News for Dogs
and their People

September 15, 2009

Hello,

Black Dog Rescue Project is excited to publish the first issue of Rescue Paws, a monthly newsletter for Dogs and their people. Each month, Rescue Paws will be delivered to your inbox. You will find recent headline news stories, information on what’s happening at Black Dog Rescue Project and tips on how to better communicate with your dog.

If you like what you find here, please help us spread the word and forward this to your friends and family. If this was forwarded to you, please take a moment to subscribe to Rescue Paws.

In this Issue

Headlines : Impact of the Economy on Dogs
Black Dog Rescue Project : Coming Soon…
Favorite Things : Kong
Remy’s World : A Natural Jumper
Dog Speak : Tail Wags of Happiness

Headlines

The economy has been the big news in the headlines in the U.S. and around the world for many months now. The failing economy is taking its toll on both people and their pets. Shelters are full and the dogs keep arriving as owners become unable to care for their pets.

CNN reports that the UK has seen an 11% increase in the number of stray dogs over the last year.

Budget cuts in California prompted a change to the required holding time for stray dogs. The required time has moved from 6 days down to 3 days which will drastically reduce the number of dogs that can be saved.

Hoping for a change in the economy, Las Vegas plays host to SuperZoo this week where manufacturers and suppliers of pet products show off what’s new for 2010.

Black Dog Rescue Project - Coming Soon...

Rescue Me: We are thrilled with the success of the homeless black dogs we have highlighted on our site. Maggie, Kinsey and Ranger have all found homes and we are hopeful that Devin will soon be in his forever home. For more information on Devin, check out our home page.

Spooky Dude: Chris and his wife are volunteers for the AuSable Valley Animal Shelter in Grayling, MI. Chris shared his story about the black lab mix that spent nearly a year waiting for his forever home.

Black Dog Walk: The first Black Dog Walk took place at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City last month. We are spreading the word and bringing awareness to the plight of homeless black dogs. If you would like to meet other dog lovers and help black dogs in your community, please consider starting a Black Dog Walk in your community

Directories: Creating the state directories is a time consuming process but a very valuable resource for our visitors. We will continue to add new state directories until all states are complete. Colorado will be online shortly.

Pit Bulls: If the black dog is the underdog of the rescue dog world, then the black pit bull is the ultimate underdog. Look for more information on banned breeds and breed specific legislation in the next month.

Gourmet Dog Treats: Do you know what’s in your dogs’ favorite food or treats? We are putting the finishing touches on homemade dog treats that you can feel good about giving to your dog. Look for these treats to be available in our Favorite Things section in the coming weeks.

Media: Hollywood has a very large influence on how the public perceives black dogs or certain breeds of dogs. We will be creating a section on the website to discuss this topic in more detail but want to pose a question to you first. Are you aware of any movie, TV show or commercial, past or present, which portrays a black dog in a positive light? We have been trying to find just one example and have come up short. If you have an example, please let us know!

Favorite Things

The Kong is a must have item. Click on the photo to order your Kong today. We LOVE the kong because it is indestructible and helps relieve boredom while you are away. Kongs come in a variety of sizes and strengths from puppy to adult. The ideas on stuffing a Kong are endless. Some of our favorites are to break up small biscuits and alternate with layers of peanut butter and biscuits. Put it in the freezer to make the fun last a bit longer. On a hot day, fill the kong with water and freeze it for a fun popsicle. You can also fill it with beef or chicken broth and freeze it. Buy 2 kongs so that one is always in the freezer and ready to go when you need it.

Remy's World

Remy was our inspiration for the Black Dog Rescue Project. We adopted Remy back in June when a news story broke about an animal hoarder who had been keeping 75 poodles in horrific conditions in a one room cabin. It has been wonderful to watch him progress each day and to see him discover what being a happy and loved dog is all about.

Remy has been attending the Black Dog Walk each Saturday and truly enjoys prancing through the park with the other dogs.

We will be building more obstacles for our agility course and will keep you posted on Remy’s progress.

Dog Speak

Did you know that a wagging tail is not always an indication of a happy a playful dog? Depending on the situation and the rest of the dogs’ body language a wagging tail could also indicate fear, submission or dominance.

If your dog is standing tall and wagging his tail quickly, this typically indicates that he is happy. If he is in a play bow while wagging he is ready to play. However, if he is crouching while wagging the tail more slowly this does not indicate that he is happy. Depending on the situation, this could be a display of dominance to another dog or could indicate that he is fearful or being submissive if the tail is lowered.

Watch your dogs’ tail more closely. See the different situations that cause the tail to be lowered or raised and to wag quickly or more slowly. You will begin to understand your dog much more clearly.

Spread the Word… Save a Life!
Black Dog Rescue Project