by Meredith, CDR Director  The first photo I saw of Rex Earlier this year, I came across Rex’s photo online. Rex had stunning eyes with a warm soul that stayed with me. This was in January of 2013 and I emailed Deanna an advocate for Rex at the Pocahontas County, WV shelter. Deanna told me Rex had been waiting ages to get out and he had been given many reprieves because of his great personality. Deanna works with a group called Coonhound Companions, which aims to promote hounds. As you may know, hounds have a hard time finding homes and there is an abundance of these loving dogs in shelters, especially after hunting season.
 Rex in October Rex arrived to the shelter in October 2012 starving and barely alive. The wonderful people there fell in love with Rex and nursed him back to health. His charm saved him from euthanasia as everyone held out hope that Rex would be rescued or adopted. After many months in the shelter, many dogs become depressed and despondent, but it was clear that Rex never gave up. He continued to trust and love humans and canines.
 City Dogs Rescue committed to rescue Rex if a foster could be found. We posted online for a foster, but none worked out. Deanna emailed every few weeks to see if anyone had volunteered to foster Rex. Four months later, Tanya of Silver Spring, Maryland saw the call for a foster and stepped up to save him! We couldn’t be more thrilled that Rex was one step closer to finding his forever home.
 The volunteers in WV prepped Rex for his journey to Washington, DC and they noticed an extra spring in his step. Tanya’s family eagerly awaited his arrival.
Tanya's son was VERY excited to greet Rex!
 Rex was all of the great things everyone said and more! Rex is truly a gentle, loving dog with the typical goofy hound personality.
Rex had fun with his foster family!
 Within one week of arrival to Washington, DC, Rex was adopted by the Redpath’s, a great family in Maryland who felt the same connection many of us did when we saw his photos and videos. This is yet another example of why we rescue. Congratulations Rex!
Top Row: 1-3. Rex upon arrival to the shelter
Middle Row: 4. Rex at the shelter, 5. Rex at the vet, 6. Rex on his way to DC
Bottom Row: 5. Rex meets Tanya at the transport, 6. Rex explores DC, 7. Rex gets adopted!
 Puppies from Floyd, VA The story of Maddie begins with the early March rescue of a litter of eight adorable Coonhound puppies from a shelter in rural, southwest Virginia. The puppies were weaned prior to arrival at City Dogs Rescue and Maddie and her brothers and sisters went to several different foster homes in the metro DC area. Maddie was sponsored and named by Loretta Stadler in honor of Maddie from Newark who survived the streets for 11 months before being rescued. I'm told Maddie of Newark was one tough cookie.
 On Tuesday, March 19th, one of our Dog Management Coordinators, Hae, got the call that no rescue ever wants to receive - - that Maddie was missing in DC! This was all very perplexing since this puppy was being fostered in Maryland. It turns out that the foster took the puppy to a friend’s home while she was at work without notifying City Dogs Rescue. As the story began to be pieced together, we learned that Maddie had disappeared from the foster’s friend’s home in Anacostia around 12:30 pm on the Tuesday, March 19th. Some contractors had come to work on the home and she had been put in the backyard temporarily and, unfortunately, without supervision. At some point thereafter, we believe she escaped through an open part of the fence.
 Hae received the call five hours later that she was missing. Even more unfortunate, we learned that the foster had removed her City Dogs Rescue dog tag with plans to adjust it, but never replaced the tag. City Dogs Rescue leaders were incredibly distressed that multiple terms of the Foster Agreement had been violated. While our leaders realize that dogs can still escape even when every precaution is taken, the circumstances here were particularly disheartening because the incident was preventable. We were particularly surprised since the foster had successfully fostered several dogs in the past with great care and results. Despite our efforts to maintain policies and procedures to reduce risk and ensure safety, CDR now faced a situation where an innocent 9-week old puppy was lost in an unfamiliar and rough neighborhood. How could we possibly find her with virtually no information about her potential whereabouts? She could be in the city or she could be miles away already. (PHOTO: Sister Marisa was wearing her tag in this photo. Marisa was adopted the Sunday before Maddie went missing.)
 We decided to focus on the most obvious area - - the neighborhood where she was lost. Volunteers were mobilized and went to the area with flyers. Recognizing that time was of the essence with a lost dog, CDR quickly hired a search and rescue tracking team, Sam Connelly and her sweet Golden Retriever, Brie, of Pure Gold Pet Trackers, that evening to track Maddie from the backyard of the foster home to a major road about a block away where the trail went cold. Sam believed that Maddie was picked up either in a vehicle or by someone on foot. We could only hope that she was found by a good samaritan.
CDR Fosters Carmen and Katya posted on every light post, went into stores and talked to everyone they saw on the street. Katya even saved a stray cat that she brought to a local cat rescue. CDR Foster Rebecca put up flyers on the main road on her way home from work. Toby Emerson joined the search party multiple times as well.
However, upon canvassing the area, we quickly learned that most people believed that our Coonhound mix puppy, Maddie, was actually a pit bull, based on her flyer picture. We updated the flyer to make sure it was prominently noted she is a hound! Sadly, it appeared from talking to neighbors that dog fighting is prevalent in this community and many said that she was likely sold into a fighting ring. However, we could not be certain. We could only hope that this wasn’t the case as it was unbearable to imagine.
 CDR volunteers did an amazing job online with our great networking group to coordinate ground efforts, generate ideas, and also manage the web monitoring. Our group "Find Maddie: Puppy Missing in Washington, DC" ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/findmaddiecdr) was updated constantly throughout our search. Many people who couldn't help on the ground were monitoring websites, including Craigslist, Petfinder, Petharbor, and other sites. Every new posting about a lost dog was scrutinized by a team of highly devoted volunteers. We would all get our hopes up with each new posting. Many of us kept clicking “refresh” on Craigslist because someone surely must have found her. We quickly realized though that our online networking wouldn’t get us as far as we thought. Alumni Coordinator Amy said, "This is not going to be solved online." It was reassuring though to have everyone change their profile pictures and spread the word as best they could. In addition to monitoring social media sites, CDR Adopter and Adoption Counselor Deb donated a Pet Amber Alert to call 750 neighbors with phone messages to the community where she was lost. That led to a number of calls to Hae’s cell phone, but nothing concrete.
We are also grateful to Eat Shop Live blogger Nikki Peele for helping spread the word on Facebook and Twitter about Maddie. We could not have done it without the amazing people in the neighborhood willing to help us every step of the way!
In structuring the search, CDR also worked with Animal Control through the Washington Humane Society. Officer DiGiandomenico was extremely helpful and accessible to us and she coordinated our search efforts with the other animal control officers. They were extremely helpful in responding to any concerns the volunteers had along the way.
Volunteers continued canvassing the area, speaking to residents, and posting flyers tirelessly each day for the remainder of the week. Patricia and the Pulaski Plotts went every morning at dawn to try to draw her out. We felt encouraged by the outpouring of support for our efforts within this community. By Saturday, we found that many people we encountered knew about Maddie and most people were carrying her flyer in their coat pockets in case they came across information on her whereabouts. At this point, we all tried to remain optimistic, but were increasingly concerned about her safety and the likelihood of recovery.
 Finally, Saturday’s adventure brought some leads for the first time since the original dog tracker on Tuesday. After canvassing all day, volunteers learned of several separate reports of sightings of a puppy matching Maddie’s description in a park North of the home where she was lost. We began to refocus our search efforts to that general area.
On Saturday night, we brought the search and rescue dog back into the new area of focus. CDR Fosters and Adopters Megan back with Toby again, came into the city right after getting home (an hour away!) so that they could show the tracker where people had said that Maddie had been. The tracking dog’s findings corroborated the reports of sightings of Maddie and tracked her scent around two city blocks. In this path, we came across several well-fed and scrappy cats, but still no Maddie. The tracking dog then specifically zeroed in on the crawl space under two residences off one alley. The tracking dog’s handler believed that Maddie had been hiding under these buildings recently. The search dog’s findings brought invigorated hope to this very tired team of volunteers, but we all also continued to wrestle with the horrible possibility that Maddie could be out there, frightened, cold, and alone.
 Volunteers led by Guiding Star, Carmen, reconvened on Sunday to focus on the areas where the search dog tracked Maddie’s scent. Foster moms, Pat and Carlyn, also brought out two of Maddie’s brothers in the hopes that they would lure her out of her hiding place. Volunteers walked the streets and alleys for hours on this very cold and overcast day looking for any sign of the lost puppy. At the end of one alley, chained dogs lunged at us and the puppies. When we approached the men behind them to tell them about Maddie, they said we just wasting paper.
It is important to note that vast majority of the residents of this neighborhood were on our team fighting to find Maddie. Neighborhood children rode their bikes alongside our search groups calling for her and peeking in potential hiding places. People walking around promised to be on the lookout and saved our flyers.
 As we continued to look for Maddie, the volunteers met a man selling his pitbull puppy that he told us was too small to fight and were told that she would likely be used as “bait” if she wasn’t purchased. One of the volunteers with us asked if CDR would authorize the “pull” of this dog if she could foster and the Directors agreed to take the dog right then and there. While we hadn’t found Maddie at that point, we were able to save one puppy. That gave us a sense that all of our efforts were not in vain. The circumstances behind the selling of the puppy are being investigated by the proper authorities.
 Photo sent by Peaches After an exhaustive search of our new target area, we left with little more information about Maddie’s whereabouts than when we arrived. Frustrated, tired and cold, our volunteers left without Maddie. We were feeling very defeated at this point.
Shortly after arriving home, a call came in from a woman in Anacostia named Peaches. She said repeatedly that she was certain that her daughter had our dog.
Peaches relayed to us a recent trip to the store with her daughter. Her daughter mentioned to another person in the store that she wanted a dog and a man who overheard mentioned that his friend was trying to sell a dog because he couldn’t take care of it anymore. When they asked what kind of dog he was selling, the man said it was a mix, and he wasn’t sure what kind but it could be a pit. Peaches and her daughter went to V Street and bought the dog from the man’s friend. A couple days later, a friend of Peaches asked about her daughter’s new dog because she said there were flyers of a lost dog in the neighborhood and groups of people were looking for her everyday.
Peaches called the number on the poster knowing the dog was Maddie. Director Darren called her on the phone and stayed on her speakerphone as Peaches went to her daughter’s home to retrieve Maddie. Her daughter was not home, but her daughter’s boyfriend was there and told Peaches that he wanted to keep this puppy because she was a pit. Peaches said she knew from the posters that Maddie was a HOUND dog and that she belonged to someone who cared enough to hang posters everywhere. On speakerphone, Darren told Peaches that the police could pick up the dog if we had the address. Peaches went outside to the steps to get the address and the boyfriend, overhearing the conversation about the police, handed Maddie over to Peaches.
 Peaches drove Maddie back to City Dogs Daycare where they were both greeted by a welcoming party of ecstatic, emotional and relieved volunteers! Peaches was our hero in Maddie’s unfortunate adventure. Without her, it is unlikely that we would have ever recovered our Maddie. Peaches received a reward check of $750 donated by very generous CDR supporters. (We also named our newest rescue who looks like Maddie in honor of Peaches.) The first order of business was a collar with a CDR tag and a harness! Maddie appeared to be in good condition and was eager to play with the other dogs. That night she went home to a wonderful, safe foster home with Carlyn and Pat in Fairfax, Virginia with two of her brothers (Cosmo and Brayden) and slept in a warm bed with a full tummy.
 The story of Maddie is also the story of City Dog Rescue’s first (and hopefully last) lost dog search. The experience all made us appreciate the safety of our own dogs a little bit more. The takeaway from Maddie’s adventure is to always be vigilant about the safety and security of your own dogs. Dogs should not be left outside unattended even in fenced-in areas. Fences must be maintained and surveyed for escape routes that may develop through a dog digging or a newly missing fence post. An up-to-date tag should be on every dog. (Had someone not removed Maddie’s tag, this little misadventure may have never happened.) Maddie was too young to be microchipped, but this is yet another safeguard that can help you recover your dog in the event he or she is lost. Another great local resource is Lost & Found Dogs - DC Metro Area on Facebook.
 Foster mom Carlyn We could not be more amazed at the outpouring of support and volunteerism in the search for Maddie. At times, it felt totally hopeless, but City Dogs Rescue is truly a great community that came together to find this brave puppy! We want to thank our own volunteers but also the many concerned citizens of Anacostia who came to our aid over the course of this search. People on the street asked us what was so special about this puppy - - we told them we had made a commitment to her and there were a whole lot of people who wanted to make sure that that commitment was fulfilled. Welcome home, Maddie! You're a pretty tough cookie, too! We can all sleep better at night.
Don't take our word for it! Watch the amazing video by Padmini and Ike:
Can you open your home for 2 weeks or more to save a life? All of the dogs listed need foster homes! Apply today! Dates are flexible and we can work with your schedule if you need to go out of town.Questions? Email foster@citydogrescuedc.org!  Chloe1 year old, 40 pounds, American Staffordshire Terrier mix, female Chloe is a complete lovebug. She loves other dogs and, of course, all people, too! She's playful and happy with her doggie friends. CDR saved Chloe within hours of being put down at an extremely high kill, gassing shelter in rural North Carolina. Chloe wants nothing more than love and a warm, comfortable place to live. Chloe already knows 'sit' and 'shake'. You can see from her photos that she loves to give people her paw! Chloe's Facebook Photo AlbumApply to foster Chloe!
 Abby Lab mix, female, 2-3 years, 62 pounds Abby was brought into a rural NC shelter as a stray by someone who said she had appeared at their home a month before. They said this 63 lb. girl was uber-friendly, and they were right ! What a great, ready-made addition to your family she'll make! This girl loves dinner time! Here's a quick clip from when she was in the shelter - https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=424462357630008Update: Abby is a beautiful and friendly dog who likes to be petted and likes to be near people. She is young and smart and wants to please people. I loved how much her tail wagged when we were on walks or were at the dog park, like she was just so happy and excited to be experiencing that moment of the day. She liked running off-leash in the park. She didn't get into a game of chase with other dogs but she did sniff other dogs in a friendly manner and she ran back and forth through the park. Abby is given free reign of the house during the work days without any accidents or other issues. She is such a sweetheart and will make such an amazing family dog. She will blossom with some attention, training, and love. Abby's Facebook Photo Album Apply to foster Abby!
 Sophie
Female, German shepherd mix, 1.5 years old, 45 pounds
Sophie was saved at the 11th hour from an extremely high kill, gassing shelter in rural North Carolina along with three of her shelter buddies. This gorgeous, 1.5 years old German Shepherd mix was abandoned by her elderly owner who stated she had too much energy for him. This young girl has spent her entire life outside and just wants to come and live inside with her forever family.
Sophie LOVES to play! She and Hickory, our large Shepherd mix from this rescue, are best buds!
| |  Hickory1 year, male German shepherd dog mix, 60 pounds Beautiful, sweet Hickory was saved with three of his buddies at the 11th hour from an extremely high kill, gassing animal shelter in rural North Carolina. Hickory is a personality-plus, young Shepherd mix. He loves everyone and other dogs, too! He just loves to play! When he's not playing, he also loves to lounge. He's out like a light on his foster's couch in the photo to the right! Hickory will likely be 70-75 at his optimal weight. While he's a big pup, he is also very gentle and so good natured. He's very sensitive to tone of voice and responds to corrections easily. Hickory's Facebook Photo Album
Apply to foster Hickory!
 LeahLeah is a 2-year old Great Dane Mix who escaped some horrible conditions. She and another pal were chained up behind a shed without any kind of shelter, food, or water. She was rescued just in time and now needs a furever home! Please consider fostering and/or adopting Leah! Apply to foster Leah!
 MurphyLab/Pointer mix, male, 5 years Murphy is having surgery this week to remove a growth and, in the meantime, has been doing well in his foster home! He gets along great with other dogs and kids. His age is estimated to be 5 years. He will need some training not to countersurf and to be house trained He does fine in the crate and doesn't whine or bark, and rides well in the car. Murphy's Facebook Photo Album
Apply to foster Murphy!
 MaciFemale, 2-3 years old, Boxer/Bulldog, 51lbs Maci is 2-3 years old, 51 lb, Boxer/Bulldog mix. Maci is one of the sweetest dogs the vet in NC has ever met. She was saved from a gassing shelter in NC and is just in search of a loving, warm home. Apply to foster Maci!
 SydneyCatahoula/Australian shepherd mix, female Sydney was an owner surrender with the male catahoula/Australian shepherd mix. They both seem well cared for. They did well being kenneled with other dogs in the shelter and were there for a month. Apply to foster Sydney!
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Catahoula/Australian shepherd mix, male Spot was an owner surrender with Sydney, the female catahoula/Australian shepherd mix. They both seem well cared for. They did well being kenneled with other dogs in the shelter and were there for a month. Apply to foster Spot!
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 Shelter Photo Note: Some of you may remember when we saved Gracie and her puppies in October, so we wanted to provide an update so we can help Gracie find a home!
 Photo All Rights Reserved Sandra Gibeault
Gracie has a wonderful and gentle temperament. She enjoys a good snuggle, and belly rubs, but won’t hound you for them. She likes to play with her foster parents and is an excellent running partner. She’ll lay in her crate with the door open, but when it’s time to be crated, all you need to say is, “Gracie in”. Not only is she crate trained, she is potty trained too! She does not have separation anxiety and because she’s not a chewer, she can be trusted alone uncrated.
Not only is she crate trained, she is potty trained too! She does not have separation anxiety and because she’s not a chewer, she can be trusted alone uncrated.
 Gracie is very smart and has learned to wait for her food, and wait in her crate until she is released from the command. This is hard for most dogs because what is more exciting than seeing your rescue human and a bowl yummy food? This showcases just how intelligent she is! Did we mention she’s not a barker?
 Just like any other dog, Gracie has quirks to her perks. Gracie was removed from a hoarding environment, and therefore is nervous around some other animals. In these deplorable environments, dogs are forced to scramble for every last bit of food that is thrown to them, which is why she is uncomfortable around other dogs (despite the fact that she nursed two puppies that were not her own). Gracie is highly intelligent, food motivated, and aims to please. Her foster parents are working to help her feel more confident around other dogs, but feel that she would thrive best in a single dog home.
 The kind of family that Gracie would partner best with is an active one. Gracie gets along with all people of all ages (men, women, and children), and therefore would love nothing more to be your running partner, hiking companion, or simply play a good round of fetch!
Whoever adopts Gracie will be gaining a loving and loyal companion, who wants to impress her guardians with her intelligence and attentiveness.
Please apply to meet Gracie today!
by Meredith Raimondi, Director  Hunter: the first hound rescue dog I met Since I started volunteering for City Dogs Rescue, I developed my love of hounds. When I began to learn more about animal rescue, I found out that hounds have a terrible plight as they are rampant in kill shelters. City Dogs Rescue is proud to be a resource for hounds in need of rescue because many rescues do not take hounds. There are many misconceptions about hounds and City Dogs Rescue has a goal to change the stigmas that hound dogs have especially in cities.
 Alumni Watson in DC's Dupont Circle We are proud to have rescued almost 50 hound mixes since we started in September 2011. Over 40 of these dogs are now placed in forever homes throughout the Washington, DC metro area. One of our Directors Darren said, “I look forward to the day I am out for a walk or at the park and I see a city filled with CDR-rescued hounds enjoying wonderful lives here.”
City Dogs Rescue has many great partnerships with shelters from Virginia to as far away as South Carolina. One of the sad truths is that many hounds at risk of euthanasia are right in DC’s backyard of Virginia. Hounds are often dumped after hunting season for reasons like "I'll buy a new one next season" or "She wouldn't hunt". The females are often used for breeding and thrown away. There are so many rural shelters where hounds wait for weeks and months without a single chance of adoption. It is always so amazing to me that sometimes we will “pull” a dog to safety with our rescue and within minutes of being posted on our website that dog will have an adoption application.
 Georgie's Shelter Photo We have really enjoyed working with different shelters to be a resource for dogs in need. This December, I came across a photo of a dog named Georgie at a shelter I had never heard of in Dinwiddie, Virginia. I contacted the dedicated volunteers at the shelter and they told me Georgie had no local interest and asked if we would be interested in rescuing him. We posted for a foster and two of our alumni parents stepped up to say they would foster Georgie. When we found out we had room, we were also able to save his buddies Linus and Charlie too. These three dogs were tagged for rescue within minutes of the scheduled euthansia.
 Georgie was scared when he got to DC When Georgie arrived to City Dogs Rescue, he was scared and overwhelmed. He seemed very shy and uncertain about what was going on around him.
With the holidays coming up, my boyfriend Shawn and I decided we would try out our first foster dog. Enter Georgie the Redtick Coonhound. Georgie seemed like a nice, quiet boy who needed some love. When he first arrived, he was a little apprehensive, but he spent every waking minute snuggling with us on the couch.
 Shawn meets Georgie Now that it has been three weeks since he came to our house, he is much more independent and is testing his boundaries like the puppy he is! Georgie loves playing at the dog park more than anything in world. He enjoys playing with toys and likes to explore what is edible in the house. He is always following his nose! Despite what I've heard about hounds, he is very quiet inside the house. When we get outside, he is very talkative guy who likes to bay and howl at the dogs he meets on the street. His favorite place in the world is the dog park where we go every day and he is always excited to make new friends. He is not shy at all anymore in the least!
 Georgie is not so shy anymore! We are having a blast with Georgie and have decided that he has found his forever home. I look forward to many fun adventures with Georgie in the years ahead and we are so happy to start the new year with a new dog.
For all the hounds like Georgie looking for homes, we at City Dogs Rescue have decided to make a commitment to always try to help these hunting dogs (in addition to rescuing other breeds) that are stranded in kill shelters. Please understand, of course, that we are a small rescue and have a limited number of fosters at any one time. To save more hounds and other dogs, what we need most is most fosters. Please check out our Foster Page and apply to foster using our Online Application.
Please visit and “like” our new page “The District of Hound by CDR” to help us in our mission to network and rescue hounds in need!
by Patricia Kennedy (Adopter of Ilsa and Ziska)
Here is the New Year's Update for the Pulaski Plotts rescued by Patricia:  Happy New Year Everyone! Formally introducing my girls, Ilsa (Left, formerly Ruby) & Ziska "Lil Z" (Right, formerly Autumn). I decided to give them German names to honor their heritage. More about the meanings of their names below.
I can't think of a better message for the New Year and new beginnings than these two souls that came into my life on my new year, December 22. I don't know what conditions brought them to the shelter a few months ago, but I do see their ability to start anew, trust, live, love, play.
This is a new beginning for me as well. When my dear Lucy left this world, I didn't think I could ever fill the hole in my heart. Well, I can't. The grief will always be with me, but it evolves. I finally woke up and realized that there were many souls to save out there and I needed to be a part of that.
 I first decided to find a Dalmatian in need, but the spots I found were all safe and happy in their foster homes. So I decided to find a dog in urgent need. I went to one site, City Dogs Rescue, and decided to pick the first urgent need I saw. That was Ziska (Lil Z). It turned out she was delayed and I was asked if I could foster another girl, Ilsa, and they would find another foster for Ziska. Well, I couldn't turn my back on Lil Z. I was already vested. So I asked if I could take both girls. The decision was so easy and natural.
 Lucy is with me as I help these girls adjust and learn a new secure life full of love. And they bring the same to me. It's been quite some time since I've laughed so much. My life isn't complete without the pitter-patter of paws around. These girls remind me to be happy and enjoy what surrounds me, here and now...just as they do.
 Ilsa (left; distracted by something outside)
Noble/my god is abundance (No matter your religious beliefs, I love what my mother said about them as gifts from God).
All smiles, sweetness and light. However, beneath the pleasant and very-good-looking appearance, she is far from being as accommodating as she seems. Determined and energetic, what she really seeks is power. This could be expressed by a bold and assertive attitude, by reckless behavior and belligerence.
Ilsa (1 yr old) was in the shelter for 2 months and spent a short time with a foster family, before being returned. She came off the transport with her tail between her legs and trembling all over. She is a gorgeous Plott hound. Graceful, athletic and intelligent. She can also be a big goofy lap dog that thinks she's the size of a puppy. She becomes more confident by the day and her elegance is shining through.
 Ziska "Lil Z" - Free
Active, dynamic, courageous, energetic. Seemingly adaptable and accommodating, she calmly assert her rights and gently-firmly if necessary. Aspires to peace, but won´t hesitate to transform into a fearless warrior if necessary.
 Ziska (6-7 months old) was in the shelter for over 3 months, with no interest. I have no idea why and I'm so thankful the wonderful folks at the Pulaski Humane Society kept begging for her life to be spared. She came off the transport a trembling, delicate little thing and within 1 min, she was hopping around and playing with me. She's a cuddly teddy bear ninja Plott/Lab. She moves so quietly and can do the most amazing gravity defying moves in such a stealth manner. Everyday she amazes me as she becomes braver and more secure.
Both girls are so smart and within a week they are already learning so much. I'm excited to see where this will take them. Agility perhaps? USAR? Or maybe just the wonderful companions they already are.
 Please consider opening your hearts and homes to new beginnings. There are so many innocent souls out there that can bring you the same joy I feel. You may be rescuing them, but they rescue you as well.
 In late October, we posted an urgent plea to save Mikey: "KENNEL 33, OWNER SURRENDER, LAB/ SHEPHERD MALE, ABOUT 4 MONTHS OLD, NO ISSUES WITH OTHER DOGS, VERY SWEET PUP. OWNER SIMPLY DIDN'T WANT HIM". Shortly after this was posted, Greg stepped up to foster Mikey with the hopes of adopting him. We were so relieved that Greg stepped up because the vet arrived shortly after. He was either going to put dogs down or take them to be vetted for rescue. It was literally the nick of the time. We were sad to learn that Mikey was very sick and was unable to travel to Washington, DC with Olivia the black lab puppy. He had a bad cough and would not do well on a transport with other dogs. Greg heard this news and immediately drove down to the vet in North Carolina so he could get Mikey treated so he could recover in a home. We learned that Mikey had pneumonia! The poor fellow was abandoned at the shelter because his owner simply didn't want him and then he caught pneumonia. Well, the day Greg stepped up to save Mikey is the day his luck turned around. Mikey has recovered and Greg says he is adorable. They are working on house training now. Mikey's name and his past will be behind him and now Augie and Greg are will be together forever!
These four dogs came to City Dogs Rescue with shotgun residue.
How could anyone shoot these beautiful animals?
 Today, we learned that Moby has at least 20 pellets in his body. In the past year, City Dogs Rescue has saved at least 5 dogs from North Carolina who have buckshot or in Sawyer's case bullet fragments in their bodies.
What is buckshot?
Buckshot is a form of ammunition that is used for big game like deer. If anyone can tell us why a dog would be riddled with buckshot, we welcome the opportunity to learn why this seems to be an epidemic faced by shelter dogs.
 Hayden wouldn't harm a soul. It is always deeply upsetting when we learn that one of our rescue dogs has been shot. For example, Mystic (formerly Marble) had at least 6 pellets in her body. Earlier this year, Brody was brought to the shelter with an embedded collar and wounds from buckshot. Another alumni, Sawyer had severe complications with his ankle as a result of being shot with a .22 caliber. Hayden was rescued in February and also had buckshot.
 Moby's x-ray shows at least 20 pellets. Today, we learned that one of our foster dogs Moby (formerly known as Carson from Bladen County) has been shot at 20 times! In the case of Moby and Mystic, they were fortunate enough to not require surgery for removal. These dogs are the only ones where we knew they had been shot. Unfortunately, it is probably more common than we know. Please spread the word that it is not okay to shoot a dog. It is sad to know that the scars of being shot will always be able to felt in these dogs. Hayden, Mystic, Brody, and Sawyer all found their forever homes. Moby is still available for adoption!
Help a dog in need! Become a foster parent today!
 Nov 13, 2012: Chance at the shelter Last night, Chance, our 13 year old rescue dog passed away. After arriving to Washington, DC, he deteriorated quickly and we learned he had a brain tumor that was causing him to suffer.
As an owner surrender at a rural shelter in North Carolina, he was going to die alone and feeling abandoned. With the help of City Dogs Rescue supporters, especially the Forte family who opened their home to Chance, his final days were full of love, good food, and a dignified death surrounded by caring people.
 Dec 1, 2012: Chance arrives at Leslie's home. For all the young healthy dogs we have saved, we feel this act of kindness is as important and in some ways more. We feel that saving dogs like Chance is an important part of our mission.
We are saddened by the death of Chance but we hope his memory serves as a reminder that senior dogs are abandoned every day at shelters and left to die. We hope that by saving Chance that rescues across the nation will consider making a senior feel loved in their final days.
 December 5, 2012 Update
This weekend Sheba's first foster Liz was reunited with her pal! Here's what she had to say: "We got to see Sheba on Sunday and she is thriving! Three months after she was adopted, she has grown up and filled out and is no longer a skinny puppy - she's a healthy lab! All done with heartworm treatment and happily settled into life with Fritz and Aran. She was very excited to see us and spent an hour showing off her ball skills in the backyard."
Here was Sheba's marketing video:
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