TBAR would like to say Happy Mother’s Day to all those that care for others, fur-babies or otherwise! We hope you have a special day!
TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. Consider donating today to honor a mother you love, and we will list them on our website!
Who would have thought this beautiful girl could ever live a life unloved and alone? Sadly, that is the life Annie was living before coming to True Blue Animal Rescue. We are so grateful, each and every day, for the fosters who open their homes up to an animal when TBAR receives a report of abuse or neglect. TBAR’s “True Fosters” don’t just provide food, love and shelter for these animals; we are lucky enough to have wonderful foster families who see animals in need and step up without being asked. This is the case for this lucky little Red Tick Coon Hound. Julee, a TBAR True Foster, saw a plea that was sent out by a Smith County volunteer desperately searching for a foster home for this emaciated little girl.
Annie was hours away from being destroyed at the Smith County shelter due to her poor health and a lack of space in the shelter. Julee contacted TBAR because the shelter would only release her if a 501c3 animal rescue was willing to “tag” and “pull” her from the shelter. TBAR officers worked with the shelter employees to receive approval to pull Annie. Once pulled from the shelter, Annie would need to hitch a ride to her new foster home.
TBAR arranged Annie’s overnight transport back to Brenham so that she could get to a vet for medical care. One of True Blue’s loyal volunteers, Ellen, stepped up to transport Annie from Rusk, TX to a temporary foster home for an overnight stay so that she could make it to her TBAR foster home the next day. Once Annie made it to Brenham, she received the needed medical attention so that she could begin her recovery and journey to find her forever home. What our sweet Annie didn’t know was that she had already captured the heart of one of the several people involved in her rescue!
Annie’s road to recovery was extended when she was diagnosed with heartworms and had to receive treatment before being spayed and available for adoption. Thankfully, she lucked out and had a very dedicated and loving foster home for her recovery period with Julee. Dogs in Texas who are not receiving monthly heartworm preventative are extremely susceptible to becoming infested with heartworms, which is fatal if left untreated. It’s not a matter of “IF” – it’s a matter of “WHEN”.
Annie’s recovery went as smoothly as we could hope and she was finally ready to find her forever home, but it seems her forever home had already found her! Ellen, the volunteer who picked Annie up from the shelter, decided that Annie had already made a home in her heart and that it was time to finally give Annie her forever home that she has long deserved.
Annie will never again know a life without a home, food or love thanks to the networking efforts of Smith County shelter volunteers and compassionate True Blue Animal Rescue volunteers who stepped up for a skinny, sick little dog in need. A rescue organization could not ask for better supporters and we are so thankful to all of our volunteers for their hard work. So much of the work volunteers do everyday goes unseen or unrecognized, but Annie’s story is proof of the dedication shown by TBAR volunteers and she shows her appreciation everyday with the love she shares with her forever family!
TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one, please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adopting. Donations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Rescue a pet: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!
I would venture to guess that everyone reading this is kind to animals.
We all love pictures of cute animals, happy tail photos of adopted animals, and the warm fuzzies that come with happy endings.
As members of an animal rescue, we all see bad things happen to animals, but it is the happy side of rescue keeps us going. Let us spread the word far and wide about animal welfare!
I did some research and the American Humane Association created Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915 to encourage compassion toward animals. During this week they encourage everyone to be more than compassionate. Let us ask ourselves how we can influence more good outcomes? How can we spread more warm fuzzies and make more animals feel loved?
Here are a few tips from the American Humane Association:
• Report any suspected animal abuse or neglect to animal control in your county
• Commit to adopting your next pet from an animal shelter
• Donate to or volunteer at your local animal shelter or for a local rescue group
• Spay or neuter your pets and encourage friends and family to do the same
• Spend quality time with your pet
• Make sure your pet has an ID tag or microchip
• Drive cautiously through areas populated by wild animals such as deer
• Plant flowers in your yard that will attract butterflies or hummingbirds
• Speak out in your community about the importance of respecting animals
TBAR Volunteers invite you to choose one of the above activities or come up with one of your own to celebrate “Be Kind to Animals” week.
We also invite everyone to make a donation to True Blue Animal Rescue, and then post a special message on our Facebook page. You can use this message to honor the memory of a beloved pet. Tell us what special thing you will do this week to honor that pet’s memory in conjunction with Be Kind to Animals Week. Please keep all comments family appropriate.
Here, let me get us started:
In memory of Zach, the cocker spaniel who passed over the rainbow bridge way to early in his life. His short life touched many hearts. In his memory, I will donate $20 to TBAR.
Patrick was found on the streets of Bellville with his buddy, Roxie. These two were starving, homeless and in need of veterinary care. True Blue Animal Rescue took them into their foster program and sent them straight to the vet to for a full exam, deworming and vaccinations. Patrick is thriving in his foster home with his dog and cat siblings. He loves to chew his toys while laying in his doggie bed or running around the yard playing with his doggie friend, Jack.
Patrick made it clear that his experience on the streets had given him encounters with bigger dogs already. Jack growled once and Patrick bowed his little head and hunched his shoulders. The puppy was going into a submissive stance to try and let Jack know things are ok. This dance has been repeated a lot in the first week with Patrick, through no fault of the new arrival. Jack has trust issues and Patrick is responding very well. He gives Jack space, he knows not to try and play with Jack unless Jack invites him.
Patrick picked up crate training pretty fast. If Patrick were an over-eager dog, or insistent on jumping on Jack or the cats, adding him to the foster’s pack would have required more work on their part. Thankfully, Patrick seems to be one of those dogs that is Heaven-sent. He already knows to nap on a dog bed, or sit there and play.
If you are interested in adopting Patrick, please email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349 for more information.
This week we have another post from Linda and James Taylor!
Last weekend we transported another mare, Grayheart, to her new adopted home. We had Grayheart for two years as she grew from a young foal into a beautiful, confident mare.
Yes, fostering is an emotional job. The hardest part about fostering is letting go…letting them move on to the next leg of that animals journey in life.
As you say goodbye , there are always tears. Each tear contains an equal mixture of joy and sorrow. But in the end, there is this deep feeling of satisfaction that you have done something good… something that matters .
And then, you turn toward the next animal, the next story, the next special one in need of a resting place ….in need of a foster.
We are proud to say:
“We are a tbar foster home. “
James & Linda Taylor
Thank you, Linda and James, for opening your homes and hearts to an animal in need! If this story has inspired you or anyone you know to become a foster family to a TBAR animal, please read the information on our foster page and then email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349
Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Ventures joined forces with True Blue Animal Rescue to hold a horse clinic for people that wanted to further their knowledge in horse training. The focus on Juan’s training is to take the horse’s instincts and make them work for you.
The Saturday was overcast with a cool breeze which made the day easier for those that attended Juan’s class. The range of skilled horse men and women went from low experience to those that have had horses all their lives. The horses themselves included those that had not been formally trained at all, to those that just needed to learn more (much like their owners). The first horse handled by Juan on this day was a TBAR horse named Indy who hadn’t had much training yet. Indy is not a fan of even being touched, but after only a few purposeful minutes in the ring Juan was able to touch him. This amazed pretty much everyone in attendance. Just watching Juan work with Indy was a learning experience for those of us in the crowd.
Juan gave a small lecture on his training style but he also stressed that not all horses are the same. There is not one foolproof way to get a horse to do something. He stressed that the handlers have to clearly communicate to their steed what they are asking the horse to do. According to Mr. Vendrell, the horse wants to do what they are asked and if they fail to execute tasks or exercises, it is always the human’s fault.
After the lecture came the fun part. When registering, people had the option of auditing the class or bringing a horse to work with. If you brought a horse to work with the day would be a bit longer for you! It was explained that when we ask a horse to do something we do so by using a part of their body. A horse owner should be able to tell a horse to move using any part of their body. The day of the clinic we mostly focused on using the shoulders and head of the horse.
For me personally I can say it was super exciting working with our True Blue sponsor horse, Athena. I have never had my own horse and the only horse I had contact with as a child was a wonderful Welsh pony, that was neck-reigned, that I took care of after school for one blissful year before her owners noticed that I played with the pony more than her kids did and it was sold off. Still one year with a pony hardly goes a long way, and it was so long ago. Poor Juan had to show me basic things, like how to swing a lead line, put on a halter and not to allow Athena to get too close to me. But he was kind about my lack of knowledge!
The exercises we did that day with our horses were basic and hard at the same time. Not to mention they really can make you dizzy. I asked Juan for a tip on keeping the dizziness at bay and he said to focus on only one part of your horse when you are asking them to run around you in a circle. So I picked Athena’s shoulder since that was the body part I was asking her to move with. It did help but being so new I was also trying to watch my feet, my hands and then watch Athena. So I got pretty dizzy, but with more practice this issue for me should go away. Especially when I get my hands working better.
If people had trouble with an exercise given to them Juan had time to go to that person and give them more tips and pointers. I myself asked a ton of questions to make sure I had a handle on what he had told us. Naturally, since a few of the horses were visitors and were meeting new horses, it was hard to get the attention of a few of them. Juan would have to work with the horses himself to get them to settle down, but he also shared the tip that we had to make sure that the horse was paying attention to us and was standing in the right position; not too close, with their heads up and looking at you.
True Blue Animal Rescue provided a lunch of BBQ sandwiches, chips, and drinks. Guests even had their pick of dessert. As everyone sat down and ate, people were excited about what they had learned so far. In between exercises people shared tips and encouraged everyone on their work. Being with other animal lovers made the class feel comfortable. The exercises in the afternoon built off of those that had been taught in the morning. They asked more of the handler’s lead lines, while the horses were still being asked to turn. Attending the class was beneficial to anyone that was there, whether you had a horse with you or were just auditing.
If you missed this clinic, don’t worry, because another one is in the works for the fall. Thank you again to True Blue Animal Rescue and Juan Vendrell!
Our Throwback Thursday picture is of Taffy. She was seized with a large group of horses that were being starved. The after picture is in her new home where she is now loved and spoiled!
Found in Bellville, TX with a serious case of demodex mange, you would never believe that the dog in the picture above is the same dog in the “before” picture below. We can only imagine what kind of life this sweet girl experienced before coming to True Blue Animal Rescue and she was very lucky to be given a chance by a wonderful foster family.
Lucy was rescued and brought to TBAR to receive the medical care she desperately needed to become healthy again. After months of rehab, Lucy’s foster family decided she had become an important part of their family and that she belonged with them forever. Lucy will always have a lifelong battle of skin issues, but she now has a family who is happy to do and provide what is necessary to make her as comfortable as possible.
True Blue Animal Rescue wants to thank Lucy’s family for stepping up and giving her a chance at a wonderful life. Animal rescues are nothing without foster families who are willing to open their home to an animal with an unknown past and accept whatever challenges he or she may face.
TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one, please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adopting. Donations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Rescue a pet: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!
TBAR Receives Training Grant from ASPCA
$4000 toward training horses to increase adoptions
Washington, Texas — True Blue Animal Rescue (TBAR) announced today the award of a $4000 grant from the ASPCA to assist with training costs.
“This grant will train five horses that are currently in TBAR waiting for forever homes.” said Melanie DeAeth, TBAR President. “This grant is the start of a new training fund, and the adoption fees from the trained horses will go toward training the next ones.”
For ten years TBAR has been saving animals from abuse and neglect, and often the animals return to full health. There are many cases when the horses are candidates for socialization and training (particularly those born after their mothers come into the rescue), and this training fund will benefit them. In the past the only training the horses have received is from volunteers that come out when they have the time, but this program will ensure consistency and better turnover.
About True Blue Animal Rescue: TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a no-kill rescue operating in the Brenham, Texas area. If you would like to help their cause please consider donating, fostering or adopting. Every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!
Gracie was found at a business office as a recently pregnant stray, but when no babies could be found. She showed signs of needing immediate medical attention so she was taken to the local Houston shelter by an animal control officer. One of the ladies who worked at the business office wanted to help Gracie get medical attention and find her a home, but since her apartment doesn’t allow “bully breeds” they would not allow her to pull Gracie to be boarded at the vet for medical care while she searched for a foster or adoptive home.
Lily was touched by Gracie’s gentle, loving and trusting personality and couldn’t see this sweet dog be put to sleep. So she reached out to every animal rescue she could find on the internet for help pulling Gracie from the shelter so that she could get medical care and find a loving home. TBAR responded and helped pull Gracie from the shelter and Lily took her to the vet. Gracie had sarcoptic mange as well as a low positive heartworm result. She was treated for the mange and heartworms while being boarded by the vet and has been spayed. She has done well with the other dogs at the kennel she’s been moved to while an adoptive or foster home can be found for her.
If you are interested in fostering or adopting this sweet girl, please contact True Blue Animal Rescue by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at(936)878-2349 and we will return your call as soon as possible.