Clark- the five-year report

 Five years ago, we signed papers, and Clark, the part-Doberman, part who-knows-what dog was officially part of our household. He had worked his way into our hearts a week or two earlier.

We had gone to the Planned Pethood event at PetSmart in Rossford to see a girl puppy. When we arrived, someone was signing papers on her. Clark was in an end crate; One of the chow mixes was barking and raising a fuss two crates down, which set Clark off. Winter, a German Shepherd was on the other side also driving him crazy.

Clark Gable & David share a snuggle

I went down the row of crates a couple of times, and asked if we could get that dobie-mix male out and “socialize” him. I didn’t want a male dog. I wanted a female, but I felt bad for the boy going crazy in the crate and if I could get him out for a bit maybe he would calm down. I sat down cross-legged on the floor. Clark walked over to me, climbed in my lap, and put his head on my shoulder. My wife, Michelle, asked me if she should start pricing crates. It was that obvious.  I said, "No we are not getting a male dog.  Especially not today" and made Michelle take me to lunch.  I had been sitting with Clark for about 2 hours and was hungry.

We discussed Clark all through lunch and tossed around the idea of MAYBE fostering him to see if he would fit in with us. We returned to PetSmart to discuss the possibility of fostering him with PPI and saw the "Pet People" who had been helping us, Vicki and Barb.  As we pulled up, they starting practically jumping up and down and shouting, "It's Clark's people.  It's Clark's people. They came back."  Deb had taken Clark home by that time but they promised to get in contact with her right away and we just needed to fill out the forms online.

About a week later Deb brought him over for a sort of trial run, and he moved into what became his forever home. By the time Deb had brought him to us a 50lb bag of food, a large box of treats and a few toys had been purchased. My wife asked “What if we don’t keep him?” “They can take this stuff with him.” was my reply. The money didn’t seem relevant at that time.  Less than 4 days later it had been determined that we needed to tell PPI that he was staying with us and to start the final paperwork.

Since then, we have grown to love our silly boy more and more. His antics entertain us, his excitement at just simply seeing us return from time away raises our own spirits. The affection he shows, by laying his head on your lap to get scratched, to taking a nap with you (in the big bed), to climbing in your hap (at 50 pounds, no small feat) comforts us when we are tired or anxious.

He also provides a modicum of protection; when we had trouble with some neighbors, Michelle wouldn’t walk past their house without him. Another time, he came to the defense of Daisy, our other PPI dog, who was being attacked by a mean schnauzer. It was Clark who jumped in the middle of that and made the other dog run away.

He goes with me to the office on weekends to catch up on work, where he reminds me to take a break now and again. He’s gone with us to Illinois to visit my mom, where he’s a good house guest. He is so much our dog, that we can read his facial expressions, from “I’m happy and excited,” to, “This is not the routine and I don’t understand.”

Even now as I write this, he is curled up on the dog pillow we keep here in our “office.” As long as he and Daisy are with us, they are happy, and we are too.

It has been five years, and Clark is truly our forever boy.

Thank you for not giving up on him.

PS I still giggle at the thought of the pics we sent to all of you titled "Clark Stressed" and it was Clark sleeping peacefully with his first stuffed animal "Crate Baby"   Which like any good parents, we have saved !

______________________________________________________________________

Planned Pethood makes it a priority to find homes for pets in our own backyard. Until there are no more unwanted cats & dogs in the Northwestern Ohio area, we will continue our policy of accepting only local animals. We place a priority on strays and animals that are on death row in kill-shelters.

BLACK: The Hot Color This Season

Little black dress in the closet, check. Sleek, black BMW in the driveway, check. Black dog or cat to make the family complete, OMG, no way! Tragically, being born black is the kiss of death for many adoptable dogs and cats. Black pets are euthanized more than any others, they linger in shelters more than any others, and they are the last to be adopted from rescue organizations, like Planned Pethood. Planned Pethood volunteer, Colleen, has one of the toughest jobs in the rescue world. She heads to the pound weekly to determine which dogs are adoptable and which are not.

Poor Colleen has shed many a tear and spent many a sleepless night resulting from her life and death decisions. She has sent frantic emails in search of just one more foster. We call them DRD’s (death row dogs). The pound Colleen frequents has euthanasia scheduled for Fridays. When they get enough dogs to fire up the incinerator, the dogs go down. In most cases if we cannot get them out of there by Friday, it is over for perfectly adoptable canines. I know this is not a very appealing picture but it is something people need to know is reality. In this life and death roulette, black dogs are the ones who lose most often. So let’s focus instead and celebrate the minority of black success stories.

A sweet lab mix we named Lena defied the odds- big time. This poor girl had a myriad of strikes against her. Here is the list: number one she was black, she looked like she had some pit bull in her (which isn't a big deal to us but it is to some), she was limping on her back leg, and she had some hair loss. Lena was for sure going to be put down pronto if we did not get her out of there. But she had one huge positive going for her: she had the BEST nature of any dog.

After busting her out of jail, I took her to one of the Planned Pethood vets who gave us some pretty devastating news. The bones in her back leg had been crushed and it would have to be amputated. This sweet and gentle dog had been in horrific pain for at least 4 months. Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse, it got worse. Lena was also diagnosed with ringworm (a fungus). Despite all of these obstacles, after Lena’s ringworm was cleared up, she was spayed, and had her leg removed, Lena found a phenomenal home where her sunny nature is still brightening up her family’s days.

Any discussion of black dogs from the pound would not be complete without telling Ernie’s story. Colleen discovered a black lab who would be put down if he remained at the pound past Friday. I was flabbergasted when I met Ernie. He was one of the most stunningly beautiful dogs I had ever encountered.

He weighed 100 lbs. and was not yet one year old and had a head as big as a TV. I laugh now about my days of fostering Ernie but it was not so funny at the time. He would NOT tolerate a crate. When I came home, he was out roaming in the house. He had not just escaped the crate, he bent the bars down. Okay-Okay- we went to plan B: confine Ernie to a bedroom.

As I walked down the street that hot summer day, my neighbors were hollering, “Hey Judy, here comes a big black dog behind you”. I turned to discover, he had busted out the screen and leaped out the window to follow me. When I took the screen in to be repaired, I took Ernie with me. Let’s face it, there was no leaving him alone. I was quickly surrounded by 6 grown men all ooooing and aaahing over the dog. I kept hearing “I wish my wife would let me adopt him”. No one seemed to notice the ruined screen in my other hand. Happily, the big guy found his forever family who live on a lake and have two golden retrievers as his running companions. Last I heard he ate a piano leg and he is still not in a crate.

But families are sadly all too often hooked by looks, not personality.

And it is not only black dogs who get passed over. Black cats and kittens have the odds stacked against them too. Last summer I fostered a litter of kittens, all with names beginning with the letter “C”. I never called them by their names because I could never tell which one was which. The blacks were with me for months, growing up in foster care. They had the best, most affectionate nature. But families are sadly all too often hooked by looks, not personality.

YoYo has beaten the odds and survived a horrific start in life.

The only kitty harder to adopt out than a black kitten is a BIG black kitten. Just when I despaired of the last kittens getting adopted, along came Debra. She is a twenty something from Ann Arbor, met and formed an inseparable connection with Cierra. And what a home it is! She described how her boyfriend installed cabinets near the ceiling so the cats had tunnels to run through. Then she sent me pics of Cierra, now Miss Beast (due to her rambunctious nature) in the cat stroller. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a stroller for cats. She said her kitties all vie to be the first out the door. Even though she has relocated to Colorado, Debra and Miss Beast are our regular correspondents.

When it comes time to adopt a new family member, please keep your minds and hearts open. Planned Pethood gets the message loud and clear. They recently sponsored a mega adoption event in which all black dogs’ adoption fees were reduced to $5 to add a little incentive to adopting an ebony friend. Please note the standards for adoption were not reduced. My love and respect goes out to all of the Colleens and Debras out there who are doing their part. My own pack now includes two DRD’s, one of whom is black, Stanley and Ida.
 
by Judy Szewczak

 
To learn more about what is called Black Dog Syndrome click here.

All of Planned Pethood's pets are up to date on age-appropriate shots and flea and heartworm prevention before being offered for adoption. In addition, Planned Pethood's policy is to treat all medical ailments, regardless of cost, unless the treating vet feels there is nothing more that can be done. We do not refuse treatment to our animals based on cost of treatment or on the age of the animal.  When we take in a dog or cat, we take that commitment seriously.

Fourth Of July: Not A Cause Of Celebration For Most

It is the fourth of July and the neighbors are at it again. Well, lighting off a few fireworks in the ‘hood is harmless fun, right? Maybe not. More dogs & cats are lost on the fourth of July than any other day of the year. Many animals are terrified by all the noise and commotion so they bolt and even jump fences as the fear courses through their veins. Years before I became a foster for Planned Pethood my rescue dog Helga had developed severe storm and fireworks anxiety before she became part of my pack.

Just a bit of background on the big girl. Helga Sue was marked down at the shelter because she had been there for months without any interest whatsoever. The employee there must have been desperate to get rid of her. She told me that our meeting was the first time she had wagged her tail since she had been incarcerated there. My semi-significant other and I rolled our eyes. The employee also commented the dog was obese and depressed. I retorted, 'aren’t we all?' I’m not one to resist a sale, so Hellie was on her way to her forever home. When we got her there, she immediately started chasing the cats and exhibiting nearly every bad behavior known to dogdom. Poor kitty Bernice lived in the basement for four months.

[SIDE NOTE:  Hel’s name had been Honey, a name that was so ill-suited that we laughed. The shelter told me she was a golden/husky mix but she was so unusual that I had her DNA tested. The certificate came back blank and the company gave me my money back.]

We had no clue about her anxieties until the first serious thunder storm hit. And, I am ashamed to say, we did everything wrong. Helga was a big girl and she would pace and try to stuff her large butt under the bed (ain’t happenin’).  I would try to console her and pet her which in reality was reinforcing her negative behaviors. Then we looked for solutions to the problem.

The vet recommended anti-anxiety medication (downers). My next question was, when do I give them to her? The answer was astounding. They told me to watch the radar on T.V., then an hour before the storm was to arrive, give her the pill. Really? So, on goes the T.V. and down goes the pill. I cannot tell you how many times Helga Sue was high but the storm blew over. Then we figured out a system. We used an herbal remedy that lasted about 20 minutes while we waited for the drugs to kick in. We also had to tell the big girl to suck it up because she was not going to be coddled anymore. That was terribly hard because we felt so badly for her.

Over the years, several of my Planned Pethood foster dogs, including Stanley who I have adopted, have experienced various stages of these kinds of fears but I have always dreaded the fourth most of all. We close the windows, turn up the stereo, and crank up the AC, all in an attempt to blunt the effects of well meaning people out to celebrate our nation’s birth. This will be Stanley’s first Independence Day with us. Maybe people would think twice if they knew the heartbreak and panic families experience when they find their companion is missing.

Protect your animals by keeping them inside days before and after July 4^th.  Close windows and secure doors.  Your animal might have been fine last year, but may have a problem this year.  For those who are especially frightened by loud noises such as storms, please secure your animal in a place like your basement or a cage indoors.  Your vet may think it best that your animal be given medication prior to fireworks to help with anxiety levels in your pets.  Consult your vet before it’s too late. 

Should your pet become lost, you can find helpful hints here.



Mission Statement:  To reduce the overpopulation and suffering of dogs and cats through education and low-cost spay/neuter programs and to rescue, vet and place adoptable dogs and cats into
good permanent homes.

 This blog is dedicated to the memory of Helga Sue who we lost to a kidney disease at the age of 10.  Blogger extraordinaire- Judy Szewczak

JUST THROW IT AWAY!

OMG, that dress is soooo last year’s style, throw it away. This computer is too slow, let’s just pitch it. And, our dog, she’s getting so old she doesn’t even play anymore and she’s not as fast as she used to be, let’s get rid of her too. Sadly our society has embraced a throw away mentality.  

Nina is all smiles

These are exactly the circumstances under which my Planned Pethood foster dog, Nina, arrived on my doorstep. She has been with us for a year now, turning 11 in foster care. She was originally adopted at 18 mos., then kicked to the curb at 10. The family had 3 dogs and wanted to downsize. Thankfully, Planned Pethood has an enlightened return policy, anytime, anywhere, and for any reason, the rescues are welcomed back. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated occurrence. People have no qualms about disposing of one of their family members. 

It was a disposable dog that brought me into the world of foster care. Someone dropped off their dog at the high school where I worked. She had on a collar but no tags. At the end of the day on that Friday, it was just me and the dog still left at school so I took her home and called Planned Pethood.  There were no foster homes available so, could I just keep her until one opened up? I named her Jane after a good friend who fostered and there was no looking back. I ran ads, checked with the pound, and called shelter after shelter. No luck. I took her to our vet and she did have a microchip. I got really excited as the company played the tune “Reunited” in the background as they check on the dog. Jane’s family had TWO phone numbers listed but they had disconnected both .   It was then I knew indisputably that she had been thrown away (BTW, Jane got a wonderful forever home). 

The most egregious and sickening example of abandonment takes place when people just flat out move and leave their pets. My foster dog Liam came to me from a pound in a rural county. He was rescued from a trailer with 30 cats. When the officers entered the residence, the temperature registered 120 degrees. There was no prosecution. The offenders were “in the wind”, left the state.  I could not get little Li, who resembled a fox, to eat properly. We finally figured it out, he never ate dog food. He went to town on cat food however. He had some dental problems too and had to have several teeth removed. When he smiled, gaps and all, he looked like he came from the hills. Liam now lives in a huge suburban home with 3 kids who adore him. He came to bunk up with us while his family went on vacation recently.

This state of affairs has become so common that the volunteers  of Planned Pethood no longer even bat an eye at a story of animals being abandoned. Currently, I am fostering a litter of “Y” kittens, Yardley, Yogi, Yoyo and tiny little Yoda who came from a hoarder. The woman had 70 cats in her home. She acquired them as people threw them away but she did not spay and neuter them which created  a larger nightmare. These babies are among the lucky ones because Planned Pethood stepped in and saved them. They were sick with respiratory infections, eye infections, and bacterial infections.  

In conclusion, as disgusting as these stories are, they are neither unique nor isolated.  Finally, this blog is dedicated to the memory of little Yancey who died before we could help him. 

All of Planned Pethood's pets are up to date on age-appropriate shots and flea and heartworm prevention before being offered for adoption. In addition, Planned Pethood's policy is to treat all medical ailments, regardless of cost, unless the treating vet feels there is nothing more that can be done. We do not refuse treatment to our animals based on cost of treatment or on the age of the animal. When we take in a dog or cat, we take that commitment seriously.
(submitted by Judy S)

A Lucky Kitten

Lucky started life as so many kittens do- a stray in an abandoned house.

A neighbor fed him and his litter mates for about a year, then one day she saw that Lucky was limping, one front leg literally dangling from his body. She took him to a vet who suggested euthanasia. She'd just paid the euthanasia fee when a Planned Pethood volunteer,Lynn, happened to come in.

Lynn could tell the kitten was severely injured, yet being handed around and taken out of and put back into carriers repeatedly. She noticed that through all this, he never once growled or hissed or in any way acted out. She figured if he was that friendly through all of that, he was worth taking a chance on!

Planned Pethood took him in, and our vet found out Lucky had been shot. His front leg had to be set and splinted. He endured bandage changes and re-splinting every two weeks for a period of several months. He had to be confined to a dog crate to keep him from doing any of the normal kitty-activities that might have interfered with the leg's healing. But true to his sunny nature he bore it all without any fuss, never so much as swatting a paw at anybody. Eventually one leg bone did heal, but because the other did not, and Lucky's leg had to be amputated.

A family fell in love with Lucky, and he is now the proud owner of his very own family! His gentle nature and Planned Pethood's dedication gave him a chance for life.

In My Twilight Years

Gus was an elderly (approximately 12yrs old) Newfoundland mix who was found as a stray several years ago and stayed with Planned Pethood for two years. He has since passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
He was in terrible condition and initially tested positive for heartworm. For a dog his age, in his physical condition, the odds were not high that he would survive the heartworm treatment. Euthanasia was suggested as an option. Planned Pethood elected to give Gus a chance. He had to be on medication for his heart and his chronic ear infections. He had to have surgery on his ear canal, which then closed up but seeped constantly.
Because he could not reach his ear with his back legs (he has some hip problems) he would chew incessantly on his front leg. His foster parents tried all kinds of things to get him to stop chewing a raw spot into his leg: tube socks, bandages, Tabasco sauce... you name it, they tried it. It took them six months, but they finally got him to stop.

Gus also suffered from mild incontinence due to his age.    His foster family figured out what triggered this, and how to work around it.  There was so much more to Gus than his physical ailments! He was a genial guy, who loved people and attention.

After two years a family came along that were a wonderful match for Gus! They lived in a ranch so no more stairs for Gus. They had central air and used it all the time so no more yeast infections in his bad ear. One person worked from home, so Gus wasn't alone much. It was exactly what Gus needed.

During his last 2.5 years with this family, he was well loved and cared for. They specifically sought out an elderly dog that had little to no chance of getting adopted.

Gus also had a family from California that faithfully sent in $50 a month for Gus' medications. They also knew his chance of getting adopted were slim. When it was time to say good bye to Gus, the family contacted PPI and we were grateful for that.

Planned Pethood took a chance and paid for the medications and surgery to allow this gentle giant to enjoy his twilight years surrounded by love. I hope someone is as nice to me when I'm old and grey. When you see the same dogs and cats still up for adoption week after week, month after month- it's because we are giving them a chance they otherwise would never have.

Insurance Premiums Increased

No good deed goes unpunished as they say and for Planned Pethood, Inc. along with many other shelters, rescues, boarding facilities and kennels it is no exception.  Planned Pethood, along with these other entities, are about to feel the grip of a drastic increase in liability insurance.

Mitzi shows off her two staff members
(cook & chauffeur) and the limo they
drive her around in

Planned Pethood is being hit with a 100% increase in its liability insurance premiums this year.  This increase significantly gouges the coffers for direct intake and care for animals needing services from our programs.  Help from the community is desperately needed.

According to leading insurers for animal rescues and shelters, a number of these companies have experienced a 600% loss ratio; taking in one dollar for every six they are paying out.  Directors, officers and the rescues themselves can be victims of lawsuits which can run in the thousands for defense.

How and why did this happen?
In 2009, the largest dog fight bust in United States' history, in six states, with the cooperation of state and federal law enforcement and the ASPCA, was conducted.  Over 500 dogs were seized by authorities and 30 people were arrested. The Humane Society approached rescue organizations to take in a number of redeemable dogs and puppies, but the rescues first had to secure adequate insurance.

Additionally, more and more states have and are developing new animal negligence laws.  These increasing laws also contribute to an increase in the number of animals seized and in need of rescue placement.

The year of 2008 also saw the onset of significant unemployment and housing foreclosures forcing many people to relinquish their pets whether due to lack of ability to feed and care for their pets or forced to move to rentals which do not allow for pets.  There has been a 50% increase in the number of surrender animals in need of a rescue.
Planned Pethood's agent also related to us that other smaller rescues have caused all the rescues to suffer.  Their sloppy, slapped together adoptions, negligent attention to safety and/ or lack of policies and processes to follow have resulted in dog bites, volunteer injuries and lawsuits.  Those rescues acting in these rash manners have caused almost all rescues to experience an increase in insurance premiums. 

The catch?  The more animals taken into a shelter or rescue - the higher the liability.  Unfortunately, many shelters and rescues do not have adequate insurance and it cannot simply be obtained by your personal insurance agent, but through commercial liability insurance companies.

What are we doing to help?
We started with shopping for a new policy or agency.  Turns out the policy we had was the best one for our needs.  Additonally, Planned Pethood implements best practices to limit exposure to liability.  Planned Pethood has a policy and procedures manual and it is provided to all volunteers during training and reviewed during quarterly meetings.  It provides details for all operations and how they are to be performed along with proper protocol .  Planned Pethood holds regular meetings and training sessions on a consistent basis to ensure communication, enforcement and review of policies.  Volunteers are screened, monitored, trained, required to adhere to our Code of Conduct and provided with the best personnel, assistance and outside resources for animal car to minimize all risks.  By taking these precautions, Planned Pethood can focus on their main goal – spay/neuter and finding homes for rescued animals.

Our need
The community needs to come together and has an obligation to do our part by helping provide for victims of cruelty and neglect.  The more we do to support the efforts of rescues like Planned Pethood, the more we will be able to show the love these companion animals can enhance a person's life.

Planned Pethood operates strictly from donations from generous and loving people of the community.  While there are obvious expenses directly related to the care of our dogs and cats in our foster program, the rescue incurs other significant expenses the public may not be aware of; insurance is one of them.  Your help and donations are greatly appreciated in any amount.

Mission Statement:To reduce the overpopulation and suffering of dogs and cats through education and low-cost spay/neuter programs and to rescue, vet and place adoptable* dogs and cats into good permanent homes.

A Cautionary Tale

Ida was next to death from
Heartworm disease

Your best friend could be the victim of an insidious silent stalker and you might not even know it. I had been vaguely aware that I administered a pill each month to address potential heartworm in my dogs. Then the reality of it slapped me in the face when my Planned Pethood (plannedpethood.org) foster dog, Ida, was diagnosed heartworm positive.

My education of the horrors of heartworms was about to begin. Ida is a stunningly beautiful 6 year old, 70 lb. black lab who was nabbed from death row at the pound. She is named after Ida Tarbell, a turn of the last century African American journalist who wrote about conditions for blacks and women. She was experiencing a dry cough which sounded like she had been a smoker her whole life. I found out later that symptom does not develop until the disease is quite advanced. Ida was about to undergo treatment to rid her heart of the parasites that had been transmitted to her from an infected mosquito.

Ida was given a chest x-ray and prescribed antibiotics. The next step was deep, painful injections with a drug (which actually contains arsenic) to kill the heartworms. That drug, by the way, has been taken off the market in the U.S., creating shortages similar to the problems with some cancer drugs. The aftercare was the worst part for my big girl. She had to be completely restricted for the next 4 weeks. She happens to be an athletic “fetch-aholic”. No balls for Ida for months. It was out to take care of business, then right back in. Dogs rarely die from the treatment but can lose their lives from the side effects. Too much activity can lead to a stroke or a heart attack because the parasites are dying right in the heart. After 4 weeks, she was administered an oral treatment and got permission to leash walk only. Then we waited.

Ida could be retested after 4 months. We anxiously awaited that date. But it was bad news, she was STILL HW+. The poor girl had to undergo the whole process once again.

There was a lesson to be learned for me through Ida’s ordeal. That pill once a month is critical. It seems like there is an epidemic of heartworm positive dogs out there. Planned Pethood’s (plannedpethood.org) rescues last year included 14 dogs with the condition, including Stanley, my own foster dog. We must end this cautionary tail (yes, pun intended) with a happy ending Ida is now a permanent member of my pack after nine long months of anxiety and restrictions. She is happy, healthy, and can be seen 24/7 with a ball in her mouth.

All of Planned Pethood's pets are up to date on age-appropriate shots and flea and heartworm prevention before being offered for adoption. In addition, Planned Pethood's policy is to treat all medical ailments, regardless of cost, unless the treating vet feels there is nothing more that can be done. We do not refuse treatment to our animals based on cost of treatment or on the age of the animal. When we take in a dog or cat, we take that commitment seriously.

(submitted by Judy S)

eNewsletter June 28, 2011

UPCOMING SUMMER HAPPENINGS

Shop Our Boutique Foster Business Partners Donate About Us Our History Update Your Kroger Card

Sweat Shirts Available Hooded sweatshirts that read "It's All About The Cat" are available in almost all sizes. Get yours while they last. Made by Gildan in the Ultra Blend. This hoodie will have no zipper. Available in dark grey to read "It's All About the Dog" or "It's All About the Cat" with our website address below. Only a few sizes remain in the "It's All About The Dog". If you are interested in pre-ordering one, email ed@plannedpethood.org. A list will be compiled and a subsequent order placed. $30.00 Save Your Books - Come Shop for Books We will be hosting a book sale September 17 & 18. Please save your books for this sale. You can also come shop at our sale. We will be at the 577 Foundation the entire Third quarter: July, August and September. Thanks to Karen Ash, Kelli Manrow, Sarah Rodgers, Bob Oates, Kim Kearns, Paula Baker and Missy Dell for helping at the Book Center. Looking For A Designer Planned Pethood would like to try a new fundraiser of making and selling handmade dog beds and cat perches. We need someone to design them. Ideally, they would determine how much wood would be needed, what kind of wood, finishing materials, what kind and the quantity of hardware needed, etc. From there Carpenter Apprentices would create the beds and perches from the design. If you think you can help, email ed@plannedpethood.org. Can you help haul books? We need someone to haul books from our storage unit in Maumee to the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg on September 16. It is enough to fill a pick up truck bed. It will not all fit in an SUV with folded down seats. Contact ed@plannedpethood.org if you can help! Thank You We want to thank everyone who signed and showed up to help at the Harley Davidson concerts. It was a lot of work, but well worth the time. We made quite a bit of money and impressed a large group of people. THANK YOU! Thank you for those who baked, toted tables, soda, tents, shirts and crafts to sell at the Old West End Festival. Thank you for those who donated their time to help set up and take down. Thank you to Mona Guinaugh for handling all the details of the event. We made over $300. Thank you to the people who are faithfully transporting animals to adoption events. Derby got adopted Saturday by a couple who saw him at an event at West park Place Assisted Living Facility. They were there visiting her mother and saw him and had to have him because he looked like their other two dogs. They told the foster that one of their dogs died in December and they were thinking they would get a third dog in 5 years or so...until they saw Derby. They were one of those homes where they can pick any dog they want and we would be happy to let them have it. And because Galla was transported to the event on Saturday, she got two applications. One hand-written there and one online when the people went home. Thank you transporting team. Thank you Theresa Grimes for coordinating it week after week. We are having another bake sale on September 17 & 18. If you can donate something- that would be wonderful! Contact ed@plannedpethood.org if you can help with baked goods and/or working the event. Who's Answering The Phones? Ever wonder what happens when someone calls our phone number? Several volunteers answer the phones all day long, seven days a week. Those volunteers return calls to help those in the public with their questions or when asking for help. For some calls they can't answer the message is passed on to the volunteer that can answer the call. Mail box 1 is for cat spay/neuter. Mail box 2 is for cat adoptions. Mail Box 3 is for other calls regarding cats. Mail box 4 is for Dog Spay/Neuter calls. Mail Box 5 is for dog adoptions. Mail Box 6 is for other calls regarding dogs. Mail Box 7 is for calls regarding membership, volunteer, fundraising, donations etc. Our volunteers keep a notebook of all their calls to refer back to in case there is any question later of what was said to the call. Our volunteers also follow a manual and use the FAQ section of our website to answer general questions. Thank you to Karen Latta, Barb Costilla, Shirley Moran, Diane Denis, Bernadette Michaux, Amy Craig, Bob Oates, Nancy Davis, Tonya Bradstock, Sarah Folger and Mary Bennett. Our phone number is 419.826.FIXX. Items For Sale On Craig's List We have a few items for sale on Craig's List. Perhaps you are interested or know someone who is. Check them out! All the money goes right to PPI. Mirror with 2 sconces $60 http://toledo.craigslist.org/hsh/2457044426.html Leather La-Z-Boy Couch $60 http://toledo.craigslist.org/fuo/2467532224.html 195/30R15 Tires $60 http://toledo.craigslist.org/pts/2467533501.html Casio Keyboard $40 http://toledo.craigslist.org/msg/2467535383.html Credenza $60 http://toledo.craigslist.org/fuo/2467536851.html Marshmellow Marshmellow is a 1 year old white female cat. She is deaf, but healthy otherwise. It has taken sometime for Marshmellow to adjust to her foster home. This beautiful girl would be much happier in a home as the only cat. Marshmellow can be seen any day at her foster's home, so please contact her foster at 419-464-2458 to meet her. Silver Citizens Silver citizens are dogs that don't get a lot of attention from people looking to adopt. In reality they are the ideal dog. They don't chew on furniture anymore. They are well past potty training problems. They are mellow and don't require much exercise. The seniors are comfortable in their own skin, know the ropes of family life and get along well with others. Through no fault of their own, they find themselves homeless. Please one of these oldies but goodies. Buddy Beagle, Freckles, Bailey and Shehkina are looking for homes and still have lots of life and love left for you and your family. If you aren't in the market for another dog, please consider making a donation toward their upkeep. For example, Buddy Beagle is on thyroid medication. The others are on special senior food. Dog Wash Fundraiser Join us this summer to get your dog washed at one of the Anderson's General Stores. We will also have our usual Adoption events at the same time. *NEWLY ADDED* Friday, July 1 @ Anderson's in Toledo 4:30- 7pm *NEWLY ADDED* Wednesday, July 6 @ Anderson's in Toledo 4:30- 7pm Saturday, July 16 @ Anderson in Maumee (Come see the Air Dog Show while there) 11am - 3pm Saturday, August 13 @ Anderson in Toledo 11am - 3pm Saturday, September 3 @ Anderson in Maumee 11am - 3pm Free Will donations for every dog we wash. Toe nail trims: $5 Anal gland expressions: $10 Sorry no cats! It's too dangerous if they get loose. No rain dates if raining at the time of dog wash. Anderson in Toledo at 4701 Talmadge Rd. 43623 Anderson in Maumee at 530 Illinois Ave 43537 Volunteers By Proxy Oftentimes a person signs up to volunteer with Planned Pethood. Soon we start to see their other family members lending a hand too. Thank you for rolling up your sleeves and helping the mission. Whether it's the spouse of a board member helping us at the 577 Foundation, a daughter of a foster who makes goodies for our bake sales, a son who tags along to help clean out litter boxes at Petsmart, or like one foster who now has his mother and sister fostering for PPI too; we love the family spirit. When talking about what you do to help PPI, perhaps you are talking to a potential future volunteer. As you know, we always have opportunities- large and small- for almost everyone. Darby Sadly, Darby had to be put to sleep this month. It was discovered she had a tumor on three internal organs. Thank you Mona Guinuagh for her care while she was a dog within the Planned Pethood adoption program and who ended up adopting Darby. Thank you to all the people who have loved Darby and supported her throughout her time with us. Thank you to St. Francis Vet and SylvaniaVET for her care while recovering from her burns. Thank you Paws & Remember who cremated Darby and hand delivered her to Mona. You can read Darby's entire story here. You can make a donation in her name here. Host Your Next Event Here We have a non-refundable deposit we have not been able to use at the Knights of Columbus on Secor Rd. This is $250 we could use to rescue unwanted cats and dogs. You can write a check to Planned Pethood for $250, which would be a tax deduction for you, then we move our deposit from our name into your name for your event. Contact ed@plannedpethood.org if you are interested. Items We Always Need Kitty Litter (always need it and there is never enough) Dog Collars with sturdy metal buckles Dog leashes Crates of all sizes Puppy training pads Paper towels Bleach Gas Cards Printer Ink 1st class stamps You can drop off these items at any adoption event.

Keith Urban Raffle You and a guest can enjoy an evening out on the town and help the animals in your community. This package is valued at over $500. Planned Pethood presents a raffle featuring Keith Urban at the Huntington Center. Friday, July 29, 2011 Your evening includes: Limo service for the evening Dinner for two at Nagoya ($100 gift certificate) A night stay at Hilton Garden Inn Two tickets to see Keith Urban (Section 122, Row K, Seat 11 & 12) Tickets can be purchased online or from volunteers. Watch our Facebook page or come to one of these events to purchase your chance to win. $20 per ticket Tickets may also be purchased from a volunteer at one of these events: July 2 Anderson's Talmadge from 11-3 Drawing will be on Saturday, July 16 at 2pm at The Anderson's in Maumee. Contest rules can be viewed on our website. Thank you to Nagoya and Hilton Garden Inn for generously donating to Planned Pethood so we may save more lives.