Larissa Gavin: A Visionary with a Heart of Gold
Larissa Gavin's roots trace back to Wisconsin, a place where the issue of animal overpopulation differs dramatically from the dire situation in Houston. In Wisconsin, stray dogs were a rarity; however, in Texas, Larissa found herself in a world where dogs roamed the streets, abandoned and searching for scraps of kindness. In our conversation, she reflected, "Coming from Wisconsin, it was a complete opposite experience. In Houston, it's an everyday occurrence. There are parts of the city where dogs just roam around. There are people that feed them. The shelters are beyond full."
The contrast between Larissa's Wisconsin upbringing and the Houston reality was stark, but it was this contrast that fueled her determination to make a change. She embarked on a mission to build an organization that could offer these animals a lifeline to a brighter future.
The Birth of Hope
Lola's Lucky Day began as a passionate response to the plight of homeless animals in Houston. Larissa's vision was clear - she wanted to create an organization that could provide hope and a future for these dogs. To achieve this, she started networking and building partnerships with rescue groups and shelters back in Wisconsin. "At that moment, I was like, we need to do something about this. We started networking, and I contacted anybody that would listen to me to see who would take in a fully vetted dog."
The Road to Rescue
In the beginning, the Road to Rescue was windy, long, and often unknown. Larissa acknowledges that the initial days of Lola's Lucky Day were not without challenges. She recalls, "We had no idea what we were doing." And further notes, “There's not like a school to go to for learning how to rescue dogs and transport them, which was kind of a newer thing. It was a lot of learning – what to do, what not to do." She gave much credit to her husband and Treasurer of LLD, Mark, for supporting her: “I have an amazing husband who has been so supportive and really has stood by me since I started this crazy idea. I'd come home from work, and I would have like ten puppies. And he still stayed married to me!”
Mark further elaborated as he smiled thinking of the early years and the many unknown aspects of the endeavor, "We would load up a rented SUV from Houston at our house. And we're kind of like, how many can fit in this SUV that we picked up 30 minutes ago? We would drive straight through, and we would get there Sunday morning." Of course, after adopting out the dogs to loving families in Wisconsin, the couple would jump on a plane back to Houston and be back at their “day” jobs Monday Morning.
Meet Lola, the Inspiration and the Catalyst
Lola, the namesake of the organization, was one of the first dogs rescued and one Lucky pup that helped drive the early growth of the organization. In a conversation with her boss in 2014 at her corporate job, it came up that his family was looking to adopt another puppy. In response, Larissa said under her breath, “oh, I have like eight at my house.” That next weekend 4 bathed and extra cute puppies were brought to the exceptional residence of her Boss. As Larissa was getting them ready, she recalled thinking, “whoever gets this gig, it's going to be your lucky day.” Lola was the dog selected that day, and indeed, it was her Lucky Day. She now lives a life filled with love and care, serving as a heartwarming reminder that every rescue is indeed a "lucky day" for these dogs.
After the adoption of Lola, Larissa's determination took a significant step forward when her boss offered a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $20,000, to help her launch Lola's Lucky Day as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This generous gesture provided the initial foundation needed to expand their rescue efforts and eventually purchase their first transport vehicle. “It really just took like one person believing in me that I could do it, and it took off from there."
Expanding Horizons
Fast forward to 2023, and Lola's Lucky Day has come a long way. Larissa and her team now possess two transport vehicles and a well-organized system for each rescued dog. The journey from self-funding to an established rescue organization has made them grateful for what they have achieved. They also were adamant about the fact they did not do it alone and relied heavily on an amazing team of volunteers. Larissa emphasizes, "It's really come full circle now. We have an amazing team, and I really cannot stress how important that is because I'm not doing it alone. We have amazing people helping." She believes in treating everyone on the team equally, encouraging open communication, and embracing suggestions for improvement.
Additionally, a major focus essential to the success of their mission is to drive collaboration with other rescue groups and organizations. Their approach is to work together, as they all share the common goal of saving animals.
How You Can Help
When asked about funding, Larissa mentioned that Lola's Lucky Day relies on a multitude of small donations. These contributions, whether large or small, come together to make a significant impact. She highlighted the importance of monthly donors, explaining how it helps with budgeting and planning.
Supporting Lola's Lucky Day is as easy as a few clicks. Consider becoming a monthly donor or making a one-time contribution. Every dollar counts and goes toward the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of dogs in need. Visit their website to learn more about their mission and discover ways you can get involved.
Conclusion
Lola's Lucky Day has come a long way since its inception, and the journey is far from over. Lola's Lucky Day is more than a rescue organization; it's a testament to the transformative power of compassion and action. Larissa Gavin's unwavering dedication, supported by an incredible team and community, has transformed the lives of thousands of dogs. With each rescue, they bring hope, happiness, and a second chance to those who need it most.
To support Lola's Lucky Day and learn more about their mission, please visit their website LolasLuckyDay.com where you can adopt a furry friend or contribute to their life-saving work.
PACKT is proud to be committing 5% of our sales to Lola's Lucky Day through December 31, 2023.
Interested in listening or watching the great conversation we had with Larissa and Mark Gavin? Click below!
]]>This all inclusive dog rescue accepts all dogs and has an especially soft spot for senior dogs. They try to take multiple seniors a month because they believe that a shelter is no place for a dog in their golden years. Motley Mutts runs as well as it does because of the generosity and kindness of friends, family, and strangers. With the help of these donations they were able to rescue 600 dogs in their first year!
We are extremely excited and honored to feature Motley Mutts Rescue and be donating 10% of PACKT sales from November 2022 - January 31, 2023. Visit their website to learn more about the wonderful organization and follow Motley Mutts on Instagram: @motleymuttsrescue
They have so many great dogs waiting to be adopted. See them all HERE. Below are a few of the many that need homes:
Dogs are wonderful companions and some of our favorite family members. We know that they are loyal, cute, and cuddly, but did you know these 10 awesome facts about pups?! Comment below with any other fun dog facts that you know!
Image: Courtesy of our FURiends @fitz_and_oliver on Instagram
A dog’s nose prints are unique to a dog just like a human’s fingerprints and can be used to identify them.
Certain dogs have been found to sense seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur. This is important because it gives the owner time to find a safe place to stay put or call someone.
Dogs and humans both release the hormone oxytocin which is the “feel good” hormone which is why we can have such a strong bond with our pups!
Dogs can learn more than 1,000 words. Major universities have programs researching this and studying dog psychology, including Duke University and Yale!
Dogs can sense the earth’s magnetic field, when they go in circles before they go poop it is to align themselves with the north-south axis of the earth’s magnetic field.
Dogs have 3 eyelids! They have a third lid in the corner which is used for removing mucus and dust that can build up in the cornea and it keeps it lubricated.
Dogs can experience dreams like humans and have REM (Rapid Eye Movement) in their sleep.
They can see a spectrum of color, while some shades are harder for them to distinguish (like red and green) they can see blue and yellow quite clearly.
In the U.S., about one million owners named their dogs as the primary beneficiaries in their will.
Leave a comment with any additional fun facts that you know about dogs or what your favorite fact was from the above list. We'd love to hear from you!
References:
Saving Grace was established in 2004 out of a private residence and farm. They focus on rescuing animals in extremely underserved areas with high euthanasia rates. They are not a public facility where you can drop off an animal, but they rescue dogs from rural animal control facilities where the dogs may have been rescued from puppy mills, seized in cruelty cases, abandoned in natural disasters, or at veterinary clinics where situations happened like the owner dies for example. Before being put up for adoption all dogs are assessed, treated for manageable medical conditions, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered. Their role is to get rescued animals medically and emotionally ready for adoption and a great life! The farm set up at Saving Grace provides a non-shelter environment that allows the dogs to play outside with each other and adopters to mingle and interact with a variety of dogs and see which is most suitable for their home and family.
Saving Grace relies solely on donations to provide this medical care and housing for the animals and is operated in majority by a hardworking and dedicated volunteer and foster based team. We are extremely excited and honored to feature Saving Grace and be donating 10% of PACKT sales from June – August 2022. Visit their website to learn more about the wonderful organization and follow Saving Grace on Instagram: @savinggracenc & TikTok @savinggrace.nc.
They have so many great dogs waiting to be adopted. See them all HERE. Below are a few of the many that need homes:
]]>My first-time hiking in the Rocky Mountains was in 2017, I knew immediately that I would somehow find a way to get Fen, my then one year old Australian Shepherd, to these mountains. Fen and I live in western New York State, and I wasn’t comfortable flying him to Colorado so I started thinking of doing a road trip. Fast forward three years to 2020 and the plans started coming together, we would do this road trip the following summer. My travel partner would be my sister Crystal. We started to compile a list of attractions and hikes across the United States with the pinnacle of the trip being the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and the Four Pass Loop Trail outside of Aspen. We planned to do this twenty-seven mile, with its 8,000’ of gain hike as a four day, three-night backpacking adventure. Crystal, Fen, and myself were very experienced at backpacking so we had little concern at the difficulty this trail presented but we were unsure how the three of us would react to the altitude we would encounter, it would be 1000’ higher than Crystal and I had ever reached and more than double what Fen had ever been to. We live at 900’ above sea level and this hike would take us up and over four passes, each being over 12,400’ above sea level.
March of 2021, I met with Fen’s vet to discuss altitude sickness in dogs and how to recognize it before it becomes a serious medical problem. Symptoms can start to occur when hikers reach an altitude of 8,000’. Fen passed his medical checkup, and the vet gave him the ok to do this hike, with the promise we would acclimate slowly to the altitude of Colorado before doing the Four Pass Loop. The trip was planned for late August that year.
Fen arrived in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado on August 28, 2021, at five years, nine months old and in top physical condition, not to mention the 700 miles of highways over the past few days, Fen was more than ready to hit the trail. Our plan was to do three days of acclimating to the new altitude we found ourselves in, by doing a couple of overnight hikes. The first one was a 14 mile out and back that would take us to a camp at just under 11,000’. We would hike out the next morning. After a short drive, we would set out for another night on a trail that would take us above 11,000’. All three of us were doing great and feeling encouraged that we were ready to tackle the Four Pass Loop Trail.
We started the Four Pass Loop at the Maroon Lake Trailhead, following the Maroon Snowmass Trail along the north shore of Maroon Lake, we were treated to an incredible view of the Maroon Bells in the background, both these mountains reach over 14,000’, the view was spectacular! We soon came to a couple groups of hikers that were heading back out, neither group could complete the loop, the first ran out of food, including food for their dog, the next group of hikers were experiencing altitude sickness with strong headaches. After six miles and 2,500’ of gain we set up camp for the night. We were hungry but feeling great. After supper, we watched a few mule deer feeding as the sun set behind the mountains. We climbed into our tent knowing the next morning we would have a steep climb up our first pass reaching our highest altitude ever at 12,400’.
On day two we would have to tackle two passes, West Maroon Pass and Frigid Air Pass. After coffee and a light breakfast, we started up West Maroon Pass. The trail climbs steeply through switchbacks. As we reached the top of the pass I glanced at my altimeter, it read 12,465’. Our breathing was heavy but not difficult, even Fen was doing great and showed no sign of difficulty. The view was nothing less than amazing!
Fen at an altitude of 12,400' smiling the whole time
On day three we would climb two more passes, Trail Rider Pass and Buckskin Pass. We were all feeling great so we decided to increase our mileage for the day, that way day four would be a very easy day. We hiked a total of ten and half miles with 4000’ of gain on day three. That evening we found a nice camping spot with the most beautiful view from our tent. As we ate supper reflecting over the past few days, we felt incredibly proud of our accomplishment; Fen found a nice stick that he insisted I toss so he could play fetch for a while. We all slept very well that night.
Trail Rider Pass view, you can see Fenn on the trail in the lower right side
View from the campsite last night on the trail
Day four would be a very short hike out, just three miles with no gain. As we hiked out, we took plenty of time to talk to other hikers, I think for Fen this was the best part over the last four days. He made so many new friends that day.
Spectacular views the entire loop!
The Four Pass Loop is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done, with spectacular views the entire way. You do need a permit to backpack, there are plenty of water sources to filter and lots of campsite options. We never had an issue with altitude sickness, I attribute that to acclimating for a few days. I would highly recommend this hike to those who are experienced at backpacking and map navigation.
Ryan Crossett
Crystal Crossett
Follow Fen and his adventures on Instagram: @Fen_the_Aussie
Have you hiked the Four Pass Loop Trail? Or any other great hiking spots with your pup? Comment below!
]]>Spring is here! We love this time of year, seeing the trees and flowers bloom, taking our pups out to play in the warmed-up lakes and streams. But with this Spring weather also comes tick season. Tick prevention is very important this time of year especially if your pups love running around outside as much as ours do. Here are a few different ways to protect your pups:
These are just a few of the many tick prevention products and repellents we found. How do you protect your pups this time of year? Feel free to leave a comment below!
References:
https://holisticpetcare.com/articles/natural-tick-prevention-for-dogs/
https://www.optiderma.com/articles/rose-geranium-oil-tick-repellent/
https://briskpets.com/home-remedies-for-ticks-on-dogs/
https://holisticpetcare.com/articles/natural-tick-prevention-for-dogs/
https://www.hepper.com/seresto-dog-flea-collar-review/
https://www.seresto-store.com/
https://www.treasuredtips.com/natural-repellent-for-ticks/
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If your pups are anything like ours, they love playing in the snow (as you can see in the picture above of our dog Bella). But we always want to make sure they are safe when we take them outside in the colder temperatures. We compiled a list of 10 things to do/look for when taking your pup on a walk or are playing outside in the freezing temps. Please note: Each dog is different, and your dog’s breed can help you estimate their tolerance for snow and freezing weather (i.e., Huskies and Samoyeds probably can last longer in the snow/colder temperatures than a smaller dog with less fur). But these are the most common tips we found that can be relevant to your pups when going for a stroll in the wintertime:
1. Keep your dog’s hair between their toes clipped
This was a top tip we found. The reason being ice can accumulate on the hairs between toes making it harder for dogs to walk. Your pups will be more comfortable walking on colder, icy ground with their toe hairs trimmed.
2. Always wipe your dog’s paws when back inside
You want to make sure you wipe off any salt or chemicals their paws could have encountered while out on a walk. This is very important because these chemicals can be dangerous and toxic to dogs. You can use a warm, wet washcloth to wipe their paws.
3. Get booties
Many of us have seen those funny videos of dogs trying to walk with new booties (check one out here) and may have also experienced it with our own dogs, but if your pup will tolerate them then this is a safer way to walk in the snow. The booties protect their paws from cracking and prevents the ice from accumulating on their toe hairs. Booties also protect from salt and antifreeze chemicals on the street which can be toxic to dogs. Some of our followers also suggested getting socks with the booties, these are more comfortable for the pups and prevent rubbing, but this depends on your dog.
If they will not wear booties there are gels that you can get to coat the bottom of their paws. A popular one we found is “Musher’s Secret” gel that you can put on before going outside which protects their paws in the cold, but you must wipe your dog’s paws after a walk because you do not want them ingesting it and it can make tracks on your floor.
4. Use an effective leash & front clip harness – DO NOT use a retractable leash
A solid leash is important in freezing weather to help with control, especially if roads are slick. You do not want to use a retractable leash for this reason, the retractable leashes are harder to control, the thin chord can break or get wrapped around you or your dog and if that happens on slick ground it can cause falls and injury, the sudden jerk from the retractable leash can also cause your pup neck and spine injuries. A jogger leash that attaches around the waist is a safe option which allows you to have your hands free in case of slipping and will not come unhooked. Also, a front clip harness is ideal, it reduces pulling, helping to avoid slipping and sliding.
5. Get a sweater or jacket for your pup
Not all pups like wearing sweaters and jackets, but for puppies, elderly dogs, those with shorter hair or hairless and smaller breeds a jacket or sweater should be worn when outside in colder temperatures.
6. Moisturize paws
Once your pup’s paws are wiped off from outside you can use pet safe wax or conditioner to keep their paws from cracking. Make sure it is non-toxic and safe for dogs. A good go to we found mentioned on other sites is coconut oil. This is safe for dogs and has the benefits of vitamins and fats when ingested.
7. Short and sweet walks!
Again, this depends on the breed of your dog but, if temperatures are low, but above freezing you can limit your walks to about 30 minutes. If the temperature is below freezing you do not want to be outside too long. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog and look for any signs like picking up paws, whining, licking paws, and/or shivering. If you see your dog doing any of these, then you should take them home right away.
8. Don’t let your dog graze or eat things off the ground
As mentioned above, in the winter, harmful chemicals can be on the ground like antifreeze and other ice melting products that are toxic to dogs. Some suggest having your dog eat before you go out and/or bring some treats as a distraction to keep them from eating any salt /chemicals on the street.
9. Watch for frostbite
Frostbitten skin is hard, cold, and pale. It is most common on dog’s ears, tails, nose, and footpads. Keep an eye out for any signs of frostbite.
10. Walk in the day if possible
This will allow for warmer temperatures, and you will be more visible to traffic when walking which is a safer environment especially in a cold and snowy climate.
These are just a few helpful winter tips we found useful and wanted to share! Keep in mind these all depend on the breed of your pup and their tolerance for chilly weather. If you have your own winter tips, please share below. We would love to hear from you!
We hope you keep warm and have PAWesome adventures in the snow with your pups this winter!
References:
https://blog.homesalive.ca/dog-blog/tips-for-walking-your-dog-in-winter
https://topdogtips.com/walking-dogs-in-winter/
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/play-exercise/walking-dog-in-winter
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/8-steps-to-walking-the-dog-in-the-winter
https://www.mckinneyonline.com/other-news/7-dangers-of-retractable-leashes/
https://hartpets.org/10-reasons-not-to-use-a-retractable-leash/
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Julie Uthoff, founder of Pawfect Life, did not let her full-time job nor her busy family home life with two dogs & two teenagers get in the way of her passion for animals. After a very tough visit to Alabama in 2012, Julie was inspired to help save the approx. 700,000 dogs that are euthanized in the US yearly and opened her own dog rescue. Pawfect Life rescue was born in 2013 out of a pure passion for helping the thousands of adoptable dogs that get put on death row for the simple reason “there is not enough space.”
When asked what inspired her, Julie talked about two main experiences. The first was the passing of her mother 7 years ago, and how it initiated a change in the way she approached life. It really made her ask the question, “What is my purpose... Why am I here…What good am I doing in this world?” She knew it was not just to get up and go to work every day and that she had to find something else. This ultimately initiated a pursuit of her passion for animals and a trip down south that solidified her “purpose.”
On her first trip to the Birmingham Jefferson shelter in Alabama in 2012, she could not fathom the distraught and helpless conditions the dogs were in. She went on to talk about how this particular shelter takes in around 1000 dogs a month but only adopts out about 40. Inside the shelter, she saw that one side was filled with males and the other side was filled with females. Then, in the middle, there was a section of dogs up for adoption. She stated,
“This led me to the question of what happens to the other nine-hundred and something dogs?” Julie followed by explaining while shaking her head, ‘The gentleman, Richard, who worked there, he showed me his knuckles and he had “Save Them” tattooed across his knuckles because manually by injection, he is euthanizing nine-hundred and something dogs a month.’
Her face was filled with disbelief even today as she talked about this. She brought back her first dog, Riley, from this shelter, and noted that “This is the dog that changed my life.” It was not long after that Julie began the process to open up her own foster based dog rescue that can help save and transport adoptable dogs to MA, and assist the community when needed.
Pawfect Life Rescue is a foster based animal rescue that is literally run out of their house. Driving up, you can see a nice little sign in front of the driveway and the tan two-story New England style home in the background. On Monday, they hold an open house where pre-approved families can meet their potential future “furbaby.” Julie mentioned that it can get pretty wild in her kitchen with as many as 15 families and dogs and volunteers, but you could tell she absolutely loves it.
Nicole and I had the luxury of stopping in on a Monday to catch a glimpse of the action. After walking through the front door, you can see dog gates fixed within all hallways. This is when you know you are either in a dog house or a baby house (or both). Since we brought the little one along, it was perfect. Next, we were greeted with a warm welcome and smiles from everyone there. Everyone made us feel right at home. I think our daughter, Aubrielle, had the best time out of all of us!
We were fortunate to meet a few of the pups up for adoption (Ruby, Cooper, Willow, Zoey, & Ziggy) as well as her husband and main supporter, Jim, and some of the fantastic volunteers that help make Pawfect Life the great organization it is. I must also mention that we were lucky enough to hold a few locally rescued puppies. Nicole was quite thrilled if you cannot tell by the pictures. After settling in and getting a brief tour, we were able to discuss the current state of Pawfect Life as well as the future of this wonderful small dog rescue.
When speaking with Julie, you cannot help but notice how passionate she is about the rescue and the progress it has made. It is amazing to hear how far they have come since opening in 2013. Julie noted, “We saved about 50 dogs in 2013…Just in January of 2018, we have already saved 30.” It is important to note that because they are a foster based rescue without an adoption facility or isolation space, they are limited in the number of rescues they can take and adopt out. Julie explained that the key is isolation space.
I learned that it is quite the complicated process to transport dogs into the state. One of the many Massachusetts State requirements is having the dog in isolation for 48 hours before being inspected by an MA licensed Vet. Pawfect Life rescue currently works with another wonderful rescue shelter who allows them to use 5 isolation spaces a week. However, this will all be changing in May when they expect to open their very own isolation facility! This will allow them to greatly improve the number of lives they can save and be a huge step for the rescue. This is considered “Phase I” of their expansion plan. On deck is phase II which will be a full-on adoption center, but is likely a couple years away. I personally cannot wait to see how many more dog's lives are saved once this isolation center opens.
In a world where no good deed goes unpunished, I also wanted to bring up that Pawfect Life has received some negative press for helping out their local animal control team by taking in a litter of local purebred puppies that were not being properly cared for in their previous home. I still cannot understand how anyone could perceive this as an issue, but I feel the need to note that our local animal control groups are grossly underfunded for the number of cases they must deal with (not to mention 13 puppies). Anyone that has had a puppy knows how much work 1 is! It is our local Animal Rescues like Pawfect Life that are key partners in our community that help save dogs from the south and keep abandoned or abused local animals alive and cared for. I suggest those that think otherwise visit their local animal control and ask the officer to tell them some stories of animals in their care or better yet, take a trip to Alabama, Mississippi, or Tennessee, and witness what it is like down there. Adoption fees usually barely cover the costs associated with the transport and vetting, not to mention the volunteer time required to care for and help find a dog's forever home.
Without wonderful people like Julie, Jim and the rest of the Pawfect life volunteers, who knows how many more innocent lives would be lost. To finish, I’ll leave you with a great quote from Julie that I believe sums Pawfect Life Rescue up wonderfully.
“It is a labor of love. Everybody here volunteers their time and talents outside of their full-time jobs and raising their families, but it’s something that we love and we believe in... When you see these dogs that had no chance without you, and then you take them in, and you find them a wonderful family… And you’re changing that family’s life so that their lives are enhanced and they’re happy… It’s just amazing, that connection, seeing those two things. And that’s what makes us keep doing what we’re doing.”
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Love comes in many forms, many shapes, many sizes, and often with mud, slobber, and wet kisses. There is nothing more loyal than a dog that loves you, and nothing stronger than a bond between you and your dog. This love and loyalty is something many of us can relate to. Now, what if this relationship never happened? As I look down at my own three dogs who were rescued, I personally could not picture a world without them. Organizations like Fredericksburg SPCA, make these life-changing relationships possible.
Packt Collar Co Supports the FREDSPCA Posted by Fredericksburg Regional SPCA on Thursday, April 26, 2018
Here is a look at when we stopped in to say hi to the team and play with some pups.
Fredericksburg SPCA is an animal rescue that believes in all dogs and cats, even the underdog. Let’s begin with the story of Valor, which was one of Executive Director, Caitlin Daly’s, favorite stories (of many). Valor is a tan terrier mix with a white chest and white paws. He is a very lucky pup that would likely not be here if not for the commitment, passion, and love of this Virginia animal shelter. He came to them as a puppy with a rare nervous system disorder that had him always shaking. This made it hard for him to use his hind legs. It also posed a great challenge to the shelter and warranted a big decision. Caitlin noted, “Most were recommending euthanasia [due to his disorder], but we knew this was not an option for him. He could still live a good life.”
Instead, they used their resources and committed to giving this young pup an enjoyable loving life. It started with finding Valor a foster home and investing in highly specialized therapy. This included both underwater treadmill sessions and injection therapy.
Valor enjoying some play time in the water.
Fast-forward to today. Valor has now been with his forever family for two and a half years and is enjoying life to its fullest! While he still has symptoms of his disorder, it does not stop him from enjoying the ocean or the sandy beach. It is stories like this that set Fredericksburg SPCA apart from many other shelters and just put a smile on your face.
We had the great pleasure of talking with the executive director, Caitlin Daly, to gain some insight into Fredericksburg SPCA and the fantastic progress made since taking over in 2015. With three rescued dogs of her own, Rowen (a 7 y/o pit mix), Jenna (a 10 y/o Shepard mix), and Poe (a 2 y/o puggle), she understands the love and lives that are at stake. I could sense the passion and love she brings to the shelter in her voice as she talked about the good they have been able to do.
Adoptions at this shelter have almost tripled since 2015, with 1800 adoptions in 2017. Caitlin noted that this increase began with a drastic improvement to the internal culture of the organization. From there, they were focused on creating a low-barrier adoption process with a willingness to collaborate and a drive to connect with the community. She followed up by saying, “It’s truly a judgment free zone.”
8-year-old love bug, Stevie - Learn More Here
With all of this success, I had to ask her what she was most proud of. She responded by explaining that they take in animals that many other shelters can’t or won’t. They are not afraid to take on challenges or animals with issues, and they do not have any problems adopting them out to loving homes. She stated, “It’s about having creative ways of marketing and driving attention to their positives.” She went on to use Cats with FIV (Feline immune deficiency virus) as an example. These cats can live very normal and enjoyable lives without the need for much if any medical attention, however, if you label them as having an issue right away, people do not even give them a chance. With that said, they are very transparent with the adopting families. It is more about allowing potential adopters to find that bond with an animal and ensuring they are properly educated about any health risks they may have.
Another fantastic program that she started was the Adventure Tails program. This is where a volunteer can simply come in and take out one of the long-term resident animals for a walk. It gives the animals a well-deserved day off from the shelter scene, and also allows the volunteers to learn more about the animal and their personalities in a more natural environment. It started as an opportunity for prospective adopters to get to know and bond with an animal outside the shelter, but quickly became a great volunteer opportunity to give the shelter animals some fresh air and a well-deserved break. Through our discussion, I discovered that it was originally called the “Pokemon-Go” program while the app was all of the craze, but was rebranded to Adventure Tails on Earth day, 2017. This is another example of how Fredericksburg SPCA is going above and beyond to provide to their shelter animals and community. As stated on their website, “The Adventure Tails program breaks down so many barriers for our community AND our animals!”
As a final question, I asked Caitlin, “What would you improve or expand at the shelter if there were no restrictions?” As she already improved it so much since 2015, I thought it would be interesting to hear her response. She responded with two main areas.
The first would be to create a community cat department that would focus on Feral populations. She explained, “Cat populations are a hugely overlooked issue in both shelters and within the state.” It is an issue Virginia as a whole needs to address. The next would be to create a department to address severe behavioral problems in dogs. It would allow them to have the deep resources required to take in and rehabilitate those that had no-where to go due to perhaps a troubled past. I could tell that both of these were not spur of the moment ideas for Caitlin. I would not be surprised to see one of these departments come to life in the future.
We are very proud to be featuring the fantastic Fredericksburg SPCA where close to 2000 animals are adopted every year. Caitlin Daly and her team have truly made an IMPACKT to their community and we hope to help them through our donation of 10% of sales for the period of March-May. I thought Caitlin summed everything up perfectly when she said, “If an animal has the potential to live a good life, there is no ceiling to what we are willing to do.” They are a shelter that stays true to their mission to create positive change within their community through compassionate care and outreach. For that, we thank you.
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Walking into Buddy Dog, it quickly becomes clear that each dog in their care is special. These animals are not just another number that passes through the doors of this shelter, rather, their pet and family member that they are trying to find the perfect home for.
While taking a stroll through the Kennel, I noticed one dog named Sam. Sam is a 5 year old Coonhound mix rescued from South Carolina with fur scaling from white on his chest to dark brown on his body, and light brown on his hind legs. As I walked past his kennel, he came through the doggie door from the outside with his ears slightly perked but then quickly retreated back to the outdoor portion of his kennel. I could tell he had a sweet heart but was just bit nervous, so I tried calling him over softly with my back turned. While he did not make it all the way, he kept building up the courage to come closer but then would quickly move back. I could tell that he just needed someone to love him and give him a secure environment to live in. The thought did cross my mind, but unfortunately, I knew our home would not be best for him.
After I was done with my walk through, I asked one of the volunteers, “How is Sam? What are your thoughts on him?”
She replied, “Sam is a love, but is a little unsure of newcomers. He is for sure all hound. With his keen nose, I would be concerned with him going to somewhere without set boundaries. With the way he grasps onto scents, he would not do well with an invisible fence or something like that.”
This instantly showed me that they were looking for a very specific home for each of their temporary residents. Each run has a description that outlines the ideal home for each dog. For example, there was Duke who was very laid back and friendly, but based on his history, they noted that he would do best in an “adult only home and as the only pet.” It is places like Buddy Dog that really gives you hope for the so many dogs and cats out there that are in need of help.
Buddy Dog has quite the history. Being formed in 1961 after the founder rescued an abandoned puppy from a paper bag on the top of a pile of smoldering trash at the Sudbury town dump, and placed them to a loving family. Buddy Dog was actually one of the original three animal rescues in Massachusetts. They now have a facility with 32 indoor/outdoor dog runs complete with comfortable bedding and toys and housing for 20 felines. As stated the Buddy Dog website, “The Society is incorporated with one main objective, ‘giving a new lease on life to impounded dogs and cats’. Buddy Dog accepts homeless dogs and cats, in good health and of friendly disposition, which could, without our help, be destroyed. These animals find refuge at our shelter and can depend on becoming someone’s forever friend. There is no time limit on their stay.”
We are very proud to be featuring Buddy Dog Humane Society for the months of September, October, & November and contributing to their mission by donating 10% of our sales. We hope that you too will support in anyway possible.
*Update - Since writing this post, we are excited to let you know that Sam has been adopted :)
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Update: Amount Donated: $113.65
]]>The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling is a Non-Profit, No-Kill animal shelter and boarding facility located in Sterling, Massachusetts. Formed in 1988 - incorporated in 1996, The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling provides humane sheltering and quality care for unwanted, stray, neglected and abused animals with no age or time restrictions. They are solely supported by surrender and adoption fees and private donations. They serve and care for over 3,000 animals yearly with low cost spay/neuter, vaccine and dental services at their on-site vet clinic. Their dedicated staff strive to find safe, loving and lifelong homes for all adoptable pets. The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling serves to improve the quality of life for both the animals and people within the community.
We are also impressed with their programs that work with shelters in areas where the homeless pet population is much higher than it is in the Northeast. They do this by transporting dogs out of High-Kill shelters. Both Bella and Meeka were a part of this program. Bella is from a shelter located in Virginia, and Meeka is from a shelter in Puerto Rico. They call this their “Puppy Rescue Program” which includes the Virginia Homebound Hounds Program, S.O.S. (Save Our Satos) Program from Puerto Rico, and the TN Rescue program in Tennessee. As described by Sandy Wyatt (Southside SPCA Director), “Leigh and her staff have saved thousands of puppies and dogs. The unwanted litters do not have a chance in the South. We are very grateful for this program. Every week our shelter receives emails, pictures, letters and phone calls just to thank us for sending their new adopted baby to them.” These programs make a big difference in helping to reduce the growing number of euthinizations each year.
1 - Millions of animals are killed each year simply because people do not spay or neuter their pets. This is a SIMPLE thing to FIX, yet is not being done enough. As noted previously, Sterling Animal Shelter offers low cost spay/neuter services if anyone needs to get their dog or cat spayed/neutered.
2 – There are many dogs and cats in need homes from shelters vs puppy mills and breeders. By shopping from a pet store or breeder, a shelter pet will miss out on a chance at finding a forever home. Please considering adopting, not shopping.
There are many ways to help Sterling Animal Shelter. We are committed to giving 10% of our sales with hopes of making a positive impact on the animals awaiting a home. We ask that you also join us in supporting them whether it be through purchasing our product, volunteering, donating, or adopting. Click the links below to be directed to their website to help make a difference.
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