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August 3, 2008 Johnnie is doing better daily. He is thriving with lots of love!! He did well in his temporary foster home while we were in New England, weekend before last. Then he came back home with me on Tusday the 29th. Wednesday was his next trip to the Dr. Fuller's for his suture removal and neuter. He did very well and was happy to know that he does not have to go back there again!! He got his rabie shot and has finished all his medicine. This is his last week on the famous boiled chicken diet. He has learned to sit for a treat too! He wants to be able to show Mindy (his new mom) and her family how smart he is when they pick him up this Saturday the 9th. Today we decided to go on another field trip. We went to see Judy Hill the director of Metro Animal Shelter here in Tuscaloosa. Johnnie wanted to thank her for making sure he got all the care he needed. Kelley Strickland the rescue coordinator was the one instrumental in getting Johnnie to us and she was so pleased to see how great he looked and how happy he is. The picture with this update is Johnnie with Kelley hold him and Johnnie giving Miss Judy a big kiss for all she does for the Animals of Tuscaloosa County. ADAR Animal Rescue is so pleased and proud to work with Metro Animal Shelter they go above and beyond in working with rescues to save so many deserving dogs and cats. Next update will be when JA is leaving for his new home YEAH!! | ||||||
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July 22, 2008 This is a Johnnie Angel Update!! He came home with me on Friday. He has his own private room and is doing well. He is an "odd" little fellow. I knew he wasn't eating well and needed to be on a soft diet, so I bought every kind of canned food I could find at the store. All evening, I tried every brand and none of them interested him. About midnight, I knew I had to get some food into him with his meds. So I took a hot dog and cut it up. He ate that right away. So we use the hot dogs to hide the pills in. Then I boiled him some chicken and de-boned that and he loved it. So all weekend he has been on the hot dog and boiled chicken diet. I highly recommend it! He walks well on a leash and has had no "accidents" in this house. He is well trained...... Today we took a field trip of sorts. Traci and Darrell Watkins have gone above and beyond in helping cover his expenses, so we went to their business today to pay them a visit. I have attached pics of him and Traci out in the warehouse of their place. He did so well and was so happy to have all the attention. He rode excellent in the car and waited patiently while we loaded dog food too! (All Pro Trucking -- owned by the Watkins pick up our food in SC and warehouse it for us at their place--I told you they help us so much!) This afternoon he is going to a temporary foster home here in Tuscaloosa with Kathy Farmer (as always arranged by the best coordinator in AL -- Suzanne Young). She will keep him until next week when we get back from our monthly run to the Northeast. We have 24 dogs and puppies going to their forever homes!!! I again want to thank everyone for their support of Johnnie and what ADAR Rescue tries to do for so many dogs and puppies in our community. I have posted all the e-mails (including this one), on our web-site www.adarrescue.com. As we have updates on his progress and placement it will be there so everyone can keep up with his life. Please crosspost this to your lists so everyone knows how well my angel boy is and where they can follow his progress. Again many thanks for the contributions, letters of support, well wishes and prayers. July 14, 2008Late last week I learned of a dog brought to my local shelter that was shot by it's owner. The owner is mentally unstable and is in a safe place and being cared for. It seems he wanted to end his life and take his little buddy with him. He failed at both. Fast Forward, the little dog ended up at the shelter. The wonderful women who run our shelter got permission to get care for the dog. He has been at a local vet until the owner's family released the dog for the care he needs. I went to see him at the vet who was holding him and making him comfortable. I immediately took him to one of the vets I use who is good at repairing this sort of thing with the x-rays etc that were already taken. I have just arrived back home, he is having surgery tonight. They are going to have to put a pin in his jaw. He is a sweet, sweet boy, even with the pain he must be in. I did not have my camera with me so I don't have a pic, but will get one when I go see him tomorrow. He looks like a very small black German shepherd OR a very large black Chihuahua, about 30 lbs. The purpose of this message is to ask for help with the expenses of caring for this dog. I believe everyone I am writing this to knows me personally and knows I do whatever it takes to care for these sweet animals, but this time I could use a little help. The bill at the vet in Tuscaloosa is over $300. The surgery at Dr. Fuller's will be at least $800 as it stands now. He still needs to be neutered, etc. If we have any complications, they bills will only go up. Please do what you can to help my little friend. Forward this to anyone you know who could help. I know the economy is bad, gas is high, but my friend needs some help...... You can help by making a donation via paypal. You can call in a donation via credit card to Dr. Fuller's office at 205-426-2828 or mail a check directly to the vet at:
ADAR Rescue 8051 Laurel Oaks Lane Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 From the bottom of my heart thank you for anything you can do to help this fellow. He has a name, I don't like it, nor do we want to use it as we have promised to keep the matter confidential for the young mans family. Please spread the word to help this little guy......... July 15, 2008Today was a good day. Mr Johnnie Angel as we are calling him for now is doing well. Dr. Fuller is doing his surgery this afternoon, it is going to be a long surgery and he does not want to be interrupted. When I went to see my little friend this morning, he was very happy to see me, we went out for a short walk and a good talk. I told him how very many people were concerned for him and are helping him to have the life he so deserves. He sat still shortly for the attached photos. You can see in the one photo the entry point of the bullet. He is comfortably waiting for his surgery. He had dinner last night and did just fine with the soft diet they gave him. He is on medications for infection and pain and will be given everything he needs to be as comfortable as possible. I want to thank all the kind and generous folks who contacted me in the last 24 hours regarding help with this little guy. It has been amazing to me that so very many people really do care. Today we went and paid off the vet who cared for him here in Tuscaloosa. We were glad to have that taken care of and now we only need to concentrate on paying Dr. Fuller all that we will owe him. We have FAITH and know that we can do it. I will send an update tomorrow with the results of the surgery. I will be there in the morning to see him. I don't want him to ever think he is alone!! Again thanks, words cannot express how grateful I am to each and everyone of you who has contributed, pledged to contribute and those who have forwarded our e-mail to others who might help. | ||||||
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July 17, 2008 First I must thank everyone who has contributed to helping my little friend. He has been temporarily named Johnnie Angel. We may not have to find a name for him in order to find him a home. We have two families interested in adopting him. Update first then all the other news. He is doing well. He had to have a second small surgery on Wednesday to align the plate perfectly!! He was not eating this morning but was on IV's. Eating some tonight. If he improves overnight he will come to my house tomorrow. Otherwise Saturday or whenever the Dr. feels comfortable with releasing him. My dear friend Suzanne Young had a foster home set up for him. But with my dear friend Carrie Presley (Carrie and Cats) crossposting I had a wonderful conversation tonight with a lady named Mindy from Trussville who is going to foster to adopt him. We are going to talk again Saturday night to review his status. She already has two special needs dogs and is experienced in this sort of thing. I know Darrell and Traci Watkins had wanted to name him Rocky because he is a survivor and I will suggest that to Mindy when I speak with her over the weekend. Today went I went to the vet; I had a message from a lady in Boston who expressed an interest in adopting him as well. I have left her a message and will speak to her if she returns my call. But my heart is telling me Mindy should be his mom. I will keep you all posted.......... Now, I have a little problem. The gals at Dr. Fuller's have been gracious enough to accept phone in donations; only I found out today that they have not been taking name and addresses of those donating. So if you have phoned in a donation direct to the vet, please know that I have no way to send you a note filled with my heartfelt thanks for caring about my little friend. Know that it is appreciated and Johnnie is being well cared for. Today I didn't even ask what the bill was, with the second surgery and all......Whatever it is we will find the funds to pay it. This fellow is so sweet and so special he deserves whatever it takes. For those of you who have been crossposting, please send this to the same folks so that they know Johnnie is doing well and may actually be in his own home before the weekend is over!! I will send another update after the weekend so you all know the final outcome of Mr. J. Angel. Johnnie cannot be fully adopted to Mindy or anyone for at least two weeks. Dr. Fuller will want to see him back for suture removal and his neuter, then we can finalize his forever home. It sounds lame, but thanks to each and everyone who has had Johnnie in their prays, I know he has come this far only because so many care. | ||||||
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 Q & A with ADAR Founder Amy GiblinA: I have always had a dog in my home. In Illinois growing up we had a family dog. But as an adult I’ve always had 4-6 large dogs, often dogs that others would not adopt. I have always adopted from the local rescues or humane societies where I lived and volunteered. A: I have been volunteering in animal rescue/shelter work since the early 1980's while living in Chicago, and then in Northwest Indiana. In Chicago I volunteered at the Chicago Humane Society. In Hammond, Indiana I volunteered with Save our Strays and the Calumet Area Humane Society. However, nothing there compared to the need for animal rescue here in West Central Alabama. A:I actually got involved in rescue when coming to Alabama a few years ago and seeing the tremendous need of animals here. I volunteered with existing groups at first but wanted to take rescue to a larger scale in my own style. I wanted to help the dogs that others wouldn't or couldn't. That’s why I started ADAR. A:I have attended many seminars and conferences on rescue work, spay/neutering, animal evaluation, etc. Many of the local vets here in Tuscaloosa have taught me about diseases and disease control. I have a way with dogs that many others don't. I can get the most unsocial animal to "come around". It takes patience and love. Dogs need a routine to feel comfortable and will then learn to trust. A:That they must SPAY and/or NEUTER their pets. It is a simple idea and it will stop the senseless euthanizing that is happening, because we have TOO MANY DOGS in this state and not enough responsible owners. That is why ADAR takes so many dogs out of Alabama to their forever homes. Dogs deserve to be members of the family. Not just a possession tied out in the yard. A:The rescue was started to help the dogs no other group would or could. We take dogs off the street and out of the shelters. Those are the ones that need us most. Many of these dogs are hours away from euthanasia in kill shelters, and many require amputations, treatment for heartworms, and other life-threatening conditions. We are not afraid to help a sick or injured dog or a dog that just needs to learn to live with a family. All our foster homes work to socialize the dogs so the transition to their forever home is simple. Most all these dogs need just a few simple things: LOVE, FOOD and WATER!! Not rocket science, just time, patience and faith!! Time to allow the dog or puppy to be just that, patience while they learn this, and faith that we can make them well enough to be someone's pet and that the right person will come along and want this once unwanted dog. A:I am a very driven person with loads of love, patience and the organizational skills to do this. I don’t do anything halfway; I commit my whole self to it. ADAR placed over 650 dogs in forever homes in 2007, and we plan to well exceed this number in 2008! I have made many wonderful contacts – other rescuers who are also passionate about helping animals. Everywhere I go, everyone I meet, I tell them what I do. I always wear a shirt that carries a message about spay/neuter, not chaining or penning dogs, not to buy dogs from puppy mills or backyard breeders. Adopt a rescue dog and make them part of the family!! A:Since the things the dogs need are simple, so are ADAR’s needs. We need short-term foster homes; most often we need homes for 2-4 weeks, just time enough to keep them safe until we can fit them into one of our regular/long term foster homes. We, as all rescues, need funding. Vet care is our largest expense. In 2007, we spent over $100,000 in vet care. Every animal that comes to us also leaves spayed or neutered. This mission alone is very costly. Then the fact that we take in the dogs that need heartworm treatment, limb or eye removals, or other serious treatment from neglect and abuse means our costs are very high. We will not turn a dog down because it needs surgery or other treatment. Besides cash, we are always short on wire crates and travel crates. We also use a lot of blankets and towels, and are always in need of those. Dogs need to feel comfortable, as if they were in their forever home; they need to sleep on blankets and learn to be bathed regularly and have their nails cut. They just need to know what it is like to be a LOVED DOG!! Lastly we need volunteers. We need to improve our fund raising activities. We would love someone who would commit to just that aspect of the rescue. We have great ideas, but too many dogs and not enough volunteers to stop and work on this! A:The first and main thing people can do to stop neglect is to have their pets spayed and neutered. Reducing the numbers of unwanted pets is the only way to reduce neglect and abuse. If you see abuse or neglect, their are things you can do. First, contact your local police department, sheriff's office or animal control department. If you don't get results, go higher. Call the mayor, chief of police or the sheriff. If you don't get satisfaction there, go higher!! The governor, senators and state representatives need to know what is happening in their communities. Turning the other way and ignoring a situation will not make it improve. We humans are the only voice abused and neglected animals will ever have, and they need to be heard. Adopting a friendAll potential adopters are interviewed prior to being allowed to adopt. All adopters must sign a contract stating that they will care for the animals, provide regular vet care, etc. The adoption fee for most dogs and puppies is $100- $150 with some being a bit higher due to special circumstances. Those persons adopting puppies that are not altered from the Birmingham/Jefferson County area will be offered low cost spay/neuters in lieu of the required deposit. All others will be required to leave a $100 deposit until proof of altering is provided to ADAR Rescue. We make every attempt to have all puppies and kittens over 4-5 months old altered before being placed. We will suggest other cost saving methods of spay/neuter as we are aware of them. The adoption fee for cats and kittens is $30-$60. The same terms apply for deposits and low cost certificates as mentioned in the paragraph above. How You Can HelpWe are always in need of volunteers and donations of cash and supplies, including dog and cat food, leashes, collars, medicine, toys, treats, etc. We are a 501(c)3 orgainzation and all donations are tax deductible. Please call 205-759-1100 and leave a message, we will arrange for your donation to be picked up or give you an address where you can mail your most welcome cash donations. Also, please visit our News page to read about our application for a $15,000 grant so that we can get a van to help with our long distance transports. If we get this grant we can help more animals get to their new permanent & loving homes so please visit the news page and click on the link to leave your comments-every positive comment will help us in our quest to get this grant. If you love animals and are particularly interested in working with ones who need extra love and attention, please contact us. We would love to have you as a volunteer. You can help in several ways. **Volunteers work adoption days and speak to the public about our animals **Fostering an animal at your home is especially important and rewarding. **There are many opportunities to transport an animal to meet it's new home or no-kill rescue. This normally consists of driving one hour to meet the next driver and may save the animal from being put to sleep. **We can also use your help in cleaning or assembling kennels at our foster homes. **If you have any special skill or talent that may assist us, please let us know. Come Visit Us!All our animals live in foster homes, so there is no one place on a regular basis to see all the adoptable pets. Please call 205-759-1100 or email us if you see an animal that you are interested in. We can make appointments most evenings and all weekends to introduce you to all our babies waiting for their forever homes. Please watch our event calendar as we participate in many "adopt-a-thons" in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. We will be showing our adoptable animals at the Pet Supplies Plus on Hwy 280 down from The Summit. This Pet Supplies Plus is located in the shopping center with Target and Best Buy. Several Saturdays a month between 11 am and 4pm, we will be in the adoption room to meet you. Please see our Events page for dates. Come see lots and lots of cute puppies, kittens and dogs looking for their forever homes. | ||||||
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