Scentsy Saves Lives!

This is the 1st Ever ONLINE Scentsy Fundraiser for Tennessee Death Row Dogs and we are very excited about it!  We are combining two things we love, great smelling scents and saving dogs!

How many of you LOVE Candles?  I know I did, until I found Scentsy!  Scentsy IS SO MUCH safer for those 4 legged family members and for children as well.   There is no flame and it’s completely safe to leave on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  Plus, the SCENTS are AMAZING!

Your Host:  TN Death Row Dogs            Your Consultant:  Deana K. Wehr

The fundraiser will last for two weeks from 5/15 – 6/1!

For every order, 15% will be donated to the TN Death Row Dogs!  IF sales reach $2,000, 20% will be donated!

To Order Online in the United States:

Go to the Fundraiser Link:

https://deanawehr.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=86544482

THIS EVENT IS ON FACEBOOK as well, be sure to share w/ all your friends & family and Invite them to this event!  The more people who know about this fundraiser, the more chances there are to raise money for spay & neuter!

https://www.facebook.com/events/363915003667300/

Be Sure to go to the link, “Like” this page and invite all of your friends to event!  This is an open party and EVERYONE is invited!

What is Scentsy and What does Scentsy Offer?

Scentsy is a safe, wickless alternative to burning candles. People with allergies can use Scentsy, because there is no soot going into the air. It’s also safe for animals. Scentsy uses a custom, high-quality paraffin wax blend. Our wax blend is designed for a specific scent load and melt point. The wax is a food-grade petroleum-based wax. Scentsy uses non-essential fragrance oils.

Scentsy makes a perfect gift for anyone. I have something for women, men and children. Our products include electric warmers (wax heated by light bulb), plug-ins (also use light bulb), Scentsy Bars (the wax), Scentsy Buddys (stuffed animals that hold a scent pak), Scent Circles (car fragrances), Travel Tins, Room Sprays, Fragrance Foam (hand sanitizer) and Fine Fragrance (solid perfume).

Thank you to everyone for supporting the TN Death Row Dogs!

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Deana.  Her contact information is below.

A portion of your order goes to save LIVES!

Deana Wehr

Scentsy Independent Consultant

Email:  deana.wehr@insightbb.com

Phone:  270-392-0380

Painting with a Twist Fundraiser May 19th!

Painting with a Twist will be hosting a fundraiser for us this Saturday evening at their Spring Hill location from 7-9pm.  Seats are $35 which includes the canvas, brushes and paints used to create your masterpiece!  A portion of each seat sold will be donated to TN Death Row Dogs to help support our rescue.

Attendees are free to bring their favorite bottle of wine for a night of fun we won’t soon forget!  We’ll be taught step-by-step how to paint the featured painting and everyone will be able to take their painting home as a keepsake.

We hope to see you all there!  Here is the link to sign up: http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/events/viewEvent.aspx?eventID=60855

We Are Now 10,000 Strong!

Our Facebook page hit a huge milestone today.  We now have 10,000 followers!  For each and every dog posted facing euthanasia, there are now 10,000 sets of eyes to see them and share the posts with their friends.  Thank you everyone who has donated, shared, transported, volunteered and fostered a dog from our page.  You guys have made the difference between life and death for hundreds of dogs in Tennessee!  ~Jamie

Oh Metro.. You’re Kidding Me, Right?

I don’t live in Davidson County and so I wasn’t familiar with rules and regulations there regarding the three dog parks in Nashville.  Recently, someone mentioned a ban on Pitbulls and any dog slightly resembling a Pitbull in the Nashville dog parks.  I thought that surely they were mistaken and that a rule that ignorant and prejudice couldn’t possibly be true.  I’m going to copy this portion for all to see because not only is this rule silly, but technically it’s not even politically correct.

Under Section II, Rules and Regulations for Metro Dog Parks

I.  The following are not permitted into Metro Dog Parks:

1.  Pit bulls or dogs having any characteristics of the pit bull breed

Well maybe I’m really misinformed, but since when was there a Pit Bull breed?  Secondly, if it was in fact a recognized breed as they’re indicating, would it not be proper to capitalize the name of a breed?  I’m pretty sure it would be.

Back to my original point, Pitbulls are not a breed but a label.  A label given to a handful of different breeds that all the breed experts out there (insert sarcasm) have lumped together apparently because they think they’re the same.  However they are not the same, they are all distinctly different breeds. 

Generally these breeds are considered “Pitbulls”:

1. American Bulldog
2. American Pit Bull Terrier
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
4. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
5. Bull Terrier
6. Mini Bull Terrier

Many also consider Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs to fall under this label as well.  My thought is, where does the prejudice end?  I can’t recall the number of times one of my “Pitbull” mixes was bitten, humped, dominated and chased down my by unattended children at my local dog park.  None of the dogs he had issues with were “Pitbulls”.  Not once did he ever respond aggressively, even when other dogs were acting completely out of control.  I remember one especially aggressive Golden Retriever who had absolutely no business being at the park to begin with.

Why must places continue to lump multiple breeds together and think that by doing so, all their problems are going to be solved?  Breed Specific Legislation banning these dogs has been proven not to reduce the amount of dog bites.  A dangerous dog is a dangerous dog, it doesn’t matter what breed it is.

It’s time to start looking at each dog as an individual and start educating the public about responsible pet ownership.  THE DOGS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THEM.  Until we address the cause, things will never change.

Despicable Selfishness

“The deepest essence of human nature consists of self-preservation, aggression, need for love, and the impulse to attain pleasure and avoid pain”.  -Sigmund Freud

My work rescuing dogs has really reinforced how true this statement is.  Humans have a natural greed to put themselves first and their own needs first.  We see this everyday in the way people treat their animals.  In no way am I saying that everyone is like this because if they were, there would be no animal rescues.  There would be no one dedicating their time to advocate for animals that so badly need it.

When I first learned of this in one of my college classes, it really put things into perspective for me.  All the frustrations I felt about people’s lack of willingness to help, finally made sense to me.  Before I didn’t understand why someone would for instance drive by a dog who had been struck by a car and was left on the roadside to suffer.  Some people would probably pass and want to help, but not badly enough to actually follow through and do so.  Others would feel nothing at all and maybe 1 person out of 15 would actually stop to try to help. 

Along this journey of rescuing dogs, I have met many different types of people.  I’ve met a few really great people, who sacrifice their free time, foster dogs, donate money and do whatever else they can to help dogs in need.  I’ve heard people such as these referred to by others as “bleeding hearts”, which I find borderline offensive.  What gives anyone the right to judge these people?  They think it’s silly to work so hard to save one dog when there are millions that need help.  Would it be silly also then for someone to help one of them if they were in an accident and stranded like the dog on the side of the road?  If asked, they would surely say that as a human, their life has a higher value.  In their case, I would have to adamantly disagree.

I’ve met many more thoughtless, self-absorbed people lately than I’ve met genuinely kind people.  These people have probably never emphasized with anyone ever.  Those who top my list of selfish people are those that surrender their senior dog to a kill shelter, only to drive up the road and buy a cute new puppy.  This is one of the most despicable acts I have seen in my lifetime.  How someone can take an older dog who has given them a lifetime of love and devotion to a kill shelter is beyond my realm of understanding.  The loud, chaotic shelter environment is highly stressful and frightening to a dog who has spent their life in a quiet home.  They are left with a stranger, only to helplessly watch their owner walk away and cry out for them.  They don’t understand whats happening, when their owner is coming back, or what they have done wrong.  By far the worst part of all is that surrendering a dog to a kill-shelter is a death sentence.  There is no mandatory state required hold period for owner surrendered dogs.  Unlike those picked up and labeled as “strays”, there is no need to attempt to locate an owner and give them time to claim their dog if it’s lost.  These owner surrendered dogs were unwanted by their owners and often times if the shelter is full, they never even make it into a kennel.  They are taken straight to the back and destroyed.  Instead of dying with dignity surrounded by their family, they are left to die alone and afraid at the hands of a stranger. 

There are those who have absolutely no sense of commitment.  They claim they want to foster one of our dogs, because they “want to help”.  It makes them feel good in the moment to be doing something noble and selfless.  After a short amount of time and minimal effort, they become tired of taking care of the dog and give any and every excuse imaginable why they can no longer foster it.  The real reason however, is that they are to self-centered to follow through with what they agreed to do.  Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they try to blame it on the dog, their job, their family and anything else.  The only one that is to blame is themselves.  I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard, “Well at least they had a home for a couple of weeks”.  In that couple of weeks, we could have found a foster that would have actually followed through with their commitment.  Yet instead, the poor dog has been returned, only to have to adjust to another house of strangers when we are able to find another foster home.  That statement is yet again a way to convince themselves they’ve done a good thing so they can feel good about their decision.

There have been a few people I’ve encountered who pledge specific amounts of money for dogs they want to save, only to not follow through.  Rescues work on very limited budgets and sometimes pledges make a huge difference when it comes to their ability to take a dog.  A rescue will take a dog with a few hundred dollars in pledge money, only to never receive a good portion of the pledges promised to them.  They have followed through with their part of the commitment, yet again people don’t follow through with theirs.  Once the dog is saved, people don’t feel the need to contribute because the dog is “safe”.  They leave the rescue to bare the financial burden of these dogs which they were supposed to have pledged funds for.  Many times, they have paid out money to transport or have the dogs vetting completed and this leaves them in a dire situation.  Again this is selfish behavior that makes people feel good about themselves for trying to help, but then they don’t want to follow through and part with the money they pledged.

It’s completely fine with me and I accept that there are those who don’t feel the need to help save the lives of these dogs.  However, doing more harm than good due to their own selfish agenda is intolerable.  We have far more important things to do than pander to these people.  The only ones we should care about making feel good about themselves, are the dogs we’ve saved.  For those who want to surrender their pet of any age to a kill shelter, I think the shelter should be required to send you an after picture of what happened to your dog.

Painted Black

Lily

I still remember the day I first heard the term “Black Dog Syndrome”.  Out of curiosity, I googled the term to find “The conjecture that black dogs (and cats) are less likely to be adopted from rescue shelters than animals of other colors”.   I looked over at my own dog, who was black as a puppy but had matured to be a lighter seal color.  When I adopted him from the rescue that saved his very pregnant mother, it was his personality that I fell in love with.  The lady from the rescue let him out of the pen and he charged out of there, running around as fast as he could.  He spotted a kiddie pool full of water and dove in, laying down to drink the water.  I loved his character, I could have cared less what color he was.

When we started rescuing dogs, the very first dog we took was a black brindle female that we still have.  Her name is Lily.  A month or so later, I received a euthanasia list from a high kill shelter in GA late one evening.  I scrolled down looking at each dog, reading their brief description of breed, sex, personality and how they came to be at the shelter.

Callie

About three quarters of the way down the list, I came to a young black face peering out from behind the kennel fence.  I looked at her description, it simply read “Black Pit, no chance”.  The particular shelter where she was didn’t adopt out anything they felt had even a sliver of Pitbull in it.  There was a county wide breed ban and I knew she didn’t have much of a chance, but to see it written as her description really bothered me.  Determined to prove them wrong, we committed to this dog and months later, we still have her.  Her name is Callie and now that she has matured, she has turned out to be one of the nicest, most intelligent dogs we’ve ever had.

We also have a male black and white Pitbull mix named Kane who is a gorgeous dog.  He needs a little obedience work, but he is a very sweet, happy dog.  I’ve received one inquiry on him in the last three months.  Most recently, we also pulled a small, black Terrier mix female named Pepper.  It’s been about a month but not a single person has contacted us about her.

Kane

If you had asked me previously, I would have never thought there was any truth to Black Dog Syndrome.  However at every adoption event I have watched people scan the crates and look at our dogs, only to pass right over the black dogs as if they are invisible.  At our last event, I made it a point to dress Callie up in her pink harness, pink collar and we kept her out walking with one of us for a good portion of the day.  She rolled around with little children, gave them kisses and was so happy to spend what time she could with everyone she met.  There was no way to miss her this way or not notice her, but still most of the people there still proceeded past her to look at the other dogs.

Every single time this happens, it breaks our hearts because we know that Callie knows she is being rejected.  I’m sure she doesn’t know why, but she still knows and we can see it in her face and behavior.  Very rarely do we have a dog that tries so hard to please people.  It’s hard for us to watch the same scenario keep playing out at every event.   She wags her tail at each approaching person, she tries to get their attention and she so badly wants a family of her own.  Every time she gets her hopes up, we watch her get passed over time and time again.  It’s simply not fair.  We have become very upset by it because we love these dogs.

Pepper

If you’re looking to adopt a dog, please give every one a chance to show you who they are on the inside.  Personality and character should be what really matter when it comes to adopting a new companion.  If I had passed over my own dog because of his color, I would have missed out on the best dog I have ever had.  He has changed my life and I can’t imagine a day without him in it.

Saving Grace

Sometimes there are dogs that touch your heart in very powerful ways.  The mark left can be so profound that it lasts forever.  There are dogs that although now adopted, will always have a part of my heart.  I like to think that this part goes with them when depart my life and move on to the next chapter in theirs.

Grace in the shelter

I’ve seen some rescues that are so picky about the dogs they take.  I understand their logic, but that doesn’t mean I find it logical.  The reason I founded this organization was primarily to post and network dogs facing euthanasia in Tennessee.  Later, I felt the need to help some of these dogs that I felt were being overlooked.  I saw so many dogs that were being passed over by rescues because of their breed, their color, a medical condition or their appearance.  I thought these dogs deserved a second chance just as much as any other dog.

One night a couple of weeks ago, I was looking through an album of dogs scheduled for euthanasia the morning of Friday 3/16/12.  There were more than 20 dogs and I was immediately drawn the swollen, blood crusted face of #121084.  I thought at the time that she had been in a dog fight and worried that she may be dog aggressive.  When I inquired about her with Maria, the rescue coordinator, I asked if they could please dog test her to make sure she was not aggressive.  That’s when I learned what really happened to this dog.  She wasn’t in a dog fight, she was punched and beaten by a person.  When I heard this, it was very hard not to break down as I looked at her face.  She was broken and withdrawn, one photo had her curled up in a ball in her kennel.  The other photo showed her swollen face with blood crusted on her forehead.  Her irritated eyes were running down her face.  She almost looked as though she was crying, and although I knew she wasn’t, I knew inside she was crying out for help.

It was hard for me to imagine that someone could do this to this sweet soul.  She had never done anything to anyone, in no way did she deserve this.  I knew I had to help her, despite how serious her injuries could be.  In a world where this dog had not been extended one hand of kindess,  I wanted her to feel what being loved and cherished felt like.  She deserved to know that she was worth something and believe me she is.

Grace, the night she arrived in TN

She arrived here the evening of 3/16.  It wasn’t until the next day when I saw her in the daylight that it really hit me.  This poor baby could barely see at all.  She squinted in the sun, her eyes were full of discharge and she was hesitant to walk.  I was so upset when I was finally able to see her on this brightly lit day.  I was angry at whoever let her become this neglected and abused.  Her head has many scars, some old and some wounds were scabbed over.  She had what appeared to be cigarette burn marks on her hind quarters.  I thought about this poor dog being beat up and abused without even having the ability to defend herself.  It days like this that have at times made me lose my faith in mankind.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks later, Grace has had her first surgery to correct a very severe case of entropion.  Her eyes have ulcers from this condition being neglected for so long.  The vets caring for her are confident she will recover, but will more that likely need one more surgery.  It was hard for me to believe that this poor dog was only a year and a half old.  She has been through so much in such a short lifetime.  She is still a little timid and isn’t quick to trust anyone, but she is slowly coming out of her shell.  What Grace needs right now is a quiet home with a loving foster where she can heal, both mentally and physically.  She will make a wonderful dog when that very special day comes and she finally goes HOME.

Bingo Was His Name..O!

Late one evening back in January, we were emailed an urgent puppy known only as B-9 from Tipton County.  The shelter staff had came to work one morning to find this young, Red Heeler puppy inside of the fence that surrounds the shelter.  His owners apparently could not wait until the shelter opened, so they surrendered him by tossing him over the fence.  The fall caused an injury that they believed to be a break in his left front leg. Unfortunately, the shelter did not have a vet on staff nor the funds to repair his legs.  There was no way to know exactly where the break was and whether it was a clean break or not.

B-9 in the Tipton County Animal Shelter

I have never had a dog with a broken limb before and I had no idea how much it would cost to fix his leg.  All of the normal vets we use were closed at the time but I found a couple of emergency vets here to call in hopes of getting some kind of price estimate.  It was really impossible to predict a cost however, because there were so many unknown factors that would affect the overall total.  I was told by both vets that we were looking at anywhere from $200 to $2,000.  They said it could be a a simple clean break or a more complex fracture.  The treatment for which could be as simple as a splint, surgery to help repair the break, or worst case, an amputation of the leg.

I knew we had to help, but we had never taken something this big on before and it was a little frightening when I thought of the potential expenses.  I had hope that we could raise a decent amount of funds but this little puppy was very urgent.  We didn’t have much time and it takes a lot of work to raise that much money.  I decided to set up a FundRazr with a goal of $700 and I posted it to our Facebook wall.  It was very late by the time I was finished and I had to get up early, so I decided to call it a night.

Bingo (B-9) when we picked him up from the transporter

When I woke up the next morning, I eagerly rolled over to pick up my phone and check the FundRazr.  I was ecstatic to find that it already had just over $400 in it and I knew this was a great start.  On my way to work, I called the shelter and asked them if they would be able to take him to a local vet for some x-rays.  The shelter staff was wonderful and they really wanted to help this little guy.  They agreed to take him for us and gave me the name of two clinics that were in their general area.  I called both clinics and chose Gentle Care in Memphis.  They were so friendly and helpful on the phone and were willing to give us a break (no pun intended:) on services for him.  I called the shelter back to let them know I had made arrangements and they agreed to drive the thirty minutes that afternoon to take him there.

Waiting for his results was a real nail-biter but after what seemed like an eternity (it was about 1 hour, but seemed like 5) they called to give me the results.  After taking some x-rays of his leg and foot, they confirmed that he simply had a broken foot!  All he needed was a splint which would need to be changed out in two weeks.  This was the best news we could have possibly hoped for and I gave them the go ahead to set and splint his leg.  While he was there he also received his vaccinations, fecal and de-worming.

Bingo with his new family at Nashville Pet Products in Spring Hill

While B-9 was getting fixed up, we put out a plea for a foster in the local area to give him a place to stay while his leg healed.  A few people contacted us and we chose an amazing woman named Lydia who lived in Nashville.  We also put out a plea for help with his transport to the Nashville area and we were lucky to find one right away.  She was the person who gave our Bingo his name, because saying B-9 sounded a whole lot like you’re playing a game of bingo.

Bingo was lucky to find a wonderful family and new home.  This little guy was able to get a second chance because so many people stepped up to help.  I wanted to update this story for all of those people who had a hand in his happy ending.  Events on the page go quickly so this is my way of making sure that everyone knows how Bingo’s story ended.  Thank you to all of our Facebook followers for your support and thank you Lydia, you were the best foster we could have ever asked for!

 

 

 

A Little Reflection….

As I’m sure many of you noticed, I haven’t written in awhile.  There hasn’t been much free time to speak of in my life lately.  I started the Facebook page at the very end of August last year.  At that time, I simply wanted to make a place where all the dogs facing euthanasia could be shown in one place.  I hoped that some local rescues would follow the page so they would be able to see the dogs in need and where they were located.

Buddy went from death row to a college campus. He now has fan club of his very own.

Our sweet Leia with her new family at Nashville Pet Products in Spring Hill.

I never thought that only a few short months later, the Facebook page would have over 5,000 followers and over 700 dogs in the “Safe” folders. Looking at the numbers literally blows my mind on a daily basis.  People from all over the state and country follow the page, along with many rescues both in and out-of-state.  Their efforts have made such a huge difference to dogs in need here.

Along this journey, so many people wanted to help these “death row dogs” that TN Death Row Dogs also officially became a rescue.  This has made it so much easier to coordinate with adopters from out-of-state that need to quarantine and transport their new family member.  Many shelters don’t have the staff or resources to coordinate these type of adoptions.  This was a huge step for us, and in doing so, we are able to help many more dogs.  We are currently chartered with the State of Tennessee as a charitable organization and our 501c3 packet has just been submitted.  All of these things have been done in a relatively short amount of time and wow, what a lot of work!  Despite what some may think, we don’t have a huge group running the page and rescue.  It is literally myself and Tonya.  We have been lucky enough also to have met some amazing people who volunteer to help us.  It’s been wonderful to meet other passionate animal lovers who don’t mind donating a little free time to help make a difference.

My former foster dog Aspen being spoon fed by his new bestfriend.

Currently, we have around 30 dogs available for adoption that come in all shapes and sizes.  We are slowly building up a network of amazing foster parents who provide temporary homes our babies awaiting adoption.  Please visit Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet and take a look at our babies.  We think they’re all amazing but of course we are a little biased

I wanted to take a moment to thank:  St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic, Rock and Country Vet Services, Animal Care Center of Carters Creek, Animal Attraction, Kathy’s Pampered Pets, Doggie Doos and Nashville Pet Products.  These businesses have been a tremendous help and we are so grateful for everything they have done for us.  I’d also like to thank our foster parents who selflessly step up for dogs that have no place to go.  They make saving these dogs possible and they really deserve a pat on the back.  I want to send a huge thank you as well to our donors and Facebook followers because you make what we do possible.  We depend solely on donations to help rescue these dogs from death row, have their vetting completed and take care of them until they find their forever families.  So many people have come together to make a difference for dogs in Tennessee and I’m truly honored to know each and every one of you.

When I met Bree in the shelter, she was so terrified that she couldn't even walk. She now is the happiest girl in the world and loved by the sweetest couple. I will never forget you Bree!

~ Jamie

Our Dogs For Adoption – Chevy

Back in October, a follower of our Facebook page went to visit the Cleveland Shelter because there was a special dog there named Lily (at the time her name was #406).  When he walked through the shelter looking at the dogs, a dog named #447 really got to him and he wanted to save him as well.

#447 was surrendered by his owners to the shelter because they had purchased an RV and wanted to travel the country.  Apparently, they felt that #447 no longer fit into their plans, he was no longer convenient.  So like thousands of dogs across the country each day, he was dropped off by his owners at the shelter.  Let me tell you that surrendering a dog to any kill shelter is a death sentence.  People think when they drop a dog off there, they will find loving families and live happily ever after.  Nothing is further from the truth.  When dogs are picked up as strays, there is a mandatory state required hold on them while attempts are made to locate the dogs owner.  If a dog is brought in by it’s owner, then there is no need to go through all that.  If we learned anything by watching the live camera’s at the old Memphis Animal Shelter that closed a couple of weeks ago, it’s that these dogs can be surrendered and immediately taken to the back and put down.  When shelters are full, it will always be the owner surrenders, aggressive and sick dogs that die first.  That is the sad reality.

Matt wanted to save #447 and that is exactly what happened.  He could not foster him, but offered to pay his vetting and board until he found a loving family.  That is when #447 became Chevy, one of our adoptable dogs.

Chevy

We believe Chevy is a Doberman mix and he weighs roughly 55 pounds.  He is a very friendly dog who loves to play fetch.  Chevy would be a great dog for an active family.  I see him being a perfect companion for someone who likes to fetch or do things outdoors.  He is very playful and honestly very entertaining to watch.

He has been completely vetted to include all of his shots and he is neutered.  He is heart worm negative and has been on preventative while in our care.  We would love to find a foster home for Chevy and would also consider a foster to adopt option if anyone would like to take him on a temporary basis to see if he is a perfect match.

Please contact us if you’re interested in Chevy at tndeathrowdogs@gmail.com.