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!

Pitbull - UT OH - HUH?

Pitties get SUCH a bad rap and then end up dying in our shelters - not because of the breed, but because of bad humans and bad ideas... 

One of my TLC volunteer fosters is currently fostering a Pitty named "Ruby Lee", a street dog that was left to survive on her own after becoming pregnant... Ruby Lee went on to deliver 7 healthy puppies at Kathy's house on January 19th (a first for Kathy who was nervous about 'birthin puppies')... 

Kathy consistently fosters moms with puppies for us... And Kathy has a German Pinscher named "Molly" who was one of her fosters (a foster fail - we've all had them)... Initially Ruby Lee would hide underneath the coffee table whenever Molly was around - and Ruby Lee is TWICE the size of Molly as you can see from the video... 

This just goes to show you that with the right humans, even Pitties can be just like any other dog - what the video here:  https://www.facebook.com/100008431834043/videos/1575621256062254/

The video starts out slow, but Molly is actually teaching Ruby Lee how to play like a dog... And those jumps are not easy to do when you are carrying 8 milk jugs for your puppies on your tummy!

I am posting this video to show folks that Pittys are just like every other dog - you provide the proper situation for them and they will bloom... Until we stop spreading only the bad, isolated incidents about this particular mix of dogs, we will keep killing them in our shelters for lack of space... 

Here are the photos that prompted us to take in Ruby Lee as she lived on the streets and continued to grow pregnant... 

We REALLY need to start spaying and neutering our dogs UNLESS we are showing them as purebreds... There is absolutely NO other reason to keep a dog intact unless you want them to get various forms of cancer early and shorten their life... Intact dogs are hormonal-driven to mate and they will find a way to do so no matter what you do... Unwanted pregnancies are the #1 reason these females end up in the shelters... And also the #1 reason intact males go stray and are picked up by animal control... We proved it that intact dogs bark more and spayed/neutered dogs bark less... What more does anyone need to believe the facts and start changing the mindsets of all of us?

Ruby Lee is a goodwill ambassador of this breed mix and continues to prove that just because of what you look like or labeled, that is not a reason to be killed or die... 

I ask everyone to share this blog and that video of her with Molly in the hopes that one by one, we CAN change the minds of people who belive these dogs need to die... And at taxpayers' expense... Even if you don't have a dog, if you are a taxpayer, your tax monies are going to take care of the irresponsible dog owners that live in our communities... EVERYONE should be doing due diligence to educate those around us as to the plight of these unwanted, homeless animals which flood our shelters and rescues... 

I myself have a Pitty named "Momma" who comes to the rescue center every day and at night, sleeps with a 3-pounder named "Fiesty"... Momma has changed many minds and hearts about this breed (and saved a puppy who needed a blood transfusion)... People who care need to join together and stop not only the needless use of taxpayer funds to house and care for unwanted pets of others, but to spread the word that we ALL are responsible for what is going on in our communities as well as the incorrect reputation of the bully mixes... 

Spread the word, people!  Change some opinions and mindsets of those you know and love!

Linda
Director, TLC

P.S.  RubyLee's puppies at 2 weeks old are below:

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!

Update on the Vikings litter...

Arrival at TLC - probably a day old

On the 19th of this month, VCAS contacted us about a litter of puppies that had been surrendered to them from the general public... By California law, unless an animal can be spayed or neutered, they cannot be adopted by a shelter or a rescue organization... 

And this litter had no mom and was but a day or two old... 

In other words, a bottle-fed litter... 

Not having a foster mom or dad to take on this challenge, they became my fosters and 'so it began' as the story books say... 

So how do you do something like this, you might ask?... With a lot of help and patience (and little sleep)... Luckily, my family members believe deeply in No-Kill for Ventura County and what TLC does... So I get a lot of support from my husband and daughter - not everyone in rescue is as lucky as I am... 

My husband came up with a great solution to my first obstacle to overcome - making sure each puppy got fed... With four white ones, it would be really easy to miss one, thinking they'd already been fed, ya know?

TWO crates, both with heating pads, so that as you fed a pup, you could move them to the other crate... And when you run out of puppies, you are done for the next three hours! (smile)

I have told numerous friends that when folks tell me they don't believe in God, I want them to bottle-feed a litter of puppies... There is absolutely no way you can tell me God does not exist if you do something like this... As you watch them nurse and actually live through the most dire circumstances of their very young and tender lives, you have to believe in the magic and Greatness of God above... 

And the other amazing point?  Momma dogs are incredibly efficient and effective... How they do what they do and successfully raise a litter of puppies is beyond me (and then some)... 

Because they have no momma, it is up to me to keep them clean... Momma dogs constantly groom their puppies and clean up after them, making sure their 'den' is nice and tidy... In my case, it means they end up getting baths every two days... 

First you have to fed everyone a little bit or it becomes like a shark feeding frenzy... They all go nutso when it is time to nurse... So if you at least take the 'edge off', they go through the bathing process much easier!

Once bathed, as you're drying them off, they all have a different way they like to nurse... There is the 'side saddle' pup... If you give him a finger to push up against, he's just as happy as a piglet in mud... 

Another one is a pushy/puller... She pushes the bottle with her feet and pulls the nipple with her mouth at the same time... I'm guessing she's getting more milk that way, but I can always tell it is her 'cause the bottle jerks back and forth as you struggle to hold onto it!

This little girl likes to lay on her back when she is eating... In fact, both of the two dark females like to nurse on their backs, so you constantly have to watch to make sure they aren't nursing too fast and it is coming up their noses by accident... 

One of these puppies 'sings' throughout the nursing process... She makes puppy sounds nonstop for some reason... 

It is an ongoing process... Adjust the water temperature, give them a bath, dry off most of the water and then start them nursing so you can really dry them off with the microfiber drying towels... Once you have one done, you start the process all over again with the next puppy!

They are now 12 days old, so most of them have started opening their eyes... 

They have now figured out that when there is light coming in from the front of the crate, it must be feeding time... So they will gang-rush the gate door, all demanding to be fed at the same time (and I only have two hands!).

Halfway there and an hour later, three are clean and have very full bellies!  Time to snooze and nap... Ah, to have the life of a puppy, huh?

One of the puppies is a 'bottle holder'... He is not going to let that bottle disappear or go away from him... So he tends to hold on tightly (or as tightly as you will let him!)... 

And those little claws?... You'd be amazed at how strong they are for as young and tiny as this litter is!

"This is MY bottle and I'll give it up only when I want to - not before!"

The runt of the litter is really teeny tiny... This is the one I stay worried about... I usually feed her at the beginning and then again at the end again... Her belly cannot hold that much milk at one nursing, but by the time you go through the entire process, she is ready for a small 'second helping'.... 

She weighs 3.4 ounces right now and is about half the size of her bigger siblings... But even for her small size, she is a determined little creature... She's fighting for her portion of the feeding time... 

Makes you marvel at the amount of natural instincts each puppy is born with... And the amount of maternal instincts each momma dog has... They do this with no books or the Internet to reference to... Just know what needs to be done and how to do it, even if it is their first litter...

Ah, this is the life, huh?... Full belly and clean coat... Warm, clean bedding and blankee to crawl into... 

Two and a half hours later, all six are fed and cleaned, ready to take their naps and relax for another 90 minutes before the process starts all over - but just nursing so that's only about 30 minutes with six puppies... 

Thankfully, this week they are nursing every 4 hours instead of 3, so we are getting more sleep now... Even so, there is two of us TLC volunteers bottle feeding this litter... And a momma dog does it all by herself... 

Aren't mommas just the most amazing creatures, regardless of the species?

Paws-itively Yours,
Linda
==================
P.S. Their names are:
Brown females - Siggy and Helga
White females - Lagetha and Princxess Aslang
White males - Bjorn and Ragnar

Stay tuned as they grow and eventually come up for adoption about mid May!

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 - Congratulations, Shallan!

It gives me great pleasure to announce TLC's March "Volunteer of the Month"... ::drum roll:: ..... Shallan Carnahan!

I have had the honor to know Shallan for over two years now and working side by side with her, I feel humbled by the depth of compassion and dedication she possesses... In fact, Shallan is the inspiration for TLC's Mission Statement:  "We will do whatever it takes within our resources to save the life of a dog unless it is illegal or immoral".

Shallan literally saved TLC when we took over the rescue shop location in January of 2012... Had it not been in her heart to stay with us, teach us and grow with us, TLC would not be where it is today... Big Joe, Joseph and I didn't even know how to turn on the air conditioner and Shallan proved to be an invaluable resource with answers to every question we asked... Previously Pets Hope, all of the other employees decided to quit - Shallan was the only one who stayed and believed in the dream of having a full blown rescue shop that existed solely to save dogs' lives off of the kill lists in local shelters... 

Shallan is a young lady after my own heart... She's a born animal advocate who also believes that no healthy adoptable animal should die... 

In addition, the depth of her animal husbandry skills is limitless... If I don't have firsthand experience with something, she does... 

And work ethic?... I have yet to ask Shallan to help on something that she hasn't immediately said 'Yes' and can be counted to be there through the tough times as well as the day-to-day routines when needed... Seldom do you find a young lady of this age with so much 'old age wisdom and mindset' - every day working side by side with her is refreshing and rejuvenating to one's rescuing soul... 

So, dear Shallan, thank you VERY much for being a part of Team TLC - we and all of the lives we have saved with you are grateful and appreciative you are a part of our lives!

Congratulations!
Linda
 

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?

Bathing Brigade time & Momma...

Kathryn is one of the members of TLC's Bathing Brigade... Volunteers who give up one day of their week each week, come into the rescue shop, and bathe dogs... This insures that all of our dogs get a bath at least once a week... 

We have a grooming station set up at the rescue shop... It has a large grooming sink that normally has a step-up inside and then a shelf on top of that which covers the entire width and depth of the sink... Makes it much easier on your back to bathe dogs (or wash dishes)....

I digress here for a few lines... Everyone at the rescue shop has fallen deeply in love with Momma, and she's loving life with us...  Everyone who comes into volunteer at the rescue shop has to give the password with the 'gatekeeper' (Momma)... Password?... "Give me some love, attention and affection - THEN I will let you pass forward"... (smile)... 

Momma is such a happy, happy girl so it is just natural that all of us want to do things for her, spoil her, play with her throughout the day, hug up on her, walk her through her tricks or just plain walk her!... 


So (back on topic), when we need to bathe big dogs, we pull out the step-up and usually one of the guys will lift the dog into the sink... Such is the case with Momma, who Kathryn has been wanting to bathe for a few weeks...And yesterday with the day!

Thankfully Ruben was at the shop and able to lift Momma's 65 pounds into the bathing sink for Kathryn to do her magic and spa treatment!

I don't think Momma was as happy about the bath as Kathryn was!

But the nicest thing about getting a bath at TLC's rescue shop?  The sweet kisses and cuddles that come along with the baths!  I mean, how can you resist these sweet puddles of love???

Not for women only....

The majority of the folks in rescue are usually of the female gender for some reason... I have never quite figured out why because I have found some pretty compassionate men in my time... But for some odd reason, about 75% of those who do rescue are ladies... 

This week I was reflecting on just how very lucky TLC as a rescue has been... The synergy in the rescue shop is unique and dynamic... The volunteers who come in for countless hours and give of themselves are one of our strongest resources... I am truly humble when I think of the richly compassionate folks I am surrounded by each and every day... 

Some of our most dedicated volunteers are male... That alone makes TLC somewhat different than many rescues... And when we have quiet time at the rescue shop, it is not uncommon to find these guys spending the time to socialize and rehabilitate the dogs... 

Five days a week, Big Joe and his son, Joseph come into the rescue shop and each give an 8-hour day... Joseph has 'the touch' as we call it - the ability to really understand dog language and work with issues a dog might have... A quiet kind of young man by nature, Joseph and his dad are heavy foster dads as well... Many lives have been saved by these two fellas... They are especially good at changing 'men-fearful' dogs into men-loving dogs!

Part of our emergency contingent plan at the rescue shop is the ability to move all of our rescue dogs out immediately in the event of a fire, earthquake, etc... In creation of this plan, we also constructed two unusual components we affectionately call 'the cribs'... On wheels and fitting through the rescue shop's front door, they allow us to rapidly move rescue dogs if need be... Throughout the day, some dogs hang out here, and the cribs are also the center part of our 'speedway'... 

A few weeks ago, I found Joseph and another volunteer (Shawn) inside the cribs, loving up on and socializing with some of the dogs... This is a very important part of what we do - regaining the trust of the dogs we save and showing them that there are humans who care, don't hurt them and are always willing to sneak in a few cuddles, hugs and pats...  The picture was too cute to let pass by, and I seized the opportunity... 

Everyone that volunteers at the TLC rescue shop is committed to saving the lives of these dogs that were destined to die for one reason or another... It doesn't matter if there is poop that needs to be picked up, a bath needing to be done or whatever... Whatever it takes... And everyone is unwilling to put in the time and effort to socialize and rehabilitate these dogs...  For us it is "all about the dogs"...

Even the President of TLC can be found doing this... 

When Sugar and Ray came to TLC, Ray had a strong fear of men whereas Sugar was overly friendly to one and all... Mr. President was found one Saturday afternoon making 'eye-eyes' with the two of these little ones... Using food as a way into Ray's heart, Paul worked quite some time with the pair, using Sugar initially to show Ray that he too could trust a man again...

It took time, patience and a willingness to have Ray go from "You are not trustworthy" to.... "OK, maybe I might trust you a bit".... 

And then onto "OK, I trust you enough to give you a kiss".... 

And that's all these little ones really want - a second chance or as another volunteer always says, a 'do-over' in their own furever home... They might come to us sick, fearful, unfriendly or unadoptable... But we want to give them a second chance at life... Whatever it takes... Whatever the gender... Whatever amount of time and patience is required... 

That's what makes TLCers so gosh darn special and spectacular - the volunteers and foster moms/dads that give so very much of themselves simply to save a dog's life...  How many of us can say we have made a profound impact on a dog's life?... And what a great feeling it is inside!  We are so lucky to be able to do this!