candy christensen

The Gray Ghost Gazette A Publication of LSWC and WRNT ~~ October – November 2001 God Bless America YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED! If you receive this Newsletter, please remember that you are welcome to attend any event that is listed!! CALENDER OF EVENTS October 13, 2001 - WRNT Bi-Monthly Meeting. October 13, 2001 - Fall Pet Fair/Colleyville Animal Clinic, 4408 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville, 817-281-3449. Pet Costume Contest, Pet Photos, Fun for All! Visit the Weim Rescue Booth! October 27, 2001 10 AM - 3 PM, Meet & Greet, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, 10 am - 3 pm, 2501 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine, TX In loving memory of the lives lost on September 11, 2001. This is a date that none of us will ever forget. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families, and to the soldiers that are defending our country against terrorism. It is important that we stand united for our country and those countries that stand with us in the fight against evil. November 3, 2001 - WRNT Garage Sale 4739 Stanford, Dallas November 24-25, 2001 - Santa Claws Promotion. PetsMart @ Inwood & Forest (near the Dallas North Tollway). 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring your pets and have their pictures taken with Santa. 50% of the proceeds will benefit Weimaraner Rescue! Volunteers Needed! December 1-2, 2001 - Santa Claws Promotion. PetsMart @ Inwood & Forest (near the Dallas North Tollway). 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring your pets and have their pictures taken with Santa. 50% of the proceeds will benefit Weimaraner Rescue! Volunteers Needed! December 8, 2001- Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas Bi-Monthly Meeting. December 8, 2001 - LSWC & WRNT Annual Holiday Party, Raffle & Silent Auction Benefiting Weimaraner Rescue. BOOOOOOOO!! Avoid A Scarey Trip To The Vet!! Be sure to keep all Halloween candy away from pets! Chocolate is epecially toxic to dogs! Most pets will indulge in holiday treats if given the opportunity. Please store all candy and treats where pets cannot reach them and tell your children to do the same!! For more information, to attend or volunteer for any of these events, please contact Rescue at 972-994-3572 or bark@weimrescuetexas.org. October 2001 - Lone Star Weimaraner Club Meeting / Event. Check the web site for details. Please feel free to join a committee for any of these events. Your club needs help from you. Thank you! E-Mail Address’s www.WeimRescueTexas.org If you are a Lone Star Weimaraner Club member and have an e-mail address please forward it to Theresa Sanders at TsandWeim@aol.com so that our Page 1 membership list can be updated. LONE STAR WEIMARANER CLUB, Inc. Officers & Board of Directors President: Secretary: Treasurer: Board of Directors: Dana Massey Theresa Sanders Tom Sanders Allene Bernard Mike McGinn Pam Kaplan Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas 2002 Calendar Winners Dog(s) Oliver Siegfried Nadia & Maxx Rio River Harley Maddie Sarah Jynx & Kiera Hans Kirby Blue & Kassy Sue Wesley Mr Bingley Submitted by: Steve & Melissa Gaa Paula McKenna & Mary Jo Stedry Suzanne Fourmigue Shar Yates Bianca Carn John and Caroline Ivey Aaron & Melissa Rowland Tanya Light Tony & Michelle Sickles Cassandra Tynes John & Janet Dilts Tracey Elliott Lisa Gold Committees: Breeder Relations: Specialty Show: AKC & Public Education: Webmaster: Newsletter Editor: Dana Massey Theresa Sanders Allene Bernard Suzanne Fourmigue Kathy Inmon “THE GRAY GHOST GAZETTE” is a bi-monthly publication of the Lone Star Weimaraner Club, Inc. The Annual Subscription Rate is $12.00. To subscribe, please send your check payable to: Lone Star Weimaraner Club, Inc. 4347 W. Northwest Hwy. Suite 120, Box 184 Dallas, TX 75220 Club & Rescue Voice Mail: (972) 994-3572 Email: bark@WeimRescueTexas.org Web Site: www.WeimRescueTexas.org Disclaimer: The editor reserves the right to edit or reject any material or advertisements submitted. Views expressed in “The Gray Ghost Gazette” are those of the editor and/or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the LSWC, WRNT, the WCA or the AKC. Advertising Policy: Regular Circulation 250: Full Page $55.00; Half Page $35.00; Quarter Page $20.00; Business Card $12.00. Seasonal Circulation 650: Full Page $90.00; Half Page $55.00; Quarter Page $35.00; Business Card $25.00. 10% discount for LSWC members. Please submit camera-ready copy & check to Lone Star Weimaraner Club, Inc. There were so many excellent photos submitted that we had a very hard time choosing just 13! Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas wishes to thank everyone who took the time to submit photos of their weims. Your support is so greatly appreciated and needed. There were several honorable mention photos that will also be featured in the 2002 calendar. Calendars will be on sale in November so reserve yours today by completing and returning the form below. Or, go to weimrescuetexas.org and order online by paying with our new PayPal account!!! Please send _______ 2002 Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas Calendars. My check/money order is enclosed for $ __________ ($15 per calendar). Name: Phone Number: Address: Email Address: Send order to: Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas 4347 W Northwest Hwy Suite 120 Box 184 Dallas TX 75220 Page 2 CHAMPIONS OF THE HEART Inc. By: Suzanne Fourmigue Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas, October - November 2001 FOSTER HOMES DESPERATELY NEEDED!! Every month we are forced to board several Weimaraners because of the shortage of foster homes. Currently we have several weims that would be so grateful for a soft bed and some TLC. If you have a place in your h eart and home for a visiting weim, please call our Voice Mail and let us know you are interested in fostering. Thank you to everyone who is already fostering. You make all the difference in the world for these dogs! Thank you for caring!! WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY ~~ We are so grateful to you for remembering our gray & blue friends in need by your donations to Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas: Pam Kaplan, Zamora’s, Lin Grado, Verizon Foundation, Karen Levinski, May Hartsfield, Ernie & Susan Hughes, Craig & Brittany Baird, Danny & Diana Becky, Patrick & Cameron Moore. Shirley Stafford & Michelle Sickles, Mike & Smitty Westfall in Loving Memory of Jynx. Steven & Kerry Houston, Chad & Heather Woodward, Karen Doty, Mike & Smitty Westfall, Hillary Hurst, Suzanne Fourmigue, Margaret & David Henry, Tom Thumb Rewards, Shaun & Cheri Sublet, Russell & Elyse White and Tammy Tyson. Gordy’s Fund: Ernie & Susan Hughes, Kimberly Kessling & Juliana Yim, & Karen Haynes. Ken & Lisa Patterson, and Debbie @ Hills Scien ce Diet!! Thank’s to all of you who quietly absorb some of the expenses of rescue such as your gas, dog food, treats, postage, and phone bills. Every little bit helps!! As our nation goes to war, many pets will be left behind as military personnel deploy and families relocate. With unemployment rising, countless families may find that they can no longer afford their pets or will leave them behind to seek employment in another city. Backyard breeders will increase their production of pets to supplement shrinking household incomes. Charitable contributions to our national emergencies may mean less money for an increasing number of homeless animals. Now, more than ever, we appreciate your support of Weimaraner Rescue. W e promise to be careful stewards of the donations you entrust to our keeping. Thank you for your support from the volunteers of Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas, Inc.!! GARAGE SALES FOREVER!! It seems like we’ve held a Garage Sale every month this year!! Well Almost!! The sale at Suzanne’s on July 27/28 brought in $1,607.00, the sale at Tony & Michelle’s on 9-8, brought in over $1,200.00 and the sale at Suzanne’s on 9-29/29 brought in $941.00. Thank you so very much for all of you for your donations of saleable items collected from your own homes, from neighbors and from friends at work. We appreciate the time and energy donated by each of you who helped out at any of the sales. The next Garage Sale is scheduled on November 3, at 4739 Stanford, Dallas. Call: 972-994-3572 or email bark@weimrescuetexas.org to donate or volunteer. NEW WEIM RESCUE CANVAS BAGS, LONG SLEEVE RESCUE T-SHIRTS & SWEAT SHIRTS AVAILABLE NOW!! Our new Weim Rescue Canvas Tot Bags are a BIG HIT!! Long Sleeve T-Shirts & Sweat Shirts just in time for Fall!! All sizes available!! Order yours now!! Call: 972-994-3572 or email bark@weimrescuetexas.org RESCUE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH DANNY & DIANA BECK (August) Danny & Diana Beck began helping Weim Rescue earlier this year as sponsors of our Golf Tournament. They have been weim lovers for many years. In August the Beck’s did what so many of us do; they adopted their very first foster weim!! Who could resist precious Trento n (renamed Bubba), who was transported to Dallas from Houston where he was known as Rex! The Beck’s have come to our aid several times recently by helping with veterinary bills and donations. They even sent in a donation directly to Valley View Pet Center while out of town on vacation! How wonderful!! We are very grateful for their enthusiastic support of Weimaraner Rescue!! Thanks Diana and Danny!! ALLENE BERNARD (September) Allene Bernard has been volunteering with Weim Rescue for over ten years!! She adopted her first rescue weim, Annie in 1992, and more recently adopted Tahoe and Sierra from Weim Rescue. Allene has volunteered her time and energy at countless garage sales, pet fairs, and raffles over the years. She has made donations, transported, fostered, answered voice mail, and incoming dogs duty. At the Lone Star Weimaraner Club Specialty Show in September, Allene coordinated the Weim Rescue Raffle & Silent Auction, which raised over $1,200.00, and assisted with the Champions of the Heart Rescue Parade. Allene, we could never thank you enough for all you have done to help the weims in need for all these many years!! We really do appreciate you!! Thanks Allene, from all the furr-kids!! Page 3 Tails from the Front Lines: Servus the Dog Rescued from World Trade Center Disaster searching in a tunnel beneath the World Trade Center complex when they heard three loud bangs of a firefighter's ax against a steel beam. The signal meant: "Run for your life; another building is about to come down." But in the narrow enclosure, there was barely enough room to turn around, let alone flee. "There wasn't much we could do but stay where we were and keep searching," says Officer Christensen. "I heard the signal three times. There wasn't much we could do about it." Something gave way that Thursday morning, and Wuss tumbled to the bottom of a deep pit where he began to go into convulsions. As Officer Christensen clambered down the hole, he thought that Wuss must've broken a leg, but upon reaching him, he saw that his partner was suffocating. He describes the nightmare: "I could see debris was lodged in his nose. I tried to get some out, but I just didn't know what to do. "He'd inhaled a lot of dust, and he tried to clear it by vomiting, but he couldn't. His tongue was turning purple. He looked up at me, and I thought, 'My dog's in trouble-I need help.' "I shouted up that my dog was dying. I mean, this dog is my buddy--I wasn't about to let him die down there." Above, the New York firefighters leaped into action, and within seconds they were on the scene. "I saw arms reaching down," says Officer Christensen. "I passed Wuss up the hole. He was trying to breathe, but he was doubled up." Rescuers rushed Wuss to a fire truck where they tried to administer oxygen to the dog. At the same time, Karimah Tarazi, a registered nurse, shaved Wuss's front leg and started an intravenous, but the dog had gone into shock and was shaking uncontrollably. Officer Christensen continues, "I put the mask over his nose. Then I put my fingers up his nostrils and started scooping out debris. "All of a sudden, two people grabbed a stretcher and helped carry my dog down the street. It was the most impressive thing I've seen." Firefighters, NY cops and EMTs flagged down a paramedic and carried Wuss's limp body to the ambulance, but the paramedic refused to help. "Humans only." "I thought those cops were going to shoot those ambulance drivers," says Officer Christensen. But instead they loaded Wuss into a police cruiser which, along with three police motorcycle escorts with sirens at full blast, headed for an animal hospital three miles away. At the hospital on East 62nd Street, Wuss was stabilized, although he had sustained some heavy damage from the ordeal and needed some rest. Returning to the site, Officer Christensen wanted to continue the search efforts by himself. He told Wuss to stay in the police cruiser while he went back into the south tower rubble. But Wuss, eager as ever, jumped out of the car, wagging his tail. "Get back in the car," the man ordered, but Wuss just wagged his tail harder. "I couldn't believe it. I told him three times, and he just looked at me... He just sat there. Tears came to my eyes." The duo went back to searching for about 16 hours into the next day. On Friday night, Wuss inhaled a dangerous amount of debris and started choking again. Officer Christensen, who had driven to New York from East Carondelet, Illinois with Wuss just two days earlier, made the difficult decision to take his dog back home. "I said that was it," he says. "I wasn't gonna lose my dog." Page 4 NEW YORK CITY -- In the frantic rescue operations at the World Trade Center disaster site, over 300 dogs and their handlers are committed to a mission of rescuing survivors no matter what the cost. With perils overhead and underfoot, emergency crews have learned to operate on instinct and to rely heavily on each other, as all-too-often, the rescuers themselves need become the rescued. Last week, brave men and women of the NY Fire Department, the NYPD 13th Precinct, Emergency Medical Teams and the Animal Medical Center on East 62nd Street all converged to save the life of a single downed rescuer: "Servus" the dog. Servus, a nine-year-old, 70-lb. Belgian Malinois with the unlikely nickname "Wuss", fell 20 feet down face-first into a pocket of jagged rebar, glass and powdered concrete. There's not a single person at "the pile" who doesn't recognize the immeasurable worth of a search-and-rescue (SAR) dog. Whenever a new cavity is unearthed beneath the 110 floors of rubble, desperate cries of "Dog over here! Dog over here!" attest to the fact that rescuers trust nothing less than a canine when it comes to locating survivors. So it wasn't surprising to see how dozens of rescuers literally dropped everything to rush to the aid of a dying dog. Wuss and his partner Chris Christensen, a police officer from Illinois, had been The two returned to East Carondelet on Sunday and received a hero's welcome. Page 5 Weim Wish List Weimaraner Rescue is always in need of the following:   Foster homes – we rely on foster homes to help transition the dogs into their new homes. Volunteers - we always need eager new volunteers to help us with transporting dogs, special events, voice mail and fund raising! Can you spare a few hours to help the dogs? Remember, it was a volunteer that saved your dog's life! Crates, crates and more crates!!! We loan out crates to our foster homes so we can always use more! Monetary donations – we rely on your monetary support in order to save as many weims as we do! Garage sale items – we try to have a garage sale at least twice a year to help raise money to pay for our veterinary and boarding costs. Raffle prizes – we accept raffle prizes year round for our Christmas raffle and our annual Weimaraner Festival!!! I REALLY WANT TO LIVE!! My name is Gordy and I am 6 years old. I was starved and neglected, then dumped at the pound like garbage. I am very sweet and love all dogs and cats. I have heartworms and am battling to stay alive. I have had heartworms for so long that my heart is enlarged. My vet even told me that he has never seen a heart so enlarged from heartworms. My foster moms just love me and really want me to get better. My doctors say I can beat this but it is costing a lot of money to get me healthy. Weim Rescue desperately needs funds to pay the bills ~ can you help?? We are holding another garage sale soon to raise money - do you have anything you can donate? Or, can you spare a monetary donation towards Gordy's vet bill?     Have you enrolled in the Tom Thumb “Good Neighbor Program”? Our account has already been credited with purchases, but we need EVERYONE to enroll. The next time you shop at Tom Thumb, ask the cashier to LINK YOU REWARD CARD TO ACCOUNT # 7918. Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas, Inc. will receive a donation from Tom Thumb equal to 1% of your purchases, every time you shop. This costs you nothing and benefits Weimaraner Rescue. Thanks for your support!! Gordy is just one NEARLY 200 needy Weimaraners that we bring into our program each year. Most of them are in need of immediate basic medical attention such as vaccinations, a heartworm test and need to be spayed/neutered. But, we have had an abundance of weims that are heartworm positive. As you can see below, a heartworm treatment costs a minimum of $200, more if there are complications. Can you help WRNT with any of these costs? Week of Boardng Month of Boarding Spay Neuter Exam, Shots, Heartworm Test Heartworm Treatment Monthly Heartworm Pill $35.00 $150.00 $65.00 $55.00 $50.00 $200.00 $5.00 *********************************************** Yes, I want to make a monetary donation to Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas to help other Weimaraners in need. Enclosed is my check or money order for: 7918 $20 $30 $40 $50 Other Payable to: Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas, Inc. 4347 W Northwest Hwy, Suite 120 Box 184 Dallas, TX 75220 Page 6 In Loving Memory Ilsa was rescued by one of our rescue volunteers as a puppy. Ilsa was dropped off at a vet by a breeder because her mother had bitten her nose off. The breeder did not want her because there was no money to be made from this disfigured puppy. Bonnie was a customer of this vet. She took one look at Ilsa and knew that this little girl needed her. Bonnie kept Ilsa for eight wonderful years until Bonnie became ill and could no longer care for Ilsa. She was then adopted by the Egerter family. They were all thrilled to have such a wonderful family companion. Unfortunately, they had just under a year with Ilsa before she had a heart attack and passed away. Ilsa had a wonderful life with Bonnie and then with the Egerter's. They all feel blessed to have shared their lives with her. Ilsa Jynx was our friend, companion, confidant, entertainer and shadow. He was a typical Weimaraner who was robbed of that joy the first 5 years of his life. He was used for breeding, being kept in a run next to a trailer home with 8 other dogs and his face showed the scars of years of fighting over females in heat. His only desire in life was to be near you (and to scrounge up anything edible he could find when he thought you weren't looking). In our home, Jynx was incorrigible and spoiled and hopelessly mischievous - as all Weimaraners are. We lost Jynx on September 6, 2001. Our hearts are broken and the hole in our lives left behind is a large one. Thank you Weimaraner Rescue for giving us such a precious gift, even for a short while. Jynx Page 7 JULY 2001 ADOPTIONS 7-23thru 7-31 1. LIBERTY - adopted by David, Margaret and family of Dallas. They are so happy to have little Miss Liberty as a new addition to their family. Thanks to Karla and to Carrie and Ehab for fostering Liberty. 2. SHORTCAKE - adopted by Tom of Wichita Falls. Thanks to Kelley and Carlos Gonzales for fostering Shortcake. She is so happy to have a wonderful home all her own! 3. POLO - adopted by Toni and Jake of Plano. This was love at first sight! Toni and Jake are delighted with Polo who is already obedience trained and quite well behaved. 4. BRENNA - adopted by Lois and Lee Ft. Worth. This is the their THIRD senior or special needs weim adopted from WRNT. They lost dear old Fred a couple of months ago, and Chloe needed a companion, so Brenna is the lucky one! Thanks to Chuck and Tanya for fostering Brenna. 5. ALLISON - adopted by Shannon and Roy of Frisco who recently adopted Copper. Thanks to the SETX ladies for rescuing Allison and caring for her until she could be transported to Dallas. Thanks to Jim and Lorrie for fostering her. 6. LUCAS – adopted by Larissa of Missouri City. This gentle boy is so very glad to have a home to call his very own! Thanks to Mike and Marsha for fostering Lucas! 7. CLIVE – adopted by Linda of Pearland. Our wonderful “Clivie” finally has a “furr-ever” home! Thanks to Alicia for rescuing Clive and to Mike and Marsha for fostering her! 10. BELLA - adopted by Cameron and Patrick! Bella was nearly euthanized by her previous owner because she was so shy that they decided they did not want her anymore. By a sheer twist of fate, we found out and were able to rescue Bella on the very afternoon she was to be put down!! What a happy ending to her (once) sad life. Now Bella will live out her days with people who truly adore her! Thanks Cameron and Patrick! 11. AUGUSTUS – adopted by Ron and Renata of Rowlett. This beautiful blue boy is fitting right in with new weim sister, Bailey. Thanks to Gianna for rescuing Augustus and to Lisa & Mr. Bingley for fostering him! 12. WESLEY – adopted by Ashlee & Isaiah of Dallas. Wesley stole their hearts the minute they laid eyes on him! Ashlee & Isaiah are thrilled with their sweet boy, and are generously sharing their home to their foster weim, Mason too! SEPTEMBER 2001 ADOPTIONS 1. SCOUT - adopted by Ronnie and her family from Austin. The Egerter family recently lost Ilsa whom they adopted only last summer. The children are so happy to have Scout to replace the empty place left by Ilsa's apparent heart failure. 2. GARRETT - adopted by Bill Lorrie and son Charlie of Richardson. The Conn's have a beautifully trained 2 year old female weim named "Ty". There is no doubt that little Garrett will get lots of attention from the whole Conn family. 3. GRETA - adopted by Jill of Decatur, Indiana after a "whirlwind romance"! Jill was visiting her niece in Dallas last week and met Greta in her foster home. Jill fell in love with the lady-like Miss Greta and asked if she might possibly be allowed to adopt her! Normally we do not allow our WRNT weims to go so far to find a home, but this seemed like the home Greta had been waiting for. She has been in rescue for over 14 months waiting for THE perfect home, without ANY other pets or children! Jill is an experienced large dog owner and knew that Greta would be a perfect companion! 4. RODE - adopted by Jeffrey of Arlington! What a beautiful boy Jeffrey has to play with now! What a beautiful, happy young weim Rode is, especially now that he has a loving home to call his own! 5. JULIE - adopted by Ayres and Joann of College Station. They recently lost a senior weim and couldn't wait to fill the hole in their lives. They decided before they drove up that Julie was their girl and didn't even want to look at anyone else. 6. FLETCHER - adopted by Elisabeth, her two sons, and their female cocker mix, Snickers, who was a rescue dog herself. This is a wonderful home for Fletcher, and the whole family loves him so much! 7. CALEB - adopted by Tracey and Mark of Austin! Mark and Tracey saved Caleb from a horrible living situation over a year ago and originally intended to find him a home before they moved abroad. Their plans have changed and they cannot bear to part with Caleb. Congratulations to Caleb for finding the home he deserved from the start! 8. LEO – adopted by David & Debbie of Round Rock. This wonderful little guy had a tough battle with heartworms, but he is doing great now. David & Debbie are true weim lovers and so happy to have little as part of the family! Thanks to Paula & Mary Jo for rescuing Leo and to Mike and Marsha for fostering him! 9. MADISON –adopted by Erin of Houston. Poor Madison has come a long way from the Arkansas shelter where he was dumped! He is so glad to have a new family to love him. Thanks to Alicia and Marsha for handling Madison’s rescue and adoption! AUGUST 2001 ADOPTIONS 1. COLLIN - adopted by Mike and Martha of Arlington and their 3 human children (Lindsey, Kristin and Tyler) and their furkid, Cinder who is a 13 month old gray female weim. The Wilhelms needed a new companion for Cinder after losing their senior lab recently to bloat and liver disease. 2. PETEY - adopted by Laura and family of Plano. Laura works at home and they were looking for a sweet companion for the family, including their 5 year old daughter. Petey is the perfect match and they were all on the floor with him at Patty's within the first few minutes of meeting him! Hooray for Petey! A huge thank you to Patty who drove all the way to Little Rock to get Petey and who has fostered him and lovingly cared for him; he's come a very long way under her loving hand. 3. KAIYA - adopted by Susan and her weimie girl, Laney. Kaiya is a perfect fit for Susan and Laney. He's young and active enough to keep Laney busy and calm and mellow enough that Susan doesn't go crazy. Laney is in love with this boy and so is Susan. Thanks to Cameron for fostering Kaiya and thanks to Kathy for helping with his transport to Dallas. 4. BISHOP - adopted Graeme and his wife of Dallas. It was a rough adjustment for Bishop at first, but his new family was not ready to give up on him! This are working out fine and Bishop has found his furr-ever home 5. TRENTON (AKA BUBBA)- adopted by Diana and Danny of Southlake. They have been weim lovers for years and their dogs have been obviously spoiled. They have even begun to volunteer with WRNT. As Danny and Diana welcome Bubba into their family, we welcome them into ours. 6. LEWIS de VILLE- adopted by Kim and Larry of Bedford. Kim and Larry have had weims in the past and a Great Pyranees. Lewis fell in love with Larry and Kim and they fell in love with him. Thanks to Kathy and Lin for fostering Lewis when he was in rescue. 7. KALLEY - adopted by Kathy and Bobby. What a fitting end to his adventures in Rescue. Kalley was dumped at a kill shelter at the age of 11 because his owners were moving. He now spends his time with his other brothers and sisters and is enjoying his sunset years at his forever home! 8. RHAMER - adopted by Kenny of Ft. Worth. Kenny fell in love with Rhamer's beautiful photo on the web site and wanted only him! Truly, love at first sight. The boys are doing great. Thanks to Kathy & Bobby and Lin for fostering Rhamer! 9. LUCY - adopted by Myra and Chuck of Arlington. Chuck has had weims in his family for years and they recently lost their Great Dane to cancer. They fell in love with Lucy. Lucy was picked up stray in east Texas and fostered by Steve (who has adopted two rescue weims). Thanks so goodness for kind souls like Steve! HEARTFELT THANKS to all the Weim Rescue Volunteers and whose hard work and dedication make these “Happy Tails” possible!! Page 8 WEIMARANER RESCUE of North Texas AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION October – November 2001 ** These Dogs Need Foster Homes. Call Voice Mail (972) 994-3572 For Information On Fostering **DREYFUS - This 3.5 year old blue male is a 95-pound "puppy". Dreyfus is a very sweet and friendly boy who loves other dogs, cats & kids. He has been through obedience school and knows his commands, but is used to getting his way and needs a strong owner who will be the "Alpha Dog". Dreyfus is house trained, crate trained. **GUNTHER – Large, handsome, 5 year old male. Gunther is good with other dogs and older children. Gunther will be a great dog for an experienced weim owner who will continue his obedience training. Gunther knows some obedience commands is crate trained and house trained. He is very loving and eager to please, but needs a consistent, loving home. **LAYNE - Happy 18 month old blue male. Layne is a friendly, sweet young male that will make a great family companion. He loves car rides and belly rubs! Layne is ready for a family of his very own to love him furr-ever! Layne is fostered in the AUSTIN area. MAKANA - (Mack for short) - Energetic 1 year old gray male. Makana is a wonderful boy who loves car rides, meeting new people and playing all the time. He gets along great with children and would love to have another dog to play with (no cats though). MILLER - Small 3 year old blue male. Miller is 59 lbs of love just waiting for his forever home. He gets along well with other dogs and is crate trained but needs to be let out during the day to potty. This boy has a silky soft coat and enjoys being petted and riding shotgun in the car. Miller seems to have suffered some abuse and is a bit hand shy, but gives kisses freely. He is a real doll! **TESSA - Beautiful 2 year old gray female. This chubby girl was found as a stray and no one came to claim her. She is a very happy girl who always seems to be smiling - she's definitely not shy and would really love someone to play with. Tessa gets along great with other dogs. **THIBADAUX - Small 1 year old gray male. Thibadaux recently came to us from a shelter. He is a delightful, extremely loving and very handsome guy. He has a beautiful coat, is friendly to other dogs and doesn't seem to be bothered by cats. He also walks very well on a leash. **TITAN - Handsome 3 year old gray male. Titan is an 84 lb. blockhead looking for love. If you're searching for a BIG friendly weim ~ this boy is for you! Titan is dog friendly and needs to be placed in a home without cats. BRADLEY - 16 month old blue weim-lab mix. Bradley is a wonderful, loving sweet boy who has lost his home. He has the energy of a puppy and is both house trained and crate trained. Bradley loves everyone he meets and would do well with children and other dogs. CASS - Sweet 2 year old gray female. Cass was neglected and abused before coming into rescue, but doesn't hold a grudge against anyone. This wonderful girl only wants to be by your side and have her belly rubbed. DUCHESS - 3 year old blue female. Duchess is short and sweet and will make a wonderful addition to a special family. Duchess is very afraid due to a bad owner but is warming up more each day. She gets along well with cats and dogs and will probably need to live in a home with other pets. Duchess is house trained, crate trained and easy on the leash - she is very smart but will need a patient and loving owner who will help her come out of her shell. ELVIS - Energetic 20 month old gray male. Elvis is a charmer who loves to ride in the car and wants to play, play, play. He is crate trained and is learning new obedience skills daily. This is one smart boy who is eager to please! Elvis really needs another dog to play with and doesn't want to share a house with cats! IKE - Small 16 month old blue male. Ike was surrendered along with Cass and has had a rough beginning in life, but is looking forward to a home of his own. This 58 lb. bundle of energy is finally learning how to be a dog. Ike gets along great with female dogs and wants to play all of the time - he would make a great running partner. He is crate trained and is learning house training as well. Ike is a real lover boy and thinks of himself as a lap dog. Our Rescue Weimaraners are current on all vaccinations, heartworm preventative and are spayed/neutered, tattooed and registered by Tattoo-A-Pet. Our Adoption Donation of $200.00 (puppies $300.00) covers only a portion of Rescue expenses. We gratefully accept donations of any size to help our beautiful gray & blue friends in need. We are a 501-C-3 Non Profit, Charitable Organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. If you wish to make a donation, please make your check payable to: WEIMARANER RESCUE 4347 W. Northwest Hwy. Suite 120, Box 184 Dallas, Texas 75220 VOICE MAIL (972) 994-3572 FAX (214) 352-0813 or (214) 891-9396 www.WeimRescueTexas.org Please make copies of this flier and post at your vet’s office, pet supply store and workplace . Page 9 WEIMARANER RESCUE of North Texas AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION October - November2001 ** These Dogs Need Foster Homes. Call Voice Mail (972) 994-3572 For Information On Fostering LANDRY - Extremely handsome 3-4 year old gray male. Landry is an easygoing boy who is dog and kid friendly but would prefer not to live with cats. He has excellent house manners and responds to some commands. This boy is desperate for a family of his own - he instantly bonds with people and will make a wonderful companion. MAGGIE - Very pretty 2.5 year old gray female. Maggie is house trained, crate trained and good with cats. Maggie has really been shuffled around in her lifetime and would really like to live with a family who is willing to keep her forever! Maggie would do best in a home with another dog. OLIVE - 2 year old gray female. Olive is a sweet little girl who needs to gain weight. She gets along well with dogs and doesn't seem bothered by cats, but absolutely adores people. Olive would like to be your shadow. Olive rides well in the car and would love to go home with you today! **SHELBY - Sweet 2 year old gray female. Shelby is a doll who gets along great with everyone and wants to be the center of attention at all times. She is an absolute angel. Shelby needs an experienced weim owner who can give her the love she needs. SUSIE - Sassy 6 month old gray female. Susie was a puppy mill girl rescued from a pet store. She had been confined in a cage for most of her life and hasn't been socialized as a result. Susie needs an experienced weim home who has the patience to train this little girl on everything she's missed in life. Susie is very sweet and loves to play play play! TUCKER - Sweet 2 year old gray male. Tucker is very well-mannered and loving. He is good with other dogs, but not cats. Tucker loves to be around people all the time and will make a great family companion! WENDY - Stunning 4 year old blue female. Wendy is house trained, crate trained, and responds to some obedience commands. She loves to go for walks and get her ears rubbed. Wendy is a beautiful, healthy girl. She is a very devoted companion and will do best in an adult home with no other pets WAGNER - Wonderful 4 year old gray male. Wagner must be a weim angel - this boy is house trained, crate trained, doesn't bark or chew on things he's not supposed to, gets along well with other dogs and knows several commands. This is the perfect boy for a first time weim owner! Wagner needs to live in a home without cats. FOSTERED IN HOUSTON & AUSTIN: BRANDY - Wonderful 2 year old blue female, fostered in the Beaumont area. Brandy is an easy going girl, but can be mildly mischievous. She is gaining confidence in her foster home after being dumped at a shelter and is learning to enjoy life inside the house. Brandy gets along great with dogs and may be okay with cats. CINDER - Striking 4 year old blue female fostered in the Houston area. Cinder is house trained and has some obedience training. She is such a smart girl, that she likes being the only dog and getting all the attention! KIRBY - 2.5 year old gray female. Kirby is house trained, good with kids, cats and dogs. This girl lost her owner and would really like a new family soon. Kirby is being fostered in the Houston area. More details and a photo to follow soon. SAPPHIRE - 2 year old gray female fostered in the Houston area. Sapphire was abandoned at a kennel in March while pregnant. The kennel staff has found wonderful homes for all of her puppies but Sapphire still doesn't have a place of her own. Sapphire would really like to get out of this kennel and into your home. TRISTAN - Easy going 3 year old blue male. Tristan has excellent car manners and seems to get along well with other dogs. He is being fostered in the Houston area. Our Rescue Weimaraners are current on all vaccinations, heartworm preventative and are spayed/neutered, tattooed and registered by Tattoo-A-Pet. Our Adoption Donation of $200.00 (puppies $300.00) covers only a portion of Rescue expenses. We gratefully accept donations of any size to help our beautiful gray & blue friends in need. We are a 501-C-3 Non Profit, Charitable Organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. If you wish to make a donation, please make your check payable to: WEIMARANER RESCUE 4347 W. Northwest Hwy. Suite 120, Box 184 Dallas, Texas 75 220 VOICE MAIL (972) 994-3572 FAX (214) 352-0813 or (214) 891-9396 www.WeimRescueTexas.org Please make copies of this flier and post at your vet’s office, pet supply store and workplace . Page 10 “A LESSON IN BECOMING ALPHA”    By: Vicki Rodenberg De Gruy "My dog just tried to bite me! All I did was tell him to move over so I could sit on the couch next to him." "My dog got into the trash can and when I scolded her, she growled at me. What's wrong with her? I thought she loved me!" "Our dog is very affectionate most of the time but when we try to make him do something he doesn't want to do, he snaps at us." What do these three dogs have in common? Are they nasty or downright vicious? No - they're "alpha". They've taken over the leadership of the families that love them. Instead of taking orders from their people, these dogs are giving orders! Your dog can love you very much and still try to dominate you or other members of your family. Dogs are social creatures and believers in social order. A dog's social system is a "pack" with a well-defined pecking order. The leader of the pack is the alpha, supreme boss, Top Dog. He (or she) gets the best of everything – the best food, the best place to sleep, the best toy, etc. The leader also gets to be first in everything - he gets to eat first, to leave first and to get attention first. All the other dogs in the pack respect the alpha dog's wishes. Any dog that challenges the alpha's authority gets a swift physical reminder of just where his place in the pack really is. Your family is your dog's "pack". Many dogs fit easily into the lower levels of their human pack's pecking order and don't make waves. They do what they're told and don't challenge authority. Other dogs don't fit in quite as well. Some of them are natural born leaders and are always challenging their human alpha's. Other dogs are social climbers - they're always looking for ways to get a little closer to the top of the family ladder. These natural leaders and the social climbers can become problems to an unsuspecting family that's not aware of the dog's natural pack instincts. Some families encourage their dogs to take over the "pack" without realizing it. They treat their dogs as equals, not as subordinates. They give them special privileges like being allowed to sleep on the bed or couch. They don't train their dogs and let them get away with disobeying commands. In a real dog pack, no one but the alpha dog would get this kind of treatment. Alpha doesn't have anything to do with size. The tiniest Chihuahua can be a canine Hitler. In fact, the smaller the dog, the more people tend to baby them and cater to them making the dog feel even more dominant and in control of his humans. Alpha dogs often seem to make good pets. They're confident, smarter than average, and affectionate. They can be wonderful with children and good with strangers. Everything seems to be great with the relationship - until someone crosses him or makes him do something he doesn't want to do. Then, suddenly, this wonderful dog growls or tries to bite someone and no one understands why. In a real dog pack, the alpha dog doesn't have to answer to anyone. No one gives him orders or tells him what to do. The other dogs in the pack respect his position. If another dog is foolish enough to challenge the alpha by trying to take his bone or his favorite sleeping place, the alpha dog will quickly put him in his place with a hard stare or a growl. If this doesn't work, the alpha dog will enforce his leadership with his teeth. This is all natural, instinctive behavior - in a dog's world. In a human family, though, this behavior is unacceptable and dangerous. Dogs need and want leaders. They have an instinctive need to fit into a pack. They want the security of knowing their place and what's expected of them. Most of them don't want to be alpha - they want someone else to give the orders and make the decisions. If his humans don't provide that leadership, the dog will take over the role himself. If you've allowed your dog to become alpha, you're at his mercy and as a leader, he may be either a benevolent king or a tyrant! If you think your dog is alpha in your household, he probably is. If your dog respects only one or two members of the family but dominates the others, you still have a problem. The dog's place should be at the -bottom- of your human family's pack order, not at the top or somewhere in between. In order to reclaim your family's rightful place as leaders of the pack, your dog needs some lessons in how to be a subordinate, not an equal. You're going to show him what it means to be a dog again. Your dog's mother showed him very early in life that -she- was alpha and that he had to respect her. As a puppy, he was given a secure place in his litter's pack and because of that security, he was free to concentrate on growing, learning, playing, loving and just being a dog. Your dog doesn't really want the responsibility of being alpha, Page 11 having to make the decisions and defend his position at the top. He wants a leader to follow and worship so he can have the freedom of just being a dog again. How To Become The Leader Of Your Pack Your dog watches you constantly and reads your body language. He knows if you're insecure, uncomfortable in a leadership role or won't enforce a command. This behavior confuses him, makes -him- insecure and if he's a natural leader or has a social-climbing personality, it'll encourage him to assume the alpha position and tell you what to do. "Alpha" is an attitude. It involves quiet confidence, dignity, intelligence, and an air of authority. A dog can sense this attitude almost immediately - it's how his mother acted towards him. Watch a professional trainer or a good obedience instructor. They stand tall and use their voices and eyes to project the idea that they're capable of getting what they want. They're gentle but firm, loving but tough, all at the same time. Most dogs are immediately submissive towards this type of personality because they recognize and respect alpha when they see it. Practice being alpha. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Walk tall. Practice using a new tone of voice, one that's deep and firm. Don't ask your dog to do something - tell him. There's a difference. He knows the difference, too! Remember that, as alpha, you're entitled to make the rules and give the orders. Your dog understands that instinctively. With most dogs, just this change in your attitude and an obedience-training course will be enough to turn things around. With a dog that's already taken over the household and has enforced his position by growling or biting and has been allowed to get away with it, you'll need to do more than just decide to be alpha. The dog is going to need an attitude adjustment as well. Natural leaders and social climbers aren't going to want to give up their alpha position. Your sudden change in behavior is going to shock and threaten them. Your dog might act even more aggressively than before. An alpha dog will instinctively respond to challenges to his authority. It's his nature to want to put down revolutionary uprisings by the peasants! Don't worry, there's a way around it. An alpha dog already knows that he can beat you in a physical fight so returning his aggression with violence of your own won't work. Until you've successfully established your position as alpha, corrections like hitting, shaking, or using the "rollover" techniques described in some books will not work and can be downright dangerous to you. An alpha dog will respond to these methods with violence and you could be seriously hurt. What you need to do is use your brain! You're smarter than he is and you can out think him. You'll also need to be more stubborn than he is. What I'm about to describe here is an effective, non-violent method of removing your dog from alpha status and putting him back at the bottom of the family totem pole where he belongs and where he needs to be. In order for this method to work, your whole family has to be involved. It requires an attitude adjustment from everyone and a new way of working with your dog. This is serious business. A dog that bites or threatens people is a dangerous dog, no matter how much you love him. If treating your dog like a dog and not an equal seems harsh to you, keep in mind that our society no longer tolerates dangerous dogs. Lawsuits from dog bites are now settling for millions of dollars - you could lose your home and everything else you own if your dog injures someone. You or your children could be permanently disfigured. And your dog could lose his life. That's the bottom line. Canine Boot Camp for Alpha Attitude Adjustment From this day forward, you're going to teach your dog that he is a dog, not a miniature human being in a furry suit. His mother taught him how to be a dog once and how to take orders. Along the way, through lack of training or misunderstood intentions, he's forgotten. With your help, he's going to remember what he is and how he fits into the world. Before long, he's even going to like it! Dogs were bred to look to humans for food, companionship and guidance. An alpha dog doesn't ask for what he wants, he demands it. He lets you know in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go out, that he wants to play and be petted and that he wants these things right now. You're going to teach him that from now on, he has to earn what he gets. No more free rides. This is going to be a shock to his system at first but you'll be surprised how quickly he'll catch on and that he'll actually become eager to please you. If your dog doesn't already know the simple command SIT, teach it to him. Reward him with praise and a tidbit. Don't go overboard with the praise. A simple "Good boy!" in a happy voice is enough. Now, every time your dog wants something - his dinner, a trip outside, a walk, some attention, anything - tell him (remember don't ask him, tell him) to SIT first. When he does, praise him with a "Good Boy!", Page 12 then tell him OKAY and give him whatever it is he wants as a reward. If he refuses to SIT, walk away and ignore him. No SIT, no reward. If you don't think he understands the command, work on his training some more. If he just doesn't want to obey, ignore him - don't give him what he wants or reward him in any fashion. Make him sit before giving him his dinner, make him sit at the door before going outside, make him sit in front of you to be petted, make him sit before giving him his toy. If you normally leave food out for him all the time, stop. Go to a twice daily feeding and you decide what time of day he'll be fed. Make him sit for his dinner. If he won't obey the command - no dinner. Walk away and ignore him. Bring the food out later and tell him again to SIT. If he understands the command, don't tell him more than once. He heard you the first time. Give commands from a standing position and use a deep, firm tone of voice. If the dog respects certain members of the family but not others, let the others be the ones to feed him and bring the good things to his life for now. Show them how to make him obey the SIT command and how to walk away and ignore him if he won't do as he's told. It's important that your whole family follows this program. Dogs are like kids - if they can't have their way with Mom, they'll go ask Dad. In your dog's case, if he finds a member of the family that he can dominate, he'll continue to do so. You want your dog to learn that he has to respect and obey everyone. Remember - his place is at the bottom of the totem pole. Bouncing him from the top spot helps but if he thinks he's anywhere in the middle, you're still going to have problems. Think - you know your dog and know what he's likely to do under most circumstances. Stay a step ahead of him and anticipate his behavior so you can avoid or correct it. If he gets into the trash and growls when scolded, make the trash can inaccessible. If he likes to bolt out the door ahead of you, put a leash on him. Make him sit and wait while you open the door and give him permission - OKAY! - to go out. If your alpha dog doesn't like to come when he's called (and he probably doesn't!), don't let him outside off leash. Without a leash, you have no control over him and he knows it. Petting And Attention Alpha dogs are used to being fussed over. In a real dog pack, subordinate dogs are forever touching, licking and grooming the alpha dog. It's a show of respect and submission. For now, until his attitude has shown improvement, cut down on the amount of cuddling your dog gets. When he wants attention, make him SIT first, give him a few kind words and pats, then stop. Go back to whatever it was you were doing and ignore him. If he pesters you, tell him NO! in a firm voice and ignore him some more. Pet him when you want to, not just because he wants you to. Also, for the time being, don't get down on the floor or on your knees to pet your dog. That, too, is a show of submission. Give praise, petting and rewards from a position that's higher than the dog. Games If you or anyone in your family wrestles, roughhouses or plays tug of war with your dog, stop! These games encourage dogs to dominate people physically and to use their teeth. In a dog pack or in a litter, these games are more than just playing - they help to establish pack order based on physical strength. Your dog is already probably stronger and quicker than you are. Rough, physical games prove that to him. He doesn't need to be reminded of it! Find new games for him to play. Hide & seek, fetch or frisbee catching are more appropriate. Make sure you're the one who starts and ends the game, not the dog. Stop playing before the dog gets bored and is inclined to try to keep the ball or frisbee. Where Does Your Dog Sleep? Not in your bedroom and especially not on your bed! Your bedroom is a special place - it's your "den". An alpha dog thinks he has a right to sleep in your den because he considers himself your equal. In fact, he may have already taken over your bed, refusing to get off when told or growling and snapping when anyone asks him to make room for the humans. Until your dog's alpha problems are fully under control, the bedroom should be off-limits! The same goes for sleeping on furniture. If you can't keep him off the couch without a fight, deny him access to the room until his behavior and training has improved. Crate Training Dog crates have 1,000 uses and working with an alpha dog is one of them. It's a great place for your dog to sleep at night, to eat in and just to stay in when he need to chill out and be reminded that he's a dog. The crate is your dog's "den". Start crate training by feeding him his dinner in his crate. Close the door and let him stay there for an hour afterwards. If he throws a tantrum, ignore him. Don't let your dog Page 13 out of his crate until he's quiet and settled. At bedtime, show him an irresistible goodie, tell him to SIT and when he does, throw the goodie into the crate. When he dives in for the treat, tell him what a good boy he is and close the door. Graduating From Boot Camp~~ What's Next? Just like in the army, boot camp is really just an introduction to a new career and new way of doing things. A tour through boot camp isn't going to solve your alpha dog's problems forever. It's a way to get basic respect from a dog who's been bullying you without having to resort to physical force. How long should boot camp last? That depends on the dog. Some will show an improvement right away, others may take much longer. For really tough cookies, natural leaders that need constant reminders of their place in the pack, Alpha Dog Boot Camp will become a way of life. Social climbers may need periodic trips through boot camp if you get lax and accidentally let them climb back up a notch or two in the family pack order. How do you know if you're making a difference? If boot camp has been successful, your dog should start looking to you for directions and permission. He'll show an eagerness to please. Watch how your dog approaches and greets you. Does he come to you "standing tall", with his head and ears held high and erect? It may look impressive and proud but it means he's still alpha and you still have problems! A dog who accepts humans as superiors will approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or off to the sides. He'll "shrink" his whole body a little in a show of submission. Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays this submissive posture to some of them, but not others, those are the ones who still need to work on their own alpha posture and methods. They should take him back through another tour of boot camp with support from the rest of the family. Obedience Training Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new position in the family, you should take him through an obedience course with a qualified trainer. All dogs need to be trained and alpha dogs need training most of all! You don't have to wait until he's through with boot camp to start this training but it's important that he respects at least one member of the family and is willing to take direction from them. Obedience class teaches you to train your dog. It teaches you how to be alpha, how to enforce commands and rules, how to get respect and to keep it. All family members who are old enough to understand and control the dog should participate in the class. Obedience training is a lifelong process. One obedience course does not a trained dog make! Obedience commands need to be practiced and incorporated into your daily life. In a dog pack, the alpha animal uses occasional reminders to reinforce his authority. Certain commands, like DOWN/STAY, are especially effective, nonviolent reminders of a dog's place in the family pack order and who's really in charge here. A well-trained, obedient dog is a happy dog and a joy to live with. Dogs want to please and need a job to do. Training gives them the opportunity to do both. A well-trained dog has more freedom. He can go more places and do more things with you because he knows how to behave. A well-trained dog that's secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and confident. He knows what's expected of him. He knows his limits and who his leaders are. He's free from the responsibility of running the household and making decisions. He's free to be your loving companion and not your boss. He's free to be a dog - what he was born to be and what he always wanted to be in the first place! When You Need Professional Help If your dog has already injured you or someone else or if you are afraid of your dog, you should consult with a qualified professional dog trainer or behaviorist before starting Canine Boot Camp. Your dog should also have an exam by your vet to make sure there are no physical causes for his behavior. To find a qualified trainer or behaviorist near you, contact your veterinarian or the American Kennel Club for a list of obedience training clubs in your area. Page 14 Vicki Rodenberg De Gruy, Chairman of the Chow Chow Club Inc.’s Welfare Committee, wrote this article. It was uploaded with permission from the author. It may be reproduced for non-profit purposes with author's credit given. Lone Star Weimaraner Club Lone Star Weimaraner Club, Inc. Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas, Inc. 4347 W. Northwest Hwy Suite 120, Box 184 Dallas, TX 75220 Check the Month Number on top line over your address. Renew your club membership or subscription before this date to assure you don’t miss any issues. Club & Rescue Voice Mail Page 15 972-994-3572 www.WeimRescueTexas.org Page 16