Happy New Year to all of our animal heroes!

 Happy New Year to all of our extraordinary RLRR supporters!!

LOKI

Red Lake Rosie’s is enormously grateful to each of you who supported us this year.

We rescued 829 animals – cats, kittens, puppies, dogs, one horse, one parrot, one canary, and two rabbits in 2014. All of you made that possible.

LEO

Our gratitude goes to our generous donors – of money, supplies, volunteer hours, and good wishes.

CLAIRE & BELLE

Our individual donors are the backbone of the rescue. You provide much-needed funds for veterinary care for the animals coming in to the shelter throughout the year.

POPPYSEED

We want to thank the groups and businesses who support us, as well –
All of our Partner Rescues
The ABE! Fund
Chuck & Don’s Pet Food
Doris Day Animal Foundation
Friends of Flicka
Lawson Family Fund
Pause 4 Paws
Pet Haven – The Shed
Robbinsdale Farm & Garden Supply
20 for 20
The Twin Cities Dog Daycare Association (TCDDA) Great Minnesota Pet Food Drive

MOLLY

To everyone who donated time, money, and supplies and supported us by sharing our rescue challenges, successes and fundraising needs, we are deeply grateful for your dedication to helping animals and wish you the best in 2015.

Cleo and her cute kittens

A car arrived at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue from Ponemah with a mom cat and litter of four kittens in a crate sitting on an old rain-soaked pillow. The smallest kitten weighed only 11 oz. while the other three all weighed 1 lb 5 oz. Karen didn't know just how old the kittens were, but they were hungry. She gave them formula by syringe and put kibble, water, and canned food in their cage.

LEO, MICKEY, SMIDGEN, MINNIE

Karen was particularly concerned about that tiny kitten, so she was glad to send the family off in just two days to foster care with ACT V. I decided to step out of my hiatus from fostering to try to help with group, so I met the transport and brought Eddy the pup and the cat family to ACT V.

CLEO

Since Eddy seemed near death from dehydration and anemia, so he got immediate attention. I had some time to meet the family. Mama cat is a sleek brown tabby named Cleopatra for her long slim body and the beautiful markings on her face. The kittens included Leo, the fluffy tabby boy, Mickey & Minnie, the tuxedo brother and sister twins, and the tiny black sister was called Smidgen.

LEO

MICKEY & MINNIE

SMIDGEN

Smidgen had an echocardiogram on Wednesday which revealed mitral valve stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, an enlarged right-sided heart and pulmonary hypertension. Obviously bad news.

However, she seems happy and she is eating. She even plays until she gets tuckered out.

Chow time

KAREN SENT OUT A PLEA FOR DOG FOOD RECENTLY:
Hi Friends:

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue has thankfully been able to transfer many animals to recues the past months. We have gotten plenty of cat canned and kibble, however, are very low on dog food. We have puppy kibble but not much adult dog food left.

People from Red Lake and other areas of the reservation have been coming for food and we have very little to give. (They are actually mixing dog food with some cat food for filler, as we have the cat kibble. Not the greatest, but better than having nothing in their stomachs)

I was wondering of any of the great volunteers getting food from Chuck and Don's have any food collected?

Thank you so much for your help in keeping the dogs at the shelter and those hungry in the community fed.

One day last week we had EIGHT dogs reported in Red Lake with porcupine quills. When dogs are hungry they hunt for food- and when they have to eat porcupine, the results are not good.

Have a nice day and let me know if you have collected any food.
Sincerely, Karen Good

AS USUAL RLRR SUPPORTERS RESPONDEDSome badly needed food supplies were received by Red Lake Rosie's Rescue thanks to the generosity of Erich Russell, John Vaughn, Jenny Fitzer, Pet Haven, Ann Vareka, MaryAnn Cameron, Target, K-Mart, Chaska Shed, AHS, and Chuck & Don's.

MIKEWe estimated the load to be about 2,700 lbs.

TOMTom, my sister Carolyn, and I met Erich and John in Little Falls, loaded up the trailer, and then headed back to RLRR to fill up the empty food shelves.

MIKE WITH RADAR & LEO (puppies found at the dump) AND FAWNIt was an ideal variety of food for all of the animals. Great team work required.....a huge thank you to all involved.

KARENIt was a long day but a very good day overall. We are grateful to everyone
who pitched in on such short notice to help provide much-needed food for the animals at RLRR!

NANCYThanks so much.............
Nancy O

True survivors meet: Ode & Leo

ODE & LEOI know that longtime readers of the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue blog (and now Facebook), will remember the gut-wrenching stories of two abused pups. They came in at different times, but they are linked as survivors of cruel ear amputations.

ODE ON ARRIVALOde's ears were burned off down the the skull.

JUSTIN/LEO ON ARRIVALLeo's ears were crudely cut off.

Naturally, both dogs were in great pain and were terribly afraid when they came to Karen. The photos showed the awful dead look in their eyes and their cringing body language.

Nancy O had to go right into the kennel with Leo (then known as Justin) to try to comfort him.

Both dogs got the immediate medical attention they needed and immediate tender loving care, then were quickly placed in foster homes in the Twin Cities. Now they have been adopted into families that love them.

LEOWhen recently the two dogs got to meet, though they were nervous, it was a special moment for everyone who has come to care about them both.

ODEMOMS OF THE DOGS SAY:
As always, thanks to Karen, Denise & all RLRR volunteers for their dedication and tireless efforts in saving RL critters in need and getting them to us appreciative city dwellers You rock!

Pam & Colleen

KAREN SAYS:
Thank you to the supporters, volunteers, rescues, and people who adopt the animals and give them a great home! We could not do it without each of you.

NANCY SAYS:
Karen, thank you for sending me this photo of two of my heroes, Ode and Justin. I have not met Ode yet but this is on my bucket list. I will never ever forget her tough beginnings and how hard you worked to save her, remembering how intense that first night was. And Justin was as remarkable. I am so pleased for these two.....thank you!
Nancy

Search the blog to read several posts about these extra-special dogs.

Your support of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue gave these tortured pups their happy lives.

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~

Nancy & Ryan transport

What a pleasant surprise!

NANCY & FIONAThere were lots of puppies and dogs needing a ride out to make room for more, (as the usual January puppy litters are now needing rescue) when I received a nice e-mail from Nancy that said "Do you need help? Ryan and I would like to come up this week."

RYANWhen they arrived on January 4th, they were loaded down with animal food and supplies as usual. I was just coming from Red Lake with a load of animals that needed to be tucked in.

Ryan helped with the new arrivals while Nancy took care of the cats.

The next morning they left with Anna, Lizzy, Dove, Leo and Luna on board to Tricounty Humane Society and a litter of chihuahua puppies to Twin City Pet Rescue.

Thank you Nancy and Ryan for coming to help Red Lake animals just in the nick of time.

Karen

LIZZY

Justin Leo: another transformation

Justin was one of the most heartbreaking cases of the summer. See his first post. It was wonderful to receive this update from his family.

Hi all,
Thought it was time to check in with an update on Leo, now that he has been in our home for 3 months.

JUSTIN/LEO HAPPYI am so happy to report that everything has been excellent for the young boy. All of his health issues have resolved. He still has one bald patch on his tail, but other than that, he is really healthy.

HEALTHYHe has gained at least 15 pounds and is well-toned from all his exercise. He is a really good dog and he has so much fun with my daughter and I and our 3 other dogs. He even comes to our horse barn and is very well behaved. Every hair on his body stood on end the first time I clomped out with one of the horses ("what is THAT?!"), but he has always been respectful - no barking, chasing, nothing.

JUSTIN/LEO & FRIENDSThe Gang o' Four (Jesse, Lily, Mickey and Leo) go to the dog park, swimming, car rides, and every day is filled with wrestling matches. Each has their own spot in the back seat and in my bedroom at night. It amazes me how they all blend so well.

JUSTIN/LEO WHEN HE ARRIVEDLeo still shows some random signs of skittishness, but nothing like when he first arrived. I really think that watching the other dogs showed him how to behave. I can't tell you how happy we are to have Leo as part of our family. He is very well loved.

Thank you again for sending him to us!

XO
C~, E~, J~, L~, M~ and B~ (the 24 year old cat he tries to wrestle with)

Special needs transport on July 7

The transport on July 7 left Bemidji with 20 dogs/puppies, 3 cats/kittens and one rabbit!!

SHEEBAOf this group we had 3 special needs kids including Sheeba with a broken front leg and heartworm; Jake with one eye blinded needing removal; and Justin with cut or burned off ears and mange.

JAKEJake and Justin are headed to MARS where they will both receive medical care and tlc for their health and emotional healing.

NANCY & JUSTINA special thanks to the Tom, Carolyn, Nancy and Barbara for transporting the very large load of animals. There was no extra space as they left Bemidji, so Justin sat on Carolyn's lap on the way to Motley to meet Barbara.

BONNIEBonnie, a female doxie, went to Pet Haven.

BORISBoris, a male doxie, went to Tricounty.

WABOOSEWaboose, which means rabbit in the Ojibwe language, also went to Tricounty.

BRYANBryan, the cat, went to Tricounty, too.

KITTENSTwo darling kittens went to RLRR foster care.

BRANDIJULIABrandi and Julia and a litter of 3 pups went to All Dog.

2 OF 4 LABBIES4 LABBIES4 male labbies went to Animal Ark.

LITTER OF 8 SHEPS8 shep puppies found in the woods in Ponemah- 2 went to Act V, 3 went to Secondhand Hounds; and 3 went to All Dog.

ELENAElena the brown shep went to MARS.

A special thanks to the rescue groups taking the very "broken" ones with so many medical needs.

Karen