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.