"Sugar Mama"

Well, its no surprise how Sugar got her name - she is sweet as can be!!

Sugar is a 2 year old Pit Bull mix. She somehow found herself at animal services with a litter of puppies. The shelter staff put Sugar's pups up for adoption, but she was scheduled to be euthanized. We just couldn't bear seeing her get put down because she wasn't as "adoptable" as her puppies.

Unfortunately, Sugar ended up being heartworm positive, so she has had to undergo treatment for it. As of May 2011, her treatment is completed and she is ready to move onto her forever home.

Sugar adores people of all ages. In fact, her foster mom says she acted as the welcoming committee when new neighbors moved in...they loved her! She is good with other dogs, too.

Sugar is a true Florida girl - she loves to lay outside and relax at the beach. She is in heaven if she gets to lay out in the sun.

Summer is fast approaching. If you are looking for a super cool dog to chill out on the beach with, fill out an app for Sugar today!

"Mary Beth"

Mary Beth is a short and stocky little girlie from Hillsborough County Animal Services. She was confiscated as a cruelty case, but you would never know she had experienced any trauma or neglect. Her personality is fantastic - totally happy-go-lucky, great with people and animals. She is the perfect poster dog for Bully breeds.

Mary Beth actually passed the Pit Bull Ambassador test at HCAS, but unfortunately, she is heartworm positive. Since heartworm treatment is expensive and requires a quiet, relaxed environment, the shelter was unable to treat. But no worries, she is now with a RRinc foster to start her recovery.






UPDATE 5/30/11:

Mary Beth has completed her heartworm treatment is all ready to find her furever home! This girlie is cat, kid, and dog friendly. She is an absolute delight and is sure to make you smile.

"Wish" Upon a Star

Wish's intake photo at animal services. Notice the urine-stained
legs and open sores.

"Wish" is a female blue and white Pit Bull Terrier who is being pulled tomorrow, 4/13, from Orange County Animal Services.

Wish is in awful shape - bones sticking out and covered in urine burns. She is going to go through a full medical workup - blood panels, physical exams, etc - to see if there is a biological cause for her emaciation. But, considering the extreme urine stains, it appears she is probably the victim of unthinkable neglect - locked up in her own waste without food or water.

No matter what is causing her condition, she only has one "wish" - to be loved. Despite her harsh treatment, she still have a desire to live. She is a timid soul, wagging her tail gently when approached by people. Right now, her eyes tell a depressing story. But, with some TLC from RRinc, they will soon be telling a tale of great redemption.

By some stroke of luck, Wish is heartworm negative. However, she will still need a lot of supportive care and medical check ups. If you could please donate even just $10 to her treatment, that would make a world of difference.

To donate via Paypal, please click here.

Wish's progress will be posted here regularly, so stay tuned!

UPDATE: 4/17/11

Wish is safe and sound! She and her daughter, Twinkle, arrived Friday evening. Thanks to Summer in Orlando for holding them overnight and Stephanie for transporting them to Tampa.

Twinkle is in relatively good shape - a little skinny with some flea dermatitis, but nothing too serious. She is a happy, wiggly puppy with a great personality. She appears to have a little something other than Pit mixed in...maybe Hound? She is super adorable and is currently looking for a Foster-to-Adopt home.

Wish, on the other hand, is in awful shape. She is totally emaciated, with her spine and ribs sticking out completely. She also has severe urine staining on her legs and underbelly, which will take weeks for the new, clean hair to grow back in. To top it all off, she has multiple pressure sores on her body. All of this supports our theory that she was locked in a small, cramped cage with no human interaction - no petting, no love, not even trips outside to use the bathroom.

But now, Wish never has to worry about that fate again. She will never have to wonder if she will get dinner every night, or whether she will ever be allowed out of her crate. Her life from here on out will be a "wish" come true.

5/30/11:  Well, it has been just over a month and Wish is a totally new dog! She has been fostered by our director and has totally stolen her heart with her wiggly personality and love of life. In fact, Wish's nickname is "Go-Go" because she bounces around like a Go-Go dancer. The vet estimates her age to be around 6 years, but don't believe she is an old lady for a second. This girlie has boundless energy and would love a home where she can go for long walks and have lots of play time. She is quite the snuggler, too.

So, if you are looking for a Pittie girl with an awesome personality, Wish is your girl. She is a fantastic example of the trusting and forgiving nature of this breed - she literally was on death's doorstep because of human negligance, but she still adores people.

"Cajun" - Available

Cajun is a stunning chocolate and white male Pit Bull Terrier. He was picked up by an Animal Control Officer in Highlands County. His owners were contacted, but they never came to get him. Now, he is safe with our rescue and ready to find his forever family!

Cajun is a gentle and well-mannered dog. He takes treats gently, walks well on the leash, and doesn't jump up on people. He is pretty calm and quiet and would probably adapt well to just about any home. He will be starting his basic obedience training shortly.

Stay tuned for updates on the handsome Cajun!

UPDATE 4/17/11:

Cajun is doing great! He has really come out of his shell in the past 2 days and is showing what a fantastic personality he has. He has been out to play with Gumbo for short periods of time, and both of them are getting along perfectly. They would run around together all day if they could!

Cajun has also been a good boy about crate/housetraining. He doesn't care to go in his crate, but doesn't fight it either. Once he's there, he is quiet and relaxed. He is still learning not to barge out the crate door as soon as it opens, though. 

We haven't introduced him to the rest of the pack yet (waiting until after neutering on Wednesday.) He has had some nose-to-nose interactions with the cats, and acted like he wanted to play. I probably wouldn't place him in a home with a timid cat that would run from him, but if the cat was more assertive, it wouldn't be a problem.

"Gumbo" - Available

Gumbo is a 2-3 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Pit Bull mix that was pulled from Highlands County Animal Control. He has very unusual blue and white markings and is incredibly adorable. His pictures simply don't do him justice - he is much more handsome in person! He has a "squishable" face that would melt just about anyone. Combine that with a stellar personality, and you have yourself an awesome dog!


More info on Gumbo coming soon :)

T-Bone - Foster to Adopt

T-Bone is an absolutely gorgeous American Staffordshire Terrier. He was hit by a car and taken to an emergency vet. He went through his medical screening and it was discovered that he had a fractured pelvis. The vet tried to locate owners, and when that came up dry, they contacted rescues. We took him in and we are glad we did!

T-Bone is eligible for our Foster to Adopt program until his hip is all healed up. He just needs to be on crate rest for a few weeks, and he should be good to go!!

More info coming soon.

"Aislynn" - Foster to Adopt

Okay - it just doesn't get ANY cuter than Aislynn!!

This adorable little black and white girlie will *totally* steal your heart. Her personality is phenomenal - she greets everyone and everything with a wiggly body and LOTS of kisses. She is being fostered in a home with dogs and cats, and is doing great with them.

Looking for your next performance prospect? Aislynn is your girl! She has great tug and toy drive, which is super important for agility, disc, and flyball dogs. She is attentive, focused, and always ready to go! She also has a pretty mean vertical jump for a pup, so I could totally see frisbee competitions in her future.

Aislynn would be best suited to an active home. While she would love to be in a home that did agility or another sport with her, she would love to go for evening jog or bike ride just as well :)

Aislynn was pulled from Hillsborough County Animal Services, and she has a bit of Demodex mange (a common condition we treat in RRinc.) Her case isn't too severe (compared to, say, Honey Bun or Oliver), so a couple of rounds of treatment should knock it out.

If you are interested in this amazing pup, please contact Adoptions@RugazRescue.com

What is the Foster-to-Adopt program?

"Dora" - Available for a Foster-to-Adopt home

The Foster-to-Adopt program allows us to place dogs in homes that interested in adopting them before they are medically cleared. For example, we often get dogs with Demodex mange or Heartworms. Both of those conditions are treatable and have a high rate of success. The dogs are generally well enough to live in a family and be "normal" dogs, but we cannot release them from our organization until they have a clean bill of health.

So, by having an FTA program, we can let the dogs that are recovering from medical conditions go to prospective adopters while still receiving treatment. This is beneficial because it allows the dog to start bonding with your family. You can also decide if the dog is suitable for your needs without making a lifetime commitment yet. But, more importantly, it opens up space in our volunteer foster homes for other needy dogs that would be killed.

Medical expenses are the responsibility of RRinc until the dog is formally adopted. Once the dog is determined to be free of Heartworms, Demodex, or whatever other condition it may have, the regular adoption donation is paid. Also, if you are approved to foster, then you are automatically approved to adopt.

HSUS Hoarding Confiscation Dogs

In the beginning of March 2011, a large scale animal cruelty bust took place in Alabama. Over 200 animals were confiscated from squalid conditions by the Humane Society of the United States. The cats were being kept in overcrowded and filthy trailers. The dogs were either chained or housed in rundown, makeshift kennels.

Yes - that IS a white dog!

Many rescue organizations in Florida stepped up for some of the dogs, and they all traveled down South in the HSUS Animal Disaster truck to better lives. We were able to take ten of them.

After a big adoption event, we all met up at the Humane Society of Tampa to unload the truck. The dogs were taken off the truck in their kennels and walked briefly. We were able to access the general conditions of the dogs - dirty, skinny, hair loss, etc. We then load them back up in our volunteer's cars and took them on a long drive to Westlake Animal Hospital for some much needed TLC.

At Westlake, we took each dog out individually and gave them baths. We set them up in their temporary kennels and gave them all names. We got everyone fed and settled in for the night.

The next day we returned with even more volunteers to play with, socialize, and walk the dogs. We also delivered the goodies that were donated - Kongs, EZ Walk Harnesses, Collars, and Leashes.

Over the next few days, the healthy dogs were moved into their foster homes while the sicker ones started recovery.

The majority of the dogs confiscated have heartworms, some have Demodex. A few are ready to be adopted right now, but others can only go into a Foster-to-Adopt home until they are cleared medically.

BLOGGER'S NOTE: My sister and I helped to transport and process these dogs when they arrived in Tampa. Despite everything they went through, they were all loving and totally trusting. It is amazing what dogs can go through and still retain their trust of humans. These ten dogs are going to make ten happy families.



"Happy Tail" - Millie was so happy about being rescued that she literally broke the skin on her tail in the kennel.

Meet the Dogs of the Hoarding Bust:

Keegan

Sherman

Beetle

Penelope

Carter

Precious

Dexter

Jax

Frank

Millie



URGENT LOST DOG

Please help us find Katie!

Katie is a female Pit Bull/Labrador mix that was surrendered to Rugaz Rescue after her owner was hospitalized and no longer able to care for her. She was taken into rescue on March 23, 2011 and busted through a screen window at her foster home. She was not yet spayed and was in heat.

She was last seen in the Dover area.

If you have any information about Katie, please contact us ASAP. We want to get her back quickly and safely so she can be spayed to prevent an unnecessary litter.

Please do not leave condescending comments. This dog was not the victim of an irresponsible person who let their unspayed dog roam freely. The foster mom is a good person who opened up her home to a dog in need, and the dog got away from her. She was lost on the day she came into rescue, which is why she wasn't spayed yet.

"Buzzy" - Courtesy Post

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19118291

Please note: Buzzy is NOT a Rugaz Rescue dog. He is being privately fostered by a Rugaz volunteer. For more information on Buzzy, please contact Courtney.

Courtney Williams - dash9211@yahoo.com

More info on Buzzy will be added shortly.

8 Bottle-fed Puppies

Oh boy, Rugaz Rescue is overloaded with puppies. Between these 8 orphans and Heidi's litter, we will have 18 puppies available at roughly the same time. Whew, that is crazy!

These eight little orphans were dumped in a box at Hillsborough County Animal Services when they were just 2 days old. They had no information, like the breed of the mother, with them.

Not having a Mama to feed them, one of our dedicated fosters, Evelyn, volunteered to bottle raise these babies so they would have a chance. Bottlefeeding is very tough (puppies have to eat every few hours), but Evelyn pulled through. Now these pups are about 4 weeks old and all of them are healthy and thriving!

 We do not know what breed they are, as we have no information from the former owners and it is very tough to guess at this age. Only time will tell :)

These puppies will not ready for their new homes until around May, when they are 8 weeks old. If you are interested in adopting one, contact Adoptions@RugazRescue.com to start getting pre-approved.

"Oliver" - Foster to Adopt


 

His name is "Oliver"...

The meaning of "Oliver" - "Olive Tree"

Why we named him after the "Olive Tree"...



"That the olive signifies the good of charity, is evident from the signification in the Word not only of an olive, but also of oil. It was with olive oil, together with spices, that the priests and kings were anointed, and it was with olive oil that the lamps were trimmed (Exod. 30:24; 27:20). The reason olive oil was used for anointing and for lamps was that it represented all that is celestial, and therefore all the good of love and of charity; for the oil is the very essence of the tree, and is as it were its soul, just as the celestial, or the good of love and of charity, is the very essence or the very soul of faith; and hence oil has this representation. That oil signifies what is celestial, or the good of love and of charity, may be confirmed from many passages of the Word; but as it is the olive-tree that is mentioned here, we will merely present some passages that confirm its signification"



Oliver loves kids!

Oliver is a young male Pit Bull terrier that was transferred from Orange County with a severe case of Demodex mange. It took a group effort, but he was pulled from the shelter and taken to his foster mom, Tonja, for some much needed TLC.

As you can see, Oliver has been thriving under her care and is now ready for his forever home!

BEFORE:

More info to be added soon.

"Tonka" - Hold

Tonka is a 2 year old chocolate and white boy. He was adopted by a family as a puppy, but due to personal problems, he was taken back into rescue. Unfortunately, he has quite a few medical problems that he is having to fight thru before being ready to finally find his forever family.

Tonka playing with his foster sisters, Cupcake
and Sprinkles

Tonka is being treated for Secondary Pyoderma (caused by Flea Allergy Dermatitis), double ear infections, and a urinary bladder infection. He was also super skinny when he was brought back, and has already gained 3 lbs in just one week.

Tonka will be ready for adoption shortly.

"Frank" - Hold

Getting some love from one of the volunteers

Frank is a popular guy! He was one of the dogs from the HSUS busts, and he sure earned the affection of many volunteers that went out to visit the dogs. He was a quiet guy, never making a sound. His eyes were captivating and you he looked at everyone with total trust.

Nom nom nom!

Unfortunately, Frank is Heartworm Positive and has a minor case of Demodex. However, he can be moved to a Foster-to-Adopt home while he recovers.

More info coming soon.

If you are interested in Frank, please contact Adoptions@RugazRescue.com

"Carter" - Hold

Carter was one of the worst looking dogs from the HSUS bust. He was dirty, skinny, and had missing patches of hair from Demodex.

Carter getting some love from Director Devilyn

He is being fostered by Juli, and has made remarkable progress.

More info coming soon.

"Harpo" - Hold

"Pebbles" - Hold

Heidi and Her Puppies

Former Hacienda

One of our volunteers got a call from someone looking to place their Pit Bull and her 10 puppies. We went out to access the scene, and decided we had to do all that we could to get the Mama dog and her pups out of that situation as quickly as possible.

Mama dog, now called Heidi, was living in a converted chicken coop with her 10 two-week-old puppies. They were covered in huge fleas and the pups were starting to become anemic. Heidi was on a diet of rice and garlic, and was approximately 15 pounds underweight.



Daddy Dog

 Oh, and you'll never guess what breeds the puppies are. Heidi is a Pit Bull, and daddy dog is a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix. Talk about a handful!

Devilyn, the director, took care of vaccinating and deworming Heidi and the puppies. We loaded them up and took them to the Vet Lab at Tampa Bay Technical High School for a much needed bath.

Before giving Heidi her bath, she had blood drawn to run a heartworm test. She was a high positive.

While volunteer Stephanie bathed and picked fleas off of her, Devilyn and Courtney began working on the puppies. Some of them had irritated eyes that were closed shut from fleas running across them. You could bathe a puppy for 10 minutes, think you were done, and find twenty more fleas hiding somewhere else on them.

After baths, we put Heidi and her pups back in the car for their final trip to their foster home. They were greeted anxiously by Glen and Kelly.

When the puppies are 8 weeks old, they will be split into smaller, more managable groups and fostered seperately. Mama Heidi will be staying with Glen and Kelly until she has completed her heartworm treatment.

The puppies will not be ready for adoption until around May. At that time, Heidi will be ready for a foster-to-adopt home while she recovers from heartworm treatment.


UPDATE 3/29/11:
Glen and Kelly are AMAZING! They have started their own blog for the pups here.You can daily "pupdates" on both Mama and babies. You can also see Heidi's progress as she gains weight and learns how to be a dog. They even set up a live webcam so you can watch the pups at play. Check it out!