RLRR Beginnings: "Only two days she has a name."

With the upcoming 10-year anniversary of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue achieving non-profit 501(c)(3) status, we were reminiscing about how it all got started. On March 3, 2005 at 4:11 p.m., I made a plea to Lisa at Home for Life Sanctuary for a dog named Rosie.

From: Karen Good
To: Home for Life
Subject: Red Lake Reservation Homeless "Rosie"
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 16:11:47 GMT

Dear Friend:
I am writing this letter in hopes that you can give "Rosie" a home for life. I work on the Red Lake Reservation in Northern Minnesota and have a shelter for abandoned and abused animals. At this time I have 13 dogs in my own home for life. I absolutely cannot bring Rosie home.  

I work as a traveling teacher and go to the community of Ponemah two days per week. She comes to my worksite those two days and gets her meals -- her only meals. She is a female red dog about 5 or 6 years old. She has no one to care for her.

I call her "Rosie" and she waits for me each Tuesday and Thursday for her food and affection. These are the only two days she has a name. I also see evidence of injury when I come to find her; she is cold, hungry, and in pain.

She has made it through the winter, now I beg you to consider Rosie for a place at your facility. She is a wonderful and kind animal. She so appreciates and loves any kindness. Please help me.

I would be willing to transport Rosie and pay a surrender fee if necessary. She has such a strong will to live. I want to help her. 

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Karen Good 

COLLEEN

Within 5 minutes of that plea, I got a call from Colleen. With that call, the window opened to us and we discovered a whole new world of animal rescue people. Before that time, we felt isolated and alone with little or no hope for Red Lake animals.

Within a week, we had funds to purchase a kennel, transport Rosie II to the local vet and get her spayed and vaccinated and moved to the RLRR shelter. She crawled up and out of the kennel on day one and became part of the pack.

From that day on the ball was moving! Thank you, Lisa and Colleen, for opening that window! 

Sincerely, Karen

KAREN WITH RUSTY & SNOWBALL (2005)

New members sought for RLRR Board of Directors

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, Inc. (RLRR) is expanding its Board of Directors and conducting a search for two voting members from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to include RLRR metro support team members and/or donors to RLRR. 

Interested persons should send a letter of interest and qualifications to serve on the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue Board of Directors. The letter may be submitted by e-mail to keg@gvtel.com or mailed to: Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, 23880 South Good Road, Trail, MN  56684

The deadline for submission is March 15, 2016.

The Board will review applications and select two members no later than April 15, 2016. Method of meeting attendance may be in person or via Skype.

RLRR's 10th Anniversary!

Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue is 10 years old this week!!

A series of special work sessions are organized to look at the past and do long-range planning for the future. We started the process with good news and a look at the history of Red Lake Rosie’s and its emergence as a “movement” rather than just a program. The RLRR networks with White Earth, Leech Lake, and Boise Fort Reservations, as well as the surrounding areas of Bemidji, Fosston, Roseau, Bagley and other small towns and rural areas, are rapidly growing and spreading to other areas.

Northern Minnesota only a decade ago was very isolated and limited in the help available for companion animals. Things are changing. Now we have more hope and more help for companion animals on the reservation and surrounding areas. Many players made that possible as our history timeline will verify. We are thankful to everyone locally and those in the metropolitan areas who share in the movement.

The first work session was held on January 24, 2016 for the purpose of beginning the process of revising the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to secure Red Lake Rosie’s continuance into the future as well as securing the assets for the benefit of the Red Lake animals. Due to our location on an Indian Reservation, there are special requirements including incorporating under Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, instead of the State of Minnesota.

Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue is increasing the Board of Directors membership and scope to include three tribal members, three non-tribal local members from Red Lake and Bemidji, and two non-tribal members from the Minneapolis/ St Paul area support group and/or donor group.

We are anxious to add to our list of accomplishments:
Total: 6,815 Rescues
Total: 5,448 Spayed/Neutered
41 Community Neuter/Spay Clinics

Sincerely,
RLRR Board of Directors

Update on Panda/Skeeter

Panda and her sibling pup came from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue and moved on to ACT V for foster care. Panda suffered a surgical complication and lost a large portion of her bowel. It took time, but she surprised everyone and recovered fully.

She was adopted by an amazing couple who saw something very special in her. Now called Skeeter, this smart girl became an agility champion in a very short time! She loves the sport just as much as her family loves training her.

PANDA AND SISTER CORA/DANI WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO RLRR IN DEC. 2012

Thank you to everyone who made her rescue and recovery possible!!

Check out an earlier post when she was looking for her home:
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2013/04/panda-is-looking-for-her-home.html

Victoria and her pups

It was bitter cold on Saturday, January 16th, and a resident of Redby transported a pit bull terrier mama and her 2 little surviving pups to the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue shelter. I named her Victoria because it means "she is an overcomer of great odds and wins the victory".

They told a story of how Victoria had 7 puppies and was a stray in the neighborhood. She had her puppies outdoors and had moved them from place to place to try and survive. This morning she was down to only two surviving puppies.. The temperature was 24 degrees below zero with a windchill of over 40 below zero the previous night.

Victoria was hungry and cold and her bags were dry. Her ribs were showing signs of malnourishment. The two surviving pups weigh only 2 pounds each and desperately needed milk and a warm place. If they were to remain out one more night they would surely die as the weather is going to be the same for the next 3 days!

Just in time Victoria and her puppies got to the shelter- There they got food, lots of warm dry straw in an igloo covered with quilts. They are all tucked in with plenty of food and water. Victoria will soon have milk in her bags to feed the puppies.

Thank you for supporting Red Lake Rosie's! We are the only hope for these homeless animals.

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR

Lazarus: 30-day transformation

Lazarus arrived on December 17th at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. He was so malnourished he could not walk, but crawled out of the crate.

We were told he was an old dog that would not eat. He was lying ready to die. The people who brought him said he was chained to a cinder block with no shelter. His chain was frozen to the ground and Lazarus lay on his side; he had given up and was indeed ready to die. Had he not gotten here when he did he would have died as the next day as we got 6 inches of snow, and with no shelter in his condition, that would have been it for him. 

On arrival he immediately ate a can of dog food and we began spaced feedings of grain-free puppy food and canned food which he loved. For the entire first day, he could not get to his feet. His ribs and backbone protruded.

On day two, he had enough strength to stand up- and on day four, he could walk.

 After a week he is walking with energy and began to gain some weight. All he needed was food, water, and shelter! We could also tell that Lazarus was a young dog-perhaps 2 years old. He is a beautiful specimen of a German Shepherd!

On week 3, Lazarus is romping, playing and has a big smile on his face. He has been neutered and vaccinated and is being treated for lymes. 

January 16 was a very cold day and we saw Lazarus for the last time here at the shelter. He left for foster care with Pet Haven. We promised him that he would never suffer again with chaining or malnourishment. We are confident that Pet Haven will make sure our promise is true.

Lazarus turned out to be one of the very best dogs ever that came through Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue. Had we not got him when we did, no one would know his story or what a great dog he is!

Thank you to transporters, financial supporters, 20 for 20 and other food providers, and the rescues that take animals from our shelter and find them great homes. You all played a part in the rescue of Lazarus. There is no more rewarding experience than to feed a hungry animal.

Karen

RLRR

UPDATE FROM PET HAVEN FOSTER HOME:

Hi, we are Lazarus's fosters. So far he is getting along with our resident pups really well (one is Mina a Red Lake rescue). He is settling in and really calm. He's going to be a easy placement.

Isabelle (Part IV): Life after puppies

The day the pups left, Isabelle got depressed. She was a great mom and she brooded in her kennel for a day or so.

Soon a litter of surrendered pups arrived at the shelter- and Isabelle cheered up and pretended to be the mom of every pup that came to the shelter. The pups would follow her around and she adored them all. Isabelle was soon spayed and having puppies was a thing of the past for her.

As the weather got colder, she wore a coat, then soon moved in to the cathouse bedroom. There Isabelle was first treated for lymes and anaplasma, and then on January 12th went back to the vet for heartworm treatment.

All Dog Rescue had taken all of her 9 puppies and now wanted to help Isabelle further by taking her into their foster care  to find her a nice warm indoor home. Isabelle will leave RLRR on her new adventure January 23rd. No more a garbage dumpster mama dog, but soon to be part of a family of her very own. No more suffering for Isabelle.

Thank you to Justin and Susan for rescuing her, to All Dog and Linda for helping her and her family have a good life, and to our donors who make it possible to provide the needed medical care for Isabelle and others like her.

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR

Isabelle (Part III): Updates on puppies

ZED IS STILL WAITING FOR A HOME

ZED (note from foster caregiver Linda):

I've had a few applications for Zed but they all fell through. He is a very active, curious boy - first one up the steps. Loves to chase after his "foster doggy mom" Charlie. A first time home and someone without small children would be the best scenario for him. Would love to see him go home to a home with another dog to help "train" him. Learn about adopting Zed HERE.

NOTES ABOUT ADOPTIONS OF THE OTHER "Z" PUPS (from foster caregiver Linda and adopters):

ZABRINA & FAMILY

ZABRINA (note from Linda):

Zabrina went to a first time dog owner couple, no kids, who just LOVE her and she is already in obedience classes.

ZAC & FAMILY

ZAC (note from adopters):
"Sam changed Zac's name to Finn and he is doing wonderful. Sam is beyond thrilled!!"

ZAMBONI & FAMILY

ZAMBONI (note from Linda):
Zamboni went to a young couple who works split shifts and just moved into their first house - he will be spoiled for sure.

ZEKE & FAMILY

ZEKE (note from adopters):
"Everything is going very well with Zeke! We renamed him Darwin. He is fitting in very well with the family and older brother, Turbo. Turbo has been helpful in training him. Potty training has been going great. We are down to maybe 1 accident per day in the last week. He sleeps through the night without problems. Darwin is a very sweet, smart boy. He often looks like he is just calmly taking everything in. He already knows how to "sit" just from observing Turbo. Darwin tends to go with the flow. If the family is doing something quiet, he tends to be a quiet little snuggler. He also loves to play. He has done well with the holidays and family excursions. Over Christmas he took his first long car trip up to Brainerd for a few days."

ZODIAC & FAMILY

ZODIAC:
Zodiac was just adopted - congratulations on finding your forever home, Zodiac!!

ZORRO & FAMILY

ZORRO (note from adopter):

"Things are going great with Teddy (formerly Zorro)! He has really become a part of the family. He has taken a liking to our older dog Joey, and Joey has come around since the first couple days. They love to play in the snow together and they eat their pig ears right next to each other!"

ZULU & FAMILY

ZULU (note from Linda):
Zulu started getting lots of apps but went a fantastic family with older kids and an older dog - she is going to be thoroughly loved, no doubt about it.

ZUNI & FAMILY

ZUNI (note from adopter):
"Zuni (now known as Delta) is doing wonderful! She's growing so fast, at least in my eyes. We are working on the potty training and she's getting the hang of it but definitely still has her accidents.
She has met many people, and many dogs, and loves them all. She loves to play with other dogs, and play she does! Even if the other dogs are tired out, she still wants to continue. She's mouthing and chewing on everything and everyone she can get her little teeth on, but I have found a few toys that she really enjoys that can distract her quickly. I'm so in love, I could go on and on about her. But overall, she's great."

Isabelle (Part II): Puppies!

Isabelle’s nine puppies all thrived and grew. On November 11th they were loaded on a transport headed to foster care with All Dog Rescue. Linda was going to be their foster mom as she had been for scores of puppies from Red Lake.

Linda named all the puppies with “Z” names and all have been adopted to great homes except for the darling Zed. Learn more about adopting him HERE. 

ZED: Waiting to be adopted!

ZABRINA

ZAC

ZAMBONI

ZEKE

ZODIAC

ZORRO

ZULU

ZUNI

Thank you All Dog Rescue and Linda for the great care you gave Isabelle’s puppies!

Karen

RLRR