Ready, Set, Score! Puppy Bowl VIII Is Coming!

It's that time of year again! Forget about the Super Bowl; Animal Planet's annual Puppy Bowl promises to be as irresistible as ever this Sunday, February 5th. Best of all, the game will feature an all-rescue line up. The puppy players, plus the kittens in the kitty half-time show and the new piggy pep squad team members, are from a range of more than 20 animal shelters and rescue groups, including Furever Dachshund Rescue, NYC Animal Care & Control, the Pennsylvania SPCA, and Go Boxer Rescue. Get all the details about the game by clicking here. Go puppies!

Sparky The Deaf Dachshund Finds A Home Among Deaf Students

The students at the Missouri School for the Deaf know what it's like to be ostracised due to a hearing impairment. That's why Sparky, the resident Dachshund, fits in so well. He's deaf, too.

Before Sparky came to live at the school earlier this year, he was in danger of being euthanized because he was born without the ability to hear. Fortunately, Sparky made it into the Puppies for Parole program, an initiative of the Missouri Department of Corrections where inmates train rescue dogs in order to make them more adoptable. When the eight week prison training program was complete, the inmates decided they wanted Sparky to live with deaf youth.

The superintendent of the Missouri School for the Deaf, Barbara Garrison, jumped at the chance to introduce Sparky to her students. "He fits perfectly here," she told the Fulton Sun. "Because these kids hear all the time what they can't do. We try to tell them what they can do. He likes his new deaf family here."

Sparky responds to commands in American Sign Language, and knows "sit," "stay," "lie down" and other basics as well as any pooch. With help from the students, he is learning more all the time.

Sparky has made such a positive impact at the school that another deaf four-legged friend from Puppies for Parole may be joining him in the near future.

Thinking Of Greta Seven Months After Her Passing

Not a day goes by when I don't think of Greta. She was such an integral part of our lives for over five years, and memories of her spirited little personality are still fresh in my mind. The other night I spent a long time looking at old photos from our first year together, before she lost her vision and mobility. We always knew Greta as a lady of advanced years (she was estimated to be around 12 when we adopted her from Coast To Coast Dachshund Rescue), but she was definitely more spry during that first year and a half, and the three of us enjoyed many walks and excursions together. Here are some of my favorite pictures from those days, when we were first getting to know the special girl who would touch our heart in such immeasurable ways...

The Hounds Of Easter Revisted

Although these Easter portraits of three-legged Dewey and our late, beloved Greta date back to 2009, I think they are cute enough to warrant a reprisal. Happy spring one and all!

Longfellow, The Three-Legged Champ

Here's an uplifting story about a determined three-legged Dachshund who reminds me very much of our own tripod doxie mix, Dewey:

Longfellow, a dachshund, was 10 months old when he was adopted by Sheila Phillips of Tybee Island, Ga. She trained him as a therapy dog and he visited schools, hospitals and nursing homes. He loved to run and placed third in the local Wiener Dog race in 2005. Longfellow had one bad habit, though: He was an escape artist.

In July of 2006 he escaped from our beach house and went playing out in the street,” Phillips says. “Next thing we knew, he had been hit by a car. We did not think he would make it because he had a broken leg, a severed sciatic nerve, a crushed pelvis and many other injuries. We were devastated. He loved to run so much and now we thought he never would again.”

Longfellow survived, but his hind leg had to be amputated. Phillips took him swimming to help strengthen his other legs and he attempted to run with other dogs until he could get along pretty well on three legs. He also resumed his therapy dog visits.

“We started going to Memorial Health Rehab Center, where he visited patients who’d had their legs amputated. He was a big hit there,” Phillips says. “One gentleman at the rehab unit said, ‘If Longfellow can do it, I can too.’”

Advances in rehab techniques such as aquatic therapy for animals help pets like Longfellow recover as well as they do. Prosthetic limbs are rare, but pets with paralysis issues can get around with the help of carts that keep them rolling along.

~From Dealing With Devastating Pet Injuries: When Spared Euthanasia, Animals Can Overcome Adversity Surprisingly Well
By Kim Campbell Thornton
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Postscript: In 2007, Longfellow ran in Savannah's annual Oktoberfest Wiener Dawg Races and won, beating 178 other four-legged Dachshunds on his three legs!

2010's Most Popular Names For Adoptable Pets

Hello and Happy New Year everyone!!! We thought we'd kick things off by looking back at the most popular names for adoptable pets in 2010. Here are the top ten dog and cat names from the 300,000+ adoptable animals listed on www.petfinder.com last year:

2010's Top 10 Most Popular Adoptable-Dog Names

1) Buddy
2) Max
3) Daisy
4) Bella
5) Lucy
6) Jack
7) Molly
8) Charlie
9) Sadie
10) Rocky

2010's Top 10 Most Popular Adoptable-Cat Names

1) Lucy
2) Midnight
3) Bella
4) Molly
5) Smokey
6) Tiger
7) Oreo
8) Max
9) Princess
10) Charlie

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P.S. The dapper little fellow shown here has Petfinder's #1 canine name - Buddy - and he's available for adoption in Southern California! Buddy will celebrate his fifth birthday this April and is described as "sweet and loving" by his foster family. Unfortunately, like so many Dachshunds, Buddy suffered a spinal cord injury and was surrendered to a vet to be euthanized. He got a second chance from the vet's office, and has since recovered. Buddy is back on his paws, but he is considered special needs because of his past injury. Click here for more details about this adorable guy and help us spread the word: ADOPTION IS THE BEST OPTION!

Celebrating 5 Years With Greta!

Five years ago this week, our beautiful Dachshund Greta joined our family in the fall of 2005. Here are some pictures of her over the past five years, including some from her pre-paralysis days. Even though Greta has lost her sight and mobility since we first adopted her, we will never give up on her. She is a cherished member of our pack and her precious spirit has made an impact that will grace our lives forever. Click here to read Greta's full story!

Greta & Dewey Take To The High Seas!

Being disabled doesn't keep Greta and Dewey from having a good time! On Sunday the four of us headed to Monterey for a whale watching adventure. Blind Greta sniffed the salt air and kept her cool on the open ocean in her doggie sling, proving to be quite the little seafarer! Three-legged Dewey was more nervous about the whole experience, but seemed to feel more confident as a sailor once he had his "small man" jacket on. Just another adventure for our rebound hounds!

Greta's Story

Greta's story has been added to the www.blinddogs.net website! Click here to read more about our special senior girl, and don't forget that you can also submit the story of your own blind dog.

Save Dogs' Lives - Become A Transport Volunteer!

You don't have to adopt a dog to save a life. For many homeless dogs, the primary barrier between an uncertain future and a loving family is simple geography. Rural areas and states with large numbers of puppy mills like Missouri and Pennsylvania typically have more dogs in need. For these pups to have a chance at being adopted, they often need to be transferred to shelters and rescue groups in other states.

This is where volunteer transport networks come in. By donating just a few gallons of gas and bit of time, you can help shepherd a dog to safety. Even though the destination may be hundreds of miles away, transports are broken into manageable legs. For instance, a recent Dachshund Rescue of North America transport from Albany, Georgia to Philadelphia was broken into 15 legs of about 70 miles each. Thanks to a dedicated team of Dachshund-loving drivers, five canine "passengers" - Angel, Charlie Prince, Trixie, Zip and Maggie Mae - were all united with loving forever families.

If you are interested in participating in dog transports, check out one of the links below or contact rescue groups and shelters in your area to see how you can help. It doesn't take much to give a deserving dog a new leash on life!

Transport Groups & Organizations (keep in mind that this is not a complete list - there are many more!)

Dogster Railroad (forum with people from all 50 states)www.dogster.com/forums/Dogster_Railroad

Hero’s Waggin Train
www.heroswaggintrain.com

Boxer Canine Underground Railroad
http://ladywind.com/rescue/boxercur.html

Baseji Underground Railroad
http://midtown.net/bur

Bulldogs' World Rescue Railroad
www.bulldogsworld.com/railroad.html

Chihuahua Rescue Transport (US & Canada)
www.chihuahua-rescue.com

Canadian Chihuahua Rescue and Transport
www.ccrt.net

Eskie Railroad (American Eskimo dogs)
www.heartbandits.com/Pages/Railroad.htm

Grayhound Underground Railroad
www.gemgreyhounds.org/gur.htm


Yahoo groups (again, this is not a complete list - there are more!)

Dachshund Rescue of North America
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DRNAexpress

TRUCK-N-PAWS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TRUCK-N-PAWS

Pet Transport Net
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/PetTransportNet/

Dog Rescue Railroad
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dog_Rescue_Railroad/

Rescue Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueTransport

All Breed Rescue
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/allbreedrescue

Biker Babe Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikerBabeTransport

Dog Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DogTransport

Rescue Angels on Wheels
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueAngelsonWheels

Illinois Animal Transporters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IllinoisAnimalTransporters

California Rescue RR
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaRescueRR

PacWest Dog Cooperative
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PacWest-Dog-Cooperative

HUGS (Help US Get Safe)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Help

IMOM-Xpress
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IMOM-xpress

Celebrating One Year With Our Tripod!

Exactly one year ago today, on August 11, I met Dewey for the first time at the animal shelter where I used to work in Washington. I had just returned from vacation and was settling back into my office when a coworker asked if I had seen the little dog that looked “just like Greta.” At this point, I had no intention of adopting a second dog, but of course my curiosity was peaked. I asked another colleague in the admissions department if we had recently received a Dachshund and she replied “Oh…you mean the one with three legs?” Well, you can probably imagine the look of surprise and interest that crossed my face! After learning that Dewey was a tripod, I knew I had to meet him.

The photos above are from the day I first saw him. As you can see, the poor little guy was in really rough shape. He wasn’t neutered and had a bad case of fleas, terribly overgrown toenails, bald patches on his ears, and a mouth full of rotten teeth. All that was known about him was that he was picked up as a stray in Spokane with a collar reading “Duke.” From the look of things, he had been fending for himself for quite a while.

Many people say that animals choose us, and it was most definitely true in this case. As soon as I cracked open the kennel door, Dewey jumped right into my arms and clung on for all he was worth. All of my resolve melted and I was instantly smitten! Several days later he came home as our foster dog…

It didn’t take long for us to realize that the name Duke just didn’t fit our new pooch, and plus, I didn’t want to continue any associations with his sad past. So in the course of just a few days, Duke became Dewey, Greta gained a brother, and we discovered the amazing world of tripod dogs!

One year later, Dewey is thriving. He had major dental surgery last fall, including 11 extractions, and the fur on his ears has returned. He now knows how to sit, lie down, shake your hand, and roll over (well, almost!). He’s still an expert scavenger – probably the lingering effect from his time on the streets – and is able to find and consume anything remotely edible. With each passing month we learn more and more about his funny little personality: how he snorts like a piglet when he yawns and smiles ecstatically when his ears are scratched. Dewey’s antics are endlessly endearing, and just when I think that I couldn’t possibly love him any more, I do. It must be the same way for all of us…

I am always interested in hearing how people met their rescue dogs, so drop me a line with your story by emailing reboundhounds@yahoo.com I will send a free copy of Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets And The People Who Love Them to the author of my favorite "happy tail!"

Hats Off To Chanel - The World's Most Senior Dog!

When she goes out in public, Chanel usually sports brightly colored sweaters, booties, and vivid red glasses. As the world's oldest dog, Chanel's accessories are more about comfort than fashion -her eyes are sensitive because of cataracts and she gets cold easily. Still, this geriatric Dachshund is going strong. Today, she celebrated her 21st birthday - that's approximately 120 in human years!

Chanel's story began back in 1988 when Denice Shaughnessy found her at a Virginia animal shelter. She adopted the little puppy to be a companion for her daughter, LaTonya. Although the family has had three other Dachshunds over the years, Chanel has outlived them all. She currently holds the Guinness World Record as the world's most senior pooch.

At home on Long Island, Chanel enjoys royal treatment. She has two dog beds that she likes to alternate between at night, and Denice regularly cooks her favorite meal of boiled chicken and multigrain pasta.

Earlier today, Chanel celebrated her birthday with a party at the New York Dog Spa and Hotel. "She's doing fine," Denice told the TODAY show hosts. "The vet says he's never seen a dog her age do so much."

Greta Update

Greta had her first vet visit of the year the other day and we learned some important information about our little rebound hound. The good news: she doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort from her 2007 back injury, and her heart is in nice shape (no murmur). The bad news: she has grown completely blind due to cataracts.

Although we have known for a while that Greta's vision was limited, we didn't realize that she lost her sight entirely. I feel awful for not figuring it out sooner, but it's tough with a largely immobile dog. Because most of her walking takes place in the living room, she navigates pretty well. And she's super good at following scent trails and responding to sounds.

No one ever wants to hear that their dog has become blind, especially when they are already disabled. Still, we are trying our best to stay positive for Greta's sake. I know that sightless animals can still have happy, fulfilling lives, and we are making adjustments to help Greta feel as secure and comfortable as possible.

I found a great list of tips for living with a blind dog that include using a small fountain as a water bowl (the sound of the water will allow the pooch to find it easily) and outfitting other family pets with a bell or tags so that the blind dog can follow them around the house and hear their approach. I also found this handout from Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty Center to be helpful. If you have more advice/insight to share with us, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Spring Snoozers

Even though spring has officially arrived, the snoozing continues unabated around here. Rain or shine, Greta and Dewey love a good nap. I especially love Greta's idea to use her three-legged brother's stump as a pillow!

Sunbathers

Greta and Dewey are little sun worshipers and they are loving the increased basking opportunities that come with longer days. They will go to great lengths for a prime sunbathing spot, and we even caught Mister Dewey catching some rays on top of our coffee table the other week!