The PRC's Happenings

A Cooperative Effort to Rescue Homeless Freeway Dogs

2011-12-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Pet Rescue Center Supporters,
We have a very special trio of dogs at The PRC right now. We have been calling them The Freeway Dogs. They were living on a center divider on a busy freeway in Long Beach.

Here is their story so far........

I was contacted by a fellow rescuer, Claudia, in hopes that The PRC had the space and ability to take on a very sensitive case that she was already heavily invested in rescuing and seeing to success. After seeing the pictures of the dogs we couldn't say no.

There are 3 dogs here. They are living within the leaves, emaciated, homeless and sad for certain.

I agreed to take on these dogs, if they could be caught, not knowing really what we might be getting. BUT, it's the holidays, and I couldn't really fathom turning a blind eye to a situation like this.

Fortunately, Claudia's team spent an entire day and trapped each one of the 3. She was only able to do this because dedicated volunteers had fed these dogs morning and night for a time, to establish a routine that they would trust. When it came time to trap them, the dogs were receptive to the bait.

Volunteers like these that helped these dogs while they were still homeless are doing a wonderful and selfless thing for our animal population. Thank you to all of you who invested care and love in The Freeway Dogs. Without your help we could not have started this process of help. Thank you.

Once they were safely captured, Apollo, Phoenix and Hope began their healing.

These are the preliminary pictures of their condition and the road ahead of them in our care.

Former corneal puncture with a severe scarring and lack of vision.

A healing puncture wound.

They are weak, scared, skinny and feral.

They are all very skinny, but the youngest is severely emaciated.

The day we met Claudia and took into our care Apollo, Phoenix and Hope was Saturday. It took over 2 hours, after bringing their cages into the center, to coax them out of their cage. We have never seen more fearful dogs at The PRC. But, despite their fear we managed to take them in without incident and had them bedded and comfortable by the late afternoon. Can you imagine what they have been through up to this moment? The weather, the passers by, the lack of food or shelter, the noise.

Apollo ( the patron defender of herds and flocks ) is a male, possibly the daddy, and the least fearful of the trio. Which isn't saying much, he was glued to the floor when we took him in and after experimenting w/ all different treats, he finally responded to some food and allowed us to pet him. In the 4 days we have had with him so far he is making progress with his socialization. He is eating well, on flea control and is next in line to be neutered.

Phoenix is a female, possibly the mom, she is the most fearful of the trio. She has so far been spayed, micrcochipped, applied flea treatment, she's been fully vaccinated, ears flushed, and x-rays on old fracture that has healed itself. She is not making any headway thus far, 4 days in with her trust and socialization. She shows her teeth and growls, but is eating and drinking well.

Hope is a female and the baby we think - She was spayed, micrcohipped, applied flea cnntrol, fully vaccinated, and had her eye removed. She is doing GREAT! As soon as she woke up from spay we were able to touch her and she is walking on leash.

We hope once they have made it through the initial week, we have stabilized their health and they are used to a constant level of care and love, we can reassess and work towards easing their social fears.

We have taken them into The Pet Rescue Center, but they are in great need of YOUR support. They are unhealthy to start, but we are hopeful with our intervention, we can return them to full health. Our truest challenge will be socializing them, training them and eliminating their fear of humans, noise and harm.

They have had it rough. No one deserves to be put out into the world like they were.

Please help us support The Freeway Dogs to recovery.

http://www.firstgiving.com/ThePet_RescueCenter/help-the-emaciated-freeway-dogs

The PRC is 100% reliable on the generosity of donors.

We are 501c3 Non Profit.

If you have any questions, please contact adopt@thepetrescuecenter.org.

Go to www.thepetrescuecenter.org to donate via Paypal or mail a check to The Pet Rescue Center, 25800 Jeronimo Road, Suite 100, Mission Viejo CA 92691.

Our Sweet Broken Boxer Margarita

2011-12-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

A car accident and an energetic doggy are a potentially tragic combination.
Fortunately for Margarita she was saved by the intervention of rescuers that took on her care and contacted us to consider taking on her case.

Margarita the day she was brought to The PRC. Can you see the make shift splints her former family has on her legs? Crude, but ingenious. Her former owners have relinquished her because they could not afford the surgery costs to repair her injuries after being hit by a car. They had tried to euthanize at their vet and her case was taken on by Boxer Rescue and networked to us. She is safely with us now.

Margarita's Xray showing her broken legs :(

Four days after her surgery she is walking like a champ. The staff said she sounds like she has high heels on when she walks. She is a fancy gal.

I took her outside for a little photo shoot and she was quite a ham.

She has been shaved where her surgery was and where they place her pain patches.

Now does this look like she is a girl w/ 2 broken legs.

So far she is doing great! We are still fundraising for her care.
She will need 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation and follow up X-rays.

I will update Margarita's condition as she heals. Thank you to all who helped make her surgery possible.

To contribute to Margarita's care visit her Firstgiving page http://www.firstgiving.com/ThePet_RescueCenter/Help-Boxer10-months-female-hit-by-car-2-broken-leg

Thank you for supporting The Pet Rescue Center!

Sincererly,
Blythe

Why Rescue? What is wrong with buying a puppy from a store?

2011-12-12T21:54:00.000-08:00

HI Rescue Supporters and Animal Lovers,

As you know I like to use this blog to educate about Rescue, dispel fear and hesitation, and empower action. Here are some common questions that might clear up any confusion as to why rescue is SO critical. Adopt a Rescue.

For those that nay say the harshness of the puppy mill crisis, or how relevant saving "just a dog", there is not much to say except something my mom always told me as a child.

"Treat people (and animals) the way you would want to be treated." or "Put yourself in their shoes." Thanks Mom :)

Okay, so I will, I imagine I am a puppy mill dog, living in a wire cage on all sides floor included, I have never seen the sky or felt the wind, my boyfriends are all in the same condition and they are all sick. We are tired and have had so many litters of babies w/ no break in-between litters. Most of my babies died from genetic defects because of the repercussions from in-breeding my breed of dog. I hear a rumor around the mill that I am not producing well and I will be killed rather than continue to feed me.

Well, its not pretty. Its not cute and furry. Its business and the business of selling pure bred dogs and cats is an ugly business. The real problem is, they are sentient beings, not jars of peanut butter on an assembly line striving for a perfect product and a profit.

The answer is clear. Support rescue by either adopting a rescue, financially contributing to the cause, educating your friends, and NOT buying a dog from a puppy mill, breeder, or pet store.

Now I am not trying to say I don't understand when someone has a reason for buying a dog from a breeder. Actually, I do understand, sometimes there are reasons and I cannot admit to being inflexible to life. All we can do is educate and try to change the world, one person and one adoption at a time.

To support The Pet Rescue Center and our Rescue. Rehab. Rehome program go to www.thepetrescuecenter.org to make a donation or learn more about us.

Thank you for your support,
Blythe Wheaton
Co-Founder and Executive Director

This information is also available here -
http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/what-is-a-puppy-mill.aspx

What Is a Puppy Mill?

A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Unlike responsible breeders, who place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, breeding at puppy mills is performed without consideration of genetic quality. This results in generations of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects.

Puppy mill puppies are typically sold to pet shops—usually through a broker, or middleman—and marketed as young as eight weeks of age. The lineage records of puppy mill dogs are often falsified.

What Problems Are Common to Puppy Mill Dogs?

Illness, disease, fearful behavior and lack of socialization with humans and other animals are common characteristics of dogs from puppy mills. Because puppy mill operators fail to apply proper husbandry practices that would remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions. These can include:

Epilepsy
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.)
Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism)
Blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease)
Deafness
Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.)
Respiratory disorders

On top of that, puppies often arrive in pet stores—and their new homes—with diseases or infirmities. These can include:

Giardia
Parvovirus
Distemper
Upper respiratory infections
Kennel cough
Pneumonia
Mange
Fleas
Ticks
Intestinal parasites
Heartworm
Chronic diarrhea

How Are Animals Treated at Puppy Mills?

Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements—or crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or a gust of fresh air on their faces.

How Often Are Dogs Bred in Puppy Mills?

In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they no longer can reproduce, breeding females are often killed. The mom and dad of the puppy in the pet store window are unlikely to make it out of the mill alive—and neither will the many puppies born with overt physical problems that make them unsalable to pet stores.

When and Why Did Puppy Mills Begin?

Puppy mills began sprouting up after World War II. In response to widespread crop failures in the Midwest, the United States Department of Agriculture began promoting purebred puppies as a fool-proof “cash” crop. It is easy to see why this might have appealed to farmers facing hard times—breeding dogs does not require the intense physical labor that it takes to produce edible crops, nor are dogs as vulnerable to unfavorable weather. Chicken coops and rabbit hutches were repurposed for dogs, and the retail pet industry—pet stores large and small—boomed with the increasing supply of puppies from the new "mills." Today, Missouri is considered the largest puppy mill state in the country.

Seeking a puppy supply source on the East Coast, puppy brokers—the middlemen who deliver the dogs from mills to pet stores—convinced many of Pennsylvania’s Amish farmers in the 1970s that puppies were the cash crop of the future. Brokers conducted seminars to teach farmers how to operate their own breeding facilities. Thirty years later, Lancaster County, PA, has the highest concentration of puppy mills of any county in the nation and has earned the dubious nickname of “Puppy Mill Capital of the East.”

How Can I Help Fight Puppy Mills?

There are many ways you can fight puppy mills, starting with refusing to patronize the stores and websites that sell their dogs.

Do not buy a puppy from a pet store—in fact, do not buy a puppy from any place that does not allow you to see its entire facility and meet the mother dog. This includes websites that sell pets online. Anyone can put up a great-looking website boasting the highest standards of breeding and care, but you really have no way of knowing if such businesses are what they claim. Truly responsible breeders want to meet you before selling you one of their prized pups to be sure that he or she is going to a good home. Read more about online scams here.
You can also take a more active role in fighting puppy mills by working with the ASPCA to pass legislation that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions. Stay up-to-date about current legislation to ban puppy mills by joining theASPCA Advocacy Brigade . Please also read our Ten Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills .

Long Timers! Give 'em a chance to find a home for the holidays!

2011-12-12T21:13:00.000-08:00

The Pet Rescue Center is a temporary sanctuary for homeless and at-risk dogs and cats. We would never euthanize because we couldn't find a home for a dog or cat. BUT, the longer a dog or cat stays with us, the less we can rescue because that space is filled for any other dog or cat. So we endeavor to promote and encourage the adoption of our rescues as much as we can to ensure the public knows about all of our sweet and deserving rescues, to speed along the process of finding a forever family.

There are a few rescues that seem to take an extra long time in finding that perfect match. They are no less deserving and no less desirable though. I would like to take a moment to suggest these little loves to you, tell your friends and keep them in mind. The holidays are the perfect time to add a member to the family.

Introducing "Moe" or as we call him "Moe Moe" ...

I LOVE to go for walks, I sit on command, I take treats with great manners, and I respond very quickly to directions. Im very playful with toys, lazer pointers or just you! I love to play tug-o-war and go for long walks. I am a great boy that needs a forever family. Moe has some special needs, and we would like to waive his adoption fee and offer a 15% discount on medicines needed for the life of Moe.

Introducing Ruby....

Ruby was intentionally shot 3x, her leg was shattered.
She came to us an amputation candidate that after evaluation was deemed a savable leg.

I am EXTREMELY sweet! I love to kiss and get cuddled. I am good with men, women and children. I have a very good disposition and kind personality. If you want a lot of kisses in your home and you want to give a second chance to a special girl like me, come meet me!!!!!

Here she is! 10 weeks of recovery later!

Introducing Cooper....

Look at those soulful eyes! Hi, my name is Cooper. I am 1 yr old, Male, Dachshund/Terrier mix. I was saved from the OC Shelter on July 7th. I am truly one of the cutest dogs ever. The staff thinks I would make a great cartoon character. What you can’t see from my picture is how loving I am. I need a person to cuddle at night and give kisses to in the morning. I can play very well with toys and I play well with others. Come visit!

Introducing Miley......

Hello! My name is Miley. I am a 1yr old, female, lab/Sheppard mix. I was given up to The Pet Rescue Center on August 29th. I have hip and elbow dysplasia which constantly needs to be medicated. With pain medications on board I am a very happy girl. I just need to find a family that is willing to take me in and continue to care for my special needs. (The PRC will waive my adoption fee and discount meds 15% for my lifetime) I am a very quiet girl. I would prefer a calm household with light exercise. I am so cute and so deserving of a good life.

Miley loves to relax! She is an easy going gal that needs a companion to share life with.

Introducing Artemis....

Hi! My name is Artemis. I was rescued with my brothers and sisters (Mac, Sweet Dee, Frank, Charlie, and Dennis) by a very nice lady who loves cats. She took good care of us, but 6 kitties got to just be too much work. Happily for us, the Pet Rescue Center stepped in and helped us all!

I am a gorgeous young lady that really wants a lap to be on. I can be very affectionate and loving. I get along with cats, kids and some dogs. More than anything I need a window to watch the world go by from. I love to sun-bathe.

Introducing Romeo....

Hi! My name is Romeo. I am a 5 month old, male, orange tabby. I was rescued with my Terrier friend Tybalt from an LA County shelter on September 19th. I had a pretty bad respiratory infection when I got to the Pet Rescue Center but I am all better! I am an extremely handsome young man. I don’t let you walk by my cage without sticking my little paws out to get your attention. I am full of love and energy and am looking for a family. I get along very well with other dogs.

Of course, we have so many loving and friendly rescues to choose from if any of these little ones do not appeal to your needs. Please support rescue by always adopting a pet, whether from us, a shelter, a friend, another rescue group, whomever.

There are approximately 4 million dogs and cats euthanized each year in the shelter systems nationwide. These dogs and cats euthanized are not rabid, mean, biting, undeserving pets. They are lovely dogs and cats like these above and so much more.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Blythe Wheaton
Co-Founder and Executive Director

If you are interested in any of these dogs or cats, please contact Casey at adopt@thepetrescuecenter.org.

To learn more about us, www.thepetrescuecenter.org

A Photo Journal of a Trip to the OC Shelter

2011-07-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Photography by Amy Boring, www.aboringphoto.com

We assess our numbers currently in our care and determine how many spaces we might be able to fill.

On the road to the shelter...

...the shelter is a very busy place. In order to make our visit as expedient as possible we call ahead to their Rescue Coordinator to announce our intentions. Though this gives us a leg up on information and access to the various areas off limits to the public (medical holds), the shelter is not a place to go in a hurry. If you ever go to the shelter to adopt, please be prepared for a slow process. Go in the early morning, right when they open to avoid lunch breaks and crowds.

Asking for Tammy, our Rescue Coordinator

One of the 1st faces we saw...

We tour the aisles with pen and paper in hand. We get down and meet as many animals as we can, take notes and compile a list of 1st choices. Our 1st choice isn't always what you would think. We try to look for ones that have been there a little too long and might not have much time left, have a treatable medical condition that might make the general public shy away from adopting them, or not traditionally "pretty" (the labs, the Llasa Apsos, the Jack Russells are easily adopted). We try to make sure we are taking those that need us most.

I personally love this little guy, he has explosive eyebrows and what looks like a toupee. Can't go wrong!

Roni Trinidad, from Pimco, asked a few months ago if she could ever come along on a shelter trip. We had never done this before but thought we'd like to have her along. Having her come with us inspired me to do this specific blog. As a rescuer, you forget that the public might not know the details of "the process". Demystifying "the process" is very important to education and to impacting our goals of reducing unnecessary euthanasia.

Roni has been integral in creating a partnership between The PRC and the Pimco Partners Volunteer program. We are very grateful for all of our volunteers that help The PRC!

This is Peggy Sue that we featured in a previous blast.

We really wanted to rescue this guy, but he was unavailable for adoption the day we were there. Blythe went back on Monday for him to find out he'd been adopted by a family already. Yeay!

Our List of possible rescues and back ups in case. And of course, those we can't take on this day that hopefully we could come back for, assuming we make room by any adoption successes we complete.

After we compile a list of our potential rescues. we have to wait for paper work to be completed, files to be pulled, vet records to be collected.

This is my favorite moment. It's like watching someone win the lottery. When the dogs we are taking with us are brought out to load into our van, they are so happy it brings tears to your eyes.

The team, we saved 7 dogs on this day. -Tammy, Roni, Casey and Blythe-

We recruited Amy Boring, one of The PRC's volunteer photographers, to come along and photograph the shelter rescue process. Thank you Amy!
www.aboringphoto.com

The second half of the day is at The PRC's facility.

We bring in our rescues one at a time and give them a thorough exam, and determine a course of treatment for any issues they may have.

They are vaccinated, given flea/tick and heart worm treatment.

Their age is verified through a dental exam.

How much do they weigh?

This little doggy was so excited he was overflowing with kisses and enthusiasm.

Kisses for everyone!

Some dogs w/ skin parasites require a skin scraping to diagnose the parasite.

Diligent files are kept on each rescue.

A long, emotional day, but worth every second.

We get right to work. Once we have the medical exam completed we work to get them happier and more comfortable. In this case, ridding Peggy Sue of her prison of mats of fur was a top priority.

At the end of the day, Happy Faces and Happy Tails!

Please support our Rescue. Rehab. Rehome program. The dogs featured in this blog will begin to be available in the next week or so. Please send any inquiries if you would like advance information to adopt@thepetrescuecenter.org.

Donations from our supporters are how we keep our programs going, there is always a need.

www.thepetrescuecenter.org

Thank you for your support,
Blythe

adopt@thepetrescuecenter.org

Some EXTRA special cases of The PRC

2011-07-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

When we go to the shelter, the expression "you never know what your gonna get" certainly applies.

"Rescues" - what kind of image do you conjure in your head when you hear of a rescue from the shelter?

Bites children, rabid dog, untrustworthy around your family, bad dog, snarling, foaming, a dog that was featured on the news, etc.

or....

....was surrendered when their owner was deployed by the military to Iraq, a lifelong best friend to a little child that unfortunately when financial hard times hit the family couldn't afford the medical care and food a dog requires, an elderly companion that requires walking and after a hip operation was surrendered in "fairness" to give the doggy a better family, a pure bred puppy from a breeder that just wasn't perfect enough, hit by a car and the owners didn't want to pay for the vet bills to fix the injuries so they abandon him.

These are all true scenarios, and more common than you'd think. Of course there are a few of the bad ones, but they are the minority.

We all have preconceived notions, even the best of us. Please take the opportunity to educate your friends and family about rescue and shelters. You are our best ally in our efforts to save as many deserving dogs and cats from unnecessary euthanasia (meaning, they DON"T deserve or require it for medical or behavior reasons).

When we go to a shelter we do a general exam on site, combine the notes of the vets that oversee the shelter animals, and the circumstances and observations made by the shelter staff and volunteers, but until we can get our rescues in our own care, we never really know what medical surprises may arise.

Sometimes our cases require additional care on our part to get them to the point of Adoption Ready. Some of our rescues require additional behavior training to break bad habits (like jumping on people, poor socialization around other dogs, fearful in general), or additional medical care beyond the standard care we give (spay/neuter, vaccines, flea/hearworm treatment, and love). We review each rescue case individually and determine a course of action.

Here are two special cases we have had lately that are currently at The PRC and are grateful for your support so they have the chance to have our care and a happy ending.

Roland -

Roland came to us as a Medical Foster that we wanted to rescue from the Baldwin Park Shelter but because he had a microchip there was a 10 day owner hold on him to give his family a chance to come get him.

This was his picture that came across my email w/ his request for rescue due to his medical condition. You can see his raw wounds from his dead leg.

When the shelter called his family and informed them he was injured, they hung up. BUT, legally, he still had to wait 10 days before he could be released to anyone else. So, we just couldn't see him suffer and accepted him as a Medical case that we hoped would be ours after the 10 days. It took two days of intense phone calling and negotiating, and a lucky break that Coastal German Shepherd Rescue happened to have a transporter in the area (Thank you Tiffany!). Once in our care, we were able to relieve his significant pain which resulted from being hit by a car. He was scratched and a little beat up, smelly, dirty and had nerve damage down his front right leg that rendered his leg useless.

Evidence of the car accident that caused his injuries.

He was still scared but he seemed relieved.

Can you see the dirt on the hand, he was that dirty.

After recieving pain medication to ease his pain (he had been at the shelter 6 days in pain after his "car accident" before we intervened), Casey carries him to his bed to rest.

Bathtime

X-Rays

Weight for medication dosing, etc.

This is Roland after 1 week of our care while he was waiting for his amputation surgery.

After his x-rays and observation of the nerve damage, Dr. Matt Wheaton determined that the nerve damage had made the leg unusable and that it would never heal on its own. Amputation was our best option to eliminate his pain and relieve him of the burden of a dead leg. We scheduled his surgery and it went perfectly.

Waking up from surgery

Casey fostered him for his immediate recovery, to stay on top of his meds and make sure he felt safe.

Post Surgery

Roland is recovered, healthy, happy and faster with 3 legs than he was before. He is a beautiful boy that will really make a great loving addition to any family. He is friendly to cats and other dogs. He is ready to find his forever family, please call us if you are interested.

Peggy Sue

Peggy Sue was rescued with our most recent trip to the OC Shelter. This little doggy would never have been adopted and would most certainly been a euthanasia statistic, merely because of her appearance.

This is the face that we knew we couldn't resist....she just needed some love.

She was completely covered w/ mats, so much so that the mats were covering her neck and ears, making head movement difficult, and elsewhere itchy and uncomfortable.

Completely Matted! Ick!

Can you see the dread locks on her face Dr. Forman?

The shave down took about 45 minutes, she was calm and cooperative, but itchy.

Bath time!

A LOT of mats were shaved off :)

Her hair will grow back soon and she will be recognizable as the little Shi Zhu cutie she is. Peggy Sue is available soon at The PRC and ready to meet her forever family.

These cases are just two of the 25+ dogs we have a The Pet Rescue Center. Please support our Rescue. Rehab. Rehome program.

Donations from our supporters are how we keep our programs going, there is always a need. www.thepetrescuecenter.org

Thank you for your support,
Blythe

Photography of Roland by Blythe Wheaton and Casey Oliver.
Photography of Peggy Sue by Amy Boring, www.aboringphoto.com

A Dog's Journey To Happiness

2011-05-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

Someone said to me once that when a dog gets out of the shelter and "rescued," he/she "knows." This person was implying that to be "rescued" is something that a dog or cat appreciates deeply in their soul and relays their gratitude through their personality. I believe this.

I am not an animal psychic or communicator, just a concerned individual that started a rescue with my husband, Dr. Matthew Wheaton of Alicia Pet Care Center. In the almost 4 years that The PRC has been rescuing we have successfully adopted 335 dogs and cats into their forever homes. This experience has been incredibly rewarding and eye opening.

One thing has been clear to me with each and every rescue though... They do know. They do appreciate being rescued. They do show you in every possibly way.

A great example of this is Chaya...

Chaya's story is NOT extraordinary. Because stories like hers happen all of the time. But Chaya was extraordinary to us, extraordinary in every way.

January 21st, 2011 - Chaya was brought to my attention through an email from another concerned rescuer, Dan of The Stand Foundation who had happened to be in the LA Shelter lobby when Chaya was being brought out of the Shelter Vet's office. When he inquired, she was so sick and emaciated she was not being offered for rescue or adoption, she was only given the likelihood of death. He snapped pictures and sent out an email plea to fellow rescuers.

This is when I got involved. Fortunately, through Dans intervention he persuaded the shelter to release Chaya to us because we could assess her medically more thoroughly than they could and hopefully treat her.

It was touch and go, we didn't know if she would survive the transport, I didn't know if she'd survive treatment, I just knew she didn't deserve to die without trying to save her. So she knew someone cared.

She weighed 37.5 lbs

She was weak and had to be carried into The PRC

It may not seem so in her pictures, but she was fortunate. After she was examined by Dr. Wheaton, it was discovered that she did NOT have kidney or liver failure, no signs of neurological damage from the starvation, and superficial wounds that would heal with care. She had a long road to recovery ahead, but recovery was possible.

One week later .... the staff was completely smitten, she was happy, well behaved, and gaining weight.

She is now 46.5 lbs after 1 week of care!!

I continued to correspond with Dan, her shelter rescuer, over Chaya's entire time with us (and still to this day). This was my update at Week 1 - "Chaya is doing well. She is still being treated for her ear and skin infections. She is loving life, she snuggles with the staff, she gives kisses, and her weight has risen from 37 lbs to 46.5 in just one week. She has a ways to go, but we are thankful for all and any support to help us pay for our veterinary bills. She has passed every test with flying colors which is wonderful news. She continues to defy what in most cases is inevitable diabetes, kidney failure, liver problems, etc. Despite all her past hardship and all that we feel might appear diagnostically, she is so far, healthy. Except that she was starved. So with food in hand, and many treats, she is learning to trust in her caretakers again. "

Week 2

This was my update at Week 2 - "Chaya is doing great. Tomorrow is officially 2 weeks with us. As of yesterday she weighed 51.4 lbs. That is 14.4 lbs more that she came in with! Yeay! She has developed kennel cough, which can lay dormant for a while. So it was not a total surprise. She is 1/2 way through treatment for it and going to be just fine really soon."

Two weeks! It's remarkable and astonishing to think she was slated to die and came so close in so many ways.

Week 3

Karolyn (APCC RVT) was the nurse who carried Chaya into the hospital the day we received her. As you can see they had a very special bond. :)

Chaya's starvation actually suppressed her immune system which hid some of her other "issues". As she gained weight, they surfaced. She had terrible skin issues, parasites and severe allergies, which took weeks to get under control.

The bald and raw patches are where her hair fell out from scratching due to the allergies and parasites.

My week 3 update - She is now 54lbs! Yeay! 3 weeks this Saturday, she will have gained at least 17 lbs. She is very sweet as you can see. She is very dog aggressive though. Which hopefully she will outgrow w/ training and trusting people again. As health improves she is revealing to us she is very allergic. Very allergic. She is on meds and we really hope she will improve quickly. Dr. Wheaton deals with a lot of allergy cases so he is pretty confident that her allergies will be manageable after they are better controlled. For now though she is very scabby and her fur is pretty spotty. She is getting fur back in the wound areas. I can't wait to see her in a few more weeks.

Week 4

62 lbs!!!!!

My week 4 update - "Chaya is doing amazing. She is a wonderful super sweet girl who is VERY affectionate with the staff. She is 4 weeks into her recovery with us and she weighs 62 lbs!!!!! She is doing spectacular. You can see in these pictures she still has a little way to go on her weight gain. You can still see ribs and spine in her side view. Which is mind boggling to me since she is 25 lbs heavier than 4 weeks ago. Her skin problems, severe allergies and scabies, continue to improve. She is about 60% improved. Her hair is recovering and she is really doing well."

Week 5

I think Chaya thinks she is a person, hehe.

At 5 weeks into her recovery she is very healthy looking. Almost gone is the visible spine, the patches of missing hair, scabs and the sad sunken face. Her allergies and parasites are under control.

My week 5 update - Chaya is doing great! You will melt in these pix. I have never seen a sweeter dog. She kisses, she hugs, she gently plays, and LOVES her Kong. She is almost double her intake weight. She is still struggling with her allergies, which are pretty severe and a mean case of parasites that doesn't want to go away. I can still see ribs as you can see in the photo, and Dr. Wheaton says she is close but not at her full weight yet. She is recovering so so so well, we are just now trying to get her skin under control and her weight level and we will start working towards finding her a home. We love her!

Week 7

Week 7 - Chaya has officially stolen all of our hearts! She is healthy, her weight has leveled off at 67 lbs (she may gain more but at a slower pace over time), all of her skin issues are controlled and she is comfortable again, and she is our official social butterfly. She plays with each and every size and shape of dog we introduce her to.

Almost 4 Months - Chaya is ready to find her Forever Family!!! I wonder who they are?

Casey, our Director of Operations, also had a wonderful bond with Chaya. She was lucky enough to get a lot of kisses, from our sweet girl.

Look at her healthy little body! It makes me happy beyond words!! Her struggles have actually helped other dogs and families after an article was written and featured Chaya.
http://www.ocinsite.com/index.php/lifestyle/articles/fidos_springtime_itch

On May 13th, Chaya was adopted by her forever family!!!! We are so happy for her, but very sad to see her go. We can't wait for her 1st visit back to all of us at The Pet Rescue Center!!! Thank you for caring and reading her story. She has affected us all deeply, as I am sure she has affected you.

Smiles all around :)

I wanted to tell her story so she can inspire you to make a difference, to believe in and support what we do, so we can continue to rescue at risk dogs and cats from unnecessary euthanasia, again and again.

Please help! Donate today!!! We can not do what we do without your financial support. Thank you.

www.thepetrescuecenter.org/give

All Cleaned Up and Smiley

2011-04-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

These are the photos taken of our most recent rescues.....a follow up to the 1st post.

I am a few weeks behind in sharing this so we have actually already adopted a few of these little loves. Also, Scarlett the Mama Kitty, safely delivered 5 kittens 1 week after coming to The PRC.

Enjoy!

Not available yet

Butters

Ruth

Gwendolyn - Not available
Recovering from a Medial Patella Luxation Surgery & Cyst Removal on her forehead.

Adopted :)

Cecilia

Harriet

Mama Scarlett - Pregnant w/ 5 babies
Not Available Yet

Not Available Yet - Recovering from Upper Respiratory

A Trip To The OC Shelter

2011-04-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

HI Pet Rescue Center Supporters! We have always wanted to show the process of how we get our rescues. Casey (our Director of Operations), Katie (a PRC volunteer and APCC staff member) and Blythe Wheaton (Founder and Director of Development) went to the OC Shelter on March 25th, 2011.

In order to rescue any number of dogs and cats, we first have to ensure we have room. We had a wonderfully successful week of adoptions the week prior to our shelter trip which freed up some space for some lucky newbies. We speculated we had enough room for 8 animals, dog, cat or both. Eight was the total number.

We loaded up The PRC van w/ kennels and crates of varying sizes, towels, water and leashes. I called Tammy, the Director of the OC Shelter and let her know we were coming. Because The PRC has the ability to provide medical care to our rescues (donations willing), we asked Tammy to take a look at her available population at the shelter and determine who she felt was really in need of our care.

We drove to the OC Shelter apprehensive and excited. Let me just say, Tammy is awesome! She met us right when we got there and walked us directly to the medical hold area. Which is a separated row of kennels which houses any dog that is being reviewed or cared for by their veterinary staff, for a medical or behavioral reason. There are a lot of these dogs, and cats. Really, a lot! These animals are not available to the public and often their only hope of escaping the shelter and finding a happy ending is to be rescued by a rescue.

We started here.... there were so many, but after trying to weigh their cases we made a "Wish List". Then we moved on to the General Population to see who was Available to the public or rescue.

The shelter is not as scary as one might think, if you have never been. The kennels are all outdoors, which conjures images in my head of bad weather and cold doggies, but on this day it was sunny and beautiful. It is definitely sparse in creature comforts, but its clean and does an incredibly valuable service to our communities. There are volunteers everywhere walking and playing with the animals. Please if you are ever looking to adopt anywhere other than The PRC, consider going to a shelter. 7 Million Dogs and Cats are euthanized in shelters across America, ANNUALLY!

Tammy takes us through the kennels as we make our wish list.

Rows of Kennels

The hardest thing for me to stomach about the shelter is the knowledge that these animals are living on borrowed time. The average dog or cat has a few weeks if they are a staff favorite, popular or exceptional in some way, or a minimum of 4 days from the time that they were taken in by animal control. When they lose their spot in the population they are euthanized.

Now, euthanasia happens because the shelters are OVER CROWDED and under funded. A little statistic that is possibly a year outdated, but still compelling is this:
The Orange County Shelter was build to house the stray and homeless animals of 4-6 contracted cities. 4 to 6!!!! At the last time I checked, the OC Shelter had contracts with 26 cities that didn't have their own shelter services. This is why the shelter is overcrowded. There are too many animals competing for space from too many cities, so euthanasia is the only option the shelter seems to have to make space.

Rescues and Rescuers were born out of the need for an alternative to this over crowding solution. And because the strain on the shelters is so great, they are more than happy to work cooperatively with rescues. Of course, there are always exceptions, but this is my general feeling.

I asked Tammy, "How do you do your job? It must be so hard.", she very flatly and firmly stated, "We have to get the animals out." I found a lot of comfort in her sentiment. And I am glad she is there to do her job and to help The PRC find our rescues.

A Shelter Volunteer giving the bunnies some love.

Look at that face. We did not take him, but I found he was adopted before we left the shelter.

There are rows and rows of Pit Bulls, and although they have a bad rep, some are very undeserving of the rep and lovely dogs.

We had a Wish List of some medical cases and some general population, we ended up rescuing 7 Dogs. As we pulled each dog from their kennel, after completing the paperwork and paying the fees to release them, we led them to our van. Each of them knew they'd been sprung, you could feel it. They were lottery winners and so happy.

While we waited for our paperwork to be completed we decided to visit the cat ward. Every cat was adorable and tempting. Cats are not as popular to adopt these days, we find that cats take 3x as long to find a forever home. The shelters feel the pinch too. Immediately we fell in love with 3 cats, one of which was a pregnant mommy cat about to pop. We made a list and told Tammy to add them to our pull. At this point we were at 10 animals and we had only 8 crates in the van. Fortunately, the shelter is generous and they gave us crates for the trip.

All in all, 10 animals rescued! We will be back soon. I hope this blog is informative and helps demystify where our animals come from. I will write next time about the process of receiving our rescues into our facility and evaluating them for their rehabilitation prior to adoption.

There are so many other aspects of Rescue I look forward to sharing, I hope you find this informative and please tell all your friends to support The Pet Rescue Center by donating, volunteering and/or adopting today!

Please support The PRC with your tax deductible donation to help us continue to Rescue. Rehab and Rehome such deserving animals of a happily ever after!

www.thepetrescuecenter.org

-Blythe