Welcome to the October, 2014 issue of the ANGELS HERALD MAGAZINE! We are so happy to present a new cover this month! Our Angels Rescue photographer, Lee Burns, provided this beautiful picture of a rescue kitty at a recent adoptions event! Lee is a professional photographer but also finds time in his busy schedule to take photos of kittens and adult cats at adoption events. Lee and his wife, Katie, also foster felines for Angels Rescue. We hope you’ll find many things to love about our issue this month - we plan to keep you all informed, and entertained as you and your pets enjoy all the wonderful things to come with the changing of the seasons. Please remember to keep all your pets SAFE during the upcoming Halloween Trick-or-Treat time of fun and parties! Also, make sure they are inside and not outside where they can be easily scared and run away! Enjoy the Fall colors, leaves, smells, and most of all, enjoy the upcoming season of Holidays, good food and having fun with family - 2 legged and 4 legged. See you along the trail!
Beth
Hi, I’m Murphy! I haven’t always been Murphy and I haven’t always been lucky, either. But someone took a chance of me - an “Angel” named Lance White. After I was rescued, I spent a little time with some nice people at a place called “boarding” so I could recover from a nasty case of kennel cough. Dr. Rosenthal at Rose Animal Hospital and her team nursed me into good health as quick as they could but I was still confined for what seemed to me like a really long time. Then, one day the cutest little girl and her mom came by to meet me. I don’t know how it happened, but they decided that I WAS THE ONE to make their family complete!! I had to wait for them to return from a trip far away. While I waited for them to come back, I stayed with a “foster” mommy and her family. Boy, was I scared and confused - so far, I had been moved around a lot and was afraid my “girl” wasn’t going to come back! But Ms. Kim and her family took good care of me, taking me on several walks each day so I could smell the outdoors and feel grass under my feet. They saw me through my surgery and helped me be a part of a family. I even got to meet a nice “trainer” that helped me understand some commands that would make my life easier with my family. The big day finally came for my own forever family to pick me up. It was pouring rain and I was nervous but after a shaky meeting with my new fur sister, Baily, I was off to my new life! No one could have prepared me for the love and joy I would have! With Annie and William and my new parents, I have so much attention and I have left all of my scared feelings behind me. I’ve spent most of my time on the lake with the family; my favorite thing is going for a boat ride or riding the paddle board. This is me pictured here my “kids”: Annie & William (didn’t I tell you she was cute?) Sadly, lots of Georgia brown dogs end up in shelters and never make it out. They need an Angel, too. Someone who’s willing to foster and give them a chance, like I got! I don’t know what I did to deserve it, but I am the luckiest dog around! Thank you Angels Among Us Pet Rescue for seeing the good dog in me! Love and Kisses,
Murphy
(previously known as Raylan the Stray)
Saving A Life Never Gets OLD! So many lives are lost when SENIOR PETS are abandoned in high-kill shelters - not because they did anything wrong‌ they simply committed the sin of getting old and no one wanted them anymore. They don’t last long after that. They spend their entire lives giving love, loyalty to us. Can we not give them the same love, loyalty and caring in their senior years? Adopt a Senior Pet today and receive a love that is forever and deeper than time! www.angelsrescue.org/adopt
11 Things Dog Owners Should Never Say By: Jaymi Heimbuch http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/
If you have owned a dog, one of these 11 phrases has probably slipped past your lips. Here's why it matters.
When it comes to dogs, owners sometimes have tunnel vision, seeing the world only from the perspective of their own dog or their own dog-training experience. This often leads to owners tossing out sentences that, in an ideal world, would never be uttered. Yet these words are clues to a bigger issue, or a situation that's about to become an issue, including not fully understanding dog behavior, social cues, body language, or simply good manners toward other dogs and dog owners. Training yourself is the the most productive strategy for improving the behavior of your dog -- as well as other dogs that your dog socializes with -- because you are such a big influencer of behavior, even when you don't realize you're influencing your dog's actions. Dr. Patricia McConnell writes in her book "The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs," "Focusing on the behavior at our end of the leash isn't a new concept in dog training. Most professional dog trainers actually spend very little time working with other people's dogs; most of our time is spent training humans. Take it from me, we're not the easiest species on the block to train." But it doesn't have to feel daunting. Training yourself can become easier if you're truly seeing your thought process about your own dog and dogs you pass on the street. Once you
recognize how you think about them, you can more easily influence what you think about them. And once you do that, better interactions will follow. All dog owners have been guilty of saying at least one, if not several of the phrases below. Of course none of us are perfect, and "should never" is basically an impossible aspiration. But if you catch yourself saying one of the phrases below, it might be time to ask yourself why you’re saying it and use it as a training opportunity to fine-tune how you're really viewing your dog and his behaviors. Here are 11 examples of things dog owners often say that should spark wariness about what's really going on.
"It's okay, my dog is friendly." This is often said by an owner whose dog is approaching (or charging up to) another dog or person. The owner is perhaps trying to calm potential fears that their dog has negative intentions, because maybe that other owner or dog looks nervous. Even worse, the owner uttering this phrase may not have any control whatsoever over how their dog is approaching others and is just hoping that everything goes well. If you need to say this phrase, then it’s possible you’re letting your dog get away with some bad, potentially dangerous manners.
This is also a common response from an owner whose dog is approaching another dog/human pair that is actually asking to maintain some distance. Frankly, it doesn’t matter if your dog is friendly or not — if someone asks for space, it’s for a good reason. Their dog might be fearful, reactive, injured, in training, or simply not want anything to do with your dog. Just because your dog is "friendly" doesn't mean he automatically has permission to approach another dog or a person, nor should his unlikeliness to bite or pick a fight be an excuse for poor manners. If you find yourself assuring people that your dog is friendly, then it may be a good opportunity to look at the bigger picture about what exactly is happening and if your dog is being, well, far too friendly.
"Oh, my dog would never bite." Famous last words — and words every UPS delivery person hates to hear because they are filled with naive confidence. Your dog might be the world's most goofy, loving dog but to quote a favorite song, "Never say never." (The irony of saying this in light of the title of this article isn't lost on me.) In fact, saying your dog would never do something is a red flag signaling misunderstanding, or worse, denial, about what your dog thinks or feels about the world and how that might change with age, illness, new family members or other experiences. But assuming your dog would never bite is perhaps the most dangerous assumption to make, since it makes you lax about monitoring interactions that could have serious consequences. If your dog has a mouth and any sense of what is going on in the world around her, she can and just might bite if pushed. It's better to know this fact and respect your dog's capabilities, comfort zones and boundaries just in case, than act as if the scenario could never pop up.
"It's not my dog's fault." Maybe it isn't, but maybe it is. On the one hand, there are a lot of dogs that get the blame for reacting to the instigation of another dog. The biggest of the dogs, or the loudest, or the one of a certain breed, or the one that ends up on the winning end often gets blamed. However, there
is a large portion of the dog-owning population who say, "It wasn't my dog's fault" and they are totally, completely, and utterly wrong. Not only wrong, but as much at fault as their dog who indeed started the altercation. This phrase is uttered too often by people who have little experience reading dog body language, and aren't interpreting, or simply aren't paying attention to, the signals their dog is sending out into the world. Small dog owners are an easy example; because the dog is small, many owners think it's acceptable — or worse, cute — when their dog stares at, postures at, growls at, or lunges at other nearby dogs. Their dog is small and can't do a whole lot of damage (or is easy to drag by the leash or pick up off the ground) when they act out. Sadly, though, it is indeed this dog's fault when something happens, even though they might be the smallest of the suspects. So if your dog tends to be in the middle of problems, start paying attention. It might be your dog that is drawing in the trouble.
"Let them work it out themselves." This is one of the worst things you can hear (or do) in a social situation with dogs, especially at a dog park. There is an over-reliance on the notion that dogs have a built-in pack savvy that they'll revert to when they're among other dogs, so humans don't need to or shouldn't step in to manage social interactions. But many expert dog trainers and behaviorists will point out that a group of new dogs meeting at a dog park isn't a pack in the true sense of the word. Further, individual dogs might not know how to give or receive cues from each other to keep a situation from escalating. So as the social tension builds, the humans simply standing by creates a recipe for a fight or psychological trauma. Some dogs are bullies, some are fearful, some aren't so great at picking up the cut-it-out cues from others or just ignore them, some have overactive play or prey drives, some are resource-protective. Putting dogs with varying personalities together and letting them "work it out" is like taking the teacher out of a third-grade classroom and letting the kids figure it out
among themselves. It's probably going to get chaotic, and someone is going to get hurt. Letting dogs figure things out among themselves is important, but to an extent. Professional dog trainer Erin Kramer points out, "Socialization is the process of a dog teaching another dog about proper behavior. So yes, a little education here and there about bite inhibition or being too bossy is a critical part of canine socialization. But any escalation beyond that, where you let dogs sort it out, teaches your dog two things. First is, 'I can't rely on my human to protect me or standup for me.' And second is one of these two lessons: 'Fighting works (so I'll do it again and again),' or 'I hate other dogs, they are scary.' Any of those messages are the exact opposite of why you wanted your dog to socialize with other dogs in the first place." Leaving aside the possibility of a serious fight, when a situation escalates and an owner doesn't step in, there is an erosion of the trust and confidence the dog has in his owner which can lead to other behavior problems. Responsible dog owners don't let dogs "work it out themselves" — rather, they help their dogs have positive social interactions by managing the play situation, making sure all is calm and not letting things escalate. And if things do escalate, they step in to stop it.
"There was no warning." There's always warning. You just didn't see it. "Communication is a critical ingredient in any relationship, yet as our human interactions show, even between two members of the same species speaking the same language, this is not necessarily an easy matter," writes Suzanne Clothier in "Bones Would Rain From The Sky: Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs". She explains, "The language of Dog is not unlike our own human language. It is filled with nuance and subtleties, the sum of which -- examined within a given context -- provide a total communication. Like our dogs, we can communicate volumes without uttering a word, though doing so with great clarity requires awareness of our own bodies and the subtle meanings behind gestures."
Dogs have an intricate though sometimes subtle body language through which they tell you and other dogs everything they're thinking or feeling. Sometimes dogs give warning after warning after warning before finally lashing out, and the human just didn't know what the dog was saying or that the dog was communicating at all. When someone's dog is attacked at a dog park by another dog and says, "There was no warning," what that person is really saying is, "I wasn't paying enough attention or didn't know enough to see the signals my dog and the other dog were sending each other and step in before things escalated." Don't blame yourself if you didn't see it. Dog body language can be hard to read and "conversations" can happen lightning fast. But don't say there was no warning. Instead, ask how you missed the warning and how you might catch it next time.
"He just wants to play." This might be the case if your dog is play bowing to another dog, enticing another dog into a game of chase with a toy or fake-bolting. But it could also be a lot more complicated than that. This phrase is often said by owners whose dogs are being overly exuberant, being a bully, or are otherwise pushing the boundaries of acceptable social behavior. And often, the person saying this doesn’t know enough about dog body language and social cues to understand when another dog is getting fed up with their own dog's antics or, equally as problematic, their dog is not being playful at all. Perhaps the dog who "wants to play" is showing nervousness about the pecking order and is being overly submissive by face licking another dog and rolling over in a submissive posture. Perhaps the dog who "wants to play" is being a bully by nipping, barking at, or standing on another dog when their "play" partner is showing signs of frustration or fear. Saying that a dog just wants to play too often gives an excuse for bad or potentially dangerous social behavior. If an owner is constantly pawning off their dog’s annoying, mean or awkward behavior as trying to be playful then it might be time to study up on
canine body language and find out what’s really going on.
"Dogs love me." Cue the eyeroll from every person who owns a dog that doesn't like other humans. Most dogs might love you, but not all dogs do. It's just a statistical reality. Even if most dogs seem to think you're made of tennis balls and treats, some dogs won't love you. Not even if you really were made of tennis balls and treats. So, if someone asks you to keep your distance from their dog, please, for the love of DINOS, don't respond with this phrase. (A DINOS is a dog in need of space, and an owner knows best when their dog will be uncomfortable with you, no matter how convinced you are of your lovability.) By assuming that a dog will appreciate your approach, you're opening yourself up to real danger for a bite. And even if a dog doesn't bite you, you may be causing psychological distress to a dog that doesn't want you so close — distress that could potentially lead to a bite later on down the road when the dog feels it needs to protect itself from people who come charging up saying, "Dogs love me."
"My dog is great with kids." All kids? All the time? Or kids of a certain age or behavior? Kids act differently at different ages, and your dog who might be amazing with an infant may be less confident or patient with a bumbling, tumbling toddler with erratic, unpredictable movements. Or your dog who is tolerant of slower toddlers might have an overstimulated prey drive when 7- or 8-year-olds are yelling, running around and jumping over furniture. Or your dog who is a saint with your kids and even the neighborhood kids might not be great when a new child comes along and joins the group; you just don't know until the situation pops up. Yes, your dog might be great with kids. And if that's the case, then wonderful and three cheers for your dog! We all want to have Lassies and Old Yellers and Good Dog Carls. But a dog who is great with all kids, all the time is rare. What family dogs are good at is having a high
tolerance for most children, which is quite different from being a perfect playmate or nanny. It leaves the possibility open of your dog being pushed past their patience limits or comfort zones. So think carefully on the various boundaries you may need to put on this statement before you say this.
“He's a rescue [insert excuse for behavior here]." Some rescued dogs come from horrific pasts. They may have been saved from serious neglect or abuse, or have spent time as a stray on the street. Because of this, sometimes their past experiences are the reason why they have certain behavior issues. But as one of my high school teachers used to say, there is always a reason but seldom an excuse. Not all adopted dogs come with dark pasts, and not all adopted dogs have behaviors that can be waved away or excused because of previous experiences. Personality traits like shyness, timidity and mistrust are sometimes just that: personality traits. And behavior issues like poor manners with other dogs, reactivity, or barking at strangers can't always be attributed to the mysterious past of your dog. Sometimes they're simply learned behaviors that need training to improve. If you've adopted a rescued dog, then you earn a big high-five! But only if you aren't dramatizing the dog's status as adopted and letting poor behavior sneak by.
"He's doing that to try and be dominant." The whole "dominant dog" thing has frankly gotten out of control. The word is flung around as a way to explain practically any misbehavior from jumping on a person to digging through the trash to urinating on the bedspread. If your dog jumps on you or crawls on you when you're sitting on the floor, it's more likely that it's out of over exuberance and lack of solid training than because he's trying to show you who is boss. Even resource protection isn't necessarily a "dominance" issue — a dog just doesn't want to lose what he considers valuable, like a certain toy or a bowl of food. The fear and anxiety about that loss is as much a possible cause for a growl
as a drive to be the leader of the pack. Assertiveness, confidence, a lack of confidence, pain or illness, excitement, exuberance, fear, mistrust, a lack of training ... there are far more accurate ways of interpreting a dog's actions than the tired old line of "trying to be dominant." McConnell writes, "Understanding social status is particularly important because misunderstanding what 'dominance' means has led to appallingly abusive behavior. So much old-fashioned obedience training could be summarized as, 'Do it because I told you to, and if you don't, I'll hurt you.' The assumption seemed to be that dogs should do what we say because we told them to; after all, we're the humans and they're the dogs, and surely humans have more social status than dogs." However, as McConnell goes on to point out, social status isn't all about dominance; it is a far more complex concept than one member of the family "pack" being the leader. Whittling everything down to a dominance problem means losing sight of the complexity of social dynamics and creates blind spots for understanding behaviors. Don't let the real reason for behaviors, and therefore appropriate and effective solutions for training, get ignored because the word "dominance" springs to mind ahead of anything else.
"He knows better than that." Does he? Or does your dog know a certain way to behave only in a certain context? Dogs can have a hard time translating behaviors learned in one place, like your living room, to another place, like inside a pet store or a dog park where smells, sights, people and energy levels are completely different. A dog that has been taught to sit politely at your front door before exiting probably won't translate that to sitting politely in front of any door before exiting, unless you've gone through that exercise at tons of different doors and been consistent about it. It even goes for a different side of your own body; if you've taught a dog to sit on your left side but never practiced on your right side, then getting that dog to sit on your right side will take a little more time.
To get a certain behavior from a dog consistently despite where you are or the specifics of what you're asking takes training the dog for that behavior in a wide variety of settings, under a wide variety of conditions, so your dog knows that "sit" doesn't just mean "that movement I do right before I'm about to get a leash put on" but rather means "put my rump on the ground no matter where I am or what is happening and keep it there until told otherwise." So before you get upset with your dog because "he knows better" or "he knows how to do that," take a look at the training history and ask yourself: “does he really?�
“Wet Eyes and Warm Hearts” Julie O’Bryant, Angels Publications “It’s always friendlier with two”. That’s what I’ve read on countless cards, and in Winnie the Pooh stories. It’s what I believed in theory. This is what I’ve learned with having two dogs. The first thing I noticed was that their heads were wet. In the cool of the morning, I whistled them to my side. They galumphed up the deck stairs to wag at me, tongues lolling. They had been colliding, wrestling, rolling in the dew damp grass and bushes. I had watched them from the deck, my heart full, as they play-bowed: first one, then the other. One ran, the other followed. Then, in joyful switch, they traded places. Finally, exhausted with play, they would come to me, waiting for what the day would bring. And their heads were always wet. But, It was not always so. First, there was only one. Sparky, our first dog, was a loner. He was slow to warm to our family and never enthusiastic. He was affectionate, but from a distance. I fell over the day he tentatively licked my hand. After a year with us, I noticed him staring out of windows and whimpering. If there was ever a picture of loneliness, I was looking at it. And so, in addition to being a dog lover, owner and sustainer; I became a matchmaker.
"No Mom - we know nothing about your shoes." But, if we DID know something, it was that they were delicious."
I knew the right dog for Sparky and our family when I saw him. Blocky head, melting expression in chocolate eyes, quiet manner and loving energy: Rocky was everything that I felt that Sparky needed in a brother and friend. They met with my heart pounding and their tails wagging and it was friendship at first sniff. We took Rocky home and the most touching friendship began. I thought I couldn’t handle one dog, now I had two. What I forgot was the quality of dogs that I had. Not purebred, but precious rescued souls who looked at every gentle touch and helpless “I love you” from me as a gift from God. I also had a very special big brother in Sparky. He took Rocky under his paw and showed him the rules of the house.
Now, this sharing of canine information has gone both ways, and Rocky has taught Sparky a thing or two (“HEY! Let’s hide her shoe, and her keys!”, “What’s this remote thing, it smells like her, you wanna gnaw on it?”), but I digress. But my biggest impression is that their heads were always wet. One day, I watched carefully as they played. In the heat and dry of a noontime summer day, they bounced and caroused and mouthed each other’s heads. Shepherd mixes (or at least my two) are notoriously “mouthy” and “pawsy”…very hands-on in play. “Oh, good grief.” I thought. “Are they biting each other? Will they hurt each other?” I shouldn’t have worried. They played as brothers will, their gnawing of each other’s heads as vigorous as brothers putting each other in a headlock while administering “noogies”. When done, in perfect accord, they came to look for me and I would pet them. And their heads were ALWAYS wet. Finally, it was the cool of the evening and bedtime was near. It was time for the last cuddles of the day. As I went to pet them, I stopped and watched them. On the landing of our stairs, they stared at me, eyes drooping in prospect of safe and loved rest. And as I watched, Rocky reached over and gently licked Sparky’s head. He then placed his head by his brother’s side.
"Rocky and Sparky .. Tales of Two Adventurers"
Sparky lifted his head and nudged Rocky, giving him a thorough nosing, making sure that he was safe. He ended with a gentle kiss to Rocky’s head. I reached a trembling hand toward them to pet them both. Their heads were ever so slightly wet….and so were my eyes.
Julie O’Bryant is a member of the Angels Herald Publications team, a volunteer for AAUPR, and a two-time adopter of rescues Sparky and Rocky from Angels Among Us! She is an educator, a wife, a mom and true animal lover.
It Takes A Village In the World of Animal Rescue!
Thank You To Our Supporters We are so thankful for our supporters. Often, in rescue, there are days when you just don't think you can take anymore. One more sad story, one more lost dog, one more crisis, one more sick to the point of death, and you just don't think you can keep on. Then, you are reminded how much the work we do here inspires others - and how a new generation of children are being educated to spay/neuter and commit to their pets for a lifetime. On a day when we all need a reminder, we get a wonderful note like this one in the mail! We love seeing stories like this and we love sharing it with all of you ! There is wonderful hope generation!
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Our Featured Angels Dog: Meet Lorenzo! A friendly, quiet boy filled with Amore’! His name may have a bit of Italian seasoning, but Lorenzo is an all-American, all-around good guy. He’s a mellow-fellow who’s as sweet as a cannoli. So if you’re looking for an easygoing, mid-sized, well-behaved companion, you don’t have to search the world; Lorenzo is (hopefully!) right in your back yard. Lorenzo is an adorable, 2-year old, 60pound St. Benard mix who’s perfect as can be. He’s fully-vetted, chipped, crate comfortable and totally house trained. He loves people and adores it when people love on him. He happily plays with other dogs and explores his foster’s yard with grand curiosity. (A little Marco Polo in him?) He enjoys long walks and behaves very politely on a leash…or off. He’s just cute, loveable and calm…and easy-as-(pizza) pie. Lorenzo’s foster mom said he would do great in a home with caring adults who love to cuddle, pet and are looking for a loyal, low-maintenance buddy. He’s not a cat guy. But maybe, if you’re cat-less, he can be your guy. For any family, of any background, he will be a national treasure. Please find out more about this smart, sweet, low-key boy. Or come meet him and consider adoption. Contact Angels Among Us Pet Rescue by email at “Adopt@angelsrescue.org”. To see all of our rescued pets up for adoption, please visit our website at www.angelsrescue.org/adopt. Thank you for opening your heart and your home to Lorenzo or any other pet through Angels Among Us. Your caring and compassion means the world to every pet, in every shelter around America who is begging for a voice, a heart, and a home!
Angels’ Featured Cat: Meet CHEETO! Jill Kaloustian, Publications Team We are so excited to be able to introduce you to a very special Angel in this month's Featured Cat segment! Meet Cheeto – this seven year old Turkish Van mix is ready to find his forever home! Cheeto has been neutered and microchipped and is up-to-date on his shots and vetting. He loves adults, children and other cats. He has not been around dogs. Cheeto is a stunning boy! He came to us a bit underweight and has put on three pounds in just three weeks and we expect him to put on even more weight before he's finished! He's HUGE! He loves to lay at your feet and have his head rubbed. He's never late for a meal and won't turn down seconds (or thirds!) if you offer them! He likes sleeping with his humans and playing with feather toys and his bird-on-a-string. Cheeto is a special needs cat – he is FIV+ and that seems to scare adopters off but it shouldn't. FIV+ cats can live long & healthy lives, just like any other cat. They may be more prone to infections, but with routine vet care & healthy food, it's easily managed. And since FIV is transmitted through sex (Cheeto is neutered) and deep bite wounds (Cheeto is NOT a biter), he should be able to live around non-FIV cats with no problems whatsoever. We would be happy to provide you with more information so please feel free to contact us! The rewards of having this Angel as your companion far outweigh the little bit of extra attention that he may require. Don't forget to check out the other wonderful pets up for adoption through Angels by visiting our website www.angelrescue.org/adopt/. Also, please visit, like and follow Angels' Cats page at www.facebook.com/angelsrescue.cats. To find out more about our featured felines or other cats up for adoption through Angels Rescue, please feel free to contact our Angels’ cat team by email at “catinquiry@angelsrescue.org”.
Another Halloween and we’re here to talk about hate… It’s us, the black boys from Suwanee, Ebony and Slate! You know, just because our fur is black It doesn’t make sense to put us under attack.
Our color gives you no reason to hurt us; let’s be frank We don’t deserve to be victims of inhumane pranks!
It’s mean and it’s wrong what some people will do What gives them the right to abuse us, we haven’t a clue! So think of all the black cats and dogs this Halloween Who need a fur-ever home; do you know what we mean? See the thing is… we’re smart and we’re loyal if you’ll give us a fair chance We’re counting on you to end the stereotype; then watch us prance.
God’s furry black bundles and your companion always We’ll teach you about love that’s sure to amaze.
And we’ll watch over your young to defend with our lives If only you’ll give us black ones a try :)
Terri Ernissee – AAU Volunteer, Cats Team
Top Ten Halloween Safety Tips Victoria Stilwell - www.positively.com
Halloween is an awesome holiday, especially for chocoholics like me! But most of our pets don’t necessarily enjoy fright night quite as much as we do, and there can be extra dangers lurking for them that we should help them avoid. Here are a few tips for keeping your pets happy and healthy on Halloween: 1.
Keep the candy bowl away from your pets. Candy is never a good idea for any pet, and chocolate in particular can be very dangerous for dogs and cats thanks to a toxic chemical called theobromide. Put the candy bowl where your pets can’t reach it and be sure to lock the cupboard door so they can’t do some scary scavenging.
2.
Careful with the costumes. We may love dressing ourselves up, but I’m pretty sure that if we asked our dogs and cats, they’d agree that they’d just as soon not wear that canine superman outfit you think is so cute. If you absolutely must dress your pet up, consider a simple themed bandanna, or at least make sure the outfit is not constricting, uncomfortable or harmful to the animal. Dog costumes often cover so much of the body that their ability to express important canine body language signals to us or other dogs is compromised, which can lead to unnecessary, avoidable instances of aggression or bites.
3.
Don’t take your dogs trick or treating with you, even if you’re confident that your dog will be able to handle it. There are too many unknown factors on a night like Halloween, and even if your dog is well-adjusted, some others you encounter may not be. Plus, seeing a bunch of four-foot tall Yodas and goblins can unnerve even the most placid dogs.
4.
Keep your dogs away from the door during trick or treating hours. Again, even if your dog is a good, well-mannered greeter, your smaller guests are not always prepared to see dogs bounding down the hallway or sniffing their candy bags. Just play it safe and keep your dogs and cats locked away in another part of the house for those couple of hours.
5.
Make sure any electric cords for holiday decorations are out of reach of your pets, especially if they’re chewers. Nibbling on a hot wire won’t turn out well for anyone.
6.
Be sure your jack-o-lanterns with live flame inside them are also kept out of reach. They can get easily bumped or knocked over, leading to fire hazards.
7.
Halloween is a great excuse to make sure your dog or cat is microchipped. Given all the crazy sights and sounds of the evening, many pets end up running away each year.
8.
Keep your pets indoors on Halloween and in the days surrounding it. There are just too many jerks around sometimes, so play it safe and don’t tempt fate.
9.
Head out for your afternoon or evening walk with your dogs well before trick or treaters start hitting the neighborhood. No reason to risk a frightful encounter with Buzz Lightyear and his noisy, flashing guns and jetpacks.
10. Desensitize ahead of time. Be aware of how stressful the repeated ringing of the doorbell can be for dogs. If you haven’t already, take some time to desensitize your dogs to the sound of the doorbell or knocking in the weeks leading up to the big night so that they’re prepared.
It Takes A Village In the World of Animal Rescue! We Love our Young Angels Ambassadors!
Compassion is defined as “deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.” But it’s more than just that. Compassion is an attitude, a philosophy, a way of life. We are touched by this card sent in by one of our youngest Angels fans, Emily. At 12-years-old, Emily's kindness and sense of responsibility toward others melts our hearts and gives us great hope for our future generations. Kudos to Emily's parents for raising such a fine young lady and thank you to Emily for her generosity! To learn more about Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, visit our website at www.angelsrsescue.org and be sure to follow all the amazing stories of rescue and adoption on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/angelsrescue.
It happens slowly. A whiff of crispness in the air, hints of red amidst a tide of green leaves. Autumn..finally here! Along with this wonderful season, comes Halloween - a time to delight in visions of witches and wizards, ghosts and goblins who come out to play and have fun this time of year. While preparing for all the festivities, fun and wonderful treats, make sure your black-coated dogs and cats are kept indoors and away from dangerous situations such as falling victim to pranksters and those who believe in supernatural associations just because their fur is black. It is our responsibility to keep them safe. Everyone deserves to enjoy the glory of the changing season - and that includes our precious animals!
While Trick-Or-Treaters Play, Put Your Dogs and Cats Away!
A family's wonder-filled holiday classic, as told by the Christmas tree with color commentary from the tree's good friend, LUCKY, the Irish Setter is available today at www.aTreesChristmas.com.
A Tree's Christmas was first published in 2008 by Angels supporter, Andy Bowen, when he lived in Cherokee County, GA.
What if your Christmas tree could talk? Did Anne dream this story of the talking Christmas tree, or could it be real? You must decide for yourself. The story starts when a love-filled family's Christmas in the country is over. The Christmas tree's decorations are gently removed. Anne, her dad and their dog, Lucky, take the tree outside and lay it down in the snow-covered garden. That night, to the amazement, surprise and delight of the trees around the garden, the Christmas tree begins telling the exciting story of its wonder-filled adventures inside the family's home during the Christmas season. All night, the trees listen as the Christmas tree tells its stories, and then窶ｦ A Tree's Christmas will inspire children of all ages to appreciate anew the wonders of a family Christmas, and how the tree, at the center of it all, can play an even more meaningful role in the celebration than anyone can imagine. And, as the Christmas tree tells of its adventures, readers will come to understand the importance of leading a rich, full life that makes a difference窶馬o matter what others say. It's a story that can be told over and over every Christmas, for generations to come, and still have genuine meaning for all who read it.
Cost of each book is $9.95 plus S&H, and $3 of each book sale is donated to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue!! Order several copies today for Holiday presents at www.aTreesChristmas.com
Don’t forget to purchase your copy of our Angel Food Cookbook for friends, family, and yourself as a gift for the upcoming Holidays! They are only $25/ea. and filled with delicious recipes for the entire family! You can purchase cookbooks as well as an assortment of items as gifts by going to www.angelsrescue.org/shop where you’ll find gifts for everyone on your list, AND also you’ll be supporting animal rescue!!
Here’s a sample of the many delicious recipes included:
EASY BANANA BREAD Submitted by Kristin Wilkinson 2 1-¾ ½ ½ ½ 1 1-½ 2 ¼
1 ½
cups flour cups sugar teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt teaspoon cinnamon teaspoon vanilla cups mashed very ripe bananas (3-4 large bananas) eggs cup sour milk (add 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar to milk to sour, let sit a few minutes before adding to wet mixture) stick melted butter or margarine cup nuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, nuts, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and set aside. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and margarine to the mashed bananas. Add banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix. Mix well but do not over mix: batter is supposed to be lumpy. Pour batter into two floured and greased loaf pans. Bake for about 45 minutes, until top is dark brown and toothpick inserted into bread comes out clean.
This is how we feel about good Banana Bread – stuff it all in at once!
Here’s a sample of a delicious recipes for your pet:
PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA DOG TREATS (Dairy, Gluten and Wheat Free) Courtesy of “Whole Foods Market” The parsley in these treats makes them a secret breath freshener for your pooch! You can substitute dried mint for half the parsley, if you like. 1 1 2/3
½ 1
banana, peeled cup oat flour cup rolled oats cup dried parsley egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Put banana in a large bowl and use a spoon or fork to mash it up thoroughly. Add oat flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter, beaten egg, and stir well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes. Roll mixture into 24 balls, using about 1 Tablespoon of dough for each. Transfer each ball to a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet, using the back of a spoon or your palm to press each ball into a round cookie-shaped treat. Bake until firm and deep golden brown on the bottom, 40-45 minutes. Set aside until cool. Cook’s Hint: It’s best to store these in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
How Are We Doing? September Rescue Stats
How YOU Can Help! Sign up for our monthly donation subscription: Furry Friends - $10 Silver Whiskers - $25 Gold Collars - $50 Platinum Paws - $100
355 — active foster homes 652 — adoptable pets 120 — pets adopted 138 — pets rescued 6,394 — total adopted 6,977 — total rescued
September Website Stats 123,412 — page views 56,513 — website visits 40,869 — unique visitors
Angels Among Us - $250 Visit our website for details! www.angelsrescue.org/donate
September Facebook Stats 457, 766 — Facebook fans * to see current numbers, visit www.facebook.com/angelsrescue
September Petfinder Stats 175, 497 — pet views
Thank You So Much! In this issue of the Angels Herald, we would like to thank the following individuals and companies for their very generous donations and support:
Rita Anderson – Angel of the Month Individual Donors: Jennifer Turner Ashley Johnson Vicki Benjamin Sarah Fielding Peggy Eisenhauer Regina Henderson Emily Douglas Richard Slugoski Heather Hayes Betty Ballentine Courtney Harrison Lisa Kramer EJ Taylor Patsy Van Etten Wendy Knight Kimberly Kota
Company, Corporate Donors: The Marin Group, Inc. Pet Fancy Commonwealth Group, Inc. ,Financial Planners
How YOU Can Help! Sign up for our monthly donation subscription: Furry Friends - $10 Silver Whiskers - $25
Gold Collars - $50 Platinum Paws - $100 Angels Among Us - $250 Visit our website for details! www.angelsrescue.org/donate
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats from high-kill shelters in North Georgia. We operate through a network of foster homes in the Metro Atlanta area. Our efforts are funded by tax-deductible contributions from compassionate people and organizations who care and want to help make a difference.
ANGELS AMONG US PET RESCUE, INC. PO BOX 821 ALPHARETTA, GA 30009 Fax: Email: Website:
(877) 969-8669 info@angelsrescue.org www.angelsrescue.org
Telling the Angels Rescue Good News Through Social Media Look for Angels Rescue on all the following social media platforms, and choose to follow, like, share and help us use social media to save lives!
www.facebook.com/angelsrescue www.facebook.com/angelsrescue.cats
=========================================================================================== Help Angels and Get a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate when you become a member of www.MonkeyDough.com/AngelsRescue. Plus, $15 goes directly to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue help support rescued dogs and cats! Monkey Dough Saves You Money on things you do every day, such as: 8-30% Off Cellular Service 30% Off Groceries, Movies, Travel & Shopping 50% Off Restaurants Start Saving Today by going to: MonkeyDough.com/AngelsRescue
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