Hi Animal Lovers,

2.       If you know someone who likes horses consider a donation to Habitat for Horses located in Hitchcock – www.HabitatforHorses.org . H.f.H. is really struggling due to the high cost of hay caused by the drought.   H.f.H. has a very informative web site. Of course there are many other great horse rescues around the country such a Gentle Giant Draft Horse Rescue in Maryland who rescues draft horses from slaughter and abuse – www.GentleGiantsDraftHorseRescue.org.

3.       If you know someone who likes horses and is really into our nations wild mustangs then you might try Madeline Pickens website Saving Americas Mustangs – she is doing some good stuff with some of her money.  Also she is anti-slaughter. http://www.savingamericasmustangs.org/

4.       If you know someone who likes donkeys then try Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. We have become active with this group lately as Texas has now become the largest donkey dumping ground in the country. The state of Texas likes to shoot them on sight in Big Bend so PVDA is working around the clock trying to save them. They have an interesting web site and you probably would have to inform the recipient of your gift yourself. Donkeys (same as burros) are great animals. This group is based in California, but now have a place in Texas. They just bought a defunct dairy farm near San Angelo where they will soon be locating their Texas donkeys.  http://donkeyrescue.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.home

5.       A few other great groups where one can adopt or sponsor one of their animals are below:

·         Best Friends in Utah: www.BestFriends.org

·         Society for Animal Rescue and Adoption (SARA) is located in Seguin and will one day move near Marfa and the owner is a good friend of mine.   http://www.sarasanctuary.org/newsite/index.php

6.       Below are some national/international organizations that I like a lot and allow one to adopt an endangered animal as a gift. These are really great for kids as they get a stuffed animal and fact sheet about the animal so it is fun and educational.

·         Defenders of Wildlife – https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_homepage&s_src=3WEW1200HXXXX&s_subsrc=112811_web_hp1 They work very hard for wolves and besides just adopting a wolf they have lots of other wolf saving gifts such as tracking collars, turbofladry, etc.    https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_wolfsaving

·         Oceana is a group that focuses on marine mammals -- https://store.oceana.org/?akid=2231.646508.lCUUzk&rd=1&t=3&utm_campaign=adoption&utm_medium=mailing&utm_source=email

·         If you have someone whose interests are more focused on the environment try National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) at www.NRDC.org .  Their gift sections can be found at:

 https://www.nrdcgreengifts.org/gifts/?s_src=sem_google_NRDC%20Brand_NRDC%20Brand_NRDC__p__7880853040&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=NRDC&utm_campaign=NRDC%20Brand

7.       More places to get gifts and benefit an animal activist group

·         The Animal Legal Defense Fund has holiday cards if you are looking for some and your purchase goes to help animals. -- http://www.aldf.org/article.php?id=1876 or http://www.cafepress.com/aldf

·         The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) is a group that works to change the laws about animal abuse, puppy mills, horse slaughter.

·         If you know someone who is into Grey Hounds (for pets not racing) or you like them you should visit Grey2K at  http://www.grey2kusa.org/shop/index.html .

8.       For cat lovers

·         Alley Cat Allies. They do great work across the nation for feral cats. http://www.alleycat.org/  

Thanks, try something different and have fun giving!

  An Emotional Rescue

We have another chapter about animal rescue with some fine dogs that are available for adoption. Check the Home page.

As we have a great many clients that are involved with rescuing animals or that have rescue animals, this page is for those that might be thinking about such a thing.  We also have a section of animals we have rescued on our home page.

This chapter is for the purpose of educating readers about what can happen to animals that had the misfortune to fall into the wrong hands. Following will be photos of abused or neglected animals that we assist or have assisted animal rescue groups save and bring back to good health so they can be adopted. These animals are not pretty sights when first rescued and are not for those who may be squeamish about seeing the unpleasant realities that some animals find themselves in through no fault of their own. We believe that all animals deserve a nice life and encourage people to seek out rescue animals to adopt rather than go to breeders or pet shops for puppies or kittens that quickly grow up. There are people adopt a puppy or kitten and when the animal reaches adulthood, they dump it it and find another kitten or puppy. Other people enjoy beating or torturing animals because they are psychopaths and enjoy hurting animals and then many times go on to hurt people for kicks. Other people grew up to be Nazi Gestapo torturers so this stuff happens and it is a sad reality.

  We have now and have had many rescue animals that were abused and they can be and are great friends. In most every community there are local animal shelters, rescue groups and volunteers that go about saving animals that need good homes. 

Find one, call them and offer to foster an animal or volunteer to help some way. It is simply a great thing to do.

Concerning the dog featured below, the last Christmas holidays,  Scotty and his wife decided to sponsor a dog that was found in the worst condition at the local animal control pound instead of buying each other un-needed stuff.  When we picked up this dog to take her to the vet, we found she was in much worse condition than the following photo taken by animal control could show.

                                             Here is the story of Shelby the German Shepard, a lucky dog

This photo is of Shelby (we named her). As you can see, this dog was in miserable physical condition and was starved and abused for a very long time. She was a real mess when found.

 Here are some photos taken a few days after we found her.

  She has had several baths and is receiving treatment, food and water. her spirits are improving and she has been able to eat solid food. As you can see, she has lost a great deal of her hair due to malnutrition or no nutrition.  The young German Shepard mix has severe wounds and various skin infections.  After the vet completes what she can do, the dog will go to a volunteer with Scouts Honor a local animal rescue group that has experience with helping severe cases like this one and will spend six months or so caring for the dog so she can grow her hair back, regain strength and eventually find a good home. Shelby has a sweet personality and if you are interested in adopting this Shepard at some point, let us know. If you would like to contribute to the care of other animals in similar situations go to  www.scoutshonor.org  or E-Rescue-Houston.org  or to your local animal rescue groups. 

Here Shelby after two weeks of care by a great Houston animal clinic. Feeling much better after some steady food and water as well as medicines and a whole lotta love, her eyes are now much brighter and alert. A few more weeks and she should be ready to go to a foster home. As she feels steadily better, her personality is emerging and it turns out that in spite of the unfortunate circumstances she was found in, she is a sweet little dog, about two years old. 

Here is Shelby with Dr. Sealy from VERGI pet hospital about to leave intensive care and go to a volunteer foster home for further recovery. Her hair is growing back, she is gaining weight and although still in a very delicate condition as a result of the attentive care she received, she is a making a spectacular return to good health. 

Here is Shelby today with her beautiful hair grown back. She made an amazing recovery, is a great lucky dog, a genuine survivor that found a wonderful home with four more white German Shepard's and two very nice humans. 

July, 2010