Just give them a chance people!

We will let the pictures above and the words of Tilly’s mom below tell the success story of this little, once forgotten, creature.

“I volunteer with Animal Advocates Alliance, and have become the ‘small dog wrangler’ at our mobile pet adoptions. So many sweet, deserving dogs end up at the shelter through no fault of their own, and a handful of fortunate ones get out to our adoption events in hopes of finding new, forever homes. Tilly was one such pup. She was found as a stray in Baldwin Park, and that shelter became her temporary home until the wonderful team at Animal Advocates Alliance chose her as one of a dozen little dogs to come to a pet adoption event in April. I immediately noticed how loving and responsive she was with people and the other little dogs. I have to admit, she became my personal favorite, and I really made a point of trying to find a great home for her that day. Sadly, the event had a low turn-out, and many dogs did not find homes. Because of AAA’s involvement with the County shelter system, we were able to transfer 5 little ones at the end of the day to the Agoura shelter. The Agoura shelter has more resources, fewer animals and a hardworking group of employees and volunteers who are always willing to help the overcrowded shelters.  I felt that Tilly would find a suitable home once in their care. Well, not 24 hours later, I could not stop thinking about that little character. I kept seeing her little head, tilting as she listened intently to my every word, and the adorable way she would just fall over on her back, as if to say: ‘I surrender, and I know this cute act will get me out of any trouble I might get into.’  I told my husband about her and without hesitation, he said: ‘go get her, we can always foster her if the other dogs don’t accept her.’  I rushed to the shelter after work, and scooped up Tilly and took her home to meet her ‘sisters.’  They seemed to sense that she was immature, and patiently forgave her lack of social graces. In the past month, she has blended in perfectly, learning new behaviors from our other dogs and adding so much joy with her outgoing, carefree and ‘live in the moment’ spirit. She helped fill an unhappy void left by the recent death of our beloved 15 year old Pomeranian, Teddi.  So, even though I am a ‘foster failure’, Tilly is the beneficiary. She will have a long, happy, beloved life, thanks to Animal Advocates Alliance and a very soft-hearted husband named Attila, who by the way named her after himself within an hour of her arrival home.”

Steve Wilson works for DoodyCalls Pet Waste Removal. On a recent call, he noticed money sticking out from doggie doo. Wilson wasn’t sure what to do, but eventually pulled out the bills, sanitized them, placed them in a plastic zip-lock bag and returned them to the customer. It turned out to be $58.  The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists says Wilson is the first person in his profession to find and report money in dog poop.  (Who knew there was an “Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists!”). For complete story click HERE.

A Newfoundland community is shaken after an eight-year-old boy confessed to beating a dog to death with a barbecue fork.  Norma and Emma Hodder woke one morning to find their Pomeranian dead in the front yard, covered in blood, a bloody fork nearby.  A neighbor reported seeing the boy who lives next door jumping up and down in the Hodders’ yard and beating something with a fork.  The boy’s father didn’t seem very concerned about the incident and stated “Yeah, it’s not a very good thing for him to do. But the dog is dead, you can’t bring him back.”  The boy lives with his mother and has two of his own dogs!  Because the boy is under the age of 12, he can’t be charged with a crime.  For complete story click HERE.

The nation’s first criminal dog-fighting DNA database has been established!  The database is designed to help the criminal justice system investigate and prosecute dog fighting cases and address the growing problem of dog fighting using 21st century technology. The Canine CODIS contains individual DNA profiles from dogs that have been seized during dog-fighting investigations and from unidentified samples collected at suspected dog-fighting venues. The database is similar to the FBI’s human CODIS.  DNA analysis and matching through the database will help law enforcement agencies to identify relationships between dogs, enabling investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers, and dog-fight operators. Blood collected from dog fighting sites will also be searched against the Canine CODIS database to identify the source. For complete story click HERE.

Title: Baldwin Park Shelter Volunteer Day
Location: Baldwin Park Shelter – 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Description: If participating for the first time, we will be walking, grooming, socializing, and photographing as many dogs and cats as possible, after which we will circulate an electronic flyer to a large distribution group for networking. You will need to complete the following LA County volunteer application and the shelter’s volunteer orientation to volunteer at the shelter: LA County Volunteer Application

Please also make sure to wear your county volunteer t-shirt or AAA shirt.
(you may purchase an LA County Volunteer t-shirt for $10 at the shelter following completion of orientation).

Additional Details:

*Please plan to meet around 9:00 a.m. The shelter address is 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 91706. From any location west of downtown LA, take the 10 Freeway east, merge onto 605 North and exit Ramona – stay on left hand lane as you will need to make a Left turn once you pass the train tracks to make sure you stay on Ramona. Turn Left on Elton. Elton is a very small street (almost an alley), so it is easy to miss the street sign. Keep your eyes peeled!
* Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and be aware that your clothes and shoes WILL get dirty!
* Try to eat breakfast, and bring along an energy bar or snack and some water for lunch, as we normally do not have time to take an extended lunch break

Thank you for challenging yourself to make the time to help wonderful shelter animals!

Start Time: 9:00
Date: 2010-06-19
End Time: 15:00

Title: Pet Adoption Event – Hollywood
Location: Pan Pacific Park – Hollywood 7600 Beverly Blvd., (corner of Gardner/Beverly Blvd.)
Description: Great shelter dogs and cats available for adoption! All animals spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Shelter dogs/cats ready to go home with you from the event. Find your new best friend and save a life!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2010-06-27
End Time: 16:00

The Gulf oil spill hasn’t just affected wildlife, it’s also taking a toll on domestic pets.  The unfortunate people who worked for BP or who earned a living as fisherman prior to the spill, are suffering financially and don’t feel that they can afford to care for their pets any longer.  The number of  animals being relinquished to the St. Bernard Parish animal shelter has doubled, if not tripled, since the Gulf oil spill.  For complete story click HERE.

Pennsylvania has long been known as the puppy mill capital of the East.  Stringent new health and safety standards that went into effect in October required large-scale breeders to double cage sizes, eliminate wire flooring, and provide unfettered access to the outdoors. The new law also banned cage stacking, instituted twice-a-year vet checks, and mandated new ventilation and cleanliness standards.  While some breeders shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to comply with the strictest kennel law in the nation, scores of substandard commercial kennels have opted to close instead.  The number of commercial kennels in Pennsylvania plummeted from 303 at the beginning of 2009 to 111 today. For complete story click HERE.

A 16-year-old UK boy who cooked his brother’s hamster in a microwave has been sentenced to four months in a youth detention unit.  The Youth Court also banned him from keeping all animals for four years.  A veterinarian put the hamster to sleep and concluded that the hamster had been caused a great deal of pain and suffered unnecessarily. For complete story click HERE.