This week...

From November 6th until November 12th, it is National Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week... I know with election day tomorrow, this has probably fallen off everyone's radar but I wanted to bring this back to everyone's attention... Maybe later this week once the election is over with, you will read this blog and think about it...

I can speak for no one by myself, and not even for the TLC volunteers personally, but I know rescue for me is year round, every day, 7 days a week and 52 weeks of the year... I don't do it for an 'atta girl' or even public recognition... The TLC volunteers will tell you that I shy away from publicity, in fact... 

But should anyone ask me (or not~!!), I will always say that TLC has the BEST volunteers in Ventura County... 

They come together, work HARD and do it without any thought of a thank-you beyond a wet puppy kiss or knowing that today they saved the life of an abandoned or homeless shelter dog... 

"Big Joe" - R.I.P. 10/20/12

Some are gone now, but not forgotten and were instrumental in keeping the TLC rescue train rolling right along through thick and thin... As a rescue that has been knocked to its knees several times in seven years because of obstacles and hurdles, we brush ourselves off and get back into the race of saving canine lives...

TLC has taken on many hard cases or moms with pups or pregnant while other rescues have passed on the hard work involved in doing rescue of this nature... We see our pups all grown up at the dog park or we run into one at a local pet shop... And the 'thank-you' is seeing them healthy and happy, with a home and very much loved... 

One of the most heart-felt and emotional times I have had in the past seven plus years is someone in the general public came into the first rescue shop with an envelope of Starbucks gift certificates... They told me, "I know the dogs and puppies always need help, but I just wanted to say a personal thank-you to you and your volunteers for doing what you do...."  Almost brought me to my knees emotionally inside and I was really at a loss for words...

For as a rescue (and I am sure the shelter folks get the same thing), you can successfully place 500 dogs but the thing you will hear the most about is the one dog that did not place well or was not 'perfect'... 

For most of us in rescue (the majority is always female), we spend our days elbow-up in poop, laundry, in sinks bathing or washing something! and drag our spouses into our 'passion' whether they are wanting to be involved or not... It seems (at least to me), that the laundry never ever stops... 

Rough laundry day at TLC - real photo!

And you are forever trying to figure out how you are going to pay this vet bill or save that dog, somehow, some way... 

And for those that are not fostering, they can be just as busy behind the scenes - seldom recognized for their contribution to the saving of shelter animal lives... Be it the photographers taking 300 photos to get just one great one... The folks behind the scenes picking up supplies or keeping the paperwork parade running smooth and trouble free... Or the transporter who just put 200 miles on their vehicle this week, driving to save lives... 

These are all folks who go about their lives making a difference in their community... And at this time of the year, I wanted to personally say a BIG thank-you to the TLC volunteers, the staff of Ventura County Animal Services and to the other community residents who get behind and support those of us who do rescue as a passion and commitment!

Sincerely,
Linda Nelson
Director, TLC


P.S. Most of these TLC volunteers are still with us... Some as long as almost 7 years ago... That says a lot about their commitment to the cause of No-Kill!

Not for everyone....

Not everyone can do rescue volunteering... It takes a special kind of person with a LOT of heart and willingness to put in hard work, commitment to make a change in this ole world of ours and the ability to be dedicated to a cause when it might not be in the forefront of everyone's minds... 

We are not saving the world and fighting hunger - we are saving a dog's life, one dog at a time... 

But when you do get involved in volunteering with a good rescue, the rewards you get back far exceed what you put into it... I cannot tell you how many volunteers in the past years have told me they haven't saved dog lives... That TLC saved them instead... There is a lot behind that saying of "Who saved who?"...

It is not always easy to find your 'niche' in a rescue, but thankfully TLC is big enough now that we have lots to do and many different kinds of tasks... When I see folks like Jeri come in right after having eye surgery to help out at the front desk, you have to admire the kind of dedication and commitment these volunteers have to the cause of No-Kill in our county... 

And there is a LOT to learn, most of it is not pretty (poop can come in a wide variety of smells, sizes, shapes and consistency not pleasant for most folks) and it is not just 'holding puppies' or 'walking dogs'... It is not an easy passion to explain sometimes to your friends and family... There is a lot of day-to-day stuff that we may not like to do in our homes (washing dishes, doing laundry, mopping floors, etc.) that somehow feel SO much more rewarding when doing it to help save the life of a dog or puppy... 


And you will find yourself doing a lot of thinking as to why this dog ended up in the shelter (and uncovering any issues, then retraining them) or wondering why that dog has not yet been adopted...  

Here and there you will fall in love with one particular dog and may even choose to start fostering... Here is a picture of SallySue, who Lydia is fostering for TLC... This picture tickles me every time I see it... Probably the first time SallySue has ever seen herself full sized in a mirror before...  Lydia took on fostering SallySue because the intensity of the rescue center was too much for her older personality to handle... Lydia's schedule prohibits her from coming in and physically putting in the time at the rescue center, so she 'gives back' by fostering TLC dogs in her home, one dog at a time... 

This gives us valuable insight into the dog we've saved that we won't get easily - how they do in a home environment, if they are potty trained, how they get along with strangers and other dogs, etc.... ALL important pieces to finding the dog their own furever home... 

Although there is a lot of women in rescue, it is not a woman-only kind of thing... I have had male volunteers meet and fall in love with the woman of their dreams in TLC... There are some men who have the 'touch' to feel empathy and compassion for these creatures who deserve a 'do-over'... And guys?  It is EXTREMELY sexy for us women to see you guys have the heart to care and help a rescued dog!!!

Take Juan for example... He wandered into the rescue center one day and was so impressed with what we do, he asked if we needed volunteers... He know comes frequently to the center and always finds time to give back to those who need that little bit of extra TLC... Carlee is one of his special friends... She requires feeding by hand as she has cerebral hydroplasia... She's been adopted by one of our veteran volunteers, but we are Carlee's doggie day care... 

Carlee can make a mess of your smock without even trying when she eats (smile), but she is all heart... She has a wheelie at the center that she tools about in and a permanent crib... At 18 months, she is TLC's miracle baby and had been taken to the shelter at 4 weeks to be euthanized... They called us and we said we'd give it a go... Carlee had to be taught how to drink, eat, walk and just be a dog... She's a great example of what anyone can do if they just say no to killing healthy, adoptable dogs... 

Juan makes sure he's around to do feeding time with Carlee and every volunteer that sees these two together has their heart strings plucked each and every time... You have to have a ton of respect for a man that is willing to reach down and help a small creature that needs a hand, ya know?

These are the 'real men' in my opinion... And my husband has stood aside of me, behind me and in front of me in the past 18 years of our marriage - committed to what my passion is and how much I and we as a family give to stop the needless killing of these homeless, unwanted dogs that end up in shelters... 

Yep, it is not for everyone - that is for sure... Volunteering with a rescue is really for extra special folks that care and love what we do... We don't get paid for giving up our time, energy and heart, but boy, oh boy!  Are we ever repaid for all of it multi-fold when we see a saved rescue dog find their furever home and go wagging out the front door of the rescue center!  You can't BUY that kind of reward no matter how wealthy you are... 

Thank you to all of the volunteers who have helped in the cause of No-Kill in Ventura County and an extra special thank-you from my heart to the TLC volunteers... We are indeed the 'rescue with heart' as we are referred to frequently... Awesome guardian angels on this side of Heaven!

Linda

P.S.  In case you feel you have heart to give and are interested in volunteering, please do so at our website - http://www.tinylovingcanines.org  or via the volunteer application at https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1834666740

It's a Wonderful Life...

On Saturday evening, after we closed the rescue center for the night, many of the TLC volunteers came in for our "M&M"... We have a monthly (quick) meeting and then most stay and watch a movie together... 

We hold them in the Educational Corner at the rescue center... A soft, comfy corner that is filled with cushy leather couches and chairs... "Santa Don" donated a large TV and DVD player for this area and this is where we also hold our workshops, groups meet on a weekly basis, etc... It is a nice, "homey" kind of area that came to be, due to kind donations of furniture and a lot of dreams... A LOT of dreams...

This year has been especially trying for TLC... Promised for years that we would always have a spot at the mall, we hung in there through all of the reconstruction - times when we were missing parts of the roof and rain came in, ruining equipment... Other times when the steel was being worked on and sparks came down, burning our dogs and setting fleece on fire... But we believed in the promises, emails and statements that were made to us - after all, a man (or corporation) is only as good as their word(s), right?...

All along, we asked for a bigger spot when told that one day we would have to move... We wanted a place that workshops could be held so we could teach people how to keep their pets instead of surrendering them... And as we stayed in a constant state of "you are going to have to move as the redevelopment plans move towards your area", we slowed down the number of dog lives we were saving in anticipation of that upcoming move... 'Next month'... 'Next spring'... 'Early summer'... etc.

Each and every time our volunteers were asked to support or join into something at the mall, we were there...  In force... Eventually our small piece of real estate became valuable with large restaurants opening up nearby...  Our use as a community nonprofit at city council meetings was of no value after we helped push through the digital signage on the 118... And we were advised to look elsewhere, outside of the mall, to save dog lives... 

Finding a new location was not easy, and this time the location was not free... We had been doing extraordinary things with the donations we got each month, saving this dog who needed a $1400 surgery... Putting in 6 months of expensive vet care to save that litter infected with ringworm... We came to the realization we either shut down TLC all together or found a location that required rent to continue on with our mission of saving lives... 

I put it to the TLC volunteers for a vote... After all, we are a team and it was going to take a LOT of hard work to happen... Many commercial property owners turned us down, not wanting a dog rescue on their property... Others were priced so expensive, we knew no matter how hard we worked, we would not be able to adopt enough dogs and puppies to make the rent each month... We looked at 51 empty business locations around the city before narrowing it down to three and finally deciding on the spot we are today... Yes, the rent is almost $5,000 a month plus utilities and we scrape by each month... But we also have 4 times the space we had previously and both our dogs and volunteers are better for it... 

And then the REAL work began - laying floor tile, painting, moving the vast amount of equipment we have along with the dogs and puppies... It was a nightmare I will never be able to go through again in my lifetime... 

As I looked around the Educational Corner on Saturday night, my mind replayed the past six months of agony, sweat and perseverance that we would not fail the dogs of Ventura County... As I watched TLC volunteers opening 'Secret Santa' gifts, I thought about all the gifts I have been given throughout the years... 

I know if I had a flat tire at 10PM on a dark, lonely road, there is at least 10 of the TLC volunteers I could call and probably 9 of them would come out on a moment's notice to help me... If not all of them at one time!... I have listened to personal struggles, triumphs, complaints, comments, compliments and just about everything else in between!... I have laughed with and loved all of these folks, who come together with no hidden agenda beyond the desire and commitment to be a part of the No-Kill movement in our county... 

It certainly isn't to be paid or to 'dabble' in something... They all work hard and bust butt, doing what we do... We count our 'payment and reward' as the smiling faces and joy that shows when adopters post their happy photos of their new BFF on our Facebook page or email them in to us... Alumni come by and tell us how great their adopted dog or puppy is, how much they love them and thank us for doing what many others cannot, day in and day out, 364 days a year... 

We laugh a lot among ourselves... The goofy antics of Kathryn, our oldest volunteer at 71... Or other funny things that happen... 

And we cry with each other when one of our furbabies grows old and passes over the Rainbow Bridge, having been loved deeply by one of the volunteers... The circle of Life, ya know?

Loving and laughing... What a great combination, huh?... Hard work aside, this is the most incredible group of people you will find... Numbering over 60 now, it does not matter what age, financial background or education or even sex... 

I always say I have the best volunteers in the county, and I saw it with all sincerity and love... (even if they buy me puppy slippers and laugh at me during the modeling of them!  )... 

We joke among ourselves that TLC has reserved a complete complex up in Heaven... No more poop (clouds are always white, right??)... Dogs will all be healthy and no more vet visits... I requested a dance floor personally... A few of us have asked for a nice spacious kitchen that we can cook in, plus a HUGE dining room table to fit us all in once the meals are made.... 

The husbands of the TLC volunteers have already reserved HUGE wide-screen TVs, and us ladies joke that we will need tables and tables for the massive amount of remote controls required to run all of those gadgets!... Lots of green grass for the dogs and puppies to run in, and a storehouse of warm, comfy beds for one and all to sleep in... No more bills, no more struggles... Just loving each other and our fur-babies without pain or suffering... Just puppy slippers for one and all!

Who would have thought over 6 years ago, a dream of mine spawned by an off-handed comment of my husband's would have evolved into a full fledged rescue center, running 7 days with over 300 volunteer hours a week required would ever come to be?  

Think about it... Just 2,386 days ago, this was all a thought and a dream... And today the TLC volunteers have saved 2,431 canine lives... That is more than one life each day for each day of our existence... And the year is not over yet...

It is TRULY a wonderful life, just like the movie we picked to watch... Not born out of profit or greed, but just because it is the right thing to do... To reach a point where no healthy, adoptable puppy or dog has to die... Just how great is that???!!!  TLC and its volunteers ROCK... what a GREAT group of folks I am proud to be a part of!!!

With much love,
Linda

P.S.  I have to show off my gift from the volunteers... It was given to me on Saturday night as they told me I am the 'heart of TLC'... It is my birthstone and I have been thinking about this for the past six months... I have not worn my birthstone in years and I've been thinking maybe I should again before I curl up and die somewhere.   It was kind of a shock that I was given this - I had been looking at the entwined hearts jewelry the past few months as well... When I opened it (knowing I had not told anyone about these two separate thought processes), and seeing both together in one gorgeous necklace, I was a bit spooked... And so like a baby, I had to well up in tears as I opened it.  I will wear this proudly because I know it was given to me with lots and lots of love!

May's TLC Volunteer of the Month!

Melissa and Shelby, who Melissa nursed
back to health after being VERY ill

It is with great pleasure I congratulate Melissa Gilmore - TLC's Volunteer of the Month for May, 2014!

I originally met Melissa at the Simi Valley Spay & Neuter Clinic and we got into a conversation... She expressed the desire to get involved in our rescue and shortly thereafter, Melissa joined us a regular volunteer.  

Gravitating towards working in the back, Melissa has rapidly learned our procedures and protocols.  She had to quickly learn how to administer meds, to know when a dog or puppy should be seen by our vet and just basic tough cleaning procedures to prevent cross contamination and sick puppies.

But beyond that and why she is nominated this month?  Melissa consistently goes above and beyond to make sure dogs and puppies are not dying on her watch.

Bottle feeding Liv

Recently we got in a litter of orphaned Kelpie puppies three to four days old.  Bottle-feeding newborns round the clock is an exhausting task to undertake, but three at one time?   I've done it - it is like climbing Mount Everest and back... sleep never ever seems so sweet as when you have been deprived of it for days on end - trust me!

None of these puppies should have survived, but all three did.  Liv, Bosco and Camryn owe their very lives to the care Melissa gave to them.  It won't be long now before this litter will be spayed/neutered and go up for adoption.

And had it not been for yet another dedicated TLC volunteer like Melissa, the world would have missed their gentle spirits and loving natures.

Congratulations, Melissa - you have been a valuable asset to TLC and we deeply appreciate all your hard work and passion!

April's Volunteer of the Month at TLC

This is probably one of the hardest things I have to do each month for we have SO many GREAT volunteers at TLC... There are some we seldom see at the rescue shop but work LONG hours from their homes, doing TLC magic... And then we have others (we call them the 'young guns') who work just as many LONG hours at the rescue shop... TLC volunteers lead with their heart and step up with their commitment and dedication to saving dogs...  It is a tough decision to make each month - trust me!

And so... (drum roll here)...
Congratulations to Arissa - 
April's Volunteer of the Month!

I met Arissa shortly after we took over the rescue shop in January of 2012... She was a VERY quiet and VERY shy dog walker... I think she barely said ten words to me the first month I knew her... Big Joe took Arissa under his wing and loved her like one of his own... 

Arissa is like a sponge, soaking up everything around her in the environment... She has tremendous work ethic for one so young and the energy of nitro in a race car... I remember turning around one day, totally exhausted and Arissa is still 'a blowin and a goin'... I couldn't believe I had run out of steam and she was still as fresh as a daisy (until I remembered that I am almost three times her age!)... 

But it is not just hard work that makes Arissa so special - it is her attention to detail and follow through - critical in what we do in the rescue and the rescue shop... 

More than once, Arissa has 'taken her work home with her' and is currently fostering an old timer with her family... She has also taken on bottle babies, nursing them through scary times and into great health... Arissa is currently our Training Coordinator and gets new volunteers up to speed on what we do... And recently she took on a new project we call 'Microchip Mondays' where we do low cost microchipping in the hopes more dogs get chipped and quickly found if ever lost...

Arissa has learned so much in her almost two and half years with us at TLC and she approaches every new challenge with gusto... I have often said that this is the next generation of No-Kill in our county and if I know Arissa, she will continue to be out there on the front line, making a positive change in the number of pets being saved for years to come.

CONGRATULATIONS, ARISSA!  And thank you for being such an important part of TLC!

Linda, Director

Volunteer of the Month - Kathryn!

It takes us 300 volunteers per week to do what we do and be open to the general public for 56 hours a week... Volunteers are like gold and diamonds to us... There is a direct link between the number of dog lives we can save and the number of dedicated volunteers who believe in the cause of No-Kill for Ventura County... 

But beyond the 300 hours of energy, sweat and hard work by those volunteers who come in and run the rescue shop, take care of the puppies and dogs, do laundry, clean up poop and run 16+ loads of laundry, it probably takes that many hours each week to get done all of the other things for TLC... Everyone comes to the table with their talents... So although someone might not be wearing one of our red smocks and you see them at the rescue shop, they might be working just as hard behind the scenes, saving dogs' lives...

Such is the case with Kathryn (Rutherford)... Kathryn started volunteering with TLC early in 2012 and at 69 years old, I only can hope and pray I have half as much energy as she does when I reach that age!

I have never seen this lady have a 'bad' day... If you meet her early in the morning, she always has a sweet "Gooooood Mornnnnning!" for you... I have never asked Kathryn to do something for TLC that she hasn't jumped in with both feet and both hands to grab the task, envelope it and make it her own... Initially Kathryn started at TLC as a dog walker and then as part of the Bathing Brigade... One day she came to me and said she wanted to do something 'more important' for TLC and I suggested that she take over our fundraising events...

And in 2013, there were some months that her events actually paid the huge electric bill we get ($1,000+) each month from dear Edison Electric...

Not only fundraising, Kathryn is one of our die-hard foster moms... More than once she has taken on a next-to-impossible save... Each and every one of them has blossomed under her care and dedication... Kathryn now has many 'feathers' in her 'guardian angel' cape!... For sure, Barkley and PandaBear owe their very lives to our dear, sweet Kathryn... Arabella was on death row with no hair down the length of her back and now, she's full clothed again, plump, happy and adopted!

This is the magic of TLC... Great folks on Team TLC who believe in the cause and do all that they can do with their talents to go that extra hundred miles to make a difference in the lives of the homeless dogs that end up in shelters through no fault of their own!

Congratulations, Kathryn!  And thank you so VERY much for all that you do!

TLC Volunteers are the best!

We can't do this without you!

We are in great need of volunteers - it takes over 300 volunteer hours to keep the rescue shop open 7 days a week for a total of 56 hours.  We specifically need shopkeepers and dog bathers.

Interested?  Fill out the volunteer application online HERE. 

SHOPKEEPERS

Shopkeeper duties include:

• Feeding and caring for the rescue dogs
• Cleaning up after them
• Rotating them out several times a day so they can exercise, eat and play with each other
• Doing laundry - washing, drying and folding (we do a LOT of laundry each day!)
• Observing them and/or entry level veterinary care (we will train you in this area)
• Greeting the general public and/or showing them dogs they are interested in meeting and potentially adopting.

We ask our volunteers to be polite and respectful with those folks who come into the rescue shop, but because we are a storefront location in a highly traveled mall, we have our fair share of ignorant and/or rude people - if dealing with the general public is not something you feel comfortable doing, please let us know during orientation.  This is a physical and demanding job - you have to be highly committed to No-Kill.  TLC is a tightly knit small group of VERY dedicated volunteers.

While our volunteers have flexible hours and days, all volunteers are scheduled one week in advance.  We ask all volunteers to come in on time on the day and times they have signed up for.  Because of our set up, space and needs, we can't do 'I'll drop in when I have a few hours to spare' kind of volunteering.  The days and times can change and are flexible, but they need to be scheduled to provide for adequate coverage.

You will be trained and have an orientation prior to volunteering.  Wear old clothes and shoes - we have smocks to wear to protect yourself.

DOG BATHERS (aka "The Bathing Brigade")

The Bathing Brigadiers as they are known at TLC come in usually the same day each week after 1PM and bathe dogs for as long that day as your schedule allows.  We do not expect you to know how to bathe a dog - we will teach you.  We have professional groomers that come in specifically to groom.  All dogs are bathed at least once every 10 days.

The Brigadiers do extra cuddles with the rescue dogs and it is a great way to get your 'doggie fix' every week!

Bathtime for Barkley

Barkley & the Bathing Brigade

After seeing the vet on Monday, we changed the scheduling for bathing Barkley with the medicated shampoos... We normally bathe demo dogs every two days for the first two weeks so we can get ahead of the condition, but the vet felt once every three days would be sufficient... 

Kathryn normally comes in just once a week on Thursdays as part of TLC's "Bathing Brigade" but she agreed to be in charge of Barkley's bathing if we rescued him... So on Tuesday she arrived early to do his bath - it takes a LOT of time to do with Barkley because he's so big and so much extra stuff needs to be done... 

Barkley is really a good sport about all of this though... He's now at 85 pounds so it takes two of us (female) volunteers to lift him into our wet grooming station at the rescue shop... Someone grabs the front half of him and the other half is lifted by someone else... Most big dogs do NOT like being lifted up and off their feet, so this is not only a challenge because it is not something they are accustomed to (or enjoy like little dogs), plus you have all of that weight to lift (and safely)...

Kathryn and Barkley... sharing secrets!

Barkley has almost come to enjoy this aspect of his new life though... He gets lots and lots of massages as we wait the 10 minutes for the medicated shampoo to do its work... And sweet talk... Cuddles... Treats as he waits... 

Thankfully, we buy this medicated shampoo by the gallon, even as expensive as it is... And we had it in stock to take on the 'Barkley Bath' every three days... 

At TLC we have two grooming stations - one wet and one dry... We have several groomers as volunteers and the stations are set up according to their standards and needs... 

We have a custom made insert for the wet grooming station that normally stays in place - it is better on your back because we bathe a lot of small dogs so you are not having to lean into it and then and down when bathing... In Barkley's case, we have to remove the insert, disinfect the entire tub first and then lift him into it... So it really does become a major process to bathe just one dog like Barkley... 

All done! Until 3 days from now!

The bathing brigadiers as they are called, are organized and trained by one of our senior volunteers, Teri... She keeps the grooming supplies replenished (out of her own pocket) and the volunteers scheduled... They generally come in (one a day) after the shop is opened and cleaned... They work through our dogs and puppies, one by one, so that each TLC dog is bathed at least once every 10 days... It is a complicated system, so we are grateful that Kathryn stepped up and took Barkley on as her special bathing project!

The bathing brigade is another module of the TLC's rehabilitation process... Most dogs don't care to get wet or being bathed... And we INTENTIONALLY ask the brigadiers to not push through dogs like a production line... We ask them to take time and cuddle, reassure the dogs this is a good thing... And at the end - nice, warm and dry - we have special treats the dogs just love... So with a few baths, they all come to look forward to their baths... By the time they are ready for adoption, their new owners don't struggle with this part of the adoption process...

Just another one of the unseen aspects of TLC and what we do!  If you have time to devote once a week, we'd love to have you become part of TLC's bathing brigade.  If you don't know how to professional bath a dog, we have professionals that will teach you... All the tools and supplies are provided... You just need old clothes, dedication and a desire to help us all march towards the victory of No-Kill in our communities!

 

Volunteer Shopkeepers Needed...

TLC runs the only full-time rescue shop in Ventura County... We are able to do this because we have an amazing group of dedicated volunteers, committed to the cause of saving these dogs and puppies off the kill lists from 8 local shelters... 

We need volunteer shopkeepers - folks willing to come in on a scheduled basis each week and ready to pick up poo, clean up behind the dogs, bathe the dogs, feed, care and just about everything else connected to the rescue effort.

It is a LOT of work with at least three shopkeepers on duty during every hour we are open to the general public... 

The laundry is always coming throughout the day (we run at least 15 loads per day), the dishes pile up and are washed, dogs are in various stages of socialization needing specific kinds of care, etc.

Are you committed to No-Kill in Ventura County and are willing to be a volunteer shopkeeper?  Email our Volunteer Coordinator (B.J.) and get started right away - your efforts with TLC save dog lives... What could be a better way to spend a few hours a week?