Skinny Minnie

Last weekend, Nov. 21-22, many of you were following the saga of an emaciated dog on the streets of Alton. We are happy to report that, thanks to dozens of concerned animal lovers, she is safe. It was obvious she had puppies somewhere but they could not be found.  Special thanks to Lisa and Ashley who transported her to Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital). She spent several days at Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital and was fed small amounts of food to get her body accustomed to digesting again.  

Great news... look who is already gaining weight (six pounds) in two days!!!! HUGE thanks to everyone at Horseshoe Lake who always provides the absolute best care for Partners animals. We are still waiting to hear more about her heartworm status and she's not totally out of the woods yet, but fingers crossed she'll get better day after day. 

Please help us with the cost of her care (dubbed "Skinny Minnie" by the staff at HSLAH). Payments can be made to the hospital directly by calling (618) 344-7949. Paypal donations can be made at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…

Minnie went into a foster home on Weds. so she could spend a very Happy, warm Thanksgiving.  She spent time on the couch enjoying her day.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out to send their thoughts and prayers to Minnie. This is truly what rescue is about - working together, for the greater good, and putting the animals first. Bravo to the team of people who brought her to safety.

https://www.facebook.com/partners4pets/videos/1105980719421045/

Hoarder-All Hands on Deck!!

 On Thursday, Nov. 19, I got a call from the Centralia Animal Shelter.  They had just taken in 29 adult dogs and puppies from a hoarding situation.  They were beagles and cockers and mixes in between.  The Centralia shelter was already full and could we help. They know I like beagles.  So I left Partners For Pets shelter and got to the Centralia Shelter about 4:30.

When I got there there was a momma dog with day old babies.  She was so scared she wasn't paying an attention to the babies.  The weren't even sure she was the mom.   I got her to lay over and the babies began to nurse.  There were 17 puppies and 12 adult dogs.  Several were very scared and not very willing to come with me but were finally convinced.  All of the dogs were filthy and caked with dirt, poop and urine.  The smell was horrendous.  The dogs had been loose in a home and  seized by AC.  I took the mom and two pups, 11 puppies and 7 adult dogs.  Another rescue was going to take 4 of the less dirty and more friendly cockers and 4 pups.   Well we were full too but the skilled shelter staff, already good at juggling space, set up crates and room was made.  The call went out to fosters to please help and many stepped up.  

The ride home was pretty stinky literally.  It was totally quiet which was weird for beagles.  When I pulled up to Partners For Pets shelter at 7:30 PM, Beth and Renee had the crates were ready.  Danette was there to pick up something and immediately jumped in to help.  Wendy came to pick up the mom and two tiny pups and whisked them off to foster.  Sarah was calling fosters to get dogs out of the shelter.  Fosters had come to take dogs out of the shelter before I even got back.  We unloaded one at a time and gave each a booster, bordetella, wormer, flea preventative, food and water.  The puppies were very hungry and very wormy looking.  Huge bellies and skinny legs and shoulders.  All were just caked in filth.  All were settled in and a plea for help to clean them Friday AM  went out.

The next morning Renee, Sherry, Lynelle, Matt, Cheryl, myself, and Lickety Split Mobile S'paw showed up to help clean them up.  Yep, the puppies were very wormy and we had really nice cages to clean.  Our old shelter is tiny and the grooming area even tinier.  It was tight and we were walking over each other.  The first beagle/cocker was totally freaked out at the bath and was doing alligator rolls while splashing the filth running off her all over us.  Finally we were able to get her cleaned up.  Guess she decided it felt pretty good.  You had to soak the stuff off them and cut some of it off.

Slowly, we got them cleaned up.  Emily brought her Lickety  Split Mobile S'Paw to the shelter and took the two worst ones to groom.  They had to be shaved.  Many are very urine stained and it will take a while for it to grow out.  Even the 8 week old puppies had yellow urine stain on their legs and bellies from laying in it.  They said there was about 2 inches of excrement all over the whole house. And people were living there.

One thing about Partners For Pets is that when the call goes out all hands on deck people are all in.  Everyone worked to get these dogs and puppies safe and cared for.  Thanks to everyone that helped, the fosters that stepped up and all the shelter staff and volunteers that are working OT to make sure everyone is fine.  Whew!

Charlie and his Wheelchair

This adorable little guy is Charlie. He came to us about 3 weeks ago from St. Clair County Pound. Someone saw him dragging himself along the side of the road and picked him up. No one ever claimed him. Charlie has gone to VSS in St. Louis and was seen by the neurology department. It was determined that his injury to his spine happened not too long ago but unfortunately there is no surgery to fix it. He has no feeling from the middle of his back down. As you can see, this has not dampened his spirit. Charlie is in need of a special orthopedic wheel chair to help keep his spine straight and help him get around more easily. Please help us help Charlie get his chair. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…

Check out his video at https://www.facebook.com/partners4pets/videos/1101079686577815/

Douglas Got His Dental Today!

Douglas came in a hot mess when Nev pulled him from the pound. He was in sorry shape so we just had to get him! He got a new hair cut and looked so much better but something just wasn't right. Dr. Mollet examined him last week and found his teeth in terrible condition but wasn't sure if Douglas was up for a dental. After a week of antibiotics it was now or never. He hasn't been able to eat much and the smell was dreadful. Dr. Jacob and staff worked on his teeth today and you can see what a terrible mess they were. There was also a lot of infection with pockets of infection under the teeth. Douglas was left with 6 teeth. Hopefully now with the teeth removed and the infection cleared he will perk up. Thank you Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital. Thank you to the Doris Day Animal Foundation who gave Partners For Pets a grant to help senior dogs with serious dental problems. They are awesome!!

Our Little White Van Died!!

The little white van that Nev drives to pick up dogs and cats from the pound and take them to the vet has gasped it's last gasp. It had about 240,000 miles on it.  The ignition had to be turned just right or it would fall out or stay on and drain the battery.  One of the sliding doors didn't have a handle.  It was dinged and dented.  It didn't smell very good but it was great for taking dogs and cats around.  We aren't picky and the dogs and cats didn't care.  They are  just glad to get out of the pound.

Last year almost 1600 dogs and cats took a ride out of the pound in that little van.  That many took a ride in that van to go to the vet for spay/neuter surgeries or any other medical care needed.  Many took an emergency ride from the pound straight to Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital with broken legs and pelvis, parvo, hit by a car, attacked by another dog, rotting legs, chemical burns, and injured eyes.  Pretty amazing how many dogs and cats and a couple chickens were in that van.

Nev and her husband Matt bought the little white van for $700.00 for her to use instead of her own car and to keep the two other vans we use for adoptions from getting any more miles on them than what they already had.  All of our vans are very elderly with over 200,000 miles on them. The vans were donated and had a lot of  miles on them when we got them.  Luckily we have a very nice car repair shop, M and M Automotive in Troy, that keeps patching them up.

This time, the van Nev drives died and had to be towed.  They said it was done for and the cost to fix it was more that the van was worth. So we salvaged the tires that we had replaced not to long ago and thought she would just have to drive the van we use for adoptions.  Then Matt found another van that looked great!  They were asking $1200.00 but would take $900.00.  It only had 212,000 miles on it and the inside was spotless.  Not for long!! We are buying the van and if anyone would like to help pay for it we would appreciate it.  Just hit the donate button and put "For Van" in the comments.

Good bye little white van!  We will miss you!  You were well loved for all you did!

Poor Salem! WARNING GRAPHIC

Salem was found as a stray and was at Madison County Pound. They called and we immediately took him to Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital.  The vets felt that the mass was probably cancer but until it was removed and biopsied we wouldn't know.   He was such a happy boy and in such good spirits that we decided to have the mass removed to see what exactly it is. He really seems to have so much life left that even if it's cancer, we wanted to give him a second chance. The mass was removed and the results showed it was a cancer but one that didn't spread quickly.  All the blood work indicated that there was no cancer in the blood so we were encouraged.  The report said the margins of the tumor were removed during the surgery.  Way to go Dr. Mollett!  Salem is healing and feeling much better.  He can now see out of that eye where the tumor hung over it. He does have several fatty tumors but they are nothing to be worried about.  Look at him smiling!

Howloween Fest was a Howling Good Time!

What did you do to celebrate Halloween? At Partners for Pets we went all out to bring our community, our pets and our local businesses together for a howling good time at our annual Howloween event. This year marks our 7^th Howloween celebration and it was a great success! As always, FCB Bank of Troy was there to support Partners, but this year we did it a little different by having the event at our new shelter on 9136 Lower Marine Road in St Jacob, IL. It was great to have everyone come out and enjoy the new property. 

Due to the threat of a rainy day, we had to move our vendors into the out buildings and change up a thing or two, but that did not stop us from having a fun day. We had so many businesses come out, despite a little rain, to sell their products and have a howling good time. Horseshoe Animal Hospital was there to host a vaccination clinic and children’s author Jennifer Ward was on hand to sign her books. A huge favorite had to be our petting zoo…ducks, chickens, ferrets and rats. The kids had a blast playing with the critters, getting their faces painted and enjoying hotdogs and hot chocolate. 

Of course, what would Howloween be without costumes and critters? Our costume contest brought out the best in adults, kids and dogs! There was creativity galore whether it be a poodle dressed as a horse, a pack of pugs as Ninja warriors or an ever lovely hound dog sporting a Wonder Woman skirt, headdress and golden lasso. Our prizes were just as fabulous too. Local businesses, volunteers and supporters donated gift cards, toys and services that made for prizes baskets worth dressing up for!

Well, what can we say, it was just a great day. We were so happy to have everyone come together at our new shelter; a shelter that will do more and be more for homeless dogs and cats. Howloween was a great opportunity to embrace our neighbors and if you missed it this year, be sure to make plans to come next year! Happy Howloween everybody (and everydoggie!)

Check out all the great pictures!

https://www.facebook.com/dukenewportphotography/photos/a.1106379616048087.1073741855.948228738529843/1106379942714721/?type=3&theater

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