Tag Archives: Volunteer

Foster Feature: Piper

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This weeks foster feature is Piper. Here is his story written by his Foster Mom, Diane Holt, who didn’t give up on this little guy. Please like and share his story until he finds a home!
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Piper’s Story:

My husband and I were traveling down FM 1155, in Washington, Texas on Sunday afternoon July 20th, 2014. I see this little thing on the side of the road. I wasn’t sure what it was at first so I tell my husband, STOP. I jump out and see that it’s a tiny emaciated dog on the side of the road. He starts to run from me and he goes under the road into sewer pipes ones about 3-4’ big with 4 in a row. I follow trying to help him; he was in the worst shape of any animal I have ever seen alive. My husband and I try for over 2 hours to get him with no luck at all.

We leave very frustrated, upset, and sad. This little guy didn’t have a chance in the heat. It appeared he might be living on a sticky smelly dead deer by the road and hiding in the pipes for safety. It was getting dark so we had no options but to give up for now. I vowed that we were stopping just for now because we certainly were NOT giving up on this little life that desperately needed help. I kept wondering how he had come to be tossed out on the side of the road and left there like garbage.

I didn’t sleep all night thinking about him being out there. The next morning I asked my husband to call me on his way past there to let me know if he saw him. He didn’t see him. So I headed back down there around 1pm with food-hot dogs, ice water and towels to try to find him again and if nothing else leave the food and water for him to find. When I got there I see that there was another good hearted couple that also saw him and had stopped because he and his wife had been seeing him for weeks. He wouldn’t let them help him either. The man said he ran behind him this time and he didn’t see where he went. We spent about an hour looking for him but couldn’t find him. His wife called Tbar rescue from the road. I put out the food and water for him so at least maybe he can get something to eat and drink and I’ll check back.

I came back later that day and see him. He ran when I got really close to him and he started screaming because he’s so frightened. He ends up escaping into a 14” culvert pipe at the bottom of someone’s driveway on FM1155. I try everything I can think of to get him to come out. I offered him hot dogs and water and use soft talking but nothing I did would coax him to come out.

This culvert is maybe 14” wide and about 30’ long so it’s a lot better to deal with than the underground sewer pipes. I work with him for hours in 98 degree temps; it had to be well over a 100 inside that pipe. Folks passed by and out of the driveway. No one stopped to help or even ask anything. I tossed him hot dog pieces. He loved getting them and came for water but would never allow me to get close enough to help him.

I decided the ONLY way this little guy was going to get saved is if we can trap him. I was about 4 miles from home, so I try to block both ends of the pipe off with towels and stones to hold him in there. Leaving the food and water for him I head back to a neighbors to get a live trap and a long PVC pipe to reach down the pipe to guide him into the live trap. I return to find he had escaped.

Now I am unbelievably frustrated because I knew this little guy did not have much time to survive these temps. He is very thin, weak and had almost no hair left due to mange. He was in need of rescue badly and now it was late in the day and I couldn’t find him.

Next morning I have my husband look for him on his way to the office and he didn’t see him. I head back down there around 11:30 with troops from Tbar to meet up because I was going to get this little guy today and get him the help he so badly needed. I get there and don’t see him but I’m going to set the trap up by the culvert pipe with food and water and just check it throughout the day.

I get down on my knees to set the trap up and look in the pipe and I see him looking back at me!!! I was so happy to see him. I wasn’t taking any chances this time so I set the trap up and locked it in place and put hot dogs up at the other end with water. Now I’m on one side with a PVC pipe and the trap is at the other end. Just in time Lauren from Tbar Rescue pulls up, I motion to her to get to the other end of the pipe. We toss him hot dogs but he wasn’t coming to us so we had to trap him.

With Lauren on one end and me on the other end Lauren starts to put the PVC pipe in the culvert pipe to chase him the other direction into the trap where I waited for him. Within 10 minutes we had him!!! Lauren and I hugged and thanked GOD for helping us get him as Melanie, another Tbar member, pulls up. Tears of relief after 3 days of trying to get him, it was a joyful event. Lauren says to me, ‘since you’re going to Foster him you get to name him!’ I said, what about PIPE….she replied how about Piper!!! How perfect. So now little Piper is my foster dog. Melanie loaded him up and off to the vets for help.

I will mention that I found out that he had been seen on this road in this condition by many folks over the last month or more. Some stopped and tried some just ignored him as it was someone else’s problem as if he was garbage. Yes, it took time to get him but his life was worth the effort.

Even the day I think I spent at total of six hours at the bottom of that driveway, folks actually drove in and out of that drive way and never even ask me if I needed help or what was wrong as they saw me at the bottom of their driveway in 98 degree weather crawling on the ground they just kept driving by vehicle after vehicle.

So I wonder about where the compassion has gone? If people do this to people no wonder they do it to animals. But if you just try, and keep trying or at least try to figure it out and not give up you might save a life. You won’t stop the problem, you won’t solve the grand issue but if you stop and try to help or at least report it to someone that can you’ll save at least that one life. Doing something is better than nothing, show some compassion and try, DO SOMETHING!

As it turns out Piper is a sweet, gentle and friendly 7 month old puppy who loves to sit in your lap. He also enjoys going for rides in the car, loves kids and gets along with other animals. Most surprisingly he’s completely housebroken too. He must have lived in someone’s house before they tossed him aside like garbage. Now he is mange free, vaccinated, neutered and ready for his forever home. He’s gone from being only 8 pounds to a healthy 14 pounds and he won’t get much bigger than that. He’s perfect for any family! Email [email protected] or call 936-878-2349 if you’d like to adopt Piper!

TBAR Foster Feature: Kassy Part 2

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TBAR Foster Feature Dog Kassy (3)

On day three I was outside with the dogs because I wanted to make sure Kassy used the potty so she could be loose for an hour before crating her again. I admit I was sleepy; it was 7:30 and too hot for coffee. I heard Jack make a funny noise. I looked to see Jack and Kassy playing with each other. It was amazing! What was even more shocking was she was instigating the play. She happily bounced over to Jack, raised a front leg, smacked him in the face and then began to run around him. Her tail wagging, she then bowed with her front legs stretched out and her hind quarters still up. This is the classic body language that my dogs use with each other meaning, “Let’s play!” Jack, who for some time I always have thought of as a puppy, looked at her like she was crazy. He barked once at her and I sat up and took notice. But Jack’s bark did not stop Kassy from her quest to play.

TBAR Foster Feature Dog Kassy (1)

In fact she wanted Jack to bark. His bark triggered in her the desire to run in circles around him and then come back and smack him again. Jack had a new best friend and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. He acted like a gentleman and played as long as he could stand, but once done he headed for the back door and then sat down.  Still, watching Kassy play was huge. Seeing a dog that was so full of fear when I first got her that she messed herself twice, now have a big doggy smile on her face was staggering. I began to understand that Kassy had no clue how to be a dog and now more than ever I was going to be relying on my pack to help this dog in need. I just wasn’t sure they were up to helping sort out such a backward little girl.

Day seven I was in for a surprise yet again. Kassy at this point still wanted to only be in her kennel. It was her safety spot. The cat’s basket that was in the same room as her crate also became a “safe zone.” Kassy enjoyed cramming herself into the beautiful Garden Ridge Pottery basket my mother had gotten the cats. For days our foster dog would transfer herself from the kennel to the basket, non-stop. Almost like she had no control over her actions. Then day seven happened.

TBAR Foster Feature Dog Kassy (2)

I should point out that at this time we also took in another Corgi mix named Bacon, from a rescue group in Nixon, Texas. Call me crazy, but when I saw her picture and plea for an adoption for a special needs dog I just had a hard time saying no!  My dogs before this have always been solid colors. I am not sure if that was by choice or fate. But Bacon was a black and white Corgi mix and she looks a lot like Kassy, only a bit shorter. But back to day seven. On the seventh day, I was on the couch and I saw a dog sleeping in the middle of the room I was in. At first glance I thought it was Bacon, who came to us a very socialized dog that slid into our home with ease, now asleep. I then looked at my feet and saw Bacon napping there. (She is like my shadow and I love it!) Kassy was sleeping in the middle of the room. Not under something, or in something, but in the middle of the room with nothing to shield her from me! Not only was she napping but she seemed to be at peace. I was so excited I started to cry a little. I didn’t think the dog would grow this fast but things were looking up. Her accidents when we touched her had started to disappear. Everything seemed to be going so well.  But then week two knocked us for a loop and we had major steps backwards.

To Be Continued…

We hope our “Foster Features” help to inspire others to open their homes to animals in need. If you are interested in becoming a foster home for a Texas animal rescue, please visit our info page, email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349. It is because of foster homes like Casie that TBAR is able to save more lives!

Foster Feature: Family Circle Chis

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A few weeks ago we introduced you to our Charlie Brown family of Chihuahua pups – now meet our Family Circle bunch!

*UPDATE*  We now have folks wanting three of these puppies — PJ, Dolly, and Jeffrey are pending adoption but Billy and mom Tina are still available!

I wanted to say how exciting it can be to foster a litter of puppies!   Watching their eyes begin to open and when they begin to focus on the world around them.    One key is preparation.   We used an inexpensive child’s swimming pool for our whelping box.   This is easy to find this time of year and allows the mother to get away from her puppies while leaving them safe and confined.   Combined with puppy pads for the floor, the surface is easy to keep clean.  These pups were big enough to climb out at about 4 weeks when they started trying to eat soft, moist kibble.   We put two doggie exercise  pens together to make  a 6 x 3  pen for them to learn to run and play in.   It will be still be several weeks before these pups are completely weaned.   During that time,  it is important to socialize and handle all the puppies.    Get them used to different types of surfaces beneath their feet, different noises, different types of toys.  Also, rub their toes, rub their ears, turn them over — establish a human-dog trust.     This will help your puppies to develop into well socialized,  outgoing puppies at an early age and keep them from being shy or fearsome.   Thanks TBAR for the opportunity to raise this cute litter!   Linda and James

TBAR depends on foster homes to help us save animals, as we do not have a shelter location. We hope this story has inspired you to consider becoming a TBAR foster home. If so, please email us at [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349 and help us save more lives!

Throwback Thursday – Deuce

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This weeks TBT picture is Deuce. When he came to Tbar he was so skinny and sick we weren’t sure he’d survive. We were able to help him gain weight but he kept to himself and seemed closed off from horses and people. Then he met AJ!

TBT Deuce

Thank you AJ Greer for helping Deuce learn to trust again and thank you Olivia Moore for capturing that fairy tail ending in this picture! These are the happy endings that remind us of what rescue is all about!

Foster Feature: Lucy and Pups!

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On May 12 TBAR officers mobilized to save a mother Chihuahua and her 6 puppies (that were only days old) from a high-kill-rate shelter. We were alerted to their situation thanks to a Facebook group called Houston, Save Lives is our Mission. It was important to move fast because the shelter was giving them only three days, the babies were too young to be separated from their mothers (so they were unadoptable), and they were so young (un-vaccinated) and susceptible to illness. TBAR volunteers, Linda and James Taylor, were able to pick them up and temporarily foster them, and quickly we had a foster volunteer, Michelle Marburger, that offered to take in the family until they could be adopted.

When the family was removed from the shelter the babies were covered in fleas so they all got dawn baths, but they thankfully they weren’t terribly anemic, probably because they were so young. The family of Mom, 3 boys and 3 girls, were named after Charlie Brown characters: Lucy (Mom), Patty, Sally, Marcie, Charlie, Shermy and Linus. Lucy settled in with her babies quickly, knowing she was safe now.


From her temporary foster home (Linda and James):
Wanted to say that Lucy checked the box and counted her little family every time we took them away from her. She is a great mom and very trusting. She is a loving little girl and we fell in love with her from the start.


From the foster family:

Mama is adjusting great. She is very smart and well potty trained. She loves to play in the yard a few minutes when she goes out to potty but then she ready to come back in and count her babies.

This first picture is funny… She was yawning showing how hard of work it is to feed all of these babies. The second one I finally got her to sit still and look.

I have had her out in the living room quite a bit with us today because she seems to want to be a social butterfly when she hears us.

Another update:

Ms. Lucy is REALLY doing great (as are her pups). She is very smart! Potty trained, knows sit, and lay. She warmed up to me and my older son really well initially and she has slowly warmed up to my husband and our 6 year old. She even left her room this afternoon when my husband stopped by the house to let her out to potty… yesterday she just sat there and growled at him when he tried to let her out… lol. So today he gave her a treat when she finished.

When we get home from work we let her out of her room and bring the puppies into the living room where we are. She is still counts them and she doesn’t leave their side much then. However, I have found if we go put her puppies back in the her room and we leave the doors open then she runs and plays and wags her tail and jumps on the couch beside us. She loves attention and she is so sweet! She is much different when it’s just her in the room.

Most recent update (yesterday, May 24):
Here is a basket full of love! Lucy and her 6 chi puppies… The basket was originally to transport the puppies from their room to the living room with us at night but this morning when I put them in there little Ms Lucy decided to crawl in and take a cat nap

One of the puppies has it’s eyes open but the others are still closed for now. Lucy is SO sweet!!!

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These puppies will be available for adoption once they turn 8 weeks and they will be listed for adoption once they are 4 weeks.

This family owes their second chance to the group, Houston, Save Lives is our Mission (this situation being social networking at it’s finest!), the TBAR volunteers, and most importantly, to the Marburgers who quickly stepped up and offered their home, love, and care to these animals in need. TBAR depends on foster homes to help us save animals, as we do not have a shelter location. We hope this story has inspired you to consider becoming a TBAR foster home. If so, please email us at [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349

First Annual Lifetime Membership Appreciation Meeting

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This year True Blue Animal had it’s first annual Lifetime membership appreciation meeting. We wanted to give those members that have made lifetime contributions a chance to come out, meet the animals and find out how their donation is being used. Our TBAR volunteer staff and officers brought snacks and were all there to talk about what we are doing to help control pet population, stop abuse and neglect and find homes for our wonderful foster animals. Everyone loved hearing about the new training program and Trainer Juan Vendrell of TC Ranch Ventures was there to talk about how he’s been helping the horses to become more adoptable. We also talked about our summer ‘Read to Ride Camp’ and what that will mean to the children in our community.

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In addition to just talking and sharing information they were able to go out and meet the animals. Zelda, the zorse, enjoyed the visitors and getting some extra attention and treats! The other horses were happy to partake in eating the carrots that the members brought and getting some extra pets and attention.
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Lifetime members have donated $500 or more to True Blue Animal Rescue. These donations help us continue to take in rehabilitate and find new homes for animals. We were happy to be able to show our appreciation to our lifetime members and plan to make this an annual event. I hope to see everyone back again next year and more!

TBAR founder awarded 2014 Jefferson Award

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True Blue Animal Rescue founder, Melanie DeAeth, was awarded one of four local 2014 Jefferson Awards this past Tuesday (May 13). Melanie has spent the last 10 years in TBAR saving animals, leading volunteers, and educating the next generation to have compassion for animals.

According to the Jefferson Award website:

Founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards is America’s highest honor for public service, a “Nobel Prize for public service”. We are one of the largest multipliers of volunteerism in the country – with youth in communities and in workplaces. Over 41 years, we have recognized a “Who’s Who” of American change-makers and more than 50,000 unsung heroes in grassroots communities. We accomplish that through a network of more than 110 Media Partners reaching into 30 million households. 

Starting six years ago, we began to transform into one of the nation’s largest multipliers of volunteerism. Our goal is to Build a Culture of Service.  We achieve that in three ways – in communities through our Media Partners, in workplaces with Champions, and with young Americans through Students In Action, our Lead360 Challenge and GlobeChangers.

You can watch the full awards broadcast by clicking HERE

We would like to extend Melanie a huge “THANK YOU” for all the animals that owe their happy life to her, and for all the children she is on a mission to educate. We would also like to encourage others to follow Melanie’s lead and volunteer with animals and children to help build a better future. If you are interested in volunteering with TBAR, please email us at [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349. The world NEEDS great people to volunteer so we can continue to do great things!

Success Stories: Annie

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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”.

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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.

annie7Annie 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!

Foster Feature: Grayheart

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Greyheart

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

What is Rescue Work Like?

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What is it like working with rescue animals?

I gather it is a little like working with people that have also been abused, neglected or even abandoned. You can see that they have things on their mind and troubles in their hearts. I think the thing that hurts the worst while being at T-bar is meeting the dogs that no longer want any human contact with people. After the rescue of Summer, the neglected and abused dog, I have seen first-hand how dogs can go through so much and still trust humans.

To see dogs that just have no interest in people is gut wrenching because it makes me wonder what happened to them that they gave up on those things that walk on just two legs. When meeting animals at T-bar I confess that some I feel closer too than others. It’s hard to explain. When I first met Seven, the rescue horse, he had just come back from Juan’s and Melanie was working with him in the barn. Melanie said he was a bit rough around the edges and didn’t really like to meet people. But when it was time to take his picture he nuzzled me gently and posed for me as if on cue. Melanie beamed at me and was glad that Seven trusted me, but the feeling really went both ways. Often I meet an animal at T-bar and I feel like I know them already, as if perhaps we met before in passing. Those animals I often drift to when I visit and chat with them, since they all are such great listeners.

When they are adopted out or find a new foster home it is always a little sad, but you have to be better than that, and think that they will be happier with more one and one attention. I think that is what keeps me going back and bonding still with animals that I know could be adopted tomorrow. Sometimes an animal will zero in on you. I have to say that it is an honor when they decided that you are worth the time of day. Certainly I feel like a million bucks when a shy creature decides that I am trustworthy.

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What is rescue work like? It will change your view on things. I confess that I have at times passed a field of horses and looked at them closely to make sure they were not starving, once on a roadtrip I saw donkeys in a small field and there were also three new babies and my first thought was, “I hope they plan to keep those donkeys.” My next thought was, “Is that land big enough for so many?” Only my last thoughts were that the babies were adorable. This could do with the fact that donkeys are always dumped on my Aunt Karen’s land! Being the person she is she has them fixed and keeps them as pets. But really she is up to eight donkeys now and she didn’t have to buy them!

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What is rescue work like? Like any cause close to your heart, if you are not careful it can devour you. Instead of seeing beauty or being light hearted you can start to go negative. I have worked hard to not let that happen to me. I let the victories stay in my heart and head and let the cases that I just couldn’t get to go. If you do not take care of yourself first you cannot take care of anyone else. It’s just a simple fact. We are only human. We require rest, food and love to keep going. Sure there are tons of sad stories and photos all over the place. But you cannot bask in them day in and out. You have to remember that even if you only save one dog it means everything to that little guy. You cannot beat yourself up about the five others that you were unable to get to. You have to have faith that someone else stepped in because it does happen. Don’t think all of the problems are just on your shoulders because there are so many wonderful people just like you, who are trying to fix things.

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What is rescue work like? So rewarding. Seeing an animal come in bad shape and then watching them slowly recover is awesome. You cheer them on in your mind as they gain weight, start to trust people or just heal from abuse. The best moment in your minds recorded history of time in their life is when they find a forever home that fits them and their needs. For some animals it is a long wait, while others find their match right away. But the day feels no different no matter how long of a wait it has been. It’s like watching a touched down when a family smiles a knowing smile at an animal and has that same feeling I get while at T-bar. “I know you.” And they take them home.

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How can I help I live in an apartment? I cannot foster. I do not have the finances to help.
If you cannot help with money then please know just sharing and commenting on the T-bar Facebook page is a huge help. It gets the word out and helps gain T-bar views, which in turn helps the animals get exposure. It may seem small but it makes a difference. If you cannot foster, a donation of any size can help. Yes one dollar helps, because it was a dollar we did not have before. A lot of small donations go so far in the animals lives. Never think your donation is not enough.


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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. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!