How Are They Doing?

SPOTTIE '08

Spottie has been selected to participate in the first Doggy Duathlon World Championship, which is part of The 8th Annual Nautica New York City Triathlon next July. Spottie, whom we rescued from NYC Animal Care & Control, will be among the first doggies to run the race: 1500 meter swim in the Hudson River followed by a 10k run. For more information visit the website: http://www.nyctri.com/

STAR '07!

Last but not Least is our STAR. We snatched Star from ACC Brooklyn after reading a volunteer's notes on the dog. Well, besides being all that the volunteer said about her, Star (aka Sunny) also passed the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test! Poor Sunny has had severe allergies causing recurrent skin and ear infections for which she's been treated. Now recovered, Sunny is as good and beautiful as ever!

BUDDHA '07

Another now famous SFTH dog rescued from AC&C Manhattan, Buddha, was an official FINALIST for Brooklyn Industries' Coolest Dog in Brooklyn Contest. Over 330 dogs entered the contest, and only 9 were chosen as finalists! Buddha came in 2nd runner-up. There is always next year, Buddha!

Buddha, still reeling from his loss, continually compares himself to some other great losers of the past decade...!

In Memoriam: Winnie, 2003-2007

Last winter, Winnie and her dad came to the Manhattan shelter on a very cold night to meet Belly, a wonderful American Bulldog / Pitbull Mix that ACC Melissa Mooney had brought to our attention. Winnie approved Belly and so did her dad. It was love at first sight. Belly went home with them, and the two dogs were together until Winnie's death last month, October 31. Winnie had a enormous heart and spirit, but in the end, her kidneys failed her.

Winnie's dad wrote to us:

"She was the best dog I have had, and I knew she would be special right from the moment I met her at a rescue event in southern California in January 2005. During her time with me, she got to run on the beaches of Malibu, hike in the wilderness of the Ojai valley, play in the snow of Columbia Falls, Montana, go trout fishing in the Blue Ridge mountains, and finally stroll the streets of Brooklyn.

She was my fearless co-pilot on my drive cross-country back to the east coast, and she was always a soulful companion during my time with her."

Lovely Winnie is now gone, except in the memories of those who loved her.

--SFTH

There is nothing wrong with liking one color or marking pattern above another, but one should realize that we aren't adopting a pretty face, but a living, breathing creature that is going to make real demands and require money to care for, time, and patience.

Brindle is a marking pattern used to describe many breeds, usually in conjunction with another color. Layering of black hairs in regions of lighter color (usually, fawn, brown, or gray) producing a tiger-striped pattern. Brindle is often used to describe Great Danes, Bulldogs, Boxers, and Pitbulls.

The brindle pattern may also take the place of tan in tricolor coats of some dogs breeds (such as Basenjis). This coloration looks very similar to the tricolor, and can only be distinguished at close range. Dogs of this color are often described as "trundle".

If you are interested in learning about coat color genetics, Sue Ann Bowling, a retired professor in physics (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) has written excellent articles on canine coat color genetics: http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Bowling/Bowling.html

The brindle dogs featured in these pictures were rescued by SFTH from either the street or pulled out of AC&C. Ponti came to us from Tennesse after a rescuer contacted us to save his life. They are beautiful, well-tempered dogs.

If you like the brindle pattern in dogs go to NYC Animal Care and Control (http://www.nycacc.org) during adoption hours. There you will find many beautiful brindle dogs in need of a home.

Adopting or fostering a dog saves two lives - the dog you pull out of the shelter, and the dog that gets to move up into a kennel in the adoptable rows.

Chip / ACC Brooklyn / Adopted

"There is a critical area around the dog's mouth that can be best described as the forbidden zone," writes John Fisher in Think Dog! "Anything inside that area belongs to the dog."

In the wild, even submissive animals will defend their food as part of their survival instinct. Often, family dogs don't display a high degree of this food guardian instinct because they are well-fed and don't have to hunt or fight for their food. However, if the dog displays a motionless stance and/or stares when you approach during chow-down time, he's warning you to stay away. If this sign goes unheeded, the dog typically will issue a warning growl-and then possibly bite.

Here are some suggestions for coping with food-guarders, compliments of Fisher and behaviorist/author Jean Donaldson (Dogs Are From Neptune):

* Practice being close to the dog during feeding time by hand-feeding. Encourage the dog to take the food without grabbing or nipping-say "gentle." (This is a good technique to practice even if the dog has not exhibited food aggression.)

* Feed twice vs. once daily (the same daily amount fed over two meals).

* Change the food bowl as well as its location to a place free of stimuli that might trigger mistrust.

* If you have two or more dogs, feed them in separate areas, or even in their crates.

* Buy two similar feeding dishes. Place one bowl on the floor and put the food in the other. When he dives into the empty bowl, put a couple of spoonfuls into the floor bowl, adding food in small quantities, until the dog finishes the food, then take the bowl away.

* This slows down a gulper and also establishes you as controller of the food. A behavior modification plan:

* Start with a low-intensity version of the bite-triggering scenario. Stand at a distance from the dog and the food. Then as the dog appears comfortable with you at a certain distance, gradually decrease the distance.

* Use a less desirable food item.

* Vary the setting and stimuli. Try a new food, new dish, different room and different time of day for feeding.

* Decrease the distance and increase the desirability of the food item very, very gradually.

* Never smack a dog in response to a food guarding response; this tends to teach him to dislike your hand and often will toughen a dog's resolve to protect his food. However, you do need to nip this behavior in the bud. Once the dog learns that aggression allows him to "win" the food, he may try this tactic with resources and possessions other than food.

An effective strategy is to establish yourself and other people in the home as the controller of all resources.

* Call your dog to you, and immediately reward his arrival with a small food treat and say "take it" at that moment. This will reestablish a conditioned response.

* If the dog tries to snap the treat from your fingers, command "GENTLE!" and withhold it until the dog takes it politely. Then praise "good dog." Repeat this several times.

* Next, delay giving the treat for a few seconds. If the dog jumps for the treat, close your hand and say "OFF." Ignore the dog until he calms down. As explained on http://canines.com, the dog will learn that the owner controls the treats. Caution: if food aggression appears well-entrenched, consult with a good canine behavior specialist without delay.

Courtesy of Paw-Rescue Organization.

Best Shots!

Dylan / ACC / Available [Photo: SFTH]

Bonnie / ACC / Adopted [Photo: SFTH]

Leo / ACC / Available [Photo: P. Rossi]

Isis / Adoption pending. [Photo: D.Bakum]

Letters From Adopters

Hi Marta -

Lauren mentioned to me that she sent you some photos and an update on Tiggie and Gem, which got me to thinking that I haven't given an update in a while.

Lauren may have mentioned to you that I moved. It's a little farther up Manhattan, but it's close enough to where Lauren and I still get the boys together several times a week for play dates. Gem has adjusted well to the new apartment - he's not even crated during the day any longer! He's so well behaved - has never chewed anything (except a throw pillow once, which he mistook for a personal stuffed animal!) and I never come home to any accidents. He's such a good pup!

My cousin has a farm about an hour and a half outside of the city which I took Gem a few weeks ago and have included some pics for you. He had a blast! He even learned how to swim - my little pooch who HATES the rain and baths! My cousin's entire property is fenced in (aside from the creek), so Gem was able to run off leash the entire time - needless to say he was pretty much in heaven. My cousin, who has had a shi tzu and a pug, enjoyed having him so much that he's now considering getting a larger dog. And they were VERY impressed with his temperament and disposition.

I hope this email finds you well, and that the pictures of Gem give you some inkling of the joy he's brought into my life. Thanks again for all you do!

Best,

Jason
New York, NY

Gem (aka Young One) / ACC

Dear Marta,

We wanted to thank you for all your help with Tyco. We felt so defeated trying to find him a home or a no-kill shelter. Out of 100 phone calls, no one was willing to help us and we had no choice but to bring him to Animal Care and Control, which broke our hearts… but then you contacted us and we had a renewed hope to help this poor dog.

Thank you for all your hard work in saving Tyco's life and finding him a home. Enclosed are some pictures of Zoe also known as "Crotona" we adopted from you in February 2007 (and her brother our other dog Jake). Zoe is such a sweet, loving and cuddly dog. We are so happy to have her as part of our family… and again her happiness and our happiness is because of you.

We admire all the work you do to help abused and homeless animals. You are an angel.

I know it's not much, but enclosed please find a donation for your organization. I hope it can help at least one more dog find some happiness.

Thank you again for all your care, concern and hard work you do for these dogs.

Best Regards,

Dana & Christopher Brooklyn,
New York

Zoe / ACC Manhattan
Police found Zoe swimming in the Crotona Lake on a very cold night.

Hi Marta,

I hope all is well with you. I wanted to give you a Tiggie update and send some of the latest pics of him and Gem. Jason and I still cant get over what a small world it is.

Tiggie and Gem are best of buddies as you will see from the pics. It is great that Tiggie has such a great friend, and someone who can play as rough as he does. Jason and I help each other out watching the dogs. Most recently I watched Gem for 4 days, and boy it was quite an experience having them both since the are non-stop playing. They literally played for days straight.

Anyway, hope all is well. Thanks again for Tiggie, he is the best thing that has ever happened to me and the CENTER of attention in my family. His attendance at family function is requested before mine!!!!! Tiggie has changed many people perception on Pits and Pit mixes. He is truly the best dog ever and a blessing. I can not wait to get another one (once I move out of this apartment)!!

Take care and stay in touch.

Lauren and Tiggie
New York, NY

Gem and Tiggie (ACC)