Saving one dog does not change the world but it sure changes the world for that one dog!! UPDATE: This website is currently inactive. Please visit Michele's website www.rescuetheunderdog.com
***updated 6/21***IT'S PUPPY SEASON*** which means that the shelter is inundated with puppies. Adult dogs and older puppies have little to no chance of surviving...the foster dogs are altered, up to date on vaccines and microchipped.
The dogs here have been in foster care in the Bay Area. They've been loved, nurtured and have been adjusted to life outside the shelter. Some have lived with kids, some with cats, most all with other dogs but all have been fixed, vaccinated and microchipped. Please fill out the adoption form at the bottom of this page (it's also on the right side of this blog).
One of our volunteers will get back to you as soon as possible!!
This boy is the epitome of fun and he is looking for a playful friend. If you're looking to add another dog to your already happy home, he's your guy!! We promise your dog will approve!!
If Niram could talk this is what he'd say...."Howdy partner! My name is Cowboy Niram & I'm part terrier, part chihuahua, part who knows what but 100% fun!! I live in a foster home with another small dog which is perfect because I'm an amazing playmate. I'm actually the perfect playmate (if I do say so myself). Every dog who meets me just adores me because I'm a total dork. Yep! I'm a dog wrestling, tail wagging, cowboy hat wearing goofball. I also just looooove to climb the gate that separates me from the rest of the house but my foster dad doesn't mind because I'm potty trained and I don't chew!! I just want to hang out on the couch!! Because of my awesome climbing skills, he's thinking of changing my name...Belay anyone??. Please check out my video below so that you can see just how cute I am..."
Hi guys! I'm Miller and I am a great boy. Although I am a big boy, I sure do get out and about (I like to think I am portable) with my foster mom. I also love to find a nice soft spot on the couch and make out!! Yep! I said make out....Check out my video!! There is also whole page dedicated to me...
What can we say about this amazing girl that she can't show you herself? This sweet 8 year old lady (and that's exactly what she is...a lady) is the life of the party. She loooooves belly rubs, in fact, she'll grab your hand to ask you not to stop!! She loves going on the Bay Trail for walks, gets along well with other similar sized dogs, is house trained and is awesome on a leash! She's even perfect off leash!! She doesn't stray far as she knows where her bread is buttered. She loves her everyone and literally jumps up into your arms. She's just a doll with the softest coat!! And did we mention that she does all of this partially blind?? Wait-what?? AND she's quiet! Yep-a non barking chihuahua!!! Total package!!
Neil 6 year old Cocker Spaniel Mix
Neil is a 6 year old Cocker Spaniel mix. He weighs about 35 pounds and is just a sweetheart. His foster mom says that he has no bad habits. He came from a terribly abusive home but was rescued and is now LOVING his new life in foster care. He's great on a leash, gets along well with others and enjoys going outside, suntanning and to smell the roses. He's an all around good boy who is determined to put the past behind him.
Peter Pan CLICK HERE TO ADOPT PETER PAN!!! Peter Pan is what we consider a huge hunk of love. He is very friendly, gets along great with other dogs...even his foster chihuahua foster sibling!! He's a mellow boy (some dare say lazy), who wants to hang out and loaf. He is not into drama and despite his size and breed, he thinks life should be about cuddling and eating. It doesn't get any mellower than this boy. He's being fostered in Half Moon Bay and enjoys long walk on the beach...just like nice guys should!! He thinks he is a lap dog and just loves laying on his foster mama's lap getting a belly rub.
Charritos (chihuahua mix)
Statue boy and proud of it!!
Blind as a bat but as cute as they come!!
Charritos, AKA a Dumpling Dog is a comedian, an over eater and is as blind as a bat but he's the coolest and most cuddly dog you'll ever meet. His foster mom works at a popular local radio station & takes him with her to work! They not only share her office, but also a deep love for Alternative music!! This guy also thinks he was a cat in his former life because he loves them so much. If you want a dog to sit with you at home, at the office, at the movies then he is your boy!!
Charritos enjoying some Alternative Tunes. Blind as a bat but his ears work great!!
Ted is an absolute Teddy Bear. He is about 10 pounds and is very very quiet. We haven't heard a peep out of him. He likes to bother no one and is as gentle as can be. He sure loves affection and will lay perfectly still for hours being pet. He's a good boy, does well with other similar size dogs and bonds quickly to his person.
Peggy 8 year old Chihuahua
Peggy is a 9 year old Chihuahua. She's very sweet and endearing. She prefers a quiet home where love is abundant and chaos is nil. She loves treats and is learning to like walking on a leash. She is very timid & bonded to her BFF Cheeky. Peggy relies on Cheeky for courage. It'd be ideal if they could be adopted together....Peggy in the background...
Chiquita AKA Cheeky up front and center!!
CHEEKY is a 2 year old chi mix. She's outgoing and friendly and just loves to teach her foster sister how to get along in life. Without Cheeky, Peggy would be lost in this world. She's great on a leash, funny and quite cuddly. She's clearly photogenic!! Have room to adopt both of them?
Flash
I'm Flash and I am a 20 pound cream Dachshund Mix. I've certainly got a one of a kind look!! I'm super cute (even more-so in person) and just LOVE playing with other dogs. I wrestle and romp and play and just have a ball with my foster siblings!!
I'm specifically terrible on a leash so I'll need some work on that and I am scared of my own shadow (better than my roomie Snaggle above). In time I do bust out of my shell and come around. I'll do best (actually, I'll thrive) and adjust better in a home with another same size dog...Maybe Cowboy Niram???? He's my favorite!
Charritos is an 11 year old Dumpling Dog better known as a chubby chi. And although Charittos is as blind as a bat, assuming the bat has only minimal eye sight, it doesn't stop him from from wandering wherever his nose takes him even though he has no idea where he is going, or how to find his way back. Charittos is an adventurer! In fact, you will notice that despite his age, he still has a spring in his step, a strut in his stride, and some spunk in his spirit. Charittos has attitude! And while he does love his long naps, he also loves to sit on your lap and get a body massage, or play fight with you where he play attacks your fingers to show you he can still be ruthless despite being harmless. Charittos isn't a big fan of having dog buddies. He tends to want to keep them at a distance from him and he does it by becoming crazy, out of control Charittos. It's an Oscar worthy performance that reminds you just how talented this dog is! And then there are cats.... Charittos LOVES cats! He loves to chase them if he can figure out where they ran. He loves to sniff them. He loves to stick his nose under the chair where they are hiding, and loves to get his nose swatted when he does. He thinks that's great fun. Bottom line: Charittos is the one who will need protection from the cats, not the other way around and he truly does love cats. So why does he have to find a new home? He was rescued from a kill shelter after his owners dumped him there to die. So much for being man's best friend. And while this boy is old and has bad eyes, he is remarkably healthy and still has a passion for life; and eating. (There isn't a food Charittos doesn't like.) We felt this boy deserved to be able to live his remaining years in a home where he is cherished and loved. Charittos is neutered, up to date with shots, and microchipped for easy identification in case he goes on an adventure and gets lost. All he needs now is to find someone to want him. He's got plenty of adventures left to go. Give him a chance and you will fall hopelessly in love with him. If you would like to meet Charittos, simply text or call me and we will arrange for you to meet him at a time and location convenient for you. That's right. We deliver!
ALSO: A note from Laura... I have something that MAY help this dog's eyes to clear up, and I will gladly share it for free with any person willing to adopt Charritos (and I will share it with your whole family). We invested in Kangen Water machine (it's medical equipment from Japan that makes water loaded with antioxidants). I bought it from a woman named Monica, and part of the "selling point" in me wanting to get one from her is, Monica had an incredible recovery story (which you can see on THIS PAGE), and she mentioned that her old dog's eyes cleared up, AND he even got part of his hearing back. I live in Redwood City and am happy to share this water with anyone who might be interested in adopting Charritos (you just have to pick it up from me). Thanks in advance if you can help!! Laura
Thanks so much to her new Daddy Gabriel, her foster Mom Karen, and for all the help provided by Michele, Curt and Colleen. It really does take a village : )
This beautiful gal is Georgia!!! She is just as sweet and full of personality as I'd hoped she would be! (you can see some tail-wagging videos if you scroll down).
Here's a video with Georgia ... she is just so sweet and loving!!!
This picture on the left is her loving on her foster mama. She actually stood like this for over 15 minutes, wanting to keep cuddling and so excited to be rescued!!
Photo that captured my heart
This whole thing started when....
I saw Georgia on Nextdoor.com when a very big hearted woman named Colleen posted multiple photos of dogs needing emergent rescuing. There was something about Georgia and her sad eyes that just grabbed my heart. You could see from the pics that she'd had puppies and was discarded like a piece of trash. It seemed just wrong so I inquired a bit more....
Colleen informed me about Curt and Michele who devote huge amounts of time to rescuing dogs from high kill shelters in the Central Valley. Curt & Michele are volunteers for The Friends of Madera Animal Shelter - click here to see the Facebook Page).
I knew I had to help! I can't have dogs but there was something about Georgia's face that just got to me. I wanted to do something to save her, so I offered to do free photography for anyone who could foster this sweet mama.
A very kind woman named Karen stepped in and offered to foster Georgia. I don't even think she needed the photography (though I gladly take pics for her) but she clearly wanted to help too.
Curt (whom many of us consider to be a God) dropped off Georgia at Karen's place. She and Colleen took her for a nice walk around Stanford Shopping Center where she was complimented (multiple times) on her beauty.
Georgia is so lucky to be in such capable hands. Karen is an amazing foster mom. She too has a large dog (a German Shepherd) and is dedicated to finding her the perfect home.
Georgia's ideal home is with someone who is willing to exercise care, caution and responsibility in having her, as she a very strong dog who will need regular exercise.
On a different note...I just saw a dog walking down Redwood Ave in Redwood City and thought, wow she looks a lot like Georgia! So I pulled over to ask the dog walker what breed she is. He said she was a German Shorthaired Pointer. I couldn't help wondering if Georgia might have a little bit of that in her. Here is a picture of a German Shorthaired Pointer that I found on the internet (the dog with the red collar on the grass on the right... this is not Georgia but I see some similarities, including the tiny light spots all over her fur that are almost like a Dalmatian... you can see them better when she is closer).
And she seems to have the "jowls" of a pointer like you can see in this pic of a brown pointer (you'll see the jowls more in the pic at the top of this post). I got these pics from this page about German Pointers.
You can see the similarity in the jowls... not an exact match but she definitely has more of a "box" shaped snout than a pitbull, and we've been trying to figure out what the other breed(s) could be. At first I thought maybe she was a boxer or Great Dane, but now I'm thinking German Shorthaired pointer. Who knows... she could be a lot of different things. If you adopt her, you can call her what you want!!! Jus don't call her late for dinner!!
Another update, 4/11/17:
I took her for a walk today and she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. I turned around, and Georgia was frozen in the "pointer" position, looking at a cat, with a paw raised, just like a German pointer! She is just too cute!!
I reached for my camera to get a photo of her pointing, but my cell phone had died (which probably is a good thing because I was a little scared to stop holding her leash with 2 hands, when she was fixated on this poor cat). She didn't try to attack it, but she just froze in position, looking at it.
Georgia is getting used to being put in the "sit" position for a while. As soon as she starts pulling me to hard or getting too excited over seeing another dog, I have her sit. And she is pretty good about it (and we're only on day 2 of going for walks).
Had to take this picture, when I saw a rainbow in the background : )
In this video further down, the video creator makes it sound like German Pointers can be hard to train, but honestly, I think Georgia has the potential to be a VERY well trained dog, with practice... I've already seen it. Yesterday, I took her for a walk and it was difficult to get her to sit. I'd heard she knew how to sit, but it was apparent that she only wanted to sit if you'd give her treats. I've trained dogs before and just wasn't about to put up with this. So, I took her out for about an hour and had her sit several times. She didn't sit very readily, but I did get her to sit (I had to push her butt down to the ground over and over again, and use a lot of muscle, to get her to "get it"!)
Well, today we went on a 2 hour walk, and she sat almost every time I asked her to! She still needs more discipline, but I was shocked by how much improvement she showed after just one day, which tells me that Georgia is not only smart, but she is eager to please. If the dog in the video below can be trained to do this stuff, I truly believe Georgia can become a VERY well trained dog as well. She just needs someone with patience who is willing to show her some boundaries, and give her lots and lots and lots of praise (the ultimate key to getting a dog to do what you want). The fastest way to train a dog is, make a biiig deal out of every little thing they do right!
I just learned that German Shorthaired Pointers have won "Best In Show" at Westminster 3 times!
True, Georgia is not a purebreed, but.. I'm actually kind of happy about that : ). They say the German Shorthaired Pointer is a cross between the English pointer, the Dalmation, the Weimaraner, the tracking hound, and the Vizsla.
Some info on the German Shorthaired Pointer...
I completely agree with the guy who says this, in the video:
"It's a huge myth that a hyper dog is the most difficult dog to train. The hyper dog is just the one that wants to be stimulated... that wants to work with a human being." Again... I was pretty shocked by how quickly Georgia was able to learn how to sit on command!
Some cool facts about German Shorthaired pointers, on this page:
German shorthaired pointers have also been used to guard homes, pull sleds, and sniff for bombs. They have a variety of different attributes that make them perfect for any job in and out of the water. Their water-resistant coats repel debris as they swim, while their spoon-shaped webbed paws act as paddles. On land, their heavy nails help them get traction on even rough terrain.
So, back to Georgia...
4/8/17: Our first meeting! We got to take Georgia to Pet Food Express on Woodside today, and she was very good and patient when we gave her a bath. And the people at PFE were so awesome, I really appreciate that a lot. They were super helpful, gave us a discount because it was Georgia's first bath, and they hooked us up with lots of treats!
She was just so darn cute and happy... even in the dog bath room. She was so thrilled to see other dogs. Clearly she wanted to make some new friends. This was Georgia, after her bath.
It was also impressive to see how good she is with people. I haven't had very long to get to know her but can't help thinking she would be a really sweet family dog, and a good, loyal protector. Please know that, due to the fact that some of these rescue shelters get up to 30 dogs a day, they just don't have the resources to do extensive testing on these animals, to see if they are good with kids, cats, other dogs, etc..
But from what I saw, of Georgia's personality, she seems like the type of dog a whole family would really love to have in their home.
This is Georgia after her bath... with Karen, her foster Mommy!
I want to point out that Georgia has some kind of infection on her jowls and some other parts of her skin, but honestly I am confident it will be gone within a week. I actually told Colleen I'd bet 100 bucks it will clear up quickly from using Kangen 2.5 acidic water (which is the same thing as Vetericyn... it's hypochlorous acid which is electrolyzed reduced water made with sodium hypochlorite). I will be posting after pics soon. The Kangen water works like a miracle. I have a machine that makes this stuff (so does Cesar Milan... you can learn more about it here). If you have a dog that needs this water just contact me via the contact form on the right side of the page and I can share it with you for free. We are giving Georgia the Kangen drinking water plus the 2.5 acidic water on her face and other irritated parts on her skin. Hypochlorous acid is also known to clear up pinkeye!
If you would like to inquire about Georgia, please fill out this adoption form.
