Recap of June
June was a Terrier of a month the featured our annual fundraiser, an awesome adoption and the ongoing circle of life.
Fabulous Fundraiser Fun
June has become synonymous with our huge Jack/Chow fundraiser for the past couple of years. Although it takes months of planning, the actual evening of entertainment, food and amazing silent auction items has landed in the middle of June since we launched the event in 2013. Our first one was a smashing success, so we had some big shoes to fill … but fill them we did, thanks to your support! With experience and plenty of preparation, the event on June 14 this year was an even bigger success than the first one. Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time, efforts, silent auction items and/or talents
Frazier Goes Home
Not only did the fundraiser help us raise a lot of funds needed for vet bills, something even more spectacular came the day after the fundraiser. One of our satellite supporters and Team Russell members, Anne Ross, drove down from Tennessee for the weekend to attend the fundraiser. She brought her baby girl, Neely, with her to speed date the rescues at the ranch! All of the vols were secretly rooting for “our” own boys, but it was Neely’s choice … and Neely chose Frazier!
After several long years (we lost count) at rescue, bored to the point of which he obsessively dug holes and rearranged the hay in his kennel, Frazier had finally found a home! And what a wonderful home he has these days. He spends most of his time, “stealing” Mom’s spot on the couch and living the good life. He hasn’t dug or “danced” (in the bored way) since, and we couldn’t be happier for him.
Puppies, Puppies and More Puppies
It’s been years since we’ve had—or been prepared to care for—adoptable puppies and it definitely wasn’t something for which we had planned. But 2014 brought us lots of babies. It started at the beginning of the year with a puppy mill bust in Louisiana that brought to us three little ones, including Calli (now Allie), Damon (now Boo) and Audrey (now Riley).
No sooner did we get this group all adopted (poor Damon waited until finding the perfect family in September) than Mama Penny and her three babies ended up in the care of one of our fosters late spring. Once they were weaned and ready to go, Mama Penny (now Lilly Lee) and two of her babies, Pearl (now Georgia) and Daisy (now Lucy), would all be scooped up in August. Our wild child, L’il Lily, would stay with us a few more weeks before going up north with our rescue friends and quickly finding her forever home there.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch … Gracie arrived at rescue in June with her first–yes, first–round of grown puppies, Rosie and Violet. Her girls were bigger than she was (she is such a tiny thing), but they were definitely puppies and needed some guidance … and we needed fosters! It was this beautiful three-for-one “deal” that kicked off our foster series, which included stories from previous fosters, new fosters and even fosters-to-be. We hope to grow this program even more during the winter months (when it’s time-consuming to take care of the dogs as they must be let out and put back in where it’s warm), but are very thankful for our wonderful roster of fosters. If you are interested in fostering, please complete our foster application.
Back to Gracie …
Her girls went on to find their forever homes. Rosie became Ingrid and lives in the Atlanta Area. Violet, now known as Zephyr, went north to one of our sister rescues and is living the life on the water in Maine. And, as you probably know, Gracie arrived at rescue not just with her two growing puppies, but also with two more in her belly! Again, it was foster care (thank you to our awesome kennel keeper, Shirley Stephens, for stepping up!) that made it possible for this girl and two more of her little girls to receive the crucial care she needed during birth and in the weeks following it.
On July 27, Gracie gave birth to two beautiful girls, Ruby and Julie. They all returned to rescue two months later when the girls were ready to leave Mom. Julie was adopted in October by the Whites. She is now known as Alex and is a frequent rock star on our Facebook page with her big brother, Ode. Ruby was also adopted in October by Sara and Diane and is now known as Zubi. Gracie also went to foster care with two of our supporters/volunteers, Ben and Nikki, in October … and never came back. 🙂 She is no longer having babies; she is the baby.
Saying Goodbye to Two Special Seniors
As it goes with the circle of life … While we were up to our ears in the summer with puppies. we also lost two of our incredibly-special seniors in June.
Blizzard left us on for the Rainbow Bridge on June 13, while Sassy left on June 24. These were both Mama Donna’s personal dogs whom had been with her for years. Both were beautiful senior girls who had, had health issues throughout the years and, sadly, decided it was time to go. They will forever be in our hearts.
