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The Wiener Snitcher
Southern States Dachshund Rescue, Inc. Winter 2008
Welcome to the Winter edition of
SSDR’s quarterly newsletter.
We would like to take the
opportunity to thank all of the
people who have made this year
a successful adoption year. 2007
brought 180 adoptions for needy
dachshunds and dachshund
mixes. Without you we could not
have gotten as far as we have.
THANK YOU!
We would also like to thank
Danielle, the former editor of The
Wiener Snitcher. Danielle did an
excellent job working on the
newsletter and we are left with big shoes to fill.
Please take a moment to read
our newsletter highlighting some
of our recent successes and,
unfortunately, some of our
current difficulties.
Please help make our Spring
issue even better. If you have
suggestions, please email Traci,
the editor, at
TraciBourgeois@yahoo.com |
Rainey or “Rain Man”
needs a home. Can he
come home with you?
SSDR
Pres. Diane Irwin
Vice Pres. Johnny Ghee
Sec./Treas. Jamie and
Brandi Shea
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SSDR is a non-profit organization
incorporated in the state of
Tennessee. We are pleased to
announce that we have expanded
membership and foster homes to
include homes in the Northeast,
primarily in New York. As we
continue to move into the
Northern States we may
eventually change our name to All
States Dachshund Rescue.
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Katie’s Wish
By Katie Bourgeois- Martin as told to Traci Bourgeois
Many people ask my mom why she volunteers her time and gives money to
the rescue. They ask her why she doesn’t just stay home with us all the time
because, after all, she helped to save two dachshunds when she adopted me.
My mom always tells them that it’s because of me and the impact I have had
on her life. She is very upset that SSDR can’t take in dogs like me and my
sister Lucy right now because of the medical bills that SSDR has incurred. She
tells her friends that she feels she must help get the bills paid. I don’t really
understand all of that, but I think it means that if other dogs like me were to
need help, then SSDR would have to refuse us and we might be euthanized or
worse, just die of our injuries, illnesses, or starvation before we ever know
what it’s like to be loved. I don’t like my mom being upset so I thought if I told
my story more people would understand the important work of SSDR. It is
very hard to talk about my past life but here goes…
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Cocktail |
Frankie |
In September of 2005, although I wasn’t aware of it at the time, a plea went
out to the dachshund world to help my sister Frankie and me. We were from a
puppy miller near Birmingham, Alabama. Our little bodies were just bred and
bred and we weren’t really cared for at all. We weren’t given good food or
water, and we were kept outside. My little legs were stiff from being in a cage
my whole life. After years of breeding and taking care of babies and making
those “people” money we eventually couldn’t breed anymore so guess what?
That’s right, we weren’t fed and we were just cast off like yesterday’s trash.
The only problem is that we weren’t trash. We were beautiful girls.
When we were finally rescued, we were nearly starved to death and I could
barely stand. My stomach ached and hurt from not having food in it and I had
lost all of the fat on my body. My rear end was barely an inch across from hip
bone to hip bone. My sister Frankie looked slightly better than me but not by
much. We just huddled together, because it was all we knew how to do. SSDR
heard our cries and took us straight to the vet for food and medical attention.
We were there for quite a while (and I think the SSDR had to pay lots of
money for our bills but I don’t understand that either). For the first time in
my life I had a warm bed, good food and water, and I wasn’t expected to have
babies for anyone.
A kind lady named Diane came to talk to the vet. He said we were healthy
enough to go home. We still only weighed about three pounds, but I felt like a
new dog already. I heard the vet tell Diane that my thyroid (don’t ask me what
that is because I don’t know) shut down, probably due to starvation, and I
would need to take pills. I didn’t mind because the pills came in yummy food.
Diane took us home and I couldn’t believe it- we had a warm bed to share and
yummy dog food with something called mashed potatoes in it. I didn’t know
life could be so good. I looked around and thought to myself, “Some dogs live
like this their whole LIVES! No WAY!” We knew that we were in a safe place!
After several months we finally weighed 6 pounds and we were put up for
adoption. That sounded scary to me but Diane said that I needed my forever
home so she could help other dogs like me. She told me not to worry though as
it would work out great for me. I didn’t like that idea because Diane seemed
nice to us, but I thought that other dogs needed the chance like I had been
given so I needed to put on my big girl panties and do my part and try to like
my new home.
A nice lady saw my picture on the website and applied to adopt me. It was a
long drive down to Louisiana from Tennessee, but I heard that down there the
weather was warm and the gumbo was hot! I had no idea at the time but it was
my lucky day- AGAIN! This lady bought a beautiful red fur trimmed coat for
me and she bought me my first of the three beds that I would get. I met my
brother and sister and they were really nice to me. I think they knew that I had
a tough life, because they let me have anything that I wanted, even if it was
theirs. I had many blankets and yummy food in this house too. I even snuck a
lick of gumbo and it sure was good!
After one week my Dad came home from working offshore. He told me hello
and because it was 2 am I barked at him, letting him know that he wasn’t
going to take me away from this home. He thought I was cute and gave me a
treat. He won’t admit this, but I know I have him wrapped around my paw. He
will do anything for me. I even persuaded him to stop working offshore
because I knew that being gone for two weeks at a time would make him miss
me too much. hehehe Now he is here every day and I love it!
Although I was shy at first and easily scared, today I am a new girl. I love
making my mom and dad smile. They say they needed me as much as I needed
them. I am up to 10 pounds and I help everyone we meet understand how
important rescue work is to dogs like me. Best of all they let me sleep in
between them in the big bed and my dad shares his pillow with me. He even
makes my breakfast in the morning while my mom drinks her coffee with me.
You can say that we can be ladies of leisure when we want to be.
My Mom and Dad have changed my name to Katie. They feed me good food
TWICE every DAY! I twirl all around while waiting for dinner and have
earned the nickname Cyclone Katie. I try to repay them for taking me in by
playing the turtle game with them. I crawl under my brother, J’s dog bed and
walk around the house with it on top of me. I peek out every now and then and
wag until they clap for me. When they clap I duck back under and turtle some
more. They are quite trained to clap on cue you know. They seem to like this
game and it is the least that I can do for them.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better — they did. My mom took
me to SSDR’s picnic in May to let me run up and down the hills and be with
more of my kind. I got to see Diane and let her see how plump I am now. I also
got to see my sister Frankie, now named Lucy, and see that she was ok and
being adored by her mom. She said she had good food, clothes, and love too
and even got to spend Christmas in New Orleans. WOW!
Well that is my story and you can see our before photos at the top of this
story. Because of SSDR we now look like this.
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Thank you SSDR
for
helping us! |
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Because our medical bills were much higher than our adoption fees could
be, we need people to help with fundraising and donations so that my
brothers and sisters in the shelters and mills can also get help and a second
chance at life. It is sad that dogs like Lucy and me would be turned away today
because SSDR just cannot afford us, but with your help that can change.
Please read through this newsletter for ways in which you can help SSDR pay
down something my mom calls medical debt and
continue this important work. Some of these ways as you
will see won’t cost you any money at all. If you have ideas
for fundraising please email my mom at
TraciBourgeois@yahoo.com and she will make sure that
the information gets to the right people.
SPECIAL DACHSHUND NEEDS A HOME 
Lily sure has a sad story to tell. She was originally adopted by a family who promised to
love her forever, sadly, that did not happen. Several months ago, after numerous medical conditions,
Lily was given away, free to a good home. It was soon discovered that Lily had very serious
seizures and once nearly died. During her last seizure, she was admitted to the animal
hospital. Poor Lily experienced slight brain damage and sometimes will bump into things and not
quite know which way to go.
Lily had such a bad seizure because she was not getting the medication that she needs.
Phenobarbital is a fairly inexpensive medication that helps control seizures, she currently gets one
tablet twice a day and it costs about $15-$20 a month.
Lily is currently looking for a very special family that is going to accept her and love her
unconditionally for many years to come.
If you are interested in adopting Lilly, please contact foster mom Susan at
rotownersrus@yahoo.com
Can One Person Really Make A Difference?
That is a question that many of us in rescue are often asked as the need for rescue
seems to increase, and even outpace, the available resources. Yet, there are a great many
movements in history that got their start by one or two concerned people taking a stand.
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh, who became concerned and took action
when he observed a carriage horse being savagely beaten. Mr. Bergh also became involved
years later when a Methodist social aid worker pleaded for help in saving a horribly abused
child. In those days no laws existed and children were nothing more than property. Mr.
Bergh used his connections to have the child brought before a judge and subsequently
removed from the home. Because of the work of two people, America’s first child
protection laws were passed.
Once considered a proper “sport” for the wealthy in America and Europe, dog
fighting is now a felony in 48 states and a misdemeanor in the last two. In addition,
Louisiana and New Mexico just recently became the last two states to outlaw cockfighting.
The law in Louisiana took over 18 years to pass, but it did happen. It began as a small
grass-roots effort by a few individuals in Louisiana, of which the editor was a small part of
in high school.
So what is the answer to the question? Can one person really make a difference? It
seems that it is usually one or two people who do. To quote Ed Norton as Sheldon Mopes in
Death to Smoochie, “You can’t change the world. But you can make a dent!”
Read on for some no-cost and low-cost ways to help SSDR.
Paws for the Cause:
No-Cost Ways in Which You Can Help SSDR
GoodSearch.Com
Haven’t you ever wasted several hours of your day on the computer at work or at home searching for facts,
figures, items and other bits of information? Wouldn’t it make you feel better if you could earn money for your
cause while you searched? Now you can! Using GoodSearch! is a great way to do just that.
This Yahoo! powered search engine is fast, simple, and easy to use. Go to http://www.goodsearch.com and
type in your charity ONCE and click verify. There are no forms to fill out and no personal info to give out.
After that, each search that you complete in the box will earn an average of 1.3 cents for SSDR. You can see
the money you earn in real time. If you shop using GoodSearch!, you can earn even more money for SSDR!
Several charities such as the ASPCA have earned $10,000 dollars this year for their charity through
GoodSearch! Let’s try to match this amount in 2008!
IGIVE.Com
Do you shop online? Did you know that you can support SSDR through your online purchases
simply by joining iGive.com (it’s Free) and shopping through their online links. There are
hundreds of stores including, OfficeMax, Dell, Barnes and Noble, Land’s End, eBay, Petco,
PetSmart and HUNDREDS more? It’s easy and costs you nothing. A percentage of each
purchase will be donated to SSDR and we will receive checks MONTHLY for the total
amount of all SSDR supporters of iGive.com. Click on www.iGive.com/ssdr and start
shopping TODAY!
We will receive an added bonus of $5 for each new registrant who shops within 45 days of
signing up.
There is also a quick tool bar that you can download so that you do not have to start your
shopping at IGIVE.Com. The tool bar will automatically cause a window to pop up and tell
you how much your purchase can earn for SSDR!
PetsMart Table
Members of SSDR can ask their local Petsmart if they can set up a table at the adoption
days. Prepare a pamphlet about SSDR and have your business cards ready. Hand out cards
and keep a fishbowl handy for donations. You might even ask the manager if the cashiers
can round up sales for SSDR.
Volunteer Your Time
Offer to work the next booth at an SSDR event. Even if you just have an hour or two the
help will be greatly appreciated.
Tell Your Friends and Neighbors
Word of mouth advertising is often the best way to increase knowledge about your favorite
cause. Carry your business cards with SSDR’s phone number on them, or if you are an
adopter, make a small sheet of information about SSDR to hand out to people when they
ask you where you got your newest family member. When they suggest getting a pet from a
pet store, please educate them on rescue and on the horrors of the pet store/puppy mill
trade. Ask your family members to please sign up to shop for SSDR through Igive.com.
Ask college and high school students to please use GoodSearch when writing term papers.
Signature Line in Email
Consider putting our web address and motto in your signature line of your email. If you are
a member, you can state that also. If you are an adopter, consider putting in your signature
that you adopted your family member from SSDR
Party for SSDR
Do you find that your office is constantly having parties for co-workers? Are you tired of
getting a “World’s Greatest Co-Worker” mug every year? Do you have a 40th or 50th
birthday coming soon? What about a child who has so many blessings in life that you do
not know where they would put a new crop of gifts? In many parts of the country kids with
many gifts in life are having birthday parties in which they ask for donations of canned
food, money, or socks to worthy cause. One birthday party for a one-year-old recently in
New Orleans netted over 200 pounds of food for the local food bank. Why not start a
tradition in your office or home and ask for donations for SSDR in lieu of gifts or a huge
cake? Your waistline may thank you and the doggies definitely will.
Forward raffles and ebay auctions to friends and family
If you are short on cash but long on good intentions, try sending the current ebay auctions
and raffles out via email to family and friends.
Sign up for our Action Line
When you contact Carmen at helpsaveanimals@charter.net and ask her to add your email
address to our Action Line you will be kept up to date on the most recent news concerning
SSDR. Please sign up today.
SSDR Newsletter Winter 2008 www.ssdr.org
2007 Holiday Fundraiser Totals
Wreath Sales $700
Christmas Basket $794
Dachshund Christmas Wreath Raffle $376
Most of the raffled and auctioned items were donated by friends
and members of SSDR. Consider making a donation for a future
raffle or eBay auction. With your help the vet bills can get paid
down and SSDR can continue its work.
Other Ways in Which You Can Help SSDR…
Be a Buddy:
Sponsor a Dachshund in Need
Have you seen a beautiful or needy looking dachshund on the SSDR
website, but do not have the space to take that doggie home? Do you want to
foster, but because of time issues or space issues, cannot? Why not sign up to
be a sponsor to help a needy dachshund? There are many foster homes that
would love to take an additional dog but because of the costs of the dog’s food
or the cost of medical treatment, the foster and SSDR must say no.
A $5 pledge each month can pay for the cost of a needed heartworm
tablet. A $10 pledge can pay for a rabies shot. A $20 pledge can help pay for
the cost of vetting, food, or piddle pads.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor please email Susan at
rotownersrus@yahoo.com and indicate your pledge amount, the special
dachshund you would like to sponsor (if applicable), and whether you would
like your money to support the medical fund or the miscellaneous upkeep of
the precious wiener.
Be a Pal …
SSDR has taken in several dachshunds recently that have required
expensive medical treatment. We do not receive funding from any source
other than the contributions from donors and benefactors like you. Please
take a moment to read about these deserving doxies and find it in your heart
to send a donation (of ANY amount) today. Please mail donations to:
SSDR
805 Brownestone Ct.
Nolensville, TN 37135
Attn: Jamie Shea
Some dachshunds in need:
Tyler was brought into a kill shelter in Houma, LA, by a
concerned citizen who had found him as a stray and had tried to
feed him but all Tyler would eat was dirt.
Tyler was a very lucky baby when one of the workers took it
upon himself to contact us to try and help him before he was put
down, since he was down in the back and there was no vet on
staff at the shelter.
We finally got him to Dr. VanHooser in Montgomery, AL where
he could have back surgery. When he did the surgery he said
that it was the most tissue he has ever had to take out of a back.
They were going to try and do a dental during the back surgery
(because his teeth are very dirty) but, because he was under
anesthesia for so long (2 hours) with the back surgery it was too
dangerous to try and do that also at the time.
Tyler has a long road ahead of him, but he is a happy boy and
can even wag his tail now.
A lady caught a glimpse of Casey in a fence and
was concerned with what she saw. She watched the
house to see if she could see the dog again and
looked for signs of people. She was also asking
around about the people who lived in the house.
She learned the owners had left town, did not
return, and could not be reached.
Casey had been left in an enclosed area, but
somehow had broken free. She had also made it
out of the fence. The lesions on her back were
injuries from trying to get out.
This Good Samaritan got Casey to come to her
and took her straight to her vet. That vet
happened to be the vet who takes care of SSDR
dogs in Birmingham, AL, so we were called and of
course, agreed to accept Casey.
No one knows how long she was left alone, but
from her condition, it was some time. She was so
dehydrated and so ill that she had to have IV
"feedings" before she was able to be fed. She was
heartworm positive and had not been spayed.
Please find it in your heart to donate whatever you
can to help Casey with her mounting vet bills.
Southern States Dachshund Rescue Out and About….
Nashville Christmas Parade December 2007
Fun was had by all! Hope to see you there next year.
From the President:
Doxies with AVID chips please Call: (800) 336-2843 to have the chip registered in
your name and with your information. They are now in SSDR's name and should be
changed over to yours. Please consider keeping our information as an emergency
only contact.
Doxies with 24PetWatch please take the time to fill out the form that came with your
vet paperwork and register your pet ASAP! Please consider keeping our information
as an emergency contact only. By registering your new pet in your name, you stand a
much better chance of recovering the dog if he/she is lost or stolen.
From where I sit
by Diane Irwin
If I had to say what was different about 2007 from the other years that we have been SSDR, I'd have to say it was our internal changes, a new website, and some great new members. We took on more board members that are very involved in making this the best organization it can possibly be. New members are active and ready to push ahead and see us prosper and grow. We saw a few fosters go to the rainbow bridge along with some of our personal dogs. We had some very sad stories come to us: Nana- at a shelter and near death; Merlin- burned by his family, then dumped at a shelter; Scarlett- just one to two days away from death, but brought back by the wonderful hands of Dr. Story from Companion Animal Hospital Hospital in Lewisburg, TN.
All of these dogs and more were saved and are either in forever homes or still in foster homes, but they are here because you and I took it upon ourselves to see what we could do to help these helpless creatures that God has put in our care.
Yes it would be easier to put blinders on and not see the many, many dogs in shelters or
roaming the streets but we didn't. We took off the blinders and asked "what can I do?" Together we did something. We may not have made a difference, but we did to Merlin, Nana, Scarlett, and many, many more dogs that we brought into our system. We got them vetted, fed them, gave them love, then let them go on to the next chapter of their life; to live how they should always have lived-pampered and loved.
So the next time that you think you can't do anything about something, just remember there are other people out there and together we can make a difference in some of these lives that are intrusted to us.
I ask that instead of wanting to adopt, that you consider fostering for the needy ones that we bring in. The rewards far out-weigh the inconvenience of having another dog. To see a dog that is scared, mistrusting, and not socialized come out of their shell with love and patience is probably the most rewarding thing that you, as a human being, can do. So please consider FOSTERING.
Until we meet again, "rescuing one ‘till there are none".
RAFFLE TO HELP SSDR
Would you like a chance to chase those winter blues away and help SSDR at
the same time? Well you can!
SSDR is raffling off a wonderful winter basket. Perfect for Mommy and Puppy
snuggling on those cold winter nights. This adorable basket includes a beautiful
blue flannel blanket and Isotoner slippers for Mommy, and a coordinating blue
cuddle blanket by Lois for Puppy. While snuggling in for the evening, Mommy
can enjoy her choice of hot cocoa or assorted teas in a beautiful oversized paw
print coffee mug. What Wiener Wonderland Basket would be complete without
treats? This basket also includes treats for both Mommy and Puppy. Mommy
has her choice of Biscotti or she can prepare fresh chocolate chip bars from a
lovely jar mix, while puppy enjoys Old Mother Hubbard's delectable bacon and
cheese treats.
Hurry to get your tickets as the raffle ends soon. Tickets are one for $1, six
tickets for $5 or 40 tickets for $20. Tickets may be purchased via Paypal.
Check the SSDR website for more information.
Join Us
SSDR’s 4th Annual
Dachshund Derby Picnic
May 3, 2008
Henry Horton State Park
4358 Nashville Hwy.
Chapel Hill , TN 37034
Mark your calendars and be sure to check our website for additional
information.
SSDR is in need of donated items for the picnic basket raffles and silent
auctions. Anything doxie or doxie related is appreciated as well as items for
the men’s gift baskets. Contact Diane at nashcat50us@yahoo.com for more
information.
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