Bandit’s Adoption & Rescue of K-9s
www.barkva.org
804-449-BARK
September 2007 Newsletter
Click on the links to view the sections
August 2007 Adoptions...BARK
Beats the Heat!
BARK’s
Great Press in the Herald
1-800-PetMed Orders –
Keep ‘em Coming!
Words of Wisdom
Happy Tails. . . Some
Waggin' Good Reports!
August 2007 Adoptions...BARK beats the heat –
AND last year’s total!
We
beat last year’s adoptions by 40!!!
We are now at 449 total adoptions for 2007. If we complete 38 adoptions each month until the end
of the year, we will make our goal of 600 adoptions in 2007!
|
Month |
August 2006 |
August 2007 |
|
Richmond |
20 |
44 |
|
Arlington |
8 |
13 |
|
OTHER |
0 |
11 |
|
TOTALS |
28 |
68 |
BARK’s Great Press in the Herald
BARK stands for Bandit's Animal Rescue of K-9s by ERIK RISON
Just
outside of Ashland, Bob and Denise Tillack's farm plays asylum to rescued K-9s
of all kinds. BARK (Bandit's Animal Rescue of K-9s) takes in dogs that are put
in bad situations and finds them a permanent family. . .
.
Read
more here: http://www.herald-progress.com/articles/2007/08/23/news/11%20bark.txt
1-800-PetMed Orders – Keep ‘em Coming!
Keep those
orders coming through our web-site for 1-800-PETMEDS. Tell all your friends, family, and neighbor’s to order all
their prescription and non-prescription medications for their pets.
RX orders
net a 10% commission on an ongoing basis.
Non-RX orders give us FREE non-RX items for BARK dogs (included but not
limited to Advantage flea/tick preventive and Bordetella vaccines).
To order
your furry friend’s meds and help the BARK dogs at the same time, simply visit http://www.barkva.org/html/resources.htm
and use the PetMeds link at the top of the page.
You can
also call 1-800-PETMEDS and place an order, but remember to mention BARK
Virginia for the BARK dogs to get credit.
River City TRASHORAMA
“Kustom Hot Rod & Bike Show” – October 6th (Rain Date
Oct 7) Event Benefits the BARK dogs.
Enjoy Cars, Music, Swap Meet and a TATTOO Contest! Click here to read more -- http://www.trashorama.com/
Our very
FIRST wine-tasting event, BARK at the Moon, is coming up FAST! October 13th, James River
Winery, a night of great wine, music, and prizes! ALL to benefit the dogs at BARK.
Tickets are
going fast! Purchase one
online at www.barkva.org (under Events) or
contact Carmen at clr07@comcast.net or
804-874-4343.
We are also
still accepting sponsors for the event and raffle prizes. All donations are
tax-deductible. If your company would
like to sponsor our event, please e-mail Carmen @ clr07@comcast.net and she will send them a
sponsorship letter/ thank you note including instructions on where to send
their tax-deductible donation.
Jenny
Reynolds received a THANKS from Bob Tillack in August. Jenny had a birthday in August and
asked her birthday guests to make donations to BARK instead of giving her a
gift. She’s got some generous friends, to be sure. Jenny raised $150 for the dogs and has
been welcomed as a BARK Adoption Outing volunteer.
THANKS
also go out to Donna from Premier Pet Products LLC, located in Midlothian VA. She recognized all of the wonderful work that BARK has done
for the community. Premier graciously
donated the following products to the BARK dogs:
- 133 leashes in various sizes
and lengths
- 30 slip-on collars
–large, medium, and small, and 1 petite
- A combo leash and collar set, Gentle
Leader Easy Walk harness, small rubber toy, & a treat bag holder
- 4 boxes of toys
Premier Pet
Products, LLC started as a business in someone’s garage and has blossomed over
the years into a great locally owned company. Check out their web-site: www.premier.com
Words of Wisdom
Poem For
Rescuers
There I sat, alone and afraid.
You got a call and came right to my
aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and
love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave
me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all
that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to
have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped
me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became
my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all
you do,
There came along not one new lesson,
but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart,
you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've
learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket
and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even
have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to
stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became
perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be
near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've
moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a
lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned
that first day.
You never really give your fosters
away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember
you by.
We may never meet again, and now I
know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a
time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always
be mine.
- Author Unknown
A
Rescue Prayer
Now I lay me down to rest
I pray my soul can stand this test
Of watching critters lose their homes
While owners gripe and cry and moan
I long for strength of spirit that
They'll find a loving home again
Where they will know a loving heart
I can't do much, but it's a start
And spare me from the owner's pleas
About the baby's allergies
Or how they're moving out of state
Or spitefulness 'tween cat and mate
Please keep me sane while dealing with
The woman who bought as a gift
A wriggling tiny ball of fluff
That now is playing way too rough
Remind me I should bite my lip
When confronted with "he grew too quick"
"I didn't know he'd get so large"
"He seems to think that he's in charge"
Protect my heart when I hear them say
"I think we'll breed our dog one day"
Sometimes I think it'll break in two;
Each day brings trials harsh and new
And if I die before I wake
I pray one hopeless soul you'll take
My tears are gone, my faith is bare
Lord, please hear my rescue prayer.
~ Unknown
Well, for
starters...Moses is now Bandit (which suits him pretty
well!) He still loves to steal things and chew them apart! We are
patiently waiting for that "puppy" trait to pass. . . . [He
took] his first trip to the lake early this summer (he loved playing in the
sand!), and had a car ride home from Grammy's house (two tuckered out little
boys!) Thanks for checking in on him! - Jeanne W.
Yukon is doing well . he has lots of
freinds to play with. he loves to sleep in my bed and i wake up stuffed in the
corner and he's spread out in the middle. i enrolled him in ob
classes this Aug. - thanks eric w
Bart is loving life I do believe!!
Considering he is on our bed with a raw hide, he is very loved!! Thanks so much
for bringing him into our life! He really has brought a lot
of joy! He is working on sitting, laying and is doing great on a
leash! Every morning we go on a walk and he has several girlfriends he is
crazy about. It is so funny to see his little tail circle around with a
huge grin on his face when I go to put his leash on in the mornings! I
promise to continue sending updates! Thanks so much for your email.
I really appreciate what you do for the rescues and paying close attention to
their happiness!!! - Candace B. Hopson
Reading
your newsletter has really been an eye opener. It seems so many of these
poor little guys go to new homes timid and fearful. How nice it was to
read that they come around and start to be happy again. Midge has finally decided that it's in
her best interest to be friends with Jerry, so except for our antisocial cat,
we are one big happy family now. He's so proud that she finally allows
him to put the leash on her, that
he tells everyone about it. I can see people subtley backing away from
him with a frozen smile on their faces, because he forgets that they have no
idea what he's talking about, and what a huge step this was. I'll look
forward to future newsletters. - Dolores
Savannah is doing great in her new home! She has been a
truly sweet with our two cats, and has really enjoyed our large backyard.
She had her first puppy obedience school class at Petsmart in
Charlottesville this past Saturday and it went really well. She got along
great with the other dogs, and has started learning commands like "watch
me, sit, and stay" We took her to the vet a few days after getting
her, and they told us she was one of the healthiest shelter dogs they had ever
seen. We finished her vaccine schedule and she is now all set! We were really thankful that Savannahs
foster parents took such good care of her, and we were hoping to give them a
call to say thanks. Thanks again, Geoff
o my gosh Huey is wonderful he is so loving --- he has adaptive
very well he is always jumping on the couch when you sit down and giving you
kisses -- he has tuns of toys and we are on vacation right now in minnesota and
he got to go with -- he is so happy and playing all the time and eats like a
horse -- he has a toy box and he walks up to it and with his right paw he tips
and grabs a toy and takes off running -- at first he was scared and quite would
not go up the stairs but now he flyes up then -- we are complete –
thankyou – audra, tyler, and jessica
Zeus is now
very healthy and spoiled rotten. When I started him back
on his dog food, I began mixing some dog food in with the chicken,
rice and broth. Now he seems to expect to have water mixed in with his
dog food. This summer I have been working with the parks and
recreation school age program. Each day when I come home Zeus and my
daughters greet me. He jumps straight in the air--repeatedly until I hug
him. He is so excited that I am home. He won't go to bed until I
do, but he does get up to let me know he wants out at 6 a.m. each day--even on
days when I don't have to get up so early. So we get up together. He likes to chew pillows--especially
from my bed. I had originally bought him some chew toys, but he even
chewed through the harder types. So now he gets dental chew bones.
We also bought him a toothbrush--but he is not too fond of the toothbrushing experience. He
loves Adrianna's orange tabby cat and I think Picasso enjoys Zeus.
They do play together quite nicely. It seems that both accept one
another and over look the "dog/cat" differences. I
have the BARK site bookmarked. Occasionally I look at the dogs for
adoption. I believe I missed Marvin's picture last night (black
greyhound mix) so I hope that means he has found a forever family.
Eventually--when I can buy my own home--I will get another dog and will be
back. For now 2 pets is the limit for my lease... Thanks a lot for
keeping in touch. ….We are so happy with Zeus and he seems to be delighted
with us... He is a wonderful dog! Thanks so much for taking care of
him until it was time for him to come to our home. - Jen
We renamed her Roxie... She is a very loving dog, with enough energy to
power our house and the neighbors’. She is getting along well with our
older dog, it only took her a couple days to settle in. Very Smart,
almost too smart, and very headstrong. From our research and what the Vet
thinks, is that she has some basengi, jack russel and rat terrier in her.
Her bark is very subdued, almost hoarse, you are expecting more, but it
never comes out. She had her check out at the vets and everything is
fine. - George
& Philis D.
We had to
rename Bruce because we thought he looked more
like a Jake -- so hopefully all of Bruce’s
old friends are ok with that. When
I call Holly during the day I ask her how our little man is doing? He has settled in
fast and even has a few dog friends that come visit. . . . He loves to ride in our truck and our
Jeep. We bought him a harness lined with sheep skin for him to wear
while he is riding in the jeep. He loves to hang out wherever we are and has
adapted great. He even likes riding on the pontoon boat and
watching us go for a swim. He has been in the water but
he still is not sure whether he likes swimming or just watching. After our little Rosie Dog passed away
we had a huge empty place in our hearts and we think Rosie sent us Jake to
fill some of the emptiness. Thanks Guys for giving us the chance to take Jake
in to our lives and home. God Bless and great
job!! - Dolph & Holly H.
Cole is settling in very well - We
feel very lucky to have found such a great dog to have in our family. My
sons are taking him for walks every evening and we are working on teaching him
how to roll over - He is very motivated to learn if food is involved!! - Cheryl V.
King is such a joy, we feel
so blessed to have him. He has even managed to find a place in my fathers
heart, he's old school and feels that dogs are for work not companionship, he
talks about King like a proud grandfather and responds to King's every whim.
He took King for six walks one day :) . Thank you again for
choosing us to adopt King. He has definitely found his forever home with
our family. After King has healed completely and things settle down at
home, we may adopt another dog. Please keep us in mind if you have a
special pup that might like King as a big brother. - Vicki
We LOVE Tom the
cat. He is so spoiled and loves every bit of it.
He, literally has taken over my husband's side of the bed at night. He
likes to be propped up when he goes to bed at night, like a human. He is
so stealth that we kept losing him in the house so he now wears a collar with a
bell so we know where he is. It blows my mind that no one adopted him
sooner. He is good with everyone, loves his cat scratchers, and has a
favorite napping spot on the window ledge overlooking a bird feeder outside the
window. We are a little concerned we may have to reinforce the ledge due
to his 22 lb. size! So far so good though. Again, thanks for saving
him because we wouldn't have him it wasn't for you. Thanks for checking in. - Lynn B.
Kaiser
(Smokie)
is doing
great. It was a little bit rough at first, I think he's a submissive
urinator, but he's settling in great and is learning very quickly. He's a
very loving dog and a great addition. Most of his baby teeth are out and
he and the other dog Kosmo are doing really well together. - Justin
Bonnie
Blue
is doing great! She is such a sweet dog!!
Our doberman/lab and she have become best friends. They wrestle with
each other and chase each other around the back yard. Our kids love her,
grandma loves her and so do we!! We're
glad we stopped by Pet Smart that Sunday and saw her. She's been a great addition to the
family! Thank you, Heidi B.
Darla
and Petey,
our other dog, are getting along just wonderfully. Darla is one of the
sweetest girls I know. She loves to come up and snuggle on our laps, and
she has a unique way of playing with Petey. I have never quite seen a dog
that starts to play and then lays down like she is playing dead. Thank
You-The Hertless Family
We
are very happy to have Kirby-Kirby (we have fun with that). We are trying to work with him the best
we can. We have taken him to our
Vet. We are giving him heart worm
pills. He was not what we told you
we were looking for, but my wife fell for him as soon as she saw him (with
Bear). It does sadden me on a
personal note that Kady is still listed.
I have been looking to see if she has found a home. You guys to do great work & always
want the best for the dogs as well as us ‘parents.’ – Robert