"Unadoptable" dogs find forever homes

FROM ANIMAL ARK BLOG:
04/12/2009 - 8 "Unadoptable" Dogs at Animal Ark (including Kiki from Red Lake)

Those who have followed the blog should have been anticipating this picture. . . it has become a bit of a holiday tradition for us to post a holiday picture of all the dogs who show up to celebrate.

Today, we had an 8-dog Easter, with 8 of the best behaved "unadoptable" dogs ever.[Photo]I call them "unadoptable" because every dog in this picture would certainly have been deemed "unadoptable" at any of the traditional animal shelters in our area. In spite of that, all of them are happy, healthy, well-adjusted pets.This year's canine crew included: Shilo, Manny, Chester, Ben, Meghan, Chico, Tasha and Kiki.

In spite of there being 5 male dogs in this grouping, and there being a lot of food to compete over, everyone got along beautifully. Chico even got his ears cleaned out by Ben. There was just enough canine theft of Easter dinner to make the day extra fun for everyone.

Fun fundraiser at the Mall of America

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT LAUREN AT COXLA03@AOL.COM OR 612-965-9494

We have an opportunity to make some money for RLRR by volunteering our time at the Mall of America Nickelodean Universe Park. I have attached two sheets that explain what the volunteering includes and also some standards for volunteers. Basically, volunteers will be working in the Nickelodeon Universe Park and helping with loading/unloading people on/off rides, helping with concessions, or helping stock in the retail store in the park. A volunteer must work an entire shift from 11-7pm in order to get the money for volunteering. Each volunteer can raise $50/day and we can have up to 10 volunteers, so if we get 10 people each day, we can make $500/day!

I have scheduled 3 dates through out the summer for us to volunteer. If we can get 10people each day, we'll make $1,500 for RLRR!! Here are the dates:

Saturday, June 20 (11-7pm)
Saturday, July 25 (11-7pm)
Saturday, August 22 (11-7pm)

Please let me know if you can volunteer any of these dates. If you know anyone who might be interested, please pass this message along, as well. I would really like to raise the full $1,500, so let's try to get 10 people each day!! If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, let me know if you can volunteer!

Thanks! Volunteers get a free ride at the end of their shift, too! Woohoo!

Sincerely,
Lauren

Kiki considers a triathalon

Kiki was a feral dog that was rescued with her littermate Niki. These poor girls had really no future and no appropriate placement. Thankfully they were able to go to Animal Ark after an animal clinic put on by their Neuter Commuter. Eventually Kiki was adopted by Mike.

Pics show Kiki at the shelter and now adopted. What a big difference!

KarenUPDATE FROM MIKE
For the dogs in my house, it would be great if all days could be like today.

We started the day off by getting a second bike for our dogs. During the spring, summer and fall, the canines in our house love to go biking. However, the humans in the house do not believe that biking with dogs on 2-wheeled bikes is responsible or safe. Since the bikes that are safe for dogs are pretty expensive, it has taken us a while to save up for a second bike.

Today, we went to the Edina Bike Shop and got our second "Zoomer". The zoomer is a 3-wheel bike - two wheels in the front and one in back. It is a design perfect for biking with dogs. We got our first Zoomer about a year ago. So, for the past year, the dogs at our house have had to go biking in shifts.Now that we have our second Zoomer, the whole family can go out biking together. What a treat! Tasha and Kiki can run along with the bikes. Chico (the Chihuahua) rides in a pouch on a lap. Photos of that will be posted soon!

We also set up Kiki's pool in the back yard today. Playing in the water is one of her other favorite things, next to biking. Here is a photo of her trying to grab the reflections of waves that move on the bottom of the pool. This is a pasttime she can do for hours!During the winter, none of these favorite pastimes are really possible. So we always look forward to spring when we can get out the bikes and the pool. Today was a perfect day with which to mark the start of the warm weather season!

I hope all of you got out to enjoy the fantastic weather!

Animal Ark update on RLRR dogs

Hi Karen and DeeDee:

Ginger went home with a lady, her son and 3 year old grandson.

Hopefully Joey will find a good home next - he is a true "lap" dog in his opinion.

Marcus went home with another Ark alumni - we love those "repeat" adopters!

Angelica went into foster care to learn a little more about her and try to help her come out of her shell a little more - she is such a pretty gal - hopefully the "stint" in foster care will help her!

Oh, and lil' Shayla went home with a new Ark volunteer - so hopefully this will be her forever home - our trainer talked to her a lot about submissive peeing (she was extremely shy - by the time I took her back to the shelter she had come around some) and really socializing her.

Take care - Linda

Parvo pups survive and thrive.

Here is an update on the Easter transport. We sent out 34 pups and 3 adult dogs on that transport.

We were very nervous when we got an email stating that two pups that had arrived at Animal Ark and were tested positive for parvo. Needless to say we were concerned about all the puppies on that transport that day.

The good news is that NONE other pups got ill and that T-Jack and T-Juan both recuperated under the great care of Animal Ark and their foster homes.

Sincerely, Karen and RLRR

04/17/2009 - Greetings from Parvo Land!
Posted From Animal Ark Shelter - Minnesota
Posted by Mary S

On April 12th there was a transport of puppies from Red Lake to the Twin Cities area. One of our volunteers met the transport to pick up two pups to come to Animal Ark. Because it was Easter, the shelter was closed and our very generous volunteer took them home for the evening until she could bring them to the shelter.

Unfortunately, we noticed that one of our pups wasn't feeling very well so we tested him for the Parvo virus and it came up positive. At Animal Ark we treat dogs with Parvo and we've had really good "luck" in our survival rate. This time was no different & we're so happy they are running around, jumping on us, "mouthing" us, and playing like normal puppies again!

We wanted to share the good news - soon they will be out of isolation and back on the adoption floor and ready to find new homes.

Next clinic is May 28-31

CONTACT DEEDEE AT dewelles@comcast.net FOR MORE INFORMATION

The next spay/neuter clinic is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31. This is a combined clinic with Animal Ark, Akin Animal Hospital and another vet, Dr. Atarassov. This is a larger clinic, so we need more volunteers to support it.

The clinics are a lot of work, but are also very rewarding. It is a special experience to be with all of the animals and to meet and work with others who are "animal people," too. I always enjoy getting out into the country, as well.

If any of you are available to go up for the clinic, please let me know.

DeeDee

Keesha is blossoming with the spring

FROM ANIMAL ARK BLOG:

04/24/2009 - Update regarding Keesha
Posted From Animal Ark Shelter - Minnesota
Posted by Mary S.

Today we received an adoption update about one of our Red Lake puppies, and here is what they said:We adopted 'Keesha' in October of 2008. We have since renamed her Bela. She is the queen of the family and is adapting well to the new surroundings. She chases two of the cats all around the house, and thinks that when the third one is hissing at her, it means she is trying to play.

Bela was listed as a german shepherd and husky mix, and though she looks like a german shepherd, her husky definitely shines through, too. She LOVES to go for walks and runs with us - and could go much further than her mommies can. She also loves the dog park, though you will not find Bela chasing balls - she is more interested in chasing the dogs that are chasing the balls.

We have had her in obedience classes, and she has learned to sit and stay and lay down and shake and she is such a GOOD puppy. Quite a lover, and just wants everyone to pet her. And pet her. And pet her. And could you pet her some more please?

She is growing like a weed and was 52 lbs when we took her in to the vet to get weighed at about 7 months. We are looking forward to this summer and taking her to the lake. We are hoping that she likes the boat and the water.

We cannot imagine our lives without her. Thank you!