DDR Kennels – Downtown Dog Rescue

Bringing Brooklyn to Texas
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Bringing Brooklyn to Texas

Adoptions, DDR IN THE COMMUNITY, DDR Kennels

Bringing Brooklyn to Texas

Here’s a feel good story for you to enjoy this week!

We recently boarded Brooklyn, a former West Los Angeles shelter dog who was adopted by a veteran named Raleigh. Shortly after Raleigh rescued Brooklyn, he experienced trouble finding housing and found himself going through difficult times. He decided to head back home to Texas, but didn’t know what to do about Brooklyn. Already having a service dog who was permitted to stay with him, Brooklyn was considered his pet. He loved his pet; he wanted to love his life.

Returning Brooklyn to the animal shelter was not an option for Raleigh. So his counselor at the Veterans Affairs office contacted one of our volunteers and they began working together to help Brooklyn through this time of transition. We agreed to board him at our Downtown Dog Rescue kennel for one month, buying Raleigh some time to plan Brooklyn’s trip to join him. We were happy to offer free boarding and a little leash work in order to keep Brooklyn safe because we knew that soon this cherished dog would get on a plane with his owner. Together, along with his service dog, they would make their way to their Texas home and live out their years as a family.

For us, this is what it’s all about. Meeting people where they’re at, extending a hand, and finding a way to make it work for the animals and the people who love them. Sometimes the solutions are easier, and sometimes they’re tough. But every time, we try to pinpoint an answer to one simple question: “How can we help you?” Here’s to Brooklyn and Raleigh, and their happily ever after.

1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Daisy!
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1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Daisy!

Adopt Me, Adoptions, DDR Kennels, Foster Me, Fosters, Pit Bulls

1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Daisy!

A daisy can brighten your day. We’re not talking about the flower, we’re talking about our Daisy, a 4-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier who bonds tightly with her people. This beautiful girl is calm around the house, but also loves running around a yard and laying in the sun. She is not destructive and can be home alone an entire day without any problems at all.

We rescued Daisy when she was a puppy, and she was fearful in general back then. But being young came to her advantage and she was able to gracefully learn about life, behaved great with other dogs, and slowly grew less anxious in new situations. Her discomfort in the world did not go away quickly and perhaps it never will entirely; however, she is very smart! She learns slowly and gets it. Then about a year ago, Daisy was adopted. Unfortunately her adopters added another dog to the home who was challenging. Living with a dog who did not like her, plus moving into a small space requiring several walks a day, was too much stress. Daisy was returned to us more uneasy around dogs, and better suited for a peaceful, nice life without other pets to share a home with. She would prefer not to tag along on errands with you, and instead stay home and greet you excitedly when you walk through the door.

Daisy’s dream would be to have a house and a yard, as well as an owner who gives belly rubs and accepts her for who she is – a truly wonderful companion. She is so very loving, she will lay by your feet for hours and be your absolute best friend. If you don’t have much time to spend walking and working with a dog, but would enjoy having a buddy around who does not ask for much, then Daisy is your lady! We believe wholeheartedly that the right home is out there just waiting to find her…and she’s waiting for you, too.

As DDR the rescue group, we’re all about second chances. We believe all animals deserve a second chance, and we stand by each of our rescue dogs. They are worthy souls living up to their potentials, some getting there easier and quicker than others. And yet there are a few dogs that stand out because they have unique needs, because they’ve been with us so long, or because they’ve been patiently waiting for the right family to call their own. Daisy’s story is the forth and last in our four-part series called 1st Picks for 2nd Chances. We sincerely hope you will read each of these tales, share them widely, and open your hearts.

Daisy is house-trained, spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped. To learn more about her, please click on this link! And don’t forget to share her story with your friends, family, and coworkers. Who knows who might be her destiny – maybe even consider opening your home if you’re a good fit! The person who adopts Daisy or any one of these 1st Picks for 2nd Chances dogs will get free boarding at the DDR […]

1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Rudy!
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1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Rudy!

A - Featured Adoptables, Adoptions, DDR Kennels, Pit Bulls

1st Picks for 2nd Chances – Meet Rudy!

Hello to Rudy! Rudy is a sweet, 2-year-old America Staffordshire Terrier mix who weighs 70 lbs. He is a sweet, special dog that is best suited for a simple, quiet life. Adopted as a puppy, his previous owners wanted a dog who could go to doggy daycare and dog parks, but Rudy ended up not being a very good match for that. He’s been waiting patiently ever since for the “right” family to come along.

A peaceful home with a yard and someone who doesn’t leave for long periods of time would be Rudy’s ideal. He doesn’t need to play with other dogs or go on long walks as these activities make him over-stimulated and anxious at times. He is super friendly with people, and good with children. His foster family says, “Rudy is perfectly content laying quietly by your side or lounging in the sun all day!” He would rather sit with you on a patch of grass than be the social butterfly of the neighborhood. So if you’re looking for a lovable four-legged friend who can keep you company at home and be your best buddy, look no further – Rudy is just the dog for you!

As DDR the rescue group, we’re all about second chances. We believe animals deserve a second chance, and we stand by each of our rescue dogs. They’re all worthy souls living up to their potentials, some getting there easier and quicker than others.

And yet there are a few dogs that stand out because they have unique needs, because they’ve been with us so long, or because they’ve been waiting waiting waiting for a family to call their own. Rudy’s story is the third of our four-part series called 1st Picks for 2nd Chances. We sincerely hope you will read these tales, share them widely, and open your hearts. Who knows – maybe even consider opening your home if you’re the right fit! Whoever adopts one of these dogs will get free boarding at the DDR kennel whenever traveling, as well as a lifetime of support, spanning from dog training to assistance with medical care.

Rudy is house-trained, neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. Currently living in a foster home with other dogs, he is doing well, but would prefer to be your one and only. To learn more about Rudy, please click here! And don’t forget to share his story with your friends, family, and coworkers! We just know his perfect match is out there waiting to meet him. Thank you for helping us make it possible for them to find each other.

DDR kennel – 2 years – over 400 dogs and counting!
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DDR kennel – 2 years – over 400 dogs and counting!

DDR Kennels

DDR kennel – 2 years – over 400 dogs and counting!

Two years ago in August, we closed escrow on our kennel property. Thanks to all of you who supported us, we were able pay off our property, build the dog runs and play yards, enabling us to expand our kennel program. Hundreds of dogs have come to play, stay and live with us for days, weeks, months before they were adopted and WENT HOME!!! We have increased adoptions by than 40%!

Giving us so much joy is being able to rescue more senior shelter dogs like Simone (available now for adoption).

We can rescue more shy dogs and watch them blossom through play groups. Dogs like Goober and Lexi (available for adoption now).

Dogs like Rudy are rescued from the shelter, live and learn how to play at the kennel then are ready to go into a foster home while they wait to be adopted (Available for adoption now!)

Watch our video about the construction of the kennel from day one, when our place was just a parking lot, to play time in the play yard. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

DDR HISTORY LESSON: Amy Tenowich’s mini-documentary about DDR

Lori Weise of Downtown Dog Rescue has dedicated her life to rescuing dogs running loose near Los Angeles’ skid row, or who would most likely be euthanized in shelters. She also helps pet owners who are homeless, or too poor to care for their best friends. Made in 2006.

DIRECTOR: AMY TENOWICH

Los Angeles

http://kcet.org/socal/get_involved/its-cool-to-care/

Amy has worked as a freelance producer for non-fiction TV shows on Discovery HD Theater, WEtv, PBS and A&E Biography Channel. She’s written for the LA Times, Pasadena Weekly, and has had humor op-ed columns in the LA Daily News and the Huffington Post. She won the 2006 Art Buchwald Humor Writing Award for her story about Los Angeles newswomen and their abundance of cleavage, spilling over anchor desks across the Southland. Amy also won an LA Press Club Award for a 2007 article on the Los Angeles salsa-dancing scene.

She did her undergrad in Anthropology at UCLA, and her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at USC. When not making web videos about cool people, Amy likes to eat free samples at Trader Joes, improvise in the kitchen, travel to far off lands to see wild primates, and tear up the dance floor to salsa music.

Amy hopes to keep the insightful giggles going throughout her journalistic career, and to keep finding like-minded people who think it’s cool to care.

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!

LORI’S CORNER: Downtown Dog Rescue Kennels

One of the big assets that Downtown Dog Rescue has is our licensed kennel. We are also very fortunate to have a great kennel helper, Billy who works with the dogs six days a week. Running a kennel is a full time job in addition to my “real” full-time job as General Manager of Modernica. I work seven days a week with our rescue dogs and have a lot of great volunteers, like Richard,our Modernica Plant Manager who helps walk dogs during the week, twice a day. We typically have 20 dogs at our place that need forever homes. Some like “Coco Puff” or “Freeway” are real long shots and will live with us for years not months. Others are here a week or a month until they are placed.

Our day begins at 6:30AM, we feed the dogs and they are released to play in our yard with agility equipment and lots of room to chase, tackle and just be dogs. Most of the dogs are out together in our large pack, whereas others who may not be good with same-sex dogs, play in smaller packs with dogs that they enjoy. All of our dogs get out of their runs to exercise off leash twice a day. The entire kennel area is cleaned up before the dogs go back into their runs. At 4:00, we begin to feed dinner, release the dogs to play and clean all the runs again. This is the same schedule for the dogs seven days a week, 365 days a year, even on holidays, in the rain, no matter what. It’s this routine that promotes a sense of stability so that the dogs can relax and enjoy being dogs. In addition to playing in a pack twice a day, I take dogs out during the week to the park to walk, Billy takes dogs out running on his bike and our volunteer Debbie comes by to do one on one leash work so that when our dogs are adopted, each one can walk on a leash and have some basic house manners. On Saturdays, Sandy picks up dogs to go out to adoption, an event some of dogs like Cookie, wait for all week. On Sundays, other dogs go to our Pit bull School at the Coliseum. My dog Clancy loves this class! Right now, Roja, is going to school every Sunday. Leroy, a new volunteer who can’t own a dog right now because he lives in an apartment, meets us at class, and is teaching her basic obedience. Many […]