Wish List

• Large & Extra Large Travel Crates to Transport Dogs
• Online Database to Manage Adoption Records
• Frontline
• Heartguard

Urgent Care Required for New Rescues

Blue

Meet Blue, a wonderful 2 year old yellow lab mix who caught the attention of one of our volunteers when she picked up Clementine at a local shelter. She noticed how sad and forlorn he looked in his kennel and went back on Christmas Eve to pull him. Unfortunately Blue was not up-to-date on his vaccinations and developed a serious upper respiratory infection while at the shelter. Upon x-raying his lungs it was discovered he has pneumonia. Medical costs for Blue have exceeded $2000 to date. If you would like to make a contribution to Blue’s medical care here is the link for Online Donations.

Though Blue is spending his holidays in the hospital, his prognosis is good and a wonderful foster family is waiting for him to be released. To learn more about Blue please check out his profile on Petfinder: Blue’s Profile

Duke
This gorgeous boy is a pure bred male Black Labrador Retriever. His name is Duke. He is a year old and he is very friendly. He was shot in the leg. His owner took him to the emergency vet. However he could not or would not pay to have his dog repaired so he brought him to the shelter on 12/28/2009 and surrendered him. He has a temporary wrap on his leg and is on medication. The emergency vet stated that he will most likely need surgical repair or amputation. Duke's former owner stated that Duke is housetrained and good with children. Duke is a very nice and very beautiful dog.

Atlanta Lab Rescue is working with vets to determine the best corse of treatment to address Duke's injury. It is estimated that his medical care could exceed $5000.  If you would like to make a contribution to Duke's medical care here is the link to make an Online Donation.

Hershey Makes A Love Connection

Hershey is great, we've learned he is quite a chicken!! He has this big, deep, intimidating bark, but will barely go outside!

He is definately a home-body. Though he enjoys walks, he definately picks up the pace when he knows we're homebound.

Miranda's game with Hershey is to throw one tennis ball, he will go and fetch it, then she will hold up a second. Immediately, he'll drop the first and be interested in her ball. He gets LOTS of snuggling and belly-rubs each evening from Duncan. We've renamed Magnolia "Sheriff Magnolia" bc she continues to "cuss" him out if she thinks he's out of line.

Rob laughs at Hershey regularly, because he goes away for just a bit (even upstairs) and returns, Hershey will act like he's not seen him in months! It is very sweet.

The ice dispenser brings 85 pounds bolting to the kitchen, and we've used it on occasion to get him downstairs at night (he's up with the kids).

He is a wonderful dog, and we all love him more every day. It is really cool how the dynamic continues to change (and get better, as he gets acclimated). For a while, we thought he was growling at Duncan at night. We've learned he has a kind of "purr" sometimes, and means nothing ugly about it.

Anyway, thanks again for being such a great person to change lives of dogs and people! We just love our Hershey....the kids will tell the neighbor kids they can play after they scoop "Hershey bars." That gets a laugh in the cul de sac!

In gratitude,
The Lehmans

A Fosters Journal

Late into the evening of November 24th, 2009 and on the heals of Thanksgiving, Atlanta Lab Rescue received notice of a dog that had just arrived at Fulton County Animal Control. Judging by her emaciated appearance she had been on the streets for some time.

Though bags were packed and plans were made to head out of town for the holiday, everything came to a halt as Frank and Becky worked to find  Vet and Foster placement for Crystal/Chloe. As fate would have it, a brand new volunteer named Jayme had just signed up with ALR.  Jayme took Crystal/Chloe into her home and inevitably, as often is the case, into her heart. Here are Jayme's journal entries made during her initial days of fostering…

Saturday, December 5

"Becky calls to confirm that Jen is on her way to inspect my house. Thank goodness I passed. Jen gives me Mary Beth’s number. I phone Mary Beth and we decide to meet at Red Lobster off Holcomb Bridge . Mom, my second time at a Red Lobster!

Woody and I head off to meet Princess Chloe/Daisy/Gracie. She’s absolutely gorgeous, very sweet and I get loads of kisses straight away. She enters the Woodmobile and he’s very excited to see her. Starts the process of getting to know her if you know what I mean. She’s very quiet, but paying heaps of attention to everything going on around her. Mary Beth said that she likes her crate; however I’m not a crate mum, so I have it for her should she want it, but it may retire to the garage until we need it in the future. She is going into every room of the house checking it out. Seems to be very curious. Then we go outside, try out the doggie door, but not certain that she’s too keen on it just yet. Mary Beth said she doesn’t like to go outside by herself. Therefore, I go with her each time.

Of course I feed her because she truly looks like she needs FOOD! She gobbles it down in less than a minute. I knew Clay would be happy about this because he states that my dogs are weird, they’re picky eaters and just eat a little at a time, never in a hurry. Probably not going to work now with Chloe and Woody. Jen and Mary Beth warn me that she has food aggressions, never quiet understood what that meant until I saw it in action. Dear Diary….must feed them separately. They definitely got in a scrap, but fortunately no wounds or harm done except to my heart.

Later when I’m ready to feed Woody, Chloe gets another meal. This time with her tablet. Again in less than a minute she’s finished! Becky, should I still be giving her these tablets? Mary Beth said she had been taking them for a week already.

Then it’s time for bed, so we all go upstairs and I bring Chloe’s bed and blanket up with me. She’s going to sleep just beside me on her doggie bed with covers. She eventually stretches out and becomes very cozy.

A couple times during the night (2:30 a.m. and 3:40 a.m.) she has an accident, so we go outside afterwards. I’m so not use to female pups they can do their business and you don’t even know it until it’s too late. Looks like they’re sitting at perfect attention.

Sunday, December 6

We awake to little sounds of the pups, go downstairs for coffee and treats. Chloe and Wood sit very nicely for some knawsomes and puporonis. Then it’s breakfast time…..and once again she inhales her food in record time. We practice with the doggie door, going outside and in…….we’ve got a big day planned. First we’re off to the dog park. Woody is over the moon as soon as we turn in to the park. Chloe is not really sure where we’re going. As we’re walking through the woods she’s so close to me I’m afraid I’m going to step on her tiny paws. Once we get to the gate to go in she’s still very close. Everyone came up to introduce themselves dogs and humans alike. She was a star but very shy, a couple of times she did wander off about 5 feet but only a couple of times. We were at the park for about two hours….then headed over to see Santa at the Forum…..the line was very long to have pictures made….so we’re probably going to go back during the week. Every chance she got to ride in the car she and Woody were in it. We rode with the windows down so they could have their faces blow in the wind…..then I noticed she was sound asleep in the back so it was time to go home. I’ve enjoyed our time together on the sofa with her in my lap….but she seems to be very keen on one of my chairs with the Grinch in the background.

Clay gave me some websites on how to look after malnourished puppies. So we’re making sure she has eggs, cheese and meat in each meal. I’m going to keep a journal of her food intake and in hopes that she’s be doing much better by Christmas. Forgot to take a picture of her stocking, but will keep them coming.

Monday, December 7

5:00 a.m. Rise and shine, it’s time for a walk. Get both pups ready for a walk and both seem very excited. Chloe seems to be a bit confused about the leash, but by the time we’ve gone one mile she’s almost a pro. She and Woody ran side by side and smelled all the smells, marked territory together and by the time we got back they crashed on the floor. Had to get ready for work and fed them before I left and left treats and bones for them. Hopefully they’re having a wonderful day, and I can’t wait to get home and check on them."

 

Chloes Happy Ending

Jayme decided to adopt Chloe and gave her a forever home for Christmas.

Though Chloes story has a happy ending not all do. Atlanta Lab Rescue receives emails everyday for dogs
that have suffered much like Chloe. On average we receive over 20 requests a week asking for our help. Some are from owners facing difficult times and others from over crowded shelters across Georgia and bordering states. Sadly we can't help them all, though we truly want to. Often we are limited by availability of foster homes. If you would like information about becoming a foster or other volunteer opportunities, please contact us at info@atlantalabrescue.com

Corporate Giving Benefits Atlanta Lab Rescue in 2009

Jabian Consulting of Atlanta, selected Atlanta Lab Rescue to receive a monetary award of $600 through its “Jabian Cares” program.  Employee Nancy Riggle, an Atlanta Lab Rescue volunteer extraordinaire, submitted information about the services Atlanta Lab Rescue provides to her company.

A ‘dress down’ day fundraiser from the employees of Federal Home Loan Bank-Atlanta raised approximately $700 dollars for Atlanta Lab Rescue.  Bank employees had an opportunity to buy a "sticker"  which allowed them to wear casual clothes to work on a pre-determined day.   The stickers cost $3 each, but participants were encouraged to donate more as all proceeds were going to Atlanta Lab Rescue.

 

As part of a promotion for this event, the talented in-house design team created a colorful and fun poster.   Nathan Ballard, an employee of Federal Home Loan Bank-Atlanta and ardent Atlanta Lab Rescue supporter, worked with co-workers to nominate ALR as the beneficiary of the fundraiser. The volunteers at Atlanta Lab Rescue and all the four legged recipients want to thank all our supporters at both Federal Home Loan Bank-Atlanta and Jabian Consulting.