Jill's first visit to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue

The skeleton of a deer dragged in by a dog...

A dog that walks on its front two legs because both rear legs are injured...

Either of these could be the strongest impression from a first visit to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, but Jill told me that she was most impressed by the work that Karen and the other volunteers that live at Red Lake do every day.

Plenty of mud this spring for the dogs to romp and lay in, not as much fun for Karen and Geri.

Karen doing her morning dog chores with her entourage.

Karen in the cat house preparing meds for the dogs.

Geri distracting the dogs with treats so Karen could exercise Batman, a beautiful German shepherd, without interference.

Geri caring for her beloved cats.

Karen dropping off donations of stuffed animals, blankets, food and toiletries from the RLRR volunteers to Carol Priest at the Red Lake Homeless Shelter.

Similar donations were also dropped off at the Battered Women's Shelter and stuffed animals were dropped off at the Red Lake Day Care.

Karen dropping off dog food and a preparing mange treatment while Geri documents the stop.

Jill told me that she loves the pictures of updates and encouragement of successful adoptions, but she's thinks that the family of RLRR supporters, whether they have the opportunity to visit the rescue or not, need to understand the daily work. She said "Karen is the heart and soul of the Red Lake Rosie's family."

KAREN SAYS:
Jill, one of the RLRR volunteers from the metro, is a very community-minded supporter, who accompanied by Karen and Geri, delivered food, toiletries, stuffed animals for the children and blankets to the Red Lake Homeless Shelter. Carol Priest, Director and Rita Weise accepted the gifts which are very useful to the residents of the shelter.

From there we went to the Red Lake Daycare Center where we delivered stuffed animals for the children. Then on to the Red Lake Women's Shelter with more toiletries, stuffed animals, and breakfast cereals. In the past Jill has also delivered school supplies to Red lake School District #38 as well as helped at the Animal Clinics.

Thank you Jill for your generosity and support of not only the animals, but also the people of Red Lake. Mee gwitch!

Karen and Geri, RLRR

Update from Pet Haven on RLRR dogs

FROM PETHAVEN'S DOG BLOG:
Monday, May 9, 2011
Red Lake Rosie's Adopted Dog Monday

Duchess is a terrier mix from Red Lake. She was adopted by a former adopter of another Red Lake Rosie's Rescue dog, Bart the Dumpster dog. He has his own blog and has featured his "bratty" new sister a couple of times. Here is a link to one of his posts about Duchess.

Here is what mom has to say:
"Duchess is doing well...she's a leaper. From a sitting position she leaped over our 5 foot fence to meet the neighbor's doberman yesterday. So that's some new information it was like a kangaroo, unbelievable.

You were right she really is the perfect dog...totally housebroken (except for one introductory poop) energetic but not nervous, loves all people, dogs and kids and not mouthy at all, takes treats nicely, etc. She's so ready made for a family that's looking for a dog to love and to be the center of attention." Can you find the Duchess girl in the photo? Looks like she blends right in.

Apple is a gorgeous aussie mix from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. She was with her fosters for only a couple of weeks when the family decided she was already home and adopted her.

Here is what her mom has to say:
"Allie (formerly Apple) is doing just great! She did just fine while we were on vacation - actually I hear she had so much fun playing with all the dogs at daycare, and Allie and Sadie each slept with a family member. Now Allie is sleeping with Amy in her bed - Sadie snores so Amy doesn't allow her in bed with her!

I took Allie to an off-leash dog park, and she just loved it. She never wandered too far from me, but when she did it wasn't for long. What a great dog! At home she is always by my side, and comes when we call her if she's outside. We are all enjoying her so much!"

Correction for Watson

NOTE FROM ACT V FOSTER FAMILY:
I noticed that you featured Mindy and Watson on the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue blog.

WATSON & MOMWatson didn't exactly get adopted by a family in California.

WATSON IN IOWA
He actually got adopted by his foster family (us) in Minnesota.

WATSON IN COLORADOWe moved to California, and of course, took him with us.

We fostered a lot of dogs from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue for Act V while we lived in Minnesota. You can see them here:

Our Fosters from Ms Tori on Vimeo.

http://www.vimeo.com/21510106

The worst thing about moving back to California is not fostering for ACT V anymore.

-T~

Our sincerest thanks for your good work with the dogs. Best Wishes in California!

Help for Big Boy

During the past winter, I got a call regarding my friend Big Boy, a black lab that I had come to know. According to the caller, Big Boy needed help. I had previously had Big Boy at the shelter for a week, and then I also took him to the clinic and got him fixed and vaccinated and returned him home.

This time, Big Boy was in bad shape. He had been chained with a wire around his neck, and the wire had cut him clear through all around his head. The caller said he was nearly beheaded - so of course I responded that I would take Big Boy.

The caller said the wire had been removed and he said he had never seen such a horrible sight. I told them that if I helped, then Big Boy was never to be chained again. He agreed.

Big Boy was delivered to me that evening, and he began a 60 day journey of healing. He was given lots of encouragement, antibiotics, nutritious food and water. Well Big Boy and I had a friendship that went back a couple of years, so he was happy to see me and knew that he was going to get help.

After two months, Big Boy was ready to go home. Now I make visits to his home to check on him, leave food, and he always meets me as soon as he sees the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue van. He comes running and wagging. I know I have made a lifelong friend with Big Boy, and also with his family.

Big Boy is a testimony of how RLRR needs to have funds available for major medical at the vet and for the regular medical supplies like antibiotics, rimadyl for pain, dressings, immunizations, flea and tick medication,and wormer. We get requests weekly for help for animals in distress.

Thank you for your support!
Karen RLRR

Spring at RLRR = MUD + cleanup

Mike and I went up for a weekend visit mid-April. It was so muddy, but we were glad to get up to the shelter regardless.

SPRING MUD
When we walked into the cathouse, we couldn't believe how clean and organized everything was. Karen's had a helper up at the shelter, Geri, does such a great job with the cats and keeps everything in order.

CATHOUSEThere were some great cats up there, as usual.

BOSSMANPottsie a.k.a. Bossman has the most beautiful tabby colorings and loves to give hugs when he's picked up.

SHARMAINESharmaine is a gorgeous girl with the palest blue eyes I've ever seen.

HERMANHerman was my favorite, though. He was at the shelter the last time I visited, but has made vast improvements since then. He had a lot of missing hair, which has now grown back. All of his scratches have healed up and he seems so happy. He came from a barn, where he and the other cats had to find food of their own. I'm sure poor Herman had to fight with the other tom cats to survive out there.

HERMANYou would never know that Herman came from rough beginnings. He is all about getting attention. He rolls around and around just loving all the pets we gave him.

And we can't forget the great dogs at the shelter!

BATMANBatman was a somewhat new arrival. He was timid at first, but once we got him out of his kennel, he couldn't get enough love. He's a very handsome shepherd, but is far too thin at the moment. He will be a big bundle of joy once he puts on weight.

BATMANHis favorite thing in the world is his ball, so we brought him out in the field and played ball with him until he was all worn out.

SNOWBELLEI had to include a picture of my favorite shelter dog, Snowbelle. I met her last April and look forward to seeing her every time I visit.

SINEADWe left with only one animal - little Simba. She is now named Sinead and I'm pretty sure my Mom will be keeping her. She had a crippled front leg that had to be amputated the day before we came up to the shelter. Now, she is getting pampered while she heals up.

Thanks to Karen and Geri for making this visit terrific!

-Lauren

KAREN'S COMMENTS:
Spring has sprung at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue which usually brings the mud. The landscape is saturated right now, so getting around the shelter is a challenge requiring rubber boots, and a good attitude.

MUD DOGSMike and Lauren as well as Jill spent time trudging through the mud and making the best of it. The dogs actually seem to enjoy running through the puddles, and lapping up the black water, even though they have clean drinking water available to them. (It tastes sooo good!)

STORAGE SHED ORGANIZEDThe storage shed, which was a disaster got a major makeover with Mike and Lauren who spent a whole day on this job.

Geri spend lots of time mopping the cathouse floor as mud gets tracked in by the volunteers and the doggies who come in.

MUD BOBCATWhen the frost leaves the ground, the water soon starts to disappear. We hope to get more #5 gravel on the road and in front of the storage shed to make traveling easier.

Happy spring everyone!!

Karen

Rest in Peace, dear Grandpa

We sadly report a great loss at the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue shelter this past week. Grandpa, our majestic alpha shepherd, who made his home at the shelter since August, 2006, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.

He will be sadly missed by the dogs & me and the volunteers, as well. He was one of a kind, and a very great manager of the shelter.

Karen

GRANDPAIN MEMORY OF GRANDPA

For the RAVS Clinic in the heat of the summer of 2006, I volunteered for kitchen duty. It was my first clinic and I didn’t trust what I might say if I saw an animal in a dire or abused situation.

The first afternoon one of Karen’s helpers came racing in and asked for help to load large sized crates and off she went. A bit later she came back with 4 dogs. Turns out she had seen these dogs laying along a road malnourished, no water or caretaker.

GRANDPA, DAISY, MAMA, GINGERWhen she arrived back at the warehouse, volunteers helped her unload the dogs. There was Grandpa, Grandma and two of their pups. Grandpa was in the worst shape and was so dehydrated and malnourished he staggered left to right and could barely stand up.
Due to his size no one felt right about crating him so we got a tie out and connected him to one of the main posts by the kitchen. What happened after that was nothing less than a miracle.

The general consensus was that he didn’t have much going for him. He was quite old, half lame and could barely stand. Many times during that day one of the many volunteers brought him a little bowl of food and gave him a hug. Numerous times I looked out and there was someone crying over him. To put it simply- he was pathetic and no one thought he would make it.

GRANDPA AND HIS PACKKaren came cruising in late in the day and since we didn’t know what to plan for him and since he was in no condition for neutering we packed him and his “girl” dog off
to Karen's.

They got their own kennel the first night and, if I recall correctly, by morning Grandpa had “busted” himself out of the kennel and was free roaming. There
was no keeping that dog penned up, but by this time he realized that there was good food coming his way and he probably thought he was at a 4 Star hotel so he didn’t run.

GRANDPAEach time I would go to Karen’s, we would stand and chuckle over the fate of Grandpa. The dog no one thought would live through the clinic fooled us all and became head dog of Red Lake Rosie's. I personally am thrilled that he had a good number of years where he was well cared for and had great days in the sun.

He also taught me a lesson about the durability of these animals. That
with some TLC and possibly love for the first time in their lives, these animals can bounce back from horrendous circumstances and surprise us all.

Colleen

Metro Support Committee meeting, TONIGHT!

The supporters of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue will meet on TUESDAY, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Mai Village Vietnamese restaurant, 394 University Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103. If you are interested in learning more about the work of the rescue, please join us!

Let DeeDee know if you have any agenda items for discussion.
You may contact her at animalrescue@redlakerosie.org