It’s gonna take awhile for Mercy’s remaining back leg to strengthen up for the extra weight, but she’s doing pretty good so far. Speaking of weight, right now she tops the scale at 45 lbs. That won’t last long, though, with her foster dad whipping her up yummy meals three times a day!<a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKguT4FeqI/AAAAAAAAAQg/3Cib7iQwYs8/s1600-h/IMG_4625.JPG”><img style=”MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387044821758474914″ border=”0″ alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKguT4FeqI/AAAAAAAAAQg/3Cib7iQwYs8/s200/IMG_4625.JPG” /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style=”TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387045601843315266″ border=”0″ alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKhbt6zgkI/AAAAAAAAAQo/gzy43fRJoU0/s200/IMG_4636.JPG” /><br />She heads out into the backyard a few times a day to run around – she moves pretty good for a three-legged dog!<a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKh5w_LG_I/AAAAAAAAAQw/WFeI9JlHXv8/s1600-h/Mercy+run.jpg”><img style=”MARGIN: 0px 10px…

<div>Today was a day at the spa for Mercy. Thanks to Rhue Jefferson at Countryside Vet, she’s been bathed, coiffed, manicured, pedicured and perfumed. She was kinda grungy, so no doubt she feels much better now. Here’s she is, post-beauty treatment.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKcPLPxSvI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Yp2dYNgDj04/s1600-h/IMG_4635.JPG”><img style=”TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387039888819440370″ border=”0″ alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKcPLPxSvI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Yp2dYNgDj04/s200/IMG_4635.JPG” /></a> </div><div><br />Compared to the rest of us dogs, Mercy is chowing down pretty good. Breakfast today was scrambled egg, rice and peanut butter toast. She ate dog food for lunch, then had steak and rice for dinner. Not a bad deal! I’m kinda jealous, but she’s pretty skinny and certainly needs the extra calories. Here she is eating breakfast:</div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div><a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsKdLVjgXyI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ghDpjYJguPA/s1600-h/Mercy+eat.jpg”><img…

Mercy is on the mend. On Friday Dr. Lazarov led a 3-hour surgery to remove what was left of her back leg. She came through well and was even up and taking potty breaks later that evening. She’s adapting fairly quickly – probably because she was already accustomed to not having use of the leg.<br /><br />She went to her foster home today and will be fattened up, brushed, bathed and spoiled for awhile. Right now I can’t think of a dog that deserves it more!<br /><br />B.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style=”TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386344932715449986″ border=”0″ alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsAkLaA6zoI/AAAAAAAAAPw/RcRVQXUP-uY/s200/IMG_0010.JPG” /><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SsAkQgEaTXI/AAAAAAAAAP4/y0C1RoX2NpM/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG”><img style=”TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR:…

You are doing a great job, Karen–there has to be a place in heaven for people like us. Talk soon! Barbie

Thanks to all who have donated to Mercy. Animal lovers are an amazing bunch of people.<br /><br />To update, we found she’s very anemic and may need a blood transfusion before her surgery. Currently she’s getting pain meds, antibiotics, etc and is being kept as calm and comfortable as possible. Her crate is in a quiet spot and she really seems to like being in there – thank goodness!<br /><br />We’ll keep you posted as time goes on.<br /><br />Thanks again for your kindness!!<br /><br />B.

<a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SruhS1viCLI/AAAAAAAAAPo/WiElQNWZjIk/s1600-h/Mercy4.jpg”><img style=”TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385075124487719090″ border=”0″ alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SruhS1viCLI/AAAAAAAAAPo/WiElQNWZjIk/s200/Mercy4.jpg” /></a><br /><div>You may have seen Mercy’s story on our site. I can’t imagine what this girl went through, forced to chew off her own leg to survive. We’re doing our best to help her. She’ll undergo surgery soon to amputate what’s left of her right back leg. It may take awhile to adjust, but we hope Mercy will be back to her happy self soon.</div><div> </div><div>To donate toward Mercy’s medical care, visit our website at <a href=”http://www.wagwalton.com/”>www.wagwalton.com</a> and donate via PayPal, or mail donations to WAG, PO Box 169, Monroe, GA 30655.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for caring!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>B.</div>

<a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SmQVG2iwO_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/xB6j_czPH7o/s1600-h/Schotzi2.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360432663942413298″ style=”DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SmQVG2iwO_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/xB6j_czPH7o/s200/Schotzi2.jpg” border=”0″ /></a> Schatzi, a bouncy Sharpei mix, was turned into the Walton County shelter in September, 2008. We thought she was cute—surely she would find a home quickly. We were wrong.<br /><br /><div>Schatzi spent several months post-rescue battling a stomach bug. When she finally recuperated and went to adoption events, nobody noticed. She sat quietly in the pens watching people pass by her. Nobody asked to see her or expressed any interest in this sweet girl.</div><div></div><br /><div>Months went by and Schatzi lived alone in her kennel. Lots of rescued dogs came and went on to new homes, but not Schatzi. So we decided to take her…

<strong>AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!</strong><br /><br />Total number of dogs/cats taken to Connecticut – 140.<br />Total returning to Georgia – 4<br /><br /><span style=”font-size:180%;”><strong>Total adopted – 136</strong></span><br /><br />An absolutely incredible weekend and a very emotional one, even by dog standards. So many new happy families – formerly homeless dogs proudly walking on leashes next to beaming new pet owners. Hollywood hasn’t written better happy endings.<br /><br />Check back – we’ll be posting stories soon – once my paws recover from the long journey home.<br /><br />’til later,<br /><br />Buddy

Three days to go – we leave July 8, Wednesday evening, on our Homeward Bound journey.<br /><br />Gotta say this – a lot of people have put in tons of work, particularly Paradox vets and staff who’ve seemingly been spaying and neutering in their sleep. Plus, gathering vaccination records, completing health certificates and loading Petfinder with info on all the dogs has been a logistical challenge and a pain-in-the rump. But you can’t get around the benefit of 125 dogs finding new homes. So we’d gladly do it again.<br /><br />There’s still plenty to do. We’re doing a mock-load on Monday, working out how the crates would best fit in the trailers. Gotta iron on the kinks out before adding excitable dogs into the mix….

Check out some of the furry faces going to Connecticut:<br /><br /><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPQC-yOjjI/AAAAAAAAAPA/SRf1WxJDBUE/s1600-h/Wanda.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351349531878264370″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPQC-yOjjI/AAAAAAAAAPA/SRf1WxJDBUE/s200/Wanda.jpg” border=”0″ /></a> <a href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPP696dGmI/AAAAAAAAAO4/52Gmk6S9qSc/s1600-h/ridge+pups.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351349394205383266″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPP696dGmI/AAAAAAAAAO4/52Gmk6S9qSc/s200/ridge+pups.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /><a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPppggeqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/0m03vCBi1r0/s1600-h/Lab+pups.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351349096670067362″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPppggeqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/0m03vCBi1r0/s200/Lab+pups.jpg” border=”0″ /></a> <a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPLmTJdkI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ImONAvwPZ-c/s1600-h/DSCN4721_(Medium).JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351348580412651074″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPLmTJdkI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ImONAvwPZ-c/s200/DSCN4721_(Medium).JPG” border=”0″ /></a><br /> <a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPET4Y63I/AAAAAAAAAOg/Ng1owA_7xY0/s1600-h/IMG_5495.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351348455209495410″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPPET4Y63I/AAAAAAAAAOg/Ng1owA_7xY0/s200/IMG_5495.JPG” border=”0″ /></a> <a href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOzqaQakI/AAAAAAAAAOY/JjyziVKB-2c/s1600-h/IMG_3874.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351348169199348290″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOzqaQakI/AAAAAAAAAOY/JjyziVKB-2c/s200/IMG_3874.JPG” border=”0″ /></a><br /><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOYi4jDFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/Mx-sMcq1yF8/s1600-h/IMG_3880.JPG”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351347703322446930″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOYi4jDFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/Mx-sMcq1yF8/s200/IMG_3880.JPG” border=”0″ /></a> <a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOPmNpCxI/AAAAAAAAAOI/40ZyKxaI7lI/s1600-h/Katie.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351347549597403922″ style=”WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOPmNpCxI/AAAAAAAAAOI/40ZyKxaI7lI/s200/Katie.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /> <a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SkPOI3_0WtI/AAAAAAAAAOA/oO3GEZgp51A/s1600-h/Boyce.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351347434112178898″ style=”WIDTH: 122px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT:…

Wow, have we been busy! Just a few weeks left before our trip up north with 125 dogs available for adoption. We’ve been rescuing 8-10 dogs each week. Today we pulled 10 dogs and 5 cats from the shelter. They were happy to leave, but afraid. If they only knew – things will be a lot better from now on.<br /><br />Lots of fundraising efforts going on, too. Not our favorite activity, but money is needed to pay for the medications and sterilization surgeries. Check out the Operation Homeward Bound page on our website for more info. Sponsoring a dog would be a HUGE help to us.<br /><br />And we dogs will be grateful to you for all eternity!<br /><br />’til later,<br /><br />Buddy

We’ve got some big news. WAG will be traveling north in July, transporting 125 rescued dogs to new homes. We’ve arranged to bring animals to a mega-adoption event held by a regional humane society in New England. At their last event, over 150 dogs were adopted in 3 days!<br /><br />Can you imagine – 125 dogs finding homes in one month? That’s ten times more than what’s usually adopted out locally in the same time period. So this is HUGE for the animals. Check out the details at <a href=”http://www.wagwalton.com/Operation_Homeward_Bound.php”>http://www.wagwalton.com/Operation_Homeward_Bound.php</a>. And please help by sponsoring a pet if you can – we accomplish a lot more when we all pull together.<br /><br />’til later,<br /><br />Buddy

For those of you watching progress or lack thereof on the new government shelter, here’s the latest – The bids came in too high so we’ve taken two steps back. Time to reassess the plans, the money options or whatever else needed to get this project going.<br /><br />Unfortunately, after the new office building was completed the old kennels were demolished, reducing shelter capacity by about 40%. Meanwhile the staff struggles with 300+ animals a month coming through and trying to squeeze all those into 20 two-sided kennels. Let’s hope government officials address this soon. It’s important to remember these aren’t old filing cabinets being stored until the new building is complete – it means animals are dying because there’s no room at the inn….

It’s my favorite time of year – when we try to eradicate the world of those nasty cats!<br /><br />Well, maybe not that extreme. But WAG is offering free spaying surgery for mother cats of recently weaned kittens. The kittens should be at least 8 weeks old. Act soon, because this program is for a limited period of time. Plus, if you don’t act fast mama will be pregnant again!<br /><br /><em>(sniff) </em>Cats are such shamless hussies. We dogs have much more class.<br /><br />’til later,<br /><br />Buddy

Check out these before/after photos. Gigi was found wandering the streets by Walton Animal Control. She was a matted, nasty, smelly Pekingese mess. But we were determined to find the diamond buried underneath. Thanks to the staff at Countryside Veterinary Hospital, Gigi was soon groomed and smelling soooooooo much better.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SdWDzKmjX6I/AAAAAAAAAMo/v6Z3J4q3Lhs/s1600-h/Gigi+before2.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320303449850732450″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/SdWDzKmjX6I/AAAAAAAAAMo/v6Z3J4q3Lhs/s200/Gigi+before2.jpg” border=”0″ /></a> <div>Once all that hair was gone we found Gigi was blind and a tad hearing impaired. But she’s a spunky sweet girl that needs a new home. We’re gonna be picky about Gigi’s new family because she’s so special. Being blind poses a few extra challenges but Gigi meets them head-on. She’s a…

<a href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/Sc_oRMiz3SI/AAAAAAAAAMg/-xfrvyQ1WN0/s1600-h/daddy.jpg”><img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318725067070496034″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GGzq-xpWRuI/Sc_oRMiz3SI/AAAAAAAAAMg/-xfrvyQ1WN0/s200/daddy.jpg” border=”0″ /></a><br /><div>You can’t call me a mutt anymore!<br /><br />I got the results from my DNA test. Seems I’m the product of a Great Pyrenees, Siberian Husky, Akita, Labrador Retriever and Dalmatian -hopefully not all at once. But it’s like I always say: the more ingredients, the better the stew.<br /><br />Yes, amateur philosophy is one of my hobbies.<br /><br />Anyway, I feel better knowing my heritage. If your pet is curious about their background, do them a favor and check out <a href=”http://www.biopetvetlab.com/dnahome.htm”>http://www.biopetvetlab.com/dnahome.htm</a> I got my test kit at Boss Bros. Country Store in Loganville. Results come back in about 2 weeks.<br /><br />Mixed breeds…

Remember the WAG meeting 6:30 pm Tuesday, March 17 at the Monroe-Walton library in Monroe. I won’t be there, but plenty of other people will be.<br /><br />Here’s a couple of updates. Since the adoptions started at the new PetSmart in Loganville two weeks ago, 7 cats have been adopted. (Although I personally fail to see why anyone would want those hissy, snobbish furballs!) I’m told that’s a good thing. About a dozen dogs also found new homes. Lots of people following the good advice – Opt to Adopt! If Oprah does it, should we all?<br /><a href=”http://tiny.cc/inVkI”>http://tiny.cc/inVkI</a>

Check out this YouTube video – this is Jeepers, a very-senior male Chihuahua being fostered by Jessie and Nancy, two of our more ardent animal lovers. Jeepers combines his bathroom duties with some dazzling gymnastic skills.<br /><br /> <a style=”COLOR: blue” href=”http://tiny.cc/7C1GI” target=”_blank”>http://tiny.cc/7C1GI</a><br /><br />Is that talent, or what?

Looking for a way to give back to the canine (or feline, although I don’t know why you’d want to) community? Want to meet fellow animal lovers and have a good time? Want to use your brain or brawn power to find new homes for animals and end euthaniasia in our shelter? Join us!!<br /><br />There are plenty of ways to get involved, and some of it can be done right from the comfort of your home. Cyber-volunteers can help from their home computers, entering dates of our events on Petfinder and other sites. No computer wizards required – this is easy stuff. Phone helpers make calls to pets owners interested in our spay/neuter program.<br /><br />If you have marketing or graphic design skills, our…

Time for another update. We’ve been pretty busy getting our plans scheduled for the year. Adoptions, fundraising events, pet shows, and plenty of other fun stuff.<br /><br />First, we’ll be popping up at Walmarts all over Walton County. Look for us in Monroe the first Saturday of each month beginning in April, and in Loganville on April 18. We’ll have brochures and lots of information about adoption, spay/neuter, animal care and WAG.<br /><br />Here’s something new – let your old cellphones go to the dogs! We’ll be collecting use consumer electronics (cellphone, iPods, laptops, digital cameras, digital video cameras and used ink jet cartridges) for recycling. Every piece donated provides funds to help the animals. So clear out your junk drawers and help us at…