Washington Animal Rescue League's Blog 4 Kids, Educators and Everyone Else Who Cares About Animals!

Sgt. Chris Holmes and Cazo -- Heroes in the Community, Favorite Classroom Visitors!

2012-02-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

Cazo will chew on his toy,
but he would rather play tug!

Cazo really likes fourth grade.

Cazo enjoys posing with his friends.

I visited three schools in the last 10 days and learned something new every time. That's because D.C. Fire Department's Sgt. Chris Holmes, and his canine partner Cazo, accompanied me to each of those visits. Like the fourth and fifth graders who enjoyed the presentations, I was amazed every time I saw the photos of Chris and Cazo high atop a pile of rubble in Haiti; tethered from a helicopter hanging in mid-air; and on a small boat in the dark on the Anacostia. I can't imagine riding in a helicopter, let alone jumping out of one AND holding my dog -- I don't think Nigel would be up for the dare-devil activity either. But that's what Chris and Cazo do -- in order to rescue someone lost deep in the Shenandoah National Forest, they are lowered to the ground from a hovering helicopter. Chris delivers a serious presentation about fire safety and rescue work, but you can't help but laugh when Cazo interrupts, insisting on another game of tug. Chris gently tells Cazo platz. The smart, working dog is totally bilingual. No doubt there are many tug games during the off hours.

Too Sad for Words

2012-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

I just opened yahoo on my computer and read this headline, AP Exclusive: New taste for Thai elephant meat, The article at, http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-taste-thai-elephant-meat-035353902.html., is heartbreaking.

If Only Charlotte Could Paint......

2012-01-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

Photo by Max

Charlotte had no trouble climbing to the top of the ladder. If only she could paint! She did manage to rub by a freshly painted wall so that her right side donned a completely new look. We already have one orange cat; and Charlotte, as a calico, just didn't work. So, Charlotte's first encounter with paint quickly turned into Charlotte's first encounter with a warm was cloth!

Little Kitten Warms Up to Nigel

2012-01-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Nigel is not so sure how he feels about today's office visitor. The little kitten, found cold and all alone in an alley, was rescued by a good Samaritan. The tiny tabby is getting lots of attention from League staff, and when she's old enough, she will be placed in a forever home. Maybe one with a gentle dog, like Nigel.

Powell 4th Graders Learn Lots and Surprise Nigel & Me with Thank You Notes and Artwork!

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

Ms. Stoessel, Powell Elementary School librarian, and fourth graders pose with Nigel. Gabriel (center )is displaying the portrait of Nigel that he created. Nigel is amazed by the likeness!

Nigel and I met regularly first semester with Powell Elementary School fourth graders. The inquisitive students travelled recently to the League to see firsthand what happens in the shelter and medical center. They asked great questions and eagerly volunteered during animal interactions. They absorbed everything they learned. Their wonderful thank you notes confirmed their concern for the animals. I shared those letters with the entire Washington Animal Rescue League staff this morning, and invited my coworkers to stop by my office to see the beautiful drawing of Nigel hanging on my wall. The artwork was created by Gabriel, and the poster was signed by the entire class.

"....Thank you for letting us see people doing their jobs....We learned that if you want to adopt a pet you have to be ready." Roberto

"...I liked the part when Trip, the dog, came into the room. I liked that part because I learned so much......Thank you for inviting us." Estephanie

"Thank you for showing us cool tricks with the dogs and letting us do the tricks with them...." Steven

Look Who is in My Office

2012-01-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

Emma and Ray are AWESOME!!!!   SPECTACULAR!!! Super Terrific!!!  This long-haired pair don't just purr, they chirp.   AND, they like to be brushed.   AND, they absolutely love to be in your face, and on your desk, at all times. AND, they need a HOME!

They came to the League because their person is seriously ill and cannot care for them.   Obviously, their person loved them a lot.   Looks like they have never missed a meal.   AND, they don't get frightened when the printer goes off right next to their ears or when our giant washing machine sounds like it is going to blast off right beneath the desk

Emma and Ray like hanging out in the office, but they would be even happier if they had a new home -- one with a soft bed.   My desk is okay for a temporary nap, but both cats would like to snuggle on a comfy mattress with a person or two.

Look Again ---- This is Not a Picture of Nigel and a New Friend

2012-01-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

Best Buddies -- Ricky & Lucy

Okay, it's true -- I am partial to black labs. After all, I live with the one-and-only, absolutely perfect Nigel the Wonder Dog. And, I truly believe that no home is complete without a cat (if you can properly care for a cat). So, when a recent adopter sent pictures of Ricky, formerly named Sinbad, and Lucy, a Nigel-looking lab, I couldn't wait to get permission to post the picture.

Their adopter wrote, "I have always been a dog person and never thought I would love a cat so much!" I wonder if Lucy felt the same. From the looks of things, it was love at first sight for this made for prime time pair.

Found -- Forever Homes

2012-01-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

The very best thing about returning to the League after a long vacation is seeing all of the adoption updates in my inbox.

There was a photo of Shiloh, an all black cat now named Lola, curled up in her plush, new cat, bed; a cute holiday picture of Bentley, the Yorkie, with his three new BFFs all wearing Santa hats for their photo op; a lovely artistic shot of Persia, the gray tabby, stretched out in the sun; and lots of pictures, including a video, of Sampson, the big, honey of a German Shepherd who was adopted last year by a family who lives in Long Island. Long time readers may remember how Sampson's, new family -- mom, dad, three dog-adoring kids, and a yellow Labrador retriever named Amber, responded to an adoption appeal and travelled to the League to meet, and adopt, Sampson. What better way to start the new year than by sharing just a few of those photos. Enjoy!

Good-Bye 2011

2012-01-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

January 2012 brings freezing temperatures. No more winter walks with shirtsleeves. Make sure that cats and dogs are safe INSIDE. Report animals left out in the cold to your local animal control agency.

Busy Boxes Continue to Entertain

2011-12-19T06:41:00.000-08:00

Six months after the pizza box carton busy boxes were created by Tuyet and Tra My during Caring Kids -- Animals & Art -- Camp, League alums, Allister Moody and friend, continue to be engaged by the colorful toys. Allister (white and orange kitty), who underwent eye surgery while residing at the League, was a staff favorite. Nice to see that, not only does he see perfectly well, but is loved bunches by his four-legged and two legged forever friends.

Thanks to Papa John's of the National Capital Area for donating the boxes for the camp projects and thanks to artists Katherine Leonard and Bonnie Branner for coordinating the project.

Information about the Washington Animal Rescue League's Caring Kids -- Animals & Art -- Camp, and two other 2012 summer camps will be posted in February.

Thank You Friendship Hospital for Animals

2011-12-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

Nearly two years ago three Rottweiler pups were rescued from a horrible situation -- their "caretaker" put rubber bands on each of the pups. When the threesome were removed from the situation by a humane law enforcement officer and admitted as to the League's Medical Center our team immediately went to work removing the rubber bands. It was soon determined, because the damage was so severe, that Riley's left front leg would be amputated. The other pups recovered once the heavy bands were removed from their necks.   Kara, Riley's primary caretaker in the medical center, fell in love with her patient and adopted the good-natured pup.

Hailey, the dog standing on all fours in the picture, was adopted by a rather unconventional family -- she is a member of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department. She quickly became the most popular member of the squad, and takes her role as fire prevention expert seriously -- she often  accompanies the firefighters to community events. During the summer Hailey made a guest appearance at our Caring Kids -- All About Animals -- Camp.   She and Rylie took part in a presentation focusing on the horrors of animal abuse.

All was great until recently.  While playing, Hailey suffered an injury to one of her back legs. As a volunteer organization the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department relies on donations. Hailey’s care is paid for from proceeds from the firehouse soda machine. At 50 cents per can, it was going to take a lot of soda to get Hailey the surgery she needed to repair a torn ligament in her knee.

Worried about their loyal companion, the firefighters contacted Kara.   The League's Medical Center is not equipped to perform such specialized surgery. We contacted our very good friends at Friendship Hospital for Animals and the rest, as they say, is history!   Dr. Mat Glassman, worked with Hailey and the members of the Fire Department to make sure she got the help she needed. Both Hailey and the members of the HVFD are grateful for their assistance. Hailey is recovering nicely and is expected to running and playing in no time.

To read more about Hailey and see pictures of her at the firehouse and xrays of her knee, click on the link

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=198161986934660&set=a.198161926934666.49069.190298471054345&type=3&theater#!/media/set/?set=a.198161926934666.49069.190298471054345&type=3

Very Intelligent Readers (VIR) -- Celebrate Because of Winn Dixie

2011-12-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Four Takoma Education Campus fifth graders read Kate DiCamillo's award winning book, Because of Winn Dixie, as part of a Washington Animal Rescue League first quarter weekly reading group. The Very Intelligent Readers (VIR) welcomed Nigel, a Very Important Listener (VIL) to the literary group. The readers unanimously recommended Because of Winn Dixie.

"I would recommend this book because it's really entertaining, and there is a funny part. But it comes with sad parts, like when the dog gets lost in the rain. It's great how it shows how you can make best friends forever, " shared Leslie.

"It was a great book, it made me cry at one part and happy at another. It has a lot of strong feelings in it," wrote Kahlil.

"I would recommend this book because it might inspire you to get a dog or a pet. This story will make you cry, laugh and smile. This book has a dog character and his name is Winn Dixie. In the beginning of the story he was like all of the other homeless dogs, then he became a happy dog who had a family who loves him," recommended Gelila.

After completing the book, Because of Winn Dixie,

Kahlil, Gelila, Leslie and Nigel get comfortable as they prepare to watch the movie.

HOME! for Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

Sammi is spending her first Thanksgiving in her forever home. Who knows where the little poodle spent Thanksgiving in years past, but this year we know that she is with her favorite person, Katherine, and the rest of her new family -- including Jingle, a big, 10-year-old bunny.

Katherine attended the third session of our Caring Kids summer camp, the one that focused on dog training. At the end of the five days Katherine told her pup good-bye, but she continued working on her family about adopting the tiny P-pup. She must be quite persuasive because after a couple of days her mom called from their vacation and asked if the pup was still available. "No, " she was told, the puppy was already in a new home.

Soon after their return, Katherine and her family visited the League. And, there was Allison Krause! A pretty autumn-colored poodle who had just been returned. To the best of our knowledge the little dog had lived in at least three homes, probably more. Katherine's would be her FOREVER home.

Katherine's mother sent a recent update --

It's been 2 1/2 months. We renamed her Sammi. It was 2 weeks before she barked. It was another few weeks before she would not cower around men. She is still afraid of most new people. We took her for her first grooming and she trembled most of the time. I expect her to become more confident with time. But with us, she's just a sweet, good tempered pup. We just love her.

She gets 2-3 walks a day during the week and more on weekends. Sammi goes to soccer with us and we've taken her to Great Falls Park. Sammi is somewhat interested in our rabbit. She sniffs him but that is about it.

Katherine's mom reports that the family cat is not quite so sure about Sammi. But I am guessing that by next Thanksgiving the update will include a photo of the cat and Sammi in close proximity of one another.

There is much to be thankful for -- Caring Kids campers, animals in forever home, and for parents, who have never had a dog, but who make the plunge to adopt and then fall in love.

Getting Decked Out for the Holidays!

2011-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

My cats don't wear hats. I can't imagine trying to put a hat on Micky, Merl or Charlotte. They definitely would not allow it. Not all cats, however, are so uncooperative. Meatball, who was adopted from the League nine years ago, got into the celebratory spirit just long enough so her person could take one good picture. We know who will be featured on Meg's holiday cards this year!

With Thanksgiving just 8 days away, photos, like this one, reminds us at the League just how grateful we are for adopters who make their animals do silly things so they can share their cats and dogs with everyone they love!

Gypsy Sheds Pounds and Years; Acquires BFF & Permanent Home

2011-11-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

It is common knowledge that staff loves adoption updates. Some animals stay at the League just a short time, typically puppies and kittens get adopted more quickly than adult animals. Senior animals, and those with "special needs" can reside her for months. Lately we have heard from folks who have adopted some of those dogs. The word special comes to mind when I think of the adopters and the updates.
In this week before Thanksgiving, it is a pleasure to share Gypsy's story sent by her adopter. The update highlights how animals not only befriend us, but help one another.

Our 15-year-old, blind Aussie, Molly, died in June. My wife and I WANTED a new dog, but it became apparent Snickers (our puppy mill survivor dog) NEEDED a dog.
When we met Gypsy at the League, her temperament and confidence shined through in spite of the discomfort from being extremely overweight. We recognized that Gypsy was exactly the dog that Snickers needed -- a dog who knew who she was; was used to people, places and dogs... a dog like Gypsy - to serve as a new model for Snickers.
Since coming home, we've continued the weight loss diet started at WARL. We live in an apartment, so our dogs are walked three times a day. While we started slowly to allow Gypsy to acclimate to her new home, new diet, and new activity regimen, we have yet to tire her out with a long walk. Her hunched back and bunny hop has smoothed into a stiff legged trot. Her gait is visibly affected, but not her pace; she keeps up with much younger dogs. She LOVES playing with plush toys - the squeakier the better! And who would have thought that a 7-year-old dog would be so into tennis balls?.
Gypsy's favorite position? Middle of the room, flat on her back, all four feet straight up in the air, watching what's going on from her upside down point of view. She even sleeps that way!

Adopting Gypsy was almost like getting two new dogs! Since Gypsy has come home, her exuberance and playfulness has re-awoken the same exuberance and playfulness in Snickers that we have not seen since Molly passed away.

We are grateful for adopters who recongize the best in their new friends! Check back soon, more Thanksgiving updates to come.......

Responsible Student Does the Right Thing!

2011-11-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

Pictured right to left -- Gisselle and Charlie and Jocelyn and Pelusha

When Gisselle toured the Washington Animal Rescue League with her summer program she saw many cats and dogs who needed homes. She learned that there are too many animals and not enough homes, largely because cats and dogs multiply so quickly. Gisselle learned that responsible guardians spay or neuter their cats and dogs. Gisselle went home that day and told her mother that they had to get their cat spayed. Although their cat gave birth before they made an appointment, Gisselle was determined to not only get her cat spayed, but she urged her mom to call the League to make appointments to spay or neuter the mom cat AND her kittens! That way, when the kittens go to their new homes there is no risk that they, too, will be adding to the overpopulation crisis. GREAT WORK GISSELLE!!!

Dobi is HOME!

2011-11-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

Dobi at the shelter

This is a remarkable adoption update that reads like an action adventure. In order to get the full picture I am posting excerpts from a series of emails sent to Natalie Kahla, our adoptions manager, from Dobi's adopter. Dobi's rescue, post-adoption, shows the importance of acting immediately, networking, and following every lead when an animal goes missing. We are ecstatic that Dobi is now safe and sound in his forever home!

OCTOBER 23 -- As of 5:30, Dobi has been missing. While I was out my friend opened the front door for another person and Dobi dashed out of the house. They took off after him for three blocks before they were out run. I contacted 24PetWatch and filed a report on them, giving them his microchip number. After searching for over three hours with the help of friends and neighbors and local police officers who notified other officers via radio, we ended the search contacting Animal Control and the Washington Humane Society.

Dobi is wearing his collar and his blue harness. He has eaten a little today and has had a little water as he was still skittish and shy this afternoon. He slept with me under my arm last night and has responded a few times to a specific whistle I was in the process of teaching him.

He was seen running past Georgia Avenue and up Rock Creek Church Road NW (towards the direction of Columbia Heights). I have notified neighbors and everyone I have come upon tonight. I will continue to look for him tomorrow morning.

OCTOBER 24 --Still no word on Dobi. I put up about 300 posters around the area he was last seen and all over Columbia Heights. I posted ads on craigslist and the MPD allowed me to post his flier in front of the main desk so everyone entering the station can see it. A very caring person who saw my flier recommended I join a facebook group called Columbia Heights Dog Park which is a popular dog park nearby. The group has almost 200 members of very involved dog lovers in the community. I have checked with the Humane Society of Washington and Animal Control.

OCTOBER 25 -- Today was looking up a little better. I was putting up more fliers at a gas station on Georgia Ave posting when I ran into a UPS guy and asked him if he had see a dog. He asked me if Dobi was very small. I said yes. He asked if he was very scared and skittish. I said yes. He asked if he had a "blue thingy" and made a gesture around his chest imitating a harness. I said yes. He said he saw him at 50 Irving (Veterans Hospital at Washington Hospital Center) with a man around 3:30 pm (today) who looked "nervous like he wasn't supposed to have the dog with him" which is why he caught the UPS man's eye in the first place. I went straight there with a friend. We talked to a security guard who confirmed seeing the exact description of Dobi and I gave them a stack of fliers and spoke with an officer who refused to double check the security footage because there was "no way of confirming that dog is really yours".

NOVEMBER 1 --After one week, my baby is home!!! Dobi was found around 11pm tonight by a man on his nightly run on Rock Creek Church Road. Dobi was dodging in and out of the fence and he recognized him from the posters and called the number on the flier. A woman walking her dog came by shortly after, and it was her dog that lured Dobi. She was able to pick him up and called the number on the flier. Dobi was in my arms by 12:37am. He has lost 5-7 lbs but has his appetite and enjoyed a peanut butter treat on top of his food. I removed 17 ticks from his chest. He has a small scratch on his nose and tip of his ear. The collar he had on him was a very worn and dirty one, NOT his original. His bright blue harness was also not on him. HE IS HOME!

Let's Keep in Touch

2011-10-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Best Friends!

Our adoptions department sends a questionnaire to adopters once they and their new-found friends have had some time to adjust. Usually we get an update about a month after the adoption. This photo of Midnight recently came to us; she obviously has had time to settle in and has done so quite nicely.

Midnight was adopted from WARL in 2009. She has grown up a lot and has turned out to be a loyal dog who is equally loving & caring. As you can see she gets along very well with our other pet Morning.

Heavy Drama Sequels

2011-10-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Two of my very favorite books are Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee and A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin. Both stories are compelling page turners that cause the reader to root wildly for the horribly mistreated canines. Both books have those "Oh No" scenes that are like a severe blow to the gut. Recently I read Martin's Everything for a Dog, the 2009 sequel to A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray. It, too, is a page turner but the set-up of the story is much different. A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray is a tragedy told by Squirrel, a cast-off pup separated from her sibling Bone. Everything for a Dog is Bone's story, but he shares the spotlight with two other narrators -- Henry and Charlie -- boys whose stories are intertwined with Bone's in an unexpected, jarring plot twist. Both stories end happily, but the structure of A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray is far more statisfying than Everything for a Dog. That said, neither book should be missed.

Ingrid Lee's 2011 book, Cat Found, is written in a similar fashion to her gripping, highly acclaimed Dog Lost, but it can't quite live up to Ann Martin's praise of the first book, ""Much more than a breathless page-turner. It's a brutally honest novel depicting the world of dogfighting in a wicked light but tempering any scenes of cruelty with an entire community of positive characters. And Lee brings together her winning, motley cast, human and animal, for a wonderfully heart-rousing ending. I loved it." Lee's descriptions of the feral cat colony in Cat Found is accurate, but her characterizations of the many cold, heartless working class people are wooden and stereotypical. A more accurate and engrossing read about a boy trying to do right by feral cats remains the absolutely perfect story, The Nine Lives of Travis Keating.

CUTE!!!

2011-10-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I promised a happy shelter story and today I am delivering not only happy, but cute -- MAJOR CUTE -- thanks to an adopter's adorable update. Little Bocci recently left the shelter for his forever home, and already has a bed full of toys. I don't know for certain, but given that the League is hosting a Howl-O-Ween event on Saturday, October 29th, complete with a really, really spooky haunted hospital, I wouldn't be surprised if our next Bocci photo update is one of the little guy in costume. What should he be?

SAD -- VERY, VERY SAD

2011-10-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

I was driving to the League this morning when I heard a radio report that I hoped was a bad- pre-Halloween prank.   The reporter said more than 50 wild animals were running loose in an Ohio community. Apparently the large cats, bears, wolves, giraffes, camels and other exotic animals were let go or escaped from a local wild animal park.   When I got to the League I did a quick Google search and found that it was no joke. According to an Associated Press story, "Police warned people to stay in their homes, and ...officials hunted down and shot nearly 30 of the 48 of them overnight under orders to shoot to kill."

What reason could there be for a wild animal park to be located in a residential area in Ohio?    It is doubtful that cheetahs and Bengal tigers would live in the wild with wolves, grizzly bears, giraffes and camels. Do wild animal parks serve any purpose? This was a horrific tragedy waiting to happen.

Check back soon for a happy shelter story.

Busy Weekend

2011-10-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

Friendship Hospital for Animals celebrated their 75th anniversary with an absolutely awesome adoption event. Their goal was to place 75 homeless cats and dogs into permanent, loving homes. From 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday a steady stream of special folks opened their hearts and homes to kittens, cats, puppies and dogs. Some of the animals were even adopted by Friendship staff! The mom cat and kitten who visited me in my office last week went home to a mom and daughter duo. I think that the kitten's forever name is now Clementine, mom's new name was still being discussed at the time of the adoption.

Charlotte Van Gogh

Our shelter is nearly empty. But, as always, we will be full by tomorrow. League staff are traveling to other shelters today to pick up animals ready to move into their forever homes. Hope those homes are safer than mine. Here is a recent picture of Charlotte relaxing on the piano bench. I am happy to report that no major mishaps have occured since Charlotte's mysterious ear hacking episode last month.

Not Just One Happy Home -- But Two!

2011-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

Boo Radley posing

Sometimes adopters write long missives, sometimes they send a sentence of two that says it all -- this is forever! Such is the case with Boo Radley's (formerly Humm) update. Not only does the handsome tabby have a new name, but being named after a classic literary character is bound to make him just a tad more regal -- why, just look at this handsome pose.

Boo Radley (formerly known as Humm) is very happy in his new home and is the best cuddler on the planet. I am so grateful! I am absolutely head-over-heels in love.

Who is Boo Radley? Besides being a much loved tabby, Boo Radley is an important character in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird.

Tamale on the steps at HOME!

We heard from another tabby living a happy life in a perfect, forever home. Tamale was a staff favorite. Tamale was here for a long, long time. When he first came to the shelter in February 2011 he had a tumor that was removed by a veterinarian in our medical center. While in the hospital, Tamale endeared hmself to everyone. He was a model patient during treatment. And now he is the perfect cat in his perfect new home playing not-so-perfect cat games with another possibly perfect cat!

Tamale and Pepper are doing very well, and have graduated to the 'thundering' stage of play and chase together, up and down the stairs, and we often can't imagine how some of the rugs got into the the state we find them in.

We have many more cats and the shelter looking for their perfect forever homes. Two of them, a mom cat and her rambunctious kitten are in my my office. They will be at our BIG adoption event at Friendship Hospital for Animals this weekend. Stop by and visit Autumn and her wild mini-me kitten.

And They Lived Happily Ever After....

2011-10-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so how many time have I written WE LOVE ADOPTION UPDATES? I am going to write it again. WE LOVE ADOPTION UPDATES! Recently we got an update from Denise detailing Emmy's new life. It is a beautifully written, happily ever after tale that is sure to have many more chapters. I thought of Denise's update when I attended a lecture at the League Monday night where Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), emphasized the importance of providing lots of enrichment to guarantee an animal's emotional health -- in other words, doing fun stuff.

Denise' update highlights lots of fun stuff...

Within six weeks, Emmy began greeting dogs on leash and playfully swatting at beagles in our complex corridors. Two months later, she attempts to enter any silver sedan we pass, as she assumes Danny is behind the wheel and ready to take her on our next adventure. She adores prowling after geese on the National Mall, trail walks through the forest of Dumbarton Oaks, or splashing through the water of the Shirlington Dog Park’s river. She’s put on ten pounds of pure muscle and can outrun any dog except a Vizsla.

Good News From Camper Pup

2011-09-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ronnie and Petey snoozing.

The only really hard thing about our Caring Kids Dog Training 101 -- Tricks, Treats & Tips Camp was saying good-bye to the pups. The eight campers not only taught the four pups to sits, lie down, stand and a couple of tricks, they bathed them, cleaned up their soiled areas and loved them like they were their own. One of the pups was adopted by the pair of brothers who trained her. Their good-bye, was more like "See you in a couple of days." But the other three pups were adopted into new homes the weekend after camp ended, leaving the six remaining campers wondering about their pup's post-camp life.

It looks like all is well. Our campers received the following update --

Pickle is doing great! Her new name is Rhonda Pickle but we call her Ronnie for short, sometimes just Ron :) Ronnie has a brother named Petey that she loves to play and wrestle around with. Ronnie is growing everyday and can now jump up on the couch and the bed. She loves long walks and just started having fun at the dog park. Ronnie loves to snuggle up on the couch. Her favorite thing to do is chew on her bully bones. You kids did a great job teaching Pickle how to sit and to use the pee pee pads....Ronnie Pickle is almost potty trained. She is such a sweet dog and we love her so much. I have attached some pictures of her for you to enjoy. Thanks for taking such great care of her. She loved her time at the Rescue League.

Creative Cats Toys at a Fraction of the Cost

2011-09-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Does the title sound like a commercial? There are lots of cat toys out there. If you google best cat toy you get 23,400,000 hits including 1,240,000 home made toys. Most do-it-yourself toys are simple like --
 Brown paper grocery bags and boxes make great cat caves.
 Toss a ping pong ball, cat toy, or one of the recycled toys from above, into the bag or box.
 For a fancier cat hide-away, cut holes in a large box and hang long ribbons from the openings and pitch toys into the openings for kitty to find.
Others require a little more imagination, like the toy Zack Scott, with the help of his feline friend, Otto,demonstrates. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXTF5wPft4.

A bed and a buddy -- What could be better?

2011-09-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Klaus, a staff favorite, lived at the League for a very long time. I am happy to report that the friendly fellow finally found his forever home with people and cat buddy, Abby. Well, buddy may be too strong of a word. We are told that the two cats are still working out the balance of power. By the looks of the pics, Klaus is not the slightest bit bothered by Abby's initial slight. Obviously Klaus is, if not King of his new castle, at the very least chief inhabitant of the big blue bed!

Serendipitous Meetings With League Alumni

2011-09-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Early spring I noticed that a really cute, familiar-looking dog was living in a house around the corner.     Recently, I saw my neighbor walking the happy, little dog. Nigel and I caught up to her and I asked about the energetic little beagle mix. She said that she adopted him from the League nearly a year ago.

Herbie's not the only WARL alum I've come across recently.   Nigel and I went to watch Max and his new baseball team play their first game this past weekend. One of Max's teammates' parent was also holding the the leash of a big black dog. Nigel and Gertie liked each other instantly.    I asked about Gertie and found out that she was one of the G pups adopted from the League nearly four years ago.

We do our best to find the animals wonderful, forever homes.   It is always nice to get an update from an adopter -- a holiday card, an anniversary update, a returned adoption questionnaire -- and it is always a pleasant surprise to run into those well-cared for, happy-go-lucky pups and baseball-loving black labs who were adopted from the Washington Animal Rescue League.

Hooray for Hachi!

2011-09-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it takes a while to find the right home. Such was the case with Encore who came to the League in March after being removed from a horrible hoarding situation that included more than 300 dogs. The small cream-colored husky mix, with the soulful eyes, finally found his forever home earlier this month. Now named Hachi, the dog who once had to fight for his food is showered with love and attention, and shares his bed with boy of his own. His guardian reports that Hachi is the ideal school alarm clock -- Up and ready to go no later than 7:15 a.m. every morning, days off included!

Noah Update from Forever Home!

2011-09-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Remember Noah, the spectacular tabby who flew to Washington after his home was devastated in Joplin Missouri? Enjoy the update sent by his loving guardian.

HOME!!

I am writing to update you on Noah who came home with me on Saturday August 27th. It was a very lucky day for both of us!

The first thing to tell you is that I renamed him Cherubino after the character in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. My other cat is named Figaro (also FIV positive like Cherubino) so it seemed fitting. He of course does not care about his name and he'll come whether I call him or not, he's such a people-oriented cat.

The second thing to say is that he has adjusted perfectly to his new home. I followed instructions about keeping him segregated at first in a separate room. Well, someone forgot to tell him about it because he quickly made himself at home in the entire apartment and Figaro's food, water dish, and litter box.
The third thing to mention is that Cherubino has discovered his inner kitten. Remember the quiet, sweet Noah sitting patiently in the Tower room? Meet Cherubino the whirlwind! He runs around as if pursued, climbs everywhere, and insists of checking out inside closets, drawers, cabinets, boxes, and whatever else tickles his fancy. This behavior leaves both Figaro and myself exhausted.
Finally I want to say thank you for rescuing such a lovely creature. He is sweet and gives back so much love that I'm sometimes speechless (this is not easy to do). He has taken over my bed, my heart, and me.

What Happened, Charlotte?

2011-09-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

When Max and I walked into the house yesterday he immediately noticed something different about Charlotte, "What Happened ?"he asked. "To what?" I said. "To Charlotte." "Nothing happened to Charlotte," I said, "What do you mean?" "Part of her ear is missing." "WHAT!!" Sure enough the tip of Charlotte's ear was gone. Her perfect little symmetrical face, with two pointy ears, was perfect no more. How could this happen? She lives inside, we touch and play with her constantly -- when did this happen?

Charlotte on her way to the Medical Center

I immediately called the Washington Animal League's Medical Center to make sure that a veterinarian could see her right away. Max put Charlotte in the carrier and the three of us zoomed to the League. I was sure that Merl ate part of Charlotte's ear. Dr. Shillito said that it was possible that Merl bit Charlotte, but not so probable. He said that these things happen -- maybe Merl hooked a nail on the tip of Charlotte's ear and it ripped off. YUK! Or maybe she caught it on some object and ripped it off. EEEEK! -- How can I Charlotte-proof everything, including Merl? In any case, Dr. Shillito said that the ear tear was not life threatening. In fact, he didn't even stitch it (there's nothing left to stitch), or send us home with antibiotics. He said that, although not perfectly pointy, her ear is fine; however, he said that she should lose weight. Little Charlotte, he said, is FAT.

Take Two!

2011-09-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

Pisa and Austin

One of the best things about taking a couple of days off is coming back to the League to find that lots of animals found their forever homes. Our back-to-school Labor Day weekend event was very successful. Pisa and Tampano were two of the lucky cats who went home. Not only did they get adopted, but they got adopted together. I am a firm believer in the notion that two cats are better than one. They often play together. Watching two cats interact is better than even the very best reality tv! Pisa and Tampano not only have each other, but they each have their very own person!

Robert & Tampano

Dear Employees and Volunteers of the WARL,

My husband, son and I attended your Back to School Event on Saturday, September 3rd and left with two new feline additions to our family. We adopted Pisa and Tampano, both who quickly established their roles in our house within hours of their homecoming.Tampano is the perfect playmate for my son Austin, both of them having an amazing amount of energy, and Pisa is the sweetest lap-cat who’s taken to my husband Robert.....

Lisa

Still Waiting

2011-08-31T06:25:00.000-07:00

Meet Goldrush. She is a sweet, middle-aged, medium sized dog who has been waiting for a home at the Washington Animal Rescue League since before our record-breaking Adopt-A-Thon held in early August. She was one of only four dogs left after the mass exodus that had adopters lined up all along our walkway waiting to choose their forever companion. Goldrush, who loves the name Ruby, is more than likely housebroken and has obviously been around kids. She greeted the Caring Kid Campers every day and basked in the attention they showered on her. Since camp, WARL staff and volunteers have walked and visited Goldrush daily, but that special someone, who will love her unconditionally, has yet to walk through our doors.

After Earthquake and Hurricane, Shelter Animals Still Need Homes

2011-08-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post ran a front page article after the August 23rd earthquake reporting that the animals in the National zoo acted a bit strange before the earth rumbled. Had folks known what they were looking at they may have predicted the earthquake based on the behavior of the flamingos and the great apes.

Nigel and the cats, according to Max (I was not home), reacted during the event, but not before; however, Max, too, may not have known what he was looking at since no seismic occurrence was predicted for the day. I watched the cats and Nigel during the pre-hurricane hours. Merl went out on the screened-in porch with me just as the wind was picking up. We sat together, but when I got up to come inside he did, too. Typically, he may take over the chair and stay out there awhile longer, but not always. Nigel went out for the last time Saturday night around 10:00 p.m. The wind was really gusty and the rain was constant. He never likes going outside in the rain and he was not thrilled to go out this time either. He then slept in his bed as usual. It was a loud storm, branches hit the roof and gutter, the wind howled mimicking a full speed locomotive, but in did not seem a lot different than a typical summer storm -- except there was no thunder or maybe we just couldn't hear it with the roar of the wind. And, it lasted longer -- a lot longer

Shelter staff reported that the dogs appeared anxious during the peak hours of the hurricane and seemed unusually calm on Sunday. That could have been because we did not have electricity forcing us to close to the public so there weren't as many people around.

I don't know what the animals felt during either of the two recent natural disasters. But, I'm glad that my crew is safe and un-bothered and the shelter animals appear the same. The major difference is that my foursome are home, and the cats and dogs at the League are still waiting for theirs.

Guest Blogger -- Pearl Updates the League

2011-08-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

My name is Pearl. When I stayed at the Washington Animal Rescue League, they called me Virginia. But my name actually is Pearl. Let me introduce you to my people; they are all in the photo with me.
The lady’s name is Kathryn. I wake up at the exact same moment as she does every morning before the sun comes up and we go downstairs together. She puts two cups of kibble in my dish. I would prefer eggs and sausage, but she keeps giving me this other stuff. I step into my purple harness and we run off to the big field. At the big field, she takes off my harness and I just run and run and run. I also jump and leap and chase. Sometimes other people arrive and I check with them to see if they want to play. Some do. Most don’t. But the best times are when other dogs show up. Daisy is fun because she chases me. And there is little Princess. Princess weighs eight pounds, so I have to play really carefully with her.
Kathryn is a college professor, so we spend a lot of the day together. She holds my cuddly face and pets my velvet ears and tells me I’m a beautiful Pearly-girl and a sweet Girly-pearl. She reads books and clicks a computer and walks around the house all day. I have to get up and escort her whenever she moves, so I don’t always get good sleep when she’s home. When she rides off on her bike, I can finally lay down by the front door and get a decent nap.
The big man’s name is Walt. He’s my hero. When we come back from running each morning, I head straight up the steps to check on him. I am crazy about him. I am trying to learn not to jump up, but I can’t help it when I see him. When I hear his car in the driveway, I have to bark and bark. When Kathryn opens the door, I run crazy with my tail chopping like a helicopter blade. I just want to get close to his face and his hands. He’s wonderful. Every evening, we all go for a walk together. Walt holds my purple leash, and makes me sit down and stay at every corner. I’m not sure why he wants me to do that. But I would do anything for Walt.The shorter kid is Justin. Justin loves all over me. Justin talks to me all the time, and pets me, and kisses me, and plays with me, and walks with me. He tells me he will miss me when he goes out the door. Justin is always calling my name to get me to leave wherever I am, to come to wherever he is. Everyone should have a Justin in their life.
The tall kid is Trey. Trey would rather have three cats than one Pearl, so that’s why I sit near Trey as often as possible. When we ride in the car, I sit at Trey’s feet. When Justin and Trey sleep on the floor of their room, I curl up by Trey’s back. When everybody comes home in the evening, I report directly to Trey and stare into his serious eyes, or sniff his long legs.
The little one’s name is Bella. She comes over a lot. We have a special bed for her, and some of the stuffed animals around here are, apparently, just for her. I really like to squeeze my teeth around that panda and that hippo, but my people are always telling me to give them back to Bella. Bella likes to lay on my back, just singing and singing. I get up and move to another spot. She follows me and sits down next to me and leans her back up against me again, still singing and singing. What I like best about Bella is her lunch. Kathryn feeds Bella lunch while Bella walks around the sunroom playing with all her toys. So what I do is walk around behind them. I’ve scored quite a few sweet morsels off the floor with this particular strategy. Last week, we packed up and took a road trip. I am always ready for an adventure, but I’m not crazy about driving. I prefer the earth to stay still. But if everyone else is going, I’m in. I tuck myself under the back seat as far as I can go, and just wait for the car to stop.
Our trip was to the Outer Banks. I do love an adventure, but I do not love water. I am proud to be a mammal, and I prefer to keep four dry feet on firm ground. I watch other dogs dive into the surf, fetching objects thrown by people. I don’t understand why they pursue those things into that crazy water! There are so many sticks and balls on land. Why follow them into the sea?
But when the sun sets and the waves calm, the shore becomes more interesting. There are no dogs on the dark beach, but other entertaining animals come out. I chase sand crabs back into their tiny sand holes.
One night, while I was tracking those little scurrying crabs, another scent took hold of my nose. I poked at something lying at the water’s edge. Was it alive? It wiggled weakly. When I stepped back, the moonlight revealed the fin on its back. It was a shark! I had caught a shark! It was twelve inches long and half dead, but it indeed was a shark!
So I’m a shark-hunter and a crab-chaser; what else can I tell you about me? I don’t like thunderstorms. But there is a big bed that I crawl under; it makes me feel much better. I wish they would serve more bacon and hamburgers around here, but I don’t seem to be getting much of those. I’m not a fan of baths. I’m good at burying bones in the dirt. Every once in a while I dig them up to rebury them. My best friend’s name is Rocky. He is huge and lives around the corner. I love to stop at his lawn and just run and chase and run and chase. Rocky is great.
So, basically, that’s me and my life. I’m happy I was able to spend time at WARL so that the friendly folks there could introduce me to my people. Nice people should go to WARL and find their Pearl. There are many Pearls at WARL waiting for nice people.

Super Happy Ending! Noah is Going HOME!

2011-08-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Noah, a two-year-old tabby, is going HOME. We are always excited when animals are adopted, but Noah's adoption is particularly exciting. Noah came to the League after tornadoes devastated his hometown of Joplin, Missouri. He flew to D,C, with our Director of Adoptions. Noah, who is FIV positive, was the only cat still available after a big adoption event in Missouri where more than 700 animals found homes! Jamie, who helped out in Joplin for two weeks after the tornado, couldn't leave Noah behind. He is such a special cat -- friendly and super affectionate. He shows no outward signs from the disease, but he does need to be an only cat or go to a home where another FIV cat resides. And, that is exactly where he is going. A loyal WARL donor read about Noah and concluded that she could offer Noah the perfect home. We couldn't agree more. The adopter has a long history of providing a wonderful home for cats, including her 4-year-old FIV positive cat. Noah's life reads like an adventure story, complete with a happy ending.

Training Camp 101 Concludes with Campers & Pups Graduating with Honors

2011-08-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Pepe is an A+ student during training time with Satchel, Abe
and Frank, a loyal WARL volunteer.

Friday marked graduation day for four adorable nearly 8-week-old pups -- Pickles, Pita, Pepe and Pier (also know as Pepper). The wee-little ones sat, stayed, touched markers and even did tricks. The fast little learners were taught by eight very able campers who spent the week at the League's first-ever Caring Kids -- Dog Training 101 -- Camp.

Four pairs of campers were assigned a pup for the week. The campers prepared the pups' special training space, cleaned up after their accidents, and worked with our Behavior & Training staff to have the little terrier mixes ready for adoption at the end of the week.

All four pups were quickly adopted, including Pepe who now lives with Abe and Satchel, the camper brothers who fell in love with their protege during their five days at the League. When mom, dad and sister met Pepe they, too, fell for the biggest pup in the litter. But, there was one deciding vote yet to be cast. Mookie, the family's 14-year-old lab, had final say. After a successful meeting it was unanimous.

CAMP

2011-08-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

This week Caring Kids -- All About Animals -- Camp campers have met cats, dogs, snakes, alligators, owls, bats, turtles, and other interesting animals -- even a pair of hissing cockroaches. Today we are journeying to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD where we will meet rescued farm animals. Check back later in the month to see pictures of the campers and animals.

Many thanks to camper, Ariana, for showing up the first day with a check for the League. She asked that her friends make donations to help the animals rather than give her birthday presents! The animals, and WARL staff, greatly appreciate her generosity.

ADOPTED!

2011-07-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Chambourcin, the terrific cat who visited my office a couple of weeks ago, who desperately needed a new name, was adopted! For sure he will be given a name among lots of other new stuff -- a new bed, new bowls, and new people to love! Our adoptions team is AWESOME.

The League is hosting a special ADOPT-A-THON August 6th & 7th. We will be placing lots of terrific cats, like Chambourcin, and wonderful dogs in permanent, loving homes around the clock. If you've ever wondered what it is like to be in an animal shelter at midnight, next Saturday will be the time to find out!

From Devestation to Devotion

2011-07-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

I just happened to walk by the medical center yesterday and saw a staff favorite in the waiting area with her forever home family. Known as Cocuzzi at the League, she was one of the dogs who travelled from tornado stricken Alabama to D.C. in our brand new rescue truck. I interrupted Dr. Shillito so I could ask for permission to post Jade's heartwarming update. She said yes, so here it is.

Hey this is Jade from the Smith family, the people that adopted Kakoozie (we changed the spelling) and just want to give an update and keep in-touch! I would like to thank all of you so much! She is so happy and so are we! I sleep next to her every night and she loves her toys so much! It seems like she was meant to be here! Thank you so much and I can`t even express those words enough. You are all so kind and really are so amazing! Kakoozie (Koozie) sorry but we tried to change it but we couldn't agree on a name so we kept it lol! She is such a smart girl and stays with us every second of the day!! Thank you so much Dr. Gary Weitzman and Mandy and everyone else there for everything!

Best Friends

2011-07-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Delia and Luna -- a post adoption hug!

Caring Kids Camp - Animals & Art was lots of fun. Not only did the 17 campers produce exquisite arts and crafts (pictures on our website, www.warl.org), but I learned that one of my favorite dogs was adopted by a camper. The dog, known as Naomi at the League, bares a striking resemblance to Nigel. I visited her often in her den. I heard that she was adopted by a lovely family, but did not meet them, nor did I see Naomi leave the shelter. On the first day of camp, the incredibly artistic Delia told me that her recent adoptee, lovely Luna, was named Naomi at the shelter. I was thrilled to learn that these two wonderful spirits are enjoying life together. Thanks Delia and family for giving a beautiful black dog a loving home!

First Session of Caring Kids Camp Concludes

2011-07-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Masterpieces, that's what were created by our 17 campers during Caring Kids Camp Session 1 -- Animals and Art. The compassionate campers designed busy boxes for the cats, adoption posters promoting cats and dogs, and created the most awesome paper mache' like animals ever seen in the Washington Animal Rscue League! Pictures of the entire menagerie will be posted soon, but in the meantime, go to www.warl.org and click on flicker pictures to view photos from the first days of camp.

What's in a Name?

2011-06-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

An office is an intersting place!

Meet a tabby cat without a name. Well, that's not completely true. It's hard naming every cat and dog who comes into the shelter; many of our animals end up with awesome names like Daisy Ann or Bradley while others are a bit of a stretch, like when we name animals after stuff. Recently a whole slew of cats were named after wines -- not all wines lend themselves to good names. Like Chambourcin -- what a mouth full. He's the cat who is visiting my office. He's a spectacular cat -- gorgeous, curious, affectionate. Why has he not been adopted? I think it's the name. How do your pronounce Chambourcin? I'm not even sure if I spelled it correctly. It definitely does not lend itself well to high-pitched baby talk. Since he's been investigating my office for the past hour, I've come up with several more fitting choices. What about Stanley, Louis, Nat, Rutherford, or Irving?

Back Home from Missouri

2011-06-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning I was surprised to see Lisa, one of the League's loyal volunteers, playing with a young beagle in the dog park. It's not unusual to see a volunteer in the dog park with one of the dogs, but what surprised me was that the volunteer was Lisa. She, along with three League staff members, had just spent more than a week in Joplin, Missouri. The ASPCA was called in by the Joplin Humane Society to lead the emergency animal sheltering operation after the May 22 tornado decimated the community; in turn, the ASPCA asked the League and other organizations to come help with the care of the animals. Lisa told me that the destruction in Joplin was beyond any possible description. I really can't imagine what she saw and the nightmare that people continue living weeks after the twister hit. She, however, was quick to point out that there were many emotional highs, especially when she was able to reunite an animal with a searching guardian. Imagine losing everything you own and wondering if you would ever see your beloved animal companion again? And, then, after days of searching, there he is at the makeshift shelter in the arms of a caring volunteer like Lisa!

Ice Cubes

2011-06-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

I dropped a couple of ice cubes in Nigel's big water bowl this morning and next thing I knew Charlotte was trying her hardest to dig them out!! They won't last. It's so hot, even in the house -- with the air-conditioner set to 76 degrees -- it's like the Amazon. Officially there are still s a couple of weeks until the beginning of summer. The rising thermometer says AUGUST! Keep animals in indoors. Provide lots of cool fresh water -- with or without ice cubes!

June is ADOPT a cat Month

2011-06-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

True, June is National Adopt a Cat month. BUT, every month, every week and every day are great times to adopt cats from the League. Wish I could say that if every reader adopted one, or two cats, today, we'd be empty tomorrow. If I said that, I'd be lying. We would fill up again immediately. There are way too many WONDERFUL cats, and not nearly enough homes. Lefty, one of my favorite cats, has been here for a very long time. So has his nearly mirror image Chambourcin. I'm partial to tabbies, but for some reason gray cats have really been vying for my attention lately. Check out the pictures of Gumbo and Badgley. And, the cat, who is a real heart-stealer, but a little shy is beaugtiful black and white, fluffy Yuri -- he's been here for a very, very long time. It would be great if he was adopted today. Trouble with lots of these guys is that they are not kittens. Many folks want kittens. And, we have lots of those, too. And, those same cute little kittens will be full grown cats like Lefty, Chanbourcin, Gumbo, Badgley and Yuri in just a few months. Check out all of the great cats on our website, warl.org. Or better still, come visit. Our airconditioning is working!

Happy Tabbies Remind Us that There are Real Life Happy Endings!

2011-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Nigel and I were visiting a fourth grade class this morning and met the guardian of two WARL adoptees.   Our terrific visit was made even better when I learned from the students' teacher that two of our former wards were happy and healthy in their forever home! I asked for pictures of the content tabbies, and no sooner had I gotten back to my desk, there they were -- Fannie and JoJ looking like extremely comfortable and content Siamese twins!

Here is a picture of our two cats from WARL. Fannie is older and as a kitten lived with the WARL cat director (I forget his name) and she loved to sleep under the ear of his dachshund; she has grown up to be very vocal and is the alpha kitty. Jojo is younger and came from New Orleans after Katrina (actually the group that was displaced from the FEMA trailers. She is pure New ‘Awlins and loves to eat and is very relaxed. I used to live in New Orleans, so she is special to us. They are great companions to each other and to us.

JoJo is a reminder of how an incredible tragedy can turn into nothing short of a miracle. It was a miracle that so many animals survived Katrina, and it is truly a miracle that so many of the dogs and cats living in flood areas and communities recently destroyed by tornadoes are alive and well, albeit scared. Several League staff members spent time in Missouri after the floods, then worked around the clock in Tuscaloosa setting up  a temporary shelter just days after the tornado devestation. And, now, our dedicated staff are preparing to travel to Joplin, Missouri where they will help care for the animal survivors of the largest tornado ever recorded, attempt to reunite those animals with their guardians, and if need be bring them back to the League where they will find new forever homes.

We have the most INCREDIBLE, WONDERFUL AND THOUGHTFUL STAFF.   And, we have some pretty special adopters too!

A Perfect Home for Papaya!

2011-05-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Papaya is doing very well. She is the perfect cat for us. She is so friendly. Thank you for giving us Papaya.

We received this cute picture and happy update. What a great home for a cat -- two girls of her own, toys galore, and a picture on this blog! Looking forward to hearing more from Papaya in the future.

Is Fantasy in Your Future

2011-05-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

This is Fantasy. The reason why her profile is so close to the camera lens is because she was standing on my lap when I took the picture. I tried to have her stand several feet away from me, but she refused. If there are typos in this posting, it is because Fantasy is on my lap and insisting on helping me write about her. x7& htymmmk.mvewohjoooo. That was her contribution. She wants readers to know that xgkkue she is a teenage mother, a very good one at that. She has been caring for her four daughters since their birth, nearly 8 weeks ago, and she is preparing for them to be adopted into loving permanent homes, AND she, too, is eager to have a real home, one where she can have her own computer cnodaiyre8ay y;-3. If I could have gotten a full body picture you could see how skinny she is. that's because she has been such a good mom, letting her kittens nurse around the clock -- no timed feedings for those babies.

Stay-tuned for a Fantasy update. Or better yet, come visit Fantasy and her family.

Happy Home Dispels Pit Bull Myth

2011-05-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

If, as the saying goes, a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then this photo needs no narration. However, I can't pass up the opportunity to include the touching email that accompanied this, and other photos, of Gryffiin, formerly Cherrios.

Gryffin (formerly Cheerios) is a phenomenal addition to our family! She is adjusting better than we could have ever expected and is the star of the neighborhood. She loves all dogs and all people, rolling around in the grass and sleeping in her beloved bean bag chair (especially on her person's lap). Her calm and gentle demeanor makes her a fantastic ambassador for her breed and has even inspired a few neighbors and friends to think about adopting a pit bull in the future. Thank you to WARL for blessing us with such an amazing dog!

How's that for terrific advertising!?

Best Friends

2011-05-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

Chimi and Mr. Lewis dining together!

What better way to conclude the Be Kind To Animals Week celebration than by sharing an adorable picture of an adoptee in his new home with his BFF-FOREVER!

His new human BFF-FOREVER sent along this lovely note.

Thank you so much for bringing Chimi into our lives!!!! He has been the best addition to our household. He is adjusting remarkably well and even gets along wonderfully with his brother, Mr. Louis. We are so glad that we were able to provide him with a loving home that he truly deserves. Thank you for all that you do for the many animals like our beloved Chimi.

Amanda's heartfelt words are what makes celebrating animals and friendship and every day occurrence at the Washington Animal Rescue League. Thanks Amanda and Mr. Louis for welcoming Chimi into your lives.

Be Kind to Animals Week Celebration -- with Poetry!

2011-05-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

National Poetry Month 2011 may be over, but writing and reading poetry should be an every day activity. Especially, when the poems celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week.
I missed seeing Takoma Education Campus 4th graders in April; we caught up today, the middle of BKTW, by visiting and writing Haiku poems. Wish I had room to share them all! Enjoy!!

Take Me Home
by Precious
The shelter has dogs.
The dogs are big and jumpy.
I love those small ones.

Nigel is Sad Because it's Raining
by Leslie
Please, rain go away.
Let Nigel visit this day.
Nigel don't be sad.

Nigel in School Because it Stopped Raining
by Lesilie
Cheer! the rain is gone.
Now Nigel can visit us.
Let's play with Nigel.

My Cat Ops
by Crescent
I have a good cat.
He fights the couch and shoe strings.
Ops wins the battle.

Lily
by Dania
Lily likes to play.
she is a really fun dog.
She is black anad white.

Dogs and Cats
by Gelila
Dogs and cats are nice.
They are so cute and friendly
They love you so much.

Nigel
by Vanessa
Loves dog treats and pats
Likes to go to school, see kids
Visit the classrooms

4th Graders Celebrate National Poetry Month and Animals with Haikus & Acrostics

2011-04-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Fourth graders in Ms. Sherk's class at West Education Center regularly enjoy visits from Nigel. In celebration of National Poetry Month they wrote Haiku and Acrostic poems about Nigel, their animal friends, and animal care. Here are a sample of those poems. Enjoy!!!

P-up, he's ready for action.
U-p and down he goes around
M-onkey business
P-imity pum, he crashes
K-iddin' around, he's just a joke
I-n his mini house
N-obody loves him live me
by Kobe

A-fast runner
L-ots of energy
F-ools around
E-ats his treats
S-weet as can be
S-uper loving
by Julissa

My Dog
Faithy loves to eat
She jumps, plays, runs, eats, and sneaks
As cute as can be
by Damia

Cruelty
Cruelty is bad
Stop hurting animals -- now
Love animals now
by Gaby

Skyler
Smart, kind, yummy, fun
Likes to eat pears and apples
Run fast and play fair.
by Amaya

Thunderstorms!

2011-04-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

I used to love thunderstorms. The bright lightening bolts illuminating the night sky followed by booming claps of thunder created natural entertainment -- that was until I lived with a dog who was deathly afraid of summer storms. Ruth panicked so badly that, if no one was home, she'd actually break out of our house and race wildly in any direction trying to escape the storm. Even years after Ruthie died, I have never been able to enjoy a summer storm like I did prior to living with a storm-phobic dog. Ruth was a natural weather-caster. Her internal Doppler radar system could predict a storm long before the first rain drop. Blue skies did not fool Ruth -- if rain was on the way, she'd start shaking and hiding hours before the first rain drop fell.

Many dogs are scared to death of storms. And, unfortunately, according to a 2006 study conducted by Penn State veterinarians, there is very little that guardians can do to comfort their anxious friends. Holding a dog, contrary to popular belief, during a storm does very little, if anything at all, to lower the dog's level of anxiety. The study concluded, that the only intervention, other than drugs, that might comfort a storm phobic dog, is the company of other dogs. Thunderstorm phobic dogs living in multiple dog households were not as anxious as storm phobic dogs who were living in only-dog households. And, the dogs in multiple dog households seemed to recover from their heightened anxiety faster than those storm phobic only dogs.

With summer storm season approaching, people with fearful dogs may want to venture over to the League to visit with the many happy-go-lucky dogs who are anxioulsy waiting to help their potential fearful friends.

Beloved Author Writes Dog Poems With Her Daughter

2011-04-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

I just got a copy of Patrica MacLachlan (Sarah Plain and Tall and lots of other wonderful books) and Emily MacLachlan's sweet dog poetry book, Once I Ate a Pie, 13 dogs tell-all-poems and according to the sticker on the book, Dog Approved -- very high praise. Print date is 2006 -- sorry I've missed this charming collection for five years.

Only 12 more days in National Poetry Month. Here's the title poem. Mr. Beefy writes the title poem. Enjoy!
I am not thin, but I am beautiful
When no one is looking,
I steal tubs of butter off the table.
I take them to the basement to eat in private
ONCE I ATE a PIE.

Don't be shy -- is there a dog or cat that you can write a poem about? How about writing a poem from that animal's perspective?

Wonderful Willie!

2011-04-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

Max & Willie

Nearly 14-years-ago, my friend Kathy decided to adopt a dog.   Not just any dog, but a special dog. The dog had to get along with Rebecca, Kathy's four-year old daughter. When Willie moved in there was no question who he would get along with -- Rebecca, and just about everyone else.

Willie died tonight. I know Rebecca, nearly 18, is sad, very sad. I know, too, that her mom, Kathy, is hurting. Willie was there through good times and bad. He was the ultimate cheerleader. If dogs could smile, Willie's grin would have been plastered across his face 24/7.

Willie was a little under a year old when Kathy met him at the D.C. animal control facility. I can't remember how he got there.  He was one of those dogs that made you wonder out loud how could anyone give up such a sweet little guy.   He loved Kathy and Rebecca with every bone in his body. They loved him at least as much, if not more.  Willie was a little dog with a big, generous heart that, sadly gave out today.   We'll miss you Willie.

A Responsible Animal Care Poem for YOU!

2011-04-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Jingles
by Peggy Archer

Wobbles new people have surely
put tags on that collar by now.
In fact, Wobbles has probably
outgrown that collar
and has a new one with tags.

from the book Name that Dog -- Puppy Poems from A to Z

Tags for his house number.
Tags for his phone.
Shot tags
shaped like a bone.
Tags for his dog license
one every year.
Jingle! Jingle!
Dog tags
tell you when he's near.

Vote for Vixen!

2011-04-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Vixen lounging near her favorite
window in her forever home!

Only four more days to vote for the League in the ASPCA's Challenge to Save Lives grant opportunity. Money awarded to the League will go directly to our adoptions program. Help us place more wonderful animals in permanent loving homes. If you viewed our adoptable dogs a few months ago you would have run across Vixen, a cute, fluffy Chow mix up. Here's an update from her forever home!

[Here's] a photo of Vixen in front of her favorite window. It looks down on the street so she can watch the neighbors and their dogs pass by. Vixen prefers to be outside meeting them in person,
but watching them is the next best thing.

Thanks to Juanishia and all the other staff who took care of Vixen and helped my family adopt her. Vixen adds so much love to our lives, our happiness meters have all jumped up since she arrived.

Help the League jump start more happiness meters, please votes. Post the link on facebook pages, email the link to friends and family, spread the word. Click here http://challenge.aspcapro.org/vote-your-shelter

VOTE --ASPCA CHALLENGE! Read the Inspirational Update Below

2011-04-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Joia before she had a bed to store her toys!

I've been meaning to share this sweet story for some time now. And, since we are deep into the ASPCA Challenge to Save Lives with just five days of voting left, I thought that today would be perfect to post a very happy story. Enjoy!

Two Month Update! I adopted "Carmela" ... and I have come to learn that I did not rescue her but she rescued me. She truly is my best little buddy and it has been such a joy watching her personality develop and she has really come into her own. Matter of fact, her name is now Joia... Italian for Joy because not only does she have the cutest little way of jumping for Joy but she has brought me tons of it!

Joia has been such a blessing. We go to the small dog park and she has tons of fun playing with her new friends. She also has met a bunch of other dogs and has become quite the hostess in having puppy play dates at her new home. She is also in her second week of doggy school and is a star pupil- she picks up everything so fast- she is so smart and eager to please! She is fierce at tug of war and is very proud every time she "kills" one of her stuffed animals :) Her favorite toy is her tug of war rope and she likes to sleep with her pinky bear in the human's bed- she has a dog bed that is now just used to store all of her toys because she finds the memory foam people bed much more suited to her liking :)

I just want to thank you all for the wonderful work you do and let you know about TWO more lives that you have made better!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE -- Help Save Lives and Vote for the Washington Animal Rescue League!

2011-04-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone at the League is working hard to qualify for a chance to win the ASPCA’s $100K Challenge, and we need your help. All you have to do is vote for the League online once a day, every day, until Friday, April 15. It only takes a second, and thousands of animal lives can be saved and improved. Just click here http://challenge.aspcapro.org/vote-your-shelter to be connected to the ASPCA's site. If we are one of the top 50 organizations, we will be eligible to compete for $100,000 and place more animals in loving, forever homes.

There's just one week left to vote. Please ask your friends and family to vote, too. Every vote counts!

Thanks so much for helping! Your daily click will help animals like Apple, Yogi and Achilles pictured here!

Micky & Merl Getting Checked Out

2011-03-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Merl peeks around the desk in my office.
He's not very happy to be here.

Micky likes being in the office. He has
no problem cat-napping before his
appointment in the medical center.

Enough rambling about rambunctious little Charlotte. The older guys in the house need attention, too. And, not just cuddle-time; they need more veterinary care than Charlotte. Micky and Merl are hanging in my office today since both are going to be examined by Dr. Rosen later today. Nothing is wrong, just slowing down, getting older. And, neither Mick nor Merl can tell me what, if anything, ails them. So, Dr. Rosen will poke, prod and ask me lots of questions. "Are they eating?" Yes. "Are the throwing up?" Yes. "Which one?" Not sure, probably Merl. And, since I'm not as observant as I could be, Dr. Rosen will have to use other tools of the veterinary profession to investigate further. Both cats will have blood drawn. And both cats will probably have their urine checked. Neither cat will cooperate, both will have to be held down. But, when it's over, I'll know if they need anything extra to keep them healthy so they feel up to keeping Charlotte in line.

Spring Kittens Grow Into Winter Cats

2011-03-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Chickory is a good mom

Shelters know spring has sprung a few weeks before the first crocus has bloomed. Kittens -- a telltale sign of spring, summer and fall. Our three lobby windows are filled kittens, including this litter and their mom. Our cat room is just as packed -- with cats. Kittens grow up to be cats. Quickly. In less than a year. And, some of the cats in our cat room were here as kittens and then returned to us as full grown cats. Sure, we would much rather have people return animals to us than discard them some other way. But, I'd like to remind every potential adopter, every person who oogles at a kitten and implusively takes one -- or two -- home, that cats are not goldfish. An indoor cat lives to to be 15 or more. Potential adopters who are smitten with kittens may want to consider providing a MOM cat a forever home, or think about adopting a couple of our full-grown returned cats. I'm reminded regularly, when Charlotte bites my ear at 2:00 a.m., that kittens may be entertaining, but they also like to be entertained at odd hours.

Caring Kids Create Crafts for Cats!

2011-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Atessa and Neeknaz test their fancy cat dancers with one playful kitty.

Say that five times fast -- Caring Kids Create Crafts for Cats! -- five times . Neeknaz and Atessa are spending a week helping the animals at the League. Through their school's minimester the friends have spent the week helping staff with administrative duties, learning about dog training, and socializing cats and dogs. They also spend their mornings before their volunteer hours and their afternoons hours after their League time baking dog biscuits, designing and constructing cat dancers and catnip toys, and holding a bake sale to benefit the animals! Their dedication and strong work ethic has made their week whiz by; staff -- and animals -- will miss them when they go back to a regular school day after spring break! Thanks Neeknaz and Atessa.

A Busy Monday -- Pit Bull Spay/Neuter Day

2011-03-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Shawn and his buddy, Cocoa,

wait to check into the

free spay/neuter pit bull day

hosted on the second Monday

of every month. Look at the smile

on that dog!

King, a kissy-face 8-month-old pit bull pup, plants a wet one on Sean's face as they wait to check into the clinic. King is a lucky dog. His guardian really cares!

Today is Albert Einstein's birthday. It's also the League's monthly FREE pit bull spay-neuter day. What does the League's pit bull spay-neuter day have in common with Albert Einstein? They are both really, really smart -- Albert Einstein was a smart man with great ideas and spaying or neutering your animal companion is a smart idea. Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is not only the right thing to do, but it shows that you know how much healthier your cat or dog will be post surgery. That makes you really smart -- just like Einstein. Spaying or neutering reduces or eliminates the possibility of reproductive system diseases. It also reduces an animal's urge to roam, making him less likely to get lost, injured or become a victim of abuse. And, it shows that your Einstein-like action is helping to end animal suffering. It is estimated that there are 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. That exorbitant number doesn't even begin to reflect all of the stray, feral and cast-off animals who never make it to a shelter. Twenty-one pit bulls were spayed or neutered today at the League's FREE spay/neuter day. None of those dogs will be contributing to the animal overpopulation crisis. I'm sure that Albert Einstein would agree that those are some pretty smart people who took advantage of a pretty smart idea. The next FREE spay/neuter day is set for Monday, April 11th.

The Cruelest Show on Earth -- Coming Soon, but for a Very Limited Stay

2011-03-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

I began attending circus protests more than 25 years ago. One circus after another rolled into D.C. and stayed, for what seemed like, forever. Each exploited wild animals all in the name of "entertainment." In 1995 Newt Gingrich, then speaker of the House, and other members of Congress celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Ringling Brothers Circus on the lawn of the Capitol. I was there nearby along with a bus load of DCPS students. We peacefully protested the mistreatment of circus animals. Students wore shirts with SAVE -- Students Against Violent Entertainment -- emblazoned across their chests, waved posters depicting chained elephants and bears in tutus, and chanted "Ho Ho, Stop the Abuse, Ringling Brothers has got to GO".

They went, but after their run. And, they came back. Ringling Brothers comes to the area at the same time year after year. They know, however, that they are definitely wearing out their welcome. Ringling Brothers, with their Greatest Show On Earth signed traveling trailers filled with chained elephants and caged lions, tigers, and bears, and an assortment of exotic animals pulls into town. But, I know that their business has dropped off. It used to be that that circus took up residence at the D.C. Armory for two or more weeks. This year they are advertising just nine performances over four days at the Verizon Center. AND sales of those show tickets are heavily discounted through ticket brokers.

People are getting it. Young people especially. The Birney Elementary School students who, in 1997, helped the Humane Society of the United States create the video, Behind the Big Top, The Real Life of Circus Animals, are now adults. Those students who took their campaign against cruelty it to the streets for lawmakers, passersby and news crews to see are now adults. Kids who have grown up watching Discovery and Nature videos are now adults, too. And, these young adults know the truth, and will NOT pay to watch animal abuse. They are going to end it. And, they may even be the ones passing out leaflets depicting the truth about circus animals in front of the Verizon Center March 24 27.

2011-03-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Home!

I am always amazed at how resilient animals are. Why would a cat, who was confined and horribly mistreated in a laboratory, walk right out of the carrier and explore the exam room in a veterinary hospital? Eyot, one of the cats rescued from the Professional Laboratory and Research Services, Inc. (PLRS) in Gates County, North Carolina in September and brought to the League, did just that. On a recent trip to Friendship Hospital for Animals, Eyot walked in and out of her cage curiously exploring the exam room. Most cats, including mine, try to blend in with the carrier rather than venture out of their safe enclosure. Could Eyot's self confidence have anything to do with her former life? Is it possible that she knew that her recent trip to the vet was all good, and that her kind caregiver would, of course, take her back home? After all, Eyot, reports her adopter is the "queen of the house and into everything."

Less than 6 months ago more than 200 animals, including this stunning black and white beauty, were relinquished from the facility after the release of undercover videos and testimony documenting neglect and cruel conditions of the animals in their care. (Read the Washington Examiner article about the rescue -- http://www.examiner.com/animal-welfare-in-washington-dc/from-research-labs-to-dogfighting-rings-warl-welcomes-abused-animals).

Remembering the Holidays and Our Trip to the League

2011-02-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Ms. Sherk and 4th graders at the League

Sometimes it takes me awhile to get to everything on my "to do" list. Today I'm catching up on reading journal entries that students in Ms. Sherk's 4th grade at West Education Center wrote. Here are excerpts from three of them.

If I were a rescue dog who had to spend Christmas in the animal shelter, I would feel happy because I will be with my dog friends and will be with people and dogs and cats that really, really, really care about us. TREASURE

The cat room was like a world just made for cats. JORDYN

Rylie tells Kara and students what a dog says!

Girls in the cat-room!

My trip to the Washington Animal Rescue League was awesome. I had a great time and saw a lot of animals. I played with Momo, he jumped on my back. It was the best trip ever. RAHLEK

Dissection is Not Good Science

2011-02-21T18:26:00.000-08:00

The other night I was driving my son, Max, and his friend to a party. Max's friend mentioned that he was sorry that the unit on dissection was over. When I asked why, he told me how "cool" it was -- that one group had a pregnant frog, and that they got to see all of the eggs when they opened her up. He said, too, that he could tell that his frog died while jumping; he knew that to be true by the position of the frog's legs. Maybe Max's friend will grow up to be a scientist -- maybe not. My guess is that 99.9 % of the kids in that class learned nothing of real importance from dissecting the frog, the sheep's heart or the chicken wing. The one sure message that middle school dissection projects continue to give is that animal life is unimportant -- killing thousands of frogs so 12 and 13-year-olds can poke at muscle could be worth an A.

Today, Max and I spent a the morning in the cat room at the League. He's working on a science project trying to determine whether or not gender has any bearing on which paw -- right or left -- is dominant. The complete results aren't in, but as the official project photographer, I got some cute pictures!

Dogs & Guns -- A Sad Search

2011-02-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

I was told that a D.C. police officer shot a Labrador Retriever yesterday. Apparently the officer felt threatened -- the unleashed dog, Russell, rushed toward him; several shots were fired severely wounding the dog. While searching for that article http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/dog-shot-by-dc-police-officer-021511# I found this one -- Kyrgyzstan aims to shoot 10,000 stray dogs in 2011 -- on the WTOP website, reported by the Associated Press http://www.wtop.com/?sid=2272573&nid= . This is where I am supposed to write something profound -- my fingers are frozen.

Catapalooza -- A Success!

2011-02-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

Owl catching up on her winks.

WOW!!! 27 out of 38 cats received applications during our Catapalooza event. Here's a photo of one of the kitties still waiting for someone to pick her. Maybe one of the new adopters will visit again and take Owl, too. There was so much excitement yesterday; this chubby calico spent a good portion of her day hiding safely in her condo. Today she's comfy and catching up on her beauty sleep.

I think what she needs is a purple bedspread to nap on -- her lovely calico markings will look stunning on a the royal color. Any empty purple bedspreads out there? How about royal blue? Pink might be nice, too. Or green.

Sampson's Happy Progress Report

2011-02-11T11:42:00.000-08:00

When Sampson, an incredibly handsome and sweet dog, came to the League we asked local emergency responders if they might be interested in adopting him as a working dog.

Even though Sampson proved to be all play and no work, the team who came to see him recognized his potential. An all points bulletin went out --

Sampson would make someone or some family an amazing parter for life. He is so willing to please, calm and sure of himself, but not in a pushy or dominant way. He is not high drive enough for detection, but loves to retrieve tennis balls and has a bomb proof temperament. He is gorgeous, inside and out, neutered and healthy except for a very, very slight heart murmur. This dog is special. He needs a great home!!!!!!!! If you know someone looking for an amazing GSD for their home--HERE HE IS.

Sampson has been with us for about a month. He has graduated to Lacrosse balls. Tennis balls proved to be no match for his powerful jaw! He LOVES to be outside. The snow and cold weather don't seem to bother him at all. He likes the snow a lot! He gladly shares his new bed with Amber (Yellow Lab). He loves to please. I took him to work with me. He was like the king. EVERYBODY loved him. He spent hours playing with all the officers at the station.

Magnificent Merlin!

2011-02-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Compfy Merlin?

Merlin was one of those cats who lived at the League for a long time. A big bruiser, who liked to hang out, Merlin went unnoticed by potential adopters, but not staff and volunteers. He was always a favorite. So, when a loyal League volunteer offered to foster Merlin we all celebrated his move to a temporary home. An appeal on the League's Facebook page struck a chord with a potential adopter, and in no time Merlin moved on to his forever home where he is "doing great," reports his new person. Being a foster home is not easy -- it's hard not to become so attached that it's impossible to give the animal up. But, when fosters end up becoming adopters, we lose those foster homes. Merlin was lucky to be offered a foster home, and lucky for the League that Merlin's foster person was able, with reservation, to let go. Maybe she will open up her spare room to another foster cat soon!

The Case of the Missing Earring

2011-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

I lost one of my very favorite earrings yesterday. I was walking Nigel and the earring must have slipped off my ear. I discovered it was gone as soon as we got home. It's not the end of the world, but I did think -- that given that we walked only two blocks -- Nigel should be able to track the lost earring. After all, Steven Reinberg's Health Day article Trained Labrador Can Sniff Out Colon Cancer, http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=649419 details how "specially trained 8-year-old female Labrador retriever named Marine is able to detect colorectal cancer among patients with up to 98 percent accuracy." I showed Nigel the remaining earring. I put it right under his nose, and then we retraced our steps -- twice. No earring. He stopped several times spending a little extra time sniffing leaves and tires, but the green and orange glass earring was never located.

2011-02-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Catapalooza
Sunday, February 13th
for more info
http://www.warl.org/news-events/events/catapalooza/

Meet Maraschino!
at Catapalooza.

Our third annual Catapalooza is a celebration of cats. Cats are the number one animal companion these days. Stop by the League from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 13th and meet all of the wonderful cats available for adoption. On second thought, come by and visit before Catapalooza; the cats are anxious to move into their forever homes, no sense waiting another 10 days!

What Did You Do Without Electricity?

2011-01-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

In our dark, cold house, during the nearly 48 hours without electricity after the mega-snowstorm, the one warm spot was right in front of the roaring fire in our living room fireplace. Charlotte figured Merl needed more than fire heat. Look closely, she's perched on top of her buddy, Merl. I'm happy to report that the furnace has worked splendidly since 5:08 p.m. Friday and is cranked up as we wait for a "small" mixed precipitation storm.

Stuck in the Storm -- Emergency Plans Needed for Animals

2011-01-29T08:32:00.000-08:00

Like thousands of drivers, I was stuck in the snow storm on Wednesday night. Max & I picked up Natalie from a dance class in Rockville, Maryland around 5:30 p.m. and pulled into our Silver Spring neighborhood well after 2:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. We made one pit stop during the trek home. At around 9:45 p.m. we arrived at friends' house, about 6 miles from our home; we could have spent the night there, but Nigel and the cats were home alone. The cats had food, water and clean litter, but Nigel had not eaten dinner and does not use a litter box. We decided to keep traveling. So, close to midnight we set out for the final leg of our long journey.

Charlotte insists on
experiencing her first
real snow fall from the
screened in porch

You hear about what you should have in your car for such emergencies -- food, water, shovel, cat litter, a scraper, and something to keep you warm. But, I never thought of having an emergency plan in place so Nigel and the cats would be safe and comfortable if I could not get home When we finally opened the door at that early morning hour, Nigel rushed outside, happy to see us, and lifted his leg for what seemed like 5 minutes! We went into our dark house -- like thousands of others in the area our power was out -- fed Nigel a meal that was neither breakfast nor dinner and fell into bed with cats cuddling close.

Nigel greets Max and Rachel
after they return from sledding

The next day, still no power, but we were safe at home. Nigel went outside several times and Charlotte insisted on seeing the snow from the screened in porch.

As soon as the snow melts, I will venture back on the road to get my next door neighbor a key for such emergencies.

People Who Abuse Animals Rarely Stop There

2011-01-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

The lead sentence from Tricia Bishop's (a Baltimore Sun reporter) January 9th article reads --
Seven months after Baltimore prosecutors dropped gun and drug charges against teenage twins accused of setting fire to a pit bull puppy, one of the young men was arrested again — this time on attempted murder charges.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-johnson-20110109,0,4976118.story

In her article in today's Sun, reporter Bishop explains that the animal cruelty trial, including jury selection, begins today. The accused, now 18-years-old, are not going to find many sympathizers. When the heinous crime was committed, and then publicized, people across the country were outraged; they responded with reward offers and verbal lashings. The criminals need to be punished to the fullest degree of the law. The pain that they inflicted on the dog was unimaginable. They committed a crime, and from the looks of the January 9th article, they are still involved in criminal activity. It may be hard to find an impartial jury, but one must be seated and allowed to hear and see the evidence so the maximum penalty can be imposed.

See right hand side of the blog, about 1/2 way down, for more information on the case of Phoenix, the dog who was burned alive.

2011-01-18T05:16:00.000-08:00

Nature provided a a mega slip and slide during the night. It's a good day to stay inside, but dogs still have to go outside for quick bathroom breaks. Cats don't. Keep your cat indoors, especially in the cold.

Remember to thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. Unknowingly your dog can eat salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. Do something inside with your dog or cat. Read them a good book. For ideas, check out the book selection on the right hand side of page. You'll need to scroll down a bit. Stay warm.

Army dog handler based at Fort Belvoir dies in Afghanistan

2011-01-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

The link to the story mentioned above is on the right side of the page below the Friendship Hospital for Animals' Dr. Hughes' blog.

Every day we learn about death and tragedy. Last week the nation was grief stricken over the horrific massacre in Arizona. In today's paper the death of 28-year-old Sergeant Zainah Caye Creamer is buried in the local section. Death in war is an every day occurrence. All the violence needs to end. Too much hurt, too much suffering.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee Wins Prestigious Award

2011-01-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

I have not read A Sick Day for Amos McGee, so I am not in a position to criticize. But I will -- sort of. This book, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by her husband Philip C. Stead, won the Caldecott Award for 2011 -- that puts it in the same company as Officer Buckle and Gloria, one of my very favorite picture books. I am opposed to books depicting zoos as happy-go-lucky places. Even whimsical drawings that bear no resemblance to actual animals can subliminally give the impression that caged animals are happy. I do not believe that to be true..

Long Time League Resident Relocates to Forever Home

2011-01-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

Relaxed at Home for the Holidays

Visitors to our cat room often remarked on the beautiful long-haired cat who spent most of her time on the floor rather than her kitty condo. It took Daytona, now named Misty, a long time to choose her forever home. However, a recent after-the-holidays-update confirmed that Misty chose well.
Her personalty has really come out. She seeks attention and loves being scratched around her ears and neck, but doesn't like being picked up and isn't a lap cat. She's very friendly with everybody and will sit right next to you, but not on you. Sometimes she sleeps on the foot of our bed, but most of the time in her sleeping box I made for her.

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions are meant to be kept.

So I'm making only two :

Ike, agrees wholeheartedly with my resolutions

To write about the antics of Charlotte no more than once a week
Tell everyone who walks into the cat room that they should adopt Ike, Antoinette, or any one of the other wonderful cats patiently waiting for forever homes.

Well., I made a third -- no chocolate before 12 noon -- but that one was broken on New Year's Day.

Happy New Year -- Read & Enjoy

2010-12-29T09:07:00.000-08:00

Toby and Cody -- an inseparable pair!

November 2009 the League took in 13 huskies who had been the victims of a bankrupt sled dog operation in Northern Quebec. None of the dogs had ever been inside. Placing the dogs in permanent homes was a challenging task. Most of the dogs went to foster for a period before finding their forever homes. A recent adoption update from Manitoba's person was signed by "Leader, Wolfpack". Last spring I adopted 7-year-old Husky, Manitoba, from WARL. I seriously can't overstate how perfect a match Toba is for my other Husky, Cody. Like Toba, Cody was also rescued from really less than desirable living conditions and as a result had developed a tendency to have stress-trigger seizures. He also suffered from tremendous isolation anxiety and the destructive behavior that resulted got to a point where it was physically harming him. I had tried literally everything the Husky experts had suggested and the only other option was to adopt him a buddy. Since he's 8 and slightly arthritic I wanted a dog that would match his temperament and energy level, which brought me to Toba. I have always been drawn to the dogs with the hard luck stories as I like to give homes to animals who aren't likely to find an open door elsewhere. Toba's story tugged at my heart strings, and I knew that even though she's a young, spirited 7 yrs most people in the market for a Husky are looking for young fuzzy-faced pups.The first time Toba and Cody met they instantly fell into step with each other, literally. They bonded like an old married couple. A week after bringing Toba home, people at the dog park remarked that they seemed like they'd been together their whole lives. 9 months later, Cody's anxiety has not made a single appearance and he's as playful as he was five years ago. Toba's fear of jumping into cars has been replaced by boundless excitement and she will actually shoulder Cody's 80lb frame out of the way to be first in. She no longer flinches when pet and is actually quite insistent about receiving head rubs from all visible hands. So glad that Toba gets to ride in the car and enjoy endless head rubs. We, at the League, are happy for the whole wolfpack.

No Snow in Washington, But Bitter Cold and Wind are Cruel Reminders that Not Every Animal is Safe Inside

2010-12-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Doesn't Magda look cozy? In her curled cat position snuggled up against a warm blanket, hers is a picture of a perfect life. Mgada's adopter wrote of her her first couple of days in her new home, "just wanted to let you know that Magda is doing well at her new home. She seemed to adjust really well; she ate right away, explored the apartment, used her litter pan immediately,and spent the night snuggling with me on the couch. She is such a sweet and smart girl! Thank you so much for the opportunity to meet and fall in love with Magda."

What does Magda's perfect report have to do with extreme weather? Nothing, except to remind us that not all animals are so lucky as to have a person to cuddle with. Strays are obviously in need of immediate help, even when the weather is not freezing. But, sometimes animals who appear to have "homes" should be reported to the authorities, too. In the District of Columbia it is against the law to chain a dog and all dogs outside for an extended period of time in a fenced in area MUST HAVE a proper dog house. That means, the structure needs to be off of the ground, have a door flap to guard against wind, and have adequate dry bedding inside. Cats should not be outside. They constantly seek warmth and sometimes they find it under the hood of a recently parked car. Those temporary shelters can turn into death traps. Report animals in distress to District Animal Control, 202 576-6664. To report animals in need outside of D.C.find your local animal control agency through 411 or google search.

All animals should have a doting guardian who takes photos and writes emails just like Magda's.

A Holiday Treat -- Another Happy Adoption!

2010-12-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

From Lelani's adopter

I re-named her Mika, and she is doing great! She and my pug Tank get along splendidly! They love to play and then crash...always makes me laugh. You would have to see the two goofballs in action to truly appreciate it. She is extraordinarily loving and sweet. She is just a big goofy couch cushion! She is a wonderful dog!

Read & Relax -- Paul Public Charter School Students Share Stories With Dogs & Cats

2010-12-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

As part of a student service learning project, students from Paul Public Charter School are spending a couple of hours each month at the League. They help out in lots of conventional ways -- stuffing kongs, cleaning kennel cards, folding laundry -- but they also spend time reading to the animals. Daniel came prepared with the all-time favorite, Green Eggs and Ham. The little dog in the distance may not have been ready for belly rubs, but she was a good listener, probably identifying with Sam I Am.

I could not, would not, in a house. I would not, could not, with a mouse. I would not eat them with a fox. I would not eat them in a box. I would not eat them here or there. I would not eat them anywhere. I would not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A pat

and a story makes for a perfect afternoon!

Lots of Labs & Laughs

2010-12-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

Cordelia, a recent WARL adoptee,
and her buddies are
decked out for the holidays!

It's Christmas every day when we get updates like this one.
Cordelia's a great dog -- with her own very strong personality (greedy, stubborn, energetic and loads of fun). She joined this household, and its established dog routine very successfully, and contributed positively to the energy.

Camden (Cammy/Cam Cam), a 14.5 year old black Labrador retriever;
Ce Ce (Chi Chi) a six-year old chocolate Labrador retriever and
Cordelia (Co Co), a five-year old yellow Labrador retriever -- all "C" names (none named by me) and all adopted!

Now that there are 3 of them, they're a true pack, and they do what they want -- including seeking me out wherever I'm located in the house and scolding me, if I am late or diverge in the slightest from their established routine. 'And I have no better sense than to laugh at everything they do.
I started this blog so I could write about animals. But, in recent days our adopters'stories have been coming fast and furious. Sharing our successes is so much fun. If the weekend weather predictions hold true, I may be sharing photos of dogs enjoying a romp in the snow. Check back soon!

A Holiday Letter to Warm Your Heart

2010-12-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends at Washington Animal Rescue League,

On the three month anniversary of being rescued from the horrible abuse at the PLRS "research" lab, Sweetie Pie (formerly known as "Cyclone") would like you to know he is thoroughly enjoying the holiday season and is looking forward to his first Christmas with presents and treats from Santa Paws.

Sweetie Pie is such a happy cat! I had the privilege to adopt him two months ago today. Within less than 8 hours he was exploring his new home and playing.within two days he was allowing me to pet him all over. After only ten days he re-gained his purr; in three weeks, he started sleeping on the bed all night with me; and as of yesterday, he let me pick him up and hug him (briefly, but it was the first time he didn't struggle immediately).

He is an excellent companion. He is extremely curious, very polite, loves to talk and to demand attention. And he has a great appetite. At long last, he is able to be a cat and do all the things felines are supposed to do. Other than the blue tattoos in his ears, there is virtually no sign of the trauma he experienced and adopting him has been 100% easy!

Warm wishes to everyone at WARL for a happy new year,

Cynthia & Sweetie Pie

Happy Ending Thanks to a Young Hero

2010-12-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

Just before the Arctic cold gripped our area a
hungry, dirty teeny kitten surely would have died had it not been for the heroic action of Daven, a teen who, not only picked up the kitten and fed her, but brought her to the League so she could be adopted into a forever home. Daven wrote on the intake form, "I am surrendering this animal because I found her not fed, dirty, running in the street, and I felt I needed to do it." Many people -- teens and adults -- would have walked right by the kitten figuring rescuing a six-week-old kitten was not their responsibility. Not Daven. Thank you Daven for doing the right thing! The kitten, named Peppermint by shelter staff, has been adopted and will be home in time for Christmas!

Who Needs Cable?

2010-12-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Nigel in the office figures
he will need to share his bed with
Charlotte

I never thought I'd adopt a kitten. After all there are many wonderful adult cats at the League -- all waiting patiently for their forever homes. And, every time I walk through our cat room, I imagine taking one of them home. Since my best cat, Bruce, died in August I've thought about how Merl might like Harley, Antoinette or Tom. But it didn't seem quite right to throw an adult cat into the chaos of my home -- busy schedules, two older male cats who don't like each other, and Nigel, a gentle, but still 75 lb dog. Max, on the other hand -- ever the optimist, thought a kitten was just what Merl needed. Merl was yowling all night and sedentary all day. No doubt he should have a buddy, but a kitten -- I didn't think so.
Things have a way of working out. I brought home an adorable Siamese mix around Halloween. Merl acted like the teeny kitten, Nugget (AKA Bo) was just another hairball waiting to be vacuumed. The kitten went back to the League and was adopted with his sibling (More on Nugget later). I started thinking that Merl would eventually adjust to living without a best friend. And then came Charlotte -- the cutest kitten ever. As Max said, she was what I was looking for -- a female with a round face. Well, I had other criteria, but that face definitely got me. I brought her home shortly before Thanksgiving. And, for whatever reason, Merl decided that he could be friends with Charlotte. After a few days he pounced back when Charlotte got in his face. And, a week into her residency he took to chasing her up and down the stairs and pinning her in the center of the living room rug.

Charlotte settled in
the minute she moved in.

We don't have cable TV. Definitely no need now. When we aren't watching Merl and Charlotte wrestling, we are playing with Charlotte, throwing toys toward her, dragging, a cat dancer for her to chase, or saving her from precarious places like the center of a huge house plant. Sometimes we just watch her sleep. She is very cute when she sleeps. Charlotte is more entertaining that 120 television channels and she snuggles!

One Picture is Truly Worth a Million Words!

2010-12-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

Every dog needs a couch and person to call his/her own. Cammie's new guardian reports "I've really enjoyed our first month together".

More updates coming -- this is truly a joyous holiday season for many of our canine and feline alumni!

A Very, Very Heartwarming Update

2010-12-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

In September, the League took in 30 of the more than 200 dogs and cats surrendered to officials after the USDA began an investigation into allegations of neglectful living conditions and cruel abuse of the animals at Professional Laboratory and Research Services, Inc. in Gates County, North Carolina. While people may disagree on whether or not there is a need for animals to be used in research, no one can justify the way the North Carolina lab animals were treated. An undercover investigation by PETA documented horrible incidents of blatant cruelty. The dogs and cats were were force-fed some substances and subjected to having others smeared on their skin—one such smear test caused seizures, blindness, and bleeding from the nose in 57 cats—but they were also allegedly routinely abused by their caretakers who screamed at them, sprayed them with water and chemicals, dragged them through the facility, and threw them into cages. Thankfully, all of the horror is now past history.

Muffin and Cookie lounge comfortably
on the sofa in their forever home

The update from Cookie and Muffin's person proves that animals are extremely resilient and forgiving. Why would a once tortured animal trust a human being?

From their new home --

"....Cookie is such a loving little thing, she is my dream cat and Muffin is not far behind. Cookie likes to sleep on my neck with her little face right next to mine. Her whiskers tickle my nose. Muffin also comes around and wants loving but she is my explorer and my guard. They both follow me around. They play together and are so funny and I enjoy playing with them. Muffin jumps on top of Cookie and "grooms" her followed by rough and tumbling play...."

All of the lab cats were placed in homes and most of the dogs have been adopted, too. A couple rat terriers are still waiting at the League for their forever homes.

Oh Cyrus -- the Great Recycler

2010-12-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Two updates in one day -- more good news to be thankful for.

There is a book in this one, maybe a series. This update is in fact excerpted from a much longer tale called "Oh Cyrus!".

I have began to refer to Cyrus as the "Great Recycler". Clearly, he gets just as upset as I do about the constant junk mail arriving at the house everyday. In fact, he dislikes it so much that he has developed a very firm position on it.

Each day the mail comes after I get home from work. As I hear the sliding door on the mail truck I feel a cold chill down my spine. Cyrus-who is normally watching me (watching him) lolls his tongue to dare me to get the the mail slot first. We wait each other out...

Tension is building....

I bolt for the door and he bolts first-EVERYDAY. Personally, I think 4 feet vs 2 is an unfair contest. I should at least get a head start! As Cyrus runs for the door, the other animals panic and try to get out of the way. I have seen one of the cats actually try and climb drywall to keep from being mowed down.

Once Cyrus gets to the mail slot he takes it all in his big mouth (slobber and all) and starts to shake it back and forth. At this point, I have to take it-and he knows it. My only goal is to get the important mail (usually bills so I should really just skip it), but Cyrus likes to keep it and demolish it. Minutes pass as we are locked in this daily tussle. Eventually (being the good dog that he is) he relents and gives me the mail. In return, I give him the junk mail to tear up. Once it is torn into tiny little pieces, it breaks down into garden compost easier. Even while Cyrus is having a good time he is respecting the environment-that's great recycling!

Prescott Update

2010-12-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Remember Prescott, my office buddy? Well, he is still keeping up-to-date with the latest technology. This picture, sent by his forever person, shows Prescott, the computer geek, cat-napping on the job.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

Many of our wonderful volunteers visited the dogs and cats in our care on Thanksgiving. We are very grateful to them for coming in on the holiday and spending time with the animals.

Lou modeling her stylish bandanna

We are grateful, too, for the people who adopt shelter animals and provide them with loving forever-homes. We got an update from one of those homes yesterday.

Lou snoozing on her piggy bed

"A little over two years ago, we adopted a black and white coonhound mix named Blitzen (now Lou). In that time, Lou has become an irreplaceable member of our family. She's the perfect companion, whether going for a hike or relaxing on the couch. Her sunny outlook and goofy charm win over everyone she meets."

I Can See You Just Fine

2010-11-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

Uno

Meet Uno and Mister.
Totally unrelated.
Both missing their right eyes.
AND, both ready to go home!

Mister
(photo taken soon after surgery.
Mister's eye wound has healed.)

Mister has been described by staff as "the sweetest kitten ever."

The older, yet ever-playful Uno possesses the true orange-tabby personality -- delightful.

Uno and Mister will be spending Thanksgiving at the League, waiting for their forever homes.

Tigers May be Saved from Extinction

2010-11-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

An article in yesterday's Washington Post, 13 Nations Sign Declaration Meant to Save Tigers, was encouraging and heartbreaking at the same time.

Heartbreaking --

Tigers once roamed most of Eurasia from the Tigris River to Siberia and Indonesia. But in the past century, the number of countries that are home to tigers has dropped to 13 from 25, while three of the nine tiger subspecies have become extinct. Experts say there are now only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild.

Encouraging --

Officials from the 13 countries where tigers live in the wild have signed a declaration Tuesday aimed at saving the iconic big cats from extinction. The new accord stipulates that the nations will strive to double the tiger population by 2022, crack down on poaching and illicit trade in tiger pelts and body parts.

Read Associated Press reporter Irina Titova's article in it entirety at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/23/AR2010112303245.html.

Two in a Row -- Another Happy Ending

2010-11-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

You would think that when a dog goes home, the last thing on the adopter's mind is reporting back to the League. Not so with Toucan's new person. She sent an update, complete with pictures, 24 hours after "Touk's" homecoming. The photos definitely show forever-home, especially this one with Toucan's bed front and center.

What a great dog this is. Your team has done a fantastic job at training her. She's got such a nice personality. She seems very comfortable already... She is happy to play, but is also relaxed. It is surprising to me, how quickly she has taken to all of us. She acts like "finally, guys! you finally showed up to get me! now let's get this thing going!!"

Happy Adoption Story!

2010-11-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

Right after adoption

Reagan in her new home

What a pleasure to see this picture of Reagan, formerly known as Fig Newton, on the sofa -- in a real-honest-to-goodness home. Reagan was one of more than 80 dogs who was rescued from a HORRIBLE hoarding situation. Dogs were everywhere. They were timid and terrified; many of them, including Reagan, had terrible skin problems due to gross neglect. Reagan's new guardian reports, "She was one of the dogs from the Mississippi hoarder and had a lot of skin problems. I can't tell you how much we love her. She is such a good dog. She just started doggy school last week. We are so proud."

It might be cold and raining outside but, when we get updates like this, the sun shines at the League!

What Does it Feel Like to Be Returned?

2010-11-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

Malia -- Back Again!

We are not Macy's or Nordstrom's or Target. Yet, we get our share of returns! Cats and dogs are returned, not just to the League, but to shelters everywhere. Well-meaning people think they want to add an animal to their household, and then something happens. Of course, we will take the animal back -- we would much rather that the cat or dog be returned than given away, let go, ignored ,or hurt. But, even still, when you watch an animal go home, you want to believe that it is forever.

13 common reasons

why animals are returned to shelters

The dog gets too big
The dog chews the furniture, the wall, the cabinets
The dog poops on the floor
The dog bites
The dog barks
The dog doesn't bark
Someone in the house developed an allergy
The cat scratches the furniture
The cat doesn't use the litter box
The family has a baby and has no time for the cat/dog
It's too expensive to care for the dog or cat
The guardian doesn't have enough time
The children are not responsible (Really, parents tell shelter staff that they return or give up the cat or dog) because their kids are irresponsible.)

How do you think Malia feels being returned to the League for a second time?