A N I M A L R E S C U E L E A G U E O F I O WA
DOG JOG & FIDO FEST VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS CURRENT ADOPTIONS INSPIRING STORIES FIGHTING PUPPY MILLS CARING FOR RESCUE DOGS
SUMMER 2015 ISSUE
Dog Jog & Fido Fest A 5k Fun Run and Dog Walk Event
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oin us for the Dog Jog & Fido Fest – A 5k Fun Run and Dog Walk on May 16th, presented by Anderson Animal Hospital. The event will take place from 3:00–6:00pm, at the Copper Cup dog park in Des Moines. This isn't your everyday 5k fun run/walk...whether you have a dog or not you can participate to support the animals at the ARL! Participants will end the race at The Copper Cup’s postrace street party downtown, so bring your friends to cheer you on as you finish and party the night away! Participants at all levels will receive a goody bag (register early to guarantee your shirt size!) and enjoy a day of fun in support of the animals at the ARL. At 6:00 p.m. the street party will end but the after party will start at The Copper Cup! So take your dogs home, get your party pants on, and join us for a great night supporting a great cause!
R E G I S T R AT I O N All registration fees include a t-shirt and a goodie bag! The sooner you register, the lower the fee so make sure to sign up early to get this great deal! Before March 31: $20 After March 31: $25 through April 30 After April 30: $30 through May 8 Week of registrations: $40 Costumes are encouraged—we want to see your best dressed up dog! Go online at arl-iowa.org to view photos of the 2014 event! Please Note: Dogs must be 6 months or older and on a leash at all times (No Flexi-Leashes). Female dogs must not be in heat and dogs must be current on vaccinations, including rabies. The ARL reserves the right to dismiss any dog.
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Dog Runs for First Time In his Life, Thanks to 3D-printed Legs ome might say Derby the dog is disabled, but clearly they haven't seen him in action. "He has always been the happiest dog I know," Derby's adopted human, Sherry Portanova, tells The Dodo. But before he met Sherry, things weren't so bright for him. Derby was born with underdeveloped front limbs, and although he was otherwise a healthy dog, that one difference nearly caused him to be put down. The young dog's original owners decided they didn't want him anymore, and he soon wound up at the Animal Resue League. But he wasn't unwanted for long.
DERBY Husky Mix | Adopted He was born with deformed front legs, but that does not stop him from being active.
Fortunately, Derby soon met someone who was not only compassionate enough to save his life, but also equipped with the know-how to improve it too. That person was Tara Anderson, director at 3D Systems, a company that specializes in 3-D printing. When she heard about Derby’s condition, she knew she had to do her part to give him a second chance — and perhaps find a solution to his mobility limitations. After taking Derby in as a foster, Anderson set him up with a wheeled cart to make it easier for him to get around. And while it certainly did help, Anderson suspected that her team of designers could do one better.
“It was incredible and emotional the first time we saw him run on his new legs,” Sherry says. “Incredible because it was his very first time on them and emotional because he was so excited to be running.” Since then, Derby has barely slowed down, using his newfound freedom of movement to join his family on real runs around the block and to experience life a bit more like dogs who weren’t born different like him. “Derby was born with this deformity so he never really knew any different; he was a happy dog,” says Sherry. “However, his new legs have allowed him to run on concrete, play with other dogs and overall be more mobile.”
D O N AT I O N The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is a 501c3 nonprofit organization (Federal ID #42-0680427) that depends on the generosity of private citizens to care for the many thousands of animals it takes in each year. The ARL receives no state, federal or United Way funding. See how your donation works for the animals:
$35 Initial vaccinations and exam for one incoming animal $60 Care for four animals for one day
The skilled staff at 3D Systems soon set about crafting a custom set of prosthetic legs that would not only help Derby to move more naturally, but that would also let him live out his full potential as an energetic pet. Several design attempts later, they finally settled on an ovaltread shape, designed to fit Derby’s unique anatomy.
$150 Food for all of the animals at the ARL for one day
But even before getting that special gift made just for him, Derby found something even more important — a forever home with a new family who loves him, differences and all.
$2,500 Provide for the care of 14 animals during their entire stay
The day came recently for Derby to try on the prosthetic limbs, and for the very first time in his life, experience the joy of running.
$325 Spay or neuter of five animals $550 Spay or neuter, vaccination & microchip of 10 cats at no-cost for low income families
$5,000 Food for six horses for one full year
To donate by mail, send your check to the address on the mailing label.
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Nurse Treats Humans by Day, and Cats by Night 175 Cats. In her Own Home.
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IMA, Peru (AP) — At her job, Maria Torero cares for sick human beings. At home, she lavishes love on slowly dying cats — 175 of them at last count.
The 45-year-old nurse has turned her two-story, eightroom apartment into a hospice for cats with feline leukemia, scattering it with scores of feeding dishes and at least two dozen boxes litter boxes. Some have suggested she shelter healthy cats instead. "That's not my role," she told The Associated Press. "I'm a nurse. My duty is to the cats that nobody cares about." She said that "people don't adopt adult cats, especially if they are terminally ill." For five years, Torero has ministered to animals as they slowly succumb to the common, fatal retrovirus, which is not contagious to humans or other species. It usually is transmitted through direct contact, mutual grooming and the sharing of litter boxes, food and water bowls, according to the website of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She finds the cats in Lima's streets and markets and has them tested for leukemia. Nearly all of the street cats turn out to have the disease, as well as fleas, parasites and malnutrition. She takes in only adult cats to avoid spreading the disease to new generations. "Bringing a kitten here is condemning it to death," she said.
Torero names the cats — Fellini, Peppa, Dolly, Misterio among them — and dresses many in small shirts. "Each one has a distinct personality," she said. She said she doses out medicine, sterilizes the animals and treats them for parasites every two months. Her arms bear the scratches of cats that resist the injections. She estimated she spends about $1,785 a month to care for the cats, half of that from donations and the other half from her job as a private nurse. Her three children, ages 16, 14, and 6, share the apartment and often play or cuddle with the cats, many of which sleep in plastic organizer bins and sprawl across seemingly every chair and shelf. The cat boxes and heavy use of deodorants don't quite mask the odor of urine, but Torero said her neighbors haven't complained. Cats with leukemia can survive for several years, though their lifespan is usually much shorter than that of an unaffected cat. They eventually die naturally; Torero hasn't the resources to have them put down. There are no special ceremonies. "My best gift of love and respect I give them in life," she said.
REMO American Shorthair | Unadopted He is a lively cat, loves to play, and is best suited for a home with active owners.
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CHARLES Volpino Italiano | Unadopted Charles loves to go for walks, snuggle on the couch, and is great with kids!
Choose to change the world for homeless pets.
VOLUNTEER AT THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
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here are few things as rewarding as helping a homeless animal find a new home. When you volunteer at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, you make a difference for homeless animals AND the people choosing to adopt them. Your time matters whether you lift their spirits with a walk or sell tickets to the annual fundraising auction.
You will find that volunteering for the animals is fun and rewarding. It’s a great way to impact the lives of thousands of dogs, cats, horses, and small animals. The most important skills you need to be a volunteer are love and respect for animals. ARL Volunteers are committed to furthering our mission to promote animal welfare, strengthen the human-animal bond, and prevent the overpopulation of pets.
“I became a volunteer because I love animals, and I want to help them when they’re in need.” — Katie B., ARL Volunteer, Age 13
REQUIREMENTS: Be at least 10 years old. A volunteer younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian volunteer who is at least 18 years of age at all times. The adult volunteer also needs to have completed orientation and any subsequent training with their minor partner. Be able to commit to at least 12 hours total of volunteering. In-shelter opportunities require at least two hours of volunteerism a month. Understand and fulfill all responsibilities of their role independently. Read and comprehend Volunteer Handbook as well as understand and comprehend ARL operational rules and policies to insure their own safety and the safety of the animals in our care. Understand and follow Animal Handling Agreement, Confidentiality Agreement and Code of Conduct. Be able to emotionally manage a workplace that can be stressful with a positive attitude. Understand and accept the Animal Rescue League’s philosophies regarding open admissions and humane euthanasia. Please note that the ARL of Iowa only euthanizes for extreme medical or behavioral reasons.
L I LY Spaniel Mix | Adopted Lily is a loyal and loving companion who has benefited from a calm and stable home.
don’t shop.
ADOPT.
Puppy Mills Breed Misery ince 1996 one main mission of Animal Rescue League of Iowa has been the rescue and rehabilitation of puppy mill dogs. During that time we have rescued over 5,000 dogs from puppy mills. These gentle, fragile creatures have both broken and warmed our hearts. Every set of frightened, sad eyes steels our resolve to see the horrible practice of holding dogs prisoner come to an end. It is our belief that dogs are companion animals, not meant to be housed in bare wire cages with no blankets, no clean food or water, no veterinary care, no ability to touch grass and no understanding of love or kindness. The atrocities we see are staggering. The injuries we repair, both physical and emotional, are beyond comprehension for most loving pet owners. It is a labor of love, one that pays back when we see a dog know health, touch grass and understand that they are safe and loved for the first time in their long lives. The following is a story about a rescued dog named Lily and her journey to recovery.
“Lily shivered into my life sometime in the early afternoon of April 18th. By late afternoon, I was toast. Done for. Smitten as all get out, and it would take me two weeks to admit to everyone— my roommate, my parents, my boyfriend, and the fine human beings at the Animal Rescue League— that I was a first time foster failure. Tiffany Fraley at the ARL had contacted my roommate and I a few days before, asking if we could take in a tiny, traumatized spaniel just rescued from a puppy mill. She’d been a mill mama for all eight years of her life, bred countless times and severely neglected. The photo Tiffany sent us showed a filthy, matted mass that looked less like a dog than a ragged mop left to soak in the gutter for the better part of a rough decade. In front of the creature, a disembodied hand held a sign. It read “Dog #79.” Of course, we answered without hesitation. We had been eager to begin fostering, having adopted Bonita, a sassy senior shih-lhasa, from the ARL a few months before. We wanted Bonita to have some playmates. Our first task—give Dog #79 a name. After that, the rest was “easy.” Just shower her with affection and help socialize her so that when the right family came along, she’d be ready to go home at last. It wasn’t our job to save her— she’d already been saved. It was our job to give her a name and help her prepare for the rest of her life. We quickly settled on “Lily.”
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FA C I N G C H A L L E N G E S Lily’s first day was a challenge. The first week was a challenge. Truly, these last seven months have been challenging. Not because Lily isn’t a total doll and a real, live angel—she absolutely is and I’ll duel anyone who denies it. But Lily, like all dogs and cats and most birds, can’t speak English. Or Spanish. Or any language I understand. She has no way to tell me what she needs, or what frightens her, or how to help her calm down and trust that she’s safe. She has no way to understand me when I tell her that it’s all going to be roses from here on out. When human beings are stressed, we talk, scream, drink more than we should or eat less than we must or write bad poetry or punch walls or cry until the feeling’s worn itself out. When dogs are stressed, they might growl or bite, they may lick everything compulsively or poop on anything in the way. In Lily’s case, she cowered in dark, silent corners and shook uncontrollably, refusing food, water, or even the gentlest of hands. That first day, Lily spent hours in the quietest corner she could find, facing the wall and staring into the middle distance, quaking. All of our victories that first day were small ones. She sniffed the food in my hand a few times and even looked up at me once or twice. But any sudden movements or new noises, and Lily was back in the corner, shaking, staring at nothing in particular. She wouldn’t eat or drink water. Getting her into a harness and on a leash was enough of a dilemma, let alone convincing her to go on a walk. She would dig her paws into the ground, rear up like a tiny stallion and writhe wildly trying to free herself. Sometimes she’d
stretch her slim, awkward body long and flat on the sidewalk and let her weight go dead at the end of the leash. For as twisted and atrophied as her muscles were from so many years in a cage, she knew how to make a point. She was a nervous wreck. Her fur was patchy and dry skin flaking. No one on the planet could tell us that Lily would be okay and that eventually she’d eat, walk, explore, sniff, and play. But I fell completely in love with her in a matter of hours. Maybe it was her giant dark eyes, always shimmering as though on the verge of tears. Or her down turned mouth and melancholy, though beautiful, face, which I’d gladly wager could make a grown man cry. Maybe it was her determination to find the quietest corner in the whole house, a habit I too indulge when I’m overwhelmed.
SMALL VICTORIES Late that evening on the day she arrived, she cautiously crept out from under the chair in the quietest corner to investigate her new surroundings, and in her exploration, delicately crawled into my lap—I sat on the floor a lot in those first days. Maybe it was then. The first time she let me pet her, even for a minute, I knew I could not possibly let her go. We took her to a few adoption events. A couple of people saw her face and took interest, but it quickly disappeared when they noticed how emotionally distant she was, or how unhealthy and frail her tiny body appeared. Good, I’d resolve to myself silently; anyone who couldn’t see her for the treasure she was beneath all that wreckage didn’t deserve her. Though terrified of literally every new thing, with Bonita’s help, Lily slowly learned the ropes and picked up some good—and some bad—habits. She learned that taking care of business is an outdoor affair, and that hovering around legs in the kitchen sometimes results in an unexpected treat. She learned it’s bad etiquette to pee on guests’ shoes and that the pillow is the comfiest spot on the bed. I would report on Lily’s progress to anyone who would listen—Tiffany, my family, my coworkers, strangers on the sidewalk—all while affirming that of course I knew I couldn’t keep her and I’d be able to let her go once she’d been adopted. They knew, like I did, that I was a big time liar, just lying my pants off about the possibility of giving up this creature I so clearly adored.
H O M E AT L A S T When I did finally make it official, no one at the ARL had me arrested, which was nice. I don’t know what I was expecting, that a dog rescue organization would be mad at me for adopting a dog? I’d wanted to be a foster SUCCESS, but when a Lily shivers into your life, you don’t just let her go. The folks at the ARL not only understood, they were overjoyed. I’d spent two weeks worrying that someone would come along and snatch Lily away from me, while the whole time they were probably hoping I’d fall in love. And I did. Of course I did. That first day and every day since. It’s been over half a year, and in these last few months, Lily and I moved into a home with my boyfriend and his beautiful rotty-lab mix, Lolita. We’ve found the right diet and regiment to keep her healthy and happy, and discovered she’s a bit blind in one eye—she has no depth perception and can’t see much in the dark; she still gets disoriented at night sometimes. Lily’s met many new dogs. She isn’t too interested in most, though she seems to have a crush on a pit bull across the street and a paralyzing fear of the yorkie a few doors down. She’s completely shut down at a few doggy socials and suffered through the terror of her first Fourth of July. But she’s also grown very comfortable in our new home, and prefers the warm bed by the fireplace over any quiet corner. We’ve discovered that Lily loves having her bangs brushed, sleeping in, and being scratched just above her tail and on her elbows. Do dogs have elbows? Well, Lily likes being scratched on and around her elbows. She also enjoys long daily walks alongside Lolita. No playing dead or tiny stallion.
LOVING FREEDOM We spent Thanksgiving in St. Louis, where we gave sweet Lily her first taste of turkey and let her off leash for the first time in a wide-open field. She went absolutely mad with delight, sprinting and frolicking this way and that. We could only guess she’d never really run wild before. She stumbled frequently but never slowed down, chasing Lolita and tumbling recklessly toward me, tackling my knees and doing a little dance on her hind legs in hopes of a treat. The bright winter sun hung high overhead, bathing her darling face in warm light as she ran faster and farther, grinning and panting, leaping left and bounding right, turning around every now and then to make sure I was still there. And I was. I always will be.”
Caring for a Rescued Dog Enter the process with realistic expectations. Understand that your rescued dog may not ever be a “normal” pet in terms of her trainability and responses to new people, other animals, places, and things. Patience is a virtue as progress may feel exceedingly slow at times. Do your best to avoid pushing your new dog past her comfort level. It can help to have another, well-adjusted dog in the household to role model healthy emotional responses. Be sensitive to your dog’s reactions. It’s not a given that your puppy mill rescue will react positively to being held or cuddled. Some dogs prefer more physical distance. In order to acclimate your dog to strangers, recruit your dog loving friends and relatives to come over, one at a time. They should enter your home in a quiet and gentle fashion, allowing your dog to approach them on her own terms. Find a reputable trainer who enjoys working with fearful dogs. Such an individual will be an invaluable coach for both you and your dog. There have been plenty of books written about working with fearful dogs. Ask your trainer for his or her recommendations. Rescued puppy mill breeding dogs are certainly not for everyone. Boy, oh boy, caring for them properly is a lot of work and requires so much patience. The reward for all that hard work and patience is the opportunity to observe a battered little soul slowly emerge from its shell and experience what life can be for a dog who is loved.
PETEY Jack Russell Terrier Mix | Unadopted Petey is a rescue dog who needs a lot of attention and love; good with children.
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Animal Rescue League of Iowa 5452 N.E. 22nd Street Des Moines, IA 50313 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES
A N I M A L R E S C U E L E A G U E O F I O WA
Lisa Rockwell 2001 42nd Street, Unit #4 Des Moines, IA 50313
MEET OUR COVER DOG, MAX A hero police dog rescued an eight-year-old who had wandered from his grandmother’s home and got lost near a mine. Max, a two-yearold German shepherd, managed to pick up on the missing youngster’s scent and locate him about one mile away. A hero police dog rescued an eightWhen he was found, the boy was standing barefoot in the snow and year-old who had wandered from was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with hypothermia. his grandmother’s home and got lost a mine. a two-yearThenear child, whoKhasar, has not been named, is now back at home with his old German shepherd, managed to to the quick actions of his canine mother in Des Moines, thanks pick up on the missing youngster’s rescuer. scent and locate him about one When police kilometre away. arrived they sent Max to search for him and he led
the team to part of a mine where rocks are dumped. On seeing the youngster, one of the officers climbed into the dump, wrapped him in his jacket and took him to his grandmother’s home.
When he was found, the boy was
Before joining the police the highly skilled dog came from Brifos kennel in Milwaukee, run by Elena Sheuermann. She recalled: ‘He is a mixed strain breed, which means he is the result of cross breeding between a show and a working type dog. Many breeders argue against mixed breeds, but I’ve been working in this direction for several years and I think rather successfully.
Max explores a water sprinkler while he plays on a lawn.
‘Max was extremely active and independent; I thought that he was meant for service and I am happy to see how well he is working as a part of Des Moines police team. What he’s done now, finding the boy’s traces hours after his disappearance, where other dogs failed, fills me with pride for the dog and his handler and, of course, joy for the family’.
5452 N.E. 22nd Street Des Moines, IA 50313 (515) 473-9103
Summer 2015 | arl-iowa.org
If you wish to adopt any of the animals featured in this issue, please make a call or pay us a visit! Donation information is also on page 3.