Great News!  “Wally”, formerly named “New Guy” (Thanks Facebook fans), had a great night sleep, and a little bit more bologna before bed, and when I woke up this morning, he was wagging and barking and demanding attention like the other pups in foster care!!  I opened his crate, he licked my hand, and then put his face up to mine and licked my nose…I was wrong about this one, and SO HAPPY to report that!  He scarfed down his food very quickly this morning again.  Once he realizes that he will be fed twice a day, he should calm down some.  We will work on worming and vaccinating this afternoon after my husband gets home to assist.

Thanks for helping to name him, New Guy is now Wally

Would anyone be willing to foster him for a few weeks??  If you don’t have an active foster app on file, please visit the following link and complete:  http://aarf-tn.com/foster/foster-app/

It was a typical Tuesday night for A.A.R.F.  Delivering dogs to their new families, and meet ups with volunteers in the Wal Mart Parking lot, as well as doing some shopping with their families.  A lot of commotion arises from one area of the parking lot, where it appeared that a young couple was trying to get something to come out from underneath a vehicle.  A.A.R.F. volunteer Jennifer goes to investigate, only to find a frightened and starved puppy coming out from under the vehicle to get the french fries that this young couple is trying to lure him out with.  The pup is frightened of Jennifer, but is focused on her stepson who now has possession of the McDonald’s french fries.  With the help of A LOT of kind hearted citizens who want to see this dog get to safety, Jennifer’s stepson and his special gift with animals, and Jennifer’s husband, whose philosophy with frightened dogs has all to do with bologna and NOTHING else (thank goodness the deli was right there!!!!), we trapped this pup in a carrier and brought him into foster care.

Jennifer says “He is focused solely on my husband, now…which convinces me that he is right about the bologna.  I have seen him work two cases of feril dogs, now, and within 24 hours and 1/2 pound of bologna, the dog is our new best friend!  I hope that this is the same for this new little guy”.

This male pup was spotted in the wal mart parking lot around 5PM this evening and people had been apparently trying to capture him since that time.  Jennifer says “when a dog is frightened, or has had to fend for itself for its entire life, it trusts no one and will snap, bite, lunge and run away out of fear.  The best thing to do in a situation like this is to stay calm and lure it to safety, such as into a crate or kennel (which most A.A.R.F. volunteers keep with them at all times).  Fear issues can be resolved at a later time…the idea is safety first, and to avoid being bit since no one knows the history of this animal.  Chasing, sudden movements, loud noises…this will only make the animal more anxious to get away”.  When asked her thoughts on how the animal arrived in the parking lot, Jennifer said that it was too soon to tell, but her initial thought was that this was a wild pup who made its way away from it’s mom and was just looking for someting to eat.  She does not believe that this is a dump case.  “If I visit with him in the morning, and he wags and licks and jumps in my lap – then absolutely!  this pup belonged to someone.  But I honestly suspect, just by the reaction that I received from him upon arriving at the scene, that this animal is feril by all means”.  At one point during the rescue, the pup lunged and attempted to bite Jennifer’s leg.

It took Jennifer and her husband about 5 minutes upon arriving home to get this little guy out of his crate and into his new, temporary foster kennel…and yes, bologna was involved!  Once confined, he stood at the door of his kennel and watched Jennifer’s husband for about an hour – wagging his tail- his eyes following him everywhere he went.  Within an hour’s time, they could put their fingers inside of his kennel and he sniffed them and looked into their eyes. Jennifer expects the rehabilitation to take some time, but expects that he will be a great candidate for adoption once he is ready.

The moral to this and every story is that spay and neuter is the answer.  If you are allowing your dogs and cats to reproduce, you are only contributing to the ever-growing problem of animal overpopulation.  For more information on how you can be part of the solution, please call (931) 372-2728 or your local veterinarian to make an appointment to get your animals fixed today.  Financial Assistance may be available.

Any ideas of a fitting name for him?

For more information about the Cookeville Home and Garden show, visit the website at www.uchomeshow.com.

Of course, if you want to meet our pets for adoption, come by PETCO on Saturday; we will be there from noon til 6 p.m.

http://www.petco.com/content/locator/Details.aspx?storeId=1667&Nav=2

The roof of this building needs work – and we need to build a retaining wall on one side of this building.  Once this is complete, we will need assistance renovating the interior.

If you can assist, PLEASE contact Jennifer through email at aarfpets@yahoo.com. 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Thanks SO much Kyle, Pam and crew!  Here is a photo of their new trailer. 

P.E.T.S. will be featured on a new Animal Planet show called “Last Chance Highway”  which premiers this summer.  Read more about the show:  http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/animal-planet-rolls-out-new-summer-series-last-cha/

Visit the P.E.T.S. website at www.petsllc.org for more information on how the Peterson’s are making a difference for these animals – nearly 24,000 saved since starting their organization!!!  P.E.T.S. makes northern adoptions possible and cost effective!  A big heartfelt “Thanks” for all that they do, and for jumping in and assisting us when we were panicked on how to get these kennels here quickly!!!

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Awesome News!  We found the kennels we have been searching for for our new holding facility!  Problem is, they are in Shelbyville!  We need to get them from Shelbyville to Cookeville ASAP! 

Does anyone have a truck-driving friend who can pick up and deliver these sections to us – possibly someone who drives through that area frequently? 

Anyone have a truck or trailer and the ability to volunteer to drive there to pick up for us? 

And in the worst case, if A.A.R.F. has to rent a truck, anyone with a good driving record available to volunteer to drive the truck, load, and bring back here?

The largest section of this is 20′ long, so a pickup will not cut it.  We can rent a Budget 24′ truck, but if we can avoid spending $200, we would prefer not to, of course…Please volunteer your services if you can.  Remember that all donations are tax deductible – this includes your fuel, etc.

We are still desperately seeking additional foster homes for a number of WONDERFUL animals just waiting to go into foster care, currently living in crates for the majority of the day.  If you think you might like to foster one, please contact us!  It is a VERY rewarding experience, knowing that you have contributed to saving the precious like of one very special animal.  A variety of breed mixes and temperaments are available to foster. 

Click on the ADOPT tab to see ALL of our pets available for adoption and pre-adoption.

I arrived at the shelter today to find a ton of Puppies -they are everywhere…I am begging now, more than ever – if you have ever considered fostering, PLEASE call me or send me an email.  These animals need you desperately.  I am working on potential transports for these pups, but we need time, which they do not have.  To those new fosters who have joined us – Michelle, Betsy, Jenny and Robyn – THANK YOU!  We are so happy to have you aboard.  If you are reading this and thinking about adopting, see some of the photos below of some of the BEAUTIES at the shelter right now…and stop by TODAY to meet them.  They are desperately waiting for you.  The people at the shelter know what is coming, and they are dreading the thought…PLEASE help them!  (Scroll down to see photos of pups taken 2/5/10).

PARVO UPDATE

For those of you following this story, I believe that we are FINALLY out of the woods – we have been at this for 2 weeks, have cared for 21 puppies with exposure to this virus.  11 total confirmed cases, 2 hospitalized, and 3 deaths.

Jack – Adopted!

Buck – Adopted!

Kora Needs A foster home and/or adopter!  High energy love bug!  That is how I describe her.  She wiggles and jumps and twirls…and always wants to be near people!  A FABULOUS personality with so much love to offer!  As some of you know, A.A.R.F. has a special place for black dogs in general, since they always seem to be overlooked.  PLEASE look into the eyes of this beautiful girl and offer to give her the life that she deserves!

Cassidy – Adopted!

Natalie – RIP sweet Nattie…you are missed.

Sandy – Goes into a foster home today, 2/6!  She is seeking a forever home as well, but will be glad to get out of my house, that’s for sure!  She is being fostered by one of our previos adopters who adopted a recovered Parvo Pup herself!  Sandy has a very sweet and submissive temperament and gets along well with other dogs.  I have noticed a bit of “treat guarding”, but aside from that, she does great!!!  Please consider Sandy as the newest addition to your family!

Shannon – Needs a foster and/or adopter!  She is the big footed, tripping over her feet goofball that we all know and love.  She is a BEAUTIFUL girl with a gorgeous wavy coat – cmpletely black except for a white chin!  Very different!  She has a fabulous temperament and would make an EXCELLENT pet for anyone with or without kids!  Please consider Shannon…

James (Chuck) – Talk about a sweetheart….the only reason he is not pre-adopted is because he looks like your typical black lab mix dog that is EVERYWHERE in this region!  This boy is awesome.  He LOVES to play, LOVES to snuggle, LOVES to give kisses, and LOVVVVVES his toys!  Seriously…he waits for his little toy to come out of the dryer every day and then he jumps around until I give it to him!  TOO CUTE!  James needs a foster home, as well as a forever home….

Sage – Why is she still with me?  She is SO beautiful!  And SOOOO precious.  Calm and comforting, as well as playful and energetic!  It’s like this little pup understands the words “Calm Down!”.  She sits, submits and does wonderfully when I tell her No.  She is VERY smart, and in a positive way!  Her eyes look into you and it’s like she knows exactly what is going through your head….you must meet her to see for yourself.  Pictures do NOT do her justice.  Wait until you see that beautiful face…and the one black spot on her hip!  VERY unique!

Linda – RIP little girl…you fought REAL hard…

Chris – He is staying at the shelter temporarily until we can find a foster home for him.  NEEDS FOSTER/ADOPTER QUICK!

Karen – RIP Sweet quiet girl…Karen was a fighter, and she lost the fight 2/4/10.  She started coming around and drinking a TON of water.  I thought for sure she would pull through.  She waited until my 3PM rounds were through, and my husband found her when he got home. 

Angel – Adopted!

Christy – Back at the shelter praying for adoption….NEED FOSTER/ADOPTER NOW!!

Rhonda – Working through her shyness issues in her new foster home with Betsy and her daughter, who Rhonda seems to have taken a liking to!  Still looking for a forever home for her…

Jennie – WE HAVE FOUND A FOSTER HOME FOR JENNIE!!!!!  Thanks Robyn!  She still needs a forever home, though….??

Armondo – Need Foster/Adopter for this sweet and wonderful dog!  You talk about a LOVER!  He does this mighty dog run all around the basement when he gets out of his crate then runs back to me and jumps until I pick him up and give him kisses.  He is a SWEETHEART!  And SOOOOO gorgeous.  We are treating a spot on his forehead where he appears to have lost a bit of hair.  more updates to come on that…

Reece – Back at the shelter looking for a home…NEED FOSTER/ADOPTER NOW!!

Jonas – Needs Foster/Adopter.  He is going stir crazy in his kennel.  We sent a lot back to socialize for this reason.  Jonas was sick at that time…we cannot send him back now, we need to get A TON out first!  Please consider Jonas….he is SUCH a sweet boy and SO special….come meet him-you’lll see!

Johnny – Sent back to the shelter for adoption…..NEED FOSTER/ADOPTER NOW!

Lisa – Sent back to the shelter KNOWING that she would be adopted….she is tiny and cute and SO sweet and Sassy….no adoption yet…..NEED FOSTER/ADOPTER NOW!!

This is getting desperate.  We will need to figure something out, and I am just not sure where our miracle is going to come from this time…we need you – caring, compassionate people who can take even just one animal in to foster while we try to find a place for it.  Or Consider adopting a second, third, fourth….it would literally mean the world to them!

PICTURES OF PUPPIES CURRENTLY WAITING FOR YOU AT THE SHELTER AND A.A.R.F.