Winter 2009 - Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus

The Dober Dispatch
The Newsletter of Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
IDR+ ‘Plus’ dog example against BSL
Winter 2009-2010
A letter from the president
I see rescue dogs come and go,
and over the years only a few
have stayed with me to become
my own personal dogs. Regal is
one of those, and he is the epitome
of rescue. He came to IDR+ after
living in a shelter for his first 7
years. He was very unsure when
first meeting me. I brought him
home and just left him alone to
take in the sights and sounds of my
life. He seemed to enjoy blending
in but not being the center of
attention. This worked well for
both of us. Knowing time might
or might not heal the wounds of
the past, I accepted him for who
he was, never pushing.
About a year after adopting
him I got my first Dobernudge,
and I knew then he was happy
and finally enjoyed the company
of humans and not just dogs. He
lived 8 wonderful years here, and
I lost him the other day at 15 years
old. I think he wanted to make up
for those 7 wasted years by having
a long and healthy life with us.
Why am I telling you about my
rescue boy? He is what it is all
about. It is an honor to run a rescue
such as IDR+ where the volunteers
and adopters feel as I do: there is
a home for every dog.
Thank you for another wonderful
year and for opening your hearts
and homes to our special needs
dogs, our seniors and just our
average quirky ones. And thank
you for allowing me to have
Regal.
Sincerely,
Pam Abare-Newton
President of Illinois Doberman
Rescue Plus
By Erin Magnani
Fifty has become a sort of
rescue celebrity here at IDR+.
He’s been all over our website,
has his own video, and even had
an article written about him in
the Best Friends Animal Society
Newsletter. His story is awe
inspiring and quite admirable
considering
his
humble
beginnings, tragic injuries and
the breed discrimination he
continues to face.
Fifty started his life out in
rescue. He was born at a foster
home of Chicagoland Bully
Breed Rescue about four years
ago and was soon adopted out.
Unfortunately, his family ran into
hard times and lost their home to
foreclosure. They had to move,
and sadly, Fifty found himself
back in rescue, not because of his
behavior or any fault of his, but
because of his breed. His family
was unable to find a landlord
willing to rent to them if they
owned a pit bull.
This is a common problem for
most pit bull owners and even
Photo by Lauren Kelliher
Fifty is a victim of BSL, and IDR+
is helping him find a new home.
some Doberman owners face the
same discrimination. Numerous
landlords and home owner’s
insurance companies won’t rent
to or offer coverage for families
with dogs of certain breeds.
The offending breeds of dogs
Photo by Lauren Kelliher
Amazingly, Fifty can walk and even run on only two legs!
are usually pit bull, Doberman,
Rottweiler, German Shepherd,
Akita, Chow Chow and even
some others.
Taking
housing
breed
discrimination a step further
is Breed-Specific Legislation
(BSL). BSL is exactly what it
sounds like – regulation of your
right to own (or not own) a dog
based solely on the breed or
“type” of dog. It does not take
into account the personality
of your individual dog or your
responsibility level as an owner.
BSL usually takes two forms: an
outright ban of certain breeds, or
stricter requirements (i.e., extra
insurance, muzzled when off
property, etc.) for people owning
certain breeds.
Breed-specific bans are usually
passed after several attacks by
a particular breed so that city
council can assure citizens they
are “doing something” about
voter concern and ensuring
public safety. But breed bans
don’t work. They target all dogs
of a breed (or that look like a
breed) – the innocent as well as
the guilty. They are difficult and
costly to enforce and do not end
the use of “protection” dogs by
criminals, which is how many
breeds got on the discrimination
list to begin with.
In Fifty’s case, it is even worse.
Pit bulls are at the top of the list
when it comes to discrimination.
There are at least 11 breeds that
have the same looks of a “pit
bull,” and that doesn’t include all
the mixes of these breeds.
Far better than breed-specific
bans are generic dangerous
dog laws to control aggressive
dogs of any breed or mix. They
regulate based on an animal’s
actual behavior, not their
continued on page 2
Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus • P.O. Box 435 • Barrington, IL 60011
847-277-1082 • www.ILDobeRescue.com • [email protected]
2
The Dober Dispatch, Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
BSL: Laws should punish the deed, not the breed
continued from page 1
looks. Dangerous dog laws put
restrictions on the ownership of
dogs that have proven to pose a
danger to people through actual
bite history.
Some restrictions include
confinement in locked and
escape-proof
kennels/fences
while outdoors on owner’s
property, muzzled when off
owner’s property and purchase of
a liability insurance policy. Dogs
falling under a dangerous dog
ordinance are usually given two
chances before euthanasia.
It is the responsibility of
every dog owner to educate
people about their chosen breed.
Many breeds are affected by
BSL laws and only more are to
come without proper education.
Every 10 years or so, there is a
new “bad” breed. In the ‘70s it
was the Doberman, the ‘90s the
Rottweiler, and the 2000s it’s the
pit bull. Who’s next?
Breed-specific ordinances
are quick fixes and are not a
sufficient long-term solution
for the following reasons:
• Dog problems are generally
problems
with
owner
responsibility and are not limited
to specific breeds. When breeds
are singled out as dangerous or
vicious, responsibility is removed
from the dog owner, which is
where it belongs. Irresponsible
people are also less likely to
follow the law — and as a result,
everyone has to suffer.
Photo by Erin Magnani
Two of Erin’s dogs are pit bulls. Monday (left) and IDR+ alum Vito.
• By limiting the ability of
citizens to own certain breeds,
responsible, law-abiding citizens
will shy away from those breeds.
These are the types of owners
that communities need to
encourage, not drive away.
• Communities that have
instituted such bans often find
that the irresponsible owners
and the criminals who use dogs
for illegal purposes simply
switch to another breed. The Dober Dispatch
Chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Kelliher
Copy editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Gawienowski
Pam Abare-Newton
The Dober Dispatch is
published twice a year
by Illinois Doberman
Rescue Plus. IDR+ is an
all-volunteer
501(c)(3) non-profit
organization dedicated to
finding loving
and permanent homes
for animals.
Contributing writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alise Carrico
Nancy Crivellone
Bob & Lauren Dorman
Tamara Foss
Tasha Huebner
Erin Magnani
Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
P.O. Box 435 • Barrington, IL 60011
847-277-1082 • www.ILDobeRescue.com
[email protected]
• Breeds and mixes are hard
to identify, and dogs are often
mislabeled and destroyed based
on paranoia and prejudice,
which also punishes the good
canine citizens. Many breeds
function as assistance dogs for
handicapped owners, search and
rescue dogs, drug-sniffing dogs,
police dogs, etc., and BSL drives
them out of the community. The
American Veterinary Medical
Association and several state
veterinary medical associations
oppose breed-specific legislation
for just this reason.
• Passage of laws that are only
enforced through complaints
cause two problems: they
create disrespect for the law if
authorities require compliance
only upon complaint, and
they provide ammunition for
neighborhood feuds. Suggested alternatives to
breed bans include:
• Stronger enforcement of
existing dangerous dog laws.
If they are not already in place,
lobby for protection from
untrained and unsupervised dogs
of any breed or mix. This is a
broad-based effort that protects
all citizens as any dog can bite
and be a nuisance when owned
by an irresponsible owner. Those
who would deliberately train a
dog to act aggressively toward
people or other animals or to
use dogs in the commission of
a felony or misdemeanor should
face additional penalties.
• Encourage local animal
rescue and welfare agencies
to provide responsible dog
ownership
seminars
and
canine safety education. The
American Kennel Club has a free
education program created for
elementary school children.
• Protect the rights of all citizens
with nuisance ordinances such
as anti-barking, pooper scooper
regulations and leash laws.
(Reference: Pit Bull Rescue
Central www.pbrc.net)
Dog Tracks CD
“Songs by Dogs”
Available now!
Created by an IDR+
volunteer. Featured in
USA Today and the
Daily Herald.
Use the code “IDR” at checkout
to have $1 Donated to IDR+
Listen at: www.DogTracksCD.com
3
Winter 2009/2010
Where are they now: Some recent seniors
By Bob & Lauren Dorman
While most adopters want
puppies or young dogs, those
who adopt mature dogs say the
rewards of older animals are many,
and some would only consider
adopting a senior dog for their
next pet. Many of these adopters
cite the same benefits, such as the
loyalty and ease of guardianship
with a more mature dog.
adopted companion who is also
9, has maturity “just as you would
find in a human of a comparable
age. Spunky isn’t hyper; she wants
to have a relationship with me,
please me, and live in the moment.”
According to Sam, Spunky loves
her walks and has playful periods
like a puppy would but isn’t a
bundle of nonstop energy. Sam
says of her Spunky, “I swear she
understands English, but why
wouldn’t she? She’s had years of
practice in communicating with
humans.”
neighborhood dog that parents
allow their kids to approach since
he is so gentle and friendly,” says
Arlana. “I find that senior dogs tend
to be easier—they acclimate easily
to life in a new household since they
have the maturity that comes from
years of interacting with humans,
and they are very receptive to
learning new boundaries.”
Lexie
Judy adopted Lexie in August
in 2009; at 9, Lexie was heartworm
positive and underweight. Thanks
to Judy’s attention, proper vet
treatment and wholesome food,
Lexie has blossomed into a
delightful companion.
“Lexie doesn’t need the
constant supervision that a puppy
requires,” says Judy, “and she
is housetrained and trustworthy.
She’s very independent, too, and
while she likes to be near me, she
can also entertain herself for long
periods, and she loves to nap, which
allows me time to accomplish other
things.”
John and Loretta are the proud
guardians of two adopted senior
dogs, Jingles, 8, and Belle, now 12.
Jingles and Belle are “siblings”
who came from the same owner
whose health crisis forced him to
give up his dogs. John says, “There
is no greater joy than the love of a
senior dog. They appreciate every
moment, want to be with you, and
bond so quickly with their owners.
My dogs are so well behaved and
still love the stimulation of their
morning walks, even though some
days they may be a bit slower,
especially if it’s cold or wet.” John
notes that caring for his senior
dogs and being alert for any health
problems due to aging has also
helped him to relate better to his
older parents.
Buster
Spunky
Sam reports that Spunky, her
Buster, now 8, is Arlana’s
adopted dog. “Buster loves
everybody and is the one
“Senior” status depends on the
size of the dog and the breed’s
life expectancy; large breeds,
like Dobermans, are considered
seniors when they reach the
age of 6, while small breeds
are 9 before they achieve that
milestone.
Mature dogs have learned
how to succeed in life: how to
get along with other dogs and
humans, what not to chew, and
that elimination should be done
outside and not on your carpet!
Jade & Greta
Jingles & Belle
The benefits of
adopting a senior dog
Ten-year-old Greta recently
joined Carla and her husband,
who already had Jade, a 9-yearold Dobe. “I wanted a dog that
was compatible with Jade, who
wouldn’t pester Jade to play when
Jade doesn’t feel like it,” says
Carla. Carla advises that a senior
dog adopter still needs to plan time
for love and attention, although
satisfying those needs will be easier
than meeting the urgent demands
of a puppy or young dog. Carla’s
dogs are frequent welcome visitors
at the nursing home where Carla
works and are even adjusting well
to the recent addition of Carla’s
2-year-old granddaughter to her
household. Who says you can’t
teach an old dog new tricks?
IDR+ always has many
wonderful mature dogs waiting
for their forever homes. Please
consider one of them for your next
companion. As Sam says, “my
first choice for my next dog will
definitely be a senior. They add so
much to your life.”
Senior dogs are mellow and
calm and appreciate a relaxed
environment. They focus well
and have learned “how to learn.”
Mature dogs are accustomed to
human schedules — you’ll get
a better night’s sleep than you
would while meeting the less
predictable feeding, potty and
attention needs of a puppy.
Senior dogs are grateful for the
second (or sometimes third!)
chance they’ve received and
return that gratitude in love and
loyalty to their families.
Unlike puppies and young dogs,
senior dogs have grown into
their personalities. You’ll usually
know what you’re getting with an
adopted senior, whereas puppy
personalities change as they
mature. A senior dog “already
knows who it is.”
There is a special satisfaction
in giving a senior dog a loving
home. While many older dogs
are passed over due to their
age, they still have plenty of love
to give. Dogs may experience
their only period of love and
happiness when they come to
live with you.
Sponsor a senior dog through
Special Needs Dobermans!
www.doberman911.org/seniors
4
The Dober Dispatch, Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
Toxic corner: Dogs and mushrooms don’t mix
By Tamara Foss
Mushrooms are most commonly
encountered in the United States
during the spring, summer and
fall months. They are very
difficult to accurately identify.
On rare occasions, a mycologist
may be available for consult and
possible identification through a
local university. However, even
if one species has been identified
out of a group in one area, it is
totally possible, and actually quite
common, to have multiple species
residing in any given area or yard.
Due to the difficulty associated
with proper identification of
mushrooms,
all
mushrooms
encountered outside of cultivated
crop situations should be considered
toxic unless they can be specifically
identified as non-toxic. In most
cases, mushroom exposures should
be treated aggressively, especially
in regions where toxic mushroom
species are known to proliferate.
Treatment for animals not
exhibiting signs will likely include
decontamination procedures, such
as inducing vomiting and activated
charcoal administration.
It is best to consult with your
regular veterinarian or emergency
clinic to be sure decontamination
is appropriate. Animals exhibiting
signs following an exposure
should be taken to a veterinarian
immediately. In the event of an
exposure, samples of the ingested
mushroom should be brought to
the clinic just in case they may be
able to be identified. They should
be wrapped in a moist paper towel,
wax paper, or placed in a paper
bag; avoid plastic bags.
The following table is included in an effort to provide a brief overview of the various signs that may be
seen in animals following ingestion of various species of mushroom.
Toxin
Mushroom Species
Cyclopeptides
Amanita (aka death caps, death
angels, destroying angels, deadly
agaric), Galerina and Lepiota
Isoxazole derivatives
Amanita
Monomethylhydrazine
Gyromitra (false morels)
Muscarine
Inocybe, Clitocybe, Panaeolus,
Gymnopilus, Boletus, Hebeloma,
Mycena and Omphalotus
Psilocybin and psilocin
Psilocybe, Panaeolus, Copelandia,
Gymnopilus, Pluteus, and
Conocybe (hallucinogenic or
magic mushrooms)
GI irritants
Agaricus, Boletus, Chlorophyllum,
Entoloma, Gomphus, Hebeloma,
Lactarius, Naematoloma,
Omphalotus, Paxillus, Ramaria,
Rhodophyllus, Russula,
Scleroderma, and Tricholoma
Potential Effects/Signs
Signs develop 10-12 hours post exposure.
3 Phases: 1) Inflammation of the stomach
and intestines with severe bloody diarrhea,
vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain,
dehydration, fever, increased blood sugar,
rapid heart rate, and electrolyte imbalance.
Lasts about 24 hrs. 2) Clinical signs seem
to resolve for 12-24 hrs. 3) 3-4 days after
ingestion severe liver issues, renal failure,
brain swelling, yellowing of the skin
and whites of the eyes, low blood sugar,
hemorrhage, severe infection, coma, and
often death.
Causes altered visual perception and
alternating central nervous system excitation
and depression.
Mild stomach and intestinal inflammation
generally occurs 6-8 hrs post exposure.
More severe poisonings have resulted in
liver damage in people. Could possibly see
central nervous system signs such as anxiety,
restlessness, excitation, and seizures.
Clinical signs occur up to 2 hrs post
exposure and may include diarrhea,
urination, drooling, runny eyes, respiratory
secretion production, vomiting, decreased
heart rate, shock, difficulty breathing, and
wheezing.
Signs typically develop within ½ an hr to
4 hrs post exposure. Signs may include
anxiety, aggression, disorientation,
weakness, dilated pupils, rapid heart rate,
increased body temperature, convulsions,
coma, and altered behavior such as fly
snapping and pointless barking and potential
injury due to altered behavior.
Signs develop within 2 hrs of exposure and
may include weakness, nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea.
Reference: Cope, RB. Mushroom poisoning in dogs. Vet Med 2007; Feb:95-100
Also available at: http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/Medicine/Toxicology-Brief-Mushroompoisoning-in-dogs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/403845
Photo courtesy of
www.naturephotography.org
Pet owners should avoid ALL
mushrooms found outside. They
are too difficult to identify.
UPCOMING
EVENTS!
Chicagoland Family Pet Expo
Friday, March 19 thru
Sunday, March 21
Arlington Park Racetrack
Arlington Heights, IL
11th Annual IDR+ Picnic
Sunday, June 27
Blackwell Forest Preserve
Winfield, IL
Fun for the WHOLE family!
5
Winter 2009/2010
Acro Cats rock out for rescue
By Alise Carrico
Watch them fly through the air
with the greatest of ease! Watch
them “jam out” on the guitar
and drums! “Who?” you ask. We
are referring to the Amazing Acro
Cats and Rock Cats by Samantha
Martin. The Acro Cats are absolutely
incredible to watch perform. With
members Buggles and Fiji joined
by Pudge, Oz and Itty, these
trained cats ride skateboards, ring
bells, push shopping carts and
even do cat agility. Working with their natural
comfort in high places and
phenomenal balance and grace,
these cats can even walk tight
ropes. The audience always seems
to hold its collective breath in
disbelief as the Acro Cats easily
perform tricks that would seem
near impossible to train.
On the other paw, the Rock
Cats actually play in a “real”
band! Managed by Tuna, who
also plays lead guitar, this
group of cats sits in front of real
instruments and plays them for
audiences all over the world. With Fiji and Dakota on
drums, Pinky strums the guitar
while Nue plays the keyboard. At
the same time, Tuna shamelessly
works the tip jar! And while the
music isn’t always as rhythmical
as rehearsed, the Rock Cats
continue to happily “jam out.”
Led by their trainer, Samantha
Martin, these cats are trained
through the use of a positive-only
method called clicker training.
Using a distinct and consistent
signal to mark a desired behavior
in real time, the behavior is also
paired with a motivating reward.
In the cats’ case, it is usually tuna
or some other type of scrumptious
morsel.
Because
the
animals
understand precisely which action
earned the click and their reward,
they learn new behaviors quickly,
easily and enthusiastically.
IDR+ was lucky enough to
meet up with and recruit Samantha
Martin this past year. Since she
joined us, acting as both a foster
home and trainer for IDR+’s
rescued felines, she has helped to
save numerous “death row” cats
and kittens.
If you are interested in
fostering a cat for IDR+, please
email Alise at alisecarrico@
yahoo.com.
To learn more about the
amazing Acro Cats and Rock
Cats or seeing a schedule of
upcoming events, please visit
www.circuscats.com.
Dober Desires
We try to keep our
adoption fee as low as
possible to encourage
adoptions. Your donations
will ensure we can
continue to help save
lives. Dober Donations are
always accepted for our
orphans:
Dober-Dwellings: a
forever home for everyone
or even a foster home!
Dober-Dens: large or
x­‑large metal or plastic
crates (gently used or new)
Dober-Duds: these cool
collars and leashes can be
donated on our site at
www.ildoberescue.com/
doberduds.htm and some
training collars (medium
weight prong collars).
Coats for our seniors
(Velcro up the back-easier
to put on), etc., would be
great, too.
Dober-Dozing: large
or x-large dog beds or
comforters.
Dober-Doodoo Defenses:
laundry detergent, paper
towels, cleaning fluids, etc.
Dober-Diversions:
rawhides, nylabones,
Kong toys, stuffed toys,
etc.
Dober-Desk: postage
stamps, manila file folders,
copy paper, envelopes,
etc.
Dober-Driving: supplies
for our rescue mobiles,
such as gas cards.
Photos courtesy of Samantha Martin
The Acro Cats and Rock Cats perform to raise awareness of cat
rescue. IDR+ rescued over 150 cats in 2009.
Dober-Dollars: used for
the vet bills, phone bills,
boarding, microchips, etc.
6
The Dober Dispatch, Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
Get to know an IDR+ volunteer: Pam Krause
Each issue, The Dober Dispatch
interviews an IDR+ volunteer about their
experiences with the organization in a
series called “Get to Know a Volunteer.”
This issue’s volunteer is Pam Krause.
Dober Dispatch: How did you hear
about IDR+, and what made you become
a volunteer?
Pam Krause: I heard of IDR+ from my
obedience teacher who volunteered for
the rescue. He knew I was trying for a
long time to get involved with another
rescue with no success. So he suggested
IDR+. He told me about an upcoming
adoptathon, and I went and filled out the
application. I also fell in love with my
first Doberman named Hawk.
DD: As a volunteer with IDR+, what do
you find most rewarding?
PK: Helping these wonderful dogs find
their forever homes. It is a wonderful
feeling to see how happy our dogs are
when they are adopted.
DD: What volunteer work do you
participate in for IDR+?
PK: I try to do as much as I can. I do
transports, vet runs, give baths, do home
visits, and help find the right homes for
the dogs and people at the adoptathons. I
also do Meet & Greets with my partner,
Hart, who I adopted over a year ago. You
can see us at Petco in North Riverside
every month.
DD: Do you have any dogs? If so, what
kind and what are their names?
PK: I have three dogs. Two are senor
hunting dogs. Kayleigh, a German
shorthaired pointer is 11 years old; Cara,
a viszla is 10 years old; and of course my
Doberman, Hart, is 3 1/2 yrs old.
DD: What dog is your most favorite
(past or present) and why?
PK: It is so hard to just pick one of
my dogs as a favorite; they were all
wonderful dogs, and I loved them all
very much.
DD: If you could have one wish for
animals, what would that wish be?
PK: I wish all animals a good life. I wish
them love.
Compiled by Nancy Crivellone
Photo courtesy of Pam Krause
Pam volunteers with her rescued Doberman, Hart. They
represent IDR+ at a local Petco and tell people about
rescue and the breed.
IDR+ appears on WGN Adopt-a-Pet segment
By Lauren Kelliher
On Friday, November 27, I
had the pleasure of appearing on
the WGN mid-day news with my
husband Steve and two IDR+
orphans. Every Friday, WGN invites
a local rescue group to appear live
on air with available animals.
Allison Payne asked us about
the IDR+ application and approval
process. Before the broadcast,
she admitted to adopting the dog
featured in her first adopt-a-pet
segment.
We brought two dogs with us:
Brooklyn, a natural-eared female
blue Dobe; and Greta, a 9-yearold Papillon. Both dogs were
well-behaved on set, and everyone
wanted to pet them backstage.
Brooklyn and Greta were recently
adopted.
If you missed the live broadcast,
you can watch it on the WGN
website. Visit www.wgntv.com and
search “Doberman” in the top right
corner search field.
Photo courtesy of WGN News.
7
Winter 2009/2010
Third time’s the charm: Gary finally finds his forever home
By Tasha Huebner
Gary came to IDR+ as a stray
with a serious case of heartworm,
necessitating a longer-than-usual
stay in a foster home while he
underwent treatment. However,
our charming Gary, who had the
endearing trait of being able to steal
food and feign a look of complete
innocence, went to what IDR+
hoped would be his new forever
home with a woman and her son.
Unfortunately, this single mom
soon found herself working longer
and longer hours with the result
that Gary was left home alone for
inordinately long 12‑hour days.
During this time, he got into his
share of mischief as any bored dog
would. With the recognition that
this wasn’t the best situation for
Gary, he was returned to IDR+ and
soon found himself going to a home
in Wisconsin. All seemed well.
Alas, it was not to be. Our sweet
boy was returned a year later due
to his “medical expenses.” It
turned out that somehow Gary had
developed a severe case of mange
on his paws that seemingly wasn’t
responding to treatment. Poor
Gary! At this point, his original
foster mom was vowing to adopt
him herself if the right home wasn’t
found.
Luckily, Gary’s luck was about
to change tremendously. Newly
approved adopters Kristi and
Photos courtesy of Kristi and Charlie
Gary bounced around a bit before landing in a great forever home.
Charlie saw Gary’s picture, went to
meet him, and as Kristi puts it, “we
didn’t even know what was wrong
with his paws, but we fell in love
with him the day we brought him
home.”
Determined to get to the bottom
of Gary’s mange problem, Kristi
and Charlie spared no effort, and
eventually they found a treatment
that worked. Now, the mange is
almost completely gone.
Now, Gary spends his days as
all IDR+ dogs should – in the
lap of luxury. Kristi describes a
typical Gary day as follows: “He’s
a spoiled guy who sneaks into bed
around 5:30 every morning, and
then we head over to the park for
awhile so he can have his doggy
social hour.”
Everyone who visits Gary and
his new family instantly loves him,
even people who were once afraid
of small dogs. Kristi and Charlie
can’t imagine their lives without
Gary and call him “one of (our)
highlights of 2009!”
And in a wonderful turn of
events, Kristi and Charlie live right
down the street from Gary’s former
foster mom, who now gets to see
first‑hand how happy he is in his
forever home.
She also notes that when she
dogsat Gary one weekend, while it
was clear that he had a good time,
it was also abundantly clear how
happy he was in his new home. In
fact, he practically mobbed Kristi
when she came to pick him up.
Certainly, this was the best of all
possible outcomes for Gary.
One final note – Kristi notes that
Gary is still successfully stealing
food on multiple occasions,
especially from housesitters who
aren’t aware of just how clever he
can be. All we can say to that is –
it’s great that some things never
change . . . .
New Dobermart items are now
available on Cafe Press!
short sleeves
long sleeves
hoodies
sweatshirts
coffee mugs
water bottles
hats
bags
kids
men
women
pet shirts
www.CafePress.com/IDRPlus
8
The Dober Dispatch, Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus
Plus dogs come in all shapes, sizes
IDR+ has come across some pretty interesting dog breeds in the past
several years. How many breeds can you name? Photos by Lauren Kelliher
Top row from left: Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless), Thai ridgeback, English mastiff. Middle row from left: 200-pound
harlequin great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux (French mastiff), American bulldog. Bottom row from left: Manchester terrier, bull
terrier, Neapolitan mastiff.