Donation from Emery!

We had another visit from one of our favorite friends. This young lady collected food for the animals again and made the trip out to deliver it in person. Thank you Emery for another great supply of horse feed, dog food and dog treats! You are making a difference in the lives of animals!

Stray Horses Need Foster Homes

CALLING ALL HORSE FOSTER HOMES! We have more stray horses that need our help. Here are two of them that will be ready soon but there are more. We asked people not to let them starve to death and not to send them to slaughter so now they’re being turned out or turned over to us. This is our chance to make a difference and start the wave of change. Let’s change the cycle of sending horses to slaughter or leaving them to die. If you can foster or would like to adopt a horse, please email [email protected] or call 936-878-2349. We need you now more than ever!

Update on horse case appeal

Update! No ruling on the horses. The judge said it has to go to a higher court. He was sympathetic to our cause and even called the case a giant fur ball that hadn’t been handled right since the beginning. The good news is the horses are safe for the now but the bad news is courts and lawyers aren’t cheap. Please help us by donating to our you caring account. If everyone donated $20 we’ll be able to fight this fight till the end.

The judge couldn’t make a ruling on the horses today because it’s not his place to do that. He said it needs to go to a higher court so, our attorney, Zandra Anderson, is going to decide on a new plan of action and let us know what we can do next. We need everyone who read this and wants to support to donate to our you caring account to help us raise the money it’ll cost to do this. Please help, no donation is too small.

Original post:

Calling all horse lovers: Please come to court in Hempstead, TX on Monday morning, Nov. 21, at 10am to stand up for the starving and abused horses we are fighting to protect. 836 Austin St, Hempstead, TX

34 horses were seized by law enforcement in July 2015 and turned over to True Blue Animal Rescue to rehabilitate and take care of until a judge could decide on the case. Flash forward 16 months and the county wants to return 7 of them to the owner rather than have the case and evidence presented in court. We believe the horses have the right to their day in court so at our request we will share their side in court on Monday. Please be there to show the judge that we stand strong for the horses.

Share with other horse lovers. We need to give these 34 horses a voice! Without us they don’t stand a chance.

Read more about the case here.

Judge makes decision in case of Waller County 34 horses

By Amy Hemsell
September 2, 2016

Hempstead, TX – Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Charles Karisch read the final decision in the civil matter for the 34 horses that were seized last year on July 10, 2015 due to neglect. The horses were seized from a property owned by Dr. Kathy Digilio, DVM in response to complaints by neighbors. The Waller County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of True Blue Animal Rescue with the seizure. The horses were seized and placed at caring foster homes through True Blue Animal Rescue & have remained in their care for almost 14 months while awaiting an outcome. All the horses have received much needed veterinary care, food, rehabilitation, and love.

Judge Karisch ordered that before any horses are released, Dr. Digilio pay True Blue Animal Rescue $30,000 for the care her horses have received by veterinarians and foster homes, no longer make appeals in the civil matter for the 34 horses. Dr. Ben Buchanan with Brazos Valley Equine Hospital is to inspect the property and make sure it is clear of debris, parasites, salmonella, and livable conditions for horses. True Blue Animal Rescue can have a veterinary of their choice go the same day as Dr. Buchanan to do an inspection as well. Dr. Digilio was ordered not to breed or acquire any more horses than the 7 she will be allowed to have back. She has free choice as to the 7 she wishes to pick from out of the 34. She will be regularly evaluated & checked on for the living conditions of the horses. If at any time they are not cared for and she does not abide by the judge’s orders the horses will be seized again.

Pet of the Week: Lil’Hombre Dog

TBAR-Adoptable-Dog-Lil-HombreThe pet of the week is Lil’Hombre. He’s a chihuahua mix that is current on shots and neutered. He is a sweet little guy that gets along with other dogs and is learning to sit on command. He currently weighs 7 pounds at 6 months old so he will be under 10 pounds full grown. For more information, please email [email protected] or call (936)878-2349 and leave a voice mail. A TBAR volunteer will return your call at their earliest convenience. If you would like to adopt a pup, please download and submit via email or regular mail an adoption application so that the foster home can arrange a meet and greet with your family.

Is Your Dog Overheated or at Risk From Dehydration?

Photo of Opal by Moore Photography

Photo of Opal by Moore Photography

Texas is well known for it’s heat and humidity so keeping our canines cool can be challenging. During the “dog days of summer,” some canines can suffer from dehydration, becoming overheated and suffer from possible heat exhaustion. It’s important for pet owners to understand when their dogs may be at risk and what they should look for in the way of signs and symptoms.

Sometimes we may not notice if our dog is simply being lazy or if them being lethargic (a huge red flag) is heat-related. If your dog is normally excited to see you when you get home from work or school, they’re less than enthused when it’s time to go for a walk, there could be a problem.

Some dogs are at a higher risk

Older dogs and younger pets are at a greater risk of developing heat-related problems along with dogs who may be overweight or obese. Canines with black hair or skin, and dogs like pugs (known as Brachycephalic breeds) who have shorter snouts are often victims of breathing disorders that can be elevated in the heat. If you notice your dog is having difficulty breathing when it’s hot, you should take them to see a veterinarian immediately.

The dangers of dehydration and heat stroke in dogs

When it comes to dehydration, there’s one quick and easy test that humans can perform on dogs to quickly see if their lacking in fluids. Using your thumb and forefinger, gently pinch a small amount of skin on a dog’s back and after releasing, it should pop back into place almost immediately. If not, this lack of elasticity is a sign they’re in trouble and should be taken to the vet.

Some symptoms of possible dehydration can mimic those of heat stroke, so we should pay attention to any of these warning signs your dog could be in danger, including:

  • seeking cooler places to lie down
  • lying down and is difficult to rouse
  • behaving confused, disorientated, weak and/or lethargic
  • showing a lack of coordination
  • panting persistently, which could start, stop and begin again
  • expressing restlessness, agitation or aggression for no apparent reason
  • whining or barking for no reason
  • foaming or frothing at the mouth
  • drooling excessively (known as hypersalivation)
  • breathing in a way that is labored or difficult
  • having an increased heart rate
  • developing dry, white or red and tacky gums
  • vomiting or diarrhea

Signs of dehydration in dogs that weren’t listed above can often include:

  • a loss of appetite
  • rapid weight loss
  • depression
  • excessive urination, which means water isn’t being absorbed properly
  • sunken eyes

Dogs who are housed outdoors can be prone to drink less since their water can become too hot and canines who are outside during winter can have their water bowls freeze without their owner’s knowledge. Anything that adversely affects a dog’s appetite or water intake can predispose a dog to possible dehydration.

If left untreated, these types of symptoms can lead to seizures, collapse, coma or even death in some cases.  Remember that it doesn’t necessarily have to be hot for a dog to become overheated or dehydrated. While it’s obviously more prevalent during summer months, we should still monitor their behaviors and actions for signs of heat stroke or dehydration year round.

Success Stories: Coco and Danny

TBAR-Adopted-Dogs-Coco-DannyThis weeks success story is a foster failure. Stephanie found the litter of dogs on her property and became their foster home. As they found homes Stephanie decided that Coco and Danny fit in to the family and should just stay. Hooray for Coco and Danny and their new home! If you’d like a new pet, please check out our adoptable pet list and let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling 936-878-2349

RAIN Networking Facebook Page

TBAR-Rain-Page-Reminder-2016True Blue Animal Rescue hosts a page called RAIN Networking. We use that page to network Rescue Animals In Need. That means they haven’t been officially accepted into TBAR because they don’t have a foster home so we ‘network for a home’ We do pay for spay / neuter if they aren’t fixed but we list them before that’s done to find a foster or adopter quickly. We post with the contact for the person who has the animal so we don’t always hear back to find out if they found a home. This week we did hear that these two DID find homes. Networking works and we can use your help. Like our RAIN Networking Facebook page and share to help our networking pets find homes!