Tag: rescue

Vet Sci 101 – The Scoop on Poop

As pet owners, we sooner or later will be subjected to cleaning up a very stinky mess left behind by our canine or feline friend. It’s important to learn how to interpret the language of poop so we can be an advocate for our animals who can’t necessarily describe their situation to the vet.
Did you know that a fecal sample is the window to what’s going on inside your pet? Knowing what different kinds of BM mean can help you save your pet from suffering; and a little bit of time spent being a “scat detective” can even save a life.
The AKC wrote a terrific article about this very subject. And although it’s written from the perspective of a dog lover, the general information it offers about the features of feces can be generalized to other species like cats and horses.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/doggie-diarrhea/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=yourakc-20161121

December 23, 2018 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 5 Comments Off on Vet Sci 101 – The Scoop on Poop

The Next Chapter – Update on Mitch’s Dogs

With 2018 nearly over, we realize what a challenging year this, our tenth year, has been. Losing Mitch Valerien in March was the worst thing that ever happened to our little group, and it was so totally unexpected, the cause still not fully understood, even the most optimistic of us probably felt like the floor was pulled out from under our feet. So it is easy to imagine how much worse that horrible event was for Mitch’s dogs. Without the ability to understand even what little we knew about Mitch’s death, these animals went through a life-altering change in 2018. Living alone, Mitch was everything to these dogs: mother, father, nurse, chef, janitor and UBER service….TASP owed it to Mitch to do our best to help her animals get to the next chapter in their lives as painlessly as possible. And thanks to the kindness of our community and the resilience of these dogs’ spirits, we have some very positive news to report to all of you.

Andy: “The Flower,” is now living a loved, safe and joyful life with Lea, a local veterinarian who has a soft spot for senior dogs. And BTW, she also has a very friendly, sweet black lab mix female for Andy to play and snooze next to. This gentle guy was very bonded to Midnight, Mitch’s little black lab mix female, so it was especially gratifying to have Andy find a home with another friendly female who resembles Midnight so much. Andy’s new Mom is a “foster failure,” just as Mitch was when she originally adopted Andy from Labs4Rescue so many years ago. The first time we contacted Lea to bring Andy to an adoption clinic, she asked to adopt him because he had grown so content in her home and she’d grown so fond of him. Lea writes in her latest update, “He’s doing great, a real sweetie and has adjusted to life with me very well. Everyone loves him. His sister is forever pestering him to play, sometimes he’s happy to and other times he just patiently ignores the biting at his head and feet (Hadley can be a pill!)” Andy’s new life is truly what Mitch would have asked for if she could.

Click on Andy’s portrait to watch a video of him and Hadley playing together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benjamin: “The Forever Puppy,” was the first of Mitch’s dogs to be adopted, and the oldest! Thanks to Tracy, Mitch’s childhood friend in Rhode Island, Ben lounges on the carpet next to Tracy’s desk while she’s working from home, just as he did at Mitch’s house while she worked from home. Ben’s got a family who adores him and makes him a part of everything they do. And he has a little girlfriend to snuggle up and flirt with whenever he wants to. Tracy’s latest report: “Ben is doing great. He has been a great addition to our family. We love taking him for rides and he loves just being with us. We are truly lucky to have him.” Can you imagine how happy this would make Mitch?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billie: “Sweetheart,” Billie was the dog who seemed to suffer the most when Mitch passed away. For awhile, we couldn’t figure out why Billie was physically failing. But once she settled into Lynn’s home in farm country, just outside of Fort Edward, Billie’s condition began to turn around. We discovered Billie’s physical decline was just a symptom of her grieving! Lynn happened to be her Vet Tech at Borador Animal Hospital when Mitch was still alive. After Mitch’s death, Lynn’s heart went out to the old dog with the huge benign tumor on her back, who suffered so profoundly from the loss of Mitch. In a recent email, Lynn told us, “Everyone in my family just loves her. She fit in here like she had always lived here.
Although I am sorry that it was necessary to rehome her I am honored to have her as it is the only thing I could do for Mitch.” It’s clear Lynn adores Billie and Billie’s physical improvement since moving in with Lynn testifies to how happy she is there. Lynn even prepares home-cooked meals for this noble old dog! Now, Billie’s latest chapter is truly a happy tail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midnight: “The Little Sister,” also hit the lottery. She was adopted by Ally, who works at Upstate Veterinary Specialties. Midnight has a much smaller pack now: just her and a dog-friendly cat, so she gets loads of attention and love, and doesn’t have to share her Mom with a lot of other dogs. She even gets to go to work with Ally, who tells us, “Midnight is doing wonderfully. And feels like she has always been a part of my life. I love her already!….. I am so glad that I found her. It’s been such a positive experience and I am looking forward to giving her a perfect home after going through so much. Her story truly touched my heart.” Ally’s update really touched all of our hearts at TASP. Little Midnight is surely blossoming in this new life of hers.

Mallory: While the “Little Mama” is waiting for her own forever home, she’s fostering with the Plasse’s, sharing the front zone of the house with Hammond (Rich & Melinda’s senior Rottie mix) and Desi, the deaf senior Jack Russell Terrier from TASP’s hospice program. Mallory enjoys her role as the only chick in the crowd, and the male dogs seem very willing to have Mallory direct the day’s activities. Rich tells us, “Mallory’s showing us every day what a terrific gal she is by walking to and from the play yard without even being leashed. She barks when company comes and loves lounging on the self-heating dog bed Hammond loaned to her. She’s such a cheerful girl…. her tail wags so hard when she sees me, it sounds like she’s beating a drum. She’s a really good dog!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadie: “Cover Girl” is now officially a Canine Good Citizen thanks to her foster Mom, Lucinda. While she waits to be adopted to her forever home, Sadie shares the foster home with two cats and two male mini dachschund mixes. She enjoys the daily walks Lucinda takes her on in their quiet neighborhood and one of her favorite things to do is to snooze with her dog and cat friends on Lucinda’s big front window seat. With her good manners and her magnetic personality, it’s just a matter of time before Sadie finds her special person to adopt her; but in the meantime, she’s thinking foster life is mighty sweet at Lucinda’s. “Sweet Sadie is an eager-to-please girl. She relishes car rides and outdoor walks and hikes, but is also content to nose around the back yard or sit by the window to watch the world go by,” according to Lucinda. Sadie  certainly has matured and is nothing like the wild-child she was years ago when Mitch took her in. She’ll make someone a fantastic companion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zach: The dog we were most worried about being adopted was our “Wingman.” With his separation anxiety, Zach presented a big dilemma for anyone who worked outside the home. Fortunately for him, Bill came with his family to the Petapalooza adoption event at Curtis Lumber in Hoosick Falls earlier this year. Bill had just suffered the devastating loss of his wife. And being retired, he found himself with way too much alone time. Zach’s larger-than-life personality caught Bill’s eye from the get-go and before long they both knew they needed each other. The rest of the story is better than anything we could have written for Zach. Bill and Zach are a team now, doing everything together at home and on the road. Bill’s minivan is the perfect vehicle for these two bachelors to cruise to the park for a nice walk or to run errands in town. And Bill says Zach is like his shadow, always right behind him and ready to participate in any activity, especially climbing into bed at the end of the day. Bill says, “Sometimes he even beats me to bed and I have to ask him to move over so I can get in!” Bill’s daughter, Dawn adds, ” I would like to thank you for giving my Dad the opportunity to adopt Zack. I believe they are a perfect match! They are inseparable, great therapy for each other.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time only moves in one direction and no amount of money on earth can buy time back once it’s spent. The old adage says, “Change is good.” But some changes are so sudden and irreversible, they can upset even the most level-headed of us. All of us at TASP are glad that Mitch’s dogs are finding their own lives now. It wasn’t easy for them to adapt after all the years they shared with Mitch, but thanks to the commitment of Mitch’s circle of friends and the response from the community, all of her dogs are safe and loved. We hope to report on the final placements for Sadie and Mallory soon, and with that, we will all know Mitch can finally rest in peace knowing her “kids” are going to be alright.

December 23, 2018 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 5 Comments Off on The Next Chapter – Update on Mitch’s Dogs

Keepin’ It Together – Creating a Future for Marianne’s Cats

If you had met Marianne ten years ago when we first encountered her, you’d be meeting a well-educated woman in her 70’s who was using her GE retirement funds to support herself and a handful of stray cats. Together they  lived the good life at Marianne’s little acre of rural paradise not far from where I am writing this. She was an uncommonly strong-willed woman, well-read, with a dry wit and zero tolerance for people who treated animals or people unfairly. She was stubborn as a mule and could chew into someone like a badger if she thought they needed setting straight. Marianne had grown up a farm girl and appreciated the solitude and peace of country life, even as a widow, with her grown daughter living with her own family many miles away.

Back then, just like now, well-meaning people from town would drive their unwanted cat out to some rural location near a farm, assuming it was more humane to drop the cat there than to take it to the shelter. In their minds, the shelter would just kill their cat. But out here, under the sun and stars, the cat would live the idyllic Disney life, sustained by a lifetime supply of mice and milk from the cow barn. As someone who grew up in the country, I can testify those people assumed incorrectly. Life for a stray cat in the country is anything but idyllic. It’s constant struggle; competition for food, water, a safe place to sleep and raise young, and the constant pressure of random sickness, attack and injury. It’s one of the reasons why stray and feral cats have large litters: because nature knows many feral-born kittens will not make it to adulthood.

Marianne understood this and kept her little colony in tip-top order. When a new cat would show up in her yard, she would use her own trap to capture it, then drive it to Hoof n’ Paw Vet Service at the Valley Falls-Cambridge line, to have it altered, vaccinated and doctored for any illness it may have had. It was a reasonably well thought out plan and, after the initial veterinary investment, it afforded Marianne a resident varmint patrol around her little mobile home for just the cost of cat food and fresh water. It also offered her the pleasure of free entertainment, watching for hours as the cats lived their lives outside her picture window. Eventually, each cat would be friendlied enough to be awarded a name and  an afternoon or evening indoors on Marianne’s couch. Cats came and went as they pleased there and the protocol suited everyone concerned.

As time went on, GE’s stock began under-performing. And in ensuing years, the value mostly declined, leaving Marianne’s retirement income thinner and thinner. But the arrival of new wandering feline strangers from the farm down the road continued, and seemed to even increase. The cats apparently didn’t scrutinize the Wall Street Journal sufficient to recognize their food and medical bills were straining Marianne’s wallet.  Nonetheless, Marianne made sure they ate regularly, while she pinched her pennies. This was right about the time she met up with The Animal Support Project.

We’d gotten a call from Hoof n’ Paw, asking us to call on this nice lady who was having trouble keeping up with fixing the cats invading her property. They informed us about her past efforts and were concerned that more cats than ever seemed to be arriving at her little oasis. They wondered if there was something we could do to help and there was. We teamed up with Marianne on several occasions to trap numbers of cats at once and have all of them vaccinated, altered and tested. Then we’d adopt them out  for her to keep her burden down to a reasonable number.

2016 was a hard year for Marianne. By that time, she was in her 80’s. She’d suffered a stroke and after that, had spent just enough time living with her saint of a daughter to get back on her feet. A proud person of Marianne’s age has trouble being dependent on their child. It is not a role they can adapt to readily. So after recovering enough to be deemed safe on her own, Marianne returned to her little paradise in the country where she didn’t have to live on other people’s schedules or hear the unfamiliar sounds of suburban life. She returned to reading from her own library, shopping for herself and enjoying the 24-7 entertainment of her beloved cats outside and inside her home. A niece who lived nearby took over for TASP, looking in on Marianne and doing trap-neuter-return on her property to maintain population control for the cats, and Marianne’s brother, who lived just down the road, did the “manly stuff” around the property to keep her home running safely.

In late summer of 2017, Marianne’s daughter called to ask for our help again. Marianne had broken her hip. She was now almost completely deaf, quite small and frail, but nonetheless, she was raising hell with the doctors at the hospital, wanting to go home as soon as possible to be in her own element with her cats. Her brother was by this time also quite up in age and physically not able to support Marianne around her place the way he had in the past.  We committed to Marianne’s daughter to round up the cats indoors and out and begin the process of finding them new homes where they could be safe. Luckily for all concerned, TASP has Tess and Tim Newbury on our volunteer team. Thanks to them, we were able to capture all 13 of Marianne’s cats, including three kittens born to a newcomer female who had not yet been fixed.

With the generosity of Marianne’s daughter, we were able to buy flea collars for all the cats as well as having all updated on vaccines and tested for disease. We returned a handful of them to Marianne’s mobile home so they could live indoors with Marianne when she came home from her hip rehabilitation, and the rest were kept happy in a large temporary cattery we erected in her garage with materials we stock for such things. Tess and Tim continued to visit the cattery each day to maintain things there and they would look in on Marianne, walk her trash barrel to the road on pickup day, and make sure all was well. Seeing Marianne, we all knew they would not have to do this for long. Meantime, in the background, Debbie D’Angelo, our volunteer whom we share with Noah’s Kingdom, Kitten Angels and other capital district cat rescues, was lining up plans for the cats to be transferred out to these wonderful local rescues.

Marianne passed away peacefully in her beloved home one morning from what first responders deemed a massive heart attack.  They said there was no sign of suffering or panic at the scene; death was swift and merciful. Her last moments were no doubt shared with her little family of cats, and now she was asleep forever, no longer worried about the things we on this earth concern ourselves with. She died as she had wished to: not in a nursing home, not in a hospital bed, not away from what was so loved and so familiar to her. I choose to believe this was her reward for a life righteously lived. And I think she died at peace with her situation, knowing TASP and her family would not abandon her cats.

What made it possible for TASP to help in this situation? Well, having the support of Marianne’s family was a key contributor to the success. This was an expensive endeavor. TASP has limited funds to work with in comparison to the number of requests we receive. So having the financial help of Marianne’s daughter was essential to get so many cats cared for properly. TASP stocks  donated kennels, fencing material and cat supplies so we can erect a cattery like this when needed.

TASP was honored to have known Marianne and her daughter, who, by the way, has her mother’s strong will and dry wit and was a real treasure in making this project work. We feel blessed that we can network with such kind and considerate rescue groups in our community who will help us with big projects like this. And we are proud to have volunteers who are committed enough to our mission to go out of their way for months to ensure that Marianne’s beloved cats weren’t left to scatter on their own.  I believe everyone involved in this project feels we did what Marianne would have wanted and we share in the hope that we can also someday leave this world with the dignity afforded to this good woman.

April 28, 2018 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 4 Comments Off on Keepin’ It Together – Creating a Future for Marianne’s Cats

Message From The President

Hello! Glad to know you’ve clicked open another TASP e-newsletter. We are very grateful to you for caring enough about animals and people to pay attention to these newsletters. At The Animal Support Project, we are convinced that what we’re doing, supporting animals and their owners through tough times, is truly the missing link in animal welfare; and we’re glad you are either in agreement with us or even just perhaps curious to learn more.

This is the part of the newsletter where I typically write about the good things that happen when neighbors help neighbors solve the problems that break families apart. But this concept wasn’t just my bright idea. It took input from a handful of people who all met by some kind of bizarre coincidence while and immediately after deploying for Hurricane Katrina. That was where we witnessed for ourselves how destructive it can be for people in crisis to lose their companion animal. Back then, few seemed to be addressing that aspect of animal or human welfare. Everyone was in rescue-mode, but either you were an “animal person” rescuing the animals, or you were a uniformed first responder of some sort, rescuing the people. And so, as can be expected, many animals and many humans were disconnected forever from each other, and many animals and humans suffered immensely, even though the best of intentions were truly meant by both sides.

Animal rescue was then and sometimes still is, the removal of a pet from a challenged home where the animal was established, known and loved, and the placement of that animal into another home that has been, in best cases, investigated through an application, an interview/home visit and a few phone calls to references provided by an adopter. In between those two steps, sometimes an animal shelter might be involved. The expectation was and sometimes still is that somehow, it is more humane to do this than to help the pet’s original owner overcome their challenge and keep their pet. The expectation was and sometimes still is that the new home will not encounter any challenges that could cause the animal to be in jeopardy again during its lifetime. But in reality, both scenarios are a gamble.

TASP prefers to place our chips on the original home, as long as there is evidence that conditions can be brought up to a state that is safe and maintainable for the animals and the humans. That means there is a path that can be cleared from crisis to stability, and the owner is committed to working with us to make that journey. We combine our disaster response experience and skills with the funds and supplies provided by like-minded people to bridge the shortcomings in the pet’s home. This way, that animal doesn’t have to experience homelessness and the owner doesn’t have to experience more loss than they already have. After all, a pet is not homeless until it is taken out of the home; either by the owner who has come to believe they have no other choice or by a well-meaning rescuer who is convinced they can find a better place for that pet, given enough time and resources.

When people suffer a loss: death of a spouse, divorce, job loss, eviction, loss of their health/youth, it’s more common than not for them lose their trust and confidence, to feel like a victim, and to want to assume the fetal position in some dark corner. Put in this situation, many will judge themselves losers in the game of life; they wouldn’t need someone from the outside pointing that out for them. Having a loving pet at that moment in time can turn that self-image around and re-inspire a person to get back on their feet and fight the good fight. After all, a pet loves you no matter where you’re sleeping that night; no matter what’s for dinner; no matter who else has abandoned you. They encourage you. They are your cheerleader, your preacher, your mother and your favorite teacher all wrapped into one furry/scaly/feathery package, saying, “You are the most important thing in my world. You have value. You and your opposable thumbs and large brain are going to make everything turn out alright.” Now, should we take that pet away from that person in crisis, confirming the sense of loss and fear that both pet and owner can suffer? Or should we work to stabilize the situation for pet and owner so the two of them can face the world together, overcome their challenges, and maybe even pay it forward down the line?

Some of you probably knew Mitch Valerien, one of the people who helped us start The Animal Support Project. She just passed away on March 15 too young and very unexpectedly. Early on in our organization’s evolution, Mitch was one of the people whose input and elbow grease helped shape this organization into the pet safety-net it is today. Mitch cared about animals, but she also cared deeply for the people who own animals, regardless of their income or their education level, or where they lived or whether or not they were New England Patriots fans. She was devoted to TASP’s mission; she helped define it. Alot of animals are sleeping safely with their beloved families, and a lot of people are sleeping safely with their trust in humanity restored because of Mitch and this organization she helped develop.

The mission of TASP doesn’t die with when one of us dies. It’s already spreading like a virus – a GOOD virus! Today, you can google “Pet safety net,” or “Pet retention program,” and all sorts of websites full of resources come up, including The ASPCA’s Position Statement on Keeping Pets and People Together.

Ten years ago, when TASP started, those kinds of resources and commitments were extremely hard to find, and even now I occasionally have to explain why we do what we do.  But it’s the rare occasion now. Mitch’s legacy of caring for animals AND people will continue to flourish and will continue to encourage the partnerships that hold families together. I can’t think of anything that would make Mitch more proud.

April 27, 2018 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 4 Comments Off on Message From The President

Featured Adoptable Animal – Lookin’ for Love?

 

CLICK HERE to meet Nicholas.

 

September 23, 2017 By Melinda Plasse In Adoptable Animals, Newsletter 3 Comments Off on Featured Adoptable Animal – Lookin’ for Love?

Testimonials – In Their Words

I want to say thank you so much for all your help that you have been doing for my cat Lucy it means a lot to me. Thanks again….. Jean

Thank you for all you did for Raymond’s “Pups.”  …..Pat

I don’t know what we would have done without your compassion and support. Your organization is truly a Godsend and I would be proud to say I am affiliated with it…….Although Smoaky most definitely had a better “vacation” than I did, I am recovering well……I’m sure my peace of mind and not having to worry about Smoaky contributed greatly to my recovery. At a (very rare) loss for words for thanks, I’ll just say a million and one thanks for all your help!…….Sincerely, Pam

Thank you for talking to me last night. I appreciate your advice and look forward to having you over …..Alice

I was just filling my cats’ food bowl and I was just thinking how wonderful you were to help me both times and I just want to let you know that I really appreciate it, especially the litter cuz I really would be in a pickle right now if it wasn’t for you…because I literally have no income. So I just want to thank you again, I really, really, really appreciate it. I’m hoping if I do get my Social Security maybe I can help someone else and pass it forward. Just had to say it again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!……..Tina

 

 

September 19, 2017 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 3, Testimonials Comments Off on Testimonials – In Their Words

This Quarter’s Featured Project – Keepin’ It Together

Best Friends for Life: Gail and Puppy

Thanks to all of you from Puppy!

My name’s, “Puppy.” I’m a 13 year old Yorkie & Chihuahua mix. Everyone is surprised to find out how old I am when they hear my name and meet me….frisky and lively and full of energy, I guess I’ll always look and act like a pup, and that’s just fine with me!                                                         When I was younger, Mom, Dad, Bro and I all lived on a modest little farm in the country. We raised dairy goats; Nubians and LaManchas were our specialty. I really liked the way they smelled and I enjoyed going to the barn each day with the folks to help with milking and caring for my caprine “cousins.” My favorite thing to do was to steal a piece of the trimmings when the goats had their hooves clipped…..have you ever tasted goat hoof? It’s the caviar of doggie cuisine, y’know.

About two years ago, things all of a sudden changed ALOT! First, Bro got really sick…… the kind of sick that means hospital trips, chemo, and weeks and weeks of pain medicine. After that, Bro never really looked the same; and soon, he just completely disappeared. Mom and Dad walked around like zombies after Bro left. They looked scared.

We moved to a smaller place because Mom’s health wasn’t very good anymore. She has a lot of trouble breathing. Soon, she was wearing a leash attached to her nose (she called it her oxygen) and she was never able to walk off-leash again. That seemed bad enough, but then, all of a sudden, Dad got sick like Bro. And less than a year after Bro disappeared, Dad disappeared, too. Mom says both of them went to live in heaven. I can’t understand why they left Mom and me here alone, but Mom says they got invited and we didn’t. But she says we will be invited to heaven soon enough. She says Dad and Bro are not coming back, either. So now, it’s just Mom and me scraping by on her Social Security check.

With things going so badly in Mom’s life, I didn’t want to tell her that my mouth hurt. But as time went on, it REALLY got sore and I couldn’t chew my food. She noticed and started calling around to see if a vet would fix my mouth on credit…….but none of the vets agreed to let Mom pay on time; not even the one we’ve been going to all these years!

But ya know what? Mom didn’t give up. She kept asking around and eventually she found out about TASP: The Animal Support Project. She talked with a volunteer there and they hooked us up with a vet named Dr. Nicole, who actually fixed my mouth for FREE! Dr. Nicole had a grant from the ASPCA to help animals belonging to poor people…..and since nobody’s poorer than Mom and me, I was able to get the care I needed. But that’s not the end of the story!

The vets also said I needed medicine to help my heart work better. So TASP took me to a specialist and got me the tests I needed to get the right medicine. Now, a TASP volunteer visits Mom and me twice a month to count out pills into my trays. The trays have little compartments in them and each morning and evening, Mom takes the pills from a compartment and folds them into some tasty canned dogfood that I find just irresistible.  TASP even found me a sponsor who donates my pills so Mom doesn’t have to use food money to buy them.

The volunteer says Mom and TASP have “joint custody” of me so I can remain at home and still get the special care I need.  They say I will be happier at home with the Mom I’ve known all my 13 years than to be uprooted and sent somewhere else. They know I am only at peace when I’m on Mom’s lap, watching the cooking shows on cable. And Mom is SO HAPPY to know she doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life alone! Mom and I sometimes look at each other and wonder which of us will be the next one to disappear. But at least now Mom knows that if SHE gets invited to heaven first, then I still have my friends at TASP to care for me until my invitation arrives.

CLICK HERE to watch Puppy & Gail’s video

 

 

September 19, 2017 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 3 Comments Off on This Quarter’s Featured Project – Keepin’ It Together

The Next Chapter – Project Outcome Followup

Update on Bria

If you follow our facebook page, you know Bria returned home to live with her family back around January. As soon as she went home, Bria was enrolled with her family in Basic Obedience training through Crawmer’s Animal Training, courtesy of TASP, just to give her a leg up on moving back to home life. With three active kids, Dad recovering from major surgery and Mom adapting to her new job, it was extremely gratifying to know that the whole family was so devoted and committed to bringing Bria back into their lives.
The nicest update about Bria just came from her Mom!
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year but this is us and we got this… we are settling in and as I write Bria is laying by my bed. I would take a pic but she is a girl always in motion! Allana graduated yesterday and she will be off to St. John’s University in the fall to study Bio with a concentration in pre-med. We will never forget your kindness and would love to visit before she leaves! You are so special to our family!”
This family is still struggling to make ends meet since the fire took their home nearly two years ago. They are STILL waiting for the insurance companies to settle. But they’re a family of survivors and they’re all working hard to move on with life. They are an inspiration to everyone who knows them and it has been a joy to play a part in their recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update on Copper and Charlie:

Who says two giant old dogs can’t find a home together? Well, if this happy ending doesn’t make you believe in Santa Claus, I don’t know what will. You met Charlie and Copper in our last newsletter. On their way to the euthanasia room, these two bonded senior dogs made a detour to TASP foster care with Kat. And not long after that, just in time for Christmas, BOTH of these old guys hit the lottery and were adopted by Allison and her wonderful family. Used to giant breed dogs, the family’s home was ideal for our old buddies. And what a great way to start the new year: loved and safe with folks who treasure them for the gems they are!
At their ripe old ages, there is no telling how many Christmases Copper and Charlie will see. But knowing they will spend the rest of their lives being loved and spoiled is enough to make anyone want to celebrate. Thanks to everyone who had a part in this miracle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update on Bucky:

Three dentals, two leg surgeries and TWO YEARS in foster care! That’s what it took for Bucky to find the home he was meant to have. Although the little cowpoke was always a hit at adoption clinics and events, he never seemed to get the followthrough from potential adopters, and those who DID apply to adopt him had other animals who didn’t care to have Bucky in the family portrait. But that all changed in July when JT came into the picture. With a circle of friends who all own dogs, JT was looking for a little compadre who would work out well in her apartment and who would get along with the rest of her friends’ dogs. Circle Bucky for that! Living in Boston near a wonderful network of parks, trails and dog-friendly businesses, JT and Bucky now are seen frequenting all the best spots for reading and posting p-mail. And since JT works from home, the Buckmeister has his very own full-time relationship; the kind of lifestyle we think he always dreamed of and deserved. From a discarded, crooked-legged waif to a healthy, beloved companion with a real live bedfella and a social life to rival that of any Boston bachelor, this little Urban Cowboy is finally home!

September 19, 2017 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 3 Comments Off on The Next Chapter – Project Outcome Followup

Message from the President: TASP’s Position on the 2017 Gulf Hurricanes

TASP has received many enquiries about our plans for responding to the Gulf hurricanes this season.   At this time, several of our key people are massaging our schedules to comply with requests received from ASPCA and RedRover. As an all-volunteer organization, we have to be sure that when we, as individuals, are planning travel across the country to support animals victimized by a natural disaster, the needs of our own families, jobs and animals are provided for. So will TASP people be traveling to the gulf to help? Based on our individual situations, several of us are planning to respond with the national groups who have been invited in by the local jurisdictions, and with whom we already have relationships.

In the meantime, for those of you who want to help the animals and people currently under duress in the gulf, please consider making a financial donation to any one of the NARSC (National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition) organizations who are responding. If you aren’t sure who’s really a part of this qualified  coalition, CLICK HERE for a link to the list of the current NARSC membership: . And remember that the well being of pets depends on the well being of their owners.  Don’t underestimate how important pets are to the people who were evacuated from their homes in Texas, Louisiana, Florida and surrounding areas. These people need to get back on their feet asap and get their families back to something like normal. Organizations like The Salvation Army are the vital link to that. Your donation, made specifically for Harvey or Irma (or Jose? Maria?) Response, will go a long way toward bringing people and pets home.

Just a reminder to all of you who have been worrying about this: The south is used to bad storms and flooding and they have learned a lot from past experiences. Don’t forget that there are many qualified rescues and national animal welfare organizations who have an abundance of trained, qualified staff and volunteers located within driving distance of the disaster. Animal disaster response is handled much differently now (thank God), compared to the way things were handled after Hurricane Katrina. If you watched any news footage of the human rescues for Harvey and Irma, there were many images of animals and their people all leaving the home together. Thanks to lessons learned, many human shelters now allow pets in the same or a nearby separate shelter, so pet owners and pets can remain connected until they can all go back home. This works very well and has been used for years very successfully. Ever since George W. Bush’s PETS Act went into effect, local SARTs/CARTs (State/County Animal Response Teams) in the gulf have been drilling regularly in preparation for something like a Harvey or an Irma. They have had trailers filled with supplies and volunteers with go-bags already packed, ready for deployment when the call comes. Starting this August, the call came and came again; and all that preparation was put to work for the good of the pets in the gulf.

All the major states and cities in the gulf (and around the country, for that matter) have advance contracts called, “Memoranda of Understanding” already established with all sorts of non-governmental organizations for situations like hurricanes and other disasters. When the local jurisdictions feel they can’t manage the animal situation on their own, they contact the animal welfare organizations they’re already contracted with and invite them to enter the disaster zone to help the locals rescue and/or care for the displaced animals. The same “Incident Command” protocol used by fire, rescue and military is used now by all the bona fide Animal Disaster Response organizations in the NARSC coalition. This way, there is mutual accountability, communication and tracking that will sustain the mission and ensure the best possible outcome for pets and people.

Many months from now, when the gulf’s inhabitants are back on their feet and the emergency pet shelters and boarding facilities begin to deactivate, there may be a need for animals who were not reclaimed to be sent to foster care or to pre-qualified municipal shelters and rescues. Some may even be sent as far north as our back yard. But until that emergency sheltering/boarding period is over, the NARSC animal welfare organizations will not likely be sending owned hurricane animals anywhere. One of the primary purposes of emergency animal sheltering is to hold the animals until they are reclaimed by their owners. We are obligated to allow the owners to have their pets back once they are able to take them. You would expect the same courtesy if you were in their shoes, right? Animals who were already in the shelter prior to the hurricane’s arrival ARE being moved out to other shelters outside the disaster zone, and one local shelter, Mohawk Humane Society, actually just received 23 animals from a Texas shelter and is taking another 30 from Florida shelters. But if someone asks you to finance their trip to the gulf today to bring back animals and they’re not affiliated with one of the authorized member organizations, you might want to ask a lot more questions before opening your wallet.

Thank you all for caring and praying about this situation. Having worked plenty of disasters in the past, I can tell you there are few sights that compare with the look on a displaced person’s face when they are with their beloved pet, no matter what else they may have lost. As the hurricane season continues to evolve, we will be bringing you our own personal accounts of what we find when we deploy to wherever we’re needed. Until then, take comfort in knowing it’s a blessing for something like a Harvey or an Irma to happen in 2017 instead of 2007; animal disaster response has come a long way since then.

 

 

 

September 19, 2017 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 3 Comments Off on Message from the President: TASP’s Position on the 2017 Gulf Hurricanes

In Their Own Words – Feedback from the Field

Being all-volunteer, TASP is mostly made up of people who have full time jobs or school.  Even our volunteers who are retired have grandchildren to tend to. Usually, we all are so busy, we make time to get TASP projects completed, and time for our family and our own animals; but that rarely leaves time to tell anyone about what TASP is doing in the community. And to make things even more stealthy, a great deal of the people we serve don’t have access to a computer; so they aren’t able to write glowing reviews about TASP on the internet. But every once in awhile, we get a letter, a text message or an email that makes us stop and smile or cry (happy tears), and reminds us about why we’re doing what we’re doing for animals and their owners. Now that we have our e-newsletter up and running, we’re happy to have the opportunity to share some of these with you.

A text message from Wayne and his dog, “Steve:”

“….Just wanted to say again thank you for your help I don’t know what I would do without all you and the vets help and he is getting around 90 percent better has more energy just like he did before and I know he got great care and now he can sleep on couch again and rip up paper plates and towels all over house but hes back and I thank you with all my heart Im keeping your number god bless….Wayne and Steve”

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An email from Rose, daughter, Kimba, and their cat, “Lincoln:”

“…… I can’t begin to tell you how much difference this will make in our lives. Lincoln will get his much-needed surgery plus the dental.  We……..were afraid that we were not going to be able to save up in enough time to that care of his problem. We found Lincoln along with his sister Holly 8 years ago, at the age of 8 months, struggling to survive under a porch on pieces of bread, cereal and milk someone was giving them because they had nothing more. I took them in, had them vetted and tried to find homes for them. No one wanted black teen cats that were not so friendly at the time. We decided we would keep them in spite of not having much means to care for them when things like this occur. We are forever grateful …… Again, thank you!”

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December 4, 2016 By Melinda Plasse In Newsletter 2 Comments Off on In Their Own Words – Feedback from the Field