Rescue: Volunteers, Shelters, and the dreaded Armchair!

A friend and fellow rescuer recently brought up a few rather good points about rescue. First off is her article about how you can help and actually make a difference in rescue, as well as what is generally not recommended and regarded as the opposite of help.

Second, anyone actively in rescue, volunteers at a shelter, does it individually or is interested in it is encouraged to go to this most recent post and post your insight or opinions on the matter! Even questions you'd like answered is highly welcomed. You can post on Jenna's blog, comment on here, or find one of us on Facebook. We'll be sure to get the information where it's needed.

It's Official!

The Shiba Inu Rescue of Texas is now officially a 501(c)3 non-profit organization! Wahoo!

The Downside to Rescue

A good friend of mine and a fellow SIRTx rescuer wrote a guest blog about her experiences with three not so happy endings in our rescue (one of which y'all might recognize) and I highly encourage everyone to read. Sometimes rescue is more than happy stories and mild headaches with training and socializing new dogs. It really does take a certain type of person to deal with all of the ups and downs of rescue, but luckily we've experienced more ups than downs, and it's the ups that keep us going.

Inu Baka

Besides the obvious restrictions of our apartment complex, I feel the same way and confusion of why I haven't just been jumping in to volunteer more readily. My home is always open to those in need, people and animals alike, but I've felt off, and Sentaro wasn't ever my foster, though the poor guy did spend hours in my car. Perhaps whats getting to me is that I've never had to make the decision or be there to put down any of my own animals before, my mom taking our cat herself, my rat dying of natural (tumor) causes, and my husband's dog being taken care of by his parents. I still didn't have to make the decision, it was made for me, I just had to be there with him. Sentaro wasn't my dog, or as I mentioned even my foster, but I felt for him, I loved for him and I cried for him, even for the short time I knew him. I don't believe I'm burnt out from rescue, as I haven't done it for long enough, but I do know I will be aprehensive about the slightest signs of Parvo from now on.

Sad news

Zip and Zap are recovering well and were able to go home to finish fighting off this illness. Unfortunately, Sentaro was getting septic and since the Parvo was proving to be too much for him, we at the rescue felt it to be the most humane to let him go this morning.

We didn't get a chance to really know you yet, but you will be sorely missed and you were greatly loved, little buddy.

Shiba Inu Rescue of Texas

Zip, Zap and Sentaro vs Parvo

Wednesday and Thursday this past week, our rescue picked up these three brothers from Garland, TX. The two creams were at the shelter, positive for mange, and the B&T was found by a resident. They're all, unfortunately, the product of terribly irresponsible breeders, who decided to not take care of them and dump these 7-9 month old pups in the middle of nowhere. Besides mange, these puppies have hookworm, roundworm, scabs, and just recently, Parvo.

Parvovirus, for those that aren't familiar, is a particularly nasty disease that has an 80% fatality rate and causes gastrointestinal tract damage as well as a few other things. In laymans terms, these poor dogs get the worst intestine destroying flu, to say the least. All three of them right now are fighting for their lives at two different vets, and we, the Shiba Inu Rescue of Texas, need your help.

Our rescue has gotten by in the past with privately donated funds, but these guys need a fighting chance and unfortunately, our pockets are not endless. Even you can only spare $5, it would mean the world to us and to these puppies. Our PayPal email is texasshibarescue@aol.com and every little bit helps.

If you decide not to donate, that is also okay. Please only support responsible breeders and keep your animals up to date on all of their vaccinations.

(Next up are those pictures and cookie recipes I promised. Stay tuned!)

ALMOST there

The Shiba Inu Rescue of Texas has been Incorporated by the State of Texas and just last night, Nicole and I finished up the paperwork to file for our 501(c)3 (nonprofit) after working on it off and on for the past few months. We just need the heads of the rescue to sign, write a check, and mail it to the Feds to get approved.

Goodness, it was a lot of work and full of legal jargon. I don't think we would have come close to have comprehended it and finshed so fast without the help of Paula from the Tri State Shiba Inu Rescue. You are awesome, Paula.

Next step is to curb Koji's allergies that recently started up and to make another tin of cookies this weekend for a Shiba in need. I'll be sure to get pictures and recipes up, as well as more info about Keido. Feel better, buddy.

House Guest

Look at that happy smile!

Haku, a foster for the Texas Shiba Rescue, came to stay with us yesterday while Nicole and Ian were out. This little guy is a little needy as far as attention goes, so the long hours they were out would have been too much for him, so he got to hang out with Jeff, Koji and me.

And what a sweetheart, though his little doggie farts were something less than desirable. But even with that big ol cone head and a recent neuter, Haku tumbled a bit with Koji (with supervision, of course) and they shared toys and bullies and us very well. He falls right asleep in someone's lap and was just a joy to have around. Also made us realize how far we've come with Koji and how much we appreciate what he does. He may not know a bunch of tricks or commands, but the basics he has down like nobody's business, and that was something that Haku will still need to work on, though he looked like he was starting to get it but just didn't care enough. I know the cone is a big obstacle, so I'm sure he'll learn faster once that bad boy is finally off.

Hopefully his forever family is found soon. He'll be a great pet and I hope we'll be able to see him again after he's home.

Koji and Haku Play
Round 2!