Tribute to DIAMOND – RIP / Compassionate Care in our communities
by Lori Weise
Founder and Director, Downtown Dog Rescue
What would you do if you could not afford to take your sick dog to a vet? Many dog owners face this challenge and are forced to surrender their suffering pets to animal shelter where they die alone. Not every old dog was “dumped” by their owner, some had no alternative. Downtown Dog Rescue’s Operation Safety Net provides that alternative so that a dog owner can treat their dog, sometimes paying part of the cost, other times, DDR pays 100%, whatever it takes to make the dog comfortable. We also offer end of life, humane euthanasia which is something that not all dog owners understand that they need. Again, some bring their old dogs to the shelter because that’s what they saw their parents or neighbors or friends do with their dogs. For many of us, it’s not a culturally acceptable way to see a beloved pet spend their last hours of life, sitting in a cage, waiting to be euthanized at a shelter.
Carrie reached out to DDR when her pit bull Diamond was sick. Sam Simon Foundation generously removed the first tumor at no charge and Diamond appeared to be doing well but that didn’t last long. About a month later, she had trouble walking and even breathing. Because Carrie was so connected to her dog, she knew it was time or at least she thought it was time. She came to our Watts clinic and we talked, then she wrote to me several times until she decided that she couldn’t watch Diamond suffer anymore. An appointment was made to humanely euthanize her. Which also meant that she could hold her in her arms, not sign a paper, hand over the dog and walk away, as her dog of ten years would be pulled down a hallway at a shelter. Diamond passed peacefully on Wednesday July 25th at noon. Her suffering is now over. I asked Carrie to tell me what Diamond meant to her and this is what she wrote, “I rescued diamond when she was puppy off the streets three days after my first pit bull died in my arms. To me, she saved my life. I was so depressed about killer (my first pit) that I really didn’t want to live without him. Diamond gave me a reason to live and a way to cope with my grief, as well as a new place to channel my love.”
Skid Row’s ‘Community Dog’ Dies – Sheba Remembered at Memorial Service
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| For 10 years, Georgina Warren, left, was the chief caretaker of Sheba, a beloved street dog on Skid Row who was hit by a car last week and died. She was consoled during a recent sidewalk memorial service by Catherine Harris of the nearby Hippie Kitchen. |
From LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN NEWS
Posted: Thursday, June 28, 2012 5:04 pm | Updated: 10:10 am, Fri Jun 29, 2012. by Ryan Vaillancourt, Staff Writer |
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – Some 17 years ago, Georgina Warren was in her tent in a Skid Row parking lot when she heard the unmistakable sound of a dog in despair.
Warren, who was homeless and addicted to drugs, crawled out of her tent and walked toward the noise. She found a young German Shepard mix chained to a parking sign pole, a bowl of water just inches out of her reach.
It was hot and the dog was thirsty. Warren jogged over to a nearby mechanic and borrowed some bolt cutters, which she used to free the dog.
“After that, she followed me and wouldn’t leave me alone,” Warren said. “She just became my baby.”
Warren spent the next 10 years with the dog, but fellow street dwellers shared in the caretaking. If Warren landed in jail, which she did multiple times, someone would watch out for the pet. The animal, which could be protective of Warren’s shopping cart and aggressive toward strangers, was so widely known and respected that Warren likened her to a queen. She named her Sheba.
On Tuesday, June 27, at about 11:30 p.m., Sheba’s reign ended. She was struck by a car on Alameda Street.
Warren, who left Skid Row in 2008 and is now in recovery, teared up on Thursday at a sidewalk memorial service on Gladys Avenue that drew about a dozen current and former street dwellers, animal activists and members of the service provider and area street cleaning communities.
Lori Weise, founder of Downtown Dog Rescue, which provides an array of services for low-income dog owners, occasionally helped care for the dog. She arranged for Sheba to be spayed and was registered as a contact via the dog’s microchip. That arrangement proved crucial, as Weise was called to pick up Sheba from animal shelters 11 times. Weise always returned her to the streets of Skid […]
Operation Safety Net in action-Again
by Lori Weise, Founder and Director of Downtown Dog Rescue
Mr Ellis is a senior citizen who lives in South LA on a very fixed income with his 92 year old mom. He meant to fix his gate but he couldn’t afford to get a handyman to help. His worst nightmare happened, both of his dogs broken down the wobbly gate and were picked up by an animal control officer. The good news is that the shelter was the South LA shelter and Lt Botta is there to help dog owners redeem their dogs. Mr. Ellis’ case was no different. Lt. Botta called us up and asked for our assistance through the Operation Safety Net program which helps keep dogs out of the South LA shelter. Mr. Ellis had no money, no transportation and no idea how he was ever going to get his two dogs back.
Sandy D. who manages our hotline and many other parts of DDR made many phone calls to coordinate the handyman work, Mr. Ellis’ transportation and the dogs ride home. Volunteer Sandy Z scouted out the situation, spoke to Mr. Ellis and hired handyman Carlos to fix the gate at a cost of $150. Once the gate passed inspection from the Dept of Animal Services, DDR paid the fees to get both dogs back home at a cost of $157 per dog. Sandy Z transported the dogs back to Mr. Ellis and her report was that he had “Tears of Joy” upon being reunited with his dogs.
Doesn’t it make more sense to assist dog owners in underserved areas redeem their dogs or even better prevent their dogs from ever entering the shelter? We all know that there are not enough homes for highly adoptable dogs. Imagine what chance these two dogs would have had in being rescued or adopted as dogs that appeared to be under socialized, bonded and dog aggressive with other dogs.
All the volunteers at Downtown Dog Rescue want to thank Lt. Susan Botta for working to reunited more dogs back to their owners and for working with us to get the job done!
WATTS – A COMMUNITY CARES FOR ITS ANIMALS
by Lori Weise, Founder and Director of Downtown Dog Rescue On Saturday June 16th, Downtown Dog Rescue joined forces with LA Animal Services, LA County Animal Control and the Amanda Foundation to bring another free vaccination clinic which also included a lot of free spay/neuter for the community of Watts.
Over the years, it’s been challenging to get people to donate to fund program for low income dog owners, a term, I actually don’t like writing but I don’t know any other term to describe the level of poverty that we are dealing with. If I could get more people to come out to the Watts clinics, maybe they would have had a different understanding of what’s going on? It’s people like Barbara who are making a difference in the community. She is a lifetime Watts resident and pit bull owner, who told me that she has endured two riots or uprisings, the crack epidemic that continues to devastate her community. What really bothered her was the constant push from the media categorize all of the problems in Watts as black and brown not getting along. In reality, people do get along. Often, poverty ties them together. She went on to tell me that she lost a child and some of her neighbors have lost children and it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, the hurt of seeing your child murdered never goes away. She barely finished her sentence when the tears were streaming down her face. How do I write that she is more than just someone who is low income and getting her pit bull spayed in a grant report for more funding?
I had to step away because I needed to take a call from Affordable Animal Hospital. Earlier in the day, a young woman named Cindy and her mom walked up to me without a dog and before they could start talking, they began crying. They told me a story of how their neighbors dogs jumped over the fence into their yard and killed their small dog and almost killed their German Shepherd. The horrible event occurred on Wednesday night, now Saturday, the dog had pain medication and antibiotics but they couldn’t afford the surgery to stitch him up. I sent them to our vet in Compton, they were able to raise part of the cost, DDR paid the other half. $350 meant the world to Cindy who could not stand to watch her dog suffer but had no options. Does her dog matter less because she is low income? Although she had done everything right, neutered and licensed her dog, if she could find a way to get the surgery, she felt she had no other option but to take her dog to […]
NAME A RESCUE DOG Contest! Downtown Dog Rescue
Hi! My name is “Fill In The Blank“.
I know, i know, it’s not very catchy, so Downtown Dog Rescue is holding a contest to come up with a NEW NAME for me to help me find a forever home! If you come up with the winning name you win your very own Downtown Dog Rescue T-Shirt! Contest ends this Friday the 22nd.
Here’s a little about me:
I like to run, fetch, hike and wrestle with other dogs. Sometimes, I just like to play by myself with a ball or toy. I am game for anything! But don’t get me wrong, I might like to play, but I also like to sleep and relax. I’m very quiet and really just want to be part of the family. I’m crate trained, house broken, I’m good around kids and cats are fine too. I’m about 3 years old and weigh 75 lbs of muscle. Other words to describe me are “loyal” and “loving”.
Send your name ideas to ddrbusiness@gmail.com OR post as a comment to our Downtown Dog Rescue FB Group Page! http://www.facebook.com/groups/11388995828
If while thinking of a new name you decide you want to meet me in person, please call Downtown Dog Rescue at 818-407-4145 or e-mail Lori at: lori@modernica.net. I would truly LOVE to MEET YOU!
Thanks for playing!
HOW MUCH SHOULD ONE DOG HAVE TO ENDURE?
RODA-ABUSED, NEGLECTED
AND NOW ABDUCTED
RODA was saved from death row at a County shelter in 2009. Then she ended up in boarding at a facility that subjected her to horrible neglect. When that facility was shut down, Roda was once again dumped at shelter and labeled as evidence for a cruelty case.
Downtown Dog Rescue stepped in and was determined that she’d spend the rest of her life safe and surrounded by love. She was adopted into a fantastic home, and was the center of her new family’s world.
Just as her past abuse became a distant memory, three weeks ago the unthinkable happened – Roda was stolen from her loving home. Witnesses saw sweet, submissive Roda being carried out.
We are absolutely terrified at what could have happened to her, and we need your help in getting her back safely.
Here are THREE EASY WAYS to rally for Roda:
· Call the media and let them know Roda’s story.
· Donate to the, “Rally For Roda Reward Fund!”
Contact is Lori Weise – phone # below
· Distribute and put up the attached flyer in your neighborhood, on your Facebook page and anywhere else you can think of to get the word out!
Large $$$$$ reward for Roda’s safe return!
NO QUESTIONS ASKED
Name: Roda (she also comes to “Roja”)
Size: Small dog, only about 50 pounds
Age: Five or Six years young Breed: Red Nosed, Rusty Brown Pitbull
Temperament: Very Docile and friendly (that is why she was easy to steal)!
Notes: She is Micro-chipped and was wearing a collar with identification tags. She was stolen from her home just Northeast of Downtown Los Angeles in Mid-May.
CONTACT: Lori Weise (213) 448-9961
13 new Canine Good Citizens in South LA
by: Lori Weise, Founder and Director of Downtown Dog Rescue
Last Sunday, Downtown Dog Rescue organized another Canine Good Citizenship Test during our Sunday class with Dog Man. I’m happy to announce that we have 13 new Canine Good Citizens and all but two were pit bull type dogs. Why is this so important? First and foremost, to pass CGC one has to have put a lot of work into their dog. Some of the simplest things in life look easy to the bystander watching the event. I guarantee you that the test is only “easy to pass” if you have been faithfully working with your dog including socializing him or her with people and other dogs.
Sara Araoz of Pedestrian Pooch, a certified CGC evaluator, tested more than 20 dogs with no penalty for failing. Taking the test if often the best way to find out what your dog and you need to practice in order to pass the next time. My old man Clancy was the distraction dog. I must say that once again, he did a fantastic job serving as a calm distracter, while reminding all of the dogs testing that even an elderbull can pass CGC and go on to become a therapy dog just like him. As you can see in these photos, all of the dogs were on leash and wore collars during the test. However, despite the pinch collars in some of the photos, the handlers were not allowed to use them in order to control their dogs during the test.
I was really happy to see some of our volunteers like Jennifer and her dog Daisy pass and Royce passed both of her dogs Chase and Chevy. Our friends and classmates from Angel City Pits passed the test too. Trainer Larry Hill of Puppy Imprinters passed his dog Ryder and his student Sinbad passed his dog. Larry trains his students in all […]
Steve’s Pets rescues Downtown Dog Rescue’s Free Clinic
by Timothy Rutt
ALTADENABLOG
http://www.altadenablog.com/2012/06/steves-pets-rescues-downtown-dog-rescues-free-clinic.html
Downtown Dog Rescue’s spay/neuter clinic has been, well, rescued.
DDR had planned to hold a free clinic at Loma Alta Park on June 30, but that conflicted with the Altadena Community Garden picnic the same day, which eats up all the parking, and they were looking for a new Altadena location.
Steve’s Pets, 2395 North Lake Ave., has stepped into the breach, and will host the clinic.
Ed Meyers at Steve’s said that the clinic will be held at the store’s parking lot, off Marcheta Street between Lake Avenue and El Molino (drive down the driveway to the parking lot).
The clinic offers not only free spaying and neutering, but microchipping and vaccinations.
You need to make an appointment at 818-407-4145,
and spaces are limited.
