NOLA Lab News

FINDING PERMANENT ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR HOMELESS LABS ometimes it feels like its been raining puppies! First NOLArescued and transported a litter of 10 two-week old puppies and their momma, Destiny, to a wonderful foster home in Michigan. Only a few weeks later, an orphaned litter of 7 three-week old puppies was rescued and transported to the same foster home with hopes that Destiny

www.nolalabrescue.org

Puppy Palooza

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lmost a year and a half ago, Emmie Lou was rescued from a horrible existence in a backwoods breeding operation. She had very little interaction with humans and its likely that none was positive. She definitely had never lived in a house, slept on a comfortable dog bed, or played with a toy. She spent about six months in a foster home being exposed to family life, and although she had traveled a long way from her poor beginnings, there was still distance to go.

would feed and raise this group as well. Then there are over a dozen other puppies under a year old! The winter has been relatively cold in the South, the origin of all of these puppies - between temperature and low levels of community vaccination, its a very risky time to be young and homeless. We were so thankful
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Happy Tails - Emmie & Sadie

Fortunately, she was adopted about ten months ago by a wonderful, supportive family who is

Vaccination, sterilization, heartworm prevention, and veterinary services for all dogs Heartworm treatment Rescue of canine seniors with high expenses Orthopedic surgery for rescued dogs in need Transportation of HW neg, fully vetted dogs from the overpopulated South to pre-approved foster and forever homes in Canada

Your Membership Supports:

Permanent adoptive homes for unwanted, abandoned or abused labs Medical care and foster homes for rescued dogs Education to pet owners regarding spaying/neutering and responsible pet ownership Public information about irresponsible breeding practices and animal abuse in an effort to end both

Our mission is to provide:

Why Join NOLA?

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elcome to 2014! Weve hardly caught our breath from last years flurry of activity and it is already looking to be even busier this year. In 2013, New Orleans Lab Rescue had 219 dogs enter the system with a whopping 197 adoptions. Im so proud of all of our fosters and other volunteers who made this impressive feat possible. Kudos also go to all of the people who chose to adopt, not shop and provide an amazing forever home to a dog that had previously been ignored, abandoned, or neglected. Along with the impressive adoption statistics, we did accrue some large bills for veterinary services. We had 16 heartworm positive dogs enter our system in 2013, which generates treatment costs of over $800 per dog. Midnight was

NOLA News

From the President

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our most expensive dog at over $10,000 in bills and counting, even with the extremely generous donation by Southeast Veterinary Specialists in Metarie, LA. We continue to rely on your support and generosity to meet these, and other expenses. We currently have 62 dogs in our foster system, which is a record high, and millions of unwanted animals in North America still lose their lives each year, so there is plenty of work still to be done. Fostering, adopting, transporting, and supporting animals in need is something that each one of you has been involved with over the last year and it makes a critical difference to our group and each animal that has been in our care. Keep up the good work in 2014!

rin from Three Scoops of Vanilla is a skilled jewelry designer and artist. Her creations are unique and meaningful, and even more importantly, she uses her talents to support animal rescue. Each week she has 3-5 auctions of her designs with 25-100% of the proceeds going to charity. She has also generously donated her creations to our own fundraisers. Find her on Facebook or www.threescoopsofvanilla.com.

Featured Artist

~Kim

NOLABy The Numbers

Nine puppies Eating Fromm Gold Puppy Four feeding per day Four cups of food per feeding 16 cups per day = $6.16 per day Approximately 741 calories per puppy per day St. Martins Orphans Destinys Children How much do these puppies eat??

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Seven puppies Eating Fromm Gold Puppy and GNC Milk Premium Replacer Five feedings per day Three cups kibble, 3 T dry milk per feeding 15 cups of kibble per day + $3.90 per day of milk replacer = $9.65 per day Approximately 893 calories per puppy per day

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Looking for a Special Treat? Pumpkin Biscuits 2 eggs 1/2 c canned pumpkin 2 T dry milk 1/4 t sea salt 2.5 c brown rice flour

Pooched Eggs

NOLA News

Whisk together eggs and pumpkin, then stir in dry milk and sea salt. Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and briefly kneed. Roll dough to 1/4-1/2 thick and use shape cutter to cut out biscuits. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then turn biscuits over and resume baking for an additional 20 minutes.

irius shelter photo tugged at our heartstrings and we knew that we had to do something to help him. He was emaciated and had significant hair loss. We immediately rushed him from Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter to our friends at Southeast Veterinary Specialists. He weighed a pitiful 44 pounds and was diagnosed with heartworms, intestinal parasites, and low thyroid. Frequent medicated baths and antibiotics were also prescribed to help his skin heal. Sirius had never lived in a house before, had never learned to

Have a recipe to share? NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com

play with other dogs, and had certainly never felt the touch of a kind human hand. Some of his new experiences have been tough, but many have been wonderous and fun, such as going to doggy day camp, massages during bath time, the absence of hunger, being indoors when it is cold out, sleeping on a human bed, etc. Sirius is up to 55 lbs and is still putting on additional weight. While his fur and skin have not fully recovered, he is starting to look a little better and is enjoying the water part of his weekly baths a little more than he did in the beginning. This young shepherd mix is only about a year old. Once he fully recovers his health, he will be looking for an

Special Need

experienced home to help him take the next steps toward being a confident, outgoing family dog. In the meanwhile, there are plenty of medical expenses ahead as he is still facing heartworm treatment. Please consider donating to his care through http:www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/sirius-needsyour-help/129607

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NOLA News

The best photos of your dogs Caught in the Act!

Best In Show This Issue:

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Se co nd

Pl

ac e

Third Place

Daisy, sending calming signals to the unamused humans

Sweet Daisy looks so innocent and cute, but you can tell by the nervous licking of her lips that she knows shes been CAUGHTINTHE ACT! What was once a brand new dog bed now is just fit for the trash can - damage done in a mere two minutes. Fortunately, Daisys family got the hint and will never get this type of fill in any bedding they buy for her in the future. Way to go, Daisy - you may not have been popular on that day, but you certainly were with our voters on Facebook!

The Winner! Daisy

ndependence Park will be hostdock into the 40 foot pool. My ing Paws in dogs will be jumping far, flying high, and swimming the Park on fast. I hope YOURdogs March 29-30, will join me! Check out 2014. This fun, www. dockdogs.com for two-day event is more information on regisgreat for everyone tering for the event and and all types of how to get your dog dogs with a fun involved in this fun, chalrun, vendors, reslenging sport. cues, and the joy of watching dogs soar off a 40 foot Want to share the scoop on your favorite town? NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com Page 4

Where to take your dog in... Pearland, TX

Next issue: The Dog Days of Summer Send responses & photos to NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com

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(Happy Tails - continued from page 1)

committed to helping her continue to make progress towards becoming a confident family dog. She loves her walks and doesnt seem to mind the cold this winter! Her family is hoping that she will be able to learn to enjoy sitting on the couch with them and snuggling. Its not been easy, straightforward progress, but with patience and love, all things are possible.

rate training is a veterinarian-recommended method of housebreaking puppies in which a crate (an indoor kennel) is used. This training method is based on the principle that dogs prefer not to soil where they sleep. A comfortable crate not only provides a puppy with a secure, den-like atmosphere but also prevents destructive behaviors and protects against household dangers when a puppy isnt being supervised. Associate the crate with positive things. Create a soft bed by placing a towel or blanket on the floor of the crate. For the first few days, leave off the top of the crate or keep the door open. Place the crate in a common area where your puppy can be with you while getting used to the crate. Place treats, kibble, and/or toys in the crate to encourage your

Dog Health & Training Tip

puppy to explore it. Feed your puppy in the crate and, when the food is consumed, immediately take your puppy outdoors to urinate and defecate. Eating will stimulate your puppy to go and he will quickly learn the routine. Puppies have very little bladder and bowel control, so they cant spend much time in a crate. Young puppies should be taken outdoors frequently (such as every two hours during the day) and given lots of praise. If you crate your puppy at night, place the crate near your bed so that you can hear your puppy cry, which means that they need to go outside. Start your puppy with short amounts of time, such as thirty to sixty minutes, in the crate. Over the course of a few weeks, gradually increase the amount of time. Puppies younger than four months

o you remember the appeal for funds for Sadie, the chiweenie who had a large bladder stone? Its been six months since we were able to have her stone removed (she also got a much-needed dental cleaning!) and we are happy to report that she has made a full recovery. Shes feeling so much better and has really turned into a quirky, happy-go-lucky dog. She makes us smile with antics like her appearance on the kitchen island (how does a dog whose head is about six inches off the ground and is built like a wrestler jump thirty six inches into the air??), she has proven her ability to get

NOLA News
along with all sorts of dogs and cats, loves kids, is a great snuggler, and has even been very sweet with a litter of puppies! Sadies age seems to have been the main deterrent to her finding her home. Shes only about seven years old and is young at heart with her busy and energetic outlook on life. Shes a perfect dog who has made a full recovery and is hoping that she gets to be someones special dog soon.

should spend no more than four hours at a time in the crate, except for sleeping at night. If you need to crate your puppy during a full work day, have someone let your puppy outdoors periodically. Ensure clean water is always available in the crate. Be sure to consult your veterinarian for advice or to see if an underlying medical condition is causing a problem if your puppy is not adapting to crate training. When done properly, crate training can help a puppy learn to wait to urinate or defecate until he is outdoors. A crate helps keep curious puppies out of trouble and provides peace of mind when you are not able to be home. These good habits formed early will make having a dog much easier and give you free time to work on puppy obedience.

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(Puppies - continued from page 1)

NOLA News
behavior and cleanliness. They are slowly learning the joys of potty poop, loads of laundry, and the sensation that youre completely outnumbered! As with all the rescues that we do, the reward is in seeing the happy, healthy faces and foster homes working with the dogs to prepare them for life with their very own families. Whether puppies or adult dogs, this process is time consuming, but is done with love and the passion of people who know that they are making a difference.

that the weather cooperated for the transports and that the volunteers who drove and overnighted the puppies were up for the challenge! Ultimately, Destiny was not called upon to raise the additional 7 puppies - they were voracious eaters and mess-making machines and proved that they preferred puppy gruel. Raising puppies who have lost their momma too early does present some social challenges - especially learning proper

Looking for Love? Adopt!

training and sharing and playing with siblings. One of the nice things about litters of puppies is that there is a mass-production aspect to their care: everyone gets vaccinated and wormed at the same time, everyone gets fed the same thing at the same time, etc. Of course, this mass-production goes in the other direction as well - piles of

Wilt Shaq

Tanner

Destiny

Zeplin

Cherry Pie

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Faces of Adoption

NOLA News

Mattie

Sir Winston and Lexi

Cash

hether your new dog is a puppy or an adult, training your dog has several benefits. Here are a few examples of what training can help you accomplish: Learn to communicate with your dog through a process of setting realistic expectations and rewarding with positive reinforcement. Strengthen the bond between you and your dog

Princess

Why Train Your Dog?

Help correct (or prevent) bad behaviors such as barking, jumping on people, chewing, etc. Allow your dog greater freedoms, such as swimming or playing fetch offleash Save your dogs life in an emergency. Having a dog that knows the basic commands of come, sit, down, and stay could potentially prevent the dog from running away or being hit by a car A well-behaved dog that sits politely for petting, behaves appropriately in a crowd, and has good manners with guests is a pleasure to own.

Tug

Tugger

Training does not have to take a lot of time. In just a few minutes each day, you can actively train your dog by teaching basic manners, tricks, retrieving, and many other things. A well-trained dog is a great ambassador for all dog owners, a joy to be around, and fun to show off to friends and family. A well-trained dog is much more likely to be invited to events that you attend and you can be confident in their behavior while there. Training is worth it! Page 7

re you suffering from the mid-winter blues? Do you live in Chiberia or another city that has been blighted by crazily frigid temperatures and mounds of snow all winter long?Are you finding it difficult to convince yourself to leave the house?Riley and Roscoe have a prescription that

NOLA News

warmer at night. The solution is obvious - you need to adopt a dog!!!And what could possibly

Adopt Me!!

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wrong - fortunately a paperwork SNAFUrevealed Rileys existence and we quickly rescued her and reunited the pair. This pair of dogs will fit into almost any type of home. They are incredibly well-behaved and low-key at home. Theyre good with other dogs and kids. Of course theyre housetrained and can do a variety of tricks. Theyre pretty good on leash and enjoy playing fetch and other games. If you give these two a chance, youll not be sorry. They have lots of love to give their new family and are looking forward to finally finding their very own forever family. Book your meeting with these winter blues busters today, and charge into spring.

can change your outlook on winter, get you off the couch and into the great outdoors, and can even make you

better than a dog?Thats right two dogs!!! Riley and Roscoe would like to help you burst out of your wintery, frozen rut they will take you on walks, play board games, and snuggle at night to keep you warm. Their love will energize and invigorate you. Riley and Roscoe have been waiting around for their forever home for quite a while. They dont mind, because theyre in an amazing foster home, but some day they would really like to have their very own people to love. This bonded pair are brother and sister who were surrendered to a shelter together, but inadvertently only Roscoe was rescued. He seemed to be depressed and distracted, and we wondered what could be

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For more information and photos on these dogs, as well as all others awaiting forever homes with NOLA, please visit our website at www.nolalabrescue.org or Petfinder at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=LA259

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NOLA News

Please select your membership level: Name: $25 $50

YES! Please sign me up as a NOLAmember!

$100 Other

Address, City, State, Zip: Email Address: Your generous donations are very much appreciated. Our registered 501(c)(3) has no paid employees and relies entirely on the support of donors and volunteers. Thank you

hen it comes to adopting dogs, peoples age preferences can run the full spectrum, but it is true that senior dogs often languish in shelters or fail to be rescued. I was at a shelter and saw Millie lying in a small pen. She looked sad, decrepit, and defeated. I couldnt stop thinking about her and did the only thing that made sense - adopted her! She was about twelve years old and I

Send to: NOLALab Rescue 432 Evergreen Dr Destrehan, LA 70047

anticipated that she would only be with me for six months or so. We spent those six months camping, taking leisurely strolls, and just lounging around. Then six months stretched into four years until it was time to say goodbye. I loved every moment of my time with her and was so thankful that Ihad the privilege soon, Iam so glad we had our of having her in my life. She time together. Adopting an older was stubborn, tolerant, affectiondog is sure to bring the pain of ate, beautiful, and appreciated loss more quickly into your the little things. She dealt with heart, but the love of a dog is the arrival of two babies into her priceless, even if it doesnt last home with complete aplomb for a decade, and continues on (and demonstrated a previously after death. unsuspected talent for chewing stacking cups). Her determiBeloved departed pets always leave us with nation to do things her way cherished memories. Share a photo and story still makes me laugh and even with us at NOLAnewsletter@gmail.com though the end came way too Page 9

In Memoriam

NOLA Lab Rescue 432 Evergreen Dr Destrehan, LA 70047

Return Service Requested

Board of Directors

Kim Breaux - President & Founder Kathy Brainard - Secretary Pam Hrycyk - Vice President Betsy Taylor - Treasurer nolalabrescue@gmail.com

Fundraising
Spend the upcoming spring months practicing your typing skills and mastering Facebook notifications. Youre going to need them for our Second Annual NOLA Lab Rescue Auction. Last years event was a huge success with over 200 items, including gift baskets, original artwork, jewelery, dog paraphernalia, canine acupuncture, crafts, home decor, and gift certificates. Friend us on Facebook to make sure that you dont miss the start of this great event - not only does it raise money to help all of NOLAs rescues but it also could net you a wonderful gift, keepsake, or service. Please let us know if you have any items that you would like to contribute to this event. Its tax deductible in the US and for a great cause.

Auction

Donations can be made online via our website at http://www.nolalabrescue.org/Donations.html

You can make the difference!

Will you help?