Justin: Leo, the Lionhearted

Justin was a puppy found by Polly at the Battle River dump with his ears crudely cut or burned off a couple of years ago. He went to MARS and was adopted by his foster family. We were so happy to receive an update on this special boy who came to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue from a hopeless situation -- sick, in pain, and terrified.

JUSTIN/LEO NOWYes, I fostered Leo for about 5 minutes and then immediately adopted him. Here is our noble Leo the lionhearted with my daughter.

He is GREAT! He is a beautiful dog, with wolf-like eyes. He also doesn't really bark - he kind of goes right into a long howl. Wolfy!

He has always been skittish around flapping paper, like if you shake out the newspaper, but other than that he doesn't show any trauma from his rough start.

JUSTIN/LEO BEFOREHe loves belly rubs and he does great at our horse barn. He plays with our kitten and they are hilarious. I just adore him and am so glad you guys rescued him!!!

C~

100 and some, pounds of fun

Received a lovely update on Paxton (fka Pac Man) from his family. These are all AFTER photos. Paxton actually built himself a den in the woodpile in the backyard -- that brought a tear to my eye. His family says, "You can take the dog out of Red Lake but you can't take the Red Lake out of the dog."

He actually looks a little embarrassed :-)

It's already been a year since Paxton joined our family.

When he first came into our home he was so overwhelmed by the smallest things -- like warm air coming from vents, the refrigerator and its lights. He didn't know what a treat was.

Pac had and still has the most gentle soul. We had a instant connection. Now my Pac has taken over the guest room bed (he LOVES a bed). My nephew loves to spend the night because he gets to sleep with Pac.

When I open the pantry door Pac goes into his auto sit for a treat. Pac even knows a CUB Foods bag = a treat (I blame his brother for that). Pac is the perfect companion we hoped he would be for Tugger (our ten-year-old pit bull). Paxton likes to steal a nap on his brother Tugger's heated senior dog bed. :)

Pac also loves to snuggle, go for walks and of course POPCORN.

I've attached a few photos of my gentle big boy! Thanks for all you do!

J~

Kindness Week at Red Lake Elementary School

Red Lake Elementary School administrators, teachers and students planned a "Kindness Week" at Red Lake Elementary School February 13 - 17, 2012.

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue was the sole recipient of the candy-gram fundraiser and the "Pennies for Pets" drive again this year as their favorite charity.

We are so proud of the entire student body for their generosity and faithfulness to the animals of Red Lake.

On February 21st, Karen and Kevin and animal ambassadors including: Riley, the dog; Andy & Arnie the two little puppies; and Midnight, the cat, made presentations to 10 groups of students with an average of 20 students per group. Michele Stapleton, a teacher and fellow rescuer coordinates the events.

Discussions were held on Red Lake Rosie's Programs as well as talking about the 6 building blocks for a healthy pet. We found that almost 100% of the students had a dog, and about 30% of students had a cat in their family.

We had the students discuss our responsibility to provide food, water, shelter, safety, vet care, and, last but not least, love to their cats and dogs.

We also acknowledged all the great dogs and cats of Red Lake as well as those in service to humans like Ahnung, Ginger, and the original Rosie.

Stories were told about Pearl, Misty, Leroy, and many others and the kids all listened eagerly to each one.

The students were able to handle the animals and ask questions, and make comments about their companion animals.

All students were very receptive to the message and were told that they may need to step up and take over the animal rescue, and what each one could do to improve the life of our companion animals at Red Lake and everywhere.

It was a very wonderful day. Thank you Michelle and everyone at RLES.

Karen

Twin Cities Pet Expo 2012, March 24 & 25

Twin Cities Pet Expo 2012
Mpls Convention Center
March 24 & 25
Saturday (9-6) & Sunday (10-5)

Are you interested in helping Red Lake Rosie's Rescue this year at the Pet Expo? This has been great for spreading the word, gaining support, and fundraising. We are looking for booth volunteers and an ambassador dog. Volunteers get in free.

We need a few more volunteers at the booth (3 to 4 hour shifts) to talk about RLRR, and to sell hand made items. We also need one more ambassador dog along with a family member (2 hour shift). Ambassador dogs are Red Lake dogs that have been adopted or are ready to be adopted.

If anyone wants to have fun and help, please let me know. Thank you.

Lynn
lmecum4@msn.com

Networking across Indian communities

KAREN WRITES:
Red Lake Rosie's Rescue got a call from a man on the White Earth Reservation who has frequented our Redby clinics in the past. He had acquired a litter of 4 puppies, and had no place to send them, so we took them in at RLRR. We were able to spay 2 female dogs from White Earth using the DJ and T voucher as well as a part of the deal. "We take the pups and you fix the dogs" which will put an end to the unwanted puppies.

MOLLYThe litter of 4 only stayed at the shelter for a few days, then with the help of Leech Lake Legacy were on to foster care with Heidi and to AHS and Animal Allies in Duluth.

GUS GUSThis is a great example of how networking really is helping all Indian communities and their companion animals.

Karen

JENNY & HEIDIFROM MARILOU:
Thanks Karen for taking this beautiful litter of 4 pups from White Earth Reservation ... this is an example of how we can help so many more by working together ... from White Earth to Red Lake to Leech Lake to AHS/MnPAW and Animal Allies in Duluth...

VICTORIAThanks Heidi for fostering them for a couple days... I have no doubt they will be vetted, spayed and up for adoption very soon!!! They are sooo adorable!!! :)

I know so many were involved in the transport as well ... many, many thanks!!!

LEGACY JUNIORHeidi named all these cute pups after she got to know them over the weekend ... and fyi LJ stands for Legacy Junior as she looks like my pup Legacy :)

Marilou

"Rez Life" tonight

David Treuer, who grew up on Leech Lake Reservation has written a book, “Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through reservation Life.” He will be speaking at the Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Tuesday evening at 7 PM.

Talk of the Stacks with David Treuer
Room Location: Pohlad Hall
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.

Treuer, acclaimed author of "Little," "The Hiawatha" and "The Translation of Dr. Apelles," has received a Pushcart Prize, the Minnesota Book Award, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Bush Foundation for his work. A professor of literature and creative writing at the University of Southern California, he divides his time between Los Angeles and Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota. In “Rez Life," his first full-length nonfiction, Treuer uses his novelist storytelling skills and eye for complex and subtle detail to examine Native American reservation life, past and present.

Twizzler's new home

Twizzler, another of my foster cats (son of Freckles and brother to Twyla, Diego & Dorito on the blog yesterday), settled right in at his new home. His family sent photos and captions. They nicknamed him the Goat because he wants to eat everything!

TWIZZLER IN BEDHere is a pic of Twiz on our bed lookin cute!

TWIZZLER'S BEST VIEWFavorite spot to sit because Twizz can see all the action.

TWIZZLER & POPCORNWhy his nicname is The Goat!

TWIZZLER THE GOATThe Goat in action!

TWIZZLER & NEW BFFSnuggling with Mist his BFF.

Freckles and family

Freckles and her four tiny kittens came to my house as fosters back in May after they were unceremoniously dumped at night in a box in the driveway at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

FRECKLES/DORITO/TWYLA/DIEGOFreckles, the mother cat, was extremely thin and ill and took a long time to regain her health, but she is gorgeous and energetic now. The kittens needed some supportive care, but they are beauties.

TWYLA & FRECKLESOddly, only one has been adopted and that is the one solid black kitten, Twizzler, but he was special with extra toes on both front feet. His new family adores him and encourages anyone else looking for a kitty companion to consider the rest of the family. Twizzler got along right away with the other cat in his new household and the kids!

DIEGO & DORITOThere are two orange tabby brothers, Diego who has white trim and Dorito who does not. Diego is more mischievous and Dorito is more mellow.

DORITO & DIEGOThey definitely want to find a home together and are a perfect matching pair and have been since they were tiny.

TWYLA & DORITOThere is also sister Twyla who is a tortie like her mother but with the softest medium length fur and a very lush tail. I usually just call her "Princess" because she knows she is one. She and her mom, Freckles, are buddies so they would make a great pair, but they could also go solo.

FRECKLES & TWYLARead more about them on the website or call me at 612-269-2254.

Major finds a home

Patti, of Second Hand Dogs, who took Major (the Gentle Giant) from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue wrote recently, "Major went to a young couple from Iowa. I had quite a bit of interest in Major, but these people were the best choice in my opinion. They have a two year old daughter and although Major was a little unsure of her at first, he warmed up to her in the first couple of days. His temperament here was so good that I had a feeling he would be fine with small kids even though I hadn't had him around small kids. This is the first report of Major in his new home in Iowa."

Patti--
Thanks again for this opportunity. I don't think words can describe how much happier our family is already!

Major traveled home really well. He is so good on a leash! I even took him off it when we were on my front stoop and all he did was jump on the deck, walk to the edge and once I said "major", he came sprinting to come inside. He is so frantic to get back outside, but once he is out there he is a huge baby and won't leave your side.

The big shock is how well he and our daughter get along now. Just a little bit ago I tested the waters since they were both at my feet and I let my daughter cover up Major's head with her baby and pretty much climb on him. He didn't move, he didn't make a sound.

Once she was done he gave me a look like "really" but its obvious he loves the attention. He always lays right by her bed/couch that she has in our living room. Last night he slept on a rug in the kitchen, but we bought him a bed today so we will see where he sleeps.

He liked his brushing he got earlier today. He seems unsure of our yard since it is pretty much all snow or frozen snow, he prefers to walk on the sidewalk and road when he can. He hasn't chewed on anything yet, not even a treat or bone.

Thanks again,
S~, J~, K~, and Major

NOTE FROM KAREN:
Isn't he a big Ponemah beauty?

Update on Jewels & pups

Hi Karen,
Just an update on Jewels and her litter of puppies that she delivered on Dec. 21st.

PORTRAIT OF JEWELSThey are eight weeks old tomorrow already! They are doing excellent and are being spayed/neutered on friday then all of them will go to their new homes on Saturday, Feb. 18th at our adoption event! It is all very exciting.

SLEEPY PUPSJewels is being spayed today and goes to her new home on thursday of this week. She is such a precious dog and will have a fabulous home just four blocks from a dog park where she can run and play with lots of other dogs.

We are all very excited for Jewels and her puppies!

Shelley
All Dog Rescue
www.alldogmn.org

There are lots more photos and videos of this family on the All Dog Rescue Facebook page.

Happy Valentine's Day for Matilda & Stella

Although we have a very mild winter overall, the first week of February had some very cold windchills. On February 6th, Polly got a late night call that there were two kittens at the Red Lake garbage dump. She and Dan went out right away to look for them, but found no kittens. Instead, hunched along the side of the cold steel dumpster, was a hairy little Shih Tzu female dog now called Matilda. It was nearly 35 below with the wind chill!

MATILDAPolly took the little hairy 5# bundle to her home, and saw that she was very starved and dehydrated and frightened. Polly was happy to have found her because she would never have survived the cold that night.

STELLAThe next day another call reported a small breed dog at the Circle Pines garbage dump so Kristy, a resident of the area, searched for her and found the small dog, who had a presumed dog bite on her side. We named her Stella and took her to the vet to have her examined and have her wound cleaned.

Both Matilda and Stella were transported out to foster care with Dee Dee on February 11th.

The attached picture shows Matilda with a big smile on her face in her warm and comfy surroundings with more love and care than she has ever known.

Thank you to the people who made the rescue of Stella and Matilda possible, Polly, Kristy, and foster mom Dee Dee as well as transporters O'Sullivans and Barbie Olson.

Karen

Jessie Marianiello, animal artist friend of RLRR

FROM THE BEMIDJI PIONEER
Published February 12, 2012

Former Bemidji artist expresses love for pets through paintings

PHOTO BY TOM WALLACE |STAR TRIBUNE

Animal lovers have long been accused of thinking their pets have human traits by those who do not understand the bond between an owner and a pet.

But, animals lovers know with absolute certainty that their warm-blooded, four-footed furry pals exhibit human traits all the time.

If you don’t believe it, just ask former Bemidji artist Jessie Marianiello of straydogarts.com.

In her Uptown studio in Minneapolis, she uses her talents to produce fine art paintings of companion animals.

Marianiello maintains a blog on her website, where she talks about the sale of one of her portraits, “Big Love.”

“Today I sold one of my most very favorite paintings,” she wrote. “‘Big Love’ taught me how important it is to trust my instincts and to make sure that I allow time to just paint for myself. That is, after all, where the best paintings come from.”

During a recent phone interview, Marianiello said she is annoyed by art critics and other artists who claim painting companion animals like dogs and cats is selling out, cheesy or just not fine art.

Disagreeing with that premise, Marianiello believes painting an image that evokes emotion in the viewer, who will treasure that picture, is what life and art are about. She painted her first dog in January 2008, had a solo show “Dogs of Edina” in 2010, has artwork in “Bone Adventure,” “Corazon,” “Chuck and Dons” and “Wild Rumpus” and was featured in the 2008 fall issue of “Modern Dog.”

Artists have been painting animals on cave walls (radiocarbon analysis of cave paintings in France date back 33,000 years) to describe what they saw and what we now call bison, horses and deer.

In ancient Egypt, animal images were incised on walls to instruct and embalmed probably because they were thought to have otherworldly power. The 18th century portraiture artist Thomas Gainsborough often painted the companion animals of his rich patrons. The famous Flemish weavers showed scenes on their tapestries of companion and hunting dogs with their prey. Fine art through the ages has pictured companion animals for centuries.

Marianiello said she paints because she feels that something real is happening when she puts brush to canvas and creates an image.

In another blog entry, Marianiello wrote, “I paint pet portraits because I have more love for animals that I know what to do (with). I paint because there is something beautiful to be captured in those transitory moments we share with the pets who have stolen our hearts for good. I paint dogs (and cats and horses) because now I cannot stop.”

A look at her work shows how well Marianiello captures the personality of a pet.

Along with a belief that an animal’s spirit is shown in its eyes, a special expression or even a subtle gesture, Marianiello strives to accurately portray how the hair lies, and how many different shades of color diffuse with sunlight or a myriad of other variables.

When Marianiello accepts a commission for a portrait, she usually meets with the pet and owner if they live within a reasonable distance. Many photos are taken of how the pet and owner interact or perhaps how they resemble each other. Some of the portraits display a brave little dog like Peanut, a Chihuahua who survived a rough start and was happily adopted. Peanut’s portrait shows a complex mug with searching eyes asking if he can trust again.

A fanciful drawing of a bull dog named Addie and her squeaky elephant toy sleeping together brings a smile to the viewer. And who has not seen a black lab proudly holding a ball in his mouth, teasing for another throw. Marianiello freely admits she falls in love with every animal she paints.

“I get to know an animal on a very deep level and, because of this, I suffer from love-overwhelm,” she said. “Sometimes I’m afraid that I might melt or explode or disintegrate, but it’s an occupational hazard that I’m totally willing to live with.”

Therefore, it appears that the transition from portraiture to animal paintings has been good for Marianiello. Some of her solo shows, like the one at the Bulldog Restaurant in Minneapolis, are pure whimsy.

Billed as a celebration of your inner bulldog, the installation was of 15 bulldogs: English to French to American and back to Olde English with some mixes thrown in for good measure.

And then there is the serious side to Marianiello’s love affair with canines.

She is heavily invested in Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue/shelter located on the Red Lake Nation reservation. The shelter, started in 2006, addresses the overpopulation of companion dogs and their resulting homelessness. She also participates in Pit Bull rescues and claims the breed is misunderstood because of poor reputations due to unfit owners.

But the best side to Marianiello, according to uncle Charlie Ward, is the care she takes with every painting she finishes, regardless the subject.

She recently completed two paintings she titled “Serenade.” One of the pictures is of her Aunt Anne’s three horses, two of which came from the Minnesota Hooved Rescue Association. The other is of her uncle’s treasured 1930 Ford Model A car.

Grandmother Lois Ward proudly keeps a Star Tribune article featuring Marianiello in an article about animal artists.

If you’re thinking about asking Marianiello to take on a special portrait, she is currently a year out in accepting new commissions. Not too shabby for a small town gal who studied painting at Bemidji State University with Carol Struber.

By: Patt Rall, Bemidji Pioneer

Mighty Quinn

On December 16th, Red Lake Rosie's Rescue got a call from a family that a little brown chihuahua had been injured and could no longer walk. He had been injured 4 days ago and they requested that we come and get him, as they no longer wanted him as they could not get him medical care.

The RLRR van responded and went to Ponemah to get the little guy. Quinn sat on his haunches and did not walk at all since his injury. We took the little guy to the Clearwater Vet and X-rayed his legs and back and found no broken bones, only a suspicious swelling on the neck area. Quinn was on prednisone for 7 days at RLRR shelter in the cathouse. Soon Quinn was up and wobbling around, and we feared that his injury was permanent.

Dr. Vickie of Act V responded to our request and Quinn was on his way to the metro and Act V for the help he needed.

Quinn came to mind yesterday, and we wondered how he ever turned out. Much to my surprise, I saw a video of Quinn with his foster mom Diane, and he is walking and playing.



Thank you Dr. Vickie, Act V, and Diane for this great update- It made our day!!

Karen

Mandi the Mediator

UPDATE FROM ADOPTER:
It has been about 10 months since Mandi (fka June) came to live with us, and what a great addition to the family she has been. She is the sweetest kitty I have ever known, so demure & gentle and pristine.

MANDI MEETS A SNOWMANShe loves Jessie, the older cat, and likes to climb up and cuddle with her. She is so careful not to disturb Jessie while she is sleeping. I think Mandi has had a great deal to do with how well Jessie is doing since the loss of her sister in January of last year, and she is a great mediator between Jessie and Aimee, the younger kitten.

JESSIE & AIMEEWhen we got Mandi, she was about 8 months old and Aimee was about 5 months old. Aimee has more energy than any cat I have ever seen and she makes us laugh every day, but Jessie didn't much care for her energy or enthusiasm, and it had come to where Jessie would hardly get off the couch to eat because Aimee liked to wrestle so much and had no one else to direct her energy at.

THE WHOLE FAMILYAimee and Mandi are best friends and tear through the house daily chasing each other (playfully, and sometimes Mandi starts it :) and playing with the soft sparkle balls (those are the favorite toy). My family room looks like a daycare with all the toys and cubes and tubes and the kitty tree.

MANDI UNDER THE TREEMandi continues to grow and become less timid and more loving and friendly. Being held is not her favorite thing but she is getting used to it and finding out that good things happen when she gets held (treats). She does like to cuddle up with us on the back of the couch and in bed.

I just thought you might be interested to hear how well she is doing and how much she is loved after these 10 months.

K~

FROM DENISE: June was my foster kitten. It was quite a family with surrogate mom cat I named January and the sibling kittens, sisters, April, May, June, July and brother August, plus Sparkle a kitten who came in alone and joined the family. I would LOVE updates on any of the rest, too :-) Write to me at blog@redlakerosie.org.