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DDR Programs: Operation Safety Net in Action

What would it take to keep your dog from entering a shelter? That one question has saved countless dogs from entering the South LA shelter, since the program started in December 2008. The Safety Net Program is set up to assist low income dog owners in the South LA Animal Shelter area. A sign and postcards are available in the Center lobby to inform dog owners how they can keep their dog when they think they have run out of options. This is how the program works: Dog owners sometimes come into the South LA Shelter because they feel forced to surrender their dog. Most of the time the dog owner can’t afford to feed, vaccinate, spay/neuter, treat a minor medical issue, get basic obedience training, or even pay for a $15 dog license.

Rescued puppies through OPERATION SAFETY NET

With Safety Net, LA Animal Services staff and volunteers encourage the dog owner to take their dog home, and call the Downtown Dog Rescue phone number on the postcard given to them. When the dog owner calls the Downtown Dog Rescue Hotline Phone Number, a volunteer will return the call within 48 to help address the situation that brought the dog owner to the shelter. The great majority of the calls that we receive are a combination of several issues. Most dogs need to be spayed/neutered and/or vaccinated.

The program is modeled after Downtown Dog Rescue’s successful 13 year old Skid Row program to help homeless dog owners.

SUCCESS STORIES:
“Hi Cathy and Lori Thank you very much for all your help finding the right place for my dog’s examination, lucky for him he did not have to go through surgery. please tell everyone at Down Town Dog Rescue who had already made a donation for Zimba’s leg surgery that we appreciate their support and willingness to help a stranger. God bless you all.” – Carlos Orellana

OPERATION SAFTEY NET helped keep Mr. Salazar’s three pit bulls out of the South LA shelter.
“Hi Cathy!! Just to say Thanks…. My dogs are doing BETTTER …LUcky Is heeling well and PACH and GUERO are ok. tha medication work perfet. Please letme know if is something I can do to help ,I passing flyers whit the information abouth the program .. Letme know were are you goint to be next satuday please .. my sister have a female chihuahua and she want […]

DEB’S DOG OF THE WEEK: COCO Puff

Ready to go: Coco Puff

Coco Puff is a DDR dog that spent the first few years of his life as a guard dog in a pallet yard, only to be abandoned on a four foot chain. When Lori rescued him from his horrible situation, he wasn’t exactly what you’d call “family pet” ready. He was friendly towards people, but barely knew how to walk without thinking he was tethered to a four foot pole. He also had to learn what other dogs were and that interacting and playing could be an enjoyable experience.

If Coco had ended up in a shelter, like so many other dogs in his situation do, chances are he wouldn’t have made it out alive and if he did get adopted it probably wouldn’t have been successful and he’d be returned. But as fate would have it, he ended up in Lori’s care and into the hands of someone that understands that some dogs need a little more time before they’re ready to be adopted out to the general public. It’s been two years that Coco has been living and learning downtown with Lori’s pack. He loves playing with female dogs and could do without any male competition. Coco hasn’t gotten much attention from adopters, probably because he’s a big, burly dog with a checkered past, but if you give him a chance, you’ll see that he’s left his past behind and he’s ready for his forever home!

OPERATION RESCUE RAINY’S PUPS UPDATE!

When the pups where delivered for transport to Kanab, Utah’s Best Friends Sanctuary by Josie Gavieres through a Las Vegas drop-off, Groucho came along…wondering who the heck were all these yappers in his van!

Now, here are Rainy’s 9 yappers happy and playing in Best Friends!!!!! So adorable!!!! The last few seconds of the video are priceless…who can’t fall in love with these sweeties!!!

MIA’S DOG TREATS: LEARNING ABOUT THE BREED

It was interesting to say the least to learn more about the pit bull terrier. I read many books and magazines and certainly learned a lot about behavior and temperament. When it comes to the breed name, the information is a bit confusing….

CLICK on COMIC STRIP

for an enlarged version

Pits & Perceptions Opening Night – February 20, 2010 in Artology 101, Atwater Village, CA

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO DDR’s 1st

DogGone Good PITStop event

“Pits & Perceptions OPENING NIGHT”

February 20, 2010, 4:00 PM

Artology 101 in Atwater Village

It was a lot of fun with good food, great company and music.

There were a number of great breed ambassadors from

Heigl Foundation, B.A.R.K. and of course DDR.

For those of you who weren’t able to attend,

here are some photographs of the event!

Thanks to Josie Gavieres of B.A.R.K.

for the wonderful pictures!

Additional photos (the blurry ones) by

Irene Soriano Brightman, DDR PitStop Editor

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SLIDESHOW

DDR DOGGY SNIPPETS: 2010 So far

DDR DOGGY SNIPPETS is back! These are photographic visits to our DDR Dogs that live in the kennels or are currently in foster homes and still looking for their one and only adoptive or even foster families:

TRAVIS still asleep – must be morning.

Our dogs playing in the yard as the sun goes up!

Bertha on her morning walk!

All the dogs playing by the gate!

DDR Adoption Form Link:ADOPT ME!
TO FOSTER: Please call our Adoption Hotline: 818-407-4145

DDR SNAPSHOTS
Screen shots of our newly adopted sweeties!

RILEY (formerly Precious) with PRETTY

Mother and Daughter sweetness!

RODA (formerly ROJA) playing with Clancy

Love at first sight!

DONORS & PARTNERS SPOTLIGHT: B.A.R.K – Interview with Founder, Josie Gavieres

One of the most hard-working and inspiring figures in Los Angeles animal rescue is Josie Gavieres. When DDR needed assistance with pulling dogs from the 61st Street Kennels, Lori knew that Josie would be one of the instrumental go-to people that needed to be involved.That’s only one of many projects that Josie has assisted DDR with. She is also the founder of the project B.A.R.K. (Beach Animals Reading with Kids)which has garnered much deserved recognition and accolades from the community that have included, schools, teachers, administrators, parents and especially the children that have participated in this reading program.

DDR is very proud to spotlight the BARK Reading Program and if you are interested in taking part, volunteering or sponsoring the great work that BARK does, please contact Josie at barkreadingdogs@aol.com

B.A.R.K. Founder Josie Gavieres and Groucho

WHAT IS BARK?

BARK is a program where elementary school children read out loud to dogs on a one-on-one basis to increase their reading skills and self-confidence. Reading out loud is crucial to learning because if you read to yourself, you’ll skip the words you don’t know. However, many kids find it intimidating to read in front of the classroom. That’s where BARK comes in.

Many of the children picked to read to our dogs are at a low reading level, have low self-confidence, or have an unstable home life. All the kids want to read to the dog so just being picked for the program immediately makes the student feel better. The dogs is a calm, non-judgmental soft friend who does not laugh when the child makes a mistake. Even learning questions are based through the dog, “Princess, do you understand that word? It means…” Children read to the BARK dog 15 minutes, once per week for eight weeks. At the end of that time, they are given a bookmark with information about their BARK dog, a small stuffed dog, and a brand new book.

With the reading dogs, we have seen some kids improve up to two reading levels over eight weeks; we have shy, withdrawn kids come out of their shells, and we have seen […]

DONORS & PARTNERS SPOTLIGHT: Major Paws LA – Interview with Founder, Catherine Jagos

A phone call from Catherine Jagos, founder of Major Paws LA means good things are on their way for DDR dogs. Her project Major Paws LA has benefited local LA rescues and shelters. How does it work? What Catherine has done is enter into partnerships with various pet specialty businesses and vendors in LA and she makes available for their customers donation boxes at their stores, hotels, etc. The various donated items are then rerouted/distributed by Catherine to participating shelters and rescues. Downtown Dog Rescue was a benefactor in the last Santa Paws Drive. No doubt, Catherine was very busy during the holidays!

We are very happy to highlight Major Paws LA and spread the word about the wonderful work Catherine does. Thank you for all you do for rescued animals in LA! If you are a vendor or organization or interested sponsor that wants to get involved with Major Paws LA, please contact her at majorpawsla@hotmail.com

First of all, how is the project’s namesake, Major doing? Can you talk a little about his role in the creation of this project and what service Major Paws provides the LA community?

Major is doing wonderful. Right now he is taking a morning nap in his bed. Major inspired me in starting Major Paws LA to help shelter animals in Los Angeles because he came from a local county shelter. His time was actually almost up when me and my boyfriend picked him out. For a long while he remained very shy and a submissive. I often wonder from his behavior if he was abused. Since he is such a cute and unique looking little guy it has given me the chance to really promote shelter adoptions. He is really one of the sweetest dogs I have ever had and if we did not see him that day he could have been gone. I really think that you can go to a shelter and find your soul mate. It is hard for me to go to shelters and adoption events because I would really like to take them all home! Since I can’t take them all home with me I wanted to do something to make them happier. I have always had a deep love for animals. From what I can remember throughout my childhood most of the animals we had were rescued. That is something that I brought with me when I moved to Los Angeles. Adopt and save a life! So I started Major Paws LA to promote shelter adoptions and perform drives and events to make the shelter animals a little most comfortable. I believe that the more comfortable they are-the happier they can be- the more adoptable […]

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