Augie's (Oscar) Story

Tweet

Preface 
(By Russell Rescue)

Russell Rescue received a call from a rescue friend about a little dog named Oscar; he was on death row after not being adopted at a rescue event so we agreed to take him. A decision I almost immediately regretted. Little Oscar was a little terror! He proceeded to “blow” through 3 foster homes in a very short period of time! I affectionately called him "the gift that kept on giving"! Eventually he found his way to Karen, our San Diego Foster Coordinator and she found her way to Meagan at the Collared Scholar. After many months of training and lots of patience Oscar renamed Augie was ready for adoption or was he? 

 

Augie’s Fresh Start

(Written by Angela) 

After purchasing a house Oct. 09 I started looking for a dog to adopt.  Since it had been well over 20 years since my Penny dog died I was pretty rusty in the dog ownership department. One day while perusing Craigslist I came upon an ad for Augie. The one thing that really caught my eye was that he was used to being on a ranch and around horses. I have a horse, and I wanted a dog that was good around horses and would not chase or harass them. 

On Dec. 31^st 2009 Augie came into our lives. We had a few misadventures to start with…he chased my buddy’s hens and bonded to me like crazy glue and didn’t want anyone near me and would threaten anyone that came into “my” space. On the positive side he was crate trained, housebroken and not destructive or yappy. He was great with the horses and other dogs.  

I was kind of at my wits end. I could discipline a 1300lb horse, no problem, but this little 15 lb tough guy had me completely thrown for a loop. 

I called Meagan in tears. Even though he had only been with us a short time, he had filled the empty place in my heart that had been there since my Penny dog passed away all those years ago. Meagan came over and worked with us. She gave us the tools and the knowledge to work through his issues. 

We worked on heavily socializing Augie, I took him everywhere dogs were allowed. I had strangers give him treats and fuss over him. He went to the dog park almost every evening and I also did some agility training with him. I took him to the beach and was astounded that he LOVES leaping into the surf. He’s a salty dog thru and thru, fearless and feisty. I quickly learned that “A tired dog is a good dog. ;)” 

It’s been a little over a year since that New Year’s Eve that Augie came into our lives. Augie is now secure and confident in our love. He has no need to be possessive or aggressive anymore.  He is a pleasure to take anywhere, we just took him to a car dealership and purchased a vehicle and of course he went on the test drive, too. He approves of his new chariot.

We can’t imagine life without him. He has truly enriched our lives. He makes us laugh every day.  He is curled up in his bed next to my desk as I type, sound asleep, but ready to spring into action at a word from me. 

I am so grateful to Russell Rescue and Meagan for their tireless work in rescuing and rehabbing dogs in need. 

They are truly making a difference. Augie is living proof. 

Don't miss Hawgs 4 Dawgz 2011

Tweet

Russell Rescue Inc. needs help with an upcoming fundraiser that we are co-hosting with the Southern CA Labrador Retriever Rescue. Hawgz 4 Dawgz is an event to benefit the rescues. There will be motorcycles, animal rescues, vendors, food, live music, drinks etc.. It is located in Acton, CA which is northern Los Angeles County.
 

It was so successful last year that we decided to make it it an annual event.

We desperately need volunteers to help us work the Russell Rescue booth, serve food and drinks (soda and beer), sell raffle tickets, work the door, direct traffic etc.... If you would like to volunteer to help Russell Rescue at the event, please let us know. Any help is appreciated, even if it's for a few hours.

We also need donated raffle prizes. If you know of any local companies, pet shops, pet or motorcycle related vendors or anyone willing to donate items, gift certificates or baskets, donations are much appreciated. We usually approach local stores, vendors that we frequent; companies owned by friends etc... All proceeds from the raffles and the entire event will go to Russell Rescue and Southern CA Labrador Retriever Rescue.

We look forward to making this a successful event.

A little history and a lot of thanks!

Tweet

Welcome to the Russell Rescue CA Blog!

Tayler

The Russell Rescue CA Team

Kathy Sube, California State Representative 

I  first became involved with Russell Rescue, Inc. shortly after my beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Tayler died in 2006.  It began innocently enough:)  There was an injured dog at a local shelter, no one visited him, no one wanted to go through the door where the "sick" animals were.  I watched the shelter website until I couldn't take it any longer.  I contacted Russell Rescue and they provided the support necessary to rescue him and find him a wonderful home!  Over the next few years, I rescued and fostered dogs for RRI.  Then in 2009, the State Rep. decided to resign...and I was asked to take over...  

 Karen Wagner, San Diego Foster Coordinator joined the team in March of 2009 when she answered an ad and agreed to help!  Looking back we both laugh...  I was clueless and she was wonderful!  The first dog she fostered was Miso who was renamed Ziggy.  Ironically, Debi and Jim Matlock traveled all the way from Ventura Co to adopt him in San Diego. Soon after that I asked her if she wanted to be a coordinator and she asked what that meant.I told her  I wasn't sure but that we would figure it out.

Joy O'Neil, Central Valley Foster Coordinator  contacted me in  April 2009, she had helped in the past and had been contacted by an adopter that was struggling with one of the two JRTs that she had adopted.  Joy held the adopters and my hand and showed me what it meant to be really committed to a rescue dog.  The adopters worked through the dogs issues and Joy agreed to continuing to assist us.  Anyone that knows Joy, knows that she has a heart of gold and a love for these dogs that runs deep!

Ania Tysarzyck, Los Angeles Foster Coordinator decided to give fostering a try in May 2009.  We knew each other from a great online forum of many wonderful Jack Russell Lovers.  Ania has an amazing knowledge of homeopathic medicine and has worked her "magic" on many of our sick rescue dogs.  I truly believe that without Ania Romeo (the wonder dog) wouldn't be alive today.

Ally Edgerton, San Diego, Foster Coordinator also contacted me in May 2009. Anyone that does rescue in So. Ca. knows of or has heard of Ally Edgerton and if they don't they should!  Ally loves all dogs but has a special place in her heart for Jack Russells.  At first Ally helped by arranging transports, recommending fosters and calling upon her many connections to get Jacks saved soon she joined our team.

Julia Campbell's  fiance Joseph answered an ad in Craigslist in July 2009.  We needed a foster for an 8 yr. old dog that was destined for the shelter without a foster. Max went on to find a wonderful new home and Julia became the No. CA Foster Coordinator until they returned to the Los Angeles Area.  Coincidentally Julia grew up very near to my house and actually tutored my daughter in law when she was in high school.  Julia and Joseph continue to foster for Russell Rescue.

Debi Matlock, Ventura County Foster Coordinator just recently joined the team.  She adopted Ziggy from Karen and saw my plea on Facebook for Foster Coordinators.  She and her husband, Jim, have been helping with transports for the past several months.  She already has two fosters and is proving to be a wonderful asset to our team.

Of course there are so many others on the team that foster, transport and provide endless support!  It is not possible to name them all but we thank them from the bottom of our hearts!

Rescue is not for the weak of heart it is certainly one of the most rewarding and frustrating things that I have ever done. Every day we are presented with more needy Jack Russell Terriers, and when there are no foster families to help take them in, it can be a heart-wrenching ordeal to turn any away. Since we don't have a shelter, fosters are invaluable to us, their numbers dictate how many lives we can save. Without Rescues and Fosters, most dogs never make it out of the shelter alive.

We can't save them all but we keep trying!

Kathy

Another person's treasurer...

Tweet

The saying goes "One person's trash is another person's treasure" but no dog should be anyone's trash; least of all Lolli...
In August, 2009 I received a very upsetting email from someone that wanted to know if their dog "was worth rescuing or if she should just be "put down".  The email went on to describe how Lolli had been attacked by coyotes twice and then at 7yrs old was banished from the family home, when she displayed some aggression towards a small child that accidentally leaned on her wounds, to live in a pen outside for the next couple of years and then sent to live with another family member.  While living with the family member she wandered out an open gate only to get into an altercation with a stray dog which to the family was the last straw. At 9 years old Lolli had to go!

I forwarded the email to Karen who without a second thought went and picked her up.  Karen fostered Lolli for several months each day loving her a little more.  But as much as Karen loved Lolli she knew that there was someone that needed Lolli as much as she needed them!  Lolli's new family tells the rest of the story.

I first met Lolli on Christmas day at her foster mom’s home.  Karen was Lolli’s mom and had been for several months.  Karen opened her home to me on this special day with open arms and smiles.  She was incredible with Lolli and her long time JRT pup Eddie.  I know it was not easy to let Lolli go for Karen as she was already in love with her, but she did with large tears in her eyes and everything I needed to start our new adventure together.

Lolli was my first dog in twenty years and let’s just say I was past ready.  She was everything I hoped for and more.  Loyal, courageous, funny, and very loving!  We had great fun and she brought joy to me each and every day.  We became quick best buddies and were inseparable.

Our journey has been beautiful, but by no means easy.  Lolli was injured on the bottom of her left paw about a month after I got her.  What seemed to be a minor problem, turned into a disaster for our family.  Lolli lost her front leg to constant complications and a wound that just would not heal.  It was devastating for us that our pup had to suffer.  Karen, her foster mom, stood by us through the whole ordeal.  She met me at the vets, and we greeted Lolli to come home after her surgery.  She contributed to the cost out of her own money. She loves Lolli pup and is a life saver to support me in times of sorrow and happiness. Lolli was an incredibly courageous dog to pull through such a set back.  And she did!!

Lolli has helped me make a home at our new house.  She spends every day with me gardening, watching birds, and enjoying life!  I have shared our good times with Karen and she just loves to hear and see what a good match she made that wonderful Christmas day over a year ago now.  Lolli was the best Christmas present I have ever received.  Thank you very much for all that you do!!

Linda Reed and Lolli Pup

Love each other forever

Crazy Daisy: From Shelter Dog to Hero

Tweet

Daisy

It's hard to imagine that this little girl was scheduled for euthanasia at a Los Angeles shelter only a few months ago.  Shortly after she went to her fosters Becca and Juan I received these great pictures along with the following note,  "She's probably the best little doggie we've fostered yet. She's fun loving, energetic, and friendly with everyone." 

Not long after a wonderful family in Ventura adopted Daisy.  But a week later I received a surprising call; Daisy's adoptive family was concerned because Daisy wasn't bonding with the family as quickly as they had hoped she would.  She was also urinating on the sofa at night and ignoring everyone, preferring instead to obsessively chase a ball!  Since Russell Rescue always allows a dog to be returned if the adoption isn't working out the story could have ended there. But Ania and Becca had strong instincts about this family and saw how much they loved the pets they had.  So I took a chance and called them to see if we could help.  I made some simple recommendations and they made a commitment to implement them.

Yesterday I received another call to tell me how wonderful "Crazy Daisy" is!  How she rules the house and that none of them could remember what it was like before she arrived.  How she had bonded with the family particularly the 9 yr old daughter and how she slept in her room every night!  I told her I was thrilled and prepared to hang up when she asked if I had time to hear about what had happened last weekend?  Well, sure!

"Last weekend our daughter developed an upper respiratory infection so we took her to her Doctor.  The Doctor said with bed rest she should be fine.  At 10 pm I went in to check on her and she was sleeping peacefully with Daisy at the foot of her bed, at 10:30 my husband went into check on her and she seemed fine.  At 11pm she came into our room and could barely breath.  We immediately rushed her to the hospital where they gave her a breathing treatment.  On the way home, I commented on how fortunate it was that she woke when she did and she said "Mom, I didn't wake up; Daisy woke me up she kept barking and pawing at me until I woke up."  The next day Daisy wouldn't leave my daughters side and instead of sleeping at the foot of her bed she snuggled up right next to her only leaving her when necessary. We truly believe that Daisy saved our daughter life."

From Shelter Dog to Hero!