Jackson BARKS

* Tippy Top - The Star Bar
* On Top, Jackson the Boxer, And A Bit About The Rescues. More Under "Profile."
***** "TABLE OF CONTENTS." *****
* Donating To Rescues And The Importance Of It
* Why We Do What We Do
* Shar-Pei Facts And Observations.
* Latest Published Rescue News
* CafePress Stuff - Boxer, Shar-Pei, & Generic Themes For All Dogs & Dog Lovers.
* What's Involved In Rescue: Activities And Interests
* Help Us Raise Funds For FREE!
* The Most Important Thing . . .
* Selected Videos Of The Rescue From Animal Planet And AHS' Popcorn Park Zoo.
* Books The Human Recommends
* Amazon Search - Books By T. Jefferson Parker
* MP3 Download Suggestions From Amazon - Or Find Your Own
* Recommendations From CafePress From Their Whole Site
* Reminder - "Don't Shop - Adopt" Your Next Pet
* Please Leave A COMMENT In The GUESTBOOK (no need to sign in)!

June 5, 2009

I know how difficult it is to make ends meet in this economy. Some people barely have enough money to buy food or clothing for themselves and their families. Others have their own animals to take care of. But, let's not forget the rescued animals and the people rescuing them.

You may think your little donation of $5.00 or even $2.00 is of no help or not appreciated by the rescue groups, however, that is so not true. If all of us animal lovers pick a rescue to send what we would spend on cigarettes or pop or Dunkin Donuts each month, we would make a huge difference in the care of the animals.

How to choose a rescue is important too. You want to make sure that the rescue is really there for the animals. I prefer rescues that are no kill and use in home fosters and low overhead costs such as employees. Others may prefer rescues that have central housing for the pets with all volunteers. Then there are larger ones like Best Friends that not only have a great staff, but they also take in all kinds of animals for life, even those so called unadoptable animals. Educating people is also an important aspect of rescue groups and should be considered in choosing the rescue group you support.

Do your homework and research any rescue before you make your donation. If they are local, visit the shelter or rescue.

If you can't afford to make a donation, you can always find local rescues that need your help in volunteering for fundraisers, taking care of the animals, transport or a host of other things you can do for them, even being a foster parent. Sometimes you can find items around your house like blankets or cleaning products that they are in need of.

Whatever your choice is, don't ever think that whatever you are doing is insignificant, because the only insignificance in helping rescues, are those that aren't helping.

(edited)

WHY WE WORK SO HARD TO RESCUE THE ABANDONED, ALONE, ABUSED, SURRENDERED, STRAY, SICK, UNLOVED, UNTREATED, AND UNFORTUNATE DOGS, WITH THE GOALS TO REHABILITATE, RECONDITION, RETRAIN, AND REGAIN THEIR TRUST IN HUMANS - TO MAKE THEM HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND HUNGRY FOR A REAL "DOG'S LIFE" IN NEW FOREVER HOMES IS INSPIRED, IN PART, BY THE FOLLOWING QUOTE BY SIR EDMUND BURKE (1729-1797):

SHAR-PEI (means "Sand Coat):

1. Have Black Tongues;
2. Are Easily Housebroken;
3. "Rarely" Bark;
4. Get Along With Children;
5. Have Been Known To Fall Asleep While Sitting Up, "Keeping Watch";
6. Appx. 50% Of Our Rescues Require Entropian Surgery, Or "Eye Lifts";
7. Come In 3 Coat Varieties:
a) Brush = longer and soft;
b) Horse = shorter and more coarse;
c) Bear = longer (like a bear) - not AKC approved.
8. Come In Many Colors, Including:
cream, blue (gray), fawn, lilac, 6-point red, chocolate, black - solid colors;
albino is not AKC approved;
9. Weigh Approximately 45 - 50 Pounds; However, The Rescue Is Now Seeing A
Number Of "Mini Pei," Weighing Approximately 25 Pounds - Not AKC Approved;
10. Outgrow Their "Wrinkly Wrinkles" By Approximately Ages 6 - 8 Months.
11. Can Be Aloof, So Socialization Must Begin Particularly Early;
12. Tails Curl Up On To Their Backs;
13. Tails Lean To The Left Or Right, But Preference Reasons Are Unknown;
14. Blow Their Coats Out Twice A Year, But Otherwise Shed Like Any Other Breed;
15. Have Generally Healthy Skin If Fed Quality Dog Food;
16. Have Tiny Ears (and tiny ear canals), Which Point Forward And Lie Flat;
17. Are The Only Breed Known That Can Independently Raise One Ear Up, While
The Other Lies Flat;
18. Get Along Well With Other Dogs (And Sometimes Cats), Contrary To Popular
Belief;
19. Do Well In Houses Or Apartments, And Are Adaptable To Their Environments;
20. Hate Water (Getting Wet, Such As A Bath).

And, Unfortunately, The Rescue Is Seeing More And More Cross-Breeding With Pit Bulls In Yet Another Attempt To Create "The Ultimate Fighting Machine."

Although PNP (Pilots 'N Paws) Program Is Active All Year Long Through Coordinated Efforts By Rescues And Volunteer Pilots, During A Special Week In September, PNP Attempted To Rescue 5000 Dogs ("PNP5000") Through Their Donations Of Private Planes, Time, And Expenses.

Our Newest Pilot Friend, Gary From Annapolis, MD, Made His First Flight Firday, Flying An Owner-Surrendered Shar-Pei Named Mason From Maryland To Medford, NJ. Mason Was Given Over To A Washington, DC Shelter, And Was Due To Be Killed On Saturday. Thanks To Our DC Volunteer Judy, Who Picked Mason Up And Accompanied Gary and Mason On Their Flight, And Jackson's Human, Who Drove His Last Leg, Mason Is Now Safely At Our Rescue On Long Beach Island, NJ.

The Published Article From The Annapolis, MD Newspaper, "The Capital," (http://hometownannapoIis.com) Is Below - Copy And Paste The Link For Slideshow:

"Pilots, rescuers help dogs in need
By LISA BEISEL, Staff Writer
Published 09/20/09

Judy Cifala and Gary Wieboldt met for the first time Friday, when they joined forces for a common mission: to find a dog a good, safe home.

Paul W. Gillespie - The Capital Though Mason looks a bit confused, the 1-year-old shar-pei is in good hands. His rescuers, Gary Wieboldt and Judy Cifala, took him from a shelter in Washington, D.C., where he was scheduled to be euthanized, to a new shelter in New Jersey, where he'll get medical care in hopes of finding a good home.

The two Annapolitans are working as part of an organization called Pilots N Paws, a group that takes dogs who may be euthanized in a shelter and moves them to foster care in other areas.

Cifala scooped the dog up from a shelter in Washington, D.C., and took him to Lee Airport in Edgewater to meet Wieboldt, who flew them all to New Jersey. There, Mason will find his new home.

The rescue was part of a blitz effort by Pilots N Paws, which hopes to rescue 5,000 animals in one week to raise awareness of neglected animals and the generosity of pilots throughout the country.

Both Cifala and Wieboldt said a love of dogs fostered the desire to become involved. For both, it was the first rescue they were a part of.

"I love animals, so the rest, as they say, is history," said Wieboldt, a hobbyist pilot since 1986.

He said he heard about the organization only last week and signed up without any question.

Pilots donate not only their time, but fuel and other associated costs, such as wear and tear on their planes. They are eligible for some tax credit, but mostly the rescues are done out of love.

"It's absolutely no problem," Wieboldt said. "If you love animals, it's just what you do."

Wieboldt's love of animals can be traced to a mutt named Charlene, who stole his heart years ago, he said. Charlene was a rescue dog adopted by his wife when the dog was just about 2 years old, and her lineage is unclear - not that it matters.

"She has me wrapped around her paw," he said.

Cifala has been involved with a shar-pei rescue group, which contacted her to do the transport. She said she rescued her own shar-pei from county Animal Control more than 15 years ago.

"I kind of fell in love with the idea of rescuing dogs," Cifala said.

Wieboldt, Cifala and Mason made the one-hour flight together Friday afternoon, delivering the dog to yet another volunteer who would transport him to a foster shelter.

Mason, a sweet and friendly dog, has already had a hard life.

"He was dropped off at the shelter because his family could no longer afford him," Cifala said.

He also has a problem with his eye that will likely require surgery.

Without the rescue, he was slated to be put down this weekend, she said.

Unfortunately, it's a problem that's becoming more common in a bad economy. People are giving up their dogs, or abandoning them, because of a sudden move, said Deborah Boies, co-founder of Pilots N Paws.

"We've seen many animals brought to shelters, many times tearfully, because (the families) have no options," she said.

Sometimes people are moving to a place where they can't have a dog, she said, and the increase in drop-offs is leading to overcrowding at shelters.

While stories of loss and abandonment can get depressing, Boies focuses on the positive: the fact that so many people are reaching out to help save these animals. Almost 1,000 pilots volunteer their time with the program.

Rescue workers and pilots connect on the organization's Web site and set up their own times to meet, so it's hard to tell exactly how many animals have been saved, but it's at least a couple thousand, Boies said.

It was amazing how well things came together with Mason's rescue, Wieboldt said. Without meeting any of the organizers in person, the plan went off without a hitch.

Mason, who ran around Lee Airport curiously sniffing his new friends, seemed a little confused at the prospect of the airplane, but with a little help from Cifala, hopped into the back of the four-seater plane.

He was dropped off at Flying W Airport in Lumberton, N.J., where another volunteer took him to a foster shelter.

For more information, visit http://pilotsnpaws.org "

All Right To Published Article Property Of "The Capital."

We Rescue, Transport, Get All Necessary Vet Care - Surgeries, Minor/Major Repairs, Evacuation Of Heart Worms,- Treat Pre-Existing Skin Condition, Set Broken Bones, Amputations, Spay And Neutering, Deworming, Etc.), Provide Heart Worm And Frontline Types Of Medications, Provide Rx Meds (Where Indicated). More Transport, Training, Assessment Of Compatability With Humans (Large and Small), With Other Dogs, Cats, Other Animals, Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork, Multiple E-Mails And Phone Calls, Find Foster Homes, Home Visits To Potential Foster, Set Up Multiple Legs For Transports Involving Hundreds And Hundreds Of Miles, From The Carolinas To Up-State New York And Pa (Sometimes More North And Sometimes More West), Recruit Volunteers, Foster Humans, Vet Rechecks. Get Terrrified Dogs To Trust Humans, While Getting Aggressive Dogs To Chill, Keeping Peace Amongst The Larger Foster Packs While Living In The Same Home, Fundraising, Raffles, Unique Special Events - (Valentine Photos, Applebee's Dinner Specials and Deliveries, Annual Lobster Bake Seafood Meal-in-a-Bucket, Barktoberfest, Santa Photos At Petsmart, Tents At Local Dog Events, ID Chipping Events), Production Of Items To Sell To Offset Costs Of Rescue Process, Short-Term Boarding, Adoptioon Application Review, Advertising Peis For Adoption, On-Site Visit To Potential Adopters At Their Homes, More Transport, Answering Multitudes Of Phone Calls And E-Mails From New Adopters: (dog won't eat, dog has the runs, dog won't play, dog doesn't get along with original dog in the house, etc - mostly 90% of the time within 48 hours of neing dropped off to new family)! We Hold Many Events And Fund-Raisers Throughout The Year.

Rescuing And Re-Homing Abandoned, Discarded, Neglected, Abused, Surrendered, Saved-From-High-Kill Shelters, Puppy Mill Rescued, Dog-Fighting Sites, And/Or Otherwise (And For Any Reason), No Longer "Useful" And/Or Unwanted, Boxers And Shar-Pei (And Transporting Any Other Dog Or Cat From The Same Origin Site Who Are Going Our Way). Any Dog In Need Is Welcome, Whatever The Breed. Cats Are Not Excluded In Transport, Either! Participating In The Rehabilitation Of " Orphaned, " Homeless, Stray, Sick, Abused/Tortured, And Surrendered Boxers, Shar-Pei, K-9s; Felines Are Delivered To Their Designated
"Next Transport Leg" Or Feline Rescue Site.