The St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Portley isn't portley anymore

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting daily to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Portley, a dachshund adopted out more than two years ago, now has both a new name and a new figure.

He's Riley now, and his life is nothing like the one he must have known.

We'd originally called him Portley for a good reason.  He weighed 33 lbs and had trouble getting around.  He was also judged to be about 10 years old.  His future didn't look all that bright.  We wondered if anyone would want this overweight senior.

But then Sara and Gerry took him home.  They said they found many old scars on his body; an x-ray showed a pellet lodged in one haunch. Today, at a svelt 19 lbs, Riley gets along like a spring puppy and doesn't seem at all like an old dog. Some of that may be because his humans love him so much.

Sara and Gerry sent picctures: The portley one, the slim one, the Riley in his favorite sweater one.  Here they are:

We're all happy for you, Riley.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

More pictures we love

 
The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Here are some more pictures recently received from people who've adopted dogs from us.

Jordie was adopted a year ago.  We understand Jordie and Marty the cat are now inseparable.  Looks that way.

And next is Toby, who was adopted 18 months ago. Shelly tells us that Toby is living life to the fullest.  That's Toby on the left.

Lexie was just a pup when we found her a home. Jacqie tells us Lexie is "the best puppy ever and easy to train."  And she sure is becoming a big dog.

And finally -- for today anyway -- here's a picture of Dixie, the elderly German Shorthaired Pointer.  She's on the right.  Diana tells us that Dixie "brings out the best in all of us."

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louisi Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Pictures we love

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Keep voting daily to help us win a grant.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

I love the pictures you send us of the dogs you adopted from us.  Lately I've received quite a few, and they're building up in my inbox.

So here's a few:

Patty send us a picture of Gracie, who was adopted two years ago.  "We love her to death," Patty wrote.  Here's Gracie in  her witch costume.

Cherie and Bob sent a picture of charlie, who was adopted in May. He looks pretty content, I think.

Joelle sent a picture of Vincent, who she says is the "best puppy in the whole world, and I tell him that at least once a day."

 
.

More to come.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Dog adoptions big and small

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Although it wasnt a "big" adoption weekend in terms of numbers adopted, we did find new homes for several dogs ranging in size from extra large to tiny.

Rory, the long-legged chocolate lab mix from the St. Louis City Pound, found his new home.

Reo, the lab/mastif mix, found his home too, only his official human is no stranger to him.  Instead, it's Cyndy, the woman who has been fostering him. The picture is from when he was still at Jefferson County Animal Control.

On the other end of the size continium is Sunshine, a tiny yorkie.  She went to her new home earlier this week.

In the middle (sizewise)were Candy, the black and white beagle mix, and Hollie, the sheltie/corgi mix.  Candy is the dog who had suffered from a juvenile dental disease.  She had all her teeth pulled to prevent reoccurence of the painful condition.  Hollie had been abandoned by a famiy that decided they'd rather have a cocker spaniel puppy.

And Tux (I wrote about his yesterday.) went to his new home.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Tux finds a home

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats. See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep on voting to help us win a grant.  Here's that link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Tux, my  handsome and skinny border collie boy, has found his home.  I'll have him until Sunday afternoon, then he'll be off with his new family.  He's lucky; his new family is even luckier. 

I spotted Tux at the Jefferson County Animal Control.  He looked like he hadn't had a meal in quite awhile.  He weighed only 26 pounds and needed 5 or 10 pounds just to keep his ribs covered. Tux quickly became one of my all- time favorites, and I added some high calorie supplement to his meals.  I wasn't surprised last Saturday when several people looked him over.  One of those was Lois; she and her children spent some time talking things over with Tux. A few days later she emailed to ask if we still had that black and white dog she'd seen at the adoption event.  She wanted Tux to meet her husband and her cats.

So today Tux and I went visiting.  He loved the cats; he greeting the husband with enthusiasm, and Tux seemed happy to see Lois again.  He explored the back yard and most of the house.  Naturally, everyone agreed he should be part of the family.  So Sunday, he joins his new family officially.

Today I also learned that a chihuahua adopted out about a year ago had been turned in to the humane society.  Turns out the lady who adopted little Piper had gone into a nursing home; her son had turned the dog into the shelter, which called me.  Tracey volunteered to spring Piper from the shelter.  So we now have a cute little chihuahua in need of a new home.

Busy weekend.  We'll be at Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3 both Saturday and Sunday.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Our 3-legged kitty

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in senior dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

And please keep voting to help us win a grant.  We're No 1 in Missouri, but we'd like to make it into the top 10 , and so far we're only about 85.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Meet Sergio.

Oh, I know.  He's not a dog. 

He's not even a senior citizen.

So what's he doing with the St. Louis Senior Dog Project?

Well, here's what happened.  One of our volunteers found him limping in the woods and couldn't leave him behind.  He was only a kitten, injured, and all alone.

We took him to see the vet and learned that someone had used him for target practice, shooting him in the leg and shattering the bone.  As a result, the only option was amputation.

Sergio is  a handsome kitty, and he''s doing fine on three legs.

Do you know someone who might give him a home?  Maybe even you?

We'll be at the Kirkwood Petco 11 to 3 both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  The store is just north of I-44 on the west side of Lindbergh.  Come and see our wonderful pets available for adoption.

One of them will be Flower.  We wanted a pretty name for her because at first she wasn't all that pretty.  she had a condition known as "cherry eye" which meant she had what looked like a red blob in one eye.  Now she's pretty for real.  She had surgery for the "cherry eye" and now has eyes as beautiful as her lovely soul. 

Flower also loves to play.  We think she's about four years old.  Fun, friendly, pretty and full of pep.  That's Flower.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE0466@aol.com

Sarah Smiles

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

And keep on voting every day to help us win a grant.  Here's the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Sara is one of the three dogs we accepted from North Carolina where they'd lived most of their lives at the end of chains.  She's the one at my place, the one who jumped onto my dining room table the first day here and took over my bed by day three.  But the best bit of progress I can report is that now she smiles.  And here's the proof.

Mooter is doing well in his foster home, too, although he's still a little shy around strangers.  But he was very cooperativ when Tracy decided to see what he looked like in a hat -- a bit of halloween fun.  Here he is.

I don't have a new picture of Abby, who is with Joan.  But I hear she's a little shy but is getting braver every day.

We've received several requests to take small dogs from local shelters.  A couple of my great foster parents have already volunteered to take on a couple of them.

And I've received good reports from people who have adopted from us recently.  Cole the cockapoo is happy and so is his human.  Fluffy is making his new family happy.  I've received several pictures of dogs who now own several halloween costumes.  What can I say?

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

Tober finds a home

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization that specializes in older dogs but takes in dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here't the link.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

When I met Tober at the St. Louis City Pound, he was sick and at risk of not making it through the next few days.

But he had friends there and a bit of old-fashioned luck.

Volunteers at the shelter loved this yellow lab and pointed him out to everyone.  They also pointed him out to me when I came there a few weeks ago to take out a different dog.  So I ended up taking out two dogs instead of one.  In doing so, I made one dog walker very happy.  I'm hoping she's reading this now and knows that he's found a good home.

I named him Tober because I rescued him in October. After more than a week on two strong antibiotics, Tober turned into a young, playful dog bursting with health.  Last Saturday he met several people who couldn't resist his charms.  One of those charms is the way he nudees your hand to keep it petting his head.

Monday I drove Tober out to get acquainted with his new people and his new dog mate -- a female yellow lab who couldn't wait to get going with some serious backyard playtime.  It didn't take long to see that this was going to work out just fine.  So, a little sadly, I went home without Tober. I enjoyed my few weeks with him even though he did chew up one of my shoes.

Monday I also took two bichons out of the Jefferson County Animal Control.  One was so matted he had to be sedated before his grooming.  It would have been torture otherwise.  Both these dogs will be available soon.

We're getting ready for a double adoption weekend.  We'll be at the Kirkwood Petco from 11 to 3 both Saturday and Sunday.  Come on by and say hello.  Maybe you'll meet a new best friend.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

Sara Settles In

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specialing in older dogs but taking in and finding homes for dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.

Here's the link to help us win a grant.  Vote every day!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Sara is certainly settling in here.  Right now she's on my bed.

That's only remarkable when you understand that a week ago she was living at the end of a chain, a fate she'd endured for most of her 10 years of life. This is Sarah when we first met here in Louisville.

Sara's a tad plain -- just a senior black dog with a grey face.  But she's special sort of plain -- sweet, gentle, a magnificent survivor.

The second day here, Sara tried out several of the dog beds in the house.  But by the third day, she'd settled on my bed.  And that was where she spent most of last night...comfortably snuggled in between two other dogs.  I wonder if she dreams?  What must she think of her new life?

In my last blog, I wrote about the trip Joan and I took to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet the two women who'd driven Sara, Mooter and Abby from their former home in rural North Carolina. The three were among more than 100 dogs found living on one small rural property.  A local group had been working for more than two years to find homes for the dogs.  

Saturday was another adoption day -- a slow one with only two adoptions -- Jordie, the one-eyed Boxer mix, and Buddy, a little black terrier/poodle mix.  Sunday saw two more dogs going to their new homes -- Sunshine the yorkie and Nano the dachshund.  Tomorrow I'll be taking Tober the yellow lab from the city pound to visit his possible new home. 

And a few possibilities did grow out of Saturday's events.  Several people liked certain dogs but weren't ready to adopt that day.  Maybe later in the week.

I've received a number of pictures from people who've adopted our dogs.  Here's one of my favorites -- Sassy (Milly) (above), a Papillon mix,  with one of her pals.

And here's a picture of Sisi (Tallulah) who was adopted earlier this year. She's wearing her Halloween hat.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com

No more chains for Mooter, Abby & Sara

The St. Louis Senior Dog Project is a not-for-profit dog rescue organization specializing in older dogs but taking in dogs of all ages and even a few cats.  See our adoptable pets at www.olderbetter.petfinder.org.  And keep voting to help us win a grant.  Here's the link:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=93558EB82DDF5AC8B1EEFCB103C7F885.ctgProd04?siteId=3

Volunteer Joan and I drove to Louisville, Kentucky,  a couple days ago to meet three dogs we'd only read about in emails.  We'd also seen their sad pictures and had decided to take them into the St. Louis Senior Dog Project. That's Joan, above, giving Mooter a hello kiss.

Mooter, Abby and Sarah are senior dogs who've lived most of their lives at the end of chains in a rural county in North Carolina.  For shelter, Mooter and Abby crawled into nearby barrels.  Sara could squeeze through a gap into a doorless, windowless shed where she slept behind a pile of firewood. The picture below is what Mooter looked like on his chain.

As we peeked into the back of the van that had brought them from North Carolina, we saw Mooter first.  I swear he was smiling.  Then we met Abby and Sara.  If we were expecting timid and unsocialized, we met instead friendly and happy -- dogs that seemed to know better times were ahead.

Oridinarily we don't take dogs from this far away.  We find plenty close to home who need our help.

But then Julie Nowicki of the Grey Muzzle Organization told us about 100 plus dogs that had been living on one small rural property in Polk County, North Carolina.  A local group, the Community Partnership for Pets, Inc., of Flat Rock, North Carolina, had been working for 2 1/2 years to help these dogs.  They'd placed all but about 20 in new homes.  They'd pretty much tapped out all the local help available and were now calling out to rescue organization and individuals in other states.

And the old ones are always hardest to place, so they really needed help with the senior dogs.

Well, those pictures tugged at our hearts, and we said yes to three senior dogs.  Mary Cervino, head of  Community Partnership for Pets, got all three in for grooming and all their shots before bringing them to meet us in Kentucky.  All three will be available for adoption soon to people who can provide references from saints -- at the very least.  We want only the softest beds, the best food, snacks and toys, and the very finest world- class loving and spoiling for these three.  Nothing less. The picture below shows Mooter in what was probably the first bath he'd had in many years.

Foster momTracey picked up Mooter yesterday and emailed back with the heading "I'm In Love!"  So she must really like him, huh?

Sara is at my house.  For a grey-faced lady she's pretty nimble.  She had no trouble climbing up on my dining room table.  Volunteer Linda opined that Sara was jumping for joy and just happened to land on the table.  Sara's been calmer today. No more table-top dances.

Abby is with Joan. You'll see pictures of Sara and Abby soon, along with updates on all three.

And we'll be taking applications.

Ellen Ellick

President/Founder

St. Louis Senior Dog Project

EllenE9466@aol.com