Mitch’s Dogs
Please help us find good foster/adoptive homes for the Late Mitch Valerien’s dogs. We owe it to this wonderful person who helped so many, to do right by the pets she left behind. Details on each dog can be found on the Adoptable Animals page at the TASP website.
Thanks for caring.
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
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!
There is significant controversy and misunderstanding about the laws governing service and emotional support animals. This article will attempt to clear up some of the confusion and offer credible links to internet sites where readers can research the topic more deeply.
Essentially, the Federal Government says even in places where animals are prohibited, a person with a disability may not be excluded from any place people without disabilities are allowed, even if the disabled person is accompanied by a service animal. Further, the law says a service animal is NOT A PET. It’s an animal with a job to do. Here’s the link to the American Disabilities Act, the federal law governing access by people with disabilities and their service animals:
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
There are also State and Local laws pertaining to service animals. Here’s the link to the New York City Bar Association’s internet site pertaining to use of service animals in NY State:
http://documents.nycbar.org/files/guide-to-the-use-of-service-animals-in-new-york-state.html
The following link explains in some detail the difference between a psychiatric service animal and an emotional support animal. You should note, the laws pertaining to service animals don’t automatically apply to emotional support animals. The link will explain the difference between the two:
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76
To reiterate, an emotional support animal is not automatically covered by the ADA or the Human Rights Act of NY State, the way a psychiatric service animal would be. So if an emotional support animal issue erupts, the people involved may end up going to court to decide how the animal will be treated. In such a case, the court will refer to the individual case’s details in the light of prior cases (precedent) in the state legal archives. CLICK HERE for a link offering a number of cases where emotional support animal disagreements had to be settled by a New York court.
Bottom line is, if you are disabled and require a service animal, that animal will be trained to do a specific task to help you get through life. You and your service animal will have certain rights that other pet owners will not. If you have an emotional support animal, you will need to research in advance the policies of the places where you intend to go with that animal in order to be sure emotional support animals are allowed there.
If you love your pet and you do not truly have a disability, please be considerate and don’t just purchase a service pet harness or vest to gain your pet’s access to places where only service animals are allowed. Each time this is done, it risks public safety and it steps on the rights of people who truly need a trained animal’s help to get through life.
Ed has always been the guy in his neighborhood that everyone brought animals to. Need a place to stash your pet while you’re in rehab? Give it to Ed. Can’t deal with that crazy puppy anymore? Give it to Ed. Moving to an apartment and can’t take a pet with you? Ed will take it.
Animals have been a part of Ed’s life for as long as he can remember; at age 84, that’s a lot of remembering. He and his wife lived a modest life on a little piece of land on a back road not far from here. They ran their own business out of their mobile home and lived a relatively simple but contented existence. They were genuinely kind people; they never turned away a visitor; two-legged or four-legged.
When the wife died of cancer, life became much harder and lonelier for Ed. Their animals, mostly dogs and cats, filled the empty space that remained. They became the primary companions for this elderly man who carried food and water to them each day, neglecting his own needs to make sure they had enough to eat. But as time marches on, our bodies become more frail and our stamina isn’t what it used to be. Our animals age, too. They need more care, more amenities, and more attention. Tasks that once took just a few minutes can take much longer when we’re older. And it seems like everything breaks down around us. Facing this alone can be absolutely overwhelming, and for a proud, independent man like Ed, it’s hard to admit defeat.
Debbie met Ed when she approached him about spaying his cats. Unable to run the business anymore and living on a small monthly social security check, Ed had eventually found it impossible to offer veterinary care to any of his own animals, let alone the stray cats who seemed to materialize out of nowhere and multiply out of control. Once he was sure Deb wasn’t there to judge or condemn him, the old man was happy to accept her help.
Deb and Leona methodically and religiously showed up at Ed’s place several times each month with traps, bait and blankets; trapping and transporting, bringing the spayed and vaccinated feral adults back for release while adopting out the kittens who were still friendly enough to find adoption. They brought food and houses and straw for bedding. And gradually, the population stabilized. Now, sleek, healthy cats lounge peacefully in the sun outside Ed’s mobile home. And the kittens are all growing up socialized with loving families of their own.
During this process, trust and friendship between Ed and these two TASP volunteers grew and a bond was created. Soon it would be time for Deb and Leona to introduce Ed to some more TASP volunteers so the living condition of his dogs could be improved. Over the months that these ladies had been doing the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) of the cats, other TASP volunteers, Win, Tim, Michelene, Mitch and a group of outstanding young men from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Acacia Fraternity, were building five large insulated dog houses at a property in Pittstown. Donated kennel panels were being stockpiled and prepared. These would be the new homes designed for the 5 dogs currently living chained to aging coops in the tall weeds at Ed’s place.
Flash forward to November 4. TASP volunteers pull into Ed’s driveway to deliver the kennel panels and to meet with Ed about where to place the new homes. It was decided that arranging the kennels across the long side of the mobile home would allow for the most space and the easiest access for the old man who would be tending to these equally old dogs. On the following day, Ed and his son worked shoulder to shoulder with 8 TASP volunteers to clear the site, distribute the new houses and erect the kennels. All the while, curious neighbors came to witness the event. One even cried for joy at the change that occurred that day for animals AND people.
While we were there, all of us saw for ourselves how much Ed truly loves these animals and how much they truly love and trust him. Aged and not accustomed to a lot of company, the dogs would not have stood much chance as shelter pets. “Unadoptable,” would be the term used to describe them. But with Ed, they were friends and equals; they got the best care Ed could afford to give them.
As they entered the kennels in pairs, with their side by side houses, the dogs reacted to the new living arrangements with 100% approval. The old coon hounds climbed right up into the straw in their houses and started arranging their nests. The two Chow sisters frolicked together and rolled in the grass outside their houses, finally able to play like regular dogs instead of gazing at each other, chained, from across the yard. The big red Chow male who preferred to have his own kennel in the middle smiled gratefully outside his new house, glancing with approval at the Chow girls and the old hounds who were now his next-door neighbors.
All the time we were working at Ed’s he kept coming over and trying to give us things: a screwdriver he wanted us to have, a 2017 calendar sporting photos of puppies and kittens, an extra set of wrenches he said he couldn’t use. He wanted so badly to do something for us because he valued so deeply what we were doing for him. As we were leaving, he touched my arm and said, “I love you all, now and forever.”
We now have a NEW TASP Volunteer, Ed’s son! He was so impressed by what TASP does that he wants to be a part of this kind of animal welfare work. We visit Ed now and then to drop off donated food and to chat with the old man. When the time comes, Ed will return the kennels and houses to TASP so they can be rehabbed and reused for the next needy dogs. But for now, he and his dogs are welcome to these gifts. And life is good at Ed’s place these days.
Ready to see the video? Click here to view.
Charlie’s Story
OK, so I’m old! Let’s get that on the table right now. And by the way, I’m BIG, too. So let’s just face those realities and move on from there, ok?
My name’s Charlie. I’m a purebred St. Bernard who’s lived most all my 12 years with a family who took me from a bad situation. When I was a youngster, they also adopted this guy, Copper. He’s a purebred Coon Hound from down south, a refugee from Hurricane Katrina. When Copper showed up on the scene, at first I thought maybe it wouldn’t work out….both of us bein’ big male dogs, eh? But ya know what? Copper’s been like a brother to me from the start and now, you couldn’t part us with a butterknife.
Neither of us thought we’d ever be in the position we’re in right now. After all these years, our family is gonna up and move to MEXICO! Do you know any St. Bernards who want to go to freakin’ Mexico? Our family’s solution to the dilemma about what to do with two big senior dogs was classic. They posted us on Craigslist and agreed if nobody offered us a home, they’d euthanize both of us before they left the country. This was not an option Copper and I really wanted to pursue, but heck, the family’s got the keys to the house and all the food, so they get to call the shots.
I’m not super-religious, but I’ll say one thing: there MUST be a God of some kind out there, because PAWS and The Animal Support Project came to our rescue and put us in foster care. They’re gonna see if they can find Copper and me a new home in the country where we can live out our senior years with dignity….together!
I know it aint gonna be easy; we’re both big-boned, ya know. And neither of us is a pup anymore. But we’re healthy and fit for our ages (I’m 12 and Copper’s 11). We’re vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and friendly as heck with everyone. Most folks who meet us want to give us a hug. I hand out tissues with my hugs, cuz like all Saints, I drool a little.
Will ya do us a favor por favor (as they say in Mexico)? Will ya spread the word among your country friends that Copper and me are lookin’ for a job that pays with room and board? We make great watchdogs, welcoming committee, floor-warmers, and ice-breakers. We’ll clean up the kitchen scraps (no onions, please) and watch after the house while you’re away. And we’ll never ever move away and leave ya. Call 518-727-8591 or CLICK HERE to download an application.
Copper’s Story:
Howdy! The name’s Copper. And 10 years ago, I came north from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Back then, I was a handsome young buck of a purebred Coon Hound; just a year old an’ all full of myself. I lived till now with my family in the country, outside of Troy, NY. That’s where I met my pal, Charlie. I gotta tell ya, Charlie taught me everything about how to be a good dog. He’s been my best friend and mentor all these years. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
Now, I guess you could say Charlie and me are entering the “Sunset Years.” We take it pretty easy these days; most of our fiestas are really siestas, if ya know what I mean. We spend most of the time lying outdoors, watching the squirrels make fools of themselves when weather’s nice or snoozing in our beds in the basement when the weather turns sour. Now and then I still like to go out to the woods and howl a bit, just to let the foxes and coyotes know where the property line is.
If it weren’t for the fact that my family’s moving out of the country, you probably wouldn’t even be hearing from us. But yeah, that’s right. The family’s moving to Mexico and they said if Craigslist couldn’t find us a new home, they’d put me and Charlie to sleep permanently. Lucky for us guys, a volunteer from The Animal Support Project saw our posting and brought us to foster care. TASP joined with PAWS (Pioneers in Animal Welfare – they’re old friends with TASP from the Katrina days) to work together on our case.
Things here in foster care are fine; the foster-folks are real nice and the food’s good. But I gotta tell ya, if me and Charlie could have our wish, it would be for a little more space and a few less dogs. Not that we’re complainin,’ but somebody asked what we dream of, so I’m just lettin’ ya know.
We’re both pretty healthy. Been vaccinated, microchipped and neutered. I’ve got a fatty tumor under my neck, but it don’t bother me and heck, don’t every old guy have a lump or a bump somewhere? At least mine’s harmless. And aside from a little stiffness in the morning, we’re plenty fit from all the years of livin’ out in the fresh air and getting’ lots of exercise.
Do ya think you have room for a couple of old farm boys like us, or if not, do ya know someone who has room for a couple of big lawn ornaments? If ya call, maybe we could talk it over. 518-727-8591. Or you can download an application right now if you CLICK HERE.
