Flyering for our community

When a friend or family member calls and asks if you want to get up extra early on Saturday morning and walk around for three hours sticking fliers in people’s doors, the sensible person claims to be sick, but then, if they are like me, they get sucked into asking, “Fliers for what?”  Even after I found out that Planned Pethood had been awarded a grant to spay and neuter cats FOR FREE in the 43605 zip code, and that these fliers were crucial to letting families know, I admit—I did check the weather.  I mean, 40F and raining?  I don’t think so!  But lucky for me, and those kitties who need to get fixed, and their parents who need the free service, it was sixty and sunny a couple Saturdays ago, so off I went.  Sue and I met up at 8:00 a.m. and drove to East Toledo near Navarre Park, to get the word out. 

If any of you have canvassed or done other door-to-door style work you might know a few things.  It’s a lot of exercise going up and down stoops.  Check.  No need for the treadmill or a step class later that day.  It’s lovely to explore new parts of your city.  Check.  Navarre Park is a rolling few blocks of grass with a large shelter house and playground.  That day the neighborhood was hosting a free party for residents.  Three clowns stood around waiting for the kids and several people laid out free cookies and fired up a hot dog cart.  One table was covered in craft supplies for the kids to make bracelets and key chains.  The sense of community was a delightful reminder of the benefits of really living in a place—staying, that is, and not just passing through.

Sue and I passed through, up one street and then down another.  I was a little nervous about going up to people’s stoops and sliding a flier in their door handle, or pinching it between the storm and jamb.  Isn’t it rude to leave papers people may not want?  But what I found is that people appreciated the fliers.  They knew there were several stray cats around.  Moreover, they knew which houses particular strays hung around, and which cats had recently had litters.  One woman had trapped several cats herself and gotten them fixed.  Another resident let us know about a neighbor who tried to take in and fix cats but was running out of resources and could sure use our free services.  Another gentleman thanked us for helping the neighborhood and the cats.  Along the way I had a chance to see the newish Raymer Elementary School.  A handsome building!  Plus, Sue and I had a good time guessing what some of the other older buildings began life as.  One was clearly a Catholic parish school, another looked to be an old market that had been converted to private housing.  I thought of my grandmother’s old Lagrinka neighborhood, and the Polish markets she went to as a kid that looked a lot like that building. 

I admit that we were a little foot-sore by the end.  And that we may have taken a little break and driven over to the convenience store on the corner for Diet Coke and a snack.  But in the end I sure was glad that I wasn’t “sick” that day and that I’d gone out to help both the cats and their families.  It was obvious that even the cats without homes had people looking out for them, but that these folks needed help.  If you’ve ever read about how fast a mom cat can become a clowder—that’s a big group of cats, like a school of fish or a herd of buffalo—then you know that one or two or three people can’t control the stray cat population in a neighborhood.  

 It’s a big job, and we’ve all got to pitch in. 

About the Grant:

Planned Pethood received a grant from PetSmart Charities for $94K to use in 2013 and 2014 to help control the cat population in our area.  They are offering FREE neutering/spaying to the 43605 zip code.  This is for owned cats only.  Planned Pethood also conducts a trap/neuter/release program for feral cats who are not adoptable or for free-roaming cats. 

IT’S A WALK IN THE PARK

As Ida, Stanley, and I round the bend, they spot him. With complete disregard for me, their so-called master, they sprint down the track toward the elderly gentleman strolling through the park. Their target is Jack who keeps his pockets stuffed with treats. He never, ever disappoints Ida and Stan. Both he and Annie, his basset hound, are senior citizens who are our regular walking companions. We walk about two miles every day, rain or shine, freezing or stifling. We have acquired quite an eclectic group of friends (hard core walkers, all), both canine and human, in the process. I can usually be counted on to provide some entertainment to onlookers depending on how many Planned Pethood fosters I am attempting to walk in addition to my own pack.

Jack and Annie are two of my favorite pals from the park. Jack is in his 80’s but is definitely young at heart and in spirit. He played for the champion Waite High Indian football team in 1947. They were so tough and confident that his coach challenged anyone in the entire nation to try to whip them. So, off they went on a train to El Paso, for a gridiron contest across the country and they backed their coach’s boast with a victory. That was just the beginning of Jack’s globetrotting. He has visited every single state and many countries including the exotic Tahiti.

My favorite Jack story deals with Annie’s lack of motivation. She does not share Jack’s enthusiasm for a full and brisk walk. She is more of an ambler and she loves a short cut. On one occasion, Jack’s wife received a phone call from the park. A walker concluded that Annie was either lost or abandoned because she did not see her owner in the immediate vicinity. After reading the super friendly Annie’s tag, she reached his wife who began to laugh. She told her to look up, and did she see Jack? She did indeed. She thanked the woman and assured her that Miss Bassett just had a mind of her own and her people were always near.

We always know when Joann is approaching the park. Her ancient chessie, Sidney, boisterously announces their arrival from the window of the car. Joann is one of those people who is always impeccably coiffed no matter the time of day or the weather. This is in stark contrast to myself with my mismatched clothing, no make up, and ripped up tennies. Sid cannot really hear or see very well anymore but he still loves his trips to the park. And, you have to give it to the guy, he will still give it the old college try and attempt to mount an unsuspecting dog on occasion. Joann’s granddaughter works at the dog warden’s office so she is especially enthusiastic when my fosters have been rescued from there. We have a gay old time discussing current events, restaurants, and of course, dogs as we walk.

My soulmate in rescue from the park is Denise who is a one woman dynamo. She walks Jack, a very senior and arthritic black lab who, like Ida, is a ball-aholic. He walks the entire park with one in his mouth (unless Ida seizes on the opportunity to steal it). Duke is an elderly and (like Annie) a pokey, always sniffing basset who is sometimes walked by Denise’s son, Casey. They have matching energies as they lag considerably behind. Ozzie is a supercharged jack russell who is ALL personality. Oz is a character with a capital ‘C’, all decked out in his camo coat. He was a stray who stole Denise and her family’s hearts. He does what I call “drive bys” where he will lull his companions into a sense of complacency, then he attacks his unsuspecting buddies with an attack from the rear. Finally, the newest addition is Lila, a feisty rottie puppy, who was rescued from some backyard breeders. And, in addition to saving animal lives, Denise is something of a local celebrity, appearing on the T.V. show “Cops” (as a cop, not a criminal).

Whew, Denise has been busy with her own personal dog rescue, right? We haven’t even mentioned the lives she has saved in the cat world. She had rescued four kitties from a variety of dire situations already when we met but number five would soon be on the way. She called to see if Planned Pethood could take him into the program. He was dumped at the park and some evil kids were throwing rocks at the little dude so she scooped him up and took him home. But by the time I received the o.k. to take the new guy in, it was too late. Denise and her family had bonded with him and he had found his forever home.

I cannot leave the park without mentioning Mark. He’s retired navy and has never had a dog before. He adopted a stunning 100 lb. weimareiner from the pound, named with originality, Buddy. He (Buddy not Mark) loves me. He bounds toward me because of my secret weapon, a baggie stuffed with treats. My lab Ida is crazy for Mark because most of the time he is packin’ a ball. Joann and like-minded walkers had to do a little subtle training with Mark in park etiquette. I know, TMI, but when that dog poops, it is substantial. We are hoping that he will be a confirmed environmentalist from now on. It does take the joy out of a day at the park when you or your kids step in a pile of poo. 

I know you pretty much need a scorecard to keep track of all the people and dogs in this blog. When I meet new people at the park, inevitably I will be able to recall the dog’s name but not the person the next time we encounter them. So just to recap, here’s a shout out to my compadres from the park: Jack, Joann, Denise, and Mark (the humans) and to Annie, Sidney, Jack, Duke, Ozzie, Lila, and Buddy (the dogs). And thanks to Ida and Stanley and my Planned Pethood fosters for taking me to the park daily or my butt would be planted firmly on the couch.


By Judy Szewczak

THE WORST SUMMER OF MY LIFE

A little voice keeps telling me it’s time, it’s time, it is time to write another blog for Planned Pethood. But I have continued to put this one off because it is so painful to relive. The summer of 2011 was sweltering, nasty, and miserable. But it wasn’t just the weather that was unbearable, it was a season of terrible loss for me.  Things began well enough, I was the proud pack leader of three incredible labs. Rudy was an elderly, happy black lab with pronounced arthritis. Imelda was a stunningly gorgeous, loving chocolate lab. Rocky was one of the most handsome, fabulous yellow labs I had ever seen. I had a complete set, not on purpose, but it was pretty cool to head to the park with a lab of each color.

All three of the dogs were rescued from some pretty crappy circumstances. When my beloved Lucy died, I knew I needed another lab after a few months of just Helga and me on our own. This was before my association with Planned Pethood and I found Rudy online. He was seven and his family threw him away because they were expecting a baby. It was their loss because he would have made the best nanny any kid could ask for. Anyway, they ditched him to a shelter out in the country. I was apprehensive when I struck out to get him. I told my boss if I was not at work on Monday, I was in a wood chipper out in deliverance-ville. Funny, but this was not too far from the truth. When I arrived, I asked to use the restroom. The response was, “oh you don’t want to go in there, we found a rat in there this morning”. As fast as I could, I threw the fee on the counter, snatched up Rudy, and got the hell out of there.

Imelda came to us from the pound as a foster dog. She was a puppy mill dog who spent her entire life in a cage, breeding. For whatever reason, she was no longer useful to these monsters, so they threw her into the pound to be euthanized. This type of cruelty is unimaginable but it was even worse with a lab like Imelda because she craved human companionship and love. She had the temperament of an angel; which sounds pretty corny but it was true. Everyone who met her thought they were so special because of all the attention she showered on them. I never really had the heart to tell them she treated everyone like that. She had a soft brown coat with exactly the same color eyes. I used to quote from the “Wizard of Oz” to her all the time, “Can you dye my eyes to match my gown?” When I went to the vet to pick her up, office manager Terry said to me, “this dog will never leave your house, you will adopt her”. I had recently lost my soul mate Helga, and Terry was right. She was only 4 years old so I knew we would have many wonderful years together.

Rocky who was six-ish completed my lab triumvirate. He was a foster dog from the pound as well. His was one of those urgent cases. He was going to be put down if we didn’t get him out of there immediately. He was picked up as a stray but the pound found his owners. When contacted, they dropped off his medication, then said, "keep him". You see he was prone to seizures and had to take medication twice a day which I guess was just too bothersome for them. Rockstar was just not getting the right kind of interest from potential adopters due to his disability so you know what happened next, he became part of the pack. He was hardwired to balls and toys. You would never see Rock without one or the other in his mouth. Joy is the word that comes to mind when I think of my big guy. He lived every moment of his life with joy and gusto.

I knew something was wrong when my sweet Imelda showed no interest in going for a walk. Having lived her life in a cage, the park was her favorite destination. She would stroll with the pack and occasionally half halfheartedly chase a squirrel or two.

Then she refused to eat- which set off warning bells. She went to the vet but they could not find anything wrong. As she continued to decline, we returned to the vet where she collapsed and died. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, in one of those tacky T.V. hospital dramas. They started CPR and other techniques until I told them to stop, to let her go. She died probably of lung cancer which xrays finally showed. She was only six.

It is still a mystery to me how anyone could dump a dog like Rudy. He was kind, loving, and affectionate. He welcomed each and every foster dog, showing them the ropes, allowing them to share his toys and bones. By the summer of 2011, he was 13 ½ and had painful arthritic hips and legs. He could no longer walk with the pack at the park but there was no way he was going to give up one of the pleasures of his life. So, when the pack got back, Rudy and I went on the senior walk every day. He was alert, eating well, and loving but his body was giving out on him. We had rugs on every tile surface so he did not slip and hurt himself. We created a step for him to get in and out of bed. We tried a variety of medications. I even gave him injections to relieve the pain. When even that failed to give him some relief, Bob and I took that last trip with Ru. After his favorite meal and a trip to the park where we had to lift him out of the car, he was put down so he would be finally out of pain. My wonderful, loving boy was gone.

After losing Imelda in June and Rudy in July, I clung fiercely to Rocky. He was my constant companion. I secretly believe he kind of enjoyed being an only child. Then one day he came in after a potty break with a bloody nose. He immediately went to the vet where he underwent some tests. Nothing conclusive showed up and the bloody nose was forgotten for a little while. But it came back with a vengeance and I just could not believe what was happening. It was some kind of a curse come to life. We had an appointment with a specialist for a procedure to scope his sinuses but he took a turn for the worse and we headed for the e-vet where she recommended we end his suffering. Rocks probably died of brain cancer.

This horrific summer took its toll on me. I did not adopt another dog for nearly a year. There were lots of fosters here in the meantime. I remember at one point there were five! One of them was a heart worm positive black lab named Ida who has become a permanent resident. Then Stanley, another heartworm positive dog, a shepherd mix decided he would stay here as well as part of the pack. Many adoptive families turn to Planned Pethood after they have experienced the loss of their companion. The right timing is different for everyone but in each and every case, my heart goes out to them. I have walked in those shoes. So many tears, such heartbreak. And Rudy, Imelda, and Rocky still live on in my heart. 


--Judy S

What's the Paw Hoorah?

Looking for a way to help the animals of Planned Pethood? Looking for a good time? Here’s a way to do both! Please join us at our Paw Hoorah ’13!!

The Paw Hoorah is the primary fund raiser for Planned Pethood. This is the 12^th Paw, and we’re proud to say that it has grown into one of the premier fund raising events in the city.

Once again, the venue will be the spectacular Toledo Country Club with its views of the Maumee River. We’ll have gourmet grazing stations, live entertainment and an open bar. Our silent and live auctions are high-paced and exciting. Our guest emcees Christina Williams and Tony Geftos will keep the night lively, and our presentation is sure to move and amaze you. You’ll understand what we mean when we say There’s Always a Story.

We’re looking for individuals or companies willing to sponsor this wonderful event. Sponsorships begin at $100. We also need donations for our auction. We need trips, artwork, tickets to sporting events and personal luxuries and services. Your donation will be noted not only on our web site but you will also be acknowledged the evening of the event.

Please visit the Paw Hoorah page our web site www.plannedpethood.org to see how you can contribute or buy tickets. Don’t wait! Last year, the Paw was a sold out event!

We’re proud to be the voice of the animals in need. We’re not afraid to ask for help. We need your donations, your support and your attendance!

ARE YOU A DOG PERSON OR A CAT PERSON?

For most people the dog or cat question is easy to answer. People absolutely define themselves as strictly one or the other. Planned Pethood has both a dog program and a cat program. As far as I can tell, I am the only person to foster both dogs and kittens on a regular basis. But looks can be deceiving. I would say that a majority of foster parents cohabit with both dogs and cats regardless of whom they foster. I remember my shocked expression when profligate cat foster Nancy showed me the picture of her SEVEN dogs! Cat foster Lynn who has more kitty fosters than anyone, rescued a twelve year old Chihuahua with three teeth named Carmen to add to her pack that includes two of the most cat-friendly labs ever. Great Dane owner and foster Cheryl has absolutely the bravest cat in the universe who adopted Cheryl and the big guys, showing up at her home and never leaving.

Many people have never even given cats a chance. I can’t even count how many times people I meet declare their hatred toward cats but when questioned further, they have never lived with one. I wish each and every one of them could have the opportunity to meet Norman, the later years. He came to me as we prepared to head to Detroit for a Rolling Stones concert. One of my students called to say his mother had discovered that he had smuggled the little dude into the house, feeding him the family’s stock of tuna fish, and she was NOT happy. So, with my house full of people awaiting our departure, I detoured to pick up this orange ball of fluff.

I actually found a place in a shelter for Norman. And he was a stunningly beautiful kitten, so by rights, he should have been adopted in no time. But, beauty aside, he was the meanest little ba$+ard I had ever seen. That is how he got his name. He became Norman as in Norman Bates of the movie “Psycho” due to his mercurial personality. He lashed out and bit and he scratched out of nowhere. Those are not the qualities adoptive families are seeking so, long story short, he’s still here and has been for the past 16 years. He captured my heart. At one point he became very sick and would not eat so I let him eat from my plate. To this day, he is the only animal ever permitted to beg. For all these years, he has been the pack leader in my home. He holds his ground when he meets each new foster dog. If any of them dare make a threatening move, he fires them up. Over the years, my own dogs have taken a different route through rooms, around Norm, to avoid his wrath. One time we heard Rudy, my black lab, crying in the asement. In a rush to find out why, we discovered Normie lying on the steps and poor Rudy was afraid to come upstairs. I am happy to report that Norman has mellowed with age and is incredibly loving and is a beloved cat ambassador throughout the neighborhood.

So many dogs have touched my heart over the years. One of my favorite fosters was a chubby, older beagle named Red. He came to me in the most unusual manner. Someone reported that one of my former foster dogs was dumped at a local shelter. I knew this could not be the case because I knew he was safe and happy in his forever home. But, to appease the powers that be, I acquiesced to go to the shelter to prove it was not my foster. It wasn’t. But I stumbled upon the most pitiful sight of this poor dog shaking and miserable in a cage. I called PPI and obtained an o.k. to bring him into the program. And, soon realized Red PLAYED me. The minute he walked through my door, the shaking, sad dog disappeared entirely. He did not miss a beat. He made himself right at home with us for the next several months.

When you look in the dictionary under the word personality, you find Red’s picture. He was the most unforgettable character. He weighed in at 51 lbs. on arrival. We began a program of diet and exercise, green beans, green beans, green beans. But in spite of his weight, he was pure beagle. He would tear after the squirrels with his wail, oooooowwwwwww!! He would get so carried away that he would pull up lame and not be able to go to the park for a couple of days. He was adopted by Ruth Ann and her brother Ronald who cherished him for the next year. I knew he had found the right home when they stopped by to get his picture taken with Santa and they related the story of Red’s pawdicure. They took him to a doggie salon where they soaked his paws, trimmed his nails, then applied clear polish (colors were for girls). Then, sadly too soon, Red succumbed to cancer breaking our hearts.

The expression “fighting likes cats and dogs” has become a foreign phrase in my world. Most of you have chosen a side. The people adopting from Planned Pethood have spoken too. They have adopted 824 cats and 352 dogs through November of 2012. So, what about me? Am I a dog person or a cat person? I come from a family of six kids, all big time animal lovers but one. We are toying with the idea that my sister Anita was switched at birth. My passion for rescue must be in the DNA. I am sure it won’t surprise any of my wonderful readers that I would never be able to choose. You never know where you will find love.

by Judy Szewczak

IDA AND THE N’S GO TO KINDERGARTEN

The greatest audience in the world has be a room full of 5 year olds. Add a dog or kittens into the mix and you are going to have the time of your life. You just never know what the next moment will bring.

Even though spay/neuter is the main goal of Planned Pethood, education is part of their mission as well. So when I was invited to visit Mrs. Charlotte Steinman’s kindergarten class at Beverly Elementary, I have to admit I was excited and a little nervous. Twenty-four of those fresh little faces could be a smidge bit intimidating. Truth be told, however, one of those faces was one of my best buddies, my great nephew Finn. There was no need to worry, the kids barely noticed I was even there.

Most of you have met Ida in my previous blogs. She is a seven year old black lab pulled from the pound with heartworm disease. After many painful treatments and months with me as a foster, she became a permanent member of my pack. Ida ALWAYS carries around a toy and she is ALWAYS wagging her tail. She thrives on attention and continuously gives out big sloppy kisses. It was a no brainer that she would be a great canine role model for the kids. With a toy in her mouth and a patriotic bandana on to highlight election day, we were off to kindergarten.

Mrs. Steinman is not just a kindergarten teacher, she is a saint. The woman is an incredible combination of patience, love, and discipline. Everything in her classroom is orderly and organized. She has to have the most wonderful karma ever. Before our visit, she cleared us with the principal, and she sent home permission slips to each parent to make sure none of her students had animal allergies or fear of dogs or cats. On our arrival, we encountered four tables which each seated six adorable and enthusiastic mini-people.

The topic Mrs. S and I chose was how to meet a new dog and how to care for a dog properly. So after the introductions; with Finn acting as my “master of ceremonies”; I asked my rapt audience, what was the first thing they did when they got up in the morning? Very polite responses included, getting dressed and brushing teeth. Good answers but, does Ida get dressed and brush her teeth? With a smattering of giggles, we agreed that most dogs don’t do that when they wake up. Things went on in that vein for a while until I asked the kids, isn’t there something you a leaving out? The students exchanged knowing glances but did not respond. So I asked them, what about potty? I certainly was not prepared for their reaction. That subject produced 24 screaming and laughing munchkins thoroughly enjoying themselves. Finn’s dad, Dave, later offered his take on the scene with the comment, “you had a low brow crowd, Judy”.

Proving this description quite accurate, the same hilarity ensued when we discussed how dogs greet each other when one little boy stated they sniff each other on the bum. We covered a great deal of territory including play, training, baths and more and the time flew by. Before we left, however, each one of our new friends came to the front of the room to meet Ida and give her some pets and even a few hugs. It is hard to say who enjoyed it more, Ida or the kids.

Things went so well with Ida, we were invited back, this time with three of my foster kittens, the N’s. To avoid confusion, Planned Pethood names every litter of kittens and puppies with the same letter of the alphabet.  This was a perfect fit with our kindergarten buddies just learning their letters and sounds. There were originally five N’s but two had been adopted so eight week old Nessie, Netta, and Nena were off to Beverly Elementary. Again, I was a little concerned because while 2 of the N’s were sweet lovable poofballs, the third, Nessie, was a maniac. An affectionate nickname was the Loch Ness Monster. This baby had no fear of anything including a 95 lb. foster dog named Wanda. She would do drive byes, pounce and run. She would climb me or any other upright structure in the house. But again things went well, using the strategy that Mrs. S and I would hold the kittens as the kids came up to pet them. A final word on the LNM, she was adopted in Ann Arbor by a family who did dog rescue and she was a perfect fit.

We made a final visit to kindergarten right before their Christmas break. It was just a quick stop to drop off a treat for our small friends from the dogs and kittens (who has all been adopted by then). This time another member of my pack, Stanley, accompanied us as well. He is an endearing four year old shepherd mix who, like Ida, was rescued from the pound heartworm positive.

This time the kids had a surprise for us, a huge Christmas/Thank you card, signed by each student with a picture each one drew of themselves. In addition to being highly entertaining, it will always remain one of our prized possessions. Ida was presented with a Beverly school tag for her collar as an honorary member of the class and the kids drew us pictures of Stanley, Ida, the N’s or one of their pets. They are classic.
Ida, Stanley, and I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Steinman and her students for inviting us to such enjoyable excursions. We are positive that we have planted the seeds for a new generation of RESPONSIBLE pet lovers when they have become doctors, lawyers, CEO’s, and first responders!

By Judy S

OMG, BENNY IS A GRADUATE!

“He passed! Judy, he passed”. Those were the words that were ringing down the hallway when I returned to pick Benjamin up on exam day. His 16 year old trainer, Caprise, was beside herself with joy. My Planned Pethood foster dog, Benny, participated in the “Teacher’s Pet Program” which is run by the Toledo PET Bull Project. Ben and Caprise worked together for many weeks to make him eligible to take a test to become a “Canine Good Citizen” (CGC). Benny was the ideal candidate for this program and proved more than one casual observer wrong that he did not have the right stuff. If any dog needed to add good citizen behind his name, it was this whirlwind of energy.

Before we describe the program, let’s take a brief journey through my custody of Benjamin.  Ben is a schnoodle, a poodle and schnauzer mix, now a big boy at nearly 2 years old and 18 lbs. and he is nothing short of adorable. He was a death row dog (DRD) at the pound nearly a year ago. How hard could it be to foster a small terrier who had already been returned once to the dog warden? Besides, he was so little and charming, no way would he be around for long. Somebody should have told me to fasten my seatbelt. I should have known something was up when the first thing he did was gather up every toy and bone in the house and put them in HIS crate. With love in my heart, when asked his breed, I would respond without hesitation “poodle/terrorist”.

Benny’s antics could fill a decent sized children’s book but here are a few stand outs. He went to bunk up with PPI volunteer Lynn while we went on vacation. I was concerned about him being intimidated by their two giant male labs. I was not home from the drop for more than a minute when the phone rang. Ben had jumped into the bath tub with teenager Katelynn, grabbed her scrubby, and proceeded to bound throughout the house full speed ahead. On our return, he was playing tug of war with one of the big guys with Lynn’s sock. On another occasion, as I was rushing out of the house for a meeting, Benny knew he would be heading for his crate. So he jumped up on the back of the couch, looked me in the eyes, lifted his leg and peed on the curtain. And, speaking of peeing, as he was meeting a wonderful potential forever family at an adoption event, he once again lifted his leg but this time peed all over MY leg. I saw the exchange of glances between the couple and I knew we would never hear from them again.

This was the formidable challenge young Caprise stepped into at the Teacher’s Pet Program. She has wonderful energy and the patience of a saint. The program pairs at-risk youth with hard to adopt dogs (Planned Pethood fosters) for a workshop in dog training for the benefit of both youth and dog. “Students learn the basics of canine communication, dog body language, animal handling, identifying stress in dogs, dog breeds, owner responsibility, dog aggression, greetings, spay and neuter, and dog fighting”. It seemed like a match made in heaven. Benny loved Caprise and Caprise loved Benny. She could get him to do things I thought were impossible.

And in the end, Caprise and Benny prevailed. Although not valedictorian, he now has a diploma as a “Canine Good Citizen”. I have to chuckle to myself as I write this, who would have ever thought? There are 10 behaviors tested including: “Sit, down, and stay”, “Coming when called (from 10 ft. away!)”, “Reaction to another dog (handlers shake hands, then move on and the dogs must leave each other alone)”, and many more. Caprise said her ally toward success was lots of practice and lots of patience. When I asked her what she liked best about the program, she gave me a one word answer, “Benny”.  Jay Barman from “Bingo Dog Training” did the heavy lifting as the kids’ and dogs’ instructor but he said he found it very rewarding.

A final note (I hope) about Benjamin. One of the things I have to be thankful for this holiday season is that he has been adopted for the third time by an amazing couple, Pat and Jim and their terrier, Jonny. You know they say the third time is a charm. They were duly impressed when they found out that he had a diploma. And boy, it sure is quiet around here without him.

THE PERFECT DOG FOR YOU

It was completely and totally an accident. My first dog as an adult was the perfect dog for me, or really, for anyone. Adding a new dog or cat, puppy or kitten, is a major step for any family. Finding exactly the right new feline or canine companion for you can take some work. A million questions begin to run through your mind: breed, age, gender, activity level, personality, background, and more and more. Many people don’t even consider rescue, they just immediately seek out a breeder. It is too bad that people don’t realize that rescues like Planned Pethood can provide the ideal partner for almost everyone. I always tell people, if you don’t see the right dog on the website today, wait a couple of weeks and your lifelong mate will show up.

I was a clueless rookie when I rescued my first dog, Lucy, a stunningly beautiful five year old yellow lab. The only factor I considered was getting her out of the hellhole she was calling home. She belonged to a very troubled family who lived next door to my sister. She was kept in a confined area with absolutely no shelter in the snow or blistering heat. She was given water only sporadically. It is very cruel to isolate any dog but Lu was the most social dog I have ever met and this was tantamount to torture. My sister, Janet, used to go to the vet to get meds and treat her nasty ear infections over the fence. Thankfully for Lucy, the whole neighborhood took her under their wing. After way too long of an awful existence, we finally convinced the owners to surrender her to us. The man actually had the nerve to ask me to pay him $500 because that was what he paid the breeder. If I spent $500 on anything, even an inanimate object, I would at least take care of it.

So overnight I was a proud dog owner. Luckily for me, Lucy trained me. Our first order of business was to introduce the new dog to the cats and life in a house. I needn’t have worried. The first time Lucy entered the house and spied the cats, she dropped down and did a belly crawl over to meet them on their level. It was the damnedest thing I had ever seen. Her previous landlord told me she did not like to be in the house. He couldn’t have been more wrong. From day one, she slept in bed with me and made herself at home. She was a true ambassadog. She loved every living creature she ever met. Too bad they don’t hire dogs as greeters at Meijer, she would have fit the bill.

Rescue is in my blood so it wasn’t long before a tiny kitten arrived. Lucille was never spayed until she came to me but she, by some miracle, never had pups. But she became a mom to little Joan. She snuggled, cleaned, and nurtured her. They were inseparable until the day Lu died. Lucy greeted me every day at the door with a toy in her mouth and a tail wagging so hard it could clear a table in one sweep. When she became ill, and we had to let Lucy Lu go, it ripped my heart out. No one could ever replace this perfect dog.

Now let’s examine the other side of the coin, adopting the exact wrong dog. A dear friend and colleague went the shelter route to find her new companion. Ruth is a school librarian who was on the verge of retirement. We affectionately call her Ruthless, all 4’8” of her. She was searching for a small dog who would fit into her condo lifestyle in which fences are forbidden. She ended up adopting a puppy who is a hunting breed, probably a pointer. Ruth was going to name her “Friend” but cooler heads prevailed and the puppy became Rosie. I told Ruth her neighbors would think she had become a Quaker hearing her hollering, "Friend, Friend" out her back door. This baby whirlwind of terror was THE most hyperactive youngster I have ever seen.

There are a million Ruth and Rosie stories. One day Ruth came to work and looked like she was a victim of severe domestic abuse. Her eyes were blackened and she had scrapes and scratches all over. Rosie had pulled her over while on a walk. To Ruth’s credit, she never gave up on her unruly pup. As a matter of fact, the wild child had to repeat her obedience classes (to raise her GPA according to Ruthless). The two R’s are still a happy couple. After discovering Doggie Daycare and a loving dog walker, Miss Rosalita is a happy, healthy 60 pounder hanging out on the condo scene with the senior citizens and their miniature pets.

If you are searching for your perfect pet, Planned Pethood does a super job supplying all the pertinent information a prospective adopter needs. The beauty of the program allows the foster families to get to know the dog or cat in a home setting including the good, the bad, and the ugly. You will know in advance if they are housebroken, good with other dogs and cats and kids, their activity level, and so many other factors. Plus they are all spayed and neutered, vaccinated and in proper good health.

A few people complain about the process being too cumbersome including a lengthy application, a vet check, and a home visit. The organization tries to do everything possible to make your match perfect. Even with all of this, pets do get returned for a variety of reasons. However, not to fear for their safety, any dog or cat goes back into foster care until they can be adopted again. Finally, if Ruth decides she wants to find a companion for Rosie, she has promised me that she will begin her search with Planned Pethood and will use me as her guide.

--Judy S

THE FUTURE OF RESCUE IS ALIVE AND WELL

Hyperactive/Noisy/Annoying. I suppose you are thinking that must be the characteristics of my new foster dog or kitten. Even though it may fit the bill for some dogs and kitties too, it is an apt description of MOST teenage boys. And even though I probably realized there was more to male adolescents, a recent rescue brought it home with a bang. This story is about a new high schooler with compassion and a heart of gold.  People in the rescue business need not fear for the future because these kids are stepping up in a big way already.

It was the last few days of freedom before his freshman year of high school began. It was one of those jungle-like 95 degree days and Chase Henderman was hanging out with his buddies in the neighborhood. Then he spotted something white at the base of a telephone pole near  one of the busiest intersections in the city. When he investigated further, he discovered it was a kitten and it appeared to be dead. But Chase noticed the poor creature was still breathing but it was very shallow. He called his mom, Lynn, a cat foster for Planned Pethood, AS HE WAS RIDING HIS BIKE TRANSPORTING THE KITTEN IN HIS ARMS TO THE VET!!!

In the meantime, Lynn called the vet alerting them to the incoming kitten. Her best friend in rescue, Nancy, happened to be there when they took the call. She heard, “kitten” “hit by a car” and thought "I have to get the heck out of here", not knowing it was Chase and Lynn rushing to save a life. Fate and the gods were on the side of little Ringer that day. Chase named him from the dire circumstances under which the little guy was discovered. Maybe somebody who works for a phone company should adopt him as a mascot?

Well, you would think that was the end of Ringer’s near death experiences and he lived happily ever after. Not yet, he had only used up one of his nine lives. Ringer went into the Henderman home as a foster and seemed happy and healthy and playful. But after a couple of weeks, he became lethargic and refused to eat or drink. Lynn rushed him to the emergency vet (on a holiday weekend of course). He was diagnosed with hemobartonellosis, a virus  spread by infected fleas affecting the red blood cells. A normal count is 30 but Ringer’s was at 8. Once again the little dude was on the brink of death and once again his grit and zest for life pulled him through. Ringer is recuperating before he goes back up for adoption and finds his forever family once and for all.

And Chase is not the only kid involved in rescue. I am proud to say my own family includes an almost teenage kitty savior. We figure it must be in the DNA (my sister in law volunteered at the ASPCA in San Francisco and brought home the most unadoptable dog, Crystal, who became their new baby’s nanny). My niece Samantha found a 4 week old kitten abandoned in her neighborhood. When she took him home, my brother Jimmy, not being a cat person, explained they would have to find a rescue organization to take the tiny black ball of fur. Samantha was having none of it. The kid is a miracle worker. Not only did they keep the kitty, she converted my brother into a cat fan. They now have four cats, all rescued, and all spayed and neutered. But what a cat Chance turned out to be! He was remarkable in many ways but my favorite was that he used the toilet instead of a litter box. My sister in law Pam awoke one night and heard someone using the bathroom. Jimmy and Sam were sleeping so she got up to investigate and the tinkling in the toilet she heard came from Chance!  Samantha paid me the highest of compliments when asked by her dad what she wanted to do when she grew up. She said I want to rescue animals like Aunt Judy.

In a perfect world, there will be no need for animal rescues like Planned Pethood  in future generations. But being realistic and perhaps a bit cynical, it appears the need will persist for quite a long time to come. The good news is we have reinforcements who are, even now, stepping up to do the right thing. Having taught high school kids for 30 years, I recognize the importance animals play in their lives. There have been students over the years who shut out any adult, period. But they would magically open up if you began to engage them in a conversation about their pets. Before you know it, I would have a half dozen of the shyest kids in the class, gathered around my desk, all talking at once, all sharing stories of their family pets. Every kid should have the opportunity to enjoy the love and companionship of a dog or a cat. And, thumbs up to all of our junior partners in rescue out there especially Chase and Samantha. 

Want to Help?  Send us an email at pets@plannedpethood.org.  Long-term, short-term, whatever suits your calendar.  

eNewsletter

Book Fair and Bake Sale   Save your books, magazines, sturdy boxes and paper bags for Planned Pethood's Book Fair at the 577 Foundation. The book center will be operated by Planned Pethood from January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013. Through our volunteer efforts, we will receive 50% of the monies donated & 50% is contributed to Read For Literacy which helps hundreds of people learn to read.        We cannot accept: damaged/musty smelling books, Encyclopedias/Reference books, Text books, Readers Digest Novels & Magazines, National Geographic Magazines, Magazines over a year old, Books on tape, Albums & Movies Catalogs. Hold onto your books until March 2013.  We will announce where and when you can drop off your books, etc as we get closer to the date.  Can you  . . . Help During The Sale? We need 7 people to work one day a week for the 13 weeks we are in charge of the Book Center.  For example, Person A will work only 13 days during this 3 month period, on every Monday.  Person B will work the 13 Tuesdays in that 3 month period.  So on and so forth.  The volunteers tidy up the area, reshelf books, sweep the floor and organize donations as they come in.  It takes about an hour.  You can do your one hour anytime you want during the 16 hour day.  Bring your family or enjoy the quiet, alone time.  If you haven't heard of the 577 Foundation or explored their property, you really are missing out on a hidden jewel in our community. Contact ed@plannedpethood.org if you can help.  That's E.D. as in Executive Director, not Edward.

Family Photos Looking for a family photo to share over the holidays?   Select from one of our numerous settings like a fireplace, Christmas tree, front porch steps, piano, etc; for your Holiday greetings or to chronicle another year of family bliss. Bring the pets. You, the kids (two legged and four legged) and the rest of the family can be photographed in our of the elegant settings at the Mansion View Bed & Breakfast in Historic Old West End Toledo. $8 for your first grouping. $5 for each new grouping thereafter. For instance: Mom, Dad the kids, Spot and Fluffy is grouping one for $8. Then one of just the kids for $5.   Then one with the kids, Spot and Fluffy for $5. So on and so forth. Your photos will be placed on a Flicker account online for you to print off the photos you like and however many you want, from the comfort of your own home. November 3 & 4, November 10 & 11, November 17 & 18 and  November 24.   By Appointment only.  Make your appointment here:  http://signupgenius.com/go/photos

$20 Worth Of Coupons  Make money for Planned Pethood + Save money for your family = what a deal! We will be selling coupon books for $5 to Elder-Beerman.  These books have $20 worth of coupons for you to use.  Basically, Elder-Beerman is giving you $15.  100% of the $5 will go to Planned Pethood.  Plus, if we are one of the top coupon book sellers, we will get a percentage of the total merchandise sold at the registers during a special weekend event.  We will announce the date of this event, once we know it.  Coupon books are good during October and November, just in time for holiday gift purchases.  We will start selling the coupon books in the next few weeks.  If interested, please contact Sherry at 419.386.1372 or 419.345.8851.   Want to help us sell books at your work, school, church, neighbors, etc?  Call Sherry and she will get you what you need.  Big thank you to the Maumee Lady Elks for putting this together for Planned Pethood, Inc.  The dogs and cats thank you.

Volunteers Needed How do we make this organization work?  Volunteers!  We need your help.  Adoption events Dog Washes Rummage Sale Transport animals Transport paperwork Play Dates Bake Sale Book Center

Bakers For Our Bake Sale Needed    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED *  Create baked goods to sell *  Be on hand to sell items *  Set up and take down our area WHEN: Saturday, 9.22.12 during the Dog Days of September Event *  We might set up shifts for set up and take down.  DROP OFF OF BAKED GOODS  * Must be done no later than Thursday, September 20  * Contact ed@plannedpethood.org to make drop off arrangements.  SALE LOCATION * 1407 Key Street, Maumee   THE RULES *  Yes, there are rules *  We have a method to sell the most and make the most money, donors are asked to follow our guidelines. *  We also have rules we have to follow per the Department of Health. *  We will email the rules to those who sign up to help.  *  It is very important when signing up that you identify what you will be donating.  This is the only way we can avoid duplication.    Sign up here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F44AAA9292-dogdays

Changes In The PPI Board We thank Carol Dunn for her years of service as our Board President.  She remains on the Board.  As her last term expired in June, she stepped down as President.  Planned Pethood welcomes new board members:  Paul Hubbard Consultant Glacial Energy Michelle Wasylecki Financial Coach United North Theresa Grimes Early Intervention Specialist Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Your United Way Donation
-- can go to PPI   
Many businesses offer United Way donations through Payroll Deductions.  The United Way campaign has begun and will wrap up around the end of November.  When you get your form to make a donation to the United Way of Greater Toledo, you can have 100% of those funds got directly to Planned Pethood. 

In the section entitled "Payroll Deduction" under numbers 1 through 4,there is a line where you can write in Planned Pethood.  You can see an example of the form below.  In the past we use a code to denote PPI.  But now, all you have to do is write in our name. 

 

Reach us at:

PO Box 350908
Toledo, Ohio 43635
pets@plannedpethood.org