Pictures from today's transport

Diesel

Dodger

Roxxanne

Dodger

Trinity

Lulu's Doxie pups

Roxxanne again

Diesel again.

Here are Elana's pictures from today transport, She fell in love with Diesel who I agree with her , he is one of the sweetest dogs you would ever want to meet. Look at that face. All the dogs were precious but some win your heart more.

A New Life for Abby and James.Read this amazing touching story.

Back in June or July we rescued a litter of 9 pups whose momma dog had died. One of our great rescues in WI took them. In Nov. one of them was adopted by James and his family. I wanted to share this story of how far a little southeast MO. puppy can go when given the chance. The following is James's story with Abby.

Hello,

"I adopted Cookie from you guys back in november of 2010. She was quickly
renamed to Abby after Abby from NCIS. She kinda got her name because our
other dog is named Jethro after Jethro Gibbs in the show. About 2 weeks
after we got her we sent her out for training to become a psychiatric
service dog for me. I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and it makes my
life hard to even be out in public. Abby ended up being trained very
quickly because she is so smart. She graduated and is now my service dog.
She has been trained to wake me up to my alarm clock because I take sleep
meds to get a good nights sleep and most times I don't hear the Alarm.
Also when i end up having a flashback she is trained to vigorously lick me
and almost tackle me to get my attention back to the present. Also I
suffer from panic attacks and she is trained to help guide me back to my
car from wherever I am. She has basically opened me back up to the life I
used to have before my PTSD. I just wanted to say thank you for helping
her and taking such good care of her before I got her. She gets to go to
the dog park every other day and run free for an hour or more. We also
have three kids here that just love Abby and she has been used for dress
up tea parties and everything. Abby lives a very good life, getting the
best food I can afford and as many bones as she can chew on. Included are
a few photos of her while she was in training wearing her training vest.
Also the day i picked her up from training."

Thank you,
James

We thank  you James for giving Abby a good life. It warms our hearts to know one of our rescues is making a difference in your life. Continued success for both of you. Keep us posted. We all care.
S.A.R.A.

Carter and Missy Reunite

Carter and Missy were found living in the woods at a lake. They were hungry and so cold. Both had horrible mange but they loved each other and were best friends. Thanks to Shelly and Lori at Fluffy Dog they are reunited tonight. Fluffy Dog took Missy a couple of weeks ago and they felt so bad for Carter ,her pal , they took him too. Here is what happened when they met up again tonight. Isn't love grand. Look at all the Labs little Missy lives with and knowing her she is the pack learder.

Ilsa Left today.

Most of you remember Ilsa. She left today for IL. She knew this morning that this day was different. I don't know how she knew but she did. Ilsa went in her crate, got in the very back and wouldn't come out. She has never done that before. Even when I took her to the vet she didn't act like she did today. Poor Ilsa she was confused and didn't want to leave my side. She kept looking at me out of Elana's car window. I felt so bad and sad but I know once she gets there she will be so much happier. She will get all the attention and not have to share it with a huge crowd like at my house.
Blinky was a bit scared too but she handled it well. Poor Ilsa has been with me since March of 2009. Good luck sweet Ilsa, do me proud and find your forever home. Show them how special you are.
I will miss Lilly too, She is such a great dog and absolutely no trouble at all, such a well behaved girl. Catron will miss Lilly also, they played together all the time. Good luck to all of them.

TRANSPORT FOR JAN 8 TH

 The new year starts off with our first transport in 2011. We will need all the drivers we can get. We are running over with dogs and must move as many as we can in the next couple of weeks. I have two going to PA and a bunch to MN, WI and IL.  IF you can drive a leg please volunteer with Kim at keithandkim@verizon.net and offer to drive. We will be going thru St Louis, IL, MN and WI. We have at least 14 dogs traveling. Here are a few of the lucky ones.

Ilsa

Roc and Sadie

Anna

Lilly

Dancer, Vixen, Donner and Prancer

Maya

Next weekend on the 15 th I hope to move more dogs so hold that weekend open for us also.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 My wish for 2011 is that NO animals would need our help. All the animal owners would be more responsible to their animals. And every one would spay, neuter and vet their animals so I could call them their pets.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS PAST YEAR. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US IN BUSINESS. 

I wish for you a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year. See you in 2011.

The City of Chaffee, MO

Big hugs and THANKS to the City of Chaffee MO for the donation of Dog food to our rescue. We help them with their Animal Control dogs and they have helped us back. We applaud you Chaffee for being a City that cares. Jerry Laxton the ACO is so nice and helpful with us. It is our pleasure to help this wonderful town with their animals. They really care and try to save their animals. They installed new Holding pens this summer to improve their facility. Well Done Chaffee.

Dept of Agriculture in MO

The Dept of Agriculture  has started collecting a $100 license fee from MO rescues for 2011 PLUS $1 per dog. You know what he said to me when I called and asked about it. The small rescues only had to pay a small fee while the big rescues would pay more. I informed him that I AM A VERY SMALL RESCUE who will have to pay a very large fee because I move so many dogs.
The worse part of this is it isn't to improve the DOA. It isn't to hire more inspectors. It is to make up for their monatery loss from the Breeders going out of business and they are losing that money. So to make up for it they are passing it on to NON-PROFITS. Holy cow...don't we lose enough money as it is. Rescues spay and neuter their dogs to prevent breeding, we are picky about where the dogs go and we do everything possible FOR the dogs benefit. SO PENALIZE US .... I am in shock. Penalize a non -profit for making it better for the STATE of MO, better for the dogs.  I am ok with the license fee. I am not ok with the $1 per dog. ARE they out of their minds? Isn't it bad enough we struggle to do what we do. Isn't it bad enough we barely get by on donations but now we have to take money that goes for the care and feeding of the dogs and pay the DOA. The MO STATE  DEPT OF AG IS NOT RESCUE FRIENDLY. Such a shame. When rescues have to close because they can't afford to pay the DOA who will pay their fees then?? HIGHER TAXES??  On top of it all, the BAD Breeders still get away with all their shameless, horrendeous ways. The Breeder in Kansas who put down 1200 dogs due to distemper.. does the Doa care about those dogs? Will anything be done to him? 1200 dogs put down .....The fact that dogs continue to be bred and sold in this state is a crime. When so many dogs die, how can anyone be allowed to breed???

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

My wish for each of you is a Merry Christmas, good food to eat, a warm home, family all around, for you and yours to be safe, healthy and happy.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR RESCUE.  YOU enable us to save all the dogs we save here. Without EACH of you it wouldn't be possible.
There are those that send the much needed donations so we can stay in business. There are those that foster  all the dogs we take in. There are those that constantly drive our dogs all over the country. There are the rescues that take our dogs and find them forever homes. There are the transport Coordinators who set up the transports and do so much work to make it all happen and then there are those of you who always care about the dogs and help in so many ways. So to EVERYONE I say Happy Holidays from our house to yours.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK SARAH AND JEREMY FREEMAN, ALICIA DECKER AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY, LEAH STOGSDILL, LEAH ROBBINS, JESSICA WEST AND HER MOTHER, JULIE ADAMS, TAMMY WYMAN FOR FOSTERING THE DGOS,  KIM OUR TRANSPORT CO FOR GETTING OUR DOGS TO THEIR FOREVER HOMES.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DRIVERS WHO MAKE IT THE HEAT AND COLD WITH OUT COMPLAING AND STILL MANAGE TO SMILE WHILE FREEZING AS THEY WALK THE DOGS.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR DONORS WHO WITH OUT YOUR  HELP THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL TO OUR EFFORTS AND WE LOVE YOU FOR IT.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ONE AND ALL. I LOVE EACH OF YOU.

Daisy

I got the nicest Card  and donation yesterday from the family that adopted Daisy. They thanked me for saving her so they could love her. It isn't that I don't hear that from many adopters but Daisy was different. She had a home, her and her daughter Diamond lived with their family and other dogs. The family no longer wanted them. I will never forget when I left with them, the little boy grabbed me around the knees and gave me a hug. I wish I could have taken him too.

Daisy was heart worm positive but she went through treatment with no problems. She now has her own doggy treadmill because her mommy doesn't want her to get cold  in the snow. How great is that. Thank you Courtney and Brandon for loving our Daisy and keeping me informed about her.Here's a picture of Daisy.

Alvin and Jake Leave Sat for KC

Lucky Alvin who was in Animal Control for so long had a Angel find him and now he is will be on his way to her to be fostered. Alvin travels tomorrow to KC where he will be boarded then go on CARE to CO. Jake the Basset who was thrown out of the back of his drunk owners truck ( the guy didn't know Jake was gone" and then hit by a car is on his way to KC too. He will eventually end up in NM at a Basset Rescue. Two more lucky dogs going to a better place.

Ohno is Gorgeous and Made a Big Hit at the Vet office.

Ohno got her name when Sarah called me and said "really" ...which to me means, I found another dog. (She must live on THE "Dumping Road " is all I can say).  I replied "@##$$%%" which in translation means OH NO. So Ohno is now at my house. Not only is she beautiful, strikingly so, she is so sweet. Very tall and thin, of course heart worm positive and have you heard the "Sugarland " song "Stuck like Glue" well she is  to me. She loves loving and being in the house. She is great with the other dogs and good with cats. Ohno has a docked tail...go figure...What is she, Yellow Lab mix? Why dock her tail. But it sure makes her unique and that stub wiggles all the time.

Blinky

Here's Blinky our Golden/ Lab that we rescued. Blinky only has one eye due to neglect from his previous owners. Blinky is a friendly loving dog that deserved better. He is enjoying life as a indoor dog now. He has been heartworm treated and altered. When will people ever learn to treat their animals like pets instead of objects.

"I Want To Save A Rescue Dog" By Marti Houge

                 I Want to Save a Rescue Dog

I want to save a rescue dog that no one else would pick.

But please... 

   I couldn't handle one that was too old...or sick.

I want a dog with fluffy hair that's silky to the touch; 

A dog I wouldn't have to groom
  (the work would be too much!).

My allergies are bad, and so the dog must never shed 

   or jump up on my velvet couch

       or sleep with me in bed.

The size is not important, but the dog can't be too tall.

And while I'm not being choosy,

     I'd prefer he not be small.

Cute and cuddly, sweet and smart 

   and one who doesn't chew.
Of course he must be housebroken (my carpeting is new).

A dog who's quiet in his crate (I work twelve hours a day);
A dog who isn't hyper, 

   and yet one who likes to play.

Of course all vetting must be done (it's easier for me).

And I don't want to pay a lot 

   for an "adoption fee".

Ah, yes...it truly warms my heart to save a dog in need.
I'll pick a dog that no one wants:
  a noble choice indeed!

A dog that no one else could love: a homeless dog that's needy....

I only wish those rescues weren't so fussy--

   and so greedy!

       Note by Laura Holloway : Marti wrote this poem to vent and I think it is perfect.. How many times do we hear the words written here. Great writing Marti. Thanks for sharing it with us.

                                        Marti Houge

                                          One Starfish Rehoming Connections

                                          rehome@onestarfish.net

                                          http://www.onestarfish.petfinder.com/

27 Dogs Leave for Their New Rescues on Dec 4 th

27 Lucky dogs leave on the 4 th for their rescues and soon to be forever homes. If you have never driven a Transport you can volunteer where ever you are. There are always transports ( called Ports) criss crossing the US every weekend. Most travel north. Northeast, northwest or just north...some go east and west. From MO they go north usually. Dogs in MO are not always treated well. The really good pet owners take great care of their dogs but in southeast MO there are many bad dog owners. Dogs are chained out on short chains, no water, in the heat or cold. No dog house and if they are lucky enough to have one it is usually in shambles. NO dog should live like that. Many dogs live in pens their whole lives. That is no way for a pet to live either. Dogs are pets, they wants human companionship. They want to please their owners and yet they get stuck in a pen in the back yard. How sad for the dogs. I always want to ask the owners why they have a dog in the first place? What purpose does it serve stuck in a pen?
These are pictures of a few lucky dogs leaving next Sat.

If you would like to help dogs where ever you are you can drive a leg of a transport on the weekend.. it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling and  drivers are the life blood of rescue. Without them I couldn't save all these dogs because they would have no way to travel. YOU can make a difference. Volunteer to drive a leg or two.