Lori Weise – Page 6 – Downtown Dog Rescue

LORI’S CORNER: Super Adoption was a Super Saturday!

On Saturday, we brought out a lot of dogs that we had rescued from a kennel that was closing. The owner of the kennel had asked for help in placing close to 100 dogs before they had to move all the dogs to some not so terrific places. Sandy organized the volunteers to come out to Petco where we had every breed except pit bulls this past Saturday. Many of the 40 + dogs that we have rescued from this facility have been placed in breed rescues, in foster homes and a few in forever homes. We still have lots of dogs that need foster and forever homes including one special old shepherd who is about 12 years old. I want to thank the Amanda Foundation, Best Friends and the Heigl Foundation for helping Downtown Dog Rescue taking some of these dogs out of an over crowded situation. There still is a lot more work to do. The dogs that we did get out are all so grateful to be on the road to their forever homes! What a great team we had on Saturday, evaluating, transporting, bathing, and showing the dogs at Petco. A special thank you to everyone who showed up to foster a dog so that no dog had to go back to the kennel.

Beautiful Cassie who still needs a home

“Trouble” never game me one minute of trouble!
He is now in his forever home in Santa Monica.

Happy puppy and new family!

LORI’S CORNER: Clancy

Check out Clancy the day he passed his CGC test, thoroughly tired and happy ! AMAZING, a 13 year old rescued fighting dog could lead a pack of dogs and be a Canine Good Citizen.

From the 2009 DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE CALENDAR

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CLICK ON PAGE LINKS TO READ TEXT

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To see more beautiful photographs of Clancy by Grace Chon,

please visit her blog:
SHINE PET PHOTOS BLOG

LORI’S CORNER: Marc De Luna Dogs

Roja

Danity

Back in December, 67 dogs were seized by Animal Control in a small warehouse in South Gate. The owner of this “kennel” was Marc De Luna. It was on the news, detailing the horrible conditions that he kept the dogs in. Most of the dogs were crated 24/7, never allowed outside of the warehouse and definitely never allowed to play in a pack like our dogs. The details are horrific, I still have the photo of the first dog that I saw “Petey” in my mind. No hair, covered in mange, skin and bones, so sad. We decided to help and take two of the dogs that survived.

First came Roja a WONDERFUL, mellow, sweetheart, who loves all people and other dogs, even kitties. On Saturday, we took Danity into our rescue. What a different girl! Danity is high energy, loves to play and is already out in our pack with all the dogs, playing, running up the ladders, following all the dogs around, learning the rules of our kennel. When I see how happy these two dogs are now, it’s hard for me to imagine what hell they lived through for 6 months at that South Gate kennel, locked up, day after day in their crates, covered in mange.

Both dogs are now available for adoption. Roja could easily be an only dog or live with another quiet dog. She comes home with me every night and loves all of my older dogs. This is a great dog for someone who lives in a loft or apartment. She enjoys her walks at lunch time with Clancy at the park and rides in the car. Danity is the complete opposite. She would need another playful dog in the home. She is a “dog park dog”! There is no time table on these dogs, we will not rush to adopt them out but both dogs are truly ready for their forever homes and so deserving of a good life!

JOBS WITH DOGS – Los Angeles Downtown News Article

On January 18, 2010, Downtown Dog Rescue continued the New Year with a wonderful front page article in the Los Angeles Downtown News featuring the program JOBS WITH DOGS. The article was written by staff writer, Ryan Villancourt accompanied with photos by Gary Leonard.

Read full article here:GOING TO THE DOGS: Los Angeles Downtown News

LORI’S CORNER: Operation Safety Net Success Story -Travis!

Kimberly, a South LA dog owner, had received help from us previously for some of her other dogs in the past. Because she qualified for the Amanda Foundation’s free spay/neuter program, all of her dogs were sterilized. When she rescued Travis, a 10 week old pit bull puppy, who had been injured, she called us again for help. He needed surgery to close up the wounds on his legs but could not afford the necessary care. We called the Amanda Foundation for help.

The Amanda Foundation generously helps other charities, like Downtown Dog Rescue through their full service hospital. Our cost for this surgery was a fraction of what it would have cost at any other animal hospital. When you donate money to Downtown Dog Rescue to fund programs like Operation Safety Net, your donation dollars go farther and the money that we do pay goes towards helping other rescued pets. I am happy to report that Travis made a full recovery from his surgery. He goes back this week for a re-check. While he was under, he was also neutered so that Kimberly will be in compliance with the City of Los Angeles’ mandatory spay/neuter ordinance.

Please consider donating today to help a low income dog owner keep their dog out of a shelter and in their home for the life of their dog.

My lesson from Edwina

I have rescued many dogs in 14 years and one would think that I’ve seen it all but Ms. Edwina has taught me so much, with the help of Brandon Fouche. Edwina’s “problem” is more of a miscommunication between dog handler and dog, one that I receive e-mails, asking for advise everyday about.

Often, her type of aggression, which is all fear based, scares the dog owner so much that they feel that the dog is on the verge of turning on them or that she is unpredictable when in reality, she is very predictable. Edwina, like a lot of dogs has leash aggression. Going on a walk, even out to the car from the kennel is like walking through a path of land minds. Her mind is immediately racing as she goes through the gate, a tag jiggling, an unfamiliar bark from the loft building across the street can set her off and send her into what many would call “the red zone”. Some would look at her and determine that she cannot be around other dogs or that she is dominant when the reality is she is great off leash all the time with other dogs, even new dogs and she is far from dominant. In fact, she is very fearful and reactive to new stimulus. This makes taking her out to an adoption event pretty challenging.

I believe every dog comes to me for a reason and every dog has something to teach me about dogs and often about myself. I take Edwina to and from work with me every day. She is up for adoption, although we really don’t receive much interest in her. She was adopted and returned because of her leash aggression issue. From my point of view, after Edwina has lived in my home with my pack is that she is one of my all time favorite dogs. If you are looking for a dog to challenge you, consider adopting this blue beauty.

Teach by Example

When I first met Edgar, a teen with a red nose pit bull puppy for sale, I immediately assumed, here is another kid that is selling pit bull puppies at our dog class just to make money. He came up to me, actually in the middle of the class, offering me this ten week old puppy for “only” $250. Someone had told him that I was the lady that bought dogs at the class every Sunday. I blew him off and thought that I would probably never see him again. I was wrong, on many levels.

He came back the following Sunday but this time, to learn how to train his dog. Queeney did not have a collar or leash. We gave her a starter set and he walked the line with us that day. He continued to come out to class most every week and when our spay clinic @ the South LA shelter came up, Edgar not only brought his pup to be spayed and microchipped, he volunteered all day, helping pass out dog food and other prizes to the 100+ dog owners who got their dogs fixed that day at the Amanda Foundation “Pits + Pals” 100 dog day. I was really proud of Edgar.

A couple months went by and he sent me a text message @ 11:00 at night, he had to “get rid of his puppy” because mom told him that she ate part of a table, or something in the house that she wasn’t supposed to. She was always good when they were home, the destruction was only going on when they left the house for a couple of hours. Rather than give up Queeney, we decided to try a crate and guess what, it worked great! Now not only does Edgar get to keep his dog, he volunteers at most of our clinics, getting all his friends and family to spay +neuter their dogs.

Edgar is a wonderful dog owner who is teaching others about being a responsible dog owner through his actions. He gives me hope for the next generation of pit bull owners!

Brandon Fouche my teacher + mentor

For those of you who might not have heard of Brandon Fouche, you should check out his website http://www.brandonfouche.com

Over the past 5 years, I have learned more about dog psychology and how to work with aggressive dogs all because of Brandon. He has helped me rehabilitate and understand each troubled dog that has come into our rescue.

With Brandon’s help, I was able to get a “game plan” and put a plan for each dog into action. The way that our kennel is set up and how we work with our dogs in packs is all thanks to Brandon. Without his guidance, I doubt that we would be able to successful work with dogs in the way that I do each day. I know that I personally owe him a great deal of thanks for all that he has done for Downtown Dog Rescue. He is truly the last stop for many aggressive dogs.

If you have an aggressive dog and you have tried various trainers and are still experiencing what seems like an unsolvable problem, please get in touch with Brandon. It may save your dog’s life.