HART - Highland Animal Relief Team

A Rescue Poem . . .

2012-01-27T10:25:00.003-05:00

Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to ...go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain, in heat, and snow.
I ate whatever I could find,
I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain,
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or to gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you."
Was whispered in my ear.
"You'll have a home to call your own
where you know no fear."
"You will be dry, you will be warm,
you'll have enough to eat
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet."

I was afraid, I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.

And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me about the rescue group
And what it meant to her.

She said, "We are a circle,
A line that never ends.
And in the center there is you
protected by new friends."
"And all around you are
the ones who check the pounds,
And those who share their homes
after you've been found."
"And all the other folks
who are searching near and far,
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star."

She said, "There is a family,
that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we'll find them,
just you wait and see."
"And then they'll join our circle
they'll help to make it grow,
so there'll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go."

The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
it wasn't meant to be,
there were people standing there,
just gazing down at me.

I knew them in a heartbeat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting
for a special dog like you."

Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live and
all you've given me.
But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue person
to lift them off their feet."

- Arlene Pace

Adopter Update - Guinness (nee Pepper)

2012-01-27T10:08:00.002-05:00

We wanted to share a couple of photos of Guinness (nee Pepper) with you. We are so happy to have her as part of our family. She is such a wonderful, smart girl.

Guinness has just about completed puppy school at Doggie Central in Etobicoke and she absolutely loves it! She has learned many commands and has met a lot of new friends.

We take Guinness to puppy play time twice a week in addition to her classes and she is coming along amazingly.

She just had her second set of shots on the 19th and is in perfect health and weighed in at 19 pounds!

Our entire family could not be happier. Thank you for helping to complete our family and we will keep you updated as we go along.

Regards,

Simone

Do you laugh enough?

2012-01-21T09:44:00.003-05:00

Research has shown that laughter can increase longevity in humans. From Japan to Norway to Canada, studies show that the more opportunities you find to laugh on any given day, the more likely you are to live longer and with a better quality of life.

As I have been researching the connection between laughter and longevity, I realize, I laugh all of the time.

The reason for much of my jocularity is my 5 pack of canine comedians! Even on days when it is tough to find humour, I need look no further than my silly clan of canine clowns.

Dogs are incredible mood lifters! Even in the face of great angst, my goofy Landseer's smiling face can make me belly laugh. She is a natural comedian who really does smile when she is amused. She dances, she leaps, she crawls on her belly. She thinks ravens are the messengers of death and will spend hours jumping and contorting, trying desperately to take flight. All of this makes for hilarity for anyone lucky enough to witness her antics! If laughter is the best medicine, then dogs should be medical doctors. They know just when to dispense a healthy dose of the giggles.

Recently, friends had a tremendous loss in their lives. Arriving at our home for a little moral support, they carried with them a giant bone, almost too big for a giant breed dog to handle, as a gift for our dogs. They were so downtrodden when they arrived. They placed the bone on the kitchen floor while they sought solace with us. Our 10 lb dog toddled into the room and wrestled with the bone which was the equivalent of her body weight. She struggled with her prize until she was able to drag it off into another room where she could chew it in peace. Seeing this creature so determined to carry off this treasure made our friends howl with laughter. They commented on what a gift it was to laugh in a moment of great sorrow. Dogs do this all of the time!

Our newest arrival, our little 14 year old Poodle has a habit of leaping in the air like a gazelle when he is happy. No matter how many times I see it, it still causes fits of giggles. I suspect it always will.

Dogs don't worry about looking silly, in fact, they revel in it. If a dog sees that what he is doing is making you happy, he will continue to act in manner that elicits a happy response from you. The simple fact is that dogs love to make people laugh!

If you want to live longer, laugh more get a dog. If you want a dog, consider HART. We have your canine comedian standing by.

Adopter Update - Marley

2012-01-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

I hope that things are well with your family! The furry addition to our family is adjusting wonderfully! He is up to 16lbs now and enjoys keeping busy outside in this snow! His name is now Nanuk (Polar Bear inInnu). We were originally going to call him Mukwa (Ojibway for Bear) but thought since we adopted him on the coldest day of winter and he lived outside for a while, polar was fitting. So Nanuk it was! He has such a lovely personality and is an amazing dog! He is so smart and learning many new tricks and commands weekly. I've attached some recent pictures!
Take care and talk soon!
Laura, Jared and Nanuk

The Christmas Puppy - Now What?‏

2012-01-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

For shelters and rescues, often January means a full house. We've all heard the saying, "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas", but sadly, not everyone lives by that promise. Once the glow of the Christmas puppy fades, often these precious gifts become unwanted house guests by the time the Christmas tree is taken down. Puppies do not have off switches and cannot be tossed aside like an unwanted toy once the novelty wears off. Research shows that almost half of the dogs purchased during the Christmas season end up in shelters, and those are the lucky ones. Countless others are turned out to fend for themselves!

Reputable breeders do not coincide available litters for the Christmas season – puppy mills have no such ethics. If you have purchased your puppy from a pet store, be aware that it is straight from a puppy mill. Please see Rosco’s story below and let it serve as a reminder of how not to treat your new family member…………….

On the first month after Christmas, the new puppy, now named Rosco, is like the second coming! Oooohs and aaahhhs abound and then later, everyone starts a little fuss over who's cleaning up after it while the newest XBotWiiii3.4Zoom is being played over and over.

The second month after Christmas is filled with "he's so cute" and "let me hold him". Then it's "I'll take him out in a minute". As the days dwindle, the electronic wonders are still affixed to the kids' hands and with a sigh, you say, I'll take care of him just this one more time and that's it.

The third and fourth months after Christmas and the kids are hanging out with their friends, doing homework, texting and whirling in and out the door without a care in the world except for how cool they look. The puppy is getting bigger and while he wants to play, he is pushed away and he goes to his spot as he's commanded. Again, he's stuck with the company of his two squeaky toys and chew bone.

By the fifth and sixth month, Rosco is still having accidents and chews on the furniture because he's bored. No one has time for him. He is yelled at for peeing in the house, but everyone is gone all day and he aches to go outside so he can be good, but where is everybody? His chew bone is a nub and his toys are in shreds and there’s nothing for him to do.

Here come the seventh and eighth months and wow, you cannot believe how big this dog is getting. The pet store said he'd be only 25 pounds at the most, but he's up to 30 and not full grown yet! The hair on the furniture is an everyday annoyance. So Rosco's going outside on a chain, but with eyes that would melt anyone's heart except his own family's. He wonders what happened and why he can't be in the house anymore.

Well, Rosco is 9 months old and now the kids are back in school. The dog liked them playing in the yard over the summer, but now they are gone all day. If he could tell them, he would plead, "Oh wait, here you are! You’re home! Come here...come here...come here...can't you see me? Can't you hear my joyous bark?"

It's October and the air is getting cool again. Mom and Dad talk about "the dog" being outside when the cold weather comes and needing to fix up his house and keep it filled with hay. The dog has become a burden to them. If only the kids would have kept their promises.

It's the eleventh month after Christmas and the dog's water bowl is frozen. Who's going to go out and get the dog some fresh water and fill his bowl with some food? Silence. Begrudgingly someone goes and with resentment, because it's cold and the dog is more work than he's worth. The wagging tail means nothing. The happy squeals to see someone from the family go unheard.

The twelfth month after Christmas and the holiday whirlwind begins again. The list of presents to be bought is long. The kids are getting excited and so are Mom and Dad. They anticipate how their eyes will light up this year.

Rosco is now in a shelter. He waits for his family. He doesn't see them ever again.

This is a story with a happy ending. Rosco is a young, purebred dog who has a big chance of being adopted. There are many purebreds in rescue groups like HART. Responsible rescues will wait till Christmas is over to adopt him out to a loving family who is the perfect fit for him. His new name will be Chance because his new family said their dog died recently and he is their second Chance. Little do they know it's the second chance for Rosco, too.

Adopter Update - Sailor, aka Orville‏

2012-01-14T11:55:00.002-05:00

He is truly a dog in a lifetime. He's kind and gentle, quiet, snuggles like nobodies business, is happiest when he's lying right beside someone. Sometimes some friend or other of my children's will be sleeping on the couch when I wake up, and Sailor will jump up and snuggle in with a complete stranger! Money couldn't buy a dog this nice. I had a friend over last night, who said if Sailor had any brothers or sisters, he'd love to have one. We're getting a lot of amusement from him right now. He has a rawhide bone he carts around with him, and for some reason he hasn't been chewing on this one, it's like it's his blankie. If one of the cats enters a room and the bone is on the floor, Sailor will jump down and go and guard it, just in case. He's too funny.

Anyway, I can honestly say that Sailor is the best thing that has come along in my life in years. He's the right dog for me, and I am so glad that Pauline mentioned to me that you had a dog. He couldn't be loved any more than he is. Sailor is going to eventually need a playmate-I can't believe I'm saying that. He loves being around other dogs, just craves their attention. It would have to be a dog that is every bit as gentle as he is.

Oh, you wouldn't believe how silky and shiny Sailor's fur has become. I'm feeding him the same food you had him on, and he's as glossy as can be. Sailor is so loved, thank you so much for allowing him to share my life.

Thanks, Judith

Keep your dog safe from hidden household dangers...What dangers to your dog lurk in your home, garage or yard?

2012-01-13T10:16:00.001-05:00

What dangers to your dog lurk in your home, garage or yard? There are poisons and choking hazards all around. The key is to treat your dog as though he were a small child. You would child proof your home, why not dog proof it?

My friend, who is a veterinarian, recently removed a piece of construction waste from the stomach of a small dog. This expensive emergency surgery could have been prevented had the dog's owners taken precautions to ensure that the dog was supervised so that it did not ingest the apparently delicious piece of linoleum flooring. The little dog will recover, his owners are relieved and have expressed that this was a hard learned lesson in dog safety. Accidents such as this as well as poisoning from common household products account for many visits to veterinarians and pet losses every year.

Chemicals used on lawns and gardens such as plant food and fertilizer can be fatal to a dog. Never use cocoa mulch in your gardens or outdoor spaces. Cocoa mulch smells like a delicious treat to a dog, he will want to eat it, however, chemicals in cocoa mulch are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. Responsible owners keep their pets out of other people's yards, but if your dog visits neighbours, ensure that he is not able to access these toxic items in their yards. Remember that even if you don't use rodent poisons, your neighbour might. A small dog can die from ingesting a rodent that was killed by poison.

Anti-freeze which contains ethylene glycol, is deadly. It attracts animals with it's sweet taste but is DEADLY if consumed, even in small amounts. A teaspoon of this substance can kill a 7 pound dog. Remember that aside from its use in vehicles, it is also often the substance used in snow globes. The contents of a broken snow globe can kill your dog if he ingests it.

Plants are a lovely addition to any home, however did you know that some of these cheerful, beautiful plants can be deadly to your dog? Among these are Azaleas, Lilies, Philodendron, Mistletoe..ask your veterinarian for a list of toxic houseplants to ensure that your dog and your plants can co-exist.

Make sure to keep all human and animal medications out of reach of your dog, just as you would a child. Don't assume your dog won't chew a pill bottle or ointment tube while your back is turned. If your dog is suffering from pain, do not give him human pain medications without consulting a veterinarian. Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, can all prove toxic to your dog. In addition, your multi vitamin or over the counter cold medication should never find its way into your dog.

Many over the counter flea and tick remedies can be toxic to your dog if he ingest them. Consult your veterinarian BEFORE using any such product on your dog.

Other household hazards that are less apparent are string, elastics, ribbon, yarn, small toys, Christmas decorations, rawhide's or any other item that your pet could pick up and mistaken for food. All of these can be choking hazards. If swallowed successfully, they can become lodged in stomachs or intestines. Tennis balls can be a severe choking hazard for large dogs. NEVER THROW A TENNIS BALL for a large dog. Make sure that you are giving your dog toys that are appropriate for his size. A cat toy can choke a dog. Big toys are best for big dogs!

Food, glorious food, all dogs love food but some foods can be dangerous for them. We all know about the dangers of chicken bones which can splinter and wreak havoc on the dog's digestive system BUT there are other foods that are dangerous to your dog. Chocolate, onions, alcoholic beverages, coffee grounds, grapes, raisins should NEVER be fed to a dog. Consult your vet for a complete list of toxic food items, don't assume that just because you eat it, it is safe for your dog. Remember that anything with mold growing on it, should never be fed to your dog. If it is too old for you to consider eating, you should not feed it to your dog.

If you suspect that your dog has ingested a poisonous or dangerous substance, call your vet immediately. Signs of poison include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, fever, lack of co-ordination, excessive salivation, listlessness. If your dog is showing these signs, get him to a vet immediately! If you suspect your dog is choking, call a vet immediately, they can talk you through the process of removing the choking hazard and opening the airway in time to save your dog while you are in transit to a clinic.

Consult your veterinarian on ways to "dog proof" your surroundings. In doing so you can avoid expensive vet bills and tragic loss.

Long live your dog!

New year, new beginnings, new opportunities...new best friend?

2012-01-07T09:46:00.001-05:00

Here we are, early January, the dog days of winter. In celebration of the dog days of winter, why not consider welcoming a new canine companion into your home? HART has the dog to meet your fondest wish. Big dogs, medium sized dogs, wee tiny dogs, you name it, we have them. Between HART and Newf Friends, we can certainly match you with your new best buddy. From puppies to seniors, your new dog awaits you.

There really is no better time to adopt a dog. In my family, we have been bitten by the dog days.I am the proud new aunt of a Newfoundland puppy adopted by my sister and her family from the Newf Friends division of Hart. What fun to have a puppy around! Everything is a new and exciting experience. It is impossible to be unhappy in the presence of a puppy. Ever watch a pup in the snow? Pure magic! What a brilliant way to combat the January blues! HART took in some adorable bundles of puppy love over the holiday season, is one of these beauties your dog in waiting?

Not thinking of a puppy? I wasn't either, so what about an adult dog or even a senior? There are many adult and senior dogs in HART's foster program. The rewards involved in giving an adult or senior a second chance are plentiful. There is no more grateful creature than a dog who finds love later in life. Having experienced this joy, and because we were lost without a full pack, we recently welcomed Buddy into our lives. Buddy is not a puppy, in fact he is a 14 year old tiny poodle who has not experienced much joy in his life. He is making up for lost time. He bounds and leaps and gives kisses and cuddles. I refer to him as "joy in a poodle suit". If you are considering adopting a dog, do not be scared off by age, there is a lot of life and love left in these creatures. Check out the list of fabulous second chance dogs at HART and Newf Friends currently waiting for you to love them.

It is a new year, why not celebrate by getting a new best friend. In my family, we are so happy that we did! Click Here to see all available dogs up for adoptions.

Adopter Update - Mattie & Tilda

2012-01-02T13:04:00.002-05:00

Adopted from HART in 2006

Here is the photo of Mattie and Tilda going home from the cottage at Round Lake. They said they want to stay at the cottage. Tilda loves to run in the open area at the cottage and Mattie loves the leaves down this time of year. And they are both smiling at us. Tilda loves carrots and apples but not mushrooms. Mattie is known at our house as Mushy Mattie - loves to kiss and she is the boss dog too.

We adopted our 'girls' from HART in 2006, they are both 9 years old now and we couldn't love them more. They are both balls of fun!

Thank you!
Nancy and Garth

Happy New Year from all of us at HART, both human and canine alike!

2011-12-29T10:16:00.003-05:00

The closing of the year brings ponderous times. We look back on our joys and sorrows, successes and failures, but most of all, we look toward the New Year as an opportunity to do better!

2011 was a very good year for HART and the dogs in our care. So many were saved, found wonderful homes and are spending this holiday season safe, warm, healthy and loved. That is why we do what we do. The thought of these creatures who were once homeless, enjoying the holidays surrounded by love, that is what sustains us.

We couldn't do what we do without the support of so many people. As we look forward to 2012, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to all of the people who make HART possible.

It is no small feat to make a rescue run well. It takes an army of folks to keep this group ticking. To those who raise funds, to those who give, we thank you for keeping us going. To the veterinarians who give of their time and expertise, thank you for keeping our dogs healthy. To our foster homes, screeners, home visit volunteers, transport volunteers and everyone who helped us in any capacity, this year, we couldn't exist without you! Thank you to everyone who adopted a HART or Newf Friends dog. You have given a wonderful gift by opening your heart and home to a dog in need. It is a gift that will give back tenfold.

Our goal in 2012 is to improve upon last year's efforts and with your continued support, we will succeed. After all , dogs deserve our every effort!

On behalf of all of the dogs at HART, thank you! May you and those you love enjoy a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!

CHILDREN REPRESENT THE HOPES AND DREAMS FOR OUR FUTURE

2011-12-20T09:21:00.002-05:00

Dear HART—Please find enclosed a money order in the amount of $165.00. There were also online donations made in my name. I had a hockey birthday party and in lieu of gifts, asked my friends to donate to HART. I was so lucky to get my dog Rufus (Kenny McFlea on intake) from you.

Please use the money where it is needed most and thanks again for such a great dog, he’s just wonderful. He gives a big doggy kiss to Linda.

Sincerely,
Brigid

CHILDREN REPRESENT THE HOPES AND DREAMS FOR A FUTURE

which is better than both the past and the present. Today's young dog lovers will become the rescuers of tomorrow. They will take up the charge and continue the work of those of us who are committed to rescue today. HART is blessed to have some of tomorrow's rescuers at work among us today. HART wishes to acknowledge the children who have made it a priority to help the dogs in our care. There are children among us who tirelessly went door to door seeking sponsorship for the Woof Walk. We have kids who bake and sell dog cookies, have lemonade stands, host mini-fundraisers with all of the proceeds donated to HART. There are even some kids who donate money that has been given to them as Christmas or birthday presents like our friend Brigid. Then there are the kids who live in homes where HART dogs are in foster care. These children give their love and care to dogs in need and help prepare them for their future forever homes. We are humbled by the generosity and selflessness of these wonderful kids.

We wish to express our deepest thanks to the children of today who support HART. You give us hope for the future, but more than that, you are a sign to the needy dogs tomorrow that they will not be forgotten.

Adopters would make the new year so much better!

2011-12-09T10:04:00.003-05:00

Twas just weeks before Christmas and all around HART,

The dogs were awaiting their new lives to start

There were Poodles, and Shih Tzus, mutts and some hounds,

All of them rescued by HART from the pound.

Through HART they got vet care, good food and warm beds

But visions of forever homes danced in their heads!

They hung all their stockings, they wrote Santa a letter
Adopters would make the new year so much better!

There were big dogs and small dogs and some in between

A family to love them was a shared Christmas dream

They tried to take in all the joy of the season

But they needed families to give their lives reason.

So they sat in their foster homes, on these silent nights

Gazing at Christmas trees filled with bright lights.

They hoped and they prayed that a family would say
Let's take that dog home, let's invite him to stay.

The dogs also knew that HART needed money

To continue to make a dog's dark days go sunny
They all wish that those folks who can't give them a home
Perhaps would be willing to throw HART a cash "bone"
The HART dogs are safe with kind people for now
But could you help with the effort some how?

Consider adopting or become a foster , we will gladly add your name to our roster. Or make a donation, it goes a long way toward making life better for dogs everyday.

From our dogs to you at this season of cheer
Merry Christmas to all and a happy new year!

Dog Adoptions Click Here To make a donation Click Here

Winterizing your Dog

2011-12-03T12:06:00.005-05:00

Dogs are social creatures and do better inside the house, however, if your dog spends long periods outside, you must take measures to ensure his safety and comfort. Your dog should never be left outside in the elements without the provision of clean, dry shelter. Ensure that the entry to this shelter does not face the prevailing winds, provide clean, dry bedding as insulation from the cold. Dogs are susceptible to both hypothermia and frostbite, it is up to us to ensure they are protected. Small dogs, senior dogs, young pups and short haired dogs are most bothered by the cold and should NOT be left outside for extended periods. Many will benefit from winter coats. This is not a fashion statement, it is often a necessity.

Fresh water is a MUST for your dog! Water should be kept at room temperature (heated water buckets and bowls are available at most farm and pet supply stores). Your dog should not eat snow or ice, they cannot get sufficient moisture from ice and snow and ingesting these can decrease core temperature leading to hypothermia. Remember, dogs spending long periods of time outside in winter require more calories to maintain weight than in warm temperatures. Keep an eye on your dog's body condition and increase caloric intake as needed.

Imagine going barefoot in the snow, your dog does this everyday.

Dogs who walk on areas that have been salted or sanded are prone to dry, chapped, and potentially painful paws. This will encourage the pet to lick their paws, and ingestion may cause gastrointestinal irritation and upset. Wash off your pet's feet after an outing with a warm wet cloth. Watch for the build up of snow balls in the fur between the pads of your dog's paws. This will cause him discomfort. Keep the fur in this area short to deter ice and snow build up. If your dog will tolerate them, dog boots can provide protection and comfort in snow and ice.

Your dog will not be able to identify the dangers of thin ice on lakes and ponds. They are in equal danger around winterized pools. Your dog must be properly supervised at all times in such areas. If he falls in, it will be very difficult for him to climb out and he could easily drown or suffer from hypothermia. Consult a vet immediately if you suspect your dog has this life threatening condition!

Antifreeze KILLS! It smells and tastes sweet so dogs will often ingest it if it spills onto garage floors or driveways. It is an extremely toxic chemical and can kill your dog in just a few licks! Keep it safely out of reach of your dog!

With a few precautions and common sense, winter can be the best time to enjoy your canine companion! Welcome winter!

Sunny's Story

2011-11-06T10:22:00.012-05:00

Please donate to The Sunny Fund

Meet Sunny, a 9 month old German Shepherd cross who has seen more than his fair share of trouble in his short life.

Sunny was discovered by a concerned citizen on Thanksgiving Monday. He was alone and frightened and yet, as a tribute to Sunny's disposition, he was friendly and playful and very sweet. Efforts to find Sunny's people were unsuccessful. It seems that no one was looking for the pup. Because Sunny was suffering from an injury to his leg he found his way to HART for help.

Sunny was taken to the Apsley Veterinary Services where he was tended by Dr. Kim Facey and her fabulous team of animal care professionals. Since it was Thanksgiving Monday, Dr. Kim and her staff left family celebrations in order to help Sunny in his time of great need. Sunny and all of us at HART will not soon forget the kindness and dedication shown by such a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Sunny. Radiographs showed that Sunny had sustained a serious and unusual injury to his leg. He was suffering from an oblique fracture to the tibia. Such a fracture is rare and likely caused by severe blunt force trauma to the tibia such as from a kick with a steal toed boot. We cannot be sure how Sunny ended up in his predicament, and since Sunny isn't talking, we will never know.

Sunny's injury was difficult to manage. There are no ready-made splints to accommodate such an injury, so Dr. Kim made her own. She splinted the leg in the hope that she could immobilize it sufficiently to encourage the bones to knit back together. Sadly, this did not work for Sunny.

Sunny was running out of options. The only choices were euthanasia or an expensive surgery to repair Sunny's leg and therefore save his life. We think Sunny deserves to live a happy and long life. We, at HART, have decided to raise funds for Sunny's surgery and recovery. Sunny's surgical and recovery costs are estimated at $2000 and we are looking to you our animal loving friends in the area, for your support. Any monetary donation will be greatly appreciated! Dr. Kim says that Sunny should enjoy a complete recovery, and since he is so young, he has a lot of years ahead of him!

In addition to funding for Sunny's surgery, HART is looking for a caring soul who is willing to take Sunny into their home and foster him as he recovers from his ordeal. Sunny will require follow-up veterinary care for the next few months, every 2-3 weeks. For that reason, Sunny needs to be in a foster home where he can easily access Apsley Veterinary Services, or another one of the veterinarians who support HART's work. Ideally, a home where someone is there most of the day would ensure that Sunny is monitored during the course of his recovery. That someone could be YOU!

Sunny and his friends at HART wish to extend our gratitude to Dr. Kim Facey and the staff at the Apsley Veterinary Services. Sunny has been treated like a king by everyone at the clinic. The staff has been taking shifts to monitor him and ensure that he is never alone as he recovers.

With your help, sweet Sunny will see nothing but sunny days ahead of him! To donate to the Sunny Fund Click Here and write 'For Sunny' in the message box. HART could not continue rescuing these deserving animals without your help.

Please visit HART's website to donate to Sunny's fund. If you would like to be considered as a foster, please fill out the appropriate forms available to download on our website. www.hartanimalrelief.ca

Adopter Update - Scamp

2011-10-21T15:04:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to give you an update on Moe (aka Scamp). We realized that he still recognized the name Molson, and shortened it to Moe.

He is a lovely dog. Both Jim and I absolutely adore him. Our cat Elvis has put Moe in his place and they now have a healthy respect for each other to the point that they now sleep on our bed together - at opposite ends of course.

Moe and I have a great routine every morning and afternoon and he quickly learned to stay with me, off leash, no matter where I am. His re-call with me is getting better all the time and as long as I am with him he is never far away.

He is kind, loving and very affectionate. He is great with other dogs and has several new friends. Jim and I have had many compliments on him and have a couple of friends who are surfing through the HART website.

Moe is still getting used to the horses, donkeys and cows, and is quickly gaining confidence around them. He has discovered great joy in running through the mud puddles at the speed of light - having a shower after the mud bath - not so much fun.

Please keep me in mind for help with home visits, fund raisers and picking up dogs in need in my area.

Best wishes
Alison

Adopter Update - Cedar

2011-10-21T14:54:00.003-04:00

This beautiful 3 year old Labradoodle boy was looking for a super family to adopt him and he found it! His Mom was a Chocolate Lab, his Dad a black Standard Poodle. What a great combo - smart, gorgeous, athletic and fun-loving!!

Wow! What a dog!!! Cedar has had no problem settling in. He had a long romp with our neighbour's dog today all over the property--off leash (no problem), met my sister's dogs, went for a ride to town, another walk with Nina and then another one with my son Matt and me. He says he could go for a few more, but I think we've had it for today! He sleeps like a log at night, so no problems there. Tomorrow will be a lot duller with just the two of us, but he also seems pretty content with just hanging out.

Thanks again for all the great work you do--we love Cedar -- it feels like he's been here for ages!

Here's a picture from today. We'll try to keep you posted every now and then.

Kathleen

Adopter Update - Beech

2011-10-14T12:36:00.001-04:00

Beech is doing great. He has settled in nicely. He is used to most of the city noises, and is waiting quietly in the morning until we get up. He has been to the cottage a number of times and likes boat rides and wrestling with his "cousin". He is exploring the water but still likes to keep his feet on the ground. I think next summer when we are all swimming he will want to be with us and will start swimming as well. He doesn't take long to get used to things.

The dog walker is really pleased with Beech. She said he loves the water and running with the other dogs. She said wipe downs are play time as well, and he must have his belly rub!

We are taking him to obedience classes and he is definitely the "class clown". All the other dogs are being serious and practicing, and he likes to roll over on his belly for a rub! The instructor loves him!

I have included a picture of him looking handsome at home, and one of him having fun at the cottage.

Carolyn, Jamie and Beech

Adopter Update - Casper

2011-10-14T12:17:00.004-04:00

Casper was a 2 year old male when he came to HART. This wonderful little Shih Tzu cross was ready to spread his happy personality with a super family. He was in terrible shape when he was surrendered to HART. He was full of matts and so very dirty, his tail was the size of your wrist it was so matted. He couldn't even wag it, but now he is living the good life!

Just a great big "Hi" to Hart Rescue!!!

We adopted "Casper" in July 2011 and he is fantastic!! He has fit right into our family and we love him to death. He is so loving and happy. Thanks again for the great job you do caring for all your pets.

Here are some pics of Casper at our cottage and on the boat with our Golden and my husband.

Thanks again for letting this little guy come into our lives.

Jennifer

Adopter Update - Chance (aka 'Sir Chancelot')

2011-10-14T12:00:00.004-04:00

Hello folks at HART Rescue and other K9 lovers,

Chance entered our lives on March 5th, 2011. He has helped to make our family complete, once again.

We had heard of Chance through a volunteer at Hart Rescue. He was a six year old, mostly golden retriever. He had a malignant tumour on his right paw removed after he was taken in by Hart Rescue. He had lived 6 years on the end of a 6 foot chain and had a horrific tale to tell.

My husband Pat, and I assured Cathy, who was promoting Chance, that we were not interested in an ill 6 year old dog. We had just recently lost our 13 year old Shamrock and felt we were not ready to accept the challenge and responsibility of Chance.

That quickly changed when reluctantly I looked at Chance's wee face in an e-mail sent to us. His expression begged for love and his huge kind eyes longed for a home. Within our first glance he had found his home.

We drove in a bitter snowstorm to Markham where Chance was living in Dr. Selinger home.

She had removed the tumour from his paw and neutered him. She too had fallen under Sir Chancelot's spell as she described him as a very special dog who would fit into our world.

We offered Chance an acre of room to run in, bush walks without a leash, a lake to swim in, too many tennis balls to count, soft beds, lots of love and best of all---no chains.

He in return gave us every ounce of his being.

He is an obsessed ball fetch and return player. He entertains all who visit by catching the balls mid air and returns within seconds for the next throw. He can find his prey anywhere with a zeal unmatched. When the ball game ends he becomes once again a gentle and loving member of our family.

A month after adopting Chance we received a phone call regarding another ill, unwanted 4 month old female golden retriever.She was in the care of Hope and Dr. Janice Gander at the Walden Animal Clinic.She is known in our home as Orla.

We took Chance to meet her, as again we were not interested in another dog. He was immediately smitten and thrilled at the prospect of having a K9 friend.Chance stepped back and let the Orla factor be the centre of the universe. When we watched his kind and gentle interactions with her, we fell in love with him all over again.If it is one thing we are sure of, it is that these two dogs were meant to find each other.

We have had a fun filled summer being trained by our new K9 kids. So far it is working out very well for them. As for Pat and I--well our world is once again complete.

Our everlasting gratitude to Cathy and Ann from HART, Dr.Janice Selinger and all of you folks at Hart Rescue. You are amazing in your dedication and efforts. Thank you to Cathy, Ann, and Dr. Janice Gander for letting us be part of the "Orla Factor's"adventures.

Thanks once again, for being the kind of people to save these beautiful but unwanted souls.

Patrick and Kathy

Adopter Update - Buddy (Henry)

2011-10-14T11:27:00.001-04:00

Henry was one of a litter of 7 Lab/Husky/Chow mixes that were surrendered to HART at the age of 5 weeks, but he is looking all grown up now!

Just wanted to give you an update on Buddy. He was in at the vet's last week to be neutered. Please keep the $50.00 to go towards the Hart program. We have been socializing him with a variety of different dogs. Everyone tells us that he is a good puppy and will be a great dog and is very trainable. He is getting very big 46 lbs. And he likes to sleep in the tub because the cat does.lol I have attached some pic.

Thanks again for making our family complete.
Michele

Make your voice heard, stop irresponsible breeding!

2011-10-11T19:28:00.002-04:00

On the October 5th, 2011 episode of the CBC television show Dragon's Den, Ingrid Johansson and Raf Khoury presented their request for financial investment in their company, Matchmaker Pet. This company is promoted as an "online dating service" for dogs. Members pay a fee to profile their dog in an attempt to find a mate. The intended result is a litter of puppies which the pet owners will then attempt to sell to the public.

In a society where dogs are euthanized at alarming rates, shelters are overflowing with unwanted dogs and rescues are overwhelmed by both purebred and mixed breed dogs, it is beyond comprehension that this concept was granted airtime, let alone investment dollars.

Last week, the city of Toronto banned the sale of dogs in pet stores in an attempt to curtail the activity of puppy mills. We, in rescue, celebrated this milestone only to be confronted this week by the irresponsibility of a television show, on a publicly funded network, promoting the irresponsible breeding of dogs. We are appalled and infuriated by both the decision to present the concept on the show and the decision of one of the dragons to invest in this business.

Responsible dog breeding is the result of years of careful study, medical tests on breeding stock, puppy follow ups and health guarantees. It is a science, not a whim. Responsible breeders stand behind the animals they bring into the world for their lifetime. The idea that a website with bios and cutesy photos of potential mates will help promote the health and welfare of a breed is absolutely ludicrous! Specific breeds are susceptible to certain medical problems which can be inbred. Responsible breeders try to breed these problems out to in order promote a healthier, stronger breed of dog. Helter skelter breeding only increases the incidence of these issues. There are too many dogs being bred every day in Canada. This notion of a doggy dating service will serve to encourage misinformed people, looking to make a fast dollar, to bring more dogs into the world.

We, in rescue, are confronted by the results of irresponsible breeding on a daily basis. Back yard breeders and puppy mills account for the majority of the purebred dogs that end up in rescue. Clearly the concept of Matchmaker Pet was the brainchild of two people who have not contemplated the horrible fates that often befall pets conceived in such a haphazard manner. Every day, those of us who are passionate about animal rescue, are in the trenches cleaning up after the likes of people like Ms Johannson and Mr. Khoury, and now Ms Dickinson. We are disgusted by the lack of foresight shown by all involved - this sort of idiocy must be stopped.

We encourage the CBC to publicly retract its support of the Matchmaker Pet Company. We encourage Arlene Dickinson, who invested in the idea, to withdraw her investment support. We invite her to educate herself on the issue of pet overpopulation. Perhaps spending a day in a shelter will open her eyes to the problems that the promotion of this concept can cause. We are certain that armed with the proper information, the concept of this company will be as repellent to her as it is to us.

Finally, we encourage the sponsors of Dragons' Den, Scotiabank, in particular, to contact the CBC to express their disapproval for this venture. To make your voice heard, please contact the CBC at:
http://www.cbc.ca/contact/ or Arlene Dickinson through Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arlene*-Dickinson/184707952460?v=wall
Read what others are saying:
http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/2011/09/matchmaker-pet.html

Adopter Update: Penny

2011-09-16T09:08:00.000-04:00

Penny (nee Sophie) was adopted in June when she was 3 months old. She's doing great with her new family! Below is an update we received.

Thought I would drop you a quick note to let you know that our little Miss Penny is doing very well. She just got back from the vet this morning after being spayed. It was very strange not having her in the house last night, and we are glad to have her home. I have attached a copy of the receipt from the vet, as well as a picture of her from this summer. We had just finished having a backyard BBQ and dumped the cooler of ice off the side of the deck. She was in heaven! She must have played with the ice until it was all gone.

She is still very busy, and very inquisitive and keeps us on our toes for sure. She is so very smart....she is on to our tricks (treats to get in the tub don't work any more) - we'll have to come up with some new ones! I hoping she figures out that the sound of the furnace is a good thing - it seems to worry her right now. =)

Hope all is well.
Christy

LOST DOG!

2011-09-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

UPDATE September 14, 2011:
RUBY HAS BEEN FOUND!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please Help get Ruby Home

She went missing from Kennisis Lake, Red Pine Lake area on Friday Sept. 9th. She could be in the Little Hawk, Big Hawk, Sherbourne Lake, Frost Centre area between West Guillford and Dorset Ontario. She might be south of 118, north to Kawagama -- beagles can run. She has a micro chip, and is not wearing a collar. She will come to a whistle and when her name is called.

Please visit LostBeagle.ca for complete info and maps.

Please call 705-783-1216 416-624-6229
Email: info (at) LostBeagle.ca

She is very loved and very missed.
She is not a hunting dog and has limited experience in the bush.
$1000 Reward for safe return of female beagle/hound
Thank you so much for the help.

Please keep checking back to our UPDATES page on the website for recent information.

HART's Woof Walk

2011-09-07T12:27:00.000-04:00

Join us for HART's 6th Annual Pledge Walk for Animal Welfare

10am Wednesday September 14, 2011
Walking Tour of Bancroft Theme

Meet at the parking lot opposite the TD Bank for a 5 km walk around Bancroft. The estimated time to complete the walk is 2 hours.

Bring your family, friends (human or canine) or just bring yourself. We would love to see you there!

HART helps dogs like Peggy find a home. Read her adoption bio!

If you do not wish to collect pledges or are unable to participate in the Woof Walk, a donation in your own name, for any amount you can give, would be very much appreciated. Please make cheques payable to HART and either give them to a local HART volunteer or mail them to HART. Tax receipts will be issued for pledges of $20 or more. ALL proceeds go directly towards HART rescue work.

For more details please contact Beryl at 613-337-5181 or beryl_lee (at) sympatico.ca

Congrats to Our Winners!

2011-09-05T16:52:00.000-04:00

HART's Grand for Growlers Raffle was a HUGE success. THANK YOU to all who purchased tickets to support animal rescue in the Bancroft area.

Our winners were:

1st prize $1000 - Tina Morris, Frankford ON
2nd prize $500 - Mary Anne Hicks, Bancroft ON
3rd prize $200 - Esther Grant, Baden ON

All HART dogs give big tail wags and sloppy kisses to show their gratitude. :o)

Adoptable Dog SHILO - read his adoption bio

Civic Weekend Fundraiser!

2011-07-25T12:17:00.000-04:00

Pepins No Frills hosts HART's 4th Annual "Toss a Toonie" Charity BBQ Event

Come to No Frills in Bancroft on the following days and support HART with your toonie donation.

Friday July 29
Saturday July 30
Sunday July 31

We hope to see you there!!

Lost Cat - Please Help If You Can

2011-07-15T15:47:00.001-04:00

Morley is Lost!

He was lost on Highway #28 a few km's south of Apsley, Ontario. Between # 9440 hwy 28 S and #9274 Hwy 28 S, on Sunday July 3rd. He was last seen running up the hill into the woods on the west side of the highway. We have spent many hours searching in the woods but have not had any success. We have left posters at the veterinary clinic in Apsley and at the Lakefield Animal Hospital on Queen Street.

Morley is orange and white with fluffy fur and a bushy tail. He is has an orange back and patch around his left eye and a white stomach and legs. He has a fluffy petit face with green-yellow eyes, a pink nose and long white whiskers. He is an indoor cat and was not wearing a collar or ID tags. He is 3 years old and friendly though he can be a bit shy with strangers. He is on a perscription diet for a urinary disorder.

If you find Morley please call or email Aly and Ian at 416-544-1204 or 647-220-6841 or ayc137@hotmail.com

Grand for Growlers Raffle Tickets

2011-06-28T15:20:00.009-04:00

HART's annual Grand for Growlers raffle tickets are now on sale! You can buy them directly from HART members in your community or at HART events. The draw takes place September 3, 2011 at Maynooth Madness (pssst.. you don't have to be there to win!!)

Thank you so much for your support ~ you are helping save the lives of animals!

Wally Graduates Puppy Class

2011-06-05T21:32:00.000-04:00

Wally at puppy class graduation

Good Afternoon HART,

I hope you are well and enjoying the spring weather! I just wanted to send you a Wally update. He graduated his beginner puppy class on his six month birthday (May 10th)!! The class ate puppy-friendly ice cream and had a great time. Wally and I are signed up for Intermediate training and I think we'll do the Advanced class after that. He's such a smart boy and loves learning new things!

Wally was just neutered and he recovered well (we kept him home from class that week so he could rest, but he seemed in good shape to attend his graduation). He can officially stop wearing his cone soon, even though he loves it... He can't wait to have the cone back on after walks, possibly because we lure him into it with treats. Crazy guy! I've attached a few pictures so you can see how he's grown.

Thank you so much!
Jen and Wally

Update on the lovely Samantha!

2011-06-05T18:13:00.000-04:00

Dear HART,
It's hard to believe that nearly a year has gone by since Samantha first graced us with her presence. What a year! She had some big adjustments to make: to a city, to a harness and leash, to regular travel.... to us! She's taken on each challenge with gusto and let us know what she likes (cars - all cars, all the time) and what she doesn't (motorcycles and bicycles!). She stole our hearts early on: the first morning she rolled over on the bed for belly rubs. Yes that's right, she's slept happily on the bed from Day 1, sometimes getting up for a perimeter check (she is a schnauzer), but somehow I always wake up to her nose only a few inches from mine. She loves affection, loves to be in the centre of our little pack, and especially likes to keep us apprised of all the world's movements.

On the hunt for a squirrel

Even though a lot of vet trips weren't exactly what we'd planned on, Samantha had an injury this year: a hip strain from squirrel chasing (she has a fabulous park to hunt in: she's caught 2 already! But don't worry - they always get away). We found out that an amazing rehab vet works in our region - Dr. Jan Huntingford - and Samantha got the gold star treatment: acupuncture, chiropractic, laser therapy and even one session of underwater treadmill. She was decidedly not impressed with the treadmill. We had to keep her on a short leash for the winter, but she's healed up and ready for summer. This girl LOVES to run. I don't think there's anything better than seeing her at full speed careening up and over hills. When she runs toward us, you can see her smile from 100 yards away!

Samantha loves her bones!

She is getting pretty good at meeting people who come to our home, though she doesn't always like to be touched by strangers (who does?). We've gotten used to having training treats in all our pockets now - they're a godsend on walks when she's overstimulated. She's learned how to 'sit' and go 'down' and come when called (not bad for a 6 year old!), but her schnauzer willfulness is undeniable: loose leash walking is now and will forever be beyond our reach. Still, this little girl has had to adjust to a whole new world, two cities for us commuters, and sounds and smells I'm sure she'd never dreamed of. I've learned a few things about resilience and patience from her; she's quite an extraordinary critter.

Thanks so much for all the work you do at HART. Sometimes I can't imagine how you deal with all the heartbreak, but seeing happy pups in forever homes must help.

Karen

Adopter Update - Sara

2011-05-06T08:17:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it's just been a week since Sara came into our lives!

We are having the best time getting to know her. Even though she is three years old, she is so puppyish in her behaviour! She loves her squeaky toys - sadly, loves destroying them, about one a day - so we went out and got a good supply of them today.

We took her to my vet in Brantford last Tuesday to get her checked out, including a full blood workup, and she passed with flying colours! He cautioned us that the lenses of her eyes show some thickening, which might mean cataracts in the future, but he encouraged us not to worry about it. So I won't. There's nothing wrong with her vision now - and thanks to Muffin's eye problems, I know two great ophthalmic vets if Sara needs cataract surgery down the road.

It's been such a joy to watch her growing in confidence! Since

she passed the vet test, we've taken her for a walk each day. There's a wonderful park alongside Bowmanville Creek, with a nice, wide asphalt path but grass and plantings just beyond. Up until now, she was quite content to make her way along the path. This evening, wet though it was, she decided that her place was in the underbrush and she stopped to sniff at everything. It seemed like a real breakthrough.

Also, she's terrific with us but tends to be shy with other people. Again tonight, she was quite happy to sniff noses with a couple of other dogs, and she wagged her little tail at a woman who bent down to speak to her.

And speaking of wagging her tail - she does it pretty much nonstop from when she gets up in the morning to when she goes to bed at night. If you look carefully at the last of the photos I've attached, you'll see that her tail is moving so quickly that it's almost invisible.

We put a bed for her in the corner of the living room, but we've learned that the floor is for that other kind of dog, and a princess's place is on the couch or on the bed or on one of the chairs, which she soars into effortlessly and without encouragement.

The first night we had her, she was intrigued at the sound of the trains, which are distant but can still be heard from our place. Today, we had a couple of thunderstorms, and she didn't care about them in the least.
We introduced her to my family at Easter. She was as good as gold with my brother's 7-year-old niece but was intimidated by the crowd - unfortunately, she growled at my dear brother who would so like her to like him - but once she's more settled, I can work with her to try to build her confidence with other people. I'll tell you, seeing her flying around here, you would never guess that she is a dog who could be intimidated by anything or anyone!

Oh, and in the course of getting ready for Easter, I discovered that Sara loves pears. I dropped a slice on the floor as I was cooking, and my little shadow gobbled it up - and the subsequent one I gave her. In fact, I threw the cores out in the garden for the squirrels, and she was determined to get them. Because there's conflicting information on the Internet about the toxicity of pear seeds for dogs, I ended up scooping them up until she was nowhere about, but the next couple of times she went out, she checked to see whether I'd missed any.

She's been a bit reluctant to eat either of the brands of kibble I've been feeding her, so the best thing about discovering she likes fruit is that a teaspoonful of unsweetened applesauce encourages her to devour her kibble and lick the bowl afterwards. So that issue is resolved!

All the best,

Dianne

Adopter Update - Ruby

2011-05-03T21:04:00.004-04:00

Ruby is having a great time with her new awesome family!

Ruby is doing very well! We are having a great time with her and she is such a welcome addition to our home. We expected for the first day to be a bit of a transition period for her but we were pleasantly surprised when she seemed comfortable and content with us right from the start.

The ride home was great. Ruby sat in the back seat with Jamie and fell asleep almost instantly. She was very curious about her new home and spent the first little while exploring and getting to know the house. She settled in nicely and was quick to make a place for herself on the couch and promptly fell asleep between us.

She's been out for a few walks with us and even met two of the boxers in the neighborhood. She's doing very well on leash and she seems to be enjoying all the personal attention. She's eating very well and she loves her car rides. Her first night was a bit restless but we got through it fine and last night was great. She slept through the night and woke Jamie up promptly at 5:45am for her breakfast. She went on a two hour walk today on the Culham trail and had a great time. She and I even went for a bit of a run while we were out.

Ruby has made some new friends too. She met our good friend James yesterday and promptly fell asleep across his lap. They seem to have a mutual love for each other after a very short introduction. She also met my parents today. They are thrilled to have her as part of the family too. They think she is a wonderful girl and are looking forward to many more visits with her.

Jamie and I are truly in love with Ruby. She is so special. She loves a good cuddle and seems to be just as happy to be in our home as we are to have her here. We are so happy with our decision to bring her home.

Ruby's quickly learning to give us signs to show what she wants. Jamie and I are also learning how to read Ruby's behavior to better understand what she needs.

We are thrilled to report that the transition has been relatively stress free. Ruby has made it through the first couple of days without a seizure or any loss of appetite.

Attached are a few photos for you to see how Ruby is adjusting. We will keep you posted on her progress. Thanks so much for giving us the gift of Ruby. We love her and we are so happy to have her.

Sincerely,

Anton, Jamie and Ruby

Puppies, puppies, puppies!

2011-04-27T18:14:00.017-04:00

Justin and Sophie

Cuteness overload!

Check out HART's newest arrivals!

7 scrumptious pups have arrived in our care.

Henry was adopted!

Cali, Howie, Henry, Sophie, Blake, Justin and Daniel were born on March 6, 2011. They have been dewormed, and received their first vaccines.

Their surrendering family told us they are Lab/Husky/Chow mixes so we expect that they will mature into large sized dogs who will be active.

They will be best suited to families who are active, and interested in getting out and doing things with their dog.

Sophie

June 6, 2011: Sophie has an approved home and will be adopted shortly.
Sophie is a bright and friendly little girl. She loves to run and wrestle with other dogs, whether they are big, small, young or old. She plays well with them all! Inquisitive and quite fearless, Sophie is a confident and happy pup that likes to lead. But while she is a bold little tyke she also loves to cuddle. She has been exposed to young children and is gentle and loving. She would be well suited to a family with another dog for her to play with and children for her to cuddle.

Families interested in being considered for adopting one of these pups can complete an adoption application and return it to us. Get an adoption application on our website. Pups will be placed into homes which are the best match for them and will be ready to go to their adoptive homes May 15, 2011 or later.

An adoption donation of $350 will apply

Fenced yard required

Already adopted:


May 20, 2011: Howie was adopted!!

May 21, 2011: Henry was adopted!

May 27, 2011: Justin was adopted!

May 29, 2011: Cali was adopted!

May 29, 2011: Daniel was adopted!

June 5, 2011: Blake was adopted!

Trixie is Doing Great!

2011-04-27T12:07:00.001-04:00

Good morning, just wanted to drop a note to you and the rest of the HART volunteers who made it possible for Trixie to get to us. It has been almost three weeks now and she is doing great. She has become an instant member of the family and likes nothing better that snuggling up to someone. She has settled very well and we are starting to see lots of personality emerging from her. Her and Gigi are always together now which is exactly how I hoped things would evolve.

She is a very friendly dog and has met most of our neighbors and their dogs, all with really good results. We are getting ready to make our first road trip this weekend to Ottawa to visit family and I have no doubt that she will be fine with that as well. Here are a couple of pics of her and Gigi. they like to snuggle together and also play; great friends already! They like to think it is toy time while I get ready for work in the mornings.

Thank you once again to all of the people at HART.
Debbie, Kelee, Gigi and Trixie

Adopter Update - Wilson

2011-04-15T10:04:00.001-04:00

Wilson and his new family live
happily ever after!

I am having so much fun with my new family. When Mum's not around Mama and Grandpa walk me and feed me and if she works late I sleep with them in their bed until she comes home. We walk everyday and play all the time. My favourite are the rope toys we have. Mum bought me a bunch of new toys just the other day! My Uncle Shyloh is the best! We play fight constantly - even in bed when Mum's trying to sleep - and he says I've turned back time for him; he's like a puppy again!

Mum taught me how to give a paw and we're working on speaking for a treat. I'm not very good at it. I've only howled a few times since I've been here. I don't spend much time in my crate at all now. The family has been leaving me out if they're only gone for a few hours and I've been a good boy.

Thanks so much HART for finding such a great family for me. They say it's only because I'm such a great puppy!

Love Wilson

P.S. He really is the BEST puppy ever! Walking them is a breeze; he's definitely given Shyloh a new lease on life and I love him so much. Those giant blinky eyes!

Thanks again HART, he is the best!

Diana and Family.

Congrats!!

2011-04-10T14:35:00.000-04:00

Bonded pair, Jake and Darwin were adopted this weekend by a lovely family. They will be summering in Haliburton and wintering at the family's house in Mexico. Their new parents have promised to send us pictures of them in sombreros... olé!!!

Jake and Darwin began their new life!

Pretty puppy Feisty was adopted this weekend as well. She charmed her new family and we're sure she will be much loved and cherished. Yay for Feisty!!

Way to go Feisty!!

Adopter Update- Luna

2011-04-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

I just have to tell you about Luna. SHE IS WONDERFUL!!!!! We love her to pieces. If she is an example of the quality of animal that Hart adopts out, then you are amazing.

Luna as a pup

She is fitting in so well with our family and she is sooooo good. I can't say enough about how she completes our family. The only thing we have to deal with is that she gets sick in the car - hey that's okay. We have lots of toys for her and she loves playing outside. I have already taught her to sit for a treat and she has conquered the daily treadmill exercise sessions. Of course we take her for walks as well. She sleeps through the night, doesn't chew our stuff, and asks to go out when she has to do her thing. When she gets up in the morning, daddy puts her outside, then she comes running into bed with me to sleep a while longer. She loves to cuddle with us at nap time as well. I took her to the pet store to get more toys and a new leash, and they loved her. The lady got on the floor and played with her for a long time while I shopped. Thank you, thank you so much for blessing our lives with this wonderful dog.

Lynn and Larry

Robyn needs a home

2011-03-28T14:39:00.000-04:00

Meet Robyn, a pretty little 7 month old Afghan Hound who is searching for a loving family all her own.

Robyn had a rough start in life. Coming from a “commercial breeder”, she spent her first seven months in a barn confined to a small pen with several other dogs and little interaction with people.

Robyn and her brother, Kaeleb, were terrified of life outside of the pen when they were had lived for so many months. When they were picked up by HART they had to be carried to the car as they were so afraid neither one would not even walk outdoors or on a leash. In their new foster home they cowered in corners and collapsed into a limp heaps on the floor if approached.

Robyn has come along in leaps and bounds since her intake! She has learned to play with toys, chase leaves, prance and the ultimate joy of being fed Cheerios from a baby in a highchair! She adores her brother and takes a keen interest in her foster brothers too. She also happens to be an excellent counter surfer – we’re working on that! This tiny princess is a true female Afghan at heart, a little stubborn, aloof with strangers and the most affectionate and kind girl with her family.

Our gentle little soul now has the confidence to go outdoors and her foster home is working on her housetraining and leash walking skills. She sleeps through the night in her crate and happily plays and curls up in her crate throughout the day with the door open. At this time Robyn still cries when closed in her crate during the day but she is slowly improving and gaining the confidence to be left alone for short periods of time.

This sweet little girl will do well in a calm, multi-dog household with gentle, good natured dogs. She loves to play and chase but does not respond well to dominant or rough play. Shy with new people, she is quick to warm up to them if allowed to come around on her own terms. Robyn is very gentle with children and curious about them.

A home with a securely fenced yard and a fence height of a minimum 6’ is required for this dog. Sight hound experience is an asset. Robyn will not be a good candidate for off leash outings in open areas and will require a securely fenced exercise area and regular outings to meet her exercise requirements.

To be considered fro adopting Robyn please complete an adoption application and return it to us.

Robyn has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines. An adoption donation of $350 applies.

Kaeleb needs a home

2011-03-28T14:29:00.000-04:00

Meet Kaeleb, an adorable 7 month old Afghan Hound who is looking for a special family to call his own.

This sweet boy had a rough start in life. Coming from a “commercial breeder”, he spent his first seven months in a barn confined to a small pen with several other dogs and little interaction with people.

Kaeleb and his sister, Robyn, were terrified of life outside of the pen where they had lived for so many months. When they were picked up by HART, they had to be carried to the car as they were so afraid neither one would not even walk outdoors or on a leash. In their new foster home they cowered in corners and collapsed into limp heaps on the floor if approached.

This big, floppy goofball has come a long way in only a short time! He has learned to play with toys and other dogs, steal socks, tea towels and dishcloths and the art of counter surfing – we are working with him on a few of these ‘skills’. He adores his foster Mom and only wants to make her happy. Kaeleb loves affection and to be petted and brushed. This happy-go-lucky muppet makes everyone smile and is sure to be the class clown in his adoptive home.

Our sweet boy now has the confidence to go outdoors and his foster home is working on his house-training and leash walking skills. He sleeps through the night in his crate. At this time Kaeleb still cries when closed in his crate during the day but he is slowly improving and gaining the confidence to be left alone for longer periods of time.

This handsome fella will do well in a calm, multi-dog household with gentle, good natured dogs or as an only dog. He loves to play and chase but does not respond well to dominant or rough play.

A home with a securely fenced yard and a fence height of a minimum 6’ is required for this dog. Sight hound experience is an asset. Kaeleb will not be a good candidate for off leash outings in open areas and will require a securely fenced exercise area and regular outings to meet his exercise requirements.

To be considered fro adopting Kaeleb please complete an adoption application and return it to us.

Kaeleb has been neutered and is up to date on vaccines. An adoption donation of $350 applies.

Help Find this Stolen Dog

2011-03-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

STOLEN DOG! Great Dane Remington went missing on Feb 28/11 near Kemptville, ON, 1/2 hr south of Ottawa. He is a 2 yr old intact male, heavily marked harlequin, 36" tall and 150 lbs. He has a white x on his right ear.

From his owner:

"I left for work that Monday around noon, and my husband came home from work at about 4. Our door was open and there was no sign of our dog. Our front gate was still closed and our yard is fenced. We have not have had one sighting. We now believe Remington was stolen. I've contacted the police, humane societies and vets in our area, all surrounding bylaw officers, put flyers in all mailboxes within a 10 km radius, and put an add in the paper. I also have a Facebook page for him, although it didn't work like I had hoped. Still no sign of him."

Please contact me if you have any questions or think you have seen my dog.

Erika
613-258-6276 or erika.mcnevin@yahoo.ca

Lucky Dogs Hit the Jackpot

2011-03-13T22:33:00.001-04:00

Some very lucky HART dogs joined their new families this weekend. We wish them all the best in their fabulous new lives. Congrats!!!

Cookie and Candy
These adorable sisters will be cherished forever in their new home and we foresee lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses in their future.

Friendly boy Cooper hit the jackpot with his awesome new family, which includes a 4-footed brother named Tank. They were instant friends!

HART's renegade pup Spooky was adopted by a loving family. Good luck sweet girl!

2 Lovely Ladies Adopted!

2011-03-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Bobbi, the Lab/Boxer cross and little pup Luna. Both were adopted by wonderful families and we wish them all the best in their awesome new lives. Yay!!

Pretty girl Luna joined her forever family

Bobbi won the hearts of her foster family; they adopted her!

3 Boys Adopted ~ Congrats!!

2011-02-22T23:15:00.001-05:00

These lucky guys all recently found their forever families! We couldn't be happier for each of them and their new wonderful families! Good luck boys!

Sweet ET struck gold with his new family

Pup Indigo moved to Southern Ontario to join his new family.

Little boy Larry won over his new family in no time!

Adopter Update - Cody- aka - Mystery

2011-02-12T15:26:00.001-05:00

Everyone who meets Cody is amazed at how calm and well behaved he is.

He is doing really well and we all love him so much. He's getting lots of exercise, his best buddy is Russet who is in the second picture. We take him in the mornings for about 45-60 minutes, he gets let out a few times during the day and another 45 minute walk at night. We take him to the park at the end of our street that has some enclosed tennis courts and he has a great time romping around with 2-3 dogs at a time. Cody is going to be so disappointed in the summer when he finds out that he can't play in the tennis courts. My husband is at home so he has never really been left alone for a long time. He is getting a blood check on Feb 17th and then his neutering on the 24th. His heeling is pretty good except when he picks up a scent or when he sees another animal. ( he goes crazy seeing squirrels through the window).

I happened to go on the HART website a couple of weeks ago and saw Larry and Luna, they are so cute! I'm surprised that they haven't been snatched up yet but I am happy to see that there is an adoption pending for both. They look so little...the last time we weighed Cody he was about 35 lbs, he must be at least 40 lbs now because I am having a hard time picking him up and fitting him on my lap.

We had a professional photographer come to the house on the weekend and we have some great pictures of Cody alone, with the girls and a more formal picture with the whole family. Hopefully I can e-mail you some of those pictures when I get them. The photographer was also surprised at how well behaved Cody was, especially at 5 1/2 months.

That's all the update for now,

Karen

Adopter Update - Benny

2011-02-12T15:14:00.000-05:00

Benny finds love in the arms of two momma's

Benny is doing well...we love him to pieces and have spoiled him rotten...oh well he deserves it.

I've attached a picture of Benny in our new place with a friend of ours who is Benny's second Momma.

Camilla

Adopter update - Ladybug

2011-02-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ladybug is the BEST dog that we could ever have wished for, with her floppy ears and wagging tail she makes us laugh every day.

We just wanted to send you a quick update about our Ladybug. From the moment we saw her she warmed our hearts and we knew our family had changed for the better. Ladybug is doing quite well with her training, she has learned how to sit and stay and we are working on other commands like shake a paw and lie down. Lady bug loves treats and toys, her favourite being her red bone which she loves to play with and throw across the living room. She also loves to sleep. She has made herself quite comfortable on our bed at night underneath the covers, and in the morning we actually have to get her up so she can start her day. (I think she would stay warm and under the covers all day if she could) We truly can't thank HART and their volunteers enough for saving Ladybug and her puppies and for bringing Ladybug into our life. We will be forever grateful for all of the hard work that HART puts forth to their animals every single day. Tony and I cant tell you how happy we are and how much we, and all of our family love our wonderful little Ladybug

Thank you again

Tony and Kristin

2011-02-10T12:58:00.000-05:00

Foster or Adoptive Home Needed!!!

Jake and Darwin need help

Jake, an 8 year old mixed hound and Darwin, a 6 year old Beagle are in need of a foster or forever home together. Their family is heartbroken to have to surrender their beloved dogs but their 2 children have developed severe allergies to the dogs, even requiring hospitalization. HART is helping to find them a new home because Jake originally came from HART. Let me tell you about the dogs.

Jake, 8 year old neutered male Hound mix

Jake is a large (about the size of a lab) mixed hound and is approximately 8 years old. His start in life wasn’t ideal. After he and a littermate were found abused and abandoned in the woods, he was intaken by HART. When his family adopted him Jake was a quivering lump of fear. Terrified of feet and any object in a raised hand, he cowered in the corner for a month when he first joined them. Years of love and attention later, he is a happy, affectionate dog. You would never know he was abused and neglected as a puppy. He is very good with young children, and puts up with being climbed on, poked, and having ears and tail pulled. If it gets too rough, he’ll yelp and retreat to his safe space under his Dad’s desk. He likes nothing better than leaning heavily on a leg while getting petted. He is definitely an attention hound, loving the attention of people. He has no issues with other dogs or cats.

Darwin, 6 year old spayed female Beagle

Darwin is also a lovely dog. She is gentle (actually amazing) with kids, and will put up with almost anything without complaint. She is Jake’s shadow and doesn’t like to be far from him. Because of this, the family would really like to see them adopted out together. She likes to think of herself as a spoiled lap dog, but despite a long effort at dieting, she is a little chubby for a lap. She is part Beagle, part chow hound! She, like Jake, has learned that kids = food and will check for droppings whenever the kids get up from the table. She does the sad eye look but doesn’t beg. She likes to be with people and likes to insert her head under the nearest hand. She barks at a passing dog when outside, but not a stereotypical Beagle barker, and hasn’t ever howled. Good with other dogs and is absolutely fascinated by the cats when she stays at the kennel during family vacations.

Darwin and Jake are wonderful dogs and are deeply loved by their surrendering family. They are good dogs with no serious issues and could easily transition to a household with dogs, kids or cats. They are currently spending most of their time outside so as not to exacerbate the children’s allergies. Days are getting shorter and colder. They need to find a foster or forever home soon. Can you help?

If you can help, please contact HART at info@hartanimalrelief.ca or 613-338-3333.

Adopter Update - Shiloh

2011-02-04T08:23:00.003-05:00

We would like to give you a update on Shiloh

(littermate to Ryder & Dylan)

We are so very appreciative and happy to have adopted Shiloh, he is a great addition to the family although the cat needs a little convincing of this because of Shiloh's spunky personality. He loves to play with other dogs and gets along great with children.

Like his littermates Shiloh was infected with the parvovirus and thanks to the quick action of the volunteer's at HART all three pups received excellent medical attention prior to adoption. We are also happy to hear that Dylan and Ryder found good forever homes since we were able to interact with them when we picked up Shiloh.

Finally we would like to thank HART and the foster families for giving us the opportunity to bring this happy and healthy little boy into our pack.

Mary and Al

Check out these great photo's of Shiloh!

3 Girls Sell Lemonade to Help Animals

2011-01-28T18:51:00.000-05:00

Dear HART Animal Relief,

One day my friends and I got together to make a lemonade stand. We weren’t so sure what to do with the money so we decided to give our first donation of $50 to the Sick Kids Hospital. We felt very proud of what we had done so the next week we decided to have another lemonade stand. The reason for this is because we have been noticing many lost pet signs, and we would feel very sad if our pets went missing so we decided to raise money to give to your animal shelter. We choose your animal shelter because my grandmother recently told us that you ran strictly on donations and we would not like it if our pets got lost and had to go to an animal shelter that could not afford the proper treatment. So we decided to help you to buy more supplies to help out those sick, injured or lost pets. We sold each glass of lemonade for 25 cents and ended up raising $60.

Sincerely,
Nicole, Jessica, Ricki

Adopter Update - Wilbur, now called JR

2011-01-26T20:58:00.001-05:00

My name is Diane and my husband Bill and I adopted Wilbur (who is now known as JR) on November 20, 2010.

I attach pictures of JR's new surroundings. It was apparent from the beginning that JR had spent his life in a kennel and was used to being "kicked" or punished whenever he passed someone. Luckily two months later, JR has adapted amazingly well in our home he now shares with his buddy Hank. We still have the periodic episode of "bathroom accidents" and "chewing" things that don't belong to him but we would be lost without him.

As you can see from the one picture the dogs decided to defluff a toy (this is one of many we have come home to discover defluffed and have since removed most of them prior to leaving them alone).

He is a very loving dog and we wish to thank HART for all that they did in providing his vet cares before we took over his ownership. His anxiety attacks have reduced to about one a week.

Diane & Bill

Puppies Galore!

2011-01-23T23:27:00.002-05:00

HART currently has 8 (yes 8!!) puppies for adoption. All are cute, fun and ready to join their forever families. Nothing beats the winter blues like a cuddly pup!

Gumbi
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18022472

Goliath
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18022511

Indigo & Kodiak
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18483465

Larry
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18473316

Luna
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18473250

Bluto
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18472829

Verdel
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18472940

Adopter Update - Miata

2011-01-16T22:19:00.000-05:00

Border Collie Miata was adopted in the Fall by a great family in Stoney Creek. Here's a recent update from them.

Thought I would send you some updated pics of Miata. She is such a good little girl! She absolutely LOVES being outside and is constantly ringing the bell to go out. We are starting our group training with her tomorrow; about 10 dogs in the class and all classes are held outdoors in different locations, to ensure that we are all faced with different experiences.

Beautiful Miata (formerly Flirt)

Miata LOVES zooming around in the snow

Look at all those paw prints! Busy girl!

Miata (on left) with her older sister Montie

Adopter Update - Freya and Loki

2011-01-07T12:16:00.003-05:00

Freya and Loki have two speeds:
full steam ahead and full stop.

I have just received the DNA results on Freya. They are somewhat unusual and strain my credulity, however I thought you'd get a kick out of hearing what "the experts" say. Apparently she is 37 - 74% English Setter (??!!), with 20 - 36% Miniature Pinscher and <9% Schnauzer. The pinscher is the only one that seems possible to me as I've always though Freya had a bit of an air of Doberman about her and she is very fine boned so I suppose it could the miniature variety. We didn't test Loki figuring if he is truly her litter-mate it would be similar although as you saw at the Christmas party he seems clearly German Shepherd and Husky. Despite the results, we'll probably continue to tell people they are Gerkies (GERman Shepherd/husKIES).

The two are enjoying the winter weather. We had a full house over Christmas which was much to their liking. My father was woken up at 6:30 am the first morning with a face wash, but after that he learned to keep his bedroom door firmly closed!

We had both dogs out in Nova Scotia this summer along the Bay of Fundy. It took them a few days to get used to the waves but after that they had a great time playing at the water's edge. They discovered many things, including dry seaweed (a tasty snack), ticks (removal of which became by twice daily task) and seagulls (fun to chase).

Happy New Year to you both and all the best for 2011!

Alison and Gilbert

Lovely Eleanor Finds a Home

2011-01-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Eleanor!!! Eleanor has a new home!!! Thanks to our dedicated foster homes this sweet pound pup has many happy years to come with her new loving family!! Way to go team!!

Missing Dog - Help needed!!

2010-12-19T11:37:00.000-05:00

We are missing my dog and trying to do everything we can to get her back please if you have seen this dog ANYWHERE let me know 905-536-4027. She is all white little bichon frise/shih tzu the Hamilton Spectator newspaper did and article about her, but we haven't heard of anything yet :( Please keep your eye out!

Thanks so much!!

Stephanie

Adopter Update - Teddy

2010-12-19T11:15:00.001-05:00

When HART answered the online appeal for Teddy, it was with the thought this senior SchnauzerX would not likely find an adopter. But if we did not find a place for him, euthanization might be his end. We are so glad we did!

Teddy was a champ from the first moment we saw him. He sailed through his vet checks, dental surgery,
never had an unhappy moment nor failed to charm us all with his positive energy and endearing personality traits. Months went by with not even one application to adopt. Velma his foster Ma was in love with her boy and we assumed Ted might just remain with her for the rest of his happy days.
Then Shel saw his picture and fell in love too. Finally and after a long life of no stability, no respect, (Ted was found stray and bedraggled, wandering the streets of Belleville, hungry, painful ear infection)...Shel
and her family adopted HARTs sweet natured old man. He is happy, very content with a family of his very own, the best damn family in the world!
Although his foster mom grieves the loss of a dog she believed would be with her always, she did not hesitate to do the best for her boy, making room in her home for the next needy dog who needed her.
A very happy ending. Click Here to see Teddy in action!

Pets of Friends of HART - Sunny from Catherine & Kevin

2010-12-19T10:52:00.001-05:00

Here is Sunny (Mr. January 2009) for your blog. We are thankful every day that Sunny came into our lives—thank you.

Sunny from Catherine & Kevin

Pets of Friends of HART - Autumn, Terucan and Jewels from Tara

2010-12-19T10:35:00.006-05:00

Hi I read your newsletter that I got in my e-mail and it asked if we had any photo's of our pets that you could feature on your blog. I sure do. Here are some pictures of my 3 wonderful girls you could use.

Here are Tara's beautiful girls!

Autumn and Jewels

Jewels

Terucan

Autumn (well her mom anyway) the Calico and Terucan the Burmese Tabby are Rescues. Jewels is the kitten. She's 3 and a half months now. Terucan's story I cry over everytime I think about it. I've had her since she was 5 weeks old and Autumn I've had since she was 4 weeks. And Jewels mom was a rescue. My friend rescued her and she was lucky to survive since she was thrown out of a car window moving fast down the road with 2 other kittens. The other 2 didn't make it. My friend said they died on impact. She took her in and nursed her to health.

Harry - looking for a home

2010-12-13T14:40:00.001-05:00

Say hello to Harry, an adorable pup who is looking for a terrific family to call his own.

This little fellow is about a year old and full of puppy love! Friendly and playful, he is looking for a family to get out and have fun with. He is an active boy who loves to run and play to burn off his puppy energy. He's an affectionate boy that enthusiastically greets everyone he meets.

Harry goes on play-dates with several other dogs and gets along well with them--he's pretty sure everyone wants to be his friend! He loves to romp, wrestle and play and would be thrilled to have another four footed playmate to share his life with.

Picked up as a stray, he waited at the pound for his owners to claim him, and nobody came looking. He has been moved to a HART foster home in the Bancroft area and is awaiting the perfect family to come along and adopt him. It's obvious that he hasn't had much training prior to landing in the pound, and he will benefit from basic obedience to teach him proper leash manners and basic commands. Still a young fella', he has much to learn. Upon arrival he was not even housebroken, but is making great progress in his foster home.

A medium sized dog, Harry weighs 41 lbs. Our best guess is that he is a Border Collie/Brittany Spaniel mix. He is neutered, up to date on vaccines, and ready to start his new life.

Access to a fenced yard is a must for him, so that he has lots of space to play. He would suit an active family that have lots of time to dedicate to training Harry and getting out and giving him lots of opportunities for exercise. He loves hikes in the woods, running through the snow, and getting out and having fun.

If you would like to be considered for adopting Harry, please complete an adoption application and return it to HART. An adoption donation of $275 applies.

Eleanor -- looking for a home

2010-12-13T14:30:00.002-05:00

Give a warm hello to Eleanor, a charming little Beagle/Basset mix who is about 6 years old. This girl is going to make one lucky family very happy!

Found wandering the cold winter roads alone, this stray girl ended up in the Municipal Pound to wait for her owner to claim her. She waited and waited, but nobody came looking. Abandoned, she sat in the pound alone - scared and lonely. HART volunteers stepped in, and she has now been placed into a foster home while we search for her perfect adoptive family.

She has been vet checked and vaccinated. She is extremely overweight and at 51 lbs she is twice the weight she should be. As we suspected, bloodwork revealed she has an underactive thyroid. With affordable medication her thyroid function is now stabilized and the pounds are already starting to come off. As she starts to drop the weight, she will feel better and become more active, and more weight will come off.

Eleanor is a lovely girl with a wonderful temperament. She has excellent house manners. She is very quiet and calm, housebroken, knows a few basic commands, and is gentle and affectionate. She loves a good belly rub and snuggle, and spends her days napping in her doggie bed by the fire.

She is living with several other dogs in her foster home, and is happy to curl up with them to nap. She has very calm energy, and was immediately accepted into a large pack of dogs. She watches them run and play and she wags her tail when they bound by, but she is not yet fit enough to join in on the play sessions. Once more pounds are off her she will be able to keep up with the dogs and join in on the fun. For now, she prefers to wander around the yard and watch the action from the sidelines.

Update: December 20 -- She's playing! Her thyroid meds are working, the pounds are melting away, and sweet Eleanor has a spring in her step, a wag in her tail, and her eyes are starting to twinkle. She almost has a waist! She is wrestling with one of the other dogs in her foster home, and joining in on following the gang all over the place. She's feeling good!

Eleanor would be suited to a laid back household -- she is an easy gal to get along with. She is ideal for a mature owner who is looking for a companion to take leisurely strolls with and curl up on the couch. She loves to cuddle, is very affectionate, and sticks close to her foster guardians, wanting to be including in what is going on around her. Eleanor could be placed into a home with other pets or would be just as happy as the only pet. A very securely fenced yard is required.

To be considered for adopting Eleanor, please complete an adoption application and return it to HART. An adoption donation of $275 applies.

These photos show her in the days immediately following arrival in foster care. We all look forward to watching her transform into a happy, healthy girl.

Mystery Solved!

2010-12-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

His foster Mom will miss him but Mystery (now Cody) joined his new family in Toronto yesterday. He has wonderful new parents and 2 girls to play with, who no doubt will love and spoil him. So happy for you little man!

Mystery's new name is Cody!

Wilson & Teddy Find Homes!

2010-12-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

Congrats Teddy!
Teddy went to his new home in Sunderland today! This little senior will be a much-loved companion to the senior in the family’s household and has many other felines and canines (including a Newf) to play with. Lucky little Teddy will be living out his years in comfort and love!

Yay for Wilson!!!
He joined his new family in Brockville today! He'll enjoy the company of Shylo the Schnauzer and the two resident felines and a big extended family that welcomed him with open arms. Yip Yip Hooray!

Adopter Update - Einstein

2010-12-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

Einstein at 4 months old

Einstein (who once was Skeeter) is doing great ( our vet is particularly amused with our choice of dog names ). He enjoys his runs each morning, and plays outside in the backyard as long as he can. He has almost stopped teething - is adapting well to routines - and he knows where to sit for his post walk treat! Sleeping well at night, but still likes to get up at 6:00 AM.

Both of our young adults are really enjoying him being around. We are very happy with him being with us, and he particulary enjoys weekends at the cottage. He has just hit the 20 lb. mark, and has grown so much since you've seen him last. The puppy you held while you vacuumed is now more of a lap cuddle pup, and after a vigorous walk, he enjoys his rubs ( and knows to go to Monika for extra long cuddle moments ).

We will be starting obedience training in January with him. He is scheduled for his 'snip' during the week between Christmas and New Years.

A recent picture is attached,
Chrys

Daisy Finds A Home

2010-12-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

Early Christmas present for Daisy - a new family!

Sweet little Daisy has gone to her forever home! Special thanks to Dave & Iris for fostering this wee girl and to her new 'mom' Mary - we know you'll all be very happy together!!

HART's 2011 All Breed Calendar is Ready!

2010-11-29T10:27:00.004-05:00

click to buy yours now!

Support HART by purchasing one (or three!) of our 2011 Calendars!

Click here to purchase via PayPal now.

Kritter Kringle Dec. 11, 2010

2010-11-28T08:49:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars for the Annual 'Kritter Kringle'

Day of Holiday Fun!

Saturday Dec. 11 at the Maynooth Community Centre.

Cole Finds a Home!

2010-11-27T19:50:00.000-05:00

Cole joined his new family this weekend! Good luck sweetie!

Vote for HART!

2010-11-21T12:15:00.002-05:00

Instructions on voting for HART in the Joey's Contest! Click Here to vote.

Little Tinker Bell Finds a Home

2010-11-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

Tinker Bell begins her wonderful new life

Remember Tinker Bell? You may recall her story... When she came to HART she was in shocking condition; skin lesions, horrific oozing abcesses on her face, rampant dental decay, shivering in pain. After undergoing extensive dental surgery and with the loving care of her foster guardian, Tink survived and flourished. (Read Tink's full story) So it is with a very happy HART, that we send Tinker Bell to her new home with a lovely lady named Claudia.

When we called to tell her she was approved to adopt little Tink and we asked if she still wished to proceed with the adoption, Claudette replied...

"Do I still wish to adopt Tink? Let's just say there is not anything I want more! I can think of little else. Ask her foster Mom to call and I will come with a million dollars, if that's what it costs. I will be there with crate, limousine, whatever is required. Thank you so much! I am so fortunate to have this little dog enter my life! We will both remember HART, every year at this time, with a donation. Thanks for all your time to help this little one and all the other "four paw" creatures."

Claudette,
a happy HART adopter

Foster Home Needed. Days are Getting Colder.

2010-11-16T21:12:00.000-05:00

Jake and Darwin need help

Jake, 8 year old neutered male Hound mix

Darwin, 6 year old spayed female Beagle

For the Love of Beagles!!

2010-11-13T11:10:00.001-05:00

Calling all Beagle Lovers!

The 5th Annual BEAGLE BASH FOR CASH!!!

Sunday, November 28, 2010 2:00 PM

PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre

245 Queens Quay West North Building (west of the terminal)

Toronto, ON M5J 2K9

416-360-7297

Drum roll, beagle babies...it's time for the 5th Annual BEAGLE BASH FOR CASH!!!

This is gonna be the BEST one yet!!!

Our new BASH venue is SPECTACULAR!!! More room, more light, more EVERYTHING!!!

And our prizes!!! Where do I begin? We've got Wellington Beer back again to join our raffle tables with a chance to win BEER FOR A YEAR!

We've got beautiful baskets from For The Love of Animals valued at over $100 each!

We've got Samsonite Luggage, a Dog Grooming Kit, Avon Watches, a Size 7 (beagle size!) Buddy Belt in our signature RED, Dr. Maggie's baskets, Sadie's Diner Gift Certificates, Ice Wine courtesy of Gord On Grapes, Hamilton Beach slow cooker, electric knife set, pet photo shoot gift certificate, Norman Rockwell print, and even a weekend getaway to a chalet in Tremblant!!! There's so much more too!

We've got $15 nail trims on site courtesy of the lovely folks at Muddy Paws who are splitting the proceeds with us!

We've got a yummy cake on the way courtesy of Kevin's mom and refreshments courtesy of yours truly!

We've got a Sausage Mountain by Fresh Bites courtesy of yours truly!

But don't forget there's a coffee shop at Pawsway too if you've got a hankering for some hot chocolate to wash down your cake! And your beagle can join you, but no chocolate for him!

Finally, we're giving you a Sneak Preview of the Agenda on Event Day so you don't miss a thing!!!

----------------------------------------

This year, we're endeavouring to finish up all contests by 3:30 so folks can head out earlier than 4:00 if their beagle is partied out by then! But this means, we need you to get there early enough to participate in all the great contests and raise lots of loot for our homeless howlers - the 50/50 draw, the Raffle Tables, and the Silent Auction!

2:00pm - Let the Party Begin!!!

2:15pm - Welcome Speech

2:30pm - Crowning of BADDEST BEAGLE IN THE UNIVERSE

2:45pm - Special Memorial for the Beagles we've lost this year

3:00pm - Raffle ends and winners are called out!

3:30pm - 50/50 draw winner called out!

3:30pm - Silent Auction ends - last bidder scores the item!!!

3:30 to 4:00pm - PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!!!

4:00pm - Farewell Speech - until next year!!!

***Spot Prizes throughout event

The main floor of our party room will be wide open for beagle play! The PAWSWAY folks are also letting us use an extra room to enjoy your cake and refreshments without beagles bouncing off your plate! Our Welcome Table will be set up just inside the party room so your beagle can run off and play right away while you do a little socializing! Our Raffle Tables and Auction Tables will be upstairs on the 2nd level, away from all the beagle ruckous. And not to worry! You can either use the main staircase or the elevator to get you there! Restrooms are down the hall right inside the playroom!

Last but not least, please keep in mind there is an outdoor area for tinkle time but it is not fenced in! You must have your beagle on a leash. The exit is at the back of the party room and is equipped with double doors for added safety. We'll also have the exit area cordoned off to ensure nobody else's beagle follows you out!

But of course, indoor accidents do happen so we ask that you watch your beagle as much as humanly possible and clean up after him with supplies provided at the cleaning stations.

Pawsway is right on the streetcar line for those using public transit. For those driving, there is a Green P underground parking lot right next to the center!

Can't wait for this year's BEAGLE BASH!!! Not only is it a lot of fun, but it saves lives too. On behalf of Olivia and Russell and Jerry Maguire and all the rest of our rescue beagles, thank you for making our dreams come true every year!!!

Are you a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beagle) meetup club member yet? Why not join today and RSVP to the BEAGLE BASH at the same time! It will help us to know how many beagle lovin' supporters to expect on Event Day! After all, we wanna make sure there's enough people cake and doggy sausage for everyone!!!

Join the BYOB Club and RSVP to our 5th Annual BEAGLE BASH FOR CASH

Your Favourite Party Planners at BIG ON BEAGLES (B.O.B)
An Assistance Agency for Beagles Experiencing Troubled Times

http://www.bigonbeagles.ca/
bigonbeagles@primus.ca

Adopter Update - Mitzi

2010-11-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

Mitzi is fine. She is the friendliest dog and she loves making new friends (both people and animals...)…attached is a recent picture.

We’re about to sign her up for training with an outfit called When Hounds Fly. Still not prepared to let her off leash in a park here…too many squirrels to chase. The trainer says this can be addressed with (most) beagles.We did get her spayed down here .
Thanks…

Adopter Update - Vivian

2010-11-09T21:20:00.004-05:00

Vivian at 4 months of age

I just wanted to send you an updated picture of Vivian and to let you know how privileged we feel to have her in our lives.

She's got an unusual playmate...a minature pot-bellied pig with whom she really likes to play tag! She also has a very nice friend who is also a rescued dog from the States called "Judge". Judge likes to bowl with Vivian!

Cheers,
Janine

Adopter Update - Dylan

2010-11-09T19:24:00.000-05:00

Having survived parvo along with 2 litter mates, Dylan continues to celebrate every day of his wonderful life!

Its been just over a year now since we got Dylan, so I thought I would send a quick update to you on how he is doing. I have attached a few photos of him playing around in the back garden, he is just happy when he is outside exploring. He has discovered the delights of chasing chipmunks and squirrels, although he is slow to understand that he can’t climb trees! He has joined Graham a few times over the summer going out in the boat to fish, in fact the problem for Graham was trying to leave without him, as soon as he saw the life jackets come out, he was already in the water making his way out to the boat! He learned to swim pretty quickly, and used this to his advantage whenever the geese tried to pay a visit to the beach. I think the biggest problem he had was there are summer cottages near to our house, and he spent a lot of time looking up and down the river and considered it all his, so when these other people turned up, he wasn’t very happy! He spent most of his summer wet and covered in sand, and was only happy to shake it all off once he got in the house. After all that time happily spent getting wet, he doesn’t like it when it rains!

He loves walking on the trails around our way, and is happiest when his friend Kashi joins us, they play and run constantly and he certainly sleeps well after one of those walks. He is a happy and sociable boy, and is just happy as anything when he is around our family and friends. He is doing really well with his sit, stay, etc., and is better at walking on his lead, although most of the time around here he doesn’t need it, but he just loves to hear his lead come off the hook, and appears out of nowhere to bounce around ready for a walk. If he feels like you aren’t paying enough attention to him, he usually goes off and tries to pinch socks from the laundry so you will chase him around the house to get them back, although he is usually willing to exchange for a treat.

Flirt Moves to Stoney Creek!

2010-10-31T20:46:00.002-04:00

Flirt, now known as Miata, in her new home

Our last Border Collie pup Flirt, now named Miata, went to her new home in Stoney Creek this past weekend. She may have been the last to be adopted but her new family was worth the wait! Mom and Dad are wonderful, the house is very dog friendly and best of all??? She has a big sister named Montie, an 8 year old Walking Tree Hound. Good luck Miata, we know you'll be extremely happy with your new family!

Here is the 'birth' annoucement her new family sent to friends and family as well as pictures of her at her new digs.

GAROFALO (nee BELMONT): Rob and Natalie, along with big sister Montie, would like to announce the arrival of Miata Louise Garofalo on Saturday, October 30th at 9:30am, weighing 14lbs. 5ozs. Miata is welcomed with love by her proud grand-parents Heather Belmont and Lina & Frank Garofalo; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Looking down with love from Heaven, are her Guardian Angels; Papa Harry and big sisters Abby & Caillie. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Lisa Burgess and Bill Magyar from Millgrove Veterinary Services, who helped us tremendously during the recent passing of Caillie; and who will play an integral role in Miata’s life. For more information about the services that our amazing veterinarian and her team provide, please visit www.burgessvet.com. In addition, we would also like that thank Deb Togmus from the Highland Animal Relief Team (H.A.R.T), who helped us through the adoption process. For more information about this wonderful organization, please visit www.hartanimalrelief.ca. We are truly blessed and thank God for the amazing gift of being able to rescue our new little girl!

Miata & her new big sister Montie

Nap time for little Miata!

Duchess is a female 9 month old Cattle Dog mix.

2010-10-29T17:07:00.002-04:00

She is young. She is intelligent. She is in need of rescue.

In her short life she has been abandoned and bounced around to 3 different homes. At this point, she needs the structure and stability of a foster/forever home to help her become the wonderful dog that her caregivers dog she can be. She is young and has tremendous potential; she just needs someone to give her a chance.

She was originally abandoned at the dog pound. Her first adoptive family returned her because she peed in the house. Her second family, same thing and she was destructive when left alone in the house. Neither of these families gave her what she needed; time to adjust to a new environment, security and crate training.

She is a favourite of kennel staff and volunteer dog walkers because she is excellent on leash, obedient and very affectionate. Both of her adopters said she was great with kids and cats. She has been in the play yard with several different dogs at the shelter but became dominant with a few so no longer gets yard privileges.

Quinte Humane Society can't let her be euthanized without fighting for her. Adopters want 'the perfect dog' and after hearing her history they are no longer interested in her. She needs rescue to help her become 'adoptable'. It's not her fault she has been neglected and possibly abused... going from home to pound to home to shelter to home to shelter...she deserves a chance!

If you can help her by fostering or adopting please contact the Quinte Humane Society at 613-968-4673 or http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ON48.html

Duchess is healthy with no apparent health issues. She is up-to-date with her vaccines (except rabies), dewormed, spayed, microchipped, defleaed. At 9 months old she weighs 23 lbs.

Steve - Looking for a Home

2010-10-27T17:58:00.047-04:00

March 20, 2011: Steve has a pending adoption. All applications for him will be put on a wait list, to be contacted if his adoption does not proceed.

Need a perfect hiking companion? Look no further...

Meet Steve! A 5 year old, 55 lb., neutered male, well-muscled, powerful and athletic in his smooth and sleek, short black coat. Steve has the telltale physique and behaviour of two special breeds that originated in Germany - the Weimaraner and the German Shorthaired Pointer - two highly intelligent and energetic dogs originally bred for hunting.
Steve is a gentle, yet spirited, personable dog in need of a permanent home to call his own. This handsome boy has adjusted well to life in the country - and his future in dog sports is looking bright with possibilities! Currently, he shares a home with his foster “Mom”, a male Catahoula hound and a male cat. Amazingly intelligent with an upbeat personality, Steve is a joy to get to know and train and is certain to contribute affection and loyalty to the right adoptive home.

Steve enjoys playing short games of fetch and tug in the yard, honing his Agility skills at the local dog club, chillaxin’ in the house on a big comfy dog bed in a stream of sunshine and ESPECIALLY daily hikes on local Conservation trails where he can often be found treeing squirrels, leaping for chipmunks or sniffing out rabbits. Steven has completed Beginner Agility classes and enjoys showing off his skills in monthly “Fun Matches” at the Canadian Canine College in Waterford. Because of his proficiency in Agility, the adoptive family will be encouraged to continue this dog sport for Steve’s benefit.

Steve loves to run

Eager to please, Steve thrives on interactions with humans and responds quickly to reward-based training. Steve has a high food drive so treat-based training has proven to be catalyst for training and mannerly, obedient behaviour in the home and on daily walks. Steve has good leash manners and obedience while in the company of other dogs at his dog training lessons, where he has completed Life Skills 2 Obedience classes, Agility class, and introduced to some Rally-O as well. Occasionally, Steve is challenged in the company of other dogs while on leash. Improvements have been gained in this area as formal classroom training continues to improve his relaxation on leash, with continued exposure at the local dog club and pro-active canine behaviour management that allows him to explore and experience life at his own pace. Because Steve is comprised of two assertive and independent breeds, it is advisable that the adoptive family enroll in obedience dog training to establish a solid bond and to learn positive canine leadership techniques with him.

He loves the outdoors

Steve lives happily with a cat and another dog in foster care

Steve is a Weimaraner / German Short Haired Pointer cross

Daily hikes along wooded trails are a delight with Stevie! He reliably remains either beside or within eye-sight of his Foster Mom, promptly and repeatedly returning for praise and treats = all the while developing an excellent recall. Steve thoroughly enjoys the freedom of the great outdoors, and needs daily, vigorous activity to satisfy his lively energy level. Being assertive, bold and rambunctious his need for exercise (preferably off lead) coupled with his natural instinct to hunt, means that training and developing trust is an absolute necessity BEFORE off leash privileges are given by the adoptive family.

Steve (on right) hanging out with his foster brother

Treating a daily, 1 hour hike combined with weekly obedience training routines will satisfy Steven’s need for a daily ‘job’ to occupy his clever mind.

Testing the water!

Snoozing zzzzzzzzzzz....

Relaxing with his foster brother Bailey

Steven is a devoted watchdog, thriving on human companionship and is a loyal family pet. Friendly, obedient, alert, loyal and protective of ‘his’ humans means he will quickly form a strong attachment to his forever family. Initially, Steve will feel the need to be involved with everything that is happening in ‘his’ home, and will need to be with ‘his humans’ at all times. He will settle as time passes and become calmer in your home as he learns boundaries and house rules and feels safe and secure in his new surroundings and routine. Steven is crate trained, but prefers not to be. After building trust, by demonstrating proper house manners within his Foster home, he has been allowed free reign at night and during daytime working hrs. (5hrs.), along with the two other resident pets. Steven travels well in his wire crate in the back of the car every day, either to hit the trails or to the dog club.

Steve would flourish as an “only dog” in an inclusive adoptive home, an owner that has previous experience with ‘working’ breed dogs AND an active family who will promote an outlet for his athleticism in the great outdoors!

In short, Steve is a wonderful, devoted family companion – eager to fill a home with unlimited canine joy that only a special boy like him can do!

If you would like to apply to adopt Steve or another wonderful dog, more information can be obtained on our website at www.hartanimalrelief.ca/. Please browse our website to see how you can get involved or donate to our exceptional organization that performs a lifesaving service to our animal friends in Ontario.

Steve's adoption donation is $275.

To be considered for adopting Steve, please complete an adoption application and return it to HART

Kittens Needing Homes

2010-10-25T20:57:00.003-04:00

Occasionally HART finds kittens (or the kittens find us!) and we restore them to optimal health and find them homes. We currently have 2 wonderful kittens that are looking for homes. Please consider adding a cat to your family or passing this post onto your friends.

Meet Midnite

Midnite was just a young babe when "dumped" at the home of a HART volunteer. She was very young, very vulnerable and deserved a much better fate. With HART, she found it!

Midnite is a beautiful, sleek, shiny kitten now approximately 3.5 months old (born July 20, 2010). She is happy, radiates good health and well being and is socialized to other cats as well as dogs. Playful and affectionate, Midnite is a SUPER PET, soon ready to find her new adoptive family.

To adopt Midnite please contact HART. Her adoption fee is $50; she is up to date with vaccines, dewormed and defleaed. If in the Bancroft area, an additional $50 will pay for her Neuter Certificate.

Midnite: Sleek, healthy & ready for a home

Quasi: A Strong Will to Survive

Sweet little Quasi wants his own family

Born at the beginning of September, Quasi was dehydrated and just 2-3 weeks old, when found stray and close to death on a waterfront property in Combermere. Not yet weaned, expert nursing care was required of HARTs foster guardian, to bring little Quasi "back from the edge."

Kitten formula was syringe-fed for 2 weeks, every 1 1/2 hours, until Quasi's weight doubled to his current 1.9 lbs. His serious eye infection was successfully treated and is now healed. Now weaning onto body building proteins, Quasi will quickly recover to gain expected body weight for his age. He now weighs a healthy 1.9 lbs.

Please consider making this engaging wee "character" a part of your family. He is already playing, purring and charming everyone he meets. He is being fostered with other cats, dogs and kids so will become a well socialized cat who will fit in with most families. Observing his awesome "life force" has been pure pleasure for his foster Mom.

Quasi's adoption fee is $50. He is up to date with vaccines, defleaed and dewormed. If in the Bancroft area, an additional $50 will pay for his Neuter Certificate.

Please contact HART if you would like Quasi to join your family.

2 Dogs Hit the Jackpot!

2010-10-25T13:20:00.003-04:00

Both Faben and Ewok each began their wonderful new lives with their forever families this past weekend. We wish them both the best and look forward to updates!

Faben's new Dad works from home and is an active guy who looks forward to jogging with him daily. His new almost-Mom (his Dad's fiancee) lives on 24 acres with several dogs. Faben will be spending LOTS of time over there, running in the bush and having a hoot of a time with the other dogs!

Faben moves to Uxbridge!

Ewok (now Wags) was adopted by a lovely couple named Sue and Don from Napanee. They lost their Border Collie last year and when they saw Ewok online they fell in love with his 'Fu Manchu' look and decided to adopt him. Ewok is now happily romping around three acres and is being loved and cuddled by his new parents. When Ewok first met them, he went right to Sue, like he knew he was meeting his forever Mom. Another happy ending!

Ewok moved to Napanee!

Adopter Update - Piper (née Peony)

2010-10-18T20:01:00.000-04:00

Piper after a long day at the park!
She's not always 'lady-like' but she is always ready for a belly rub.

Hi Linda,

I wanted to let you know how Piper is doing.

She has settled in quite well. We spent the first 2 days at my in-laws cottage. Piper enjoyed the peace and quiet and the large yard. On Monday we headed home to our house in Richmond Hill. I kept telling Piper that I was sorry we had to leave the cottage and hoped she would not be too disappointed with our back yard. The cottage is on a very large piece of property with lots of space to run.

Piper was not disappointed but quiet nervous at first. She would not go into the yard alone for the first 2 days. She was also very nervous about a lot of things. Cars in driveways, school buses, street cleaning machines, sneezing, and little dogs and little children.

My sister and her youngest daughter came to visit on Tuesday and Piper was very scared of them. She may have just been nervous because it was the first time we had left her alone. We have also discovered that she is afraid of going out in the rain. She completely refused to go for a walk in the rain.

We went to see our vet on Wednesday evening. He gave her a great report. He also gave us some tips on getting her more socialised. So we have been going everywhere with her.

Piper is quite use to the routine now. On mornings that I work we get up and have breakfast at 6:00 then we walk at 6:30. At 7:00 we wake up the kids. Piper jumps up on their beds and kisses them.

We then play until 7:30 and l leave for work. The kids play with her until they have to leave at 8:15. We decided to give Piper the whole kitchen while by herself. She has access to all her toys, her blanket and pillow and her water dish. Piper only cried a bit the first 2 days. Now she takes her bone and curls up on her bed. She plays with toys and sleeps until my daughter and I get home for lunch. We let Piper out and then play with her until we have to get back to school.

I usually get home before my daughter so Piper and I walk to her school to meet her. Piper has begun to get use to all the attention from Rebecca's friends. At first she was very nervous about new people but now she just loves the attention.

On Thursday I did not work but wanted her to get use to being left alone so we continued our normal morning routine. However after lunch Piper and I went for a drive and went to Pet Smart. She was a bit nervous about the sliding doors on the way in and not sure about the giant store and all the people but settled in after meeting everyone in the store. She was a champ ..... cried to go to the bathroom so we went outside to the grassy area and she did her business right away. We are going to take a puppy class with Piper and the whole family next month.

Piper has brought our whole family together. Every time we go for a walk my daughter talks about things going on in her life and my son is so happy to be out running around.

Piper's training has come along well. She know her name and comes when called. She is also starting to walk nicely on her leash, with help from a new harness. She has also been great at night sleeping in her crate. Of course that may not be the case tonight as last night Jeremy and I fell asleep snuggling with her in our bed!

Thank you (and everyone involved with HART) for rescuing Lady Bug and bringing Peony (and her siblings) into this world. My family and I are so blessed with this little princess and we are so happy to have a dog back in our lives.

I will send pictures (one at a time) when I return to my computer. The problem is that I don't want to go on the computer, I just want to play with Piper.

Tracy

Congrats Pups!

2010-10-16T16:01:00.001-04:00

Vivian joined her forever family last weekend! This sweet girl moved to Toronto to live with her new Mom, Dad and 2 sisters.

Way to go Viv!

Figan was adopted by a wonderful family and has moved to Cambridge where he will be spoiled by Mom, Dad and 3 kids. Lucky guy!

Figan found his own family!

Little Beagle Peony hit the jackpot with her new family. She splits her time between her new house in Toronto and the family cottage. Lucky girl!

Peony moves to the city!

ADORABLE Puppies Available for Adoption

2010-10-13T16:56:00.005-04:00

Cole and Mystery are 8 week old Lab/Beagle/Blue Tick Coonhound crosses and as their foster Mom reports "everyone that meets them falls in love."

Flirt, Faben and Figan are Border Collie/Blue Tick Coonhound crosses that were born on July 15, 2010. All are smart as whips, house and crate trained and already learning basic obedience.

To learn more about any of them please click on their bio links, found in the right hand column at the top.

PUPDATE: Oct. 16, 2010. Figan has been adopted!
PUPDATE: Oct. 24, 2010. Faben has been adopted!

Help Charlie Find a Home

2010-10-07T22:06:00.001-04:00

Charlie is a beautiful, almost 4 year old (his birthday is Oct 5, 2006), neutered male English Cocker Spaniel. Charlie is a loving, obedient, playful and affectionate boy who would benefit greatly from proper guidance and consistent leadership. He loves going for walks and does quite well on his harness leash. He will sit pretty for treats and gives kisses on command and loves to cuddle while watching TV. Typical of the spaniel breed, his ears, eyes and skin will need to be cared for and maintained which requires regular grooming. Charlie would be happiest as an "only dog" in an experienced adult only home. He will require some patience as he learns to adapt to his new surroundings and can be a little protective of his belongings. He is house trained, fully vetted, up-to-date on vaccines, microchipped and looking for his forever home.

View more pictures of Charlie! Click here!

If you are interested in knowing more about Charlie, please email info@projectpetrescue.com.

This is a courtesy posting for Project Pet Rescue. Please direct all inquiires to them directly.

Making Animal Hoarding a Topic for Public Recognition, Discussion and Action

2010-10-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

Five Successful Adoptions!

2010-10-03T11:11:00.000-04:00

Dexter the Brittany Spaniel strikes gold with his new family

A wonderful family in Sudbury adopted both baby
girl Flint and her brother Freud (below)

Freud, adopted to the same family as his sister. Wonderful!

Maggie Mae charmed her foster Dad into keeping her.
Way to go sweetheart!

Dusty the Shih Tzu moves to easy street with his great new family. Congrats!

Adopter Update -- Buffy

2010-10-01T18:50:00.002-04:00

Hi Sandra.

I know it’s been eons since my last Buffy update so I thought I’d e-mail you with the latest as we near her second birthday.

We had her DNA analyzed and guess what? She came in at a 1 (75%+; the highest level; usually means one parent was a pure breed) for Poodle and a 4 (10-20%; which usually means a great grandparent) for German Shepherd. Apparently, there is even a name for this cross, which is “Shepadoodle”. Funny, I was just on the HART facebook site and saw pictures of Raya (aka Obie) and realized how much her markings are reminiscent of a German Shepherd… Actually, I was amazed at how much Raya and Buffy look alike. Rodney posted a bunch of Buffy on HART’s site, most taken over the summer so that Raya’s people could check it out.

Buffy continues to flourish. She is definitely a pack dog, what with daycare and the pack she hikes with twice a week with our dog walker. Sometimes she goes a little too far at asserting herself as alpha, but we’ve been working on that. She is a terrific family dog and when she decides she loves someone, she really loves someone. We sometimes call her smiley, because when she is really happy to see you, she shows you her front teeth.

She’s not entirely a cuddler, though you can catch her at the right moments. She’s always in for a belly rub though, especially anytime Miranda (our eldest daughter) walks into a room!

Here’s a few pics from doggy daycare (the only pictures I have at work). All in all, she’s a happy and healthy girl and we just love her to pieces.

Hope all is well with you.

With warm regards,
Leanne

Fleas!

2010-09-29T16:16:00.002-04:00

FLEAS!!! I bet the very thought of them makes you itch. Their presence will certainly make your pet itch, but did you know that left untreated, a flea infestation can cause major medical issues for your pet? Fleas are not something to be taken lightly. They are nasty, dangerous parasites, capable of robbing your pet of his health and well-being, even his life.

What is a flea anyway? A flea is a flat, tiny (about 2mm long), wingless, dark or reddish brown, blood sucking insect. They move from place to place and from animal to animal by jumping. A flea can jump up to 20 cm vertically and 41 cm horizontally. Who needs wings with this kind of bounce? If you find a flea on your pet, it is likely that this pesky creature is not alone and that she and her gang have plans for the future. These little blood sucking vampires are getting ready to wreak havoc and make your pet miserable or worse.

Here's what's happening deep within your pet's fuzzy coat once he has encountered fleas. After each meal of your pet's blood, the female flea lays 4 to 8 eggs. She can lay 25 eggs a day and up to 800 in her miserable life. The eggs are round, light brown and sticky, they cling to the hair shaft on your pet. Once hatched the small larvae go to work eating organic debris left on your pet by other fleas. The larvae are extremely hearty and do not die easily. The larvae spin cocoons, which can remain dormant for several months or until conditions arise which are favourable for their survival as adult, blood sucking fleas. Once they emerge from their dormant state, they go to work on your pet again and the cycle continues.

Besides flea bites and actually finding fleas on your pet, you can tell if your pet is infested with fleas by checking for flea eggs and flea dirt. Flea eggs, as described above, will stick to the hair shafts on your pet and can be detected by combing with a flea comb. In addition, fleas leave behind flea dirt (fecal matter) on your pet. Flea dirt looks like a red/brown dirt deep withing your pet's fur. You can be certain that it is flea dirt by removing it with a comb and putting it on a white cloth and dampening it. Once dampened, and smudged, the dirt will look red in colour, like blood, which is what it is.

When a flea begins to feast on your family pet, it releases saliva to stop blood from coagulating. This saliva contains chemicals that cause an irritant reaction and extreme itching ensues. Flea bites are identified by small, red, slightly-raised bumps with a single puncture point at the center. They are often in clusters or lines, and THEY ARE ITCHY. They can remain itchy and inflamed for up to several weeks causing your pet to scratch himself raw. Aside from the physical discomfort and the emotional distress of being itchy all the time, fleas can harm your pet physically. Some animals are allergic to the saliva left behind by the flea. This can cause flea bite dermatitis which is an itchy, painful rash. Hair loss and skin infections result. Like any itch, the more the pet scratches, the more infected things become. In short order, your pet is a mess. Oozing, painful hot spots cover his body and ravage his mind..

Skin problems are only part of the story. Count "Flea"cula and his band of mini vampires are capable of so much more. A heavy flea infestation can cause parasitic anemia. This is especially dangerous in young animals and animals whose immune systems are already compromised. Anemia can cause heart murmurs, lethargy, depression, weight loss. Severe flea infestations in puppies and kittens can cause anemia to the point of death!
What else can happen? Well, how about tapeworm? The tapeworm cycle begins with the flea larvae eating fecal matter that contains tapeworm eggs. The eggs hatch inside the flea and become cysticercoids. Your pet may then swallow a flea that contains these cysticercoids while chewing or biting at his skin. Once swallowed, the flea follows the digestive tract and passes into the animal's intestine where the flea is broken down and the cysticercoids develop into an adult tapeworm. The tapeworm attaches itself to the lining of the intestine and feeds off the nutrients.As the tapeworm matures the tail segments fall away. Each of these is mobile and contains the eggs of the tapeworm. The egg packets are passed in the feces of the dog. The eggs are then ingested by the flea larvae and the cycle renews itself....People can also become infected with tapeworm if they accidentally ingest an infected flea.YUCK!

Your pet deserves protection from this mini menace. Fleas can torture your pet physically and emotionally, what's more, they can be deadly. Check your pets regularly for fleas, flea eggs and flea dirt. If you suspect your pet has fleas, consult a veterinarian immediately. In short, FLEAS SUCK!

Adopter Update - Tasha and Sophie (Stoli and Soda)

2010-09-25T16:53:00.002-04:00

A few snips from updates the family that adopted Tasha and Sophie (now Stoli and Soda) have sent us over the last week since their adoption day:

I just wanted to take a minute and express my heartfelt thanks for your so obvious love and affection for Tasha (now Stoli!) and Sophie (now Soda!). It is simply impossible to put into words how wonderful these girls are. The bond that is developing between us and each of the girls is so remarkable it is difficult to express.

Tasha is a sweetheart who gently and quietly slips in front or underneath or over top any obstacle at the most remote sign that some love and affection is about to be doled out! In some ways a "heart on her sleeves" dog, Tasha also has this more independent side that - as you said - likes to slip a little to the side and watch things from a good perspective........

Similarly Sophie seems incredibly at home in every way around the farm and the house...... Sophie is a miracle dog - in her health, determination to survive and abundance of carefully delivered love. Now she sits for as long as I can sit and just stares into my eyes. It is hard not to tear up just being witness to this remarkable display of love and bonding. It has changed my life for the better - and I really had few complaints before the change!

On Sunday I was out on our raft, unhooking it and preparing to tow it back to the shore when it just became too much for Sophie and she jumped in off the boathouse dock and swam out to the raft to join me! Tasha wasted no time running to the end of another dock and after a moment of hesitation just jumped off the end and swam to the raft as well, not to be left out of the obvious raft love fest! It was so funny as it was from a decent height and she was completely submerged after the jump and just seemed to motor over with the biggest grin. It was so remarkable and fun - we just lay on the raft in the sun and all four of us, and reflected on our good fortune........

Having read their files for the first time, I now understand even more the immense good fortune we have stumbled across in meeting you, your careful screening with your Toronto HART associate volunteers and these dogs.

I will be a long time supporter of HART - this you can be sure of. These wonderful dogs have changed our lives and we also hope that the environment we have is one that will, for the rest of their lives, provide an abundance of comfort, happy trails, excellent smells and scents to follow, hugs and love, trees, streams, grass and old pickup truck rides in just the right balance. It is clear that the impact of your fostering environment was exceptional and I am not really sure how to thank you other than to say you have changed lives - not just Tasha and Sophies but consequently ours by your efforts, Jim's efforts, those of the community and the vet care.

So, Jim and Sandra - THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for giving us the opportunity to live with these extraordinary girls and to let them shape our lives and us them. They are miracle dogs indeed. I hope in the future we have a chance to bring them by so they can say hello to you - as clearly the impact of your love and caring is forever imprinted on their behavior and well being.

Best,

2010-09-25T15:26:00.002-04:00

NewfStock Wrap-Up

2010-09-22T07:45:00.004-04:00

What a weekend! NewfStock 2010 was a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us -- the day brought in over $20,000 and generated much revenue for area businesses as well.

All of the activities on each of the three days were well attended - and the main event on Saturday was extraordinary. There were about 100 Newfs in attendance, plus 50 or more dogs of other breeds, and several hundred people. Millennium Park was bursting at the seams with Gentle Giants, and the Newf community really did us proud by showing what phenomenal dogs these are. Our phone has been ringing off the hook today congratulating us on a successful event, and everyone is commenting on how WONDERFUL Newfies are, how gentle and sweet natured they are and of course, how much they drool!

Bancroft was a flurry of activity with Newf lovers out and about shopping and taking in the area sights on the days leading up to and following the main event. Starting on Wednesday we were hearing reports of sightings of large groups of Newfs cruising around town turning heads and creating a real bustle. Bancroft welcomed them with friendly smiles and there were lots of pats on the head and belly rubs for all of the Newfs in attendance.

A few highlights of the day included awards for the following categories:
Oldest Newf Award: Hannibal's Christmas Belle, 12 years, 9 months old. Owner/breeder Peter Maniate, Hannibal Kennels
Person who brought in the most pledges: Sandy Mulheren of New Jersey with over $2000 in pledges. Thank you Sandy and Vanessa, you two are great!
Anne McNamara of Sudbury was a very close second with her pledge collections, thanks a million for all you do Anne, and your awesome hubby Paul!
Thank you to everyone who collected and donated pledges, every dollar helps and will make a difference in the life of a Newf in need.
Pictured here is Vanessa walking Nanook and Sandy walking Pooka at the end of the parade.

Person who traveled the farthest to attend: Christine Hutton from England. Thanks Chris for bringing raffle items from the Newf Rescue division across the pond. Other people who travelled a great distance were EmmieLou and her Husband Ron from Florida; I heard there was someone who flew in from Alaska; 'Nessa and Sandy from New Jersey; Sylvia and Mary from Connecticut; Kim and Yvan came in from Quebec; and of course Chumley and his peeps from Pennsylvania.

The live auction of original pieces of Newf themed art was a big hit. Successful bidders left the event with stunning one of a kind pieces of art. Thank you once again to all of the artists who donated pieces for the auction: Elizabeth Quandt, Susan Davies, Barb Dickson, Barbara Westfall, Annamarie Johnson, Cindy Williams, Jim Rodgers, Sandra Nicholson, Melody Hill, Bruce Warden, Rita Lo, Nancy Gasser. Thanks also to Mac and Mo McKinnon for donating a beautiful stained glass piece for auction as well as Fetch & Throw s for donating a custom throw for auction.

HART's amazing All Breed Dog Show was also a big hit, and their huge Growlers for a Grand raffle was a great success. The winners of the draw were:
Ruth Anne McIlmayl Pickering, On 1st prize $1000.00
D King L'Amable, On 2nd prize $300.00
Francis Melly Oshawa, On 3rd prize $200.00
Congratulations winners!

The list of people to thank is tremendous:

Thank you to HART, our parent organization, for all you do.

Thanks to all of the participants who collected pledges, our donors and sponsors, and supporters who came out and made this day what it was.

Newf Head cake donated by volunteers from SOS Newf Rescue in Quebec.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to pull this event together. This event took months of planning and preparation, countless hours of volunteer time, and a lot of hard work. Our core group of Newf Friends volunteers and their spouses, friends and family helped out at our event, donated raffle items, raised funds, and worked so hard to make this event a great day. Thank you Kaila, Allison, Jen, Anne, Paul, Celine, Susan, Erica, Sharon, Patti, Jim R., Jillian, Ben, Sandy, Jeff, Tina, Peter, Mac, Moe, Kim, Yvan, Zeljka, Bruce, Bryson, Joanna, Wayne, Raph, Scott, Steve, Jim D, Louise, Glenn, Mike and HART's hardworking group Beryl & Herbie, Dorothy, Linda, Dave, Brenda,Lianna, Ayden, Kyla, Anna,Velma,Marilyn, Wanda, Marlaina,Deb L.,Deb T.,Deb M.,Lynn, Moryah, Raven,Heather,Ben & Elfie, John, Judy, Carol B, Kim C., Joan C, Dave N., Susan, Cindy.

Demos and seminars were offered by the following volunteers:
Peter Maniate - Hannibal Kennels in Lindsay - carting Aptitude Testing

Sylvia Delson and Mary Bylone who came up from Connecticut and offered Pampered Pooch Nail Clipping and Ears

Jillian Pinder and Maayan Kasimov - from Toronto - Reiki and Craniosacral Therapy Booth

Paul McGee from Sudbury, our Auctioneer

Joan Fisher and Judi Walton - from Ottawa - grooming demo and carting demo

Much thanks to Henry Christiansen, Ross Jackson, Drew Hosick, Steven Griffin, and the Bancroft Photography Club for doing our photo shoots. Photos from the shoot will be featured in the 2012 calendar and will be available online for purchase in coming weeks.
A big round of applause to the musicians Donna Leclair and Friends as well as Mike Leveck and Tara Band for donating their time to provide entertainment throughout the day, keeping everyone's toes tapping. All of the music was fantastic and a perfect backdrop for the day.

Our MCs Jim Eadie and Steve Scally both did a fabulous job of running the day and keeping everyone entertained. Thanks to both of you!

Thanks to everyone who helped out at HART's main booth, including:
Meryl Hall - face painting

Sparky the pig

Jenn Bishop ,"Inner Wolf Canine Services" Bancroft

And the Vendors:

Heather King, "The Mutt Hut" from Wilberforce
Anna Simard/Artist, Apsley Hand Wrought Silver Jewellery and "Doggie Bling"
Levi Caya/Artist, Apsley "Wood Spirit Carver"
Greg Wood/Artist, Apsley "Petroglyphs Carved in Stone"
Chris Gillick, "A Cut Above"/Maple Leaf, baked HART's "pupcake"

Thanks also to the Town of Bancroft for the use of beautiful Millennium Park; area camp grounds where many of the attendees stayed; and of course to the Sword Motor Inn for welcoming close to 100 Newfs with open arms.

So many people and businesses donated goods for the raffle. Thank you, each of you. Some of the businesses that helped out:

Grand Design - handled online registration, online pledges and more

Pinderama Design - creation of our banner/promotional material; donated toys

Three Pound Universe - posters and calendar layout

Ferghus & Company - donating all of the free gifts for every rescue dog that comes to NewfStock!

Jeannie's Pooch Parlor - in Greenville, Ohio has donated DVDs on how to groom your Newfoundland. These were available for purchase at the event, and will be part of our online sale pages. We will also be giving a copy to Newf adopters as part of their adoption package thanks to Jeannie's generosity.

Big Bang Direct Impact in Markham for coming through for us at the last minute with an important print job. Thank you!

West Wind Gallery & Gifts, Bancroft, ON - for their donation of raffle items and prizes.

The Leprechaun - Sudbury, Ontario - for their donation of raffle items and prizes

March Road Pet Food & Grooming 1112 March Rd. Kanata ON K2W 1B9 for their generous prize donations.

Canadian Tire - Sudbury, ON - for their donation of paper products and more

Global Pet Foods - 600 Grandview Street South, Oshawa, ON L1H 8P4 (905) 245-0247 for their donation of raffle items

It takes a team to run a rescue, and Newf Friends has a phenomenal team. Well done everyone! You should be proud.

Thank you to each of you.
~ Sandra

Photo Albums of the weekend are being posted online by various attendees. Here are links to public albums with loads of pictures to see.

Friday Swim Date, by Vanessa

Main Event, by Vanessa
Sunday Hike and Swim, by Vanessa

Friday Swim, by Wayne A
Main Event, by Wayne A
Sunday Hike, by Wayne A
Sunday Swim, by Wayne A
NewfStock, by Beth

Fosters Needed

2010-09-14T23:11:00.002-04:00

HART is looking for fosters for these dogs so we can intake them into our rescue program and find them homes. If you would like to become a HART foster and help one of these dogs, please complete and return the application found here: HART Foster Application.

Asta
3 year old female Shepherd cross,
no issues, lovely dog. She is owner surrender.

Pax.
1.5 year old male, purebred Shepherd, nice boy,
surrendered by owner as no funds to care for him

Thunder
1.5 year old male Husky, good natured, no discernible issues beyond need for
daily exercise/socialization. He is owner surrender.