Glenmoore Small Animal Rescue

Some Happy Tails for a Happy New Year!

2007-12-29T09:55:00.001-05:00

Nelly is in love with her new family! She loves visiting the lake...

Daisy is pampered and loves playtime with the squirrels in her new home...

Capone found a very special home and is treated like a king!

Happy 2008!

Who said kittens don't grow on trees? :-)

2007-11-14T23:16:00.000-05:00

This is Sherbet. He is one of the sweetest kittens to come through GSAR. He's happy in his forever home now...

The Good Life!

2007-11-01T18:53:00.000-05:00

Need I say anymore?! Cashew was adopted from GSAR almost 2 years ago and he found his forever home right before Christmas 2005. He is pampered and loved more than we could have ever expected. He is a sweetie!

Fall Fun!

2007-10-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

Please join us for.....

The Blessing of the Animals

When: Saturday November 3rd, 9am-1pm

Where: Messiah Lutheran Church
46 West Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA.

Join us for FOOD, FAMILY AND PET PORTRAITS, CRAFTS, A SILENT AUCTION ,RAFFLE and a TON of FUN!

All proceeds benefit Glenmoore Small Animal Rescue
Kindly bring dogs on leashes and cats or other critters in a carrier

If you can't attend and would like to make a tax-exempt donation to GSAR...visit our paypal link to the right. We appreciate all your support!

Check out our available pets

Small dog gets BIG life!!

2007-10-22T19:12:00.000-05:00

Introducing.... Rudy Valentino!

Rudy was rescued a few days before he was scheduled to be euthanized due to space limitations in a shelter. A kind samaritan pulled him and placed him with our rescue. Nancy and her family fostered Rudy and he was quickly placed in his forever home with Chris and Art. As you can see from the pictures-- he is spoiled rotten and loving life. Another happy tail!

Cute As Can Be!

2007-09-29T22:31:00.000-05:00

Meet Molly and Albert:

Here's what their new family writes:
"They are doing very well. We love them very much. They are endlessly
entertaining. Albert is quite large and is definitely able to better
handle Molly in a fight--although she still does her share of
"winning". Albert has gained a lot more confidence and is much more
likely to instigate fights and playing. While Molly has mellowed out
somewhat, although she is still very active. So their personalities
match a little better than when they were younger. As you can see
from the pic, they are still quite fond of each other."

Are you ready for some football?

2007-09-13T20:12:00.000-05:00

Miss Pearl certainly is!! Pearl is a sweet and gentle girl rescued by the Lambert's. She has a brother named "Mikey" who was also adopted by the Lambert's who she loves to play with. I have a hunch she may be rooting for the Eagle's this year?!

Sweet Princess....

2007-09-06T21:56:00.001-05:00

Is SOOOO happy in her new home! Her new 'dad' Mark reports that she recently went to the vet and is up to 3lbs and 3 ounces. She got her shots and was de-wormed. Her family reports she is doing well and is settled in nicely. The picture tells it all...

Happy Endings are the Best!

2007-08-27T22:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, Teddy has found a wonderful home- isn't he the cutest?

Teddy was adopted this summer by the Garwood's and they joyfully report that he's doing well...still chubby, but quite happy. Just what we like to hear at GSAR! Another happy 'tail' for the books!

Upcoming Events. . .

2007-08-19T18:40:00.000-05:00

GSAR is going to be having a busy fall. . . we hope to see you at some of these events. Please email us if you are interested in volunteering.

First Event:
The Dog Training club of Chester County is having Responsible Dog Ownership Day on the 15th of September at their facility in Frazer. Check it out at www.dtccc.org. Adoptive Families are invited to stop by and bring their pets.

Second Event:
Stoltzfus Feed & Supply in Gap is having Furry Friends Field Day on the 22nd of September. This is a great time for anyone interested in animal rescue. All the local rescues are there with a wonderful selection of animals and stories and products. There are games and contests and food. Click the Stoltzfus link above to learn more.

Third Event:
We are planning the Blessing of the Animals for November 4th at Messiah Lutheran Church. This will be our 5th annual Blessing. It is always a wonderful time filled with raffles, pet stories and pictures, and animals waiting to be adopted. We hope you will stop by! More to come soon on this wonderful event.

Please check out our available pets on our Petfinder site to see all the animals waiting for their new homes.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

April 28: Meet & Greet Event

2007-04-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

Please come out and join us on Saturday, April 28, for a Meet & Greet/Adoption event! Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, April 28 (rain date - April 29)
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: The Eagle's Nest (store parking lot)
Location: Intersection of Rt. 100 & Little Conestoga Road
Location: Eagle, PA
Contact: Call 484.459.1018 with any questions

See you there!!!

Grab your suit and . . . stay home?

2006-07-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

It's the non-event of the season! GSAR is hosting its first-ever phantom pool party, and you're invited!

Instead of venturing out into the heat of August to support Glenmoore Small Animal Rescue, you can help us from the comfort of your air-conditioned home. By now, you've probably received an invitation in the mail, but in case you haven't, here are the details.

Do not pack your swimsuit or bring your best friend,
For this pool party you do NOT attend.
Please dive into your checkbook before the day ends,
And send your donation to help the animal friends.

Date: August 26, 2006
Place: Wherever you like to swim
Time: Whenever it suits you
RSVP: Donation by August 22, 2006

All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt. Please contact Sharon at zerkles@comcast.net to find out where to send your donation, or to learn more about the "event." Thank you!

Post-adoption follow-up

2006-07-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

Cara, a devoted GSAR volunteer, has recently been in contact with families who adopted GSAR pets in 2003 and 2004. We're curious about how you're doing, and how your pet is faring. If you haven't received your follow-up email yet, look for it in your inbox within the next few weeks. Please take a moment to check-in with GSAR.

If you've already replied—thank you! We've decided to post the responses here on the blog, but we received so many that we can't post them all at once! So you'll be seeing several "happy tails" and updates over the next few months—you may not see your update today, but it's coming soon!

Duncan's doing great

2006-07-15T16:12:00.000-05:00

Liz and John adopted Duncan in June 2004. Here's what he's up to now:

Duncan is doing great. He loves to be on the farm, he travels around with the other dogs on the farm including his big (little) brother Darby (he is a Jack Russell). He is an extremely smart and loving dog. He had a mild ACL injury this spring but with a little rest he has healed well, and is back to his regular routine. John and I are so happy that "the big moose" has come into our lives, we are very lucky.

Roo rules the roost

2006-07-10T15:18:00.000-05:00

Roo's mom Kim recently reported that he's doing well in his family that includes cat Boo Boo and three human sisters:

Roo is awesome! He lets us hold him like a baby to take a nap, and he loves play fighting with his brother Boo Boo. Roo always wins because he is fast and Boo Boo is just too fat!

We had a scare with Roo about a year ago when he had trouble breathing and went into congestive heart failure, but he pulled through and has been doing great! We will be having a repeat echo done of his heart in a few months.

You can see more pictures of our little man on his very own website.

Thank you GSAR for our Baby Roo!

Cool Nemo

2006-07-09T16:21:00.000-05:00

Nemo's mom Donna sent us four pictures of him when she responded to our follow-up email. I chose this one because it's 90+ degrees today, and the forecast for the next few days includes predictions of 100! Doesn't this make you feel just a little bit cooler?

Here's what Donna had to say:

Nemo is doing fine. He still remains very energetic. He is definitely my dog. He follows me everywhere and looks forward to our long walk or runs together. He does very well at doing a heel when we go for the walks. It is nice because I don’t feel like he is dragging me around like I often see other dogs doing to their owners. He is very obedient and has excellent recall.

Puzzle proceeds benefit GSAR

2006-07-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for something to do in the air-conditioned comfort of your home while you endure the 90-degree summer temperatures? Have you started thinking about holiday gifts and what to get that special someone? Do you know anyone who enjoys both animals and jigsaw puzzles?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should check out Personally Puzzled. You can send them a picture of your animal(s) via email or regular old snail mail, and they'll make it into a jigsaw puzzle.

But here's the best part—if you use the Animals Order Form and indicate Glenmoore Small Animal Rescue on the Organization line, GSAR will receive a share of the proceeds! Read more about it on the Save Our Pets page.

If you decide to order one, let us know how you like it!

Good Girl Gretal

2006-07-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

Isn't this a beautiful picture of Gretal? Her mom, Stacey, sent it to us in response to our recent follow-up email. Here's what she had to say:

We did in fact adopt Gretal almost two years ago. Wow, seems like she's just always been with us.

Things are great and I wouldn't think of changing a thing. She's laying here pooped from a very active Saturday of chasing squirrels, birds and frogs, and running with her vizsla sibling.

I think Gretal is very happy here, as we are happy to have her. It's funny, 'cuz I sometimes think that there's a part of a rescued dog that knows and appreciates life and "things" a little more. Our first dog is a purebred vizsla, spoiled and babied all the way. He's a great dog, but has never wanted for anything. There's something a little more "gleeful" about Gret, like she knows how good she has it. Does that make sense? She has a 'grand-owner' who knits her sweaters and two owners who take pleasure in watching her enjoy life.

Thanks for the check-up. If there's anything I can ever do for GSAR, just ask.

Timid Tess

2006-07-09T14:58:00.000-05:00

The Burkes adopted Tess in 2004, and they recently told us:

Tess is still with us and doing very well. She is quite shy (especially when we have any company) but she is a sweetheart and we love having her as part of our family. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of her to send off to you (we are the ancient ones without a digital camera!).

No camera? No problem. We were able to pull the above pic from the GSAR archives.

Sam keeps the dogs in line

2006-07-08T15:27:00.000-05:00

When Sam was with GSAR, his name was George. His adoptive mom Cheryl writes:

Sam is doing just great. He has four doggie companions to keep him going. He pretty much rules the house though. We could not have asked for a better cat. Never have a problem with him.

Sam looks pretty comfy in his role as house leader!

Guido and Bentley

2006-07-08T14:45:00.000-05:00

Laurie and her family wrote to give us an update on Guido:

We are vey happy to have Guido in our family. When he first joined us, we already had two older cats (brothers) - Picasso and Rembrandt. Although it took a little getting used to each other, they blended just fine. Last May (2005) we had to put Picasso down as he suffered a stroke. Guido, still being a much younger cat - only 2, missed his playmate. He attempted to play with Rembrandt, who at the time was 13, but Remmie didn't want anything to do with him.

We then decided to get a playmate for Guido and adopted Honeybuns (a/k/a Baby Boy) who has since been renamed Bentley (pictured above).
All in all it's working out just great. I especially love it when all three hover around the kitchen area when they know it's time for milk and/or dinner!

I couldn't imagine our lives without them.

Yowling Yow Ling

2006-07-08T14:34:00.000-05:00

Sammy was adopted from GSAR in December of 2003, and he was soon renamed. His adoptive mom Denise writes:

"Sammy" was christianed YowLing on our drive home from his foster parents' - due to his crying the whole way home (about 1 hour). Also, he was following in a line of Lings (Soo Ling then Mia Ling). His nickname now is either just Ling or when he is crazy Ding-a-Ling. We love him to death. He is, by everyone's standard who visits us, the friendliest cat they have ever met. He loves our dogs and gets along with them wonderfully. He and our other cat have "issues," but since Cinco has "issues" with everyone but me, we do not take it too seriously. We have absolutely no regrets with adopting Ling. He is very loved by all of us, my kids adore him. Thank you for all your work.

Yard Sale Report

2006-07-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped us with the yard sale! GSAR raised close to $900!!! Between that and recent adoptions we have enough to pay off both veterinarians!

I have never had so much fun with a yard sale either! If that is what they are like, then I vote for doing this at least once a year! Sure it was a lot of work, but I can’t imagine a greater group of people to spend so much time sweating with! I thank God for the gift of each of you in my life and for bringing us together for the good of the animals in our community. Together we are quite a powerful force!

~ Kay

Molly takes the long way home

2006-06-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

When it's right, it's right. Molly's new mom, Lois, lives far from Chester County. Kay, Angela, and Molly drove to meet her at the Northeast Extension and Interstate 80, which is a lot farther than we usually travel to place an animal. But this was a match made in heaven, and well worth the trip. Congratlations, Lois and Molly!

Nibbles "nibbles" his way in

2006-06-12T12:19:00.000-05:00

Nibbles' foster family found him to be so gentle and affectionate that they decided to adopt him themselves. He gets along well with the other animals in their home and even likes to sit on the couch in the evening to watch TV with his new family.

Sounds like a pretty good life to me—congratulations, Nibbles, on finding your new home!

RESCHEDULED: GSAR Yard Sale!

2006-06-11T17:38:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Due to the rain and all-around bad weather on June 24 and 25, the yard sale has been RESCHEDULED! Come next weekend to buy beautiful pictures, perfect clothing, and furniture that must be seen! Please take some time from your holiday weekend to visit with us at Kerwood and Glen Drives in Downingtown. We will have some of the animals that are available for adoption with us as well!

The Board of Directors is planning a yard sale to benefit GSAR, and we could use your help!

Date: ~~Saturday, June 24 (rain date June 25)~~ Saturday, July 1
Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: The intersection of Glen Drive and Kerwood Road (Victoria's Crossing), West Bradford Township

How You Can Help
Come and shop at the sale, of course! Also, we are looking for donations of any kind to sell the day of the event. We just ask that items be in working/re-sellable condition.

Donation Drop-Off
You can bring your donations to 1310 Blair Court, Downingtown.

Friday, June 23 - after 5:00 PM, OR
Saturday, June 24 - before 8:00 AM

Please contact Karen Ernst if you have any questions (taernst@aol.com). Thank you in advance for your support!

GSAR Bio: Karen Ernst

2006-06-01T17:14:00.000-05:00

The second biography in our "Get to know GSAR" series is Karen Ernst, who serves as president of the board of directors.
____________________________

What's your role with GSAR?
Currently I am the President of the Board of Directors. I am also a foster home and I help with intakes, adoptions, and special events.

How long have you worked with GSAR?
We have bee fostering for about 3 1/2 + years now.

How did you get started with GSAR?
We responded to an ad Kay put in our church bulletin looking for foster homes for small critters. It began with a set of guinea pigs, but quickly grew from there!

Tell us about the humans who live in your home.
Our humans include hubby Tom, and kids Katie (8), Riley (6), and Morgan (4).

Tell us about the "permanent" pets in your home.
Currently our resident crew consists of:

Two Australian Cattle Dogs, Maddie (9) and Cobber (7)
Two cats, Schay (17) and Amadeus (15)
Two bunnies, Jackie and Butters (both around 5)
Two parakeets, Summer and Winter
One rooster
Six hens
12 peeps

(Editor's note: And a partridge in a pear tree! Sorry . . . couldn't resist.)

What's the funniest thing your pet does?
Well, I don't know how funny it is, but EVERY night, Cobber does what I call his "screwball run." He barks at the dusk sky and runs in laps thru the yard. He does this for about 10 minutes, then he is OK to come in!

What's your favorite book/TV/movie pet and why?
Currenly, I get a giggle out of the Wonderpets on Nickleodeon. It's kind of amusing watching the talking guinea pig!

Trevor (f.k.a. Ginger) passes away

2006-05-31T16:50:00.000-05:00

Trevor's mom Michele wrote to let us know that he had passed away:

I'm afraid we have some sad news about our little angel, Trevor (previously Ginger), whom we got from GSAR in December. About 6 weeks ago (at his 1st birthday), he became a bit lethargic, with a decreased appetite. Our vet diagnosed him with FIP, something I knew nothing about -- and wish no one ever had to learn about!

We took him home, separated him from his brothers and sisters (it can be contagious), gave him Prednisone and subcutaneous fluids - and he gained back an appetite and some weight, and was more perky. But after about 5 weeks, he again declined. He gradually refused his food and became tired of the fight to live. We put him to sleep one week ago. He knew it was time and he let me know too. He was a very special little boy, who, although was not with us long, brought a lot of joy to everyone in our home! He was the only one of our 8 kitties who got along well with all the others.

Our vet said we needed to tell you guys - in case others might have been exposed - but I just couldn't bring myself to do so until now, having received your newsletter, and in particular, reading about J.J.

You folks referred to him as the "Snuggler". He indeed was...in body and in soul! A couple photos are attached.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege of having little Trevor.

You can read Trevor's happy tail here. Michele, we're so sorry for your loss. Thank you for loving Trevor for the time that you had him.

____________________________________

If you'd like to know more about FIP, click this link.

Petfinder Stats - Week of May 22

2006-05-30T16:22:00.000-05:00

Each week, we get statistics from Petfinder.com about the pets that we have available for adoption. The numbers behind each name indicate how many people viewed the pet during the week.

Take a look at the numbers, and then click each link to take a look at the pets!

+++Cats+++

Rosa - 17
Lilly (on hold) - 12

+++ Dogs +++

Suzi (adoption pending) - 128
Molly - 98
K.C. (adoption pending) - 73
Rusty (adoption pending) - 49
Edee (adoption pending) - 46
Hawkeye - 36
Sandy - 27
Brownie - 23
Atticus (on hold) - 16
Maddie (Adopted!) - 6
Kiki (Adopted!) - 2

+++ Rabbits +++

Autumn - 22
April - 13
Amber - 12

+++ Small & Furrys +++

Sammy - 139
Chocolate - 27
Freckle - 20

I think this is a first

2006-05-23T21:29:00.000-05:00

Kaylee and Kloee

It's not too often that we hear from an adopted dog herself. Usually the adoptive families write the happy tail notes to GSAR. But Kaylee (who was adopted last summer) and her sister Kloee spent last weekend at Kay's house, and they wrote the thank-you note themselves:

Dear GSAR, especially Kay, Angela, and Wendy,

We want to thank you for watching us when our Mom went away for the weekend. We had a great time playing with all of the animals. Thanks for making us feel welcome and comfortable. Even though we missed our mom and our house we had a great time.

Thank you,

Kloee and Kaylee

Siofra goes home

2006-05-16T22:13:00.000-05:00

Karen and Duane recently adopted beautiful Siofra, who's a Keeshond. They spent a lot of time getting to know the breed so they could give her the best home possible. Welcome!

Tina's terrific

2006-05-01T21:21:00.000-05:00

Oh, the ears! I can't handle the cuteness of the ears! Tina was adopted a few months ago by a family in Connecticut. Here's what they had to say when they contacted us recently:

It's been about three months since we made the trip south to pick her up. She's loving her new home. Always a bunch of kids around after school. A big yard to run in. Lots of walks in the park. Lots of car rides. And a spot on my son's Robert's pillow that she makes claim to every night. We love her. She's a terrific little dog.

Rusty's on his way

2006-05-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

Rusty lived in a garage for 8 months. When he came into the rescue, Kay recalled that the family who had adopted Romi had told her that if another dog like him came along they would like to get him a brother. So she emailed them and they were thrilled! They brought Romi to meet Rusty and everyone got along so well that they're doing foster-to-adopt.

Here's a shot of Romi. He and Rusty look like twins!

Another kitten goes home

2006-04-27T20:48:00.000-05:00

Remember the kittens we mentioned about a month ago? Another one has gone home! New mom Gail writes to say:

The kitten has a name, Carmella! I have to say, Harley is less than thrilled with her. I know from past experiences that it will take a little time. When I tried to pet her he would take his paw and pull my hand away. She is so snuggly, I just love her!

Hopefully Harley's learning to love her too!

Rascal (f.k.a. Garfield) is a real rascal

2006-04-27T20:41:00.000-05:00

Can you believe this cute little puffball? What a face! When he was with GSAR his name was Garfield, but he's since been renamed Rascal.

His new mom, Sheri, sent us a note:

Thank you for the opportunity to have a wonderful pet. We have named him Rascal, due to he is into everything. He has brought happiness into our home, and he is getting along with our 12 yr. old cat pretty good. Everyone that meets him falls in love with him. I am so glad I stopped at Nancy's house that Friday night.

Rattle & Hum are hummin' along

2006-04-20T11:50:00.000-05:00

We recently got this note from Laura, Rattle and Hum's mom:

Hi Kay! How are you?? I hope all is well. I know it has been a while since I sent you recent photos of Rattle and Hum, but I am a proud mommy of two wonderful kitties. I hope you like these photos!! I am also a "foster" mom to a third cat just until I can find a home for him...but you know very well how that goes. He has only been here since Tuesday, but is really making himself at home!!

Cody and Maggie go home

2006-04-19T22:03:00.000-05:00

Barbara, her husband, and her mother adopted two of our female kittens. They were still working on naming them, and now they've sent an update:

I wanted to update you on the "girls." First, they are doing so well! They are eating, using the litter, sleeping through the night and seem very relaxed and well-adjusted.

We named the buff and white one "Dakota" but we call her Cody. We ended up naming the little "climber" "Maggie" not because we planed to, but mostly because all the way home in the car, every time she did something like try to eat her way through the netting of the carrying case, or yowled my mom kept saying, "Yo, Maggie! What's the problem? Or Yo, Maggie, where are you trying to go? By the time we got home, the kitten was reacting to "Maggie" so we just decided to name her that.

Maggie continued to climb up pant legs, shirts and perch on your shoulder or around your neck. She has also successfully "launched" off our shoulders into the kitchen sink! That was a shocker.

Cody, being a little more well behaved, not to mention more bottom-heavy, doesn't climb as much but still explores everything. They both love to play and do so on their own.

Thanks for getting our "girls" off to such a good start! They are happy, healthy, well-adjusted kittens! We love them!

Twister alert

2006-04-19T21:47:00.000-05:00

Twister recently "blew" into the lives of Adrienne and her boyfriend. Welcome!

LiLi passes through

2006-04-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

LiLi, who is part dachshund, spent a weekend with GSAR before being transferred to Dachshund Rescue of North America. After she got there, it didn't take her long to find a new home in Maryland. Jason and his fiancee changed her name to Haylee, and we wish them all the best!

K.C. returns

2006-04-13T21:55:00.000-05:00

You may remember K.C. from the post with his life-altering haircut. He's back with GSAR and once again available on the Petfinder site now.

Here's a little bit more about him:

KC is a lively cocker spaniel who will celebrate his 3rd birthday in June. KC was initially surrendered as the home he was in was getting too chaotic to give him and his doggie 'sister' the attention they deserved. KC was adopted by another couple but needed come back to GSAR for issues with separation anxiety. As the only dog in a childless home, KC became overly attached to his 'dad' and got very upset when he left. KC does well with children, dogs, and cats and would love the extra activity in the house to help him from feeling so alone. KC is learning to recall, so a fenced yard would be optimal. KC is a AKC registered cocker and his vaccinations (rabies, distemper, lyme, and bordetella) are all current. Please consider making KC a part of your family!

Kitten adoption

2006-04-12T21:38:00.000-05:00

Chase, Ethan, and their family adopted one of our springtime kittens. I'm sure the three of them will ~~get into lots of trouble~~ have a lot of fun together!

J.J. (f.k.a. Cinders), Bear, & Monkey

2006-04-12T17:25:00.000-05:00

Cinders, who was renamed J.J. when he went to his new home, is shown lounging on the "pillow" cat (Bear) in the picture above. We recently got some sad news about him from Ralph and Nancy:

We have sad news about Cinders. We had to euthanize him on Sunday night because he had the wet form of FIP. We noticed that he was having difficulty breathing on Sunday so we took him to the emergency veterinarian. She gave us the bad news and we were in shock. He had been to the vet three times since January because he never seemed able to shake the cold he had when we originally picked him up back in August. He would get better for a while and it always seemed to come back three or four weeks later. FIP has a 100% mortality rate and she said if we took him home he would be suffering. She compared it to us breathing through a coffee stirrer, that is what he was feeling. His pleura would eventually build up so much fluid and he would not be able to breathe.

He was a great cat and were are extremely sad to see him go. We would like to think that God made him so beautiful that we came to see him at Stoltzfus and as a result we came home with his two cousins as well. We renamed Cinders to J.J. since he immediately took to Jesse, hence the name Jesse Junior.

We also renamed his cousins to Bear and Monkey which are fitting names if you met them today. Monkey looks and acts like a spider monkey and Bear lumbers around the house like a big grizzly. We are sorry to let you know about the bad news and we hope that all is going well with GSAR.

Nancy and Ralph, we're so sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for making J.J.'s last months as good as they could be. We hope that Bear and Monkey are a comfort to you during this time—they look like a couple of characters!

Monkey

Bear

GSAR Bio: Get to know Kay

2006-04-09T21:33:00.000-05:00

We thought you might like to know a little bit more about the people behind the pets at GSAR, so we're starting a new biography feature. Occasionally we'll post an interview with one of GSAR's board members or volunteers. We couldn't think of a better place to start than with Kay Williams, the executive director!
_____________________________________________

What's your role with GSAR?
Founder/Executive Director

How long have you worked with GSAR?
Since it began in 2002.

How did you get started with GSAR?
After working with other rescues for a few years I decided that there were things about each that didn't sit well with me. God sent me two dogs who needed to be saved, and none of the rescues I worked with would help me, so I guess my hand was forced. I have no regrets. My passion is to help animals and people by bringing them together. Once you have loved and been loved by an animal you are changed forever.

Tell us about the humans who live in your home.
My sweet husband, Jim, is a human dog (and cat) bed. He likes things clean, organized and peaceful. Thankfully, he loves me more and understands that the animals that run, crawl, fly and jump through our lives need him as much as they need me. I honestly don't know how I'd do it without him.

Katy grew up knowing that her siblings had fur. She is proud of the work we do. She always wants the cute little kittens to stay with us, but her passion is gymnastics. She has tried fostering in her room, but decided she'd rather visit them in my office. Poor kid has allergies which we have to watch. She doesn't let that stop her snuggling the animals though! She just takes her medication and keeps right on going. That's my girl!

Tell us about the "permanent" pets in your home.
Lucy is a 19 year old Chihuahua. We got her 5 years ago after losing our three legged Chi mix, Missy. I had been browsing on Petfinder and her face broke my heart :

She had been abandoned, along with over 50 other dogs in a farmhouse outside Baltimore. A collector had locked the doors and walked away. The larger dogs were preying on the smaller ones to survive. Lucy survived because she was locked in a cat carrier where they couldn't get to her. She had been living in her own waste, though, and the fur was burned off her legs, tummy and ears. You can still see the scars in her ears. Every day with Lucy is a gift. She is sweet and gentle and expects the best in everyone. We are all very protective of her.

Todd is about 6 now. He is a Chocolate and tan miniature Dachshund. When a puppy mill was busted in western North Carolina, Todd was by far the most frightened. No one could touch him. They got him into a crate and transported him to me for rehabbing. Poor sweet Todd didn't know what grass was or what leaves were...Rain is terrifying. The wind is the worst part of all. For weeks I walked around the yard with him walking on two legs with his little paws wrapped around my wrist. Todd holds the 'honor' of being the only dog ever to escape from Glenmoore Veterinary Hospital. We spent 7 hours looking for him. The event culminated with 7 people chasing him up route 322 as he ran up the yellow line. Thank God we finally cornered him and caught him. After a year of working with poor Todd we reluctantly decided that he is simply unadoptable. We gave him sanctuary. He has come a long way in the 3 1/2 years we have had him. He will go outside...if I carry him. He can go up the stairs...but not down. Hearing the wind blow is enough to make him run for his hiding place behind the powder room toilet, but he is starting to join the pack to greet people who come to the door.

Then there is Mindy. She is a Min Pin/Chihuahua mix who had been the adored pet of a local older woman. When the woman moved to Florida Mindy went too. Soon the woman became ill and had to move into a nursing home. Mindy was sent north to live with relatives...the wrong ones. A sweet lady who knew Mindy from when she had first lived in PA heard about her plight and called GSAR. I took one look at Mindy's little face and I knew she was home. Mindy is about 8 years old now and takes her role as Alpha dog very seriously. She carefully inventories all toys and keeps them organized in her lair. She keeps track of Lucy and comes running to tell us is she needs anything. She sleeps with one eye open to guard the family through the night. The slightest noise from anywhere in the house and Mindy is up to investigate. I am sure she wonders how we ever survived without her!

Benjamin came to us as part of a 2-day-old litter of kittens found in a warehouse. His brother and sister died despite our efforts. All three of us decided that number 3 would NOT die. We all fed, medicated and cleaned the little guy around the clock. Mindy worried over him and came running to get us if he made any noises. There were times when we were worried that our efforts were wasted...but he pulled through! Young Ben is 6 months old now and completely fearless! We have geese on the property which he is sure he could catch and clean for dinner!

What's the funniest thing your pet does?
Oh my. Todd does what we call the 'Happy Dog Dance' when he is excited and wants something. It is like the thrill is more than his body can contain and he just sort of starts bouncing. His ears flap and he erupts in these little barks. Mindy guards her lair and keeps everything carefully inventoried. If you start going through her things she gets very nervous and makes little squeaks while closely monitoring your every move. When you are done she will take whatever time is needed to put everything back where it belongs. Benjamin carries little pieces of paper around the house. He will throw them for a while and chase after them, then pick them up and carry them again.

What's your favorite book/TV/movie pet and why?
I just finished reading Marley & Me by John Grogan so I'd have to say that Marley is my current favorite. People often want to know whether someone is a 'dog person' or a 'cat person'. I say I am an everything person. I enjoy the special traits of each animal for what they are. Marley wasn’t an 'easy' pet. But the Grogan family understood what made him special and were committed to sharing their lives with him. What made Marley special to them was his commitment to them and his innocent and exuberant joy for life.

Kittens, kittens

2006-04-09T21:20:00.000-05:00

It's spring, and along with longer days and warmer weather, it means an abundance of kittens! Sweet, cute, cuddly little kittens! If you know anyone who's looking for a kitten, be sure to put in a good word for GSAR.

Most of our available kittens were born on February 9, and they've been dewormed and received their first shots. You can learn more about each one on our Petfinder site.

Garfield & Dexter go home

2006-04-09T21:17:00.000-05:00

These two guys were feral and living under a trailer in Lancaster County. Many people would have said they were untamable, but now they are living the life as cherished family members. I have found (like with everything else) that you have to take each situation individually. Their new mom Jacque' sent us a note:

Just a quick update—Dexter has totally adjusted. He is unbelievably affectionate, and purrs, sits on my lap, and they both slept in the bed the other night. We have play time every day with some toys and Garfield participates wholeheartedly and he has gotten closer when he is playing but he still hasn't let me pet him. He is definitely less spooked than when he first arrived but he will take a little more time. I learned somewhere you give ownership when you talk to them so I say Dexter's Garfield or Garfield's Dexter a lot and they are so very cute together. Thank you again, they are perfect for us.

Sweet Coconut happy at home

2006-04-09T21:04:00.000-05:00

A note from Coconut's mom, Helen:

Coconut the rabbit is doing very well. He now has the run of the house nightly. He is out from the time we come in from the barn until 6 am. He has a black female cat as a friend. They move around a lot together. He likes his two-story cage as well.

Maya finds a family

2006-04-04T18:39:00.000-05:00

Not to be outdone by Missy, Maya went home too! Her new mom is Susan (pictured above), and she also got a "sister" in the deal (see below). They were very excited to welcome Maya into their home, and we know she'll be the center of attention for many years to come!

Missy goes home

2006-04-04T18:24:00.000-05:00

Missy and Maya had a great time at their foster home together. And last week, the Warner family adopted Missy! They report that Missy's doggie sister Sheena is looking after her as if Missy were her own pup. Missy's adjustment has gone very well and we're glad they found each other!

Petfinder Stats - Week of March 20

2006-03-27T20:59:00.000-05:00

Each week, we get statistics from Petfinder.com about the pets that we have available for adoption. The numbers behind each name indicate how many people viewed the pet during the week.

Take a look at the numbers, and then click each link to take a look at the pets!

+++ Cats +++

Dexter (Adopted!) - 62
Garfield (Adopted!) - 55
Lilly - 8
Rosa - 7

+++ Dogs +++

Siofra - 460
Kiki - 443
Maya (Adopted!) - 387
Missy (Adopted!) - 233
Dylan - 76
Brownie - 38
Sandy - 35

+++ Rabbits +++

Pokey - 35
Autumn - 27
April - 24
Amber - 23

+++ Small&Furrys +++

Chocolate - 56
Ben and Frank - 43
Freckle - 32

"Little Elf"

2006-03-19T21:20:00.000-05:00

Siofra (pronounced Shee-fra) is a recent addition to the GSAR family. Her name means "little elf" in Irish, and she's a beautiful, loving, and affectionate 5-year-old Keeshond. She is looking for a new home because she is having difficulty sharing the attention of her human parents.

Siofra would love to play, but she needs to be the top dog and center of attention. Siofra is UTD on shots, spayed, and on heartworm preventative. She is well housebroken and is no longer used to a crate. Siofra knows basic commands and recall, but has a tendency to run if unfenced and unleashed. Siofra interacts well with children, but it is unclear how she may be around cats.

Siofra is posted on our Petfinder site. Visit her there for adoption information.

Missy - Another available pup

2006-03-18T13:10:00.000-05:00

Missy is an adorable Rottweiler mix just looking for an active family to call her own. Missy is the offspring of a dog displaced by hurricane Katrina. Unfortnuately, the older dogs in her adoptive home were less-than-nice to her. Missy is about three months old and is already about 14 pounds. She will probably end up weighing about 50 pounds. She came from the South infested with worms and has had to overcome some digestive issues because of it. She is transitioning to normal puppy food and is doing well.

Although she enjoys playing with Maya in her foster home, Missy is fully vetted and ready to be loved!

Kay Bee gets a new family

2006-03-18T13:06:00.000-05:00

Kay Bee is the black lab pictured on the left. She recently went home to live with her new family which includes humans Brian and Kindra, and Buddy the dog. The family reports that everyone is doing well!

KC goes home

2006-03-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

Remember KC, the ragamuffin cocker spaniel (click the link to see the "before" picture)? He went home with Richard and Susan this week, and it looks like he's pretty excited about it. His new dad looks pretty pleased too, doesn't he?

Meet Maya

2006-03-12T12:56:00.000-05:00

Maya is a beautiful, sweet, uh, well, we're not exactly sure what Maya is, but our best guess is a min-pin, beagle, pug mix. She has the coloring of the min-pin, the sweet face of a beagle and the curled tail of a pug! Maya came to GSAR as a stray and is only about 16 weeks old. She has a great personality, and gets along well with dogs, cats, and children. Maya is doing very well on housetraining and has received her first vaccinations. She is about 12 1/2 lbs now and will be about double that when full grown. She's posted on the Petfinder site now!

Chester County SPCA/Oxford Mill Update

2006-03-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

I am frequently asked where things stand on the Oxford Mill Dogs (click the link to read more details). The primary answer is that nothing can be done with the dogs until the legal system catches up. The mill owner is fighting the case. In the mean time the CCSPCA is deeply involved with healing the dogs and maintaining a clean environment for them. I have been emailing with a member of the Board of Directors and have been catering our donations to the current needs. Below is a response to my request for information on the current need:

"I spoke with our Director at the Board meeting and she said they are primarily in need of towels, linens, blankets etc. at this time. For infection control, they are not always able to reuse the ones they have so this is an ongoing need. Many need frequent bathing because of lice infestation and other skin diseases. Also, medical expenses for these dogs are mounting. A number of them, including females giving birth to critically ill newborns, had been moved to veterinary hospitals in the county because their medical conditions have required more veterinary intervention than could be provided at the shelter. Any monetary donations from the public are always welcome. Thank you for your interest in this situation."

If you have donations that are in keeping with the current needs, you can give them to GSAR. We are taking supplies to them whenever we have enough to make a trip worthwhile. If you would like to donate money for the Mill dogs, you can write a check to GSAR putting 'Mill Dogs" in the memo. I will keep track of the donations and write a single check to them to take with me along with each set of donations. You can also donate directly on the SPCA's web site.

Note: They have more food than they can store and request that no more food donations be made. A dog food corporation is giving them high quality food which is what these dogs need as they heal from their abuse.

~Kay

Cinnamon adds just the right flavor to the Davis home

2006-03-11T11:46:00.000-05:00

Is this a cute picture or what? Cinnamon the bunny spent about nine months with GSAR, just waiting for the Davis family to adopt him. He's been at his new home for a few months and has made a great friend in Felix, the cat.

Pete goes home for good

2006-03-11T11:38:00.000-05:00

Pete the cat (shown here with his dog Hudson) has had a a rough time. For him, the rescue has been a bit like a revolving door because he's been adopted twice and then come back for various reasons. The Browns love him for who he is, and have decided that he's found a forever home with them. He looks pretty content now, don't you think?

Petfinder Stats - Week of February 20

2006-03-02T18:32:00.000-05:00

Each week, we get statistics from Petfinder.com about the pets that we have available for adoption. The numbers behind each name indicate how many people viewed the pet during the week.

Take a look at the numbers, and then click each link to take a look at the pets!

+++ Cats +++

Cecilia - 81
Dexter - 56
Garfield - 46
Rosa - 21
Honey (Adopted!) - 16
Dixie - 16
Lilly - 15
Katie - 9

+++ Dogs +++

Kiki - 655
Buffy/Pinky - 387
K.C. - 197
Dylan - 142
Kay Bee - 77
Sandy - 59
Brownie - 47
Tina (Adopted!) - 15

+++Rabbits+++

Pokey - 33

+++ Small&Furrys +++

Chocolate - 46
Ben and Frank - 45
Freckle - 37

Honey goes home . . . FINALLY!!

2006-02-24T22:18:00.000-05:00

If you spent any time outside this week, you may have heard the sound of a crowd cheering off in the disance. It was GSAR volunteers celebrating as Honey went home with her new family!

Honey, who will be called Momo in her happily-ever-after life, went home with the Gordon family after spending about 21 months with GSAR. She was just waiting for the right family to come along!

Rusty finds a happy home

2006-02-24T22:07:00.000-05:00

Just look at those smiling faces! These are Rusty's new kids, and I'm not sure whether he's happier, or they are.

Rusty's a 12-week-old cockapoo, and he wasn't even with the rescue long enough to be posted on the Petfinder site. A family from Messiah Lutheran Church snapped him right up, and it looks like a match made in heaven!

Petfinder Stats - Week of February 13

2006-02-24T21:50:00.000-05:00

Each week, we get statistics from Petfinder.com about the pets that we have available for adoption. The numbers behind each name indicate how many people viewed the pet during the week.

Take a look at the numbers, and then click each link to take a look at the pets!

+++ Cats +++

Cecilia - 84
Dexter - 54
Garfield - 49
Honey (Adopted!) - 18
Dixie - 14
Rosa - 14
Katie - 7
Lilly - 7

+++ Dogs +++

Tina (Adopted!) - 499
Kiki - 497
Buffy/Pinky - 390
Kay Bee - 84
Brownie - 59
Sandy - 51
K.C. - 43
Sydney (on hold) - 39

+++ Small&Furrys +++

Chocolate - 41
Ben and Frank - 45

KC's Transformation

2006-02-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

KC is a two-year-old cocker spaniel, but you'd never know it from his photo above. When he arrived at his foster home, he was a matted mess. After a trip to the groomer, he looks like a different dog:

He was a timid, shy pup, but his new buzz cut and some time at his foster home are really helping him blossom. His personality has grown and now he loves to play! He absolutely adores kids, and loves to snuggle on the couch. He also gets along well with other dogs and lives well with cats.

He's available on the Petfinder site now. I bet this cutie will have a forever home in no time!

Nikki's Happy Tail

2006-02-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

This week, we got an email from Petfinder. Nikki's new dad had submitted a happy tail, and they wanted us to know about it.

From Guy:

When Nikki's mate died, she found her way to Glenmoore Small Animal Rescue. A friend told me about Petfinder, and when I saw Nikki I thought she would like to live with my two cockatiels. Now Nikki would not have to live alone.
After some e-mails and phone calls, I drove the 2 hours to get her. She ate some millet spray on the way home and has been so friendly to my daughter and me.
Last week another cockatiel joined them; his name is Squeek. He and Nikki seem to be pairing off like our other birds, Fred & Ethel (also adopted from a co-worker's friend) do at night. Squeek was being picked on in a pet store. He was in a glass enclosure with 100 baby parakeets and some other cockatiels so we took him away from there. Now the 4 of them are all being spoiled.

Petfinder Stats - Week of February 6

2006-02-17T15:23:00.000-05:00

Each week, we get statistics from Petfinder.com about the pets that we have available for adoption. The numbers behind each name indicate how many people viewed the pet during the week.

Take a look at the numbers, and then click each link to take a look at the pets!

+++ Cats +++

Cecilia - 55
Honey - 14
Lilly - 14
Rosa - 13
Katie - 8
Dixie - 6

+++ Dogs +++

Kiki - 446
Tina - 425
Sydney (on hold) - 140
Kay Bee - 49
Brownie - 33
Sandy - 29

+++ Rabbits +++

Pokey - 22

+++ Small&Furrys +++

Chocolate - 36
Ben and Frank - 35
Freckle - 33

Coco's Happy Tail

2006-02-12T17:29:00.000-05:00

Coco's "grandma" made him a flannel cowboy shirt.

Coco was a little curmudgeon who was found in Lancaster running stray...no teeth and a huge attitude problem. He bit everyone! But after he bit you...you'd laugh...then he'd get REALLY mad! He was hilarious! We couldn't believe anyone would want the little stinker. But as soon as he was posted, a couple from Delaware emailed. They adore him...and have even increased the herd...little Coco has a harem!

From Mike & Beth, Coco's new family:

In December, we took the pups on another vacation, we went to a cabin for a week in the Cooksburg Mtns, which was so much fun with all the pups! We went with 10 other friends, & our pups were everyone's favorites, even though they had to share time with a huge Basset hound, & 2 JRT's. It was great.

Coco is so funny! He has become quite the boss of the girls too. At night, we say, "Let's go to bed!" He jumps off the couch, & barks at the 2 girls to"come along" He literally "herds" them to come along. It is so funny! We just LOVE it!

Coco & the herd

Mimi Finds Happy Home & Little Sister

2006-02-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

Mimi

From Virginia Heustis, who adopted Mimi:

Mimi is a real love. She had another eye infection but seems to be OK now. I went to see my daughter in Indiana for a few days and she wanted to get her cat a playmate so we went to the animal shelter and while she was filling out the form to adopt one I was sitting next to a cage that contained a cat that kept crying at me. I asked if I could hold her and if I could take her out of state. That was all I needed and I now have 2 cats.

My new one is a female and her name is Bella. She unlike very sedate Mimi is very playful and cuddly. She is 1 1/2 and tiny she weighs only 6.2. They seem to get along fairly well and Bella tries to get Mimi to play with her. Mimi sometimes will and they are cute to watch.

I now can say I do not live alone and am enjoying my new children very much.

Bella

January Happy Tails

2006-02-06T00:35:00.000-05:00

About two and a half years ago, my husband and I adopted a Lhasa Aphso by the name of Romeo from your shelter. I always see updates from people on their adoptions in your newsletter, and I've finally gotten around to sending one on Romeo. First, I want to say that since we adopted Romeo my husband has always said it was fate that he was sent to us. Romeo is our little baby (we don't have children yet so we can say that). He has truly been a gift to us.

Ginger, whom we now call Trevor, is still a snuggler. He has taken over the house, with his 7 sibling kitties....and has not been shy at all. He also has the most precious kitty "bark" (really a squeak), which demands a lot of attention, because it is so cute. He is, like all of our other kitties, manipulative --and generally gets what he wants. They sure know how to get to your heart strings!

Toby is the dog we originally went to PACCA for. His Dad had to give him a few days to settle in but things have worked out:

I wanted to let you know that Toby and PeeWee are getting along great - sleep in the bed in the sun against each other and Toby follows PeeWee when going for walks. So, they finally got used to each other and are fine, BUT, we can't show partiality to either - if you pet one, YOU HAVE TO PET BOTH!! Also, if one is on your lap, the other wants to be on your lap - it's crowded, but you can do it!!!

January 22-February 5 Adoptions!

2006-02-06T00:19:00.000-05:00

Virginia Huestis adopted our Mimi. Mimi is the coolest cat! She insists on being included on everything you do. She runs to the door to meet you when you get home. She is affectionate and playful. I think that both Virginia and Mimi lucked out with this wonderful placement!

Brenda Watkins adopted Taz the Siamese. I am so glad to know that he is in a wonderful home where he will be cherished for the unique little guy he is.

Fetching Tags - with a discount and a donation!

2006-01-23T18:42:00.000-05:00

Fetching Tags offers hand-made pet ID tags that are kinda cute and kinda funky. The pet's name and phone number are on the back, and you can specify what you want the front to say. You can make up your own, or choose from their list which includes options like:

Ball Junkie
Licker
Scratch my Butt

They're made from aircraft-quality aluminum, and they're very light and durable. But the best part is that Jen Cleere, the artist and company owner, will give you a discount AND send money to GSAR! Here's how:

Visit Fetching Tags and select or create the tag you want.
Enter PA244 (GSAR's petfinder.com shelter ID) as the promotional coupon code so you get the discount and GSAR gets the donation.
Tell your family and friends!
Print coupons that you can hand out at adoption fairs and other GSAR events.

Darin and I like them so much that we've ordered them twice. If only we'd known about the discount/donation program at the time!

Penny - adopted from GSAR in 2003