A friend of mine came by today and told me I really needed to go look at this poor dog that was chained to a 4x4. I immediately put my dogs up and headed out to see about him.

When I got there I found this poor pittie on the end of a 3 foot chain! He had no water, no food, not even a bucket or bowl for food and no shelter. Just lying there curled up in a ball. I thought he was dead and although I was in a terrible part of town I went over to him to check and see if he was still alive. I got some food from my jeep and when he stood up he fell back down and could not even eat it. He was that far gone. His two front feet are bent from malnourishment. It was 29 degrees here in Ga. last night! He was seen by my friend a few days ago in the rain there in the same place without shelter and it rained for two days here then. He would not have made it through tonight!

I was so infuriated to see him like this and the owners trailer decorated with Christmas lights while this poor dog lay there freezing without ANY shelter and nothing to eat or drink, with EVERY rib showing and his backbone sticking up that I went to the Police station in town. The officer asked me could he help me and all I could say was "Yea, animal cruelty". He asked me for the address and headed out to the trailer with me trailing him.

The owners wouldn't come to the door when he knocked. I told him the poor dog would not make it out there til nightfall if he did not let me take him. He took a lot of pictures and then he told me to take the dog. Thank God! I told him I wanted to file charges on the owner of the dog and he told me to get a copy of the report tomorrow and proceed with the process.

I took this baby to the vet and on the way saw two pups curled up in ball on the side of Hwy. 56. I turned around and went back for them. They are labs acording to my vet and have some severe mange issues going on. They are only about 8 weeks old and weighed 15 lbs. each so will be big! They look purebred and are chocolate. They are in pitiful shape and were freezing and hungry!

The poor pittie boy weighed only 32 lbs. and was estimated at 2-3 years. His ears obviously had an inexperienced "ear surgeon" crop them when he was small. They took almost the whole ears off. There is little of nothing there. My vet said he should weigh around 55 lbs. and that he has some serious internal parasites. He showed me these through the microscope and that is all I could see was whips, tapes and hooks.

He has him on Liqui-Tunic 4 x a vitimin iron tonic twice daily, wormed him, first Dh2PP and told me his body temperature was sub-normal. His gums were the whitest I have EVER seen and I've seen a lot.

The pups have had their first shots and wormed and are being treated with Promeris and cephelexin for the mange.—Samantha Holton, Girard Lifesaver Rescue

Patchie enjoying his gifts!

The package included chew toys, treats and a gift card for $25.00 to Petsmart! Patchie loves his squeeky toys and of course his treats and even shared his treats with his foster sisters. Patchie was still wearing a Dollar Store collar, so we decided it was time he get a collar more suitable for his personality. He is now sporting a black leather collar with white leather doggie paws around it! He looks handsome in black and there was even enough money to buy the Petsmart mascot, the famous smiley weener dog! Patchie had quite fun with it! Thank you to Nancy for sponsoring Patchie. He is just a love, and has definately come out of his shell! The sponsor program is not only alot of fun, but it allows us to pamper our fosters just a little more than usual! Thank you Tami for the program and Thank you again Nancy. Enjoy the pics!

Here are pics of Patchie with his second care package from "Maddie" to include a new dog bed! Patchie has been playing, squeeking, treating and tugging all weekend! The Sponsorship Program is incredible and allows all of us as foster parents to give a little extra attention to our fosters who have suffered so terribly at the end of a chain. Patchie is truely Thankful to DDB for stepping up for him and allowing the experience of a warm home, a gentle touch, room service twice a day and the chance to play with other canines, you can see it in his "smile" every day! Thank you Tami, Maddie and all those involved in the Sponsorship Program and the many other programs that allow us to educate and release dogs from chains the entire year.

Melody - DDB Rep, Columbia, MO

Gator Girl Gets Needed Surgery After Abuse!

Thanks to YOU and Santa Paws, DDB will provide $700 to
perform surgery on this abused dog!

Here are her pictures, the second one shows the bone in her hip, that is actually her BROKEN femur. He kicked her so hard he broke the end off of her femur as well as dislocating her hip. Her surgery is Monday morning and I'll let you know. Dare I say "Merry Christmas"—Marie Belanger

12/14/2009 10:00 a.m. Animal control received a call about an emaciated dog living on a balcony in an apartment complex, 12/14/2009 11:00 a.m. they seized the dog. 12/14/2009 2:30 p.m. the owner went to AC crying and they gave the dog back to her. 12/14/2009 3:00 p.m. they called to tell us they gave her back regardless of her body condition and the fact she was limping, she had been horrendously kicked down a flight of stairs the same morning they seized her. 12/20/2009 we got them to sign her over to DDB and scheduled a vet appt. for 12/24/2009 X-rays revealed she had a broken femur that was pushed up out of the joint capsule and was sticking up, we scheduled her for surgery. 12/29/2009 surgery revealed the tip of the femur was shattered. The injury was repaired and she was spayed and came home to foster Mom on 12/30/2009. She will require in home therapy for 6 weeks but should be fine.

Murray Gets a New Home for the Holidays!

 

As a result of the Sponsor a Dog Program, Murray got a new home in Indiana! Foster mom Dinah (above left) and new mom split the trip, met up in West Virginia, and got him on his way to a new, inside life with his new family!

Look at me! (above right) I am the first to get a Christmas present in this house. It came in a big box in the mail today! I loooooooove the bed and can't wait to open the toys and especially the treats. I got some Frontline too, but I can wait for that.

Lacey, a happy girl

  
Here's Lacey with her gifts, she's so sweet and so happy now ;-)!

Delilah, PA, Gets a New Home for the Holidays!

Delilah was adopted by an Altoona woman as a result of our campaign, and she is planning so much for them to do already! She reports that everything is going swimmingly for the happy duo...One down, 100 to go!

Tamira's Foster Dogs Revel in their Luxuries!

Banshee can never get enough of the ball, and is happy to report he still has not destroyed this special Kong ball!

Weston tries out his new dog bed.

Weston and Vivian shop for their toys

Buddy looking all happy with is Buddy Booty!

Here sits Buddy, on top of and surrounded by gifts.  He received treats, chew toys, a bed, plush toys, balls, a collar, plus other wonderful gifts.

  

    

Buddy received 2 packages of gifts.  One included this Christmas card and a PetSmart gift card from Martha. Buddy and I made a trip to PetSmart for our shopping spree - it was his first time in the store and he LOVED it! Outside PetSmart, I sensed a sadness in Buddy's face.  Could it be BUYER'S REMORSE? Nah, shopping is such taxing work; Buddy was just tuckered out!! Buddy is a happy puppy in a sea of generosity from DDB sponsors.  This has never happened to him before.  What a trip from the chain to this!

Midnight surrounded with gifts!

At 11 months old, this is Midnight's first Christmas.  Let's hope she doesn't expect this to happen every year!

 

What a great program for foster dogs who were formerly chained. I cried every time they received a package or a card. Thank you!!! Pam

Ziggy Hear's A Who!

Ziggy was overjoyed when he received his presents. He is a dog that cannot have enough toys. He particularly likes balls of any size and shape - so Santa Paws gave him many many balls - one that makes a variety of animal noises...Ziggy is not sure whether he wants to play or run away from that particular ball. Ziggy also received a KONG, a rubber bone (which was of interest but not as fun as a ball) and a new dog bed cover (as he destroyed the last one...).

Mr. Pickles and Abby!

Here are the results of our Petco trip.. It was awesome to be able to get them so many things.. They are so happy.. Mr. Pickles (chi weenie) - He is nervous of the camera and everything else, so I kinda have to force the pictures. He found one favorite toy, and decided to hide in his crate so his foster brother couldn't steal it from him! Abby (rottie mix) - Still not feeling well from being spayed and have conjunctivitis, so she looks pitiful in her pictures, but is laying with some of her toys... BUT believe me, they are in heaven with everything.. Each got a Big bag of food, they love (Blue Buffalo) and a ton of toys and treats! Thank you so much for everything they received this year. They are 2 very happy doggie's. And I am so grateful for everything, it's so amazing!
Deana - Inland Empire, CA

JJ (black lab) - Illinois

  

Emma - Virginia

This is Emma, one of my seven foster puppies with one of her gifts. I will have some more photos to send. Shannon, DDB-VA

Esme - Virginia

Because of the Sponsor a Foster program Esme found her furever home. The remaining six found their furever homes as well.
Shannon, DDB-VA

Meet Brandy, a 9 year old Beagle Mix, and Gordo , a 6 year old Husky Mix, who have both been chained up all their lives. This is sort of their second time to receive gifts this Christmas season but for a chained or previously chained dog, there is no end to spoiling them! :) I actually made contact with their caretakers during our local A Chainge For Christmas Project where we delievered over 107 gifts to chained or penned dogs in Hobbs, NM, as well as a copy of our new city ordinances. Their people decided they would relinquish them to DDB since fixed point chaining in Hobbs is now illegal.

To make a bitter sweet story short, I got the dogs rescued on Monday, January 3 and I had received a Christmas package for Petey who was on the list but had gotten adopted before his package came in the mail. So, I decided I would let Brandy and Gordo open up another present since they have got years of catching up to do.

Gordo thought the squeaky toys were the next best thing to canned dog food and Brandy enjoyed getting hand fed the Canine Carry Out dog treats from my 20 month old daughter who also thought she needed them all. So I just want to say thank you to our sponsor from Aiken, South Carolina for sending out sweet holiday Karma to these dogs in New Mexico this year. You have made their day and days to come when they are playing with those toys and eathing those treats. Dogs Deserve Better, we have made these dogs truly have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and a happy new start at life.

Thank you from Amanda Green (Hobbs, NM DDB rep) and Brandy and Gordo

Here is Cleopatra's Santa Paws picture in her foster home before she was adopted. Thought you might might it to add to the happy stories! Thanks again for Santa Paws!!