Project Jessie

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Happy holiday?

2009-12-29T13:13:00.003-05:00

Hi all,
Midway through the holiday break, and - wow! where the heck did this month go!?!?!

I hope that your holidays were warm, safe and enjoyable - whatever your traditions or beliefs.

This Christmas was odd for me. I felt like I was running flat out and suddenly - there they were!

I usually travel to visit my family for two nights. The amount of planning and organizing that seems to take boggles even me. :o)

The dogs come along with us, but the cats and other creatures stay put and my wonderful neighbour looks in on them for me. This year it was slightly more complicated for her, with several creatures needing daily medications, but she managed just fine and I was grateful for her enabling me to get away for a couple of days.

Christmas itself was strange. My mother passed away this spring and this was our first Christmas without her. My sister has some scary medical stuff happening and my best friend and colleague is coping with yet another serious cancer in her immediate family.
It seems that everyone has something to worry about at the moment.:o(

I have been hoping for a "Christmas miracle" (or two!) I guess. Nothing really for me, although it sure would make me happy. Please consider thinking about this, and/or passing the information along. If we can make even one of these come through I will be more than pleased. Thanks!

So who are the creatures I am most worried about?

Luki is a young houndy boy and here is his story:
I knew that there was a dog in the kennel – but I could barely see his eyes waaayyyy back there. I was told he was a hound mix but with the small amount I could see of him, you could have told me he was anything and I would have had to believe you.

I sat very still, and tossed an endless stream of tiny treats through the little doorway – one treat at a time.

I could see him edge forward, grab the snack and twirl away back to the corner. We repeated this strange dance for quite awhile before he was confident enough to let me lay my hand on his shoulder.

I could feel him quiver and I knew just how scared he was.

“I don’t know what happened to you young fella”, I said softly,”but you are going to be alright – I promise.”

I picked him up to carry him out of the run and into my car. There was no way he was going to trust a leash – he had a long, long way to go before that would be an option.

We named this thin, leggy boy Luki. It became very obvious that he was sweet. Humans were scary, scary creatures to him, but he would never think about growling or lifting a lip. His strategy was just to duck and bob, weave and avoid. On the other hand – people had lots of those yummy treat things – so maybe they weren’t all bad???

Luki loves other dogs, and we decided that the best thing for his progress, would be to place him in a foster home with dogs of a similar size, who could set a good example for him. He needed confidence and to learn that people were good things.

Nancy kindly agreed to take him into her home. She is very experienced with dogs and has hosted some very tough Project Jessie fosters in the past. In fact – they were once foster dogs themselves. Her dogs are comfortable and confident with people – good role models for this scaredy boy!

Dear Luki was a mess the first few days. He had no idea what this new environment was all about – perhaps he had never been in a house before? He learned quickly though, and as his skinny body continued to grow – his mind was also growing to encompass some new ideas:

“Hey – people are okay!”
“Actually – this place is fun!”

At this point Luki has become a much more confident fellow. He is still timid in some new situations and with some new people – but he has made huge strides in a relatively short time and I think he will continue to progress given enough time and love.

The pound that he was in is one that does sell for research and Luki is a young, healthy, sweet tempered fellow. Whether he would have been used for research or killed because of his shyness I can’t say. Regardless, he would never have been adopted from there, and would never have been given the chance to know what life in a family is like, without the help of Project Jessie and the loving care of fosters like Nancy.

He is ready for a new home and a new life. Do you think he might in with YOUR family?

Adoptions this fall and winter have been super slow for kitties - even nice, beautiful cats like these.

Lindy and Frazier are siblings, and Princessa and Elliot joined in with them as friends. All 4 kitties have lived together for ages - now they are looking for homes to call their own.

If you are looking for a pair of kitties – any of these guys “mix and match” each other very well - they are ALL good friends with each other. All these kitties are just under a year old.

Gorgeous Elliot (The buff and white boy) was surrendered to a shelter when his people developed allergies.

Gentle Princessa was found wandering outdoors – lost and afraid and very pregnant. Barely out of kittenhood herself, she tried to be a good Mom – but her babies all passed away. Princessa has been sweet and lovely with everyone she has met. She likes nothing better than to be cuddled and fussed over. Doesn’t she have pretty colors?

Frazier (smokey black) and Lindy Lu (the wee tabby girl) are siblings whose Mom was an outdoor cat. Frazier came to me when he was about 8 weeks, and Lindy when she was about 12 weeks. Frazier has blossomed into a sweet, affectionate, handsome boy. Lindy Lu is still a bit shy and it takes her longer to warm up to new people. She is very happy to sit and cuddle with you once she knows you however.

All of these cats have been raised around children, other cats and are fine with gentle dogs. They have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Their adoption fee is $100 each.

I would love for Lindy to be adopted with her brother (in which case the adoption fee will be $150 for the pair). She also gets along well with Princessa and she ADORES Elliot.

If you think that one or more of these sweeties might be the perfect new friend for you, please call Shelly at 519-940-4712 or email shelly@animalalliance.ca Thanks!

2009-11-27T10:54:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

Many of you may have heard about the recent issues at Toronto Humane Society.

While I am not offering any opinions on the matter, I am going to ask you to recognize the short-term ramifications.
　
Toronto Animal Services is already struggling under enormous pressures. Adoptions are slow, and numbers (especially cats and small animals) are up.

With things happening as they are at Toronto Humane, Animal Services is
expecting that even more animals will be appearing at their doors.
　
If you have been thinking about adopting a new friend - PLEASE!

This is the weekend to actually go out and DO it.
　
If you are in the GTA area, please consider going to one of the animal services branches and adopting a new friend.
Even one animal moving into a permanent home will be an enormous help!!!
　
To see the animals that they have available, check out their website at
　
http://www.toronto.ca/animal_services/pet_adoption.htm
　
And if you aren't in a postion to adopt, but have been thinking of
fostering please let me know that too...
　
Thank you!!!
Shelly
　
Shelly Hawley-Yan
Director, Project Jessie Coordinator
Animal Alliance of Canada
221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M4M 2G3
On the Web:
www.ProjectJessie.ca
www.animalalliance.ca
www.cruelscience.ca
email: shelly@animalalliance.ca
　
"In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and
complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never
attained, living by voices we will never hear.　 They are not brethern,
they are not underlings, they are other nations, caught with ourselves
in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and
travail of the earth."　　 ***Henry Beston (1888-1968)

Coyote feet worth $20

2009-11-23T13:39:00.001-05:00

Dear reader,
Coyotes are under fire in Saskatchewan.
Below is an excerpt from a November 10, 2009 News Release from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
***
BJORNERUD ANNOUNCES SASKATCHEWAN COYOTE CONTROL PROGRAM
Today, Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud announced the Saskatchewan Coyote Control Program.

The program is intended to help the many farmers and ranchers who are having trouble with coyotes killing their livestock. The provincial government will pay hunters a bounty of $20 per coyote killed - based on the hunters showing up with 4 coyote feet.

"Many Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers are struggling to protect their livestock from coyotes," Bjornerud said. "I hope this program helps address this serious issue and I appreciate SARM and its members working with us to deliver the program."

The Saskatchewan Coyote Control Program is a pilot program that will run until March 31, 2010, at which point the provincial government will consider extending it.

"In many areas of the province livestock producers have been experiencing losses due to the high coyote populations," SARM President David Marit said. "We appreciate the provincial government has recognized this problem and has introduced this new program."

"We are pleased Minister Bjornerud is keeping cattle producers' interests at the forefront," Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association Executive Member Ryan Thompson said. "The SCA applauds this step to assist producers in alleviating predation against livestock."

"It's good to see government taking action to try and solve this problem," Lipton area sheep producer and Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association Board member Martin Catto said.
***
Please contact the Minister of Agriculture Bob Bjornerud (pronounced "Benrod") by phone # 306-787-0338 or by e-mail minister.ag.@gov.sk.ca

The coyotes are depending on us all to speak out on their behalf. This type of action is regressive and must be stopped. Canadians must demand that governments begin to look for progressive and humane solutions to human / wildlife conflict issues.

With gratitude for your help,
Shelly and crew

Delilah the magnificent and things just keep rolling along...

2009-11-10T22:25:00.011-05:00

Wow - hard to believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since Miss Delilah had her surgery!
Some real angels stepped in to pay her bills and I can't say thank you enough!

Delilah is doing really well. Her leg is healing nicely and the surgery scar is slowly healing up and getting smaller. She *IS* a bit naughty though - last week she decided that she was bored and that pulling out her stitched by herself might be a bit of fun...
Thankfully the way that she was stitched, the bits underneath kept everything together and we didn't need to re suture. Naughty girl!!!

Delilah is an awesome girl and I adore her. She is very affectionate and as she feels better, she is getting even more demonstrative with head butting, purring and asking for attention. I am really attached to her and will be so sad when she finally goes to a permanent home.
But she isn't going yet! ;o)
Two more weeks of healing and we will re-xray her and probably spay her at that time.

She is a lovely girl - and I am so grateful for the support of Project Jessie people. Without the financial side of it we really, really couldn't do this type of work.

Thank you to everyone who stepped up and helped her - you are angels every one!!!

The past week has been brutal for the program.

Besides dear Delilah, we took in a tiny, senior dog named Peggy Sue who has mammary cancer. She was sitting all hunched up, shaking and wet at the side of the road and was found by a caring young lady. We aren't sure yet if the tumour is best left alone, or if it would be better to remove it. Peggy is about 10 years old - not ancient for a little dog, but not super young either. Depending on the type of tumour we will have to decided the best course of action. She is a sweet, active and lovely girl though and she ADORES her foster mom - Lia. We will give her the best help we can.

Then there are the 7 bunnies that came in, and the kittens that need some extra diagnostics to find out why they aren't doing well, and the dog with the broken leg that might need amputation, and Kizmet whom the vet is recommending would benefit from a neurological assessment with a specialist...

Things are busy - but Project Jessie is doing some wonderful stuff.
Thank YOU for making that possible!

ttys,
Shelly and crew

Miss Delilah

2009-10-31T13:52:00.002-04:00

What a whirlwind week!

So there was a lot of back and forth consultations about this kitty, realignment and cage rest vs. surgery, to pin or to plate, what to do - yikes!

In the end, we did decide to do the surgery and I am very glad we did. Wednesday was her surgery and once the vet was inside, it was obvious that the leg was much more damaged than we had predicted from the xrays. The bones were splintered from top to bottom and there was little holding it together.

The vet inserted pin into the bone, bound it up with wire, and then added a plate to the outside to support the whole thing and keep it solid.What a surgery! (The picture at the bottom is her xray after all the "leg jewellery" was put in). She will not be able to go through airport security without setting off alarms, that's for sure!

Although I must say that the vet did an amazing job putting all the bits back into place - it looked so tidy and well aligned when she was done.

I will keep you updated. We need her to stay on cage rest for a few weeks while she heals - both the leg and the fractures in her pelvis. She seems to be tolerating the cage rest quite well (although she much prefers the door to be open and for you to be petting her!)

Delilah is a really sweet young girl - and I am very grateful that we were able to give her a chance...

We have had quite a few expensive animals in the program lately. If you are able to make a special donation to help I would appreciate it so much.

We have had some real angels step in to help with Delilah's bills - and I can't thank you enough!!!

Donations can be made through the secure server on the website (http://www.projectjessie.ca/)

or by calling the main office 416-462-9541

or by mail Animal Alliance, 221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M4M 2G3

or by Paypal info@animalalliance.ca Thank you!!!

Project Jessie people are the very best!
Shelly and crew

Things are looking up I think!?!

2009-10-24T08:30:00.002-04:00

Wow - send vibes to the universe and sometimes - just sometimes - things start going your way!

I probably shouldn't say that out loud - I might jinx myself...

Anyway, some really nice things happened this week (and a couple of not so nice things too).

First the best stuff.

I *think* that beautiful Miss Alice has a really nice home to go to - hurray! If all goes well, she should be moving in with her new people early next week. Awww - I am so happy for her! She is such a gentle, ladylike girl and she is joining an older couple to be their spoiled only cat. I think it will be a lovely place for her. :o)

Dear Tomten finally found the perfect place as well. A lovely couple drove 3 hours to come and see him. He will be sharing his home with Trixie - another senior chihuahua and they seemed to get along right from the start. It was so cute seeing them bump heads and sniff - both with their little tongues hanging out to the side (neither has any teeth!).

Of course I was a bit sad too. He has been with me for 6 months and to see him change from a terrified, snapping ball of insecurities into a lovely gentleman has been lovely. The ones that have to come the farthest are hard to let go however. Ah - the hard part of fostering!

And the nice lady who came to see MollyW and Ginny did come back to adopt them. I am so happy!

Mr.P fit in super well with his new kitty friend and has been renamed "Buster". Much better!

Felix has totally endeared himself to his new family and Elliot has totally forgotten that he was a scaredy boy - now he asked for affection and stands with his head upside down in your hand. (shhh - don't tell him his going to be neutered next week!)

And big OJ (who came out of the shelter the same time as Felix and Mr.P) has gone into a home too. He has been renamed Jasper - which I think is just perfect for this big buff fellow.

Okay - with all the good news - you know there had to be some bad stuff...

The little lady above is Delilah. I got a phone call yesterday that went something like this:

"Hello - is this Project Jessie? I got your number from someone who said that you take injured stray animals?"

"Ummm - that's not really what we do - but what is the story?"

" Well, I found this cat...

She has been hanging around for a few days but this morning I see that she is dragging her leg so I went out and got her, but I can't find anyone who will help her and we can't keep her because we are really allergic to cats. But she is really sweet and I wouldn't want to see her suffer...."

Long story short, I asked this good Samaritan if he would drive the cat to one of our vets (almost an hour away from him) and we would see what was happening.

The vet's named her Delilah because she is "de lilac" pointed siamese you see above. It turns out she has a broken leg - the break is just below her knee so kind of a tricky place to fix and we will need an orthopedic expert. She was covered in fleas, is very thin and was ravenously hungry. I would assume she was dumped by someone and not really able to fend for herself. Poor girl!

Why is her leg broken? Well, there are puncture wounds on her leg - probably she was bitten by something (coyote? dog?) and it bit hard enough to break those skinny leg bones but she managed to get away somehow.

She has the sweetest disposition. Even with her leg broken (which must be horribly painful!) she was never crabby with the vets or anyone who helped her. She was kneading her blankets and purring even as she was being examined. What a lovely girl!
Stay tuned! It seems we are looking at an expensive surgery to fix that leg but she is young and sweet and should be able to recover very well from it.

Well - we can't have ALL good news can we!?!
(Although I would like to try that for awhile!)

Thanks for listening!
Shelly and crew

Fall?!?!? Yikes!

2009-10-14T09:56:00.002-04:00

Okay - where did the summer go!?!

It was a whirlwind - but most of the small animals are in homes - hurray!

We still have a few rats, one pair of guinea pigs and a couple of bunnies looking for homes, but most of our foster creatures are cats and dogs at the moment.

The lovely "helpful" girl pictured here is the amazing Alice. She is currently fostering at the main office where she is really good at filing, and arranging the items on your desk.

Alice is a tiny, soft and gorgeous girl with a very, very little voice. She is a young senior, and if you are looking for a really sweet and gentle companion she might just be the girl for you.

I still have dear Tomten - now a nice, outgoing fellow and ready to make the move into a home of his own. We also have Kismet and PDawg - two blind shihtzus that came to us from opposite ends of the province the very same week.

Jesse the big old shepherd is in a lovely home. Awww- perfect!

Luki is making progress - from a scrawny little hound dawg afraid of his own shadow - he is becoming much more confident, and he loves his foster family.

We are still awash in beautiful, friendly, healthy cats. Like every shelter that I have spoken to, there is a huge population of wonderful kitties looking for homes. If you are considering a cat, PLEASE adopt!

If you are anywhere close to a Project Jessie foster homes we will try and arrange for a "meet and greet" if there is someone you are interested in.

If you are not close to us, please visit your local shelter. Every shelter in the province has lovely cats just dreaming of a warm place of their own.

This long weekend two of my foster kitties (Tia and Talia) went to a new home together - nice!
Their brother Tegan is still dreaming however...

A nice lady came to visit MollyW and Ginny but hasn't said if she is interested after all...
Molly LOVES her kits and it would thrill me if she could be adopted with her daughter. I will keep on trying I guess.

Yesterday was very mixed day. Dear old Coco had a recurrence of cancer. This time it was a fast growing oral tumour that was growing into her mouth and throat. Poor girl - heaven is richer for your presence.
However, we were able to move 3 kitties from one shelter.

Mr.P was an older boy who looked like he had had a bit of a rough life so far. He went straight from the shelter to a new home and it turned out he looks very similar to the cat she recently lost to old age. Awww - nice!

Felix was a skinny but gorgeous little sealpoint siamese. He waltzed right into his new place as if he had always been there. He climbed up on his new Mom's shoulder wrapped around her neck and tucked up under her chin upside down looking for some loving. I think he is going to fit in just fine!

Elliot is a scaredy boy. Only 9 months old, he was paralyzed with fear at the shelter. Already I see change and last night he was in my lap, with his head upside down in my hand purring. I think that with a little time he is going to be okay... :o)

I hope you had a nice long weekend.

(((hugs)))
Shelly and crew

Behinder and behinder!

2009-07-31T17:03:00.005-04:00

WOW- things have been SUPER busy this summer!

Okay, you may have heard about the Toronto workers strike?
If you did you probably heard about garbage pick up - that's all that most people heard.

Well, the shelters were affected also, and Project Jessie volunteers really picked up the pace.

Thanks everyone!!!

Between the extra animals from the strike, a request for help from Georgian Bay because of a Children's Aid case and a request for help from Montreal, in the past one month we took in an additional 94 animals.

Pheeewwww!

Lots of extra phones calls, driving and vetting...

Juggling creatures is enough to make my head spin!

Many of the animals we took were small creatures - bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, a degu, a ferret, a cockateil, a budgie - and we also took on 27 kittens and 4 momma cats.

THANK YOU!!!! to everyone who offered to foster during this recent crisis.

It sounds trite but is totally true - We REALLY couldn't do it without you...

And HUGE thanks to my dear friend and colleague Andrea - without whom I would be fully insane and tearing out my hair. ;o)

If you know of anyone in Southern Ontario who is looking to adopt a small creature please send them to the website (http://www.projectjessie.ca/) or have them email me.

The good news is that several of these newest guys and gals have already been adopted into permanent homes. A few of the "pre-crisis" animals have found homes too - dear Bo who was blogged about last time has a great new family, Frankie & Lilly were adopted together, big, buff Charlie the polydactyl "tuxedo" cat has a new person who loves him and a couple of huge new doggy friends...

the list goes on.

Thanks to everyone who makes this all possible!

ttys,
Shelly and crew

shelly@animalalliance.ca

Back from Woofstock!

2009-06-16T11:03:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who supported the Walk_A-Thon this weekend!
Money is still trickling in and I would estimate that Project Jessie will probably have raised about $3000 by the time we are through.

Thank you!!!
That will provide vetting for quite a few animals! :o)

The Woofstock event is billed as the largest outdoor dog festival in North America - and it was certainly big!
There were hundreds of dogs and their people enjoying the warmth and the atmosphere. It was quite the sight!

The kids came with me to help with walk-a-thon registration, and we brought one of our own dogs along as well. Kaidee is about 2 and is very opinionated about certain types of dogs. She did very well though - big dogs, small dogs, she liked everyone who came up for a sniff. That was until the schnauzer that barked in her face - then we had a loud dog argument. ("Honestly though Mom - that dog started it!")

Other than that - she did great, we had fun and the program brought in some much needed money.

If you find yourself in the Toronto area with nothing to do next year around this time, I do recommend checking out the festival. It was a really nice day with lots of gorgeous furry faces around. What a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Do you love the handsome face pictured above? That would be Bo - and what a gorgeous guy he is! Bo is currently in foster care and looking for his forever home. He is only about 4 years young and is a real sweetie.
If you are thinking about adding a new friend to your household - please consider this big fella!

ttys, Shelly and crew =^..^=

Project Jessie News - YOU can help!

2009-06-03T10:13:00.005-04:00

Hi all!
Please excuse the length of this newsletter - there are a lot of things happening right now and I wanted to get them all in one place!

First of all, you may have noticed that it is finally spring - hurray!
Unfortunately with the warm weather comes greater need for foster homes.
If you are in southern Ontario and could open your home to a litter of kittens, a bunny or even one dog at a time, I would be ever so grateful.

Or if you know of someone who is looking to adopt a new friend of any species - maybe the gorgeous kitties Frankie and Lilly pictured here - that would be helpful too.
Please email or phone and we can chat...
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Thank you to all that attended the Project Jessie Dog Fun day last week. Although there were not as many people and dogs as last time, we still managed to have a nice party - and we raised about $800. Thank you!!!
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
We have two potentially large fundraising opportunities coming up - one won't cost you a penny ( just a teeny bit of time each day) and the other I hope you might consider attending or sponsoring.

In less than 2 weeks Project Jessie is participating in the K9 rescue Me WalkAThon at Woofstock in Toronto.

You do NOT have to bring a dog in order to walk, and you do not personally have to walk in order to collect pledges and help us to raise some much needed funds.

If YOU are interested in walking please visit http://www.projectjessie.ca/ and download your pledge sheet under "Events".
Even if you don't end up walking, you could ask your friends, neighbours and collegues to sponsor you (or another Project Jessie walker), email the list of pledges to me and send in a cheque for the cash amount.

If you aren't going to walk, and don't want to ask for pledges, how about sponsoring a walker?
Even $10 would really help in reaching our goals!!!

You can pledge online through the secure link at:

http://k9rescueme.com/register/show-participant.php?id=40

My personal goal is to raise $2000 and I have a long way to go in just a short time. Please help!
I will probably be taking a Project Jessie foster dog or two with me as well. It is a great, dog-friendly environment to talk about rescue and to help with some financial aspects as well. THANKS!!!
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
DON'T FORGET!!!
The Animal Rescue Site, http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ is hosting a special challenge for rescue groups in Canada and the U.S.
The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

The contest started April 13 and runs through July 26, 2009. Just go to the Animal Rescue site, click on the side tab 'Shelter Challenge',
or go to http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_contestwinners_sidetabs

Some people have been confused by the process, so here it is step-by-step. It sounds more complicated than it really is. :o)

There will be a purple box in the middle of the screen. that says "Search and Vote for a Shelter"
The shelter name is "Project Jessie" and the country is "CAN" on the drop down menu.

After you change the country, it takes a second and the "STATE" menu will change to "Prov", choose "ON" and click on "SEARCH". Wait a second...

You get a new section underneath but inside the purple box that says the shlter name and has a button marked "VOTE". Click "VOTE"

You are taken to a new screen where they show you a picture of an animal. You have to type the name of the animal in to confirm your vote.
(So that clever people can't set up computer programs to vote for them all day long...) :o)

But I have actually noticed that if you close your browser and come back, it will let you vote more than once...

If you don't confirm your vote it will not count - so please be sure you have named an animal before you leave the site!

Please ask family and friends to vote too! I don't think we have a hope of winning the big prize, but I am sure that we still have a good chance at one of the Canadian ones. Pass this message along and lets get clicking!

Also, by clicking on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site, http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ you give food to an animal living in a shelter or sanctuary--at no cost to you. This only takes a few seconds. Please, click every day. To make this a breeze, you can select to have daily click reminders (left column under 'Free Ways to Help).

For your help, MANY thanks!
Shelly and crew =^..^=

Shelly Hawley-Yan
Director, Project Jessie Coordinator
Animal Alliance of Canada
221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M4M 2G3

On the Web:
www.ProjectJessie.ca
www.animalalliance.ca
www.cruelscience.ca

email: shelly@animalalliance.ca

"In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we will never hear. They are not brethern, they are not underlings, they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth." ***Henry Beston (1888-1968)

The Project Jessie doggy fun day is THIS weekend!

2009-05-20T10:54:00.002-04:00

We are down to the crunch!
Auction items are sorted, food is organized, goody bags are ready...

We are almost there - just a few more sleeps!
The Project Jessie doggy fun day is THIS weekend!

Bauer is going to be there - Are YOU? Please come!

This year's Project Jessie reunion is this Saturday,May23rd from 11am to 2pm.

Anyone who likes dogs and wants a nice drive in the country is invited. Well behaved doggies (on leash please!) are very welcome to attend, but you don't have to bring a dog in order to come!

We will have goody bags for the first 50 people to arrive, raffles and silent auctions, demonstrations and displays, and best of all - we hope that YOU will be there!

Please consider attending - we would dearly love to see you! The event is being held at the Caledon Community Complex - 6215 Old Church Road - in Caledon East, ON. It is about an hour north west of Toronto, an hour east of Guelph and an hour north of Mississauga.

To look up directions on Mapquest, you need to use "Get map of [6133-6167] Old Church Rd, Caledon East, ON" (The actual address is Caledon Community Centre, 6215 Old Church Road, Caledon East, ON but Mapquest doesn't seem to recognize that address for some reason!)

From east or west, take Hwy 401 to 427 north. Hwy 427 ends at Hwy 7 (QUEEN Street) in Brampton.
Turn left (west) onto Hwy 7. Turn right (north) onto AIRPORT Road.
You will travel north about 35 minutes. Once you are in the town of Caledon, you will come to a set of stop lights.
(There will be a liquor store on the west side of the street and a large log building on the south-east corner). This is OLD CHURCH ROAD).
Turn right (east) onto OLD CHURCH ROAD. You will pass a fire station on your right, then a police station. JUST past the police station, turn into the driveway. The Community Complex shares the driveway with the police station and is set behind it.

For more information, to volunteer to help at the event, or if you would like to donate something to the silent auction, please contact me directly - thank you!!!

It should be a great day and we really hope to see YOU there!

Shelly Hawley-Yan
Director, Project Jessie
221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M4M 2G3

email: shelly@animalalliance.ca
Phone: 519-940-4712 or
Phone: 416-462-9541

My new foster dog...

2009-04-16T15:33:00.002-04:00

Okay, so things are crazy busy here...
Quick update:
Last weekend was the long but wonderful All About Pets Show at the International centre in Mississauga. Busy, busy but lots of educational stuff (opening people's minds to the concept of adoption versus buying their animals) and quite a few animals found homes through leads at the show. This included 8 hamsters that found homes from the show - and didn't need to come home with me - pheeewwww! ;o)

My darling three legged boy Dexy found his forever home as well. I was super sad but very happy for him. The family is lovely and he apparently waltzed into the house, greeted the resident cat, and they wandered off like they had known each other forever. Nice!

This week has been the normal rounds of vet visits, phone calls to answer and emails, but i really, really have to tell you about the new guy.

I am not sure about his name yet, although I am leaning towards "Tomten".

According to my research..."Tomten are a race of spirit beings well-known to the north Europeans. Generally, they are considered to be spirits of place who become familiars of a household - similar to gnomes. The tomte is a short elderly man of unpredictable disposition. They can be impulsive and cranky. Spying on tomtes is not recommended."

The reason I think this might suit him? He is a teeny little old man chihuahua, who thinks he is super fierce (but had all of his teeth removed). He actually hides under his blankets (in a small kitty bed!)and growls at you from under the pile.

If you uncover him (to spy on him) he gets all huffy and complains until you cover him up again. He really isn't that fierce though - if you manage to gently pick him up he shivers and shakes but doesn't try anything. He is going to be fine - a little time and treats will show him that it is nicer to purr at people than growl...

Pictures will be posted once I can get him out from under his blankets for more than a few seconds...

I hope all is well in your part of the world today!

take care, and hug your critters today!
shelly and crew =^..^=
The reason

The Animal Rescue Site CONTEST

2009-04-15T06:47:00.002-04:00

Okay guys - after day one, we are ranked 13th in Canada and 323rd overall...
PLEASE!!!
Remember that you can vote every day, and please pass the message along to your friends and colleagues. (Actually, the site allows multiple votes from some computers apparently. Hmmmm?!?!?)

There are a lot of people who support Project Jessie and what we do.
This is free, only takes a minute and I am sure we can at least win one of the weekly prizes.
Thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!

The Animal Rescue Site, www.theanimalrescuesite.com is hosting a special challenge for rescue groups in Canada and the U.S.
The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.The contest starts April 13 and runs through July 26, 2009. Just go to the Animal Rescue site, click on the side tab 'Shelter Challenge', or go to

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_contestwinners_sidetabs

and vote for your favourite rescue group. (I am hoping that it is Project Jessie!) ;o)

This action is absolutely free! Also, by clicking on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site, www.theanimalrescuesite.com you give food to an animal living in a shelter or sanctuary--at no cost to you. This only takes a few seconds. Please, click every day. To make this a breeze, you can select to have daily click reminders (left column under 'Free Ways to Help).For your help, many thanks!

Shelly and crew =^..^=

The Animal Rescue Site - contest!

2009-04-14T12:38:00.002-04:00

The Animal Rescue Site, http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ is hosting a special challenge for rescue groups in Canada and the U.S.

The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

The contest starts April 13 and runs through July 26, 2009. Just go to the Animal Rescue site, click on the side tab 'Shelter Challenge', or go to

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_contestwinners_sidetabs

and vote for your favourite rescue group. (I am hoping that it is Project Jessie!) ;o)
This action is absolutely free!

Also, by clicking on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site, http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

you give food to an animal living in a shelter or sanctuary--at no cost to you. This only takes a few seconds. Please, click every day. To make this a breeze, you can select to have daily click reminders (left column under 'Free Ways to Help).

For your help, many thanks!
Shelly and crew =^..^=

Yikes - It's spring! Isn't it???

2009-04-08T12:44:00.002-04:00

Okay - here we are April and it is STILL snowing!
Spring means kitten season and that has already begun.
I have one Momma with babies so far with more to come I am sure...

I am also fostering two kittens - Frazier and Lindy Lu who were born outside to a feral mom. The lady who saw them, managed to catch them when they were old enough to leave mom. I told her that we needed to catch mom - even it meant trapping her, but as often happens to outdoor cats, I have since learned that Momma was killed.

Frazier is totally coming out of his shell but Lindy Lu is still a fraidy cat. I will keep working with her and hopefully she will come to learn that some humans are okay.

Charlie is a huge brick of a cat - rock solid and super buff, and has the bestest feet! He is a polydactyl and has 7 toes on each of his front feet. They look like big fat furry mittens - so cute! Although he adores people - he doesn't like other cats. Know anyone looking for just one new cat to adopt? He is gorgeous!

This weekend is the All About Pets Show in Mississauga. Look for us in the adoption area - and if you stop by please introduce yourself! It is always nice to meet fellow animal lovers.

We will have information available and a few of our foster guys will be featured throughout the weekend.

ttys,
Shelly and crew =^..^=

CBC "How Not To Buy A Puppy" and a contest we could use help with...

2009-03-05T11:34:00.003-05:00

Hi all,
Most of us know about the dangers of buying from a pet store and the fact that most of those wee souls are the products of puppy mills.

Some people still don't though...

Something you may want to watch:
"How Not To Buy A Pupppy"
Friday, March 6 @ 8:30PM on CBC,
Marketplace - Canada's Investigative Consumer Show

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/ Some store-bought puppies may have a sick and secret history. Wendy Mesley investigates."How much do you know about that puppy in the window? As Wendy Mesley reports, some store-bought puppies may have a sick and secret history.

Note: For those who cannot get this TV channel, you may be able to view the episode on line at http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/

Please vote for Sugar(ProjectJessie) And help us win a possible $10,000

Click on the photo above and it should take you straight to the voting page.

You can only vote one a week from each email address but every vote helps!
Runner-ups get $1000 for the rescue of their choice and the grand prize winner gets $10,000 for their rescue.

Thank you for your help and feel free to pass this message along to your friends!
Shelly

Cold! And good news for Caramel!

2009-02-23T09:39:00.003-05:00

Cold, cold, cold! Is winter ever going to end!?!

Okay - confession time. I hate winter. It's true.

Although I love living in Canada and I think we have a great many good things going for us - I really, really hate being cold!

This winter has seemed particularly long and cold - but maybe that's just me.

Because I am so bothered by the cold, I absolutely hate seeing animals outside. I have a cat that visits my property. I think he was a former pet who was dumped because he is wearing a collar. He seems too thin to be an indoor cat who is just having a daily wander. Plus, I have seen him at various times of day. I have been feeding him, and trying to catch him all winter but he is shy and wants nothing to do with me. Yet!

This week we took in a small beagle mix, whose family was leaving him tied up outside for long hours on end. Poor Caramel has very little coat. Certainly not the type of dog who could cope with being left outside! I asked a friend who lives much closer to his former home, if she would be willing on standby to take him quickly if his people finally agreed to let him go. Often in cases like this people will waffle about giving the dog up. Someone close who can react quickly is a definite asset!

Anyway, they finally said he could go - so she was there right away to take him in and foster.

Caramel had been tied up outside or living in a tiny wire crate when he was in the house. He is just a young fellow - only 9 months - but has had 3 owners already in his short life.

I am sure that there will be issues, but so far he is doing well. He adores her other silly beagle and the two love to romp in the snow together. This is good!

Tired puppies = good puppies in my book! ;o)

I got the most fabulous news later in the week - she has decided to keep Caramel.

Lucky, lucky boy! Although it means (probably) one less foster place for me to use, what a great place for him to be. He will be warm and safe, have people and dogs to play with and love and to teach him the proper social skills.

Way to go Caramel! (And thank you Andrea!)

Stay warm!
Shelly and crew =^..^=

Sometimes it hurts to care...

2009-02-09T09:18:00.002-05:00

What a week!
Although things started off well, we had tragedy by the weekend.

Because kitty adoptions have been going well, I took in a few new friends this week.

Bunka has a new buddy named Bruno - who looks just like her but a bit bigger. He is about 5 months old and the two of them LOVE to wrestle and play. It is totally adorable!

Bruno came with his buddy Dexy - a gorgeous, gentle all black fellow about 7 months young. Sadly, he had to have a front leg amputated due to an injury that happened while he was a stray. Poor bub!

It doesn't seem to slow him down though, and he even balances and uses his remaining front foot to scoop litter over when he is finished his "business". He is such a cuddler - he has won me over already! ;o)

I will have to get pictures of these new guys up on the website soon. They are lovely!

I also took in a kitten that had been born to a feral mom. The lady who saw them had already caught one baby that was left behind by mom as she was moving her kittens around. That little guy went to the vet and was eventually adopted. This one she caught a couple of weeks ago and has had indoors. (We are thinking of naming him "Frazier) He is gorgeous - soft, soft long fur and all black except for a bit of white on his chest. He is gorgeous, but needs a worming, antibiotics and to be fattened up before he can be vaccinated. He is learning to trust, so he will be a bit of a project for awhile I suspect.

On Friday, I had a call from a friend of mine who is a teacher in Toronto. One of her students had mentioned that they were getting a puppy and would therefore be throwing their kitten out into the street. Yikes! Of course I agreed to take him, and Smokey arrived on Saturday morning.

On Friday, Cameo went to the vet for her spay. She was an 18 month shepherd mix (maybe crossed with corgi?) who looked like a shepherd pup with very short legs. Adorable! And she had a sweet disposition to match. Although we have done hundreds of spay/neuters over the years and they almost always go according to the book, this was to be an exception.

Cameo stopped breathing on the table. The vet was shocked and surprised and couldn't really tell what on earth was happening. A quick xray revealed something really bizarre - Cameo's diaphragm was torn and most of her abdominal organs were sitting up in her chest.

There were adhesions - her liver was wrapped around and actually attached to her heart! It seems like Cameo had suffered some major trauma a few months ago - perhaps being hit by a car? Although there were no outward signs, internally she was very strangely organized and she had healed in a very odd way.

This was emergency surgery now and a second, specialist was called in. After 4 hours of surgery things seemed to be all back in place and Cameo was allowed to wake up. Although she seemed to be recovering fine, she took a bad turn on Saturday, and despite the best efforts of her vets, she passed away near midnight on Saturday night.

Rest in peace gentle girl.

Please give your furry friends an extra hug today.

You never know what life will bring from one minute to the next.

Shelly and crew

=^..^=

Baby it's COLD outside!

2009-01-28T10:02:00.005-05:00

Yet another day of snow and cold - blecchhh!

We are currently trying to help a dog and a cat with kittens who are living outside. How people can leave their animals out (and why it isn't enough to allow the Humane Society to seize them) is beyond me. =o(

On the good news side, Overo and Tobiano were adopted together - hurray!

I also have a family that will be adopting Bootsie tomorrow, and Larry the older hound is going to a home too. Good stuff!

Bunka - the wee girl on the left (isn't she beautiful!), seems to be tolerating her vaccinations very well. She is the little orphan girl that was mistakenly vaccinated at the shelter when she was only 3 1/2 weeks old. We were a bit worried about doing the shots now (when she needs them) but she had no adverse reaction at all...

So, most of it seems postive at the moment! We are still looking for home for a few other creatures; Cajun & Spice, Bunka, Shanna, Beau, Shellycat, and more.

Please visit the website if you are thinking of adopting. We are also on Petfinder.com now

Stay safe and warm and please hug your furry friends today!

TTYS,

Shelly and crew

=^..^=

Awww - Looking for a new "dear old friend"?

2009-01-14T13:06:00.004-05:00

This handsome gentleman is Aldwin - isn't he adorable?

Aldwin (old English for wise, or old friend) fits his name to a "T".

He came to us just before Christmas, and this picture was taken during his first few days in foster care. After a bath and a haircut, a warm bed and some good food - already his coat is starting to shine and he is starting to blossom.

He is a dear little fellow who loves to follow people he knows and trusts.He bounces in the snow and chases his tail and is just a fun loving soul.

He is a mature adult (maybe 8 to 10 years - barely middle aged in little dog terms!). He had a number of fatty lumps and bumps removed when we neutered him and we also did a dentistry.

He suffers from a bit of dry eye which is remedied with eye drops (which he likes getting) twice a day. Aldwin walks nicely on a leash, is learning to be house trained, and is good with cats and dogs.

We suspect he may not have spent much time in a normal house before he came to us as he was afraid of tv, brooms, and people walking by but he is quickly adapting to the life he so well deserves.

If youthink that you have room in in your heart and home for a new "dear old friend" then please call!

On another topic, it is ferociously cold out there in most parts of Canada today - stay warm! And make sure your animals are safe and warm inside too!

(((hugs)))
Shelly and crew

New Year, same old stuff or something better?...

2009-01-07T14:22:00.003-05:00

I hope that all of you (and your fur friends too!) had a nice and hopefully relaxing holiday.

Mine was pretty good - not super busy with animal related happenings, but when you care for so many creatures there is never really a "day off".

All of the critters here enjoyed the holiday I think. There were new toys and treats, and the kitties got a new climbing centre to explore. (Thank you very much to the kind donor who thought of them!) A couple of lovely people donated food and litter as well. Thank you so much!

Now that most people are getting back into the "normal" swing of things though, things are getting "back to normal" in rescue too. Unfortunately it never ends...

Overo and Tobiano are now being featured at the Global Pet Foods store in Alliston. They love the quarters there and have a great time racing around. Hopefully they will find their forever home soon.

Bunka (the wee orphan girl) is missing her big foster brother (Tobiano) but she is in the process of getting her vaccinations. Once she is ready, perhaps she can go up and join them there.

In the meantime, I have taken in Bootsie (she looks just like Puss-In-Boots girlfriend from Shrek3). She was surrendered by her owners because she was interested in the new baby . People can be so ridiculous!

I also have two new kittens (as yet unnamed) about 8 weeks old, who were born outside under a neighbours deck, to a feral mom. They haven't managed to catch mom yet, but I couldn't stand to hear about the two babies sitting outside in this freezing weather.

We also have a new girl - border collie x pointer perhaps? named Shanna looking for a home.

Then there is Larry - a sweet older boy with a gentle soul. That is his picture up above - doesn't he have the sweetest eyes? If you are looking for a lovely, young-at-heart guy to snooze beside you please consider this dear boy!

This new year, instead of making resolutions you know you won't keep, how about a few that might make a difference?

If you are considering adding a new creature to your family, please, please consider adoption.

No matter where you live there are shelters and rescues nearby. One great resource is http://www.petfinder.com/ and they have animals listed from all across North America. You would make the whole world of difference to a shelter animal by offering them a good home.

Maybe you have been thinking about opening your heart and home and fostering - now is the time to do that.

If you aren't in a position to adopt or foster, please consider making a compassionate donation to a local shelter or rescue. Whether you are in a position to donate money for vet bills, or can donate your time - every bit is appreciated. How about donating old towels and blankets? We have had kids ask their friends to bring dog and cats toys instead of birthday presents to their parties, which they have then donated to the animals.

There are many ways to help. How about making this the year to make a difference?

(((hugs)))
Shelly and crew

Hope you and your furry ones are having a lovely holiday!

2008-12-26T14:07:00.004-05:00

Okay,
Things have been super busy, and although there have been some good things too, there have been too many sad things for me to be in the frame of mind to write much here very often - BUT - I am sure that I wrote at Halloween and at least once since then...

Hmmmm?!?!?!?!

I wonder if a couple of entries have just disappeared into the ether?
I will have to pay more attention! And I promise to try and do better at keeping things updated.

The last month has been busy - good news being the placement of Chelsea and Angel the shihtzu sister together in a fabulous home (and they are coming back to stay with me in January while their new family are on pre-booked vacation - yay! It will be lovely having them back for awhile!). Dear Tiffany the shih who had the c-section is in a home, as is Fitz (our previously naughty but now nice guy). Michelle, the lovely grand lady cat whose owner died and the landlord saw fit to toss her outside (grrr!) is in a home where she now rules the roost, and Nemo and Emory (not siblings but good foster friends) went to a home together as did the office kittens Cleo and Coco. But Cajun & Spice (the mother/daughter duo pictured above) are still looking....

Phheewww! Lots of lovely creatures finding their forever homes lately!

Of course, there are always new friends to take their place. Aldwin is a sad, older boy with a list of ailments that will need work. At least he is in a warm, caring foster home while we work on "polishing" him. ;o)

I hope that you and your furry friends are happy and safe this holiday season.
Have a wonderful time!
(((hugs)))
Shelly and crew

Reminders to Keep Your Companion Animals Safe (and Happy) This Holiday Season

* Try and be aware of when guests are expected and confine your animals away from doors if possible. Busy comings and goings with people who may not have creatures at home, could result in someone slipping out through an open door and getting lost.

* If you are having a party consider setting a room aside for your pets if they aren't likely to enjoy the excitement.

* Reduce your animal's stress by maintaining regular feeding and exercise routines - even if you are super busy!

* Remember that food is the number one holiday hazard for pets. Don't overfeed your pet or feed them too much Christmas leftovers, better yet, no human food period. Many fatty trimmings, rich gravies and buttery sauces can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, or even worse, a life threatening inflammation of the pancreas. You wouldn't want to spend your holidays at the emergency animal clinic.

* Keep alcohol away from your animals. Just an ounce of an alcoholic beverage can put a small animal into a coma. Remember that the sweet smell of some drinks can be intriguing to some animals and an unguarded glass is a recipe for disaster.

* Hide chocolate, candy or baking ingredients out of reach. Chocolate is the most common toxicity treat during the holidays. Small amounts (especially of dark chocolate) cause vomiting and diarrhea. Larger amounts can cause above normal heart rhythms, nervous system malfunctions, and even death.

* Keep your garbage in bins with very tight lids. Animals can chew up holiday throwaway's which can result in intestinal perforation and/or obstruction.

* Buy only decorating products that are labeled as being non-toxic. Do not use any aerosol decorating product (such as artificial snow or glitter) if you have pet birds.

* If you have a tree, secure it to the wall to prevent tipping if your pet should decide to climb it.

* Leave tinsel, string and other such objects off the tree! Dangly bits are incredibly appealing to cats and to some dogs, but it can bind up in their intestines or cut them internally as it passes through and must be surgically removed. It has also killed animals.

* Fasten all your tree decorations securely. Dogs who chew these can suffer hurtful cuts in their mouth and cats will love to play with and break them. Use only ornaments that will not easily break, and do NOT hang them with hooks

* Place holiday plants out of reach and vacuum often. Poinsettia can cause drooling, oral pain, and vomiting. Mistletoe causes vomiting, labored breathing, shock, and death from cardiovascular collapse. When animals eat the needles from real or fake trees, they can also get intestinal blockage.

* Display candles on high shelves to avoid painful burns and singed whiskers, and NEVER leave candles unattended.

* Make sure that cords are tucked out of reach. Better yet, keep all electric cords covered by a chew-proof guards. Puppies and kittens will chew on anything and electric shock can occur.

* Include your pets in any fire/disaster safety program you have in place for your home.

* If you are going away, make sure your petsitter has your veterinary information as well as where you will be. Also make sure he/she knows where your carriers, and animal first-aid kit are kept.

* Have a wonderful holiday - but don't forget to think about it from your animals perspective so that they can have a safe and happy time too!

2008-09-29T13:01:00.004-04:00

Did you have a nice relaxing weekend? Good for you - I am SO jealous!

On Friday night I got back from the vet - supposed to be vaccinations for Tobiano - but he still had enlarged lymph nodes, so no needles for him!

I checked my messages and Nemo was apparently droopy and not eating.
Off to Alliston to pick him up. By now it was 9:00pm.

Saturday morning bright and early, my dear vet Natalie agreed to see us. Poor Nemo was running a significant fever - so he got to stay at the clinic.

Here we are Monday morning - and he is still there. He has a fever which responds to meds but returns as soon as they wear off, no significant blood issues, no problems eating or pooping. Very, very weird!

Anyway, we shall see how he does...

I went to pick up a new foster dog today. He is a small shepherd size and all gold coloured- very sweet, good with kids and seems fine with other dogs.

When I got back there was a message from a foster home - their momma cat has diarrhea. I have made an appointment for her later today to figure out what that is about.

No more crises for awhile please!!!

Shelly and crew

WooHoo!!!

2008-09-17T13:24:00.002-04:00

Finally some good news!

Chelsea's lump was just a fatty thing - not cancer at all.

I am doing the happy dance as I type!

The girls are home with me today, and seem happy and glad to be back. They are so bonded however that they have to be placed together - it would totally break my heart (and theirs!) to see them separated. It won't be easy to find a home looking for two sweet little dogs - but I will try!

Anyway, just had to share the good news - yipee!

Shelly and crew