Foster Feature: Image

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This post is courtesy of Linda and James Taylor!

“We are a TBAR foster home.”

Litters of kittens, cats, dogs, a litter of puppies, a string of miniature donkeys, and all sizes and shapes of horses have all crossed between the gate to our  five acres…   Each animal has a very special story to tell of how they arrived at the door step of a TBAR foster home.

The one that touched not only my heart, but literally my soul, was Image.  

A walking pile of bones who literally pushed her way into our trailer that day, Image somehow knew we had come to help her.

An older mare with a will to live like no other animal I had met before. She taught us how    precious life is and how we should cherish it.

 She fought to live and she won.  

And we had the honor to be on that journey with her.

Thank you, Linda and James, for opening your homes and hearts to an animal in need! If this story has inspired you or anyone you know to become a foster family to a TBAR animal, please read the information on our foster page and then email [email protected] or call (936) 878-2349

 

 

RAIN Success: Echo!

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RAIN Success: Because of the networking efforts of our community on the RAIN page, we were able to help this Catahoula find a great loving home before being taken to a shelter. Her new family has named her Echo and they are all in love!

From Stacey (her adopter):

Oh my goodness… She is absolutely a dream. She’s soooo good. Knows how to play fetch and brings the ball right back! She’s actually pretty calm for a puppy, we are so impressed and grateful to have her as a part of our family. She’s happy and very loving and fits right in. She likes to gather her toys and keep them surrounding her bed but drags this little fox we got her around in her mouth wherever she goes, so adorable. We have given her a name that seems to fit her, she even answers to it already!  “Echo” is her name! I totally believe she was meant to find us, and I’m thankful everything happened the way it did. 

She is so smart she even figured out how the iphone works to take her first “selfie” hahaha here she is with my daughter… They are inseparable. 🙂

Rescue Animals In Need (RAIN) is a referral animal networking group run by volunteers of True Blue Animal Rescue for animals in the community who have been rescued and are now looking for a forever home.

True Blue Animal Rescue gets more calls, emails and Facebook requests to take more animals than we can help. The RAIN Facebook page was created as a way to network those animals to the public in search of foster or forever homes.

What is Rescue Work Like?

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What is it like working with rescue animals?

I gather it is a little like working with people that have also been abused, neglected or even abandoned. You can see that they have things on their mind and troubles in their hearts. I think the thing that hurts the worst while being at T-bar is meeting the dogs that no longer want any human contact with people. After the rescue of Summer, the neglected and abused dog, I have seen first-hand how dogs can go through so much and still trust humans.

To see dogs that just have no interest in people is gut wrenching because it makes me wonder what happened to them that they gave up on those things that walk on just two legs. When meeting animals at T-bar I confess that some I feel closer too than others. It’s hard to explain. When I first met Seven, the rescue horse, he had just come back from Juan’s and Melanie was working with him in the barn. Melanie said he was a bit rough around the edges and didn’t really like to meet people. But when it was time to take his picture he nuzzled me gently and posed for me as if on cue. Melanie beamed at me and was glad that Seven trusted me, but the feeling really went both ways. Often I meet an animal at T-bar and I feel like I know them already, as if perhaps we met before in passing. Those animals I often drift to when I visit and chat with them, since they all are such great listeners.

When they are adopted out or find a new foster home it is always a little sad, but you have to be better than that, and think that they will be happier with more one and one attention. I think that is what keeps me going back and bonding still with animals that I know could be adopted tomorrow. Sometimes an animal will zero in on you. I have to say that it is an honor when they decided that you are worth the time of day. Certainly I feel like a million bucks when a shy creature decides that I am trustworthy.

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What is rescue work like? It will change your view on things. I confess that I have at times passed a field of horses and looked at them closely to make sure they were not starving, once on a roadtrip I saw donkeys in a small field and there were also three new babies and my first thought was, “I hope they plan to keep those donkeys.” My next thought was, “Is that land big enough for so many?” Only my last thoughts were that the babies were adorable. This could do with the fact that donkeys are always dumped on my Aunt Karen’s land! Being the person she is she has them fixed and keeps them as pets. But really she is up to eight donkeys now and she didn’t have to buy them!

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What is rescue work like? Like any cause close to your heart, if you are not careful it can devour you. Instead of seeing beauty or being light hearted you can start to go negative. I have worked hard to not let that happen to me. I let the victories stay in my heart and head and let the cases that I just couldn’t get to go. If you do not take care of yourself first you cannot take care of anyone else. It’s just a simple fact. We are only human. We require rest, food and love to keep going. Sure there are tons of sad stories and photos all over the place. But you cannot bask in them day in and out. You have to remember that even if you only save one dog it means everything to that little guy. You cannot beat yourself up about the five others that you were unable to get to. You have to have faith that someone else stepped in because it does happen. Don’t think all of the problems are just on your shoulders because there are so many wonderful people just like you, who are trying to fix things.

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What is rescue work like? So rewarding. Seeing an animal come in bad shape and then watching them slowly recover is awesome. You cheer them on in your mind as they gain weight, start to trust people or just heal from abuse. The best moment in your minds recorded history of time in their life is when they find a forever home that fits them and their needs. For some animals it is a long wait, while others find their match right away. But the day feels no different no matter how long of a wait it has been. It’s like watching a touched down when a family smiles a knowing smile at an animal and has that same feeling I get while at T-bar. “I know you.” And they take them home.

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How can I help I live in an apartment? I cannot foster. I do not have the finances to help.
If you cannot help with money then please know just sharing and commenting on the T-bar Facebook page is a huge help. It gets the word out and helps gain T-bar views, which in turn helps the animals get exposure. It may seem small but it makes a difference. If you cannot foster, a donation of any size can help. Yes one dollar helps, because it was a dollar we did not have before. A lot of small donations go so far in the animals lives. Never think your donation is not enough.


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TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adoptingDonations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!

 

 

 

Pet of the Week: Joey

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TBAR’s Pet of the Week is a very sweet and lovable guy named Joey. Joey is a very socialized kitty who likes other cats and even dogs! All he wants is a family who will let him cuddle on their laps and give him some toys to play with in between catnaps. Joey has sadly been overlooked by many adopters and is asking one family to give him a shot at a forever home.

Joey has three strikes against him, but that shouldn’t mean a life sentence without a forever home! All Joey needs is a really special person to look past his shortcomings and see Joey with all of their heart. After all, Joey’s heart is still open, loving and willing, even after all he’s been through. His life started out on the street, fending for himself, which is where his eye got infected. Fortunately, Joey was rescued, but it was too late to save his eye. He doesn’t mind at all, hopefully you won’t either. That’s one strike against him.  Joey is also an adult cat now, not a kitten any more. Strike two. The final strike against Joey is he is FIV+. Strike three. Most people read that without any knowledge of FIV and lose interest in this sweet and deserving guy. FIV is typically only transmitted by fighting tomcats and Joey’s possibility of transmitting FIV is next to nothing since he has been neutered and has absolutely no aggressive tendencies. Joey should live out a happy, normal life just like any other healthy cat and would be so happy to spend his life with a family of his own – he wouldn’t mind a puppy or kitty friend either!

Joey has been waiting a long time for someone with a heart of gold. Are you that special someone that can see his beauty, his strong heart ready to love, and give him a chance to be your special cat? He will love you in return, with purrs & kisses!

If you are looking for or would like more information on Joey, or another TBAR animal, please call 936-878-2349 or email,   [email protected]

 

 

Success Stories: Sundance

Sundance2 Sundance and his brother, Kado, were brought to True Blue Animal Rescue when a man dropped off a litter of 5 puppies at the Beard-Navasota Veterinary Hospital in June 2012, to be euthanized. The puppies were covered in fleas, dirty and absolutely terrified, but those working at the clinic saw no reason for these puppies to be euthanized so they reached out for help. The vet office called TBAR who had room for 2 of the 5 puppies in a foster home; the other puppies were placed in loving homes by the dedicated hospital employees.

Once approved into the TBAR foster program, Sundance and Kado were picked up from the vet by a TBAR volunteer and taken to their new foster home. On assessment, the puppies were slightly anemic from being terribly infested with fleas to a point that their white bellies looked black. They were immediately bathed with Dawn soap to kill and remove the fleas. IMG_2695Sundance needed a couple months of puppy vetting and then he was ready for his forever home search. With such a wonderful personality and sweet face, it didn’t take long for someone to see this sweet boy and take him home. He has finally found his perfect forever home and is doing very well with his new mom, Kelsey. Sundance4 TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adoptingDonations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!

Tax Info

blogdog1Today is Tax Day!

What does Tax Day have to do with Animal Rescue? More than you’d think!

We’d like to take today to remind everyone that donating to TBAR, fostering a TBAR animal, or volunteering makes you eligible for tax deductions!

There are certain things to consider, and you’re best choice would be consulting your tax professional for advice, but in general if you itemize your taxes you can use your donations and fostering or volunteering expenses to decrease taxable income and lower your tax bill. Be sure that you are keeping records of giving, in-kind donation forms, and receipts.

In addition, some counties may allow for an agriculture exemption for equine foster animals (this includes Washington County and Grimes County).

If you are an animal foster parent for TBAR you should keep records of any expenses you incur such as food, crates, or cleaning products. TBAR pays all medical and veterinary bills, but if you choose to pay them you can deduct them. You can also deduct a portion of utilities if the foster animal has a portion of your home dedicated to it. You will need to obtain a note that confirms you are a TBAR foster home if your expenses go over $250.

If you are interested in fostering, an animal, or donating goods or services you can contact us as [email protected] and please remember that PayPal donations are always needed!

True Blue Animal Rescue has been determined a 501(c)(3) non profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax deductible. You can view us on Guidestar and search our EIN (75-3144975) on the IRS website.

Pet of the Week: Cool Whip

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Who couldn’t love a face like Pup’s (aka Cool Whip)? Cool Whip is sweet, highly intelligent and very obedient. She loves cuddling on the couch with her foster or playing in the yard during the day. Cool Whip was rescued from a known puppy flipper in Houston. A flipper is someone who either steals an animal or gets “free to good home” animals from websites like Craigslist and then sells them making a large profit off of the animals who just want a family who will love them forever. The kind woman who rescued Cool Whip searched for a family who could have possibly had her stolen from them, but no one came forward. Since a previous owner cannot be found, she has been accepted into TBAR’s foster program so that we can help find her a loving, forever family who will cherish.

Cool Whip is about 8 months old, fully housebroken and would love to find her forever family who will love her till the end of her days. She will certainly return the favor! If you think Cool Whip would be a wonderful addition to your family, please contact True Blue Animal Rescue by emailing[email protected] or leaving a voicemail at (936) 878-2349 and we will return your call at our earliest convenience.
TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adoptingDonations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Save a life: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!

Chance’s Rescue

*Warning* Post contains photos and descriptions of a graphic nature that may be disturbing to some (especially younger) viewers and readers*

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On April fourth, in Caldwell, Texas, an injured dog wandered up to the Komar family’s property. On close inspection they saw the dog was seriously injured by a gunshot to the head. Despite being shot, the dog wanted their help and rather than look the other way, the Komar family stepped in to lend a helping hand. Sadly the family was not allowed to keep the dog themselves due to living on rented property. First, they tried calling law enforcement but were told that the dog would most likely die. Upset and not getting the help they needed, they began to call other rescue groups. A few turned them away but at last they found help with True Blue Animal Rescue.

Jacqueline Komar, or Jackie, didn’t bat an eye when she was asked if she could drive to Dr. Lee Panko’s office on a Sunday in Brenham, Texas. There, with two of her children, Destiny and Gabrielle, Jackie brought in the wounded Catahoula. Jackie lifted the dog on the examination table and her, the kids, and Melanie and Dale watched as Dr. Panko began his exam. The dog’s eye was the first thing Dr. Panko probed at and the top of the dog’s head was next. As Dr. Panko did his examination, the family that had cared for him for three days asked tons of questions. The vet answered them all as they came, letting the kids know the dog was one to one and a half year’s old, and that he wasn’t chipped or fixed. As Dr. Panko spoke he checked the dog’s sinuses, reflexes, skin condition, and hearing; all were found to be sound. After Dale found out the Komar family had not already named the dog, T-bar members decided to name him Chance.

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While doing the examination, Jackie informed the vet that when the dog panted Chance had an odor about him. Leaning closer, Dr. Panko agreed and said the smell was from the massive infection the dog had from the wound he’d suffered. By the skin that was trying to grow back over the wound Dr. Panko guessed that Chance had been shot only three or four days before, meaning the dog had, thankfully, found the Komar family almost right after being shot.

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The dog had a ring around its neck that was made by a collar that had been on long enough to wear down the fur; a few months. Also his tail had been cropped too short leaving him nothing, not even a nub. Chance’s gums were a pale pink, rather than a healthy deeper color, which Dr. Panko suggested was due to blood loss and malnutrition. The wound on his side was thought to be ringworm but Dr. Panko said that it was not, but a scab covering an old wound. Dr. Panko believed the gun shot went through an eye and came out the back of Chance’s head. The vet decided that removing the damaged eye would be better for Chance in the long run because if it healed on its own the scar tissue would be painful for the dog.

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All during his examination Chance was quiet and calm, even with seven people huddled around him in a tiny room. Destiny wanted Chance to have a toy that she had bought all by herself before her family had to say goodbye to him. The Komar’s wished they could keep Chance but were relieved that True Blue Animal Rescue and Melanie DeAeth, had stepped in for the dog and his care. Once in T-bar care Chance was treated to new toys and treats by the Snook school children and also an interview by KBTX!

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Chance has a long road to recovery but thanks to so many people being touched by the battle this little guy has gone through his emergency care visit has been paid for. He still has his eye removal operation coming up. His T-bar status is listed as in Rehab, but will be listed for adoption as soon as he is well. People have asked if he will be a special needs dog after his horrific injury but Dr. Panko sees no long lasting health issues once Chance has his eye taken care of.

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If you would like to help T-bar with Chance’s bills or just want to make a donation to True Blue Animal Rescue please use the donation button. No matter how big or small your donation it makes all the difference to animals in need. If you want up-to-date news on Chance he now has his own Facebook page. Chance’s second Chance.

*UPDATE* Enough funds have been raised to cover Chance’s vet bills! Thank you for the outpouring of generosity for this beautiful creature!

 

 

 

 

Success Stories: Winston

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This handsome little guy was lucky enough to be born a few short days after his mother was rescued off a Houston street by a very kind woman who came to TBAR asking for help. Winston’s mother, Gracie, was much too young to give birth, but here we were with 4 healthy kittens.

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Winston was the last of the kittens who found their home. He had to be fostered for a little longer for extra medical attention. Winston had to receive treatment for ringworm before he could be adopted out and spent some time being boarded at a Houston vet office where one of his foster parents worked. He quickly became a favorite of those who worked in the vet office because he was so loving and an awesome little guy (handsome too!). Soon enough it was Winston’s turn to find his forever home.

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Winston went to his new forever family on February 9, 2014 and – as you can tell – he found himself right at home. We are happy to see him finally find a loving home and want to thank his foster, Linda, for her patience and determination for finding these babies homes.

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TBAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal rescue organization. If you would like to help animals such as this one, please consider donating to TBAR, volunteering, fostering, or adopting. Donations go directly toward care, feed, and veterinary care of the rescued animals and every little bit helps us to help another animal in need of safety and rehabilitation. Rescue a pet: adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter your pets!