And the winner is...

EVERYONE!

So, I never got a list of donaters back from A Place to Bark and I'm leaving for India in a couple of hours so I decided to split the $200 prize between Sophie's Dog Adoption and A Rotta Love Plus.

When I get back in a couple of months we can hopefully have a proper raffle.

Take care everyone!

Love

Steph

Scott's first post!

It has been quite awhile since we started this blog and I have been so busy and lazy that I haven't even made one post.  But since Gracie just got her foster bunny she pushed me to make a post about him.

Once I can edit videos there will be more to come.  I'm also accepting names for the Rabbit since Gracie can't really convey her ideas to me (well I'm just too stupid to understand what she's saying).  In the meantime Viper asked me to post some of his favourite pics for everyone to see.  So here they are in no specific order:

Viper was pretty tired after celebrating his first Christmas 

(he hates religion but likes the food and gifts)

Gracie fits into my vest better than I do

Gracie passed out with her favourite ball

Viper getting some love from my sister Christie

I think I was interrupting something

Can you spot Viper in this pile of dirty clothes?

A Place to Bark Challenge Update

So, A Place to Bark rocked the $50,000 challenge but unfortunately was 200 donations short of the unofficial top four by the

time the contest closed. So the prize money won't go to them. Tears.

But, I'm happy to report that everyone at APTB is still in good spirits and are so touched that people all over the world (even from Montreal!!) cared enough about the lives of the animals they rescue to donate to the cause. You guys rule! And overall they raised nearly $80,000 through individual donations like yours and a matching grant from the Zoline Foundation. That is going to be a tremendous help to the animals!

In other good news, 11th Hour Rescue in New Jersey was in the top 4! So at least one animal rescue group will get the moola. 11th Hour rescues tons of pitties, yay!

Huge thanks to everyone who donated and worked hard to win Bernie the grant money by spreading the word! It really meant a lot to me that you guys donated your time and resources to the cause. You're all so lovely!

As for the winner of our own little $200 grant, well, we don't know who it is yet! We still have to get the list of donaters from Bernie and I know things are off the wall for her right now. But, once we get the list, Mona (my Minnesota foster dog. Ugh, she is so cute, I can't stand it!!) and I will be holding a drawing and we'll let you know!

Thanks again guys. You're the BEST!

(Above: Ice, a new intake. Just the gentlest and sweetest young dog I've met!)

I'm So Sorry (A Minnesota Post)

I know that postings have been infrequent and the updates... well I'll be the first to admit they've been pathetic, BUT I have an excuse: I'm not even in Canada anymore!

Now I'm back in my home state, Minnesota. Most likely for the next year or so. And even though I grew up here, I'm feeling a little bit like a fish out of water.

For one thing everyone here is really, really nice. Like when I'm walking down the street people make eye contact, smile and exchange pleasantries with me! And they don't even ask me for money afterwards. Weird, huh? Or in the grocery store if they reach in front of me to grab a can of beans they always say they are "so sorry". Not even just a mumbled sorry, they are emphatically so sorry. And I think they mean it!

In fact, my fellow Minnesotans seem to be sorry for everything they do that might be the slightest inconvenience to others. If I ever have to take a step back so people can walk through I'm hit with a barrage of "I'm so sorry"s. Or if I get into one of those awkward little 'you move to the left, I move to the left' dances when passing someone in the hall the person is usually so sorry you'd think they had ripped my first born from my arms and devoured it in front of me.

I don't know. All this sorry business is freaking me out. I think I miss the asshole-yness of Montreal already!

But, when in Rome, do as the Romans.

So I offer you, my dear blog readers, a sincere and heartfelt apology for being so sporadic with postings and updates this month.

Hopefully I'll be able to update about Sophie's Dog Adoption's new intakes (look to the right to see all the new cuties!), successful adoptions and all the other stories that go along with rescue work much more often.

In the mean time I hope you'll know that I'm so, so sorry!

WIN $200 FOR SOPHIE'S DOG ADOPTION!!!

(Or any other animal rescue group of your choice!)

A Place to Bark is a Tennesse rescue that is this close to winning a $50,000 grant from Network For Good and Parade Magazine.

The grant is rewarded to the four charities that get the most people to donate through their Six Degree badges. The goal is to get the most people to donate, not to necessarily raise the most money.

So in the spirit of helping A Place to Bark reach their goal and helping local rescue efforts I'm offering a $200.00 raffle prize.

To win the $200 bucks for Sophie's Dog Adoption make a $10 tax-deductible donation to A Place to Bark through their Six Degrees badge above.

Simply enter "Longfellow Donation" in the "Donation or Gift" line. When the challenge is over on Thursday I'll draw from all those who entered the raffle and make a $200 donation to the animal charity of your choice in your name.

So please, help two amazing rescues out by throwing $10 dollars towards A Place to Bark and win $200 for Sophie's Dog Adoption!!!

Spread the word to your friends and family because you can only enter once, but they can enter the raffle and donate the winnings to SDA too!

The contest runs until 3:00PM EST Thursday January 31st!

Bakesale for Sophie's Dog Adoption!

While our friends over at A Place to Bark are competing for the big bucks, we here at Sophie's Dog Adoption are going back to our humble bakesale fundraising roots!

So come support local efforts to ease the suffering of homeless and unwanted dogs and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time!

Lots of yummy treats! Many decadent, delicious vegan options!

SATURDAY JANUARY 26th & SUNDAY JANUARY 27th

11AM-5PM

Naturalanimal & Pawtisserie

4932B Sheerbrooke Street West.

Westmount

We still need people to donate homebaked goods! Contact me if you can help!

Helping Our Friends! Make $10 become $50,000!

Today I was going to write about the burnout, frustration and depression that can come with dog rescue and that I've been feeling lately, when I logged onto A Place To Bark and became so inspired and hopeful I remembered just why it is that I love rescue work!

A Place to Bark...and Meow has been a huge inspiration to me. Bernie is a truly tireless and selfless servant to others and has found a way to rescue over 500 dogs a year by herself!

And now, we have the chance to win her rescue and all of the homeless dogs in her area $50,000!!!

Here's how it works:
A Place to Bark is a registered charity with a Six Degrees Badge, which people can make donations through. The four charity badges with the most unique donations (meaning the most individuals donating) through America's Giving Challenge will get $50,000 for their cause.


America's Giving Challenge runs only until January 31st.

A Place to Bark's Giving Badge

Donate:
Please donate by clicking on the link to the badge above to make a $10 tax deductible donation. Once you click on the badge, you'll have a bunch of options on how to pay including through PayPal. But, in order to get the grand moola you have to make the donation through the Six Degrees Charity Badge.

We need the most people possible to each donate $10 to A Place to Bark. In order to win the grant we need to have the most amount of donors, not necessarily the amount of money donated.

It gets better:
All donations made to A Place to Bark's Six Degrees Badge, will be matched by the "Zoline Foundation" up to $25,000.00!!! So your 10 bucks automatically becomes 20 dollars that goes straight towards rescuing dogs! All donations up to June 1st will be counted for the matching donation from the Zoline Foundation.

We're So Close:
I just checked the Top Ten Badges page and despite starting 3 weeks into the competition, A Place to Bark is now number 6! They only need to rise 2 spots to receive a $50,000 grant! Help make it a reality! Your $10 tax-deductible donation will immediately become a $20 matched donation. Plus if we get enough people, we could help earn all of the dogs at A Place To Bark $50,000.

Sometimes rescuing dogs from heinous, horrible, near death situations can wear you down. I've been lucky enough to have a fellow rescuer to turn to in those times. Her wisdom, her love and her kindness have always helped me see through my own hardships to the real struggle those who can't defend themselves have.

Now I have an opportunity to help Bernie help more homeless dogs! I hope you'll make a donation. And maybe next year, when Sophie's Dog Adoption is a registered charity, we'll have a shot at that $50,000!

Meet: Two Very Lucky SDA alums

I received this absolutely brilliant photo and caption from one of our very dedicated adoptive families. I know the feeling guys. Keep up the good work!

"Maya (chin in Ben’s hand) listens carefully to instructions that she will forget immediately, while Demon waits to eat the book."

2008: The Year of the Dog

Admittedly, 2008 is not the official year of the dog. But for all of us here at Sophie's Dog Adoption we've got big plans for Montreal dogs in the New Year.

We will be not only working to better serve the dogs and families that come through our rescue, but we'll be working hard to help ensure greater safety for all the dogs in Montreal.

What's on the docket:

Education, education, EDUCATION
As a tiny grassroots rescue with incredibly limited resources we can only help the tiniest fraction of the dogs in need. In 2008 we estimate that we will place 80-100 dogs with their forever homes. But so many more will die needlessly because of widespread overpopulation and an attitude of "disposablity" when it comes to companion animals.

Our hope is to start and implement an educational program in order to prevent the proliferation of pets, encourage people to work with their dogs instead of giving up on them and to make people aware of the commitments of dog ownership before they take on a dog.

We'll be tackling issues like spay and neuter, positive training and companion animal care.

Registered Charity Status
For 2008 we are keeping our fingers crossed that our application for Registered Charity Status will be approved!

With the ability to solicit tax refundable donations we hope to have more resources to draw from with the ultimate goal of creating broader outreach and education efforts.

Adoption Pamphlet
This is a little something I've been working on: an adoption pamphlet that each adoptive family will receive before or during their adoption. It's full of great information for first time and seasoned dog owners alike and covers everything from when to feed your dog to preventing and correcting problem behavior.

I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me with this project, especially Alex my positive dog training guru!

Hopefully we'll have the pamphlet available on the website for general use as well! Keep your eyes out, it should be done within the month!

Spay & Neuter Programs
This is a long term goal, but Montreal desperately needs an affordable spay and neuter program and Sophie's Dog Adoption wants to help provide it!

It will take a lot of logistical work and relationship building, but if we can help 10 people spay their dogs in 2008- that could mean 60 less dogs searching for homes in 2009!

Affordable and accessible sterilization is the only way to curb companion animal overpopulation and end the needless deaths and sufferings.

So Happy New Year everyone! Here is to the Year of the Dog and all the positive changes our best friends deserve!

Gracie's (Foster)Homecoming

While Scott and I went back to our respective family homes for a little holiday cheer, Gracie, our only remaining foster dog had to check in to puppy prison.

Poor girl spent almost a week at a boarding facility. But, don't those puppy eyes fool you. She was at a reputable kennel where she got lots of daily walks, play time and a good dose of lovin'.

Still, there's nothing like (foster)home... well, except that (forever)home she's looking for!

Welcome back Gracie! We missed you.

(Isn't this picture hilarious? After giving us lots of calming signals for a behavior she hadn't seen from Scott before, Gracie gave up, crawled under the blankets and promptly fell asleep cuddling Scott in a rather creative and calming way. See why we missed her so much?!)

Angie Wiggle-Butt Finds a Great Home!

When a foster dog is adopted I go through this insane flurry of emotions. Firstly, I'm dance-around-the-house-with-the-puppy-in-my-arms thrilled. All of my foster dogs have had heinous pasts of abuse and neglect. Knowing that they are officially retiring into the good life, that they'll have love, comfort and respect for the rest of their lives, that there will always be enough food, it makes me cry with relief. And dance a little too.

But, ensuring this future for them, also means gracefully bowing out. And when you've shared so much with them, including watching their transformation into delightful canine citizens, it can be so hard. And of course you worry about them, no matter how great of a home they're going to.

When they go, you miss them and their antics.

And, if you're me, you cry.

But, soon enough, another needy dog, with her own sordid past is looking to you for guidance, love and assurance; You're busy with a new set of training obstacles and you always have the wonderful updates from the adoptive families to look forward to.

Someone once told me that the best and worst part of fostering is letting your dog go to their adoptive family. Dropping Angie off with her amazing new family was so hard and so wonderful. But, knowing her wiggly-butt is safe for the rest of her life means I can start rescuing someone else.

The Adventures of Gingy-Poo

Our very own little Ginger has become an expert blogger!

In her profile this reigning canine queen tells us:

"I also spend lots of time on my dad’s laps when he is on his computer and
he spends a shit load of time in front of his computer, so I just look and
learn. Whenever he leaves me on his chair to protect his computers (since I’ll
attack anyone I don’t know, and even the ones I know but don’t like) I jump on
his desk and start blogging away when no one is looking."

Check out her hilarious take on life with her human Rick, stealing food, dealing with all her foster buddies and occassionally snacking on all the people she doesn't like here.

Santa and his Mutts help Sophie's Dog Adoption!

Despite the most insane snowstorm ever, Santa showed up last weekend to help Sophie's Dog Adoption raise some much needed funds! What a trooper!

HUGE thanks go out to everyone who braved the North Pole-esque storm to get their best friends in for some face time with the big jolly guy.

Over the two days we raised a kick-ass $230 bucks, every penny of which will help pay off our vet bills! Thanks again guys, we couldn't rescue a single dog without you!

Check out all the cuties below. I hope they get everything on their wish lists this year!

Gracie & Angie respond to PETA's dangerous anti-dog remarks

After sitting on the news that PETA's leader Ingrid Newkirk had publicly denounced all pit bulls as dangerous, unworthy of rescue resources and better off dead for a good week or so, Scott and I decided it was time to round up the girls and have a little talk.

At first they were all like PETA what? Ingrid who? We don't care...

Just give us that damn cookie we see in your hand!

Wait, she means me?

But then the bad news sunk in.

You see both Angie and Gracie are rescued pit bulls. And if Ingrid had her way, instead of playing at the park, charming everyone in the neighborhood and just being great dogs, both of our girls would be dead.

So, Scott sat down with the girls and explained that while it's hard being a pit bull (and a pit bull advocate) in today's hysterical society, it wasn't the girls' fault that PETA was letting their ignorant leader make dangerous and untruthful anti-dog remarks.

Still, knowing that the head honcho at the world's best known animal rights group wants you, an animal, dead for absolutely no real reason can make you feel pretty low.

So the girls rolled around with some ideas...

And even consulted honorary pit bull member, Viper.

Because three heads are better than two.

And they all decided to just laugh it off.

Because acting this good and looking this darn cute in their winter apparel will have Ingrid eating her words in no time!

Viper goes punk

It's amazing the human behaviors dogs will tolerate, isn't it?

The last week has been relatively quiet. While there are quite a few new pups with us at Sophie's Dog Adoption and quite a few of our veterans have gone to live with their new forever families, I've been a hermit and have only heard about the new developments second hand.

For the most part I've been spending my times with Viper and our foster girls, sleeping in, playing at the park, going for walks and learning new tricks.

And sometimes I give Viper makeovers. I just can't help myself.

Bah humbug!

Interested in helping local homeless animals during the season of giving and getting?

Here is a list the amazing people over at BAD RAP put together for helping sheltered Pit Bulls.

Ways to Help Sheltered Pit bulls:
1. Volunteer to help local spay/neuter efforts.
2. Supply hand-outs to help educate the public about pit bulls.
3. Volunteer to help update a shelter's website.
4. Donate a Karunda bed so dogs can sleep better.
5. Donate tuff toys like large kong balls.
6. Volunteer to walk dogs that are waiting for homes.

The adorable guy decked out in lights is BAD RAP's very own Gunther.

Take an amble over to BAD RAP's blog and read all about when the leader of PETA not only implied that all Pit Bulls are lethal, but also dissed Gunther's very cute sweater.

Pet Portraits with Santa to benefit Sophie's Dog Adoption!

Bring any and all of your pets in for a fun photo session with Santa!
Beautiful pictures ready for the holidays.
All proceeds to benefit the homeless dogs of Sophie’s Dog Adoption!


Saturday December 15th & Sunday December 16th
12:00PM-4:00PM
Naturalanimal & Pawtisserie
4932B Sherbrooke Street W., Westmount

Hope to see you and your best friend there!

Sunny the Survivor meets a speeding car

Can you imagine surviving two wars, the bombing of your home, cancer, chemotherapy, a move halfway around the world and then being hit by a car?! Poor Sunny, he must think he's a cat with 9 lives!

I was at home bloating Angie's already big head, telling her how she's most assuredly the cutest little munchkin in the whole world when the phone rang. Scott answered and it was just immediately one of those TV moments where everything sort of fades away and all you can hear is a racing pulse. It was like I knew something was seriously wrong, I just didn't know what.

It was Sunny's foster family calling as they rushed him to the emergency clinic on the south shore letting Scott know that Sunny had been hit by car, that he badly injured and could we please come meet them?

Sunny was checked into the emergency clinic where they checked for internal bleeding, punctured lungs, breaks and bruises. Sunny had a broken leg, a fractured chest and air pockets building in his lungs. They immediately stabilized him and put him on heavy-duty painkillers, but we'd have to wait until the surgeon came in on Monday before we'd know the full prognosis.

The severity of the break in Sunny's leg and chest was greater than we first anticipated. In fact, his leg wasn't so much broken as shattered into tiny pieces. Setting the break would be impossible without surgery. And even then his leg would still need an external stabilizer.

Oh, and the surgery would cost more than $5,000.

At Sophie's Dog Adoption our adoption fee is $275, which just barely covers the costs of a routine health screening, sterilization and vaccination. It does not leave us much financial room for medical emergencies of this caliber.

But, of course, there was no way we weren't going to help Sunny fully recover and find that forever family we promised him. The vet was so surprised and pleased that a rescue would choose to save the dog and take on the expense that he even donated 3 of his 5 hours of labor for free!

So after a very grueling surgery Sunny emerged: part dog, part machine (Just kidding Sunny, you look good in metallic!)

There is still extensive rehabilitation, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy for Sunny to go through. He can only take a brief 5 minute walk a day. No stairs. No chasing his beloved squirrel friends. Just lots of cuddle time on the couch, which I'm sure he's managing just fine :)

So the good news is, Sunny the Survivor is on his way to a full recovery. The bad news, we're desperately trying to pay off his $5,000 bill. So keep your eye out for some fun and hopefully fruitful Sophie's Dog Adoption fundraisers. Anyone care for a vegan cupcake?!

And if you'd like to make a contribution towards Sunny's medical expense or to help any of the dogs we currently have in the rescue please contact Sophie directly. Every donation of any size helps and is so appreciated! Or, if you'd like to help us with fundraising activities let me know!

Meet: Gracie an Ontarian Outlaw

In 2005 the Ontario legislature passed Bill 132 effectively banning Pit Bull breeds from the province.

Essentially, Bill132 was enacted in the hopes of permanently eliminating Pit Bull breeds from all of Ontario. And if it goes unchallenged, that could be a likely result. Pit Bulls are no longer allowed to be breed or imported. Any Pit Bulls that were not registered before Bill 132 was enacted are subject to seizure and destruction. Anything resembling a Pit Bull in shelters is immediately killed.

Bill 132 was heavily pushed by Attorney General Michael Bryant who capitalized on a high profile dog attack to create a frenzied hysteria around Pit Bulls. Calling all Pit Bulls "four-legged assault weapons" Bryant moved the focus of dog attacks from irresponsible and dangerous owners to a specific breed.

Bill 132 was passed out of ignorance and fear. And its results are deadly. Gracie was just barely rescued from an Animal Control facility where she was scheduled to be killed because she was an unregistered, and thus illegal, Pit Bull.

Bill 132 will be a failure because it is an attempt to protect the public from dangerous dogs that doesn't even take into consideration the temperament, history or disposition of an individual dog. Rather it judges a dog singularly on its physical features, on its physical Pit Bull-ness.

And Gracie looks very much like a Pit Bull because she is, in fact, a Pit Bull. But, she isn't what the Attorney General or the Ontario legislature would lead you to believe. She isn't vicious, unpredictable, or dangerous.

Rather, like every other Pit Bull I've fostered, she is incredibly loving and affectionate. She is all smiles and butt wiggles. She loves to rest her head on your lap and stare up at you. She's well mannered in the house, hasn't destroyed a thing, likes to chill in her crate and is so smart with her new obedience lessons!

She lives peacefully with Angelina and Viper. Though she is scared of Viper and Angie seems to think we brought Gracie home to be her new play toy! They love to run, romp and wrestle with each other at the park. And Angie has already taught Gracie her super stealth sneak-up-on-the-bed-while-they're-sleeping moves, so there is even less room on the bed when I wake up in the mornings.

Gracie has a very calm presence, but she has a sadness to her as well. She doesn't understand toys or playing. She's head shy and cowers when you raise your hand to pet her. She's scared of loud voices. But, we're glad she's here with us where we can shower her in toys, bones and treats, desensitize her to touch and provide a stable and secure home for her.

Gracie is looking for her loving forever home. Check out her Petfinder profile and contact Sophie if you're interested in showing Gracie the good life outside of Ontario!