Critters in Need Pet Rescue

How to Donate & Not Spend a Dime!

2011-06-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

Want to help homeless dogs and cats but can't really afford to donate? No problem. You can donate to Critters in Need Pet Rescue by signing up with iGive.com. Be sure to choose Critters in Need Pet Rescue as your cause of choice.

Shop using iGive, and up to 26% of your purchase at over 800 great stores is automatically donated to Critters in Need Pet Rescue.

Search using iGive and Critters in Need will receive a penny for each search. It all adds up!

Please use www.GoodSearch.com when searching the Internet and help Critters in Need Pet Rescue earn money! It's free and it helps saves lives! Make sure you specify CNPR as your charity. Here's the link: www.iSearchiGive.com/CNPR

www.iGive.com/CNPR
www.iSearchiGive.com/CNPR

Little Montana Plays with Jeter

2011-04-12T15:34:00.001-07:00

Can Montana Play, Or What?

2011-04-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

Keno, Happy and Relaxed

2011-04-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Look how happy and relaxed Keno, a purebred German shepherd, is, at an adoption event, no less! He loves being brushed and actually fell asleep later.. Keno needs a home! Contact k9@crittersinneed.org to meet this great boy. Here's his Petfinder page:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18535262

Buddy's Shelter Video

2011-04-02T23:22:00.000-07:00

Buddy Rescued!

2011-04-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

An email went out to save Buddy, this sweet 10-year-old doxie mix. The shelter volunteers adored him and were worried he wouldn't make it out alive.

I took one look at his shelter video and just fell for the little guy. He was so cute and playful! He loves his toys. We rescued him today!

A shelter volunteer wrote me after hearing we rescued him and said that Buddy was in "the nose program" at the shelter. She said he has a great nose for finding things!

Isn't Buddy a doll? Check him out on our website to learn more about this boy and to see his video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9iWHEFDut8

The Tragic Shepherd

2011-03-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

We rescued two shepherd mixes from a high-kill shelter that were on death row yesterday afternoon. The shelter told no one that one of the dogs was very sick. Amazing that they didn't notice his very labored breathing (watch the videos I took this morning and you too will wonder how they missed it).
The poor boy. I rushed him to my vet this morning. He was really struggling. Breathing was difficult. He'd walk a little bit, but then he'd give up and lie back down again.

My vet said his tongue was blue and that he would need oxygen right away. Also, the dog would need the usual blood and urine tests and x-rays. Naturally, he would have needed to be hospitalized. There were lesions (I think that's the word they used) on the tongue and eyelid.

But the vet said that he could tell by the way he was breathing that he had partial laryngeal paralysis. (And likely pneumonia, even a possibility of cancer.) They couldn't even find out the extent of the paralysis because he'd have to be sedated, which was not possible in his current condition. Basically they said that his prognosis was so guarded, coupled with the fact that the laryngeal paralysis could only be managed for a time before he would suffocate ... the vet said that there really wasn't much of a choice but to put him down.

I cried buckets and went through almost a whole box of Kleenex. I petted him for almost 45 minutes, telling him what a good boy he was. It was so awful. I wanted to save him so much. You could tell he had been a pretty dog when he was young. I rubbed his ears a lot and talked to him. I told him I loved him.

I couldn't stay in the room with him when they did it ... I was already a basket case, so they took him in the back. When they opened the door to take him into the back, he got up and walked through the door.

But at least he got another day with his sister, the dog he came in with. He wasn't at that horrible shelter in an outside run with no bedding to keep him warm. He slept on blankets last night and spent some time in the sun this morning. But I'm still devastated. I really wanted to save him. I'm crying as I write this.

I had called the shelter on the way to the vet to find out what I could about him. Turns out that the dogs' owner had died and the next-of-kin didn't want them, so they dumped the dogs at the shelter. Nice.

This shelter does not have a vet on staff like many shelters do. A vet does a visual exam of the dogs at intake, I was told on the phone. If all seems well, the dog does not get looked at again by a vet unless it stops eating and drinking. This poor boy did not receive any medications while he was at the shelter. He arrived on the 7th and exited on the 23rd.

I called the shelter again to see if they could tell me the other dog's name or if there was a way to get the rabies info (both dogs had their rabies shots in Dec. 2010), but seems the family didn't bother to supply any of that.

We'll need to vet the other dog soon. She has diarrhea, but we don't see anything that requires immediate vetting.

Compare his intake photo taken on March 7 to the photo and videos taken today. What a change.

Snowball and his brand new pal, Milo

2011-03-12T22:19:00.000-08:00

Rocky A3982427

2011-02-12T23:42:00.000-08:00

This was a video made of Rocky back in June 2009 at the Baldwin Park shelter. (Found there was a posting of it still on the internet.) I saw him there and rescued him--couldn't let this sweet old boy die in the shelter! He was quickly adopted by a lovely couple who gave him a great life. I was lucky to be Rocky's pet sitter in September 2010. Rocky died a few months later of cancer. I will miss him. Rocky was a love.

Yvette, a blue point Siamese, needs a home!

2011-02-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

Boomer, the Adorable Australian Shepherd!

2010-12-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

Lupo Being Affectionate

2010-10-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

Lupo Shows Off His Commands

2010-10-31T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sweet Blue Point Siamese Cat Needs Rescuing!

2010-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

Contact Debra@CrittersInNeed.org if you can help!

Stray Cats Need Rescuing!

2010-10-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

Coco is KooKoo for ...

2010-08-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

Bella the Min Pin Puppy

2010-08-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Voice For The Voiceless: Caught on Camera: Activist Arrested After Attempted Dog Rescue

2010-08-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Voice For The Voiceless: Caught on Camera: Activist Arrested After Attempted Dog Rescue

Tucker, a Dog Looking for his Forever Home!

2010-08-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Dolly the Pit Bull

2010-08-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is a story about a Pit Bull's struggle to survive and overcome society's negative stereotype and discrimination. Say no to BSL!! Please remember to spay and neuter your pets! And most importantly, PLEASE adopt a Pit Bull from your local shelter!!

Dolly now has a Facebook page. Please find her on FB at "Dolly the Pit Bull" for further updates on her success.

URGENT! Toby Needs ACL surgery NOW!

2010-07-31T11:40:00.001-07:00

Toby is a 3-year-old dog that needs surgery immediately! He has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The surgery needs to be done ASAP since secondary joint damage will occur, which is irreversible.

Toby is a sweetheart of a dog that lost his home. He spent 11 months in a kennel with his brother, Herman. Finally, Toby and Herman were recently adopted by a retired couple who heard their sad story.

BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE SURGERY! Please help this wonderful dog live a long life, pain-free!

Donations Needed! See Your Donations At Work!

2010-07-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Donations are sorely needed to continue our rescue work.

There are always more dogs in need of rescuing from high-kill shelters, dogs that need vet care, kenneling ... the list goes on.

Here are some examples of dogs that came to us in great need:

The first dog, Beau, had demodex mange so severe that his gums and paws were swollen ... and his feet bled when he walked. Now look at gorgeous he looks!

The second dog shown here, Canelo (the little chi), had been dumped by his owners at a high-kill shelter. He almost didn't survive the experience. He ended up with pneumonia and a staph infection. He became skin and bones.

Little Canelo had to go to a specialist because our vet couldn't get him well. Again, thanks to your generous donations, Canelo was saved and now has a happy life in his forever home.

The last dog shown here is Gideon. When his owner asked us to take him, we saw that he was in horrible shape. He had been left outside in the searing heat, was covered in sores and flies, couldn't walk--he could barely lift his head.

The vet suggested that we put him down as the dog had a heart condition on top of everything else, but we couldn't do that--not without at least trying to save his life.

Amazingly, the dog surprised all of us, including our vet, and he responded well to treatment. He was standing in a week! He has been adopted out with his "sister."

But we couldn't have done it without your donations. Please donate to help us continue our work.

To Donate to Critters in Need Pet Rescue, and to ensure that 100% of your donation goes to Critters in Need Pet Rescue when using Paypal,

Go to https://www.paypal.com/

Click on Personal or Home.

Then click on Send Money Online.

Click on the PERSONAL tab and choose GIFT.

Send donations to this email address: Donations@CrittersInNeed.org

It's that easy! And thank you for your support!

Questions? Please email Dogs@CrittersInNeed.org

Montego, Nikki and TREATS!

2010-07-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

Montego, the Golden Retriever, Needs a Forever Home!

2010-06-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Herman & Toby Adopted--in AZ!

2010-06-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right! These two sweet brothers finally got adopted when someone read their sad story on Petfinder.com. The only problem was that the couple lived in Tucson and we only adopt out in California (because we always do home checks).

Well, we talked to the couple at length, and they were so patient with the process. Finally, a rescuer who lives in AZ did the home check. All was well, so I rented a car and drove Herman and Toby to their new home.

We took off on a Saturday and got there that night. I spent the night at their new home, helping the dogs and the new owners to get acclimated. I was sad that I could only stay overnight, but I had to get back home.

I was sad to say good bye to Herman and Toby also, but so happy to finally have these two loves in their forever home--and together too! No small feat to keep two dogs that love each other (and are brothers to boot) together, especially two mastiff mixes.

But we did it! And Herman and Toby can now live happily ever after.

P.S. Herman is the brown brindle and Toby is the black dog. Aren't they adorable? I sure think so! :-D

A Tragic Story

2010-01-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

This is the true story of two brave momma dogs named Skylar and Snowy. Skylar had 10 puppies and Snowy had 9 puppies.

Both mommies and their babies were imprisoned at the Devore shelter and were slated to die. A nice lady named Kym couldn't bear to see this happen, so she rescued them and took them in.

Both mommies took such good care of their babies ... feeding them, cleaning them and giving them lots of love.

Suddenly, distemper reared its ugly head.

Now both Skylar and Snowy are dead. Tragically, all of Snowy's puppies are dead and only two of Skylar's puppies are still alive.

One of Skylar's puppies, Batman, is at the vet right now, fighting to survive. (Hope is the only puppy who is doing well.)

Vet bills are now up to $9,200! We need your help to continue in the fight to save Batman. (See his photo at left. The second photo shows him with his sister, Fozzy Bear, who died this week because her trachea was too small and she couldn't breathe. (Watch her video.)

You can help by donating to Critters in Need Pet Rescue via Paypal

Traditional veterinary treatment for distemper was tried, as well as a cutting edge distemper serum. Nothing helped.

The puppies kept dying. Two died on Christmas Day. It seemed that a day didn't go by when there wasn't bad news.

It all started when suddenly, one of Skylar's puppies, Galileo, stopped eating. (Watch the video of Skylar and Galileo.)

Galileo died, despite blood transfusions and being in an incubator. And his mommy, Skylar, died on the operating table while undergoing an emergency hysterectomy.

The other puppies began to get sick ... and one of them tested positive for distemper.

Snowy got pneumonia. We discovered that she had been shot with a BB gun and had over 20 pellets in her soft tissue! (You can see some of the pellets in the x-ray.)

Snowy was hospitalized but sadly, never responded to treatment. Her condition continued to deteriorate.

I visited her at the vet and took her on a little walk to see if that would help her feel better. I was shocked to see how thin she was. You can compare the photos for yourself and you'll see the change in poor Snowy.

I petted her and gave her kisses. And it hurt to see her walk so slowly ... but at least Snowy got to stand in the sun and feel the dirt beneath her paws one last time. (Watch her video.)

Poor Snowy collapsed the next day. The vets tried to revive her, but she died.

And then more and more of Skylar's and Snowy's puppies died.

This has been a tragedy. Please help in this fight to save Batman. Please donate to Critters in Need Pet Rescue. You can donate via Paypal.

Super Adoption Weekend!!

2009-11-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

Please come to Critters in Need's Super Adoption Weekend, November 14 and 15, from noon to 4 p.m. We'll have lots of terrific dogs up for adoption, special gifts for adopters, exciting raffles, bring your dog and get him microchipped, popcorn ... and FUN!

Attached is the flyer I did for the Big Adoption event next weekend. Please share this info with family and friends ... the more people that come, the more fun we'll have--and the more dogs will find FOREVER HOMES!

Hope to see you there!

Gideon and Berlin Adopted!

2009-09-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

When we rescued Gideon, the vet advised us to put him down. He couldn't walk, couldn't even lift his head--and was covered in flies.

Now he is on four, long-term meds, and is doing amazingly well! We soon had him at a couple of adoption events, something we never thought would happen. To our utmost surprise, Gideon was walking around, standing for four hours and licking everyone's legs!

And guess what?

Gideon got adopted! And with Berlin, his "sister," no less! We couldn't be happier about it.

The first photos show Gideon when we first got him, and the last photo shows how good he looks a few weeks later.

We couldn't have done it without your donations! Thanks to all who donated for this sweet senior boy.

Oliver Adopted & Paul Mitchell Event Tomorrow!

2009-09-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Oliver, our long-coated rottie that we've had since February, got adopted today! His new family has a female rottie, and Ollie sure seemed pretty comfortable around her! So we're all happy for him!

Although, I have to confess, I teared up when they drove away ... I'll miss him. But he finally has his own family, so happiness for him sure outweighs any personal sadness on my part.

The first photo is a recent one, taken after he was shaved down. The second photo was taken awhile ago, when he had all his glorious fur! YEAH, OLLIE!

COME MEET US SUNDAY AT PAUL MITCHELL, THE SCHOOL. It should be so much fun! Vendors, such as dog walkers, obedience trainers, and many more, will be there! Plus there will be face painting for the kids, food, dog grooming, pet photos, a pet food and supplies drive, and FUN. Plus, there will be lots of terrific dogs looking for their forever homes.

Proceeds will benefit the OC Humane Society and Critters in Need Pet Rescue.

The Pet Day and Adoption Fair is September 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the corner of Harbor and Adams in Costa Mesa, CA.

Hope to see you there!

Woof!

Yippee!! All Four Puppies Are Out Of Cages!

2009-08-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

The good news is that all the Devore Four puppies are in foster homes! YEAH!! And we couldn't have done it without all of your help. The power of networking is not to be underestimated!

Here's a picture of Bean at his new foster home ... isn't he a cutie?
Bean's new best friend is a kitten, Oreo is getting to know the foster's other dogs (Oreo never got sick, so it's OK for him to be around other dogs) and today, Mandy and Candy are back together again at the home of one of our Critters' volunteers.

I picked Mandy up first at the vet. She was a little hesitant but so glad to be out of ISO! Then I drove to the other vet to pick up Candy. Well, you should have seen Mandy perk up with she saw Candy! She became her old self almost immediately, which was my goal in putting them back together. She wanted out of her crate NOW, but the poor kid had to wait until we got to the foster home.

This first video was shot immediately after they were let loose--and boy, did they have a blast. Soon afterwards, Mandy and Candy discovered the bags of dog food I had brought, and they were digging at them, trying to open them. Mandy chowed down as if she hadn't eaten in days! I think she didn't eat much while at the vet, so it'll be gratifying to see her put on much needed weight!

Mandy & Candy, free at last!

Mandy & Candy at their foster home.

Compare these videos to this one of a very sad Mandy taken a few days ago.

And here's a photo and video of little Oreo at his foster home. Is he cute, or what?
Again, thank you all for networking for fosters for these four puppies. Without your help, we couldn't have done gotten these sweethearts out of their cages at the vet and into loving foster homes.

But the battle isn't over yet. The not-so-good news concerns the vet bills. We've gotten in some donations (and again, thank you to all of you who donated), but we still owe the two vets approximately $2,700 (down from $3,700). We need to pay them off quickly; the vets have been so kind to us and the little puppies.

Please donate via Paypal.

We're so grateful that all three puppies survived--and that little Oreo never got sick! Again, we couldn't have done it without all of you!

Good News--and Bad News!!

2009-08-12T14:26:00.001-07:00

The Good News is the Devore Four are now healthy. The three that got parvo (Mandy, Candy and Bean) can go to foster homes. Oreo never got parvo. Here's a video of them taken before we knew they had been exposed to parvo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlzncFJgedQ

The BAD NEWS is that the vet bills will be around $3,700! Money we don't have.

We wish to thank those who have opened up their hearts to these little sweeties and donated for them. But we have received no where near $3,700!

Please help us with these sweethearts' vet bills! Donating for these puppies will enable us to continue with our very important rescue work. Without donations, we can't save more lives. Any amount will help ... $1, $5, $10 ....

Please donate by going to http://crittersrescueonline.org/

and Click on the Donate button

here's our Paypal link: http://tinyurl.com/4gsxe2

Also, please tell family and friends about some of our other great dogs. Adopting out our other dogs can certainly help make a dent in this staggering vet bill.

See some of our terrific dogs at:
http://crittersrescueonline.org/available_dogs.html

Be sure to note that there are two pages of dogs that need homes.

There has been some interest in fostering some of the puppies, but nothing is set yet. So please, network for fosters for Mandy, Candy and Bean. Please remember that they can't be around dogs for two months--cats are OK.

Thank you all so much for caring about these little puppies.

URGENT: NEED FOSTERS FOR 3 PUPPIES!

2009-08-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

PLEASE CROSS POST!

We don't have fosters for any of the recovering puppies, so they're stuck in cages at the vet. Please foster Mandy, Bean or Candy! Please email us at Critters in Need at Dogs@CrittersRescue.com or call 562-889-2801 if you can foster!
Mandy is a little lab mix puppy that needs your help! She is healthy now, but because she's a parvo survivor, she needs to be in a home with no other dogs for two months. (The virus is shed for two months so would be contagious to other dogs.) Cat owners can foster this little sweetheart with no problem.

Mandy can't go on walks for two months, but that's OK coz puppies are best kept in the house and backyard until they have all their shots. Vet visits and food will be paid for by Critters in Need. All you need to supply is the love.

Candy and Bean are adorable two month old puppies that are in the same boat as Mandy. Now healthy, they too need foster homes. Again, cat owners can easily foster them.

We will gladly take the puppies back after the two month quarantine. If you want to adopt one of these cuties, you can take them out to training classes or for puppy play dates at other people's houses after the two month period is over. In other words, the puppies can lead a normal life. Just don't bring dogs over to your house for about six months as the virus lives outside the host for about that long.

Please help get Mandy, Candy and Bean out of their cages at the vet by telling family and friends about our blog and of their predicament. Word of mouth helps!

We wish to thank all of you who have donated for The Devore Four. (The Devore Four are four puppies we rescued from the Devore shelter; three ended up with parvo. All four are still at the vet.)

We are still quite a long way from our goal—the vet bills will be in the low thousands. Critters in Need is a small, grassroots dog rescue organization made up entirely of volunteers, so to us, this is a small fortune. And every day that the puppies are stuck at the vet, the cost rises.

Please give what you can ... $1, $5, $10 ... it all will help us help these adorable puppies.

To use Paypal, go to our website, http://crittersrescue.org/ and click on the Donate button

or go to this link:
http://tinyurl.com/4gsxe2

Other ways to donate include shopping our Critters Doggie Boutique. Here you can shop for dog clothes and other accessories on our website.
http://crittersrescueonline.org/doggieclothes.html

We also have attractive dog carriers available for purchase ... please contact Alma @ Alma@CrittersRescue.com for more information.

And every time you search online using www.iSearchiGive.com/CNPR or purchase items through www.iGive.com/CNPR, Critters in Need gets a small donation. So you can donate to us and not spend a dime!

Thank you all so much!

Critters in Need Pet Rescue
www.crittersrescue.org/

Update on The Devore Four

2009-08-07T23:35:00.000-07:00

Mandy, Bean and Candy all ended up with parvo. Bean was very sick--we were so worried he wouldn't make it. Oreo never got sick.

But all have come through and now need foster homes.

This is an update on the Devore Four--the four puppies that we rescued from death from the Devore shelter. As you may have heard, they were exposed to parvo. Three of the four puppies got sick. We were afraid Bean wasn't going to make it, but he's improving.

All the puppies are two months old, except for Mandy who is three months old. Bean weighs 4.5 lbs. and Mandy weighed 18 lbs. when we first got her two weeks ago.

Mandy is still at my vet--in a cage--waiting for her foster home. My vet calls me daily to see if I've found a foster home for her so that she can go home. But, right now, Mandy is homeless. PLEASE network for a foster home for her and for Bean and Candy.

We also are far from being able to pay our vet bills. Thank you to those who have donated already for these four wonderful puppies.

Please donate via Paypal at http://tinyurl.com/4gsxe2

I've attached a poster that I made showing all four puppies. Click on it to enlarge. Please post wherever you can--work, your groomers, dry cleaners ....

The Devore Four Have Names!

2009-07-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Here are the two boys: Bean and Oreo. The two girls are Candy and Mandy. So far, so good.

But we're still in dire need of fosters for Bean and Oreo! We're racking up vet bills at $43/day and the puppies have to be quarantineed until August. 1.

Please contact us right away! Debra@CrittersRescue.com

PLEASE HELP THESE FOUR PUPPIES!

2009-07-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

PLEASE NETWORK!!

Meet our latest babies. Aren't they adorable? The little ones are only two months old. The larger pup is three months old.

There are two girls and two boys. The two girls have been named Mandy and Candy. Please leave comments to help us name the two little boys.

These four sweet little puppies were pulled on Saturday from the high-kill Devore shelter. All were slated for euthanasia and were very lucky to escape with their lives. But during transport down to us, they were exposed to a sick puppy that someone else was rescuing that was later diagnosed with PARVO and SCABIES.

Sadly, the sick puppy died today.

Our four puppies seem healthy ... yes, they had fleas, ticks and worms--and three of them tested positive for coccidia. But they had baths, were de-wormed and are being treated for coccidia. Otherwise, they seem to be in good health.

But now they can't go to their pre-arranged foster homes for 14 days nor can we re-home them! They need to stay in quarantine to ensure that they aren't sick. My vet couldn't board them for us, so yesterday I was scrambling to get those puppies moved immediately.

Two of the puppies were placed in a temporary foster home yesterday, but she can only keep them for a few days. The other two are being boarded at another vet at $43/day, but we're out of funds and we can't afford it.

PLEASE DONATE for their care!
So far the tab for the Devore Four is at $600 and climbing. We do not have the funds for continued boarding and subsequent vet bills.

Donate Using Paypal
http://tinyurl.com/4gsxe2

PLEASE FOSTER!
These little ones are small--you can put them in a bathroom or even a laundry room. The smallest puppy weighs 4.8 lbs. The largest puppy weighs 18 lbs. They just need love and attention and also to be watched for any signs of illness. I feel pretty confident that they won't get sick (keeping all paws crossed), but they can't be intermingled with other dogs right now. Cat rescuers can take them in, however. (The vet did a parvo test on the two being boarded at his hospital and it was negative. But parvo takes 3 to 14 days to incubate, so it's too early to tell at this point if anything will develop. The vet was very nice and did not charge us for the parvo tests.)

Please contact us right away if you're able to help us help the Devore Four during this critical time.

Debra@CrittersRescue.com

Thank you!

Kaiden & Lupo--Two Homeless Pups!

2009-06-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is an emergency! These two puppies found themselves suddenly homeless, so Critters in Need took them in. We found a foster home for them, but it fell through. We have to find a foster home for these two sweeties by June 24!

Kaiden is a gold and white 5-month-old aussie/border collie mix. Lupo is a black and white 9-month-old lab/shep mix. They're sweet puppies too and love to be petted. Lupo loves to play! They are real cuties and ride well in the car, too. Both pups are neutered.
PLEASE help us find a foster home for them. These two boys cannot be kenneled. They're young and need to be in a home. They're been through so much already, that their luck needs to change for them.

They need security, like all puppies, and they just want to be loved.

Here are some videos of them--as you can see, they're very sweet:

In the first video, they're playing with another dog (black, long-coated dog). They had just met her and Lupo was especially excited to play with her. When all three dogs relaxed, we let them play off leash and they did great. They ignored each other at first and sniffed around but quickly began playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRkPWUyc_Fw

Mainly of Kaiden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7saOC4SCnk

In the car with me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx6EWlhcmQI

Walking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtLcS4YcjR0

PLEASE email us at Dogs@CrittersRescue.com to foster or adopt these two cuties!

Rescued 5 Dogs--Need Fosters to Rescue 2 More!

2009-06-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Ran out to Baldwin Park shelter twice last week to meet and rescue dogs. All dogs are sweet and in great danger.

We pulled five dogs but need fosters to save the other two.

This is Jessie. She's a real sweetie and has already given me kisses. I promised her I'd get her out of there somehow ... to have her die would just be too awful.

This is Nanook, another sweetheart. If we just had a foster for him, we could save his life.

There are two other dogs in great danger. Again, we can't save them without fosters.

Here are the dogs we saved last week:

TASHA. Very pretty girl. Submissive, sweet.

LION KING. Gorgeous dog. Just a doll.

OLIVE. Pretty, calm little girl. Very good with her new gal pal, Lucy. NEEDS FOSTER.

LUCY. What a little cutie with those big ears. NEEDS FOSTER.LUCY. What a little cutie with those big ears. NEEDS FOSTER.

ROCKY. Lovely older gentleman. NEEDS FOSTER!ROCKY. Lovely older gentleman. NEEDS FOSTER!

PLEASE contact us at Dogs@CrittersRescue.com if you can foster.

Canelo Is Struggling

2009-05-30T12:16:00.001-07:00

Poor Canelo. Now the right middle lobe of his lung has collapsed. The vet can't get it to re-inflate and we don't know why this happened. Canelo also turned blue while they were taking new x-rays ... he couldn't breathe.

He's been in an oxygen tent since yesterday. Hopefully he can be released today and go back to his foster home. (Yes, we found a foster home for him!)

More tests are needed than originally thought ... this poor boy has been through so much! He hasn't been able to shake off the pneumonia entirely either.

We're hoping it's fungal and then they can hit him with the right anti-fungal meds. I sure hope it's not bacteria resistant or a virus ... then we're kinda up a creek, so to speak. If that's the case, it's a matter of getting his body stronger so he can fight this off.

It can also be COPD (lung disease) or PIE syndrome (Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia; a disease of dogs of unknown origin.

We need help for his medical bills and his subsequent treatment. Click Here to donate via Paypal.

Thank you for caring about this little sweetie.

Canelo Back At the Vet--Again! Need Foster!

2009-05-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Canelo was coughing up a storm, so we took him back to the vet on Saturday.

We took another x-ray. The lungs looked OK. There was some consolidation and some bronchial changes but nothing to indicate why he's having problems exhaling. His cough is dry and hacking, and my vet said he could hear him wheezing across the room. So sad to see him cough his little lungs out like that!

My vet wanted to check if there was some kind of blockage around the trachea, which could be an easy repair. So poor Canelo had to spend the night--again--at the vet. This morning, Canelo was put under to examine the trachea. Unfortunately, it was wide open--no blockage here. So no easy fix.

The vet then added a bronchial dilator pill to the mix. He started Canelo on a lower dosage to build up tolerance and then we'll be upping the dosage in a few days. Let's hope this works. Keep your fingers crossed!

Canelo was released today. This bill was approximately $105. So far, the vet bills have totaled about $1,500--and still he's not well.

We need to do the BAL immediately, but we can't because we don't have the funds. We need to raise $1,200 to $1,800.

Canelo has to go to a specialist for this procedure. They'll put him under, take a sample from the lungs using brush cytology and then do a culture from the sample.

It's the only way we can find out why he's still coughing and wheezing up a storm.

Please go to http://crittersrescueonline.org/index.html to donate via PayPal.

And we still have no foster for him! He's now at our group's founder house, but she's having surgery in a few days and will not be able to look after him.

Canelo really is an easy dog to foster. He just needs to have his meds and that's about it.

Please email us at Dogs@CrittersRescue.com if you can foster.

Thank you all for caring about this special little boy.

Canelo Needs Specialist & New Foster Home!

2009-05-18T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's confirmed. Canelo needs to see a specialist.

Canelo went back to my vet today to see how he's doing on the prednisone. Unfortunately, his breathing is still quite labored. Just terrible. And you can hear the wheezing and whistling in his lungs just by putting your ear near his chest. He also had a coughing spell while we were waiting in the lobby--I described it as a coughing spasm to the vet. He just couldn't stop.

His energy level is low and can't go on walks. He was more playful today, his foster told me, which was good news. Although, he is still thin, he has gained a pound since we got him out of the shelter, so luckily, he is no longer skeletal.

My vet confirmed today that he needs to have the BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage) with a fiber optic scope as quickly as possible. They'll use a brush to brush the lungs and gather a sample for culture.

Some of you have donated already for Canelo, and this is so appreciated. However, we need to raise about $1,200 to $1,800 just to have the BAL, and so far, we've raised about $300. If anyone knows of a specialist for lung issues like this, and who might do the BAL for a lower cost, please let me know.

We also need a new foster for Canelo by Wednesday (in Orange County or Long Beach). His current fosters love him very much, but they were only able to keep him for three weeks, and it's been more than that. They're going out of town on vacation on Thursday.

Canelo is an easy little dog. He loves to be petted and he gets along with dogs and cats, too. Because of his labored breathing, he shouldn't be taken on walks yet.

Canelo is one of the nicest, gentlest little dogs I've had the privilege to meet.

The Facts About Canelo ...

2009-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

Canelo was released by my vet on Wednesday, after being hospitalized for nine days. He was put on prednisone and a cough suppressant. Other than that, there is nothing else my vet can do for him.

We'll know more by Monday, but it looks like Canelo will need to go to a specialist for a BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage) with a fiber optic scope. Brush cytology. They'll use a brush to brush the lungs and gather a sample for culture.

This is an expensive procedure ... I got a quote from one internist that the procedure will cost between $1,200 and $1,800.

Also there are possible dangers to this procedure; however, we may have no choice in the matter. The need to find out what is going on outweighs any possible risks. And the belief is that this is a fairly safe procedure.

My vet had Canelo on broad spectrum antibiotics but had to switch him to the most potent antiobiotic that they have--Amikacin. You can't use this drug long-term as it can cause kidney damage. Yet still he was coughing and heaving even with this drug.

As of today, Canelo is still exhibiting very deep breathing. When you hold him, you feel his lungs--his body--heaving. It's the weirdest thing to see and feel--very disturbing

The pred is helping; his coughing is down and he's eating. But he's still deep breathing.

Canelo could have several things going on ... the problem could be:

• fungal
• resistant bacteria
• COPD (lung disease)--Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• PIE syndrome--Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia; a disease of dogs of unknown origin characterized by dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, diffuse pulmonary infiltration by eosinophils and an eosinophilia.

Boy, do I hope it's fungal and can be easily treated!

We will assess Canelo again on Monday. If he is still breathing heavily by then, we will have to go through with the procedure.

Sadly, we don't have the resources to cover this procedure, so once again we turn to you for donations so this sweet boy may get the medical help he needs to recover. And Canelo deserves to live a long, healthy and happy life--he really is a special little dog.

Click Here to donate using Paypal.

Critters in Need now offers dog clothes and accessories, available by donation. So deck out your dog in the latest fashion and help Canelo at the same time.

Thank you so much for caring about this special little boy.

Canelo Needs To See A Specialist!

2009-05-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

The vet called me this morning ....

Canelo had been taken off of meds for two days, but the coughing came back just as strong as it had been when he was first admitted to the hospital eight days ago. His little chest is heaving, yet his lungs are clear. I'm sure glad I opted to keep him at the vet that extra day. It was important to know this.

There is no more that my vet can do for him; he needs to see a respiratory specialist. A sample needs to be taken from the lungs to see what is going on. But Critters in Need Pet Rescue, a group made up solely of volunteers, does not have the $1,000 to pay for this procedure.

Canelo will be released today to his foster home with prednisone and cough medicine. I'm hoping these new meds will help manage the coughing. It's important that scarring of the lungs does not occur.

But pred can only be used for a limited time, so it's important that Canelo go to the specialist as soon as possible.

We need your help to raise the $1,000 for this procedure. Please click here to donate.

Canelo Had a Relapse!

2009-05-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sweet Canelo is back in the hospital!

He never quite kicked the pneumonia and suddenly began struggling to breathe. His whole body heaved with the effort. When I put my ear to his chest, I could hear the wheezing and rattling. Little Canelo also was very dehydrated.

But all through the examination at the vet, Canelo was such a trooper. I put my arms around him while he was on the examining table and he began showering me with kisses. He kissed me so much that he licked all my freshly applied lipstick off!

The vet called me today and said that it was good news. The x-rays show that the pneumonia is not consolidated, which means that it's spread throughout the lungs and is therefore much easier to treat.

Canelo will be hospitalized for at least several days, which again, means a large vet bill. He'll need several x-rays, IVs, antibiotics, breathing treatments, hospitalization ... it all adds up. My guess is that it will end up being what it was the last time--$1,200.

Canelo is such a special little boy. He has to be the gentlest little dog I've ever met, and he has so much love to give. Your donations will help us help Canelo so he never has to go through this again.

Thank you so much for caring about this special little boy.

Click Here to donate using Paypal.

Critters in Need now offers dog clothes and accessories, available by donation. So deck out your dog in the latest fashion and help Canelo at the same time!

UPDATE: May 7 - Canelo will be moved out of ISO today. They'll continue with the breathing treatments, antibiotics, IVs. He hasn't coughed since yesterday. If he continues to not cough, they'll probably be able to send him home tomorrow.

UPDATE: May 8 - Wow. Poor Canelo is "still hacking up a lung." He's coughing and coughing, Dr. Mark Malo said this morning.

They're throwing pretty heavy-duty antibiotics at him, too. He's eating well for them, which is good. He's on IVs.

Dr. Mark wants to keep him over the weekend and see if he can get him to improve by Monday. He's not in danger of dying; it's just a matter of getting him through "this craziness," Mark said.

They'll do another x-ray before sending him home, plus Canelo will need a re-check in a week, which means another x-ray.

UPDATE: May 12 - Canelo had to go back to ISO. He was taken out of ISO yesterday and monitored. He wasn't coughing really, but he sounds hoarse.

The vet said he could go home. I opted for them to keep him one more day, off of drugs, just to make sure he wasn't going to backslide. So if all goes well, which is should, little Canelo will be released tomorrow!

PLEASE donate for Canelo's vet bill. Click Here to donate using Paypal.

Canelo Released from Vet

2009-04-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

Canelo had pneumonia after all. He was released last week and is doing well. He went to a foster home that has two other little dogs. This is what she wrote me today:

The continuing good news is that Canelo is doing fabulously. He is now accustomed to our routine -- even down to the "I must sit like the other 2 before I can have a treat/before I can go through the door/before I eat etc etc" -- you can see him observing my 2 and learning by the day. After a few early intro jitters, Canelo walks with my other 2; it's pretty entertaining to watch -- they walk 3-across in order of height/color (i.e., Canelo in the middle) and look like the tough-guy posse they think they are. Curious but friendly with other dogs and people, big or small. No food issues at all - I touch/move his bowls while he's eating and no reaction...just keeps eating as best he can. And he loves cuddles - from me, my boys and strangers. Oh, most importantly, he has this adorable buck-tooth that sticks out when he tries to close his mouth! Canelo is going to be a great adoption for some lucky family.

2009-04-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

Little Canelo is very sick! He's bordering on pneumonia and has been admitted to the hospital. He's hooked up to IVs and will be receiving nebulizer treatments. The poor little boy will be hospitalized for 5 to 7 days.

As many of you know, Critters in Need rescued Canelo from the Carson shelter yesterday. The little fellow is pitifully thin--beyond emaciated. He had dropped a significant amount of weight while at the shelter and could not shake the kennel cough he had picked up there.

I rushed him to my vet in Garden Grove yesterday, where we did a full body x-ray, blood work, urine and a fecal. The lungs are in pretty bad shape and his white count is high.

This is the same vet who saved our little parvo puppy, Nike, and a lab critically ill with pneumonia (also from Carson) last year, so he's in good hands. The thing I'm concerned about most is Canelo's emotional state. He got into this serious health crisis because the family that he loved dumped him at the shelter. He became very depressed and ate very little.

I've let the vet staff know that this little sweetheart needs TLC in order to get well, too. And Canelo is such a doll! He gave me lots of kisses while we were at the vet yesterday--I'm sure he was so grateful to be out of the noisy, cold, scary shelter. I hated to leave him at the vet--I just wanted to keep holding him--but I knew he had to stay there in order to get well.

Here's a video I took while we were waiting for the vet:

But getting him well also means a hefty vet bill--about $1,000. Please help this sick little boy by donating for his vet care. Any amount, large or small, will be greatly appreciated.

You can send donations via Paypal by going to our website:
http://crittersrescueonline.org/

Thank you all so much!

Canelo Rescued from Carson Shelter!

2009-04-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

Canelo was dumped by his family in February at the Carson shelter. They held him in their arms while waiting in the lobby to give him up. Canelo was so scared that he began drooling uncontrollably, but did this give them pause? No. They left him there.
Canelo was so depressed at being in the shelter that he couldn't eat. Already skinny, he dropped even more weight. He then got kennel cough. The shelter put him on meds, but the little boy couldn't shake it. He just kept coughing and coughing.

The shelter vet put in his notes that if he didn't get out of the shelter soon, he'd die there. A volunteer kept putting blankets in his kennel to keep him warm--those cement floors can be awfully cold--but for some reason, the shelter kept taking away his blankets. And that's when we stepped in.

I rushed up to the Carson shelter today to rescue this little boy. And what a sweetheart he is, too! He's a quiet little boy--and affectionate too. He showered me with kisses. And he was so grateful to be out of that noisy, scary shelter.

I rushed Canelo immediately to my vet. The poor baby only weighs about 8 lbs. We're doing blood work, full body x-rays, urine and a fecal test--about $300 worth of services so far. We need to find out what's wrong with him. Let's just hope it's not pneumonia! Right now he has to stay at the vet until he can be more fully assessed. We have someone who has offered to foster this little boy. I can't wait until he can go to his foster and get fattened up!

If you wish to donate for little Canelo's vet bills, please go to our website and click on our Paypal link.

http://crittersrescueonline.org/

Nike aka Piper

2008-12-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well, little Nike/Piper is doing well, as you can see from these photos. She is so adorable and most importantly, very healthy!

As some of you may remember, she came to our rescue group as a very sick 5 lb. puppy. And now look at her! If you'd like to see how she looked when we first rescued her and read about her recovery, check out our August archives.

Here's her mom's latest update on our little one:
Hi all,

Just wanted to let you know that Piper graduated from Puppy Class last Saturday, so she officially knows stuff.

I'm attaching two new pics of her ... one in the backyard showing off her long legs and the other in her yellow slicker.

Piper HATES the rain and pretty much refuses to go out in it. The slicker helps, but we may be getting boots too...

Happy holidays!

Nike Pupdate

2008-11-24T17:06:00.001-08:00

Nike is doing well! Her new mom (her former foster) renamed her Piper.

Remember that Nike, er Piper, was about 4 lbs. when we got her? Well, now she's 19 lbs., and as her mom says, "still pick-up-able, but oof!"

I've included her current photo--all happy and healthy--and also one of the photos of her when we first got her as a very sick 5-week-old parvo puppy.

Thanks to your donations, we were able to get Nike the care that she needed--and now look at her!

Here's what her mom has to say:

Piper's working on losing the last of her baby teeth. She's currently got 7 canines, down from 8 a few days ago. The adult teeth are delightfully dull in comparison to the ones they're replacing!

She's been going to doggy daycare for a few hours at a time a few times a week and it's really helping her come out of her shell with other dogs. She's played with a Boston Terrier named Frankie there a couple of times. She even made friends with a big, friendly Akita up the street last week; they were licking noses.

Her favorite dog is still Whimsy, the English Mastiff in her puppy class. She was beside herself with excitement when she saw Whimsy walk in the door last Saturday. Watching her jump all over Whimsy (Whimsy pretty much lays down and lets her go to town) was hilarious.

At one point Whimsy just reached out her paw and pinned Piper with the weight of it. Too cute!

Her training is going really well. There were only two of us at class last week, so the trainer worked with us one on one with calling them to us. Piper was so good. She'd run right past people trying to distract her and sit for me.

I've been working on "down" with her (for lay down) for the past two days and she's totally got it. I told her "down" when I took her out earlier today and she leaped into position. I'm super impressed with her!

We may need to work on more difficult stuff. We're also working on walking without pulling and not jumping on people (that may be the more difficult stuff). For some reason the first time I asked her to "heel" she did as if she'd learned it.

Pup-date!

2008-11-08T17:03:00.001-08:00

Do you remember Nike the parvo pup? Well, here's a BEFORE picture (5 weeks old and sick with parvo) ...

Check out her AFTER photo! Nike is healthy, happy and quite the imp! And I just love this new photo that her mom sent us. Nike (now known as Piper) is definitely full of personality. What an imp! :-)

Nike was one of the lucky ones. She survived parvo and was recently adopted by her foster. She's doing well and is now enrolled in a PetSmart puppy class.

Thank you all for donating for her care while she recovered. It surely made it possible to save her life.

Please donate to Critters in Need Pet Rescue so we can rescue more needy puppies like Nike.

Here's an update from her mom:

Just thought I'd send you an update on Piper (f/k/a) Nike. We joined a puppy class at Petsmart last Saturday. We're working on her interactions with other dogs (amongst other things like "Stay" and "Leave It"). Everyone was really impressed by the positive change in her this week.

She spent quite a while jumping on one of the other puppies this morning (an English Mastiff named Whimsy who weighs almost as much as me) - her other favorite in the class is a corgie puppy named Penny.

Happy Tails for Duke!

2008-10-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Duke is one of these dogs that I just fell for the minute I saw him.

I fell for him, not only because he's a beautiful dog, but also because he's such a love bug. He really is one of the most loving dogs I've ever met.

Since I was the one transporting him from the kennel to our adoption events, this was our opportunity to bond. I'd pet him and rub his ears, and he'd sigh with happiness.

A family decided to foster-to-adopt Duke to make sure that he was going to get along with their cats. Well, he quickly became part of their family, so we did the official adoption yesterday.

When I came over to the house, Duke came over and sniffed me. It took him a few seconds, but then he recognized me and was as happy to see me and I was to see him.

Duke is doing well. He's put on weight, his coat is getting shinier and he is just so happy. He's part of a family and he's thriving, as evidenced by the photo above.

When I said goodbye, I had tears in my eyes--yes, out of happiness, but also because I was really going to miss Duke.

It's such a scary thought that if Critters in Need Pet Rescue hadn't rescued him from the shelter, he'd be dead. You see, we got him on his last day.

There are too many dogs out there that we can't save and rescue work can be disheartening. But it's happy endings like this that makes rescue worthwhile.

Nike Update

2008-10-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Little Nike is doing well at her foster home. She is like any puppy, playful and having fun. She also weighs around 12 lbs. to 14 lbs. now. So she sure has grown!

We're so happy that Nike is doing so well. She'll be able to go out into the world on October 22.

Here's a short video of Nike playing fetch.

Rescue has sure been busy!

2008-10-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

Critters in Need has been so busy rescuing dogs. A couple of weeks ago, we took in nine dogs in one day. Nine!

Eight of them were chi's from the Camarillo shelter and one was an owner turn-in to us of her min pin. Delane transported these nine dogs down to us and met us in Long Beach. Then Jane and I had take the dogs to my vet, Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital, so they could get the necessary shots.

Can you imagine showing up at my vet with nine little dogs? We had to name them and keep them all straight. Not an easy task, I can tell you! Then we had to get them back in the car and take them over to the kennel we use for boarding.

Some of the chi's have now been adopted or are in foster homes. But several pups still need fosters. Our dogs that need fosters are:

Gunner & Roxy, Marley, Tucker, Gidget, Charlie, Cosmo, Star and Bobby all need foster homes. So please contact us if you can help!

Here's our website:
http://crittersrescueonline.org/

And our email is:
dogs@crittersrescue.com

Cosmo is Safe!

2008-09-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well, we've got Cosmo!

Richelle was great--she volunteered to pick Cosmo up at the vet where he was neutered in LA and bring him down to us in OC. And I have to say, he is just gorgeous! And sweet! Loves people and dogs. He's just a happy, happy dog--even after being neutered yesterday!

He loves to give kisses and just has the best temperament. I talked to Ana at the shelter and told her how wonderful he is, and she was so happy to hear that. I think he was a shelter favorite. Poor thing had been a stray and had been there since May! A long time for such a gorgeous boy.

He joined us at our PetSmart adoption event on Saturday and made friends with all the dogs there, especially the girl dogs. Cosmo loves the ladies.

He weighs only 34 lbs. but looks bigger than that coz of all that gorgeous fur! He needs a good brushing but he is just a beautiful dog. Richelle and I thought he looked like an Eskimo/chow mix.

Thanks again to all of you who have made this possible.

Two New Rescues--Benji and Cosmo

2008-09-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

After trying very hard to make all this happen, the good news is--it did! We just saved two new little dogs, Benji and Cosmo.

Sweet little Benji is now at my vet after being transported from L.A. He really is very cute! He just kept looking at me with these big eyes and then sat at my feet so I could scratch his head. I do need to remember to bring my camera with me next time--I forgot, so I didn't get any photos of him yet!

But here is Benji in his pound photo--he's the little pom mix in the little photo. (The other photo is Cosmo's pound photo.)

Poor Benji--according to the paperwork, this was his second time at the shelter in four years and both times he came in matted and sick. URI's both times, heavy tartar on his teeth and fly strikes on his ears. Obviously, he wasn't well-cared for--and probably just thrown out into a backyard!

He seems to be over the URI, so we're doing pre-op blood work on him (since he's 14 years old) and getting that much-needed dental.

He has fleas so he'll be getting a bath, which should make him feel better too! He also has a small growth by his eye but he's had that for years apparently.

His exit eval said that there was a small mass (possible cyst) by his rear end, but my vet didn't find anything. We'll be double-checking that after he gets cleaned up.

So for now, he's staying for a couple of days at my vet.

As for Cosmo, he is getting neutered on Friday and transported to me by someone who responded to my pleas on Saturday!

YEAH!

Nike's Follow-Up Vet Visit!

2008-09-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here's what her foster mom had to say:

Nike now weighs 6.6 pounds, so she's plumping up nicely (I even had to loosen her collar the other day)!

She got her first set of shots (2nd set to come in 3 weeks) and a deworming pill. The vet thought that she probably did have worms b/c of her very round tummy and she may need a 2nd pill when she goes back.

She got her first pedicure (those nails were getting long).

The vet thought she might be a lab mix, but he thought she could be mixed with something smaller and not get much above 15-20 pounds.

The thin fur on her belly they thought was probably because of her breed and not because of her parvo.

Overall the vet thought she looked great and like she'd never been sick. She's supposed to be lethargic from the shot, but she's been a wee maniac this morning, so she seems to be impervious to that side effect.

Check out the action shot of her jumping at the camera.

2008-08-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Her foster is taking Nike for her follow-up vet visit next Tuesday.

As you can see, she's such a little thing. She sure looks lost on the bed!

Here's the latest update:

She's still doing well with the housebreaking. We're holding at about one accident a day that's not either outside or on a pee pad (and it's always when I'm on the phone). I've got her poo schedule pretty well figured out, so she hasn't pooed inside since Saturday.

I'm attaching two new pics of the cuteness. (The other side of her bed in the first pic is, of course, totally empty.)

Going Through Fire and Smoke to Rescue Pancho!

2008-08-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today I had to battle smoke and fire to pick up a beautiful dog named Pancho (we've renamed her Princess) that we rescued from the Camarillo shelter. She was due to be killed.

I was driving on the 101 near Agoura Hills when I saw black smoke billowing across the freeway. And being a woman, I began to multi-task, and quite well, thank you very much.

I starting taping the fire while talking to Jane, Critters in Need's founder, on my hands-free cell phone. Jane was watching the fire on TV while I was driving through all the smoke.

And that's when Amanda (who got Princess out of the shelter and who is pictured here with her) called me. She didn't know about the fire yet.

Then we hung up and I switched back over to Jane. That explains my conversations that you hear on the video.

The brush fire, located by the freeway near Agoura Hills, started under suspicious circumstances. It even jumped the freeway.

The smoke covered the freeway and it was hard to see and breathe. The orange smoke filled my car, even after I turned my A/C off. Helicopters whirled overhead and dropped water on the fire.

Traffic slowed to a crawl.

Finally I passed the point of origin and saw the flames. And the KCAL 9 news truck. :-)

Princess and I had to go back to Orange County via PCH. Forget about getting back on the 101!

The fire, which burned within 50 feet of about five homes, was 80 percent contained Tuesday afternoon with the help of about 250 firefighters and six water-dropping helicopters.

Nike's World

2008-08-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Nike was able to go to her foster home on Friday. When we picked her up, we noticed how bright and alert she looked. She was all cute and wiggly, like a puppy should be!

Thanks to all of you for your caring thoughts and donations--and of course, the vets at Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital!

This was what the foster wrote about her on Sunday:

Nike is a total lap puppy --it may be the lab in her. Awfully hard to get stuff done, but even harder to say no to that face.

She's doing better with the puppy pads today. We're more hit than miss, which is good progress. And she even pooped outside today.

Her appetite is great. She's eating all her food, so hopefully we'll get some puppy pudge on her.

She's very even-keeled. When she's outside and other dogs are barking or the neighbors pull in behind the fence and honk their horn, she doesn't react at all.

The kitties are starting to venture out a little bit more.

Marleigh sat on the other side of the kitchen gate and watched Nike for a little while yesterday and then later, last night, George did the same. Izzie's still not sure that venturing farther than peeking around the corner from the living room is safe.

Nike's really great when she sees them, though. She just quietly sits down and wags her tail and waits for them. So I think things are going well!

Nike Update!

2008-08-20T15:01:00.001-07:00

Yes, it looks like Nike will be going to her foster tomorrow.

We found a wonderful foster for Nike for 30 days. The foster has a cat so Nike will be surely socialized with kitties--which is always a good thing!

Since Nike will be shedding the parvo virus for two months, we will need another foster for the second month.

We are still in need of donations to cover Nike's vet bills. Please send donations to:

28206 Via Alfonse, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677.

Thank you ALL so much for your contributions and your prayers about this little girl. It's wonderful to know that there are so many caring people out there!

Good News!

2008-08-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Nike was given solid food yesterday and did well! She can go home today. However, we are in DESPERATE need of a foster which will accomplish three things: keep her safe, get the TLC she needs and stop the ever-climbing vet bill.

However, she cannot go to a home with dogs as she will be shedding the active virus for two months. I figure that a cat-person would be just the ticket to care for this little girl.

Nike will have to stay at the vet--at $85/day--until a foster can be found.

Please post on this blog if you can help!

Photos of Nike, the poor little pup that is fighting for her life! Please help her!

2008-08-17T22:48:00.001-07:00

Help Us Save This Little Pup's Life!

2008-08-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

PLEASE CROSS POST!

Nike is only five weeks old, yet she is fighting for her life. You see, this little puppy has a deadly disease--parvo.

Nike's owner sold her on the street on Wednesday for $5, like a sack of oranges. The couple that bought her did not take her to the vet, even though it was obvious that she was sick.

Kym, one of our volunteers, received a call from her dog sitter who had heard about the puppy and asked if she would help rescue the pup. He brought the dog to her Thursday evening.

When Kym saw how sick the puppy was, she immediately rushed it to the emergency vet. They tested the puppy out in the parking lot for parvo.

When they swabbed the poor little puppy's butt, Kym said that the dog let out a horrible scream. It was awful.

The test was positive.

Kym was given the option to put the puppy down, but she refused, even though she knew that emergency treatment would be expensive. She had held this little girl against her chest and looked into her eyes and knew she had to do everything humanely possible to save this sweet little pup.

And Critters in Need backed her decision 100 percent.

Friday morning, Kym took the puppy (now named Nike) to my personal vets at Garden Grove Dog and Cat Hospital. Dr. Hess said that Nike had a chance of pulling through, but that she would have to stay in the hospital for at least seven days. She is hooked up to an IV.

Dr. Hess called me on Saturday morning with an update: Nike was bright and alert, with no diarrhea or vomiting. He was cautiously optimistic as a dog with parvo also can go quickly downhill.

Today, Dr. Hess called me and said that Nike was depressed, which meant that she wasn't feeling as well as she had the day before. However, there is still no diarrhea or vomiting, so that's a good sign. He's hoping to be able to get her onto food in a couple of days, but that may be too early.

Critters in Need Pet Rescue is committed to saving this brave little girl, but we need your help! Vet bills will be at least $900--it will most likely be more than that. We already have spent $550 to date.

Any donation will be of tremendous help. No donation is too small. $5, $10 or $25, it will all add up.

Donations for Nike can be sent to:

Critters in Need Pet Rescue
28206 Via Alfonse
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Don't forget to specify that your donations are for Nike.

Please forward this blog to friends and family. It would also be greatly appreciated if you also would download the attached flyer that I created for Nike and post wherever possible.

Thank you all so much for all of your help. With your donations and prayers, we can save Nike's life!

Critters in Need Pet Rescue--what we do.

2008-08-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Critters in Need Pet Rescue is a non-profit volunteer organization based in Orange County, Calif. We are dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned dogs and finding them loving homes.

We have over 30 dogs available for adoption right now. We have both purebred and mixed breed dogs, small and large.

The photo is of our dog of the week, Jasper, a lovely cocker spaniel mix that we rescued from a high-kill shelter on the day he was due to be euthanized.

We also have dogs that need fosters, such as Gunner and Roxy, Star and Rusty. Please take a look at them on our website:

CrittersRescueOnline.org

Critters in Need Pet Rescue is always in need of volunteers and donations. Please contact us at Dogs@CrittersRescue.com if you wish to help.

One of our recent fosters wrote up a very lovely account of how fostering (and later adopting) Kona from us changed her life. In fact, she is currently fostering Jasper in the hopes that he will be added to their family.

Please click here to read her story.

Come visit our dogs at PetSmart, located on the northwest corner of Jamboree and Barranca in Tustin, on Saturday afternoons. Please click here for details.