DC Weim Rescue Event Part 2: GRAYSON'S HEART-WRENCHING STORY

GRAYSON'S HEART-WRENCHING STORY - Grayson is a senior Weimaraner who will be 12 years old in May, 2014. I met him during the DC Area

Senior dog Grayson seeking a forever home

Weimaraner Adoption event on Saturday, March 8 at the Pet Valu in Gambrills, Md. and walked around with him for about 3 hours. He was very gentle, peaceful and kept nuzzling up to me and all of the people he met. 
  Karin Bakken, the manager and and coordinator for the rescue (who has a network of volunteers including us) managers all the dogs (there are 12 needing permanent homes this week), took Grayson in. She brought him and 2 other weims needing adoption to the event. 

 Grayson was turned into the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue on Thursday, March 6 and was scared and confused about what had happened.
   So, why after 12 years with a family would a married couple give up a dog in a breed that usually only lives to be 14 or 15? In short, cruelty.

Rob and Grayson

Grayson's Plea for Adoption

  I learned that Grayson grew up with another dog for his entire life, and the dog recently passed. So, Grayson was grieving, and in his grief I assume he was whining and crying, and vying for attention. I do understand that he started barking, which apparently was just too much for an intolerant, impatient husband in the relationship.
   His family has "issues" and he barked the night before he was taken to the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue. Apparently or the husband threatened to take him to him to the shelter, so the wife drove Grayson to the rescue. Tom and I feel that she should've driven the husband to a homeless shelter and kept the dog.  People are idiots.

FOR INFORMATION ON GRAYSON AND OTHER DOGS NEEDING FOSTER HOMES OR ADOPTIONS, VISIT: http://rescue.dcweimclub.org/

A Weeknight Dog Rescue Transport

Monday brought a call for transportation for Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue, and we answered the call. One dachshund that was rescued named Sami had back surgery (likely caused after jumping off a chair or couch and injuring his back) at a veterinary hospital in Catonsville, Md. The other, Happy, came directly from the Baltimore Shelter.

Happy, the long-haired dachshund

A TEAM EFFORT -  All of the people that work as volunteers for the rescue give their own time, spend their own money on gas, and freely give their time. One such amazing person is Shelley S. She agreed to go to the vet hospital (even though it was over an hour away from where she lives) at the end of her work day and get Sami at the Vet hospital. She also picked up Happy from the Shelter (and stopped to bathe him because she said he desperately needed it).Happy is a long-haired, black dachshund and looked pretty shaggy.

MAKING A PLAN - Trying to figure out the logistics and getting the two dogs from one place to another takes some work. The dogs ultimately had to be delivered to central Virginia that night and there were 4 volunteers that were ready: Shelley going to Baltimore, me (Rob), Kristin (in Columbia) and Katie (in Virginia). I suggested a 3 team transport, so Kristin didn't have to join in this time (she's always helping- including at this weekend's dog event).

Shelley drove them (each in their own crate) from Baltimore (Catonsville is next to Baltimore) and would be driving back toward the northern part of Washington, DC, so I met her at IKEA in College Park between 5 and 5:30 p.m.  - I raced home to try and help Tom rescue a neighbor's dog who was accidentally left out in the cold, and then headed to Virginia. The Washington, D.C. Beltway slowed to a stop before Northern Virginia, so I had to get off the highway and go a back way (I knew of thanks to our friend Jeff), which I took to get to the drop off in Springfield, VA. Of course, the drop off was at a Dunkin' Donuts. 

Katie drove up from central Virginia and took Happy and Sami and brought them back to her home where they will go to foster homes. Katie had the flu and I have a bad cold, so we were both groggy from cold/flu medicine. That's where the coffee helped.

HAPPY ENDINGS -  Shelley said that when she picked up Sami at the hospital, he was already standing up, so that was a great sign that he'll be able to walk again after his back surgery. Another good ending for two innocent dogs! 

Can You Donate to Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue ?

Hi! Franklin the Dachshund here. Rob and Tom are my daddies. One of the rescues that they work with is the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue. Recently, they learned that there have been so many rescues (one woman was harboring 32 dachshunds in ONE HOUSE!) that the rescue is in serious need of donations to pay for all of those doggies' medical bills.
The rescue relies solely on the funds obtained from adoption fees and donations from the public. You can donate at: http://www.c2cdr.org/index_fundraising.html
Just so you know what they're all about, Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue (CCDR) is a National Non-Profit 501(c)(3), all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing needy Dachshunds and Dachshund mixes from coast to coast.
You can even donate in memory of someone's dog or cat that may have gone to doggy Heaven. It makes a great Christmas gift, too. Love, Franklin

"Cooper" the Foster Dog Doing Well!

Here's an update on our foster dog "Cooper" that we provided for the CCDR http://www.c2cdr.org/ website (Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue), and some brand new (this morning) photos of Cooper!
Cooper is extremely well-mannered, house trained, and affectionate. He loves being around people, and follows us around the house. He knows commands, like "Come" and "Sit." We're teaching him to sit on his bed with our other dogs during dinner time. He's extremely patient, and loves dinner time, but is still building an appetite after all his dental surgery - which is healing well.
He knows when to go out, and goes to the door. He sleeps through the night, and loves his bed. He also enjoys exploring in the fenced-in backyard with our other 2 dogs (Franklin and Dolly). He lays on their bed with them as well, back-to-back. He also enjoys looking out the window to see people, birds or squirrels.
He doesn't like to go up more than 5 or 6 stairs, and waits to be carried. But he'll go down them!
Cooper is on antibiotics until mid-March, to clear up the infection that was in his mouth when the rescue found him and brought him to the animal hospital. He's recovering very well. He also has a heart murmur, so he's on medication once a day for the rest of his life, but the Animal hospital has agreed to keep sending it to his owner for a reduced cost.
He has fit right in with our dogs, and will fit in with any dogs or people. He's very mild-mannered, and although hasn't been exposed to children, we're sure he'll love them. He seems to love everyone! He is so easy to care for and so lovable!