Pins for Pets! 

 

The third annual Pins for Pets fundraising event was held on Sunday, August 15^th.  The event raises money for MNSNAP , Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program.   As we support the mission of MNSNAP, we thought it would be fun this year to gather up rescue volunteers and supporters and make a team to participate in this year’s event.

 

We couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome:  we ended up with enough volunteers to fill 4 teams!!!  From there, we set our sights on a fundraising goal .  We wanted to raise $300 for MNSNAP.  Once again, our volunteers and supporters came through and we actually exceeded our goal, raising $400 in donations for MNSNAP!  All that generosity actually landed us in the top 3 fundraising teams for the event, so we couldn’t thank you all more. =)

 

We even had such a big group, they had trouble getting us all in the picture when we accepted our trophy. Watch out for our picture in the Chuck and Don's quarterly newsletter!

 

We are blessed to be able to count such wonderful people among our friends and supporters.  Hopefully next year will be just as much fun.

 

Big kudos also to our volunteers who pulled in the majority of the donations:  Adam Kaluza & Jessica Nelson, and Tracy Lemmens & Jason Bible.  And special thanks to Twin City Tees for outfitting all our team members in awesome "pit bullin'" shirts for the event, designed by volunteer Erik Anderson.

A Rotta Love Plus does Dog Bite Prevention and Awareness programs for kids to teach them how to behave around dogs.

On July 15th, MN Pit Bull Rescue's Director Laura Gray, her dog Tucker (CGC), Harmony from ARLP, Tucker's sister Marri (CGC,TDI), and the facilitator Kelley from ARLP went to Jenny Lind School in Minneapolis and did six programs.





How to introduce yourself to a dog with an owner:

1. Ask the owner if you may pet their dog. Not all dogs want to be petted.
2. Let the dog sniff your hand- that is how dogs shake hands. (Marri and Tucker)


3. Pet the dog on its side or where the owner directs you. (Marri)


 

Misty and her puppies arrived last Saturday. They spent the night at Laura's and then moved to their foster home with Tanya on Sunday. Everyone did well with the transition. Misty is a complete sweetheart and has won over the hearts of everyone that has met her. She enjoys laying in the grass basking in the sun and cuddling herself into a laundry basket with clean blankets. Misty is doing a great job taking care of the kids and the kids are fat and happy!  Misty and the puppies will be getting baths and new names this weekend, so watch out for another post with new names and updated pictures.

The pics below are from 7/17/10 when they arrived to the rescue. For individual pictures of the puppies and more of Misty, check out our website.

The Case for Shelter Dogs

By: Pamela Devereux

Dogs are being surrendered at shelters across the country in record numbers. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of suitable homes for these dogs. They either remain at a shelter for an extended period of time or are euthanized. I volunteer at a shelter in my area, and there seems to be the perception among some members of the public that these dogs must have done something to displease their owner that was so egregious that they were given away. Not true in most cases.

They are surrendered because, 1) they were really cute as a puppy, but they grew too big , 2) they are no longer interested in that particular breed, or 3) ”I just don’t like him anymore”. Some of these dogs have been subjected to horrendous forms of punishment. One individual admitted that he regularly hit, punched and kicked the dog he was returning.

And yet, no matter what these dogs have been through, they are always willing to trust again. To say that they have been put to the test and survived with love in their hearts is an understatement. When I walk through the kennels I see the accomplished athlete, the dancers, the clowns and the quiet ones with a wealth of wisdom in their eyes. They are an absolute joy to be around.

An example that comes to mind is a sassy little Pit Bull named Oreo. He just loved rolling in the snow, and tried everything to get me to join him. I did. He rolled and I made angels in the snow. He was adopted into a loving home and he now has a 6 month old Pit sister named Holly.

Oreo is just one of many success stories. These dogs deserve another chance. If you are looking for a pure breed, chances are your local shelter has a number of them. Petfinder also does an excellent job of matching adoptable dogs with the right family. So please remember that, if you are looking for a canine companion, go to your local shelter and you just might find love waiting for you around the corner. It doesn’t get any better than that.    

Last December 2009, we took in a dog named Lucy who is now Zeebe and her two puppies, Waahbe and Neebe. They came to us from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue . Zeebe came in skinny and with a severe case of rickets.  Zeebe's Blog Post from RLRR 

 

Well the same person that abused Zeebe did this to another dog... Enter Misty and puppies.

Karen, from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue contacted us last week and asked if we would take in Misty and her six puppies. We of course said, Yes! Zeebe has been such a joy to our rescue, we knew we wanted to help another mom that fell into those horrible persons hands.

From Karen about Misty,
"Poor Misty is a darling Pit Bull, about 9 months old- dehydrated and
only a bag of bones. She is so timid, she falls to her belly and
crawls as you approach her. She has a big heart, and is a great dog."

The same person that abused Zeebe did this to Misty 8 months later, which means the person got Misty only weeks after leaving Zeebe at deaths door...

We are excited to meet Misty and the puppies and help them get back on track to the good life and find them forever loving homes. Thank you to Tanya who volunteered to take in Misty and the puppies for the next 6 weeks until they are old enough to be adopted. Misty and the puppies will arrive on Saturday, July 17th so keep an eye out for new pictures and updates then!

There are many people including people within Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue who feed raw diets, so this comes as a shock to some of us. What are everyone's thoughts on this? Below is the explanation from the Delta website explaining their reasoning:

www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=638

Raw Protein Diet Policy

page updated 6.01.2010 with additional reference sources

Over the past few years, the increasing use of raw protein diets and the health concerns and controversy generated have grown, not only between the public and veterinarians, but often within the veterinary profession itself.

After careful consideration of all of the known scientific facts, and on the unanimous advice of the Delta Society Medical Advisory Board, made up of internal medicine and public health experts from North America, the board of directors voted to preclude animals eating raw protein foods from participating in Delta Society Pet Partners program. This will be a phased program, with complete compliance structured to be in place by June 30, 2010.

The following are some frequently asked questions and answers.

What exactly are the scientific facts?
The use of raw animal proteins to promote animal health has not been based on proven or known scientific facts, only anecdotal incidents. On the other hand, it is well known that animals fed raw diets (BARF or other) shed significant amounts of pathogenic bacteria, which studies have indicated may put some people at risk, as compared to pets being fed commercially prepared or cooked, home-made diets.

What are the risks of feeding raw protein diets other than shedding… can my pet become ill?
While many animals fed raw protein diets appear healthy, some do get ill. Even healthy animals can shed pathogenic bacteria that can affect the human companion team member and others. Certain individuals are at increased risk of disease if they encounter various pathogens, particularly people that are immune-compromised, very young or elderly. This basically describes most of the individuals Delta Society Pet Partners visit: Patients in hospitals, senior centers, nursing facilities, hospice care, rehabilitation facilities, and schools involving young children, among others.

How long does my pet have to be off of raw protein foods before re-starting visitations again?
Dogs can shed for a variable amount of time. At a minimum a 4 week waiting period before visits are resumed.

What if my other pets eat raw protein diets?
If a Pet Partner has access to the food or bowl used, it would be best to NOT feed any of the other pets raw meats. Inadvertent eating of raw meat or cross-contamination is very real. Any dog or cat from a household where raw protein food is fed is not eligible to be a Delta Society Pet Partner.

What commercial foods are being recommended instead?
You can look for a balanced diet from any of the reputable pet-food manufacturer, preferably one labeled in accordance with the Association Of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You should also consult with your veterinarian.

What if my veterinarian is fine with feeding raw protein diets?
While your veterinarian may not believe the risk is that great for your pet, Delta Society Pet Partners teams are in contact with many individuals who are at a much higher risk for infections. Since many studies have shown pets fed such diets shed a significantly higher number of pathogenic bacteria, the risk is too great for inadvertent, but avoidable infection. Also, your veterinarian is not assuming legal responsibility for you and your pet, Delta Society is.

Are there home-made diets I could use instead of commercially produced brands?
Yes there are some available recipes, but the risk of an improperly formulated and balanced diet is real. Some sources to try: i. the University of California, Davis at (530) 752-1393.  ii. Similar veterinary nutrition experts can be found on the website of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN). iii. A book by Donald Strombeck, "Home prepared dog and cat diets" ,  iv. www.balanceit.com offers nutritional advice, recipe and formulation service.

What was the role of pet food manufacturers in the adoption of the Raw Protein Diet Policy?
No pet food manufacturer representatives contacted, encouraged, lobbied, or influenced the Delta Society Medical Advisory Group in recommending to the board that they approve a Raw Protein Diet Policy.

Delta Society has always prided itself on having high standards for its Pet Partners program. As board members learned of medical professionals’ concerns about the increased risk of the spread of pathogenic bacteria to humans by animals fed raw protein diets, it was determined that this was an issue that needed review. Based on input from the medical community, the Board of Directors voted to implement this new policy. As many of our Pet Partners visit in hospitals, assisted-living centers, and other places where people’s immune systems are compromised, it was decided that implementing this new policy was the responsible action. For clarification, animals within the Pet Partners program are not required to be fed commercially produced food – the policy states that cooked, home-made diets are also acceptable.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email to: rawproteindiet@DeltaSociety.org for the Delta Society Medical Advisory group to address.