presents

To Purchase Tickets online,

CLICK on the POSTER above!

benefitting

Atlanta Weimaraner Club Rescue &

The Atlanta Humane Society

when:  

saturday, march 12th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

location:    

5 Paces Inn, 41 Irby Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30305

(www.fivepacesinn.com)  

 

 bring a minimun cash donation of $5 and receive complementary beer from the keg 

and free pizza provided by Buckhead Pizza Company!  

with your donation, you will be entered in to our  

raffle to win great prizes! Raffle tickets are $5 each.  

**Dogs Welcome**  

  

 

This was our first picture of Truman - how could we not help?

Today started like any other day… I got up at 6:00 a.m. , looked over at Daisy Mae, Fergie and Hannah - ”my girls” –  laying on opposite side of the bed.  As I turn on my bedside lamp, Daisy is on a pillow near the headboard and barely lifts her head to see what’s going on… Fergie – who’s in the middle –  begins her morning stretch routine  and Hannah – at the food of the bed – begins her morning “lion roars” and rolls onto her back for her morning tummy rub… then we go outside to investigate and hunt down any critters that have taken residence in the yard during the night and, finally – it’s time for them to eat – at which point, Daisy Mae stumbles out of bed into the kitchen making sure to not miss her morning chow… and this is all before I’ve had my morning coffee!  That was how today started… 

Then Debbie got the call…. and our Rescue Committee received the pictures around 10:00 a.m…. and by 10:30 a.m., Amy was on her way to Summerville/Chattooga County to pick up the young weimie in the pictures.  We were told that the “owner” found the dog about 4 months ago and surrendered him to Animal Control late yesterday.  So I’m guessing you’re thinking exactly what we thought, “What was this guy doing with this dog for him to be in such bad shape?” 

Once Amy arrived at the shelter, she realized that the pictures did not adequately show the extent of his injuries and that we were dealing with much more than simple (if there is such a thing) neglect.  We named him Truman.  Amy counted over 12 puncture wounds – 4 of which are severe… all are infected…  Truman has extensive damage to his left hind foot which was swollen to 5 times it’s normal size and had a large open wound.  Additionally, his right ear has a severe tear several inche long… All of these are injuries consistent with those of a dog that is used to entice “fighting dogs”, known as a “bait dog”… Now you’re asking, “A weim?  REALLY?”…. and the answer is “YES!” 

The next question that comes to mind is, “How does this happen?”  Well, thanks to Atlanta’s own, Michael Vick, we learned that dog fighting isn’t something that happens in other cities, states and  countries… it happens HERE and it’s happening now!  In training dogs to fight, it’s common for “bait dogs” to be used to as a “sparring partner”.  I won’t go into details, but the ASPCA is a good resource for more information.  

Bait dogs are often “adopted” from shelters and more concerning, they are obtained through Craigslist postings from unsuspecting owners offering their pup as “free, to a loving home” – which is why we often reach out to the weim listings on Craigslist to offer a courtesy listing on our site.  If they decide to continue to use Craigslist we talk to the owner about “scams” and folks looking for bait dogs and encourage them to request a rehoming fee that is substantial  enough to “weed out” the the inappropriate inquiries.  

Do we know for sure that Truman was a bait dog for dog fighting?  No, and we’ll probably never know.  What we do know is that the rural and mountainous Northwest corner of Georgia is known to be a place where dog fighting takes place.  We do know that Truman’s injuries are, most likely, not the result of him jumping over a fence or digging under.  We do know that he has scarring from previous injuries…. and finally, we do know that Truman began his happy ending early this afternoon… 

Amy brought Truman to our vet where he received a thorough examination.  Amazingly enough, he is HEARTWORM NEGATIVE!  However, as suspected, the puncture wounds are severe and may require drains to properly heal. He is on IV fluids and 3 different types of IV antibiotics to encourage his wounds to heal.   His left, hind leg is severely infected and xrays show that the infection has reached to the bone.  He will be starting another antibiotic specifically to address this infection.  Dr. Taylor indicated that we will need to continue antibiotics for 2 months to address the infection on his leg – and may need to consider amputation if the infection does not respond to the medication.  He was also in a lot of pain due to his injuries… Thankfully, he’s resting peacefully with the help of pain medicine and he’s probably getting a good night’s sleep for the first time – maybe ever! 

Click Image for More Photos of Truman

If you are interested in helping Truman, please consider a monthly, recurring donation of $25/month – equal to 5 lattes, 2 movie tickets, 5 Happy Meals… get the idea?  Click Here to learn more!

So as I sit her on the couch and begin to shut down for the night, I reflect on the day – and as emotional as it gets – THIS IS WHY WE DO RESCUE. I look around the room, and I simply say “go to bed” and “my girls” assume their positions on the bed, dreaming of another ordinary day beginning tomorrow… We will do everything we can to ensure that Truman will be able to enjoy “ordinary” days ahead….

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on his progress and what you can do to help!

Hello Friends!  Here we are again, and – as promised – another installment from Words of the Weim! 

Hopefully everyone had a great holiday weekend and was able to brush off the mustard and sand to get back to your daily routines!  The “Rescue” actually enjoyed a fairly quiet weekend… which in “rescue-eze” means that we didn’t have any “rush” pick ups from shelters or emergency – “I’ve had the dog for 8 years and now he’s gotta go… this weekend!”… so, all in all, a good weekend all around!  Of course, we always have a few folks working behind the scenes to keep things moving…

Debbie Rodgers, Rescue Hero and AWCR Secretary, spent the weekend coordinating with Susan Daly, one of our Rescue Heroes in Savannah who helped us pull Sky from Effingham County Animal Shelter.  We know the folks at Effingham Co. fairly well since it’s an area that is known for puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.  We’ve gotten several of our rescue weimies from them in the past.  The good news is that the Shelter Director has a soft spot for weims and will actually help us keep them out of the shelter by bringing them into a home at night so that their time in the shelter is minimized – while we work to transport them up to Atlanta.  Ella our sweet, little blue girl came from Effingham Co…

We also brought “Hank” from Spaulding County into our program… “Hank”, who’s real name is Lucius, is a really popular guy!  We had been working with the shelter since last week to let them know that we will be able to take him. During that time, we also received lots of emails from our fine members and rescue groups across the State of Georgia and the Southeast alerting us to him.  It does “take a village” and Lucius is a lucky boy!  Rescue Hero and AWCR member, Vickie Clute picked him up from the shelter on Wednesday afternoon!   Thanks, Vickie!  Check out our website this weekend and we should have Lucius posted!

Update on Elliott!  When we pull a weim from a shelter beyond metro Atlanta, we usually try to find out as much as possible before they arrive… neutered or spayed, heartworm status, age, etc….  So, in following our normal procedure, we asked that Elliott be heartworm tested prior to his trip to the ATL so that we an best determine where to vet and foster him.  They let us know that he was a “slight” heartworm positive after performing a SNAP test - which to us at AWCR means that he’s heartworm positive and we’ll treat him the same way regardless of intensity.  Well, imagine our surprise when we had him retested at our local vet – twice… including a definitive blood test – he was NEGATIVE!   On Thursday, he went home with Greg Crump for foster-to-adopt and is one his way to his very own happy ending!

The Hales sent us an update on Greta (f.k.a. Coco) and tell us that she’s definitely learning from her brother, Fritz, and has learned to be an indoor dog quite nicely!  Check it out! Thank you for giving Coco a home that she loves and deserves!

A few of us have been chatting about famous people who owned weims… President Dwight Eisenhower  had a weim named Heidi in the White House!   

Even Grace Kelly had a weimaraner that she received as a wedding gift from her brother Jack!

A big “shout out” and thank you to Steve Doan (Walker’s dad)  for taking the helm of our weim listings on the website!  He’s just one of the folks who – behind the scenes – help to make it all happen!

Speaking of our website, if you’re following us on Facebook or our website, you see that we have several listings with a   next to it.  This is our way of identifying a heartworm positive dog.  What does “heartworm positive” mean?  Well, in addition to the official definition from the American Heartworm Society (AHS), those of us in rescue realize that it means several other things, as well… First, it means that we will have to treat for heartworm disease – which can be very costly once xrays, bloodwork and immiticide injections are factored in, and can often cost more than $500, which is actually a discount on retail pricing at  our vets!  In 2009-2010, a signficant amount of our funds have been spent treating heartworm disease in our rescue dogs.  Second, it means that we will need to find a foster home that is generously willing to care for a weimie through treatment – which consists of 2 intramuscular injections of Immiticide and 30 days of “rest”.  During this time, we continue giving Heartgard (Ivermectin) – which kills off the “babies” and sterlizes the adult worms.  The injections kill the adults and “dissolve” the remains in the blood stream (that’s my “layman’s”  explanation… check out the AHS site above for more “official” information!).  Some rescues, due to cost, choose to treat with longterm Heartgard usage – which, while taking care of the babies and sterilization, it promotes a “natural” death of the adults – which depending on the severity of infestatoin may be a risk to the overall heart health of the dog.  AWCR is committed to the health and well-being of our rescue weimies, and we feel that immiticide injection treatment is the best course of treatment for our dogs!  Thank you to our the Nastasi Family, Allison Family and others who are helping to take car of our heartworm positive weimies! 

If you are interested in financially sponsoring  or fostering a heartworm positive dog, please send us an email at rescue@atlantalovesweims.org! 

Have you had a chance to meet Remy?  Remy is a 7 year old weim that came to us from North Carolina after her owner passed away while awaiting for a liver transplant and she was left to his mother – who was not in a position to take care of an active 7 year weimie!  Unfortunately, her “grandmother” was unaware of Remy’s health concerns, so after thorough examination and tests, we have determined that Remy has a severe case of pancreatitis and is diabetic!  We are continuting to treat her pancreatitis while we work with Dr. Ashley Alford at The Village Vets of Decatur to regulate her blood sugar through twice daily insulin injections.  Thank goodness, Colleen Bittinger – AWCR Rescue Hero and foster mom – who is a nurse, diligently tracks her progress by doing at-home tests for blood glucose and ketones in her urine.  We’ve already completed 2 glucose curves to determine insulin dosage – each involving an overnight stay… Additionally, while we are able to purchase Humulin NPH (insulin) at a regular pharmacy – as well as, needles, keto strips and glucose strips – Remy is racking up quite a bill at the vet and the pharmacy!  On a bright note, despite her health, Remy is a really sweet weim with a lot of energy for 7 years old!  Infact, the better she feels, the younger she looks and acts!  If you are interested in financially sponsoring Remy or adopting her, please send us an email at rescue@atlantalovesweims.org.

Did you know that your vet can prescribe medication to be filled at a “people” pharmacy?  While there are medications that are specific to people and pets, some medications can be prescribed for either!  The Publix Free Antibiotics program provides up to a 14 day supply of antibiotics FREE of charge – even for dogs!  Kroger, Walmart, Target and others offer discounted generics for $4!  Next time your vet prescribes a medication, bring a list and ask if it can be filled at a “people” pharmacy!  It will save you money and make for easier refills (if prescribed) since regular pharmacies are available, in some cases, 24 hours/day!

Hey!  Did you sign up for the Pet Safety Day: A CPR & First Aid Training Event at Loving Hands Animal Clinic on July 17th?  We’ll be holding an adoption day at the event and soliciting donations, so stop by and see us!  If you are interested in attending the Training event, please RSVP to Loving Hands Animal Clinic 770-667-9022.  Hurry!  Space is limited! 

I guess that’s all for now!  I will leave you with the following thoughts… When people ask “how” or “why” I got so involved with rescuing weims…. I tell them that I really don’t know… It just feels right… Ultimately it doesn’t matter how much time or resources that you focus on rescuing weims… it just matters that you did and we truly appreciate all of you that support AWCR!

Hello Friends!  I have to tell ya, I’ve been planning to send out a new newsletter since March, but something always comes up and I continued to put it off.  Here we are in JULY (!) and I still haven’t been able to sit down long enough to put one together.  So…  I thought that I’d try something new! A BLOG!  Heck, why not?  We’re already on Facebook and Twitter, however, not all of our members subscribe to those sites (but if you click on the links above, you can find out how to join us!).  So we’re constantly asking how to keep folks informed without sending out multiple emails that either become a nuisance or end up in “junk mail” folders…. isn’t this the next “natural” step in our entry into what the experts call “social media”?

What can you expect from “Words of the Weim”?  Well, first, I’m going to try to do a weekly blog giving an update of what’s happening, reminder, and a little about the dogs that we’re bringing into AWCR.  I also hope to have a few guest bloggers that will share information about the various teams and functions within Atlanta Weimaraner Club Rescue, general rescue topics, and even a word from our vets about taking care of these beautiful gray dogs!

So, let’s jump in and I’ll tell ya a bit about what’s been happening this week… (btw, it’s not always gonna be this long!)

Holiday weeks are always tough for folks involved in animal rescue efforts.  Most places that we board are not able to keep rescue dogs over the holiday and our vets are full, as well, with their regular customers.  So, in addition to working with the weims that are coming from the shelters, we are usually searching for temporary foster homes for the weimies we have in boarding.  We’ve been lucky this holiday weekend, as we only had 2 weimies in boarding – Enzo and Edison.  Enzo is a 9 year old weim that was surrendered to us from his family who were unable to care for him moving forward.  He’s been staying at Camp Bow Wow Duluth with Jeff Hahn, owner of Camp Bow Wow Duluth, a fellow weim owner and AWCR Member, and his fine staff who always take good care of our gray dogs!  Jeff, one of our “Rescue Heros” will be bringing him home each evening over the holiday weekend!  Edison is a 5-6 year old weim that several folks met at the Animal Rescue Fair (ARF) at Wills Park in Alpharetta.  He’s a big, goofy guy that has been boarding with our friends at Pet’s Playhouse on Ponce in Decatur.  Thanks to Erin & Jared Lace, he’s got a place to rest his head this weekend!

…and speaking of Erin & Jared – We’d like to welcome them back as summer fosters!  Erin & Jared are teachers and volunteer with us to foster in the summer while they are out of school! They started their “foster summer” last week with Max, one of our Weimador pups that was waiting for his foster home!  Thanks for all you help… and it’s only JULY!

Welcome ELLIOTT!  Thanks to AWCR Members, Cheryl & Ron Baer, and the fine folks at Putnam County Animal Control, gorgeous boy, Elliott arrived safely in Atlanta today!  He’s about 3 years old, a bit skinny, but Cheryl says  he’s a very sweet and very smart boy!  He does a sharp sit, down and stay!  Hard to believe that he spent a week at the shelter and no one came to get him!  He is heartworm positive and needs to be neutered, so he’ll spend a few days at the vet… check the website for updates!

The Nastasi family checked in tonight to tell us that MAXIMUS is settling in nicely with their family!  He loves being the center of attention – he’s a weim!  He’ll be starting heartworm treatment soon, so check back for updates on how he’s doing!

We’ve got lots more happening that I’m excited to tell you about…. so check back on Facebook or this site for updates!

Also, tell us what you think about our blog!