucky ones!

NEED HELP WITH WOOF CONNECT TO WISCONSIN!

UPDATE 6/27/10: An ENORMOUS THANK YOU to the following people who have donated thus far: Cindy & Steve M., Nicole B., Kelly A., Linda J., Jeanne C., and Connie K. We are almost there! Another thing that we completely forgot about was all of these dogs/puppies will need to have Flea/tick preventative on, so if anyone could either donate some or some additional funds for that, we would appreciate it.

Hey folks! We desperately need some funds to help save up to 11 puppies/dogs and bring them to St. Louis and up to Wisconsin on July 10th! We can rent a Cargo van from Memphis for $335 (unlimited mileage). We are guessing we need at least $250 in gas (assuming we need to fill up at least 4 times???). My husband and I will pay for the hotel, but we just cannot pay for all of this too. The total will be around $575 (to make it easier).

If anyone in the Memphis/AR area has a minivan we could "rent" (for less), we would love that. We are also open to suggestions.

Passengers will be added on this post later this evening! Nearly all of the puppies/dogs are coming from City (kill) shelters in Arkansas. Thanks for caring!

PLEASE HELP PRECIOUS BLUE!

Blue shortly after being hit by a car and abandoned...

This was sent to me by Diana, who for years has been an unbelievable support (emotionally and financially) for dogs that I personally have rescued as well as the non-profit group I used to volunteer with. This woman has the biggest heart in the entire world and saved so many lives with her generosity. The woman who actually "rescued him" called her for help with this precious boy Blue and now somehow she has been "stuck" with an enormous bill that she cannot pay because she has already committed to helping numerous other dogs (this woman should be retiring but right now she HAS to work to help her "rescue dogs"). She just paid over $3000 to help a Rottie that she saved and is adopting. Anyway, Blue ultimately is in need of a forever home so PLEASE if anyone can help, let me know. We did not post until now because we didn't have all the information.


This is Blue's story (written by Diana):

MAY 18, 2010

Brave Blue, a 1-2 y/o pittie mix, was wandering along a highway in Mason, TN, early in the morning on May 18th, when his whole world turned upside down. He was hit by a car and left to die in the middle of the road minutes before a wonderful lady saw him in her lane and saw him lift his head. Another good Samaritan blocked ongoing traffic so that the lady could scoop him up and put him in her car.

Blue was in shock, covered with blood and fecal matter, but the nice lady who stopped to help later said, “I really felt the spirit telling me to rescue this dog before someone else hit him again.” She rushed him back to Memphis to her vet near Wolfchase where the doctors provided initial exam, took X-rays, gave fluids, stapled a laceration, shaved his fur/cleaned several puncture wounds, and provided pain meds. They recommended, however, that she seek specialist medical care for possible surgery to left elbow and left hip.

She called one of our volunteers who promised to help and recommended that she take this brave boy to Shelby Center Hospital (where he was named Blue because one of his eyes is blue). X-rays also showed some swelling in the abdominal area and a little fluid in the lungs. Additionally, he did not have bladder control. In great pain, Blue continued on IV fluids and heavy pain meds for a couple of weeks and needed lots of personal assistance just to move from side to side so as not to develop bed sores.

Although his doctor hoped that manipulating Blue’s hip and elbow back into place would prevent the need for surgery, it was not to be. Two weeks after the accident, successful surgery was performed and for the first time since his accident, Blue finally could stand and walk. At the present time, his left elbow is manipulated back into place and bandaged but may eventually need surgery as well.

Brave Blue has been through so much but still wags his tail and gives doggie kisses.
His doctor and all the staff who care for Blue say he is the sweetest, friendliest boy who should make someone a wonderful family pet. His kennel is adjacent to those of other dogs, and he shows no aggression toward them or any of the other dogs he passes when he walks through the halls. We are happy to report that Blue is HEARTWORM NEGATIVE!

Blue still has a long way to go in his medical care/recovery, already a month since his accident. His medical expenses/hospitalization between the two hospitals that cared/continue to care for Blue are estimated to run around $1,600. Won’t you please help Blue, so that he can continue to receive the care he needs in order to begin a new, well-deserved life. No amount is too small as it all adds up.


UPDATE 6/10/10:

I went by a second time to see Blue, last Monday afternoon. The surgery on his left leg was a success and his left elbow was in a cast. Doc called me last night and told me his cast has now been taken off his left elbow and the elbow is staying in place. He wants to keep Blue approximately 2 more weeks for further observation and also to be sure the elbow will continue to stay in place. So, hopefully, he'll need no more surgery. He now has control of bodily functions although not housetrained. Doc is very pleased with his progress, his attitude, and his disposition. He says he is the love of the techs there at Shelby Center and feels he should make someone a wonderful family pet. He is on low dosage pain meds, about the strength of a Tylenol, Doc says. He was on morphine for quite a while at first. So, he really has come such a long way. I need your help--everyone's help--in getting him the rest of the way home!!!

UPDATE 6/18/10:

Blue is READY FOR A FOSTER HOME!!! The problem is that he has nowhere to go. Please try to help find this sweet boy a foster home!


HOW CAN YOU HELP???

DONATE DONATE DONATE!!! Seriously every lit bit counts. You can make contributions directly to Shelby Center Hospital for Animals, 6923 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38133-3922. Phone 901-372-2215. Please specify that your donation is to go to the care of Blue, the little pittie boy, who survived an automobile accident. His Chip In is below (click on link):

http://savekuma.chipin.com/brave-blue-pittie-mix

Spread the word: Post his story, pics, etc. and encourage other people to donate or foster this sweet boy. He ultimately needs a forever home.

If you need more information, you can call Allison at 901-240-9848 or Diana at 901-299-9191. You may also contact me (Allison) via email allieot98@yahoo.com

PUPPY RUN #2: MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but here are the pictures from Puppy Run #2 on May, 30th! We are truly blessed to have so many angels working together to save the lives of forgotten pups in our area. Again, we cannot thank our rescue angels in Wisconsin enough. Amy and Steve- it was fantastic to meet both of you! Thank you for driving all the way to St. Louis to meet us! Please thank all the volunteers, foster families, adopters, etc. in Wisconsin for helping to spread the "Magic". Kelly- you are always there to help and we appreciate you so much. Amy J- you initially saved these babies so you ARE their angel. Diana- thank you for your efforts coordinating their spays/neuters so they would be ready to go! Check out some of the pictures below!

THE GIRLS GET TO RIDE TOGETHER (OH AND THEY EVEN GOT ADOPTED TOGETHER- YIPPEEE)!

ON THE ROAD BY 5:30 AM!

YEAH...ST. LOUIS!

LOVING THE GRASS!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO POTTY 5 PUPPIES AT A TIME???

YEP...THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS....A PUPPY PILE!

YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW SWEET THEY REALLY ARE UNLESS YOU MEET THEM!

WATER BREAK!

A HOT, STEAMY DAY IN ST. LOUIS!

KISSES, KISSES, AND MORE KISSES!

THESE REALLY ARE SOME LOVEABLE PUPS (GREAT JOB AMY J IN MS)!

LITTLE LEWIS WANTS TO PLAY!

FINALLY...LEWIS GETS TO MEET HIS OTHER RESCUE BUDDIES!

WHAT A CUTIE LEWIS IS- KELLY LOVED THE LITTLE GUY TOO!