Update on rescued horse and donkey

I have found out that Freddie the horse is a gelding and is doing well at Mr. Hazeman's farm in rural Bemidji.

Also, that Ruby, the donkey has been adopted by a couple in Fosston, Minnesota. I hope to visit there and see how she is doing one day soon. It is only 40 miles from the shelter.

Sincerely, Karen

Arial, the sweetest pit mom, is now Emma

Back in August 2008 when HSUS/RAVS (Humane Society of the United States - Rural Area Vet Services) was at Red Lake for a weeklong spay/neuter clinic, a brindle and white pit-mix dog and her many tiny puppies came in with no owner to take responsibility for them.
We called her Arial and she impressed everyone with her kind and gentle manner even in a kennel with her pups and dozens of barking dogs all around. We were so happy when one of the Ravs volunteers, Sue, took the family home with her to Illinois.

All updates have been positive. The pups are all adopted and Arial, now Emma, has been restored to health. Sue wants to especially thank Carol of Red Lake who rescued Emma and her pups and brought them to the clinic.
Sue says:
Hi Karen,
I was wondering if you could give me the contact info for Carol. I would like to get in touch with her and thank her for picking Emma and her puppies up from the housing complex last July. I have a really cute picture of Emma with Santa that I will email you. She should be an ambassador for her breed! She loves everything and everyone. Thank you so much for giving us this wonderful dog!!!
SueCarol responds:
I'm glad to hear that Emma has a home where you are so enthusiastic about her! I remember I had to crawl on my stomach under a low porch to retrieve the last of her puppies. I'd love to see a picture of her as a healthy and happy pet. Do you know where her puppies ended up? Thanks for taking a chance on her. I've met some wonderful, loving pit bulls while doing rescue. I wish more people could have that type of experience with the breed and realize that it is the owners who are the problem with the vicious ones. Take care,
CarolFROM EMMA'S NEW FAMILY:
We love Emma! She has an elf hat on in one of the pictures. Christmas is her favorite Holiday.... so far anyway!

Gale is a precious Ruby to her new family

Gale was transported from Red Lake to Pet Haven just before Christmas and just ahead of a big snowstorm. Look for her "before" picture looking skinny and frightened. Now, she has a new family and a new boxer brother named Hot Rod. She is looked well-fed, relaxed and ready for playtime; her new name is Ruby. Read the excerpt from Pet Haven's dog blog below to find out why:Everything is going great with Ruby (we've re-named her Texas Ruby after an old timey cowgirl singer, since Ruby is a cowdog!). She and Hot Rod are getting along just fine and everything is working out. I think she is calming Hot Rod down, which is a good thing. They are both sleeping in the office with me now.
She's adapting very well, has mastered stairs and coming through doors and knows where her food bowl is.

Thanks again for your assistance in getting Ruby to us. She's a real sweetie!

Ode is adopted!

We'll never forget Ode, the puppy whose ears were intentionally set on fire. Click on her name, Ode, to follow back to all the previous links on the Red Lake Rosie's blog. Her ears are gone, but she has recovered fully otherwise and has been adopted by her Pet Haven foster family. Read about it on Marilou's blog. Here is an excerpt:Today I had the honor of finalizing Ode's adoption. Ode (pronounced 'Oday' and means heart in Ojibway) came into Pet Haven's foster program in July, 2008. At 12 weeks of age, she was rescued by Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. Ode was found wandering on a baseball field in Redby, Minnesota with her ears severely burned - a victim of horrific abuse. In the 6-7 months she has been in our program she has been loved by her foster family and fellow Pet Haven volunteers and all lucky enough to meet her. About a month ago she went to live with Pam and her two cats -- they were fostering Ode with the intent to adopt. Over a cup of tea, delicious homemade ginger cookies, and Pam with one hand petting a content, relaxed Ode on her favorite chair, the adoption paperwork was completed. Somehow Ode must've known what was going on. She seemed happy, content, and at ease....

Well, Ode Almondine Funny girl Bambi Christian, we love you and we are so happy for you!
Marilou

Fleece blankets are a big hit!

FAITH'S PUPPIESKaren put the fleece blankets right to use. The cold winter weather continues in Minnesota and mom dogs and early puppies really appreciate the extra warmth.
RHODA AND PUPPIESAs Karen commented on the blog yesterday:

The animals, and puppies in particular absolutely love the fleece blankets. We have started to use about a dozen and launder them daily. Thank you so much for this very wonderful winter gift.

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR animals

RHODA'S TWO PUPS

Blankets for Rosie's

A group of quilters from Kenosha, Wisconsin sewed 65 fleece blankets for the animals at Rosie's.

Facilitated by Sharon and Jerry Janusz; the latter, a former star defensive/offensive end at the University of Miami, learned to sew for Rosie's!!

Susan Ipsen (Illinois supporter) and Sue Rogers (Madison, WI supporter) donated medicine, bowls, treats, and toys.

Susan, Sharon, and Sue provided transport for the blankets and supplies, too.

Cinnamon has recovered like a Phoenix

This is a story of Cinnamon (now known as Phoenix) who was rescued by myself and Marilou on her last trip up here.She was found in an old doghouse with no bedding.Phoenix was found with a litter of 6 pups.Poor mama was starving, all her ribs and backbone protruding.She came to the shelter on December 11th with her litter and within 9 days all went to Last Hope Rescue. The pups were all adopted and Cinnamon also was adopted to a great home.The preceding pictures were taken on the date of her rescue, and you can compare to the great life she has in her new home as described below. They love her and say she is the most wonderful dog ever. I relayed to them that it is because she is so appreciative for the great home and comforts she now has after suffering so long.

Thank you to all the volunteers, financial supporters, transporters, and rescues for helping Phoenix and others like her. It is heartwarming to see these positive results.

Karen

NOTE AND PHOTOS FROM ADOPTER:

Thank you so much for writing a thank you note for adopting one of your
dogs! We adopted Phoenix (formerly Cinnamon) in December. She was the mother of a litter of the puppies that Akin Hills Veterinary Hospital in Farmington brought back. She is incredible.I have 3 other dogs, one 13 years old, one 7 years old, and a handicapped dog who is around 8 years old. All are rescues. Phoenix is SO great with all the dogs - respects my 13 year old, plays a lot with my 7 year old.
My handicapped dog has Degenerative Myelopathy, so he cannot walk and we help him get around. But he will make his way over to where she's playing with a toy and will steal the toy from her. Phoenix is SO good - she doesn't get aggressive, just waits until he turns his head, then steals it back. It is so funny!We are so very lucky to have adopted her. She is a joy to be around.

Thank you for all you do - and for helping the animals!

T.

A Saint rescued on St. Valentine's Day

It took special negotiating on the part of one RLRR volunteer to gain possession of this dog. A special thanks to her for all she does for RLRR:

"Odin" is about a year old and has lived his whole life on a chain outside an empty house on the reservation. Last weekend, we were able to rescue him and bring him to the Cities. He is completely unsocialized and quite scared, but incredibly sweet.

He had never been indoors, so it was a challenge getting him in the house. He has to be carried! Bathing him was another rather difficult enterprise, since he had to be carried indoors, as well as upstairs. Luckily, for us, not him, he is very thin; so he's not at his full St. Bernard weight.

He has become best friends with Dove, another RLRR dog, and they play non-stop.

Valentine's Day transport

COOKIEValentine's Day was special for a group of 7 cats and 3 dogs who left Red Lake Rosie's shelter enroute to Pet Haven and Animal Angels.
Once again Dee Dee Welles, Mike Wilson, Sarah Good, and Nancy and Tom O'Sullivan have made this possible.
IRENEOn this transport Alfie, a shepherd/wolfhound mix who came in January with starvation, mange and also has heartworm. They have opened their arms to her for help. All three dogs going to Pet Haven have either starvation, mange or heartworm issues.
SNOWBALLFred, aka Little Big Man is a black dog, a spaniel mix who came in January with starvation and severe mange sores all over his rear end.He has since been neutered and his skin is healing nicely.
TEDDY BEARAlso to Animal Angels who are taking the 7 cats, many juvenile. We are happy they all will be in foster care and will have a chance for a "forever home".
JODY & JUDY
Thank you all and Happy Valentine's Day!!
Karen
FRED
ALFIE
P.S. A special thank you to Pet Haven for taking Dixie and Chick in the January transport and treating them for heartworm!

Happy Valentine's greetings for RLRR

I told you recently how Ahnung, the former Red Lake Rosie's Rescue dog, has been volunteering with Pet Haven at The Lab - a program of the St. Paul Public schools.The week before Valentines, Ahnung brought a couple Pet Haven volunteers with her to assist in an art project where kids made Valentine's cards for Karen to let her know how much they appreciated the work she does on behalf of the animals. That morning, Ahnung also pushed her "mom" aside, got on the computer, and wrote a poem for the kids and gave everyone their own special copy. One of the young boys in the group said, "we should send Ahnung's poem to Karen too" -- so we did.
Ahnung hung out (and took a couple naps ;-) as the kids collaged and had fun making Valentine cards for a woman who has dedicated her life to helping abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats up at Red Lake.

At the end of the class period, each kid proudly turned in their work of art, smiled and on their way out of the room, got down on the floor to give Ahnung a hug and went off to eat lunch!

Happy Valentines Day to all from Ahnung and the youth of The Lab!

Read the full story at the Pet Haven dog blog.

It's a small world

Two RLRR doggies run into each other at the dog park:
Hi! Look who we ran into at the dog park this weekend!!! My friends & I were admiring a puppy; I had to stop to pet him. The people walking the puppy said the pup was from up north & had been found starving. They are fostering him thru All Dog Rescue. I told him Moxie was from RLRR and he said the puppy was too!
He was happy & having a great time :)
Love,
D

Taffy before and after

What a difference a haircut and bath make! Here's Taffy's before pic when she was found wandering on the road in Red Lake, and the after picture when she had been rescued, and transported to a special foster home. Isn't she a doll?

Karen :)

OMG!! Cutest Pup Ever??

My friends T & L already adopted Maya two years ago from RLRR. Lucy was transported on Feb. 1; she and her littermate were pictured in a blog post wearing darling sweaters.

Denise,

I am excited to let you know that L and I took another puppy from the Red Lake Rescue, Her name is Lucy and she is beautiful. I am going to attach a few pics of her first night in our home. I also wanted to thank you for giving us access to these beautiful dogs from up there. We are going to be giving some money and or supplies very soon.

T

Sadie's foster mom had a hard time parting with her

Read all about it on her blog, Shepherd Obsession.

Check out Sadie at:
Dream Dog
The Gold Standard
and a video of playtime at the foster home with Daisy.

Ahnung helps "at-risk" youth

EXCERT FROM MARILOU'S BLOG:
Ahnung - our north star

“So is Ahnung your dog too?”, asks one of the kids.

“Yes. She wasn’t planned. I met her in October 2008 at Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue on the west boundary of Red Lake reservation. She was abandoned with her litter of eight puppies. I remember seeing her in her outdoor kennel, metal bars criss-crossed in front of her face as I pointed my camera towards her. She was nursing her puppies and her nipples were full and almost touching the ground. She looked worn down and haggard. She weighed almost 70 pounds – a solid black dog with unique white markings: one white front paw, patches of white on her face, a white chest and a black tail with a white tip, as if someone had dipped her tail in white paint. Her tail has a curl of a husky. Her face and body type are bull doggish and pit bull-like. Her wrinkles and heavy coat scream shar pei.So why this one dog? There were many other dogs in the shelter – in their outdoor kennels and others running around. There was something about her eyes – was it sadness, was it wisdom, was it acceptance? There was something about the way she looked at me, something about the way her piercing eyes looked right through me. She has a story. She has a purpose. That “something” brought me back one month later to bring her into Pet Haven’s foster program. She arrived testing positive for heartworm, lymes disease and coccidia. We soon learn she has a pellet in one of her nipples, having survived a gunshot wound. She has no front teeth as she has ground it all down which, according to our vet, is probably her attempt to escape from a metal cage. Her rescuer, Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue says many of the pups she rescues have ground down teeth as they struggle to find food and eat dirt and gravel in search of food. Whatever the case, Ahnung’s first 4 years were hard and full of struggles. Her body holds the scars of her past. Her spirit only knows how to live in the present moment.

Ahnung’s rescuer Karen initially gave her a temporary name of “Mama”. Aware of the bond that had formed, she asked me to name her. I chose “Ahnung” because I wanted something to represent and honor her roots and the hope she embodies. Ahnung means “star” in ojibway, the language of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. My partner and I officially adopted Ahnung on January 3rd, 2009. She is my north star. She is hope in the midst of darkness. Her calm, confident and wise presence provides guidance when life seems unbearable. She is reminder of how goodness prevails in the end.As I look at a room of seven kids intent on hearing my story and Ahnung’s story I realize that the light shining from Ahnung’s star is so much brighter than I even imagined. These kids are deemed “at-risk”. Pet Haven (with Ahnung as the ambassador) is partnering with a program called The Lab of the St. Paul Public schools where youth are inspired, encouraged and empowered to discover, understand and share their voices and the truth of their lives. These kids, like Ahnung, have been tossed aside. I look out at the room and I see one of the kids on the floor next to Ahnung petting her and rubbing her belly. He smiles, “man … this dog is loved. I can tell this dog is loved.” I later learn that this young kid had not been engaged in class for the past week and for the first time came alive in class. I would never have known.

We need to build bridges to our youth. We need a kind, gentle and compassionate way to chisel away at walls built over years of abuse or neglect. I believe animals can be that bridge.In mid October when I first laid eyes on Ahnung little did I know she would be instrumental in lighting up the night skies for urban at-risk youth with the brilliance of her star. Her work is just beginning as she heals wounded spirits and gives hope to so many. I tell these kids, when something bad happens and something hurts so badly, I want them to close their eyes and imagine Ahnung. She is the north star for all of us. I want them to hold onto her tightly and trust that she will guide them out of the darkness back into the light. I want them to feel Ahnung’s calm and loving presence. And I want them to know they are not alone.

The young boy grins again and says “man … this dog is loved. This dog is really loved.”

Foxie Moxie has a foster brother

Karen--
I love to look at all the pix of the companion animals you are saving. Sweet Peaches looks like her leg needs some help, poor love.

Wanted to update you on our "Foxie Moxie". She has a foster brother now, who maybe ( fingers crossed! :-) ) will be her forever brother.

"Scout" is a 1 yr old Flat Coat Retriever mix who needs surgery on both hips. I go with tonight on an appt for him to get a second opinion on what type of surgery would be best for him. He has been w/ us for almost 2 months now, he came so we could help him thru his post op.

Moxie & Scout have become very close, they are both high energy. They love wrestling on the bed, chasing each other at the dog park, and snuggling up for a nap. And they keep me very warm at night too! :-) When her eyes are runny, he washes her face for her! It's so cute!

At the dog park there is a young dog who plays REALLY rough. I try to keep Moxie close to me as this dog always goes for her & she doesn't like it. I need worry no longer! After guarding Moxie on a few visits, Scout decided to settle matters once & for all. Scout ran up to the dog, knocked her down & stood there as she showed him her belly: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't pick on your sister any more!".

Ever since then, the dog won't even LOOK at Moxie!!!!! I was surprised when he did it, cuz he really is a very mild boy, but enough is enough! He is about 60 lbs & 27" at the shoulder.

My love to you all & many thanks daily for our darling Moxie. She warms my heart with her love.

D

Update on Tessa (f/k/a Mona)

NOTE FROM JODI with Cause4Paws:
I’m not sure if you guys remember this cat but she was from the RAVS clinic last year and had the week-old tiny babies with her. She came from the same home as Pete the poorly adjusted dog. This cat had the tail frozen off from last winter when she was an outdoor cat and spent the winter in the doghouse with Pete. She was relinquished to the owner’s probation officer and this kitty gave birth to 5 kittens at the probation officer’s home on July 11. The kitty went to the HSUS/RAVS spay/neuter clinic and afterwards I took Mona and babies home until all were adopted.

NOTE FROM ADOPTERS:
We adopted Mona, now Tessa, a couple of months ago. She has adapted really well to her new home and to the other cats. She has especially taken to our year old Coon cat. The two of them tear around the house like a pair of maniacs chasing each other and pretend fighting. I can't remember seeing a pair of cats who loved to run as much as these two. They started playing with each other within the first couple of weeks she was here.

She and my son Matthew have really bonded. She spends each night in his room, often sleeping on his stomach. You can tell that she considers him to be her person.
Almost from the first day she was here she showed that she was pretty outgoing. She is not afraid to tell you that she doesn't like something and will complain rather loudly about being taken off of a chair when a person wants to use it
.
She is very healthy and has gained about a pound since she got here. She does want to eat people food whenever she gets a chance, but we haven't had a very hard time keeping her away from that.

I've attached a couple of pictures of her. Hope you enjoy them as much as we are enjoying her. She is really a terrific addition to our house.

RH

More pics from Feb 1st transport

OSCAR
PEACHES
ANOOK
LENNY
FAWN
CHESLEY
ANITA