Georgia Doberman Rescue T-shirt fundraiser

The Georgia Doberman Rescue is selling T-shirts on Booster.com (which didn't show me the picture, but I saw a picture on Facebook [which I've screen shotted below] an they do seem like nice shirts) to help raise funds to help Dobermans in need. They currently have 15 dogs in rescue (with 6 currently listed on the site), and unfortunately, there are always more who need help. The goal is to sell 50 shirts, and they've sold 20 so far, with 6 days to go. With every shirt they sell, money goes to GDR, so more shirts means more money for Dobermans in need!

GDR is a 501(c)3 Not for Profit Doberman Rescue which relies on volunteers and donations to run. According to the stats on their website, they rescued 30 Dobermans last year, and adopted out 19 dogs. If you don't read this post in time to do the Booster fundraiser, they also have a Zazzle store with T-shirts and hoodies.

Red Bliss, with Hand Me Down Dobes, inc.

Red Bliss is a seven year old cropped and docked girl.

(picture from Hand me Down Dobermans)

She's got good household manners, good leash manners, and loves cuddling (I'm sure some Dobermans don't like cuddling, but they seem to be the exception, not the norm! She has good leash manners, and enjoys playing with her foster brothers.

A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, Hand Me Down Dobes is an Ohio based Doberman rescue which relies on a network of foster homes to care for the dogs. This keeps the dogs out of long exposure to kennel situations, which can be better for them psychologically and also makes sure the rescue has a better handle on the dog's actual behavior and personality.

If you are interested in adopting Red Bliss or any of their available Dobermans, here is the page which lays out their adoption process.If you are not in the market for a Doberman but still want to help a Doberman rescue in Ohio, they have some information here about how to support Hand Me Down Dobes, inc. and how to donate.

With Distinguished Doberman Rescue: "Mission 6 - Your Help is Needed"

I found this story via a thread on Doberman Talk, and the DDR, inc. Facebook page:

(picture from Distinguished Doberman Rescue,inc. Facebook)

MISSION 6 - YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
"On Wednesday we received notice about a family that could no longer care for their dogs. After speaking with this family we learned they were seeking help from a rescue due to their current financial situation. At that time we only knew there were several Dobermans as well as some Mastiffs in their care.

Upon arrival on Friday, we were introduced to six sweet Dobermans. 5 females – Stormy, a 10 year old female, Abby, a 9 year old female, Princess, an 8 year old female, Lady, a 6 year old female, Trampoline, a 5 year old female and Red, our lone male who is 6.

Each dog was gone over with a fine tooth comb and notes were recorded regarding their medical needs. The first night we took home three of the Doberkids who we felt were most in need – Stormy, Abby and Red. Stormy will be seeing a vet tomorrow. We believe she may have a thyroid problem and this is the reason for her excessive weight. Abby and Red saw our vet on Saturday morning and received fluids, bloodwork and 4DX tests. Unfortunately Abby and Red both came back positive for Lyme disease which in turn means they will need to be on Doxy for 30 days.

Today, we were able to go back and bring home the remaining three. Lady will need to see a vet for a possible skin infection along with a potential thyroid issue. Princess and Trampoline do not seem to have any immediate health issues, but we will also have 4DX tests done on them as well.

Stormy, Lady, Princess and Trampoline all need spays and dentals. Red needs a dental and neuter - and, we suspect all of the other dogs could potentially turn up positive for Lyme as well.

We estimate the cost per dog is in the area of $500 or more with the Doxy needed to treat their Lyme Disease.

While these dogs need medical care and tlc, we feel as though this was a successful rescue mission because we were able to make a difference in the lives of six dogs also educate the former owners and in turn prevent this situation from happening again.

Our immediate need is financial for these our Mission 6 babies. Prior to taking them in, we had a total of 30 dogs in our care. There are several major medical cases that were already in our care prior to the Mission 6 dogs. Our rescue was already overwhelmed financially and in need of funds. Now we find ourselves in dire need. We are asking for donations in any amount. Please, no amount is too small. As you all know, we operate solely on donations and without your help we cannot help them.

We would like to sincerely thank all of our volunteers for stepping up immediately in this time of need. When the situation arose you were all willing to drop everything and help. Your commitment to the dogs is a true blessing to DDR.

Donations can be sent via paypal to donations AT ddrinc DOT net or paid via credit card by clicking the donate button on our website."

Obie for adoption Pennsylvania

Blue is no longer listed on the Distinguished Doberman Rescue website, which per usual, I will take it to mean she's found a home. Is optimism a bad thing? I hesitate to judge it so, in cases such as these.

So today we're going to talk about Obie, who is for adoption through Dreaming of Better Endings Rescue, inc.

(picture from Doberman Talk thread on Obie)

January 19 is Illinois Doberman Rescue's Adopt-a-Thon

This sounds like a great event! You get to meet a bunch of dogs at once, which would otherwise be difficult, since IDR has no central "shelter" facility but rather relies on fosters. To check out Illinois Doberman Rescue's adoption policies, you can go here. You can sign up to adopt at the event if you are not already an approved adopter, and if you'd like, you can sign up to volunteer with IDR+!

Athena and Boss, in Southwest Ohio Doberman Rescue

Southwest Ohio Doberman Rescue has many Dobermans looking for homes. They are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, and run on volunteers. They rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome Dobermans in need, and adopt all over the United States and Canada, if they can arrange to have a home visit done. If you adopt outside their immediate radius, you are responsible for arranging the ground transport of your new family member. They are always in need of fosters and volunteers, so if you're in southwest Ohio, and interested, they would appreciate it!

It's hard, when confronted with a list of adoptable dogs, to pick the ones to showcase. This week, though, I picked two dogs who are opposites: Athena, who is a young, all natural female Doberman and Boss, who is a mature cropped and docked male.

Athena is an exuberant little girl who needs some refreshment on her obedience training.

(picture from SWODR site)

She had a home, but she didn't get along with one of the older dogs in the household, so back she came. She needs a family that understands and can accommodate the exuberant, energetic nature that comes with young Dobermans.

(picture from SWODR site)

Exercise and patience! (an exercise in patience? Though that's all puppies!)


Boss was part of a two dog household, but when a divorce happened, only one dog could fit in the car so he was surrendered to a shelter (it's in his bio, I kid you not). They think he's around 5, and though he is cropped and docked, as you can see, his left ear is cropped and flopped. Makes him look kind of rakish!

(picture from SWODR site)

Southwest Ohio Doberman Rescue does not know whether the dog Boss lived with was male or female, but it was a lab. He's been kissyface with dogs he's met over a fence, and kind of mouthy when tested on cats. 

(picture from SWODR site)

Boss has been neutered, and they're still sussing out his personality. He looks like a happy guy in the pictures, though!

If you're interested in adopting Boss or Athena, or any of Southwest Ohio Doberman Rescue's dogs, they list their requirements on this page (including adoption fees) and their adoption application is here. They also have a very nice section with information on the Doberman breed, and an FAQ page that has both info about Doberman rescue and also ten myths about rescuing a Doberman.

Book Review: The Possibility Dogs, by Susannah Charlson

I read Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charlson more than two years ago, but it is the book that brought home for me what Search and Rescue really meant.

When I heard The Possibility Dogs was coming out, I didn't even need to know what it was about. I knew I would read it, and fully expected to enjoy it. I was correct on both counts.

The lead in is about a former fire fighter and his service dog, Haska. This encounter was also Charleson's introduction to the world of psychiatric service dogs, and perhaps service dogs to people with "invisible" disabilities.

Foster Homes Needed for Doberman Rescue Minnesota!

In March, I wrote about Doberman Rescue Minnesota and the fabulous work that they do for Dobermans in need.

I'm sure a lot of rescues are hurting. This year, Special Needs Dobermans stopped being able to help private owners, due to a shortage in funds. But yesterday, Meadowcat (remember Meadowcat? She has an Etsy store now, by the by. And has expanded into collars. Maisie at Reactive Champion did a review.)

But, because Doberman Rescue Minnesota is not a kennel, but rather relies upon foster homes to house their rescued dogs, they are in need of volunteers, especially foster homes. So, if you're in Minnesota and would like to foster or otherwise volunteer, you can fill out their online Volunteer Application.