September Newsletter for The German Shepherd Rescue Trust

Animates Fundraising BBQ
This Saturday – I shouldn’t need to explain these to anyone now. Previous reports in earlier newsletters have shown how successful these are for the Trust so please come along and support us. The weather is improving all the time so very soon “it’s too cold or too wet” won’t work as excuses anymore! In fact we have been extremely fortunate with the weather not having been rained out once.

Dog Patrol T.V. Episode
On the 22nd August, Dog Patrol featured coverage of a very successful adoption. During the course of the day at last year’s Christmas Party, a film crew followed the process involved in adopting a dog from us. This coverage started from the time beautiful Zara met her prospective family, through to completion of the adoption. This TV programme gave the Trust great exposure and we’ve had some very good feedback. The series is focused on DSS Animal Management and the excellent services and resources they provide. DSS were at the Christmas Party last year (providing grateful, continued support and sponsorship to GSD Rescue Trust) and we were very fortunate in being able to be included in a ‘day in the life' of DSS Animal Management Services who do an often thankless job, under difficult circumstances but always with the heart and welfare of both animals and humans being their top priority.

Pet Expo
Wow what a weekend! This was an extraordinarily successful weekend for us this year. We raised a very healthy amount of money and we received a very generous donation by special delivery from a couple who love the GSD breed and have three of their own! Thank you so very much for your generosity. We simply have to acknowledge the amazing effort made for baking the 30 dozen (yes that’s right 360) chocolate chip cookies, by Anne, proud owner of Sophie #822. We dubbed our cookies Sophie’s Choice due to the fact that last year many of the first batch of baking ended up being sampled by Sophie. We sold 16 dozen on Saturday and 14 dozen Sunday which definitely boosted the funds. Sunday sales were boosted again this year by the undeniable sales skills of Tania, who we firmly believe could sell iceblocks to Eskimos – what would we do without you!

We also have to mention the support we got from members of our own GSD Trust family. We had a number of proud GSD owners attend with their own rescue dogs. It was great to see so many rescue families prepared to put in some time and support our cause. The dogs were all so very well behaved – there was not one singled incident with any of them. However, yet again the GSD stand proved to be the highlight and this created yet another bottle neck in the throngs of people who attended!

Adoption numbers
For the first time in a very long time this last month has not been over run with unloved and unwanted dogs needing homes. We’re now up to 933 in numbers with only 3 dogs currently on our website Diesel has a home to go to).

Temporary absence
Denise will be out of action for a short time during September during which time I and my fellow trustee Suzanne will field any calls or Emails that might have gone to Denise. Denise will fill you in on the whys and wherefores of her absence!

Not a holiday unfortunately but I might need one afterwards. Many of you will remember my painful incident this time last year when I got out of my car with the most excruciating pain in my leg. This turned out to be a trapped femoral nerve and unfortunately despite attempting conservative treatment with transforaminal injections, it has not really made much difference and it really is affecting my mobility.

After numerous MRI’s and xrays the problem lies with my spine so on the 8th September I will be having surgery at Brightside Hospital in Epsom to have some metal hardware put in to stabilise my spine by means of a spinal fusion and decompression. This means around 5 days in hospital, no doubt with a bit of discomfort following for a bit and needing some heavy duty pain meds. So I will refrain from participating in major decision making during this time because I doubt if I would remember much of it anyway.

Colleen and Suzanne will hold down the fort for any Trust matters and you will be directed to them for any telephone enquiries that come to my home number. Liz, our adoption co-ordinator will take care of adoption applications and has the back up support of Carolyn if things get busy. Hopefully with the World Cup starting the day after my surgery people will be too busy watching the ‘footy’ to think about rehoming their dog.

Wish me luck, I have to be on my feet and fit as a fiddle by the 13th November as that is the annual German Shepherd Rescue Christmas Party.

2012 Calendar
We are under way with the collection of photographs and have sponsorship for several of the months. A reminder to the 2011 adoptive families, your new addition is eligible for inclusion in the calendar but I must have them to me by this Tuesday coming at the latest so I can get the disk off to the printer before I depart the scene for a bit.

Miss Jess
Miss Jess has to be one of our most successful and heart warming rescues and she and Mum Ange deserve recognition on so many levels. Not only did wee Jess survive an awful ordeal, and became a new mum at a very young age, she was also incarcerated because of her fearful ways and her phantom tail pains (her past life was so awful she required her tail to be amputated) she has overcome all of that and has blossomed into a happy laid back girl who wants for nothing! So much so that Miss Jess now needs recognition for yet another accomplishment - her new role in life as a therapy dog! You can see some photos of Angie and Jess under her 'therapy dog' thread. Congratulations to you Jess and Ange – you have done wonders with the young girl and have proved to all who helped her that they were indeed right - Jess deserved a chance at having a happy, loving life.

Obesity in your pets
I personally have to add here that I am astounded at the number of obese pets I have seen – thankfully none of them rescue GSDs. Obesity is the number 1 problem in dogs. It causes all sorts of health issues.

As with humans, the incidence of obesity in dogs has skyrocketed over the last decade. "Junk" foods, overfeeding and lack of exercise are the main causes. There is a Body Condition Score Assessment which you can use to check that your dog is at its ideal weight. There is also a Feed Calculator where you can easily see how much you should be feeding. You can check it out here: www.petfooddirect.co.nz/feed-calculator/

The article also made another interesting comment: if you want a vet to check your dog's weight - make sure the vet himself is thin and fit! The old saying goes if your dog is overweight you’re not getting enough exercise – just think about it. Your own life let along your pet’s can be shortened by an average of 5-7 years if they are obese.

Oh – and one other thing to think about as the weather improves so toom should the comfort and well being of your dog! Keep plenty of clean, fresh water about, make sure they have shelter and shade from the sun and check their skin condition for any itchy patches – and fleas!

So only 3 months to Christmas – now that’s a scary though.

Take care until next time.

Oh wow,
So touched to be mentioned in this newsletter but of coure all the recognition should be with Miss Jess. She has proven that regardless of what you've been through, you can still rise up and do extremely well.
Brought tears to my eyes and reaching for the tissues to see the mention.
So thanks to everyone who has been a part of Miss Jess' new life since being with me. We all believed in her and she has certainly blossomed.
So thank you again

Angie

Great news letter. All the very best for you big op next week Denise and we all will be thinking of you.

Well said about Obesity in your pets. It is really sad to see so many pets like this and the pain that they go through with the strain that is put on their joints.

Well done Ang and Miss Jess. Miss Jess you will fill the hearts of my people with your work.

Sasha and Kailee's Mum.

Sasha GSD rescue #613 and Kailee GSD rescue #865.

Best of luck with your op Denise! Will be thinking of you.