Trooper's Story

No, it wasn’t a dog’s life! Not for the 115 lb. chocolate lab pinned under the rear tire of a SUV in his owner's yard. Just days before Memorial Day, the dog was hit by a car. There he was with a fractured left forepaw when Connie Rice, an Atlanta Lab Rescue volunteer, stopped her car and tried to help hoist the vehicle off the dog. Even through all the pain, the dog never whined, whimpered, moaned or growled. His disposition remained calm throughout the ordeal. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to lift the car, Connie stood at the roadside waving down passing cars in an attempt to solicit more help. Finally, enough good samaritans stopped to help lift the vehicle while Connie pulled the dog from underneath.

As Connie rushed the dog to Cedarcrest Animal Hospital, she contacted several board members who had faced these traumas before. When Atlanta Lab Rescue learned that Paulding County’s animal control division was contacted, everyone acted quickly to retrieve the dog, now aptly renamed “Trooper” to prevent him from being euthanized. Connie returned to the owner who subsequently relinquished ownership and (surrendered) released the dog to Atlanta Lab Rescue.

After the initial vet care Trooper returned home with Connie who tried to keep the dog comfortable with limited I.V. medication. As luck would have it, a remarkable vet volunteered to perform the critical surgery, hoping to save the leg, on Memorial Day.

During this, the first of many surgeries, Trooper received a steel plate and several screws to set the leg. He was also neutered to eliminate the need for a second anesthesia for the procedure. At the same time, due to neglect, he was found to be heartworm positive. Unfortunately, five days after the surgery, the leg became infected and had to be cleaned up and re-sutured.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Lab Rescue concentrated on raising funds that would finance the surgeries to save the leg. While over a thousand dollars has been raised through the Labrador Retreiver Chat Board, ALR will continue to need financial support for Trooper’s eventual rehabilitation.

Three weeks later, a second infection ensued, and the steel plate and screws were removed and a cast was set. In an effort to keep Trooper quiet valium became a part of his daily routine.

By mid-July, although not out of the woods, Trooper improved with the addition of medicine and food supplements to help strengthen the bone. Now it was time for a hard cast – and a foster family.

As it turned out, there was such a family with three girls who fell in love with Trooper, instantly.

So during his convalescence Trooper, now weighing in at only 98.9 lbs., and after $5,000.00 in veterinary care, is being cared for and loved by the Moorse family who is ensuring that Trooper has every luxury and will no longer suffer the abuse, neglect and abandonment from which he came.

Trooper will require therapy, rehabilitation and possible surgeries at an additional estimated cost of $2,000.00. Contributions of any amount will help stabilize Trooper. It takes so little, but accomplishes so much.

If you would like to contribute to Trooper’s future, please click on the following link:
DONATE ONLINE or make a doanation through the ChipIn application at the top of the blog.

If you prefer to mail a check, please send it to:

Atlanta Lab Rescue
PO Box 250206
Atlanta, GA 30325

Thank You Camp Woof

Service organizations can’t and don’t operate in a vacuum. Most, if not all, incorporate the generosity and contributions from many community members. Atlanta Lab Rescue is no exception. Through the on-going support of “Camp Woof” in Norcross, we are able to rescue wonderful dogs from a less than pleasant ending.

While Atlanta Lab Rescue continues its on-going search for foster and forever families, Camp Woof is the weigh-station for many of the dogs. Hans VollmerGeneral Manager says the dogs become part of the family and are able to develop some of the social skills that may have been lacking in their previous situations.

Even though they love having the dogs, says Hans, he’s always happy to see them get adopted into good homes.

"It’s nice to see a rescue dog come in and we are able to provide care for them, but when they leave us, they become different dogs and we feel liked we’ve
played a part in helping them get adopted.”

Opened for business for only 6 months, in Norcross, Camp Woof provides twelve spots for daycare and boarding of rescue animals. With 20,000 sq. ft. of air conditioned space and 15,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space, the animals have plenty of room to play and romp about freely. There’s even an outdoor “kiddy” pool in which both large and small dogs can be found splashing around.

Cots are available for nap time and rest periods. The dogs are safe and well cared for. Vollmer says that it’s important for Camp Woof to give back to the community of which they are a part. We, at Atlanta Lab Rescue, are grateful for their support.

As part of our special relationship with Camp Woof, Atlanta Lab Rescue adoptive families get discounts from Camp Woof as well as a first night of boarding free. Becky Cross, co-founder of Atlanta Lab Rescue expressed her gratitude to Camp Woof and its staff,

“We are so lucky to get free boarding at Camp Woof. It’s the nicest facility that I’ve ever been to. I have never boarded my dogs but would have no problem with sending them there. It’s immaculate and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The dogs seem to really like it there and they get plenty of play time.

There is also a retail section that is a doggy dreamland. They have EVERYTHING. It’s worth the trip out to Norcross to check it out and they give discounts to ALR adopters and volunteers.”

If you’d like to foster or are considering adopting a great dog for your family, check out Atlanta Lab Rescue: http://www.labrescueofatlanta.com/

So thank you Hans Vollmer and Camp Woof for all you do and share! For more information about Camp Woof in Norcross or Camp Woof in Decatur, follow the link, http://www.campwoof.com/.

Love Connections & Success Stories

Life's A Beach!

Hi guys - just wanted to give you a quick update on "Courtney" - now Carly (we adopted her in late May). She is the BEST!!!! Not only is she beautiful, but she has fit in perfectly. She's still a little wary of one cat, but loves her new sister the black lab, and the orange cat. She is everything you billed her to be. She is well mannered, house broken, sits, shakes and grins at you when you come home (she curls her teeth back from her lips in a smile-hilarious). She sleeps most nights on one of my sons' beds. We took her and her sister to the beach in July - man that dog can hunt down a seagull! And she swims, fetches, she's perfect. I've told many friends about your organization and what a great experience we've had.Thanks so much for bringing Carly in our lives! Holly

Camp Woof Offers ALR Families A Customer Loyalty Program

Camp Woof of Norcross customer loyalty program and benefits for Atlanta Lab Rescue families:

• Spend $75 in our Pet Food Supercenter and get 1/2 day of daycare free (six hours or less)


• Spend $100 in our Pet Food Supercenter and get 1 day of daycare free


• Buy a 15 day daycare package and receive 1 free day of daycare


• Buy a 30 day daycare package and receive 2 free days of daycare


• Board your dog(s) for 8 nights in a 3 month period and get 2 free days of daycare for each dog, nights do not have to be consecutive


• Get your dog groomed 4 times and the 5th groom will be 50% off


• Get your dog bathed 4 times and the 5th bath will be free, does not include nails and trimming


• Refer someone to us and get 1 free day of daycare or 1 free night of boardingAll of us at Camp Woof appreciate your business and patronage.

Please remember we are locally owned and operated.