Emerald City Pet Rescue Grand Opening Saturday June 28th 12pm to 3pm Seattle SODO District!

 

We at Emerald City Pet Rescue are PROUD to announce the GRAND OPENING of our new state of the art rescue facility in Seattle’s SODO district this Saturday from 12 to 3 pm!

We will have food, fun, raffles, prizes, friends, and more and come and meet the animals and team that represent what ECPR is all about!

Check out our video on YouTube that the Seattle news did on Emerald City Pet Rescue!

 

Hope to see you there! Saturday June 28th 12-3pm!

Emerald City Pet Rescue Seattle SODO

2962 First Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98134

(206) 557-4661

 

ECPR 2014

The Many Reasons We Love Our Pets

For today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog, I thought I would discuss something we all can relate to and in fact have pondered from time to time, or possibly our friends and family sometimes may not completely understand – WHY we love our pets so very much!

It doesn’t matter what type of species you are a “Mom” or “Dad” to, but gosh we sure do love them. We will do pretty much anything in the world for them, won’t we?

It doesn’t matter how much it costs, what it entails, most all of us will do anything to keep them safe, healthy, happy and with us as long as we possibly can on this Earth.

WHY is this do we think? Well, let’s just refer to them as our ‘furkids’ for this blog (even if they are of other species without fur). Our furkids are there for us during every trial and tribulation in life that gets thrown our way.

This is why many animals are now officially labeled and ‘vested’ as “therapy pets”.

It may be a human death of someone we have loved, maybe a divorce, a job loss, a health scare or diagnosis of someone we love or even ourselves. Those little angels are THERE for us. They ask so very little in return and just give complete unconditional love.

They seem to actually know when we are going through times of distress – not leaving our sides, licking our faces, looking into our eyes as if to say “don’t worry, I am here for you”.

If you are a pet owner and can relate to today’s blog, kuddos to you! And if any of your family or friends question your unconditional love for your pet or pets even sometimes borderlining on your love for humans – tell them this – the unconditional love that animals show towards their human parents is something the human species in some instances could learn a lesson from. As it is better to give than to receive.

This is dedicated to all of you wonderful pet mommies and daddies out there.

God bless you!

ECPR 2014

The Story of a Feral Cat Colony..

For today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog, I thought I would talk about something very near and dear to my heart – my feral kitty colony.

When I moved away from my hometown as an adult, promising myself never to return to ‘the past’ – I ended up in later years gratefully being able to afford a ‘vacation home’ close to the beach in my hometown I promised never to return to..but again, this was going to be my ‘vacation home’.

During one of my ‘vacations’ to my new home at the beach, a friend of mine told me about some baby kittens in the park adjacent to my home that looked as if they weren’t doing too well.

Well, that was it for me – even though that day happened to fall on my birthday I pulled out all of the stops to jump into ‘rescue mode’ and save these little buggers.

Well, as most of us know – when you find a few stray kitties needing help, there are usually more around, by NO FAULT of their own, as well.

These cats that some may call ‘feral’ or even refer to them as ‘nuisances’ come to these ‘colonies’ by once again NO FAULT of their own, they have been abandoned, dumped, and thrown away by humans.

I did some research once I realized I had a situation on my hands here. I came to find that many of the vacation rental people had left behind many purebred kitties or escaped kitties through the years. These were GORGEOUS cats, let me tell you!

The story goes, that an elderly lady used to feed my newly found feline friends. In recent months she had passed away and the kitties had lost their caregiver. They had no predators there, a safe environment, but no food.

I started reaching out for help. There really was none other than a local rescue group kindly offering to lend me some traps.

And there it came to be – the weekend trapping events – to spay and neuter my new little friends, to vaccinate them, disease test them, treat them for any parasites, crop their little ears, so that others would ‘know’ they were fixed and had a ‘caregiver’ etc.

I adopted many of my new friends. I adopted out all of the ones that ‘told me’ they would like to be adopted by humans and the ones whom wanted to stay were released back into the colony once their vetting was completed.

I ended up spending my entire life savings on this before I found out there are rescue agencies that will help you with this at no fee to you. In this case, the wonderful organization called the Feral Cat Coalition aka the FCC.

10 years went by, I promised myself no matter what I would never leave my kitties. But life comes to be that sometimes our situations change.

It came to be that I found out my worst nightmare was approaching. I had to move. Who would take care of my kitties, my babies? I felt that they all would die without me and I without them.

God stepped in, as He always does – and sent me a ‘Fairy Godmother’. A woman who runs a local business who I didn’t know had developed quite the love for my furry friends.

She and I worked out a deal, that I would send her money and anything she needed when I had to move out of state.

The kitties are all fine and happy, I think they love their new Mommy as much as they loved me! She sends me updated pictures weekly and they have more ‘fans’ that have stepped in to help feed them.

So, the moral of this story is – when you see a feral cat colony – please do not think of them as a ‘burden’ or a ‘problem’. They don’t bother anyone, they don’t cause any problems. They actually keep other kitties who may not be vetted from moving into the area, as they have formed their own colony.

Feral kitty colonies did not get to where they are by any fault of their own. Their predecessors most likely were someone’s own cats that they left behind for someone else to take care of. They may not be ‘adoptable’ because they just want to be left alone. But they are beautiful and deserve to be a part of our Earth, just like anyone else.

ECPR 2014

 

When the Rescue Community Loses One of It’s Own

With a heavy heart I dedicate today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog to a beautiful person and fellow rescuer, Moirra “Michelle” O’Brien.

The rescue community was shocked and saddened yesterday by the news of Moirra O’Brien’s sudden death in the early hours of the morning.

She was an amazing human being that was loved and respected by so many. She was known for her compassion, humor, zest for life, loyalty, and her love for all animals especially her little Pomeranian breed doggies.

When something like this hits one of ‘us’ – one of our fellow animal rescuers, it hits hard. Even if you didn’t know her – you knew of her and her huge heart. Many of us just knew her from Facebook, and you just knew that she was one of the special ones.

While processing Moirra’s sudden death, it makes one think about the big picture in life.

With all of the bickering and fighting that goes on within the rescue community, I think we all have taken a step back with Moirra’s passing away.

We all need to work together as we all follow the same goal – helping and rescuing animals. Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do it isn’t making a difference.

But when we lose one of ‘our own’ we realize what a huge impact Moirra made in this world, the lives she saved, the friends and loved ones she brightened the cloudy days of.

She DID make a difference, and she is so very missed. We all need to come together and realize that we are all working towards the same goals. We ARE making a difference.

Life is short, how we spend it is our decision. But if we could think of Moirra and her unconditional love for humans and animals alike and try and live our lives as she did, I think the world would be a much happier place in the rescue community and around the world.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Moirra’s family, loved ones, friends, and animals.

You will never be forgotten and may we aspire to be even if just a bit of the human being that you were.

The rescue community stands together to say you DID make a difference.

Until we meet again, sweet lady.

May you be surrounded by all of the animals and people you have loved and lost in Heaven.

ECPR 2014

 

Depression and Animal Rescue

For today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog I thought I would discuss something I know all of you animal rescuers and even animal adopters can relate to, and that is depression and animal rescue. It could even be depression when we find out one of our fur kids are sick or ill, pets lost, or pet death etc.

No one ever said animal rescue would be easy. Sometimes it can just be one thing that gets you into ‘stinking thinking’ – wanting to quit, wanting to give up, wanting your normal life back.

Contemplate that for a second in the ‘big picture’. You signed up for this. Yes, we all are free to make our own decisions and possibly ‘walk away’. Sometimes the photos and stories of the animal abuse and neglect and the ones we couldn’t save can just be too much on certain days.

If you were to walk away, who would be there to be an additional person to speak up for the ‘voiceless’

It isn’t an easy thing, I know. Whether you are a foster, a volunteer, a networker, a donor, an animal mommy or daddy or the multi-tasking rescuer. Especially, if you are RUNNING a rescue group.

I am not a psychiatrist by any means. But during times like this you probably need to do something for YOU. Whether it be taking a vacation, getting your hair cut or done, going to the gym, going to the movies – SOMETHING possibly NOT animal related to get your ‘mojo’ back.

For all of you animal rescuers out there dealing with depression, you are NOT alone. This too shall pass. Your passion and vigor WILL return, just get through this time and know that it is NOT a forever feeling.

If you are dealing with severe depression, you may want to consider speaking with a psychiatrist or licensed therapist you can be open about your feelings with and let them talk you through your feelings during this time.

Some of us reach out to our friends and family, as well.

Whatever the case may be, don’t get stuck in a rut.

The animals need us, but we are no good to them if we aren’t being good to ourselves.

ECPR 2104

 

Coping with Pet Loss – Grieving Along with Healing

Today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog came to me due to the recent numerous emails from people on some of our Emerald City Pet Rescue animals wanting to adopt a new pet after losing their cherished pet to illness, old age, etc.

As an animal rescuer, and someone who has had MANY furkids and dealt with pet death and passing so very many times. I think this is a GOOD thing. It is okay to grieve over your pet, we love them as if they are our own children, some of us even more than our own children. They are so innocent, so forgiving, so loyal. The time passes by so quickly. And then the day comes when you realize that time is running short for your fur child.

The day comes when it is time to say “Goodbye” – you have thought it through in your head and gone over and over how you think it will go, and yet we are NEVER prepared for this day, are we?

Pet death is one of the many reasons that human beings can entertain suicidal thinking. It is not something to be taken lightly.

Grieving is good, but staying in that dark place is NOT good.

Your pet would not want their Mommy or Daddy to be so very sad, after the lifetime of love and care that you gave to them.

If you have recently lost your beloved pet, consider adopting a rescue animal. You are NOT replacing. You are mending your broken heart, getting your head out of a dark place, and changing the life of an animal whom otherwise would have never known such an unconditional love from a human being that you would be able to give.

I have touched before on the day I lost my 22 plus year old dog. I went into a dark place. I wouldn’t get out of bed for weeks, all I did was sob and this is even with having other pets. The loss was so deep, how would I ever fill this void?

I started looking at rescue doggies on Petfinder, well my boyfriend forced me to do it due to the fact that he couldn’t stand seeing me cry and lie in bed all day, most likely.

I adopted a rescue dog. He was nothing like my dog I had lost, but he was just the right ticket!

He made me laugh for the first time in weeks. He stole the sandwich out of my mouth while I was eating. He peed on my drapes and when I caught him ‘in the act’ he seemed to actually laugh and run circle eights around me.

For this I am forever grateful to him. No one else could have saved me. No amount of counseling, therapy, anything could have brought me back to life.

I wasn’t replacing that love of my life. But my new little son had a new life with me and I with him.

If you are dealing with the recent loss of a pet, consider giving a rescue animal a new wonderful life. And it’s okay for you to live again, too.

This blog is dedicated to those we’ve loved and lost. Until we meet again someday..

ECPR 2104

How I Became a Full Time Animal Rescuer

For today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog I thought I would discuss my own personal journey on how I became ‘an animal rescuer’.

Throughout my life, as many of you reading this can relate to – I always rescued animals…don’t we all at some point in our lives? As children, many of us brought home the strays, helped the fallen baby birds, etc.

I always say I was raised by wolves. During most of my childhood, my Mother had usually around 27 animals – don’t be afraid – 13 of them were at one time hamsters, in addition to dogs, cats, parrots, finches, horses, turtles, fish, etc. We were lucky enough to have a large home and several acres of land at that time.

Those animals, as they do today made everything ‘okay’ during the years of my childhood, teenage and adult years. It seemed to be ‘my calling’ in life. I thought one day I would become a veterinarian.

I will never forget the moment in life in which my life changed and the person I would become.

My dog of 22 plus years passed away and I just lost it. I adopted another rescue doggie to ease my pain, even though I had other animals in addition to my little senior.

I knew something within me was different. I seemed to realize finally how short life was and that we are not invincible, as we feel in our younger years.

I took a leap of faith one day and started chatting with the director of a cat rescue at a local Petco store one day. I offered to volunteer 2 hours every Saturday at their adoption events. Well, that was the end of the story…I have to laugh out loud as I type this.

Soon after I became a foster parent, for one and then for many cats. My role in the cat rescue group became more and more entailed wearing as many hats as I could.

It took the passing away of a senior neglected owner surrendered kitty I had worked with and fostered for me to realize that the cat rescue had become too hard on me, physically and mentally. I knew I didn’t want to give up my ‘mission’.

I decided to try dog rescue. I made my first trip to a California high kill shelter. My jaw dropped as I entered the facility. I had never seen or imagined anything like it. Over 500 dogs and cats and other animals in this ‘prison like’ environment.

The animals were given as little as 3 days to live before they were euthanized. Well, that was it for me. I was going to make a change.

The years went on, and oh the lives I saved, the ones I couldn’t, the good days and the bad. The fosters, the foster failures, I learned so much. So much about life and I learned so much about myself and human beings, in addition to animals.

Some days I want to close my eyes and not see the suffering anymore. It seems never-ending. For as many lives as we save, there are millions that we cannot.

If you are an ‘animal rescuer’ and feeling overwhelmed…you are NOT alone.

Don’t give up, the animals along with the human race NEEDS you!

Make sure to give yourself a break once and awhile. If you are feeling like it is ruining your life, it may be time to scale back and reassess what your goals are.

For all of you wanting to become an animal rescuer. Be ready for a journey of blood, sweat, and tears. Along with making a difference in this world.

I am truly blessed and grateful to be a part of Emerald City Pet Rescue. Our founder Vivian Goldbloom’s unconditional love and sacrifice for all animals is one of the most selfless and beautiful things in life I have ever witnessed.

This is dedicated to the animal lovers everywhere.

The Rescuer Versus the Breeder..Versus Human Compassion

I have been thinking about today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog for a few days. It’s a touchy subject in the rescue community. The “Breeder”. One of our worst foes. For as we try and try to save the lives of the animals, purebred or not, relinquished to the kill shelters and the MANY owner surrenders, just mentioning the term “breeder” can make our blood boil. Reputable breeder or not, our country is trying to control the pet population and the euthanasia rate, not increase it.

We at Emerald City Pet Rescue received a call from a woman with terminal cancer. She needed help with her 20 plus Yorkshire Terriers. Some of which were her own personal dogs, primarily younger dogs, some older, none of which had received any veterinary care. All, including the younger dogs needed extensive dental work. The oldest of the dogs being 7 years old (pictured below) had to have all of his teeth extracted.  But they were all loved.

As it came to be this woman begging for help was “A Breeder”. As a rescue group we could have rejected this woman’s cry for help for her dogs. This is where the other aspect comes in being that of human compassion, in addition to wanting to help the dogs.

We knew in our hearts that most other rescue groups would not have the capacity to rescue such a large number of dogs, nor the means to completely vet, spay and neuter, do dental procedures, blood work etc on such a large number of dogs.

Luckily, our founder Vivian Goldbloom was able to make the arrangements with our many VCA Veterinary Facilities to take in these dogs and care for them.

If you are a rescuer, such as I – you may be reading this thinking “DON’T help the breeder” – there are dogs in the shelter who need help which are the ones we usually rescue.

This is where the aspect of human compassion comes in. “The Breeder” in this case is a human being losing her battle with terminal cancer, she made a cry for help. If we at Emerald City Pet Rescue weren’t able to help, the dogs would have been relinquished to a kill shelter, which we know are all over capacity. Many of the dogs would have probably been euthanized at a shelter.

I am proud as a human being that we at Emerald City Pet Rescue were able to put aside our personal feeling on the subjects of breeders, breeding, etc. And to come together as human beings to help a fellow human, breeder or not, who was in trouble and cried out for help and also save a lot of doggies from entering the shelter system and also being able to spay and neuter these dogs to stop the breeding.

Sometimes we need to push aside our personal internal ‘wars’ with our ‘foes’ which can even be a shelter system’s protocol we don’t necessarily agree with, a breeder in trouble, etc and come together as human beings to look to the greater good which is the passion we all share, helping the animals. And in turn, it feels good to be able to help a human being that is facing the last days of her life, too.

ECPR 2014

I Want to Go on Vacation, But What About My Pets?

Today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog is dedicated to all of you pet owners out there that are concerned about going on vacation due to being afraid of leaving your pets, myself included.

There are various options available to pet owners. Some considerations are family members, friends, boarding facilities, veterinary offices, and professional pet sitters.

For myself, when I did decide to finally ‘take the plunge’ and go on my once every few year vacation, I was lucky enough to have a house keeper that had been in my family for years that I could trust to watch my ‘zoo’ and to be trusted in caring and protecting them.

Through the years I explored many options. Many years ago I tried boarding at my vet’s office. That didn’t really seem to go too well. I came back from vacation to find my animals somewhat traumatized and not clean. This of course, can vary from vet to vet obviously. This particular vet many years ago was a smaller veterinary office, not like the ones we have today that have the larger kennel type boarding facilities.

We at Emerald City Pet Rescue have a relationship with the wonderful VCA Veterinary Hospitals team around the United States most of which are open 24 hours so your pets are getting around the clock care, which is GREAT.

I also tried the ‘friend’ option, even paying that friend. I would come home and find my pets safe but also would come home to a filthy house where it looked like ‘this friend’ had a party at my ‘pad’ when I was gone.

For those of you reading this thinking “oh great, this isn’t really helping” I will elaborate on some positive choices for you.

If you DO choose your vet’s office or a doggie daycare, they can be pricey and your pets can be exposed to other pet’s germs, BUT the good thing is that they are AT a veterinary facility where their needs can be met. And you don’t have to worry about them running away, someone stealing your dog, oh the things that go through our heads regarding our precious pets.

Another route is a professional pet sitter. I would choose one who carries insurance. That way you know he or she takes their job very seriously. I would not rely on any fly by night pet sitters, personally.

If in your case you adopted your pet through a reputable animal rescue group, you could contact your fur kid’s former foster parent who cared for them prior to your adopting your pet and see if they would be willing to watch them while you are away. This way you know this person has cared for them in the past and knows their likes and dislikes and can be trusted with their care.

Family is always good if you have that option. Your family at least I would hope would not let anything happen to your pets. If this is NOT the case with your family then DON’T go this route.

We all DO need to go away sometimes. We can’t let our furry children make us ‘held hostage’ so to speak.

So I would recommend making a list of your pros and cons, your concerns etc and the variables with each suggestion.

In today’s pet friendly age, there are also many hotels that actually allow animals. This is a GREAT choice for pet safety, but I don’t know how much of a vacation that will give you. But everyone has their own idea of a perfect vacation. I know that many Marriott Hotels, and Westin Hotels, and of course the good old Motel 6 do allow pets, some restrictions will apply obviously.

Here’s a couple of great sites that will help folks find hotels that are furkid-friendly! http://www.bringfido.com/

And : http://www.pet-friendly-hotels.net/

The safest route would probably be your local veterinarian or professional boarding center that is contained with a veterinarian on staff or on call. If you do choose this option remember your pet needs to be current on all vaccinations prior to you leaving your pet at one of these facilities.

A professional pet sitter can be good too, if you know and trust them and have checked references etc and insurance is always a good thing for them to have.

Here is a link of professional pet sitters – bonded and insured and also first aid & C.P.R certified in animals across the United States that may be helpful for you: https://www.petsit.com/.

Sometimes the friends and family route doesn’t go so well, and there is always the chance of your pet escaping etc.

Consider what would be best for you to be able to enjoy your vacation without worry, and then that will make the choice much easier.

And once you have established a ‘trust’ with your choice, you will feel a bit more free and at ease to go on that vacation you need.

This is dedicated to all of you wonderful pet parents out there who love and value your fur children so very much.

ECPR 2014

Help! My New Foster Dog is a Maniac!

For today’s Emerald City Pet Rescue blog I thought an interesting and hopefully helpful subject to touch on for those of you who are contemplating the idea of possibly fostering a dog or dogs and for you wonderful fosters out there, what would we do without you. Your patience, your dedication, your blood, sweat and tears. Literally!

Okay, so you have made the utterly selfless decision to be a committed foster Mom or Dad for a rescue group or for a shelter, whatever the case may be, you are or are thinking of becoming a foster parent.

Now we all need to remember, and most of you reading this who are experienced fosters know that these animals generally come from very harsh circumstances that were of no fault of their own.

As most of our Emerald City Pet Rescue animals come from the very high kill shelters or possibly a home where they experienced neglect or any bad situation. I could go on and on as to the horrors in rescue, but I won’t.

So, hopefully as we do at Emerald City Pet Rescue, your new foster has been vetted or isolated for a period at a vet’s office prior to you bringing the foster pet in contact with any of your other pets. If you have no other pets then the case may be different, but most of us do.

Day one…the ‘excitement’! Here comes my new foster dog (we will reference dogs in today’s blog). You have gotten everything ready for him or her and you are going to have a great time caring for this poor little soul that needs your tender loving care.

He or she enters your home and….

The introduction to your other pets may NOT go as planned…maybe the ‘new kid’ starts humping all of your dogs, marking your furniture, growling, etc.

You say to yourself, OMG what have I gotten myself into? This dog is a MANIAC!

Well, stay calm, you are NOT alone. The first night is always rough. Dogs have pack mentalities and like with human children will test you to test what and where their boundaries stand.

Help! The dogs aren’t getting along! Calm down, the dogs unless of course we are dealing with dog aggressive behavior, and in that case the dog should be fostered in a one pet only home to begin with. But in today’s blog we are not referencing dog aggression, just normal dog ‘stuff’. And if you panic, the dogs actually do sense your energy and pick up on it which is called transverse aggression, so stay calm, and fake it even if you aren’t calm.

I fostered dogs for 10 years, and although I don’t foster anymore I am the doggie therapist for those midnight 911 calls from our wonderful foster parents to ‘talk them through the madness’.

I always say, give it 4 days. Every time I brought a new one home to the ‘pack’ it was usually insane, generally speaking. The first night I got no sleep, I watched them like a hawk to observe the new foster’s behavior and how my other dogs reacted to him or her.

But guess what, dogs figure it out. We need to maintain with them that WE are the alpha dog, not them. And they will all figure it out through our gentle guidance of telling them NO and praising them for good behavior. Watch over them like a mother dog to see if you can figure out the communications between the new kid and the existing kids. Don’t let the new kid come in and ‘run the show’ no matter how much you feel sorry for him or her, but don’t let the other dogs pick on him or her either. Sounds easier said than done, I know but it can be done.

A large crate is also good for the first night, so that the new dog feels safe and everyone has a chance to sniff him or her out.

The time will pass quickly and all of a sudden your little ‘maniac’ is turning into a normal dog.

This is why the foster parent is so cherished in the rescue community. This is where your hard work pays off. It’s not just the place you provided but it’s helping the dog remember what it’s like to be a dog again.

Teaching them love, trust, that you will not abandon them, you will feed them, praise them, you love them.

No one ever said fostering was easy. But I can tell you, it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my 45 years on this planet. Seeing a dog come in so abused, neglected, unsure, scared, and see them blossom into a ‘normal dog’ with trust, a sparkle in their eye and then yes, when that perfect forever home comes, it is bittersweet but that is when you know your job is done.

Today’s blog is dedicated to all of you foster parents out there. God bless you and thank you for your selflessness and dedication.

And it’s okay to get frustrated once and awhile, too.

ECPR 2014