May 2nd - Help with Vet bills needed - read about our two latest "Moms"

Last night, another pregnant Mom (Lilly) we brought in, had to have an emergency C-section which wasn't cheap.  She had three puppies in her, but one had not developed correctly, and was blocking the other two, so a C-section was the vet's only option.   The two remaining puppies have to be under a vet's care for a bit, but we are hoping for the best.  We had to have an emergency spay done on her at the same time.  As of May 7th, her vet bills are $1010.81.

Donations can be made through Paypal on our "Dogs to Adopt" page, or email us to get a mailing address if you rather send us a check.

DNA TESTING - WHAT KIND OF DOG IS THAT?

May 14th--Nic, pictured left, had his DNA tested last week.  Results should be in week of May 21st.  If you want to let his owner now what you type of mix Nic is, email at debbieandnic-rescue@yahoo.com.  No prizes awarded, but this is a tough one to figure out!

Our webmaster has added a new page to our website.  She usually is the one that makes the final decision on what breeds we are going to list the puppies/dog as.  Of course, with mixed breeds this is totally guesswork!

Are you tired of people asking, when truthfully, you have absolutely no clue?  A few years ago DNA dog testing became available, but very costly.  Now, you might actually be able to afford it.  There are two different types, a home kit ($40 - $79), or a blood test done at a vet ($130 to $185).  While the price of the home kit is lower, they only recognize about 1/3 of the breeds that the other test does.

Please check out our DNA test page.  If you have had your Happy Tails dog tested, please let us know the results, what company you used, (would be nice to know the cost too), and we will post your dog and the rest of the litter they came from.

      IS YOUR DOG IN SCHOOL?

What do these three dogs have in common?  They have NOT been visited by the truancy officer because all three have been to dog school.

We have had several emails lately from folks asking questions that are all answered and worked on in dog classes.  They want to surrender their dog, yet the dog has never been to obedience classes, and the people do not know how to correct the behaviors.  Your dog needs the socialization and teaching, and YOU need the socialization (meet other folks with the same crazy dogs!), and teaching.  Please realize puppy classes cut off at about age 16 weeks, so you need to sign up for a class as soon as you get puppy!!!  This is a once in a dog's lifetime chance.

We HIGHLY suggest that all our puppies and dogs enroll in a class.  You will not regret it!

In the Milwaukee-Waukesha area, we have the following suggestions.  If in other cities, go and visit classes until you find one suited for you.

1.  Animal Motel - our director's favorite.  131st & Silver Spring.  Offers puppy, Basic, and Advanced classes (agility included in Advanced class).  262-781-5200. www.animalmotel.net

2. Amiable Dog Training - our webmaster's favorite. Brookfield, Greenfield, & West Allis.  Class times six days a week.   Offers puppy, Basic, Canine Good Citizen with testing, Advanced classes, and Agility.   414-289-7785 www.dogclass.com

3.  Action Dog Training - for you Waukesha and Pewaukee people.  Puppy, Basic, and Advanced training.  262-662-5464.

4.  For Northeast Milwaukee, try Trimtime, www.trimtime.com, 414-352-0880.

5.  THERAPY DOG TRAINING - Pets Helping People.   They have trained and tested 180 teams of dogs and owners who volunteer in the Milwaukee area - classes held at a nursing home in Brookfield.  Your dog must be at least a year old, and have passed or be at the level to pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test.  For more information on having your dog become a therapy dog, contact our webmaster at debbieandnic-rescue@yahoo.com

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED!

While most of our dogs have foster homes; in the future, we always need more.  Can you help?    We are looking for foster homes, especially on the South side of Milwaukee County.   We really need foster homes for puppies/dogs over four months of age.  We supply the first bag of food, and any needed vet care (at our vet).  If you are interested, please see our new foster home agreement by clicking on the 'foster' tab.  Also, at the bottom of that page is the link to the foster home application.  

Graduates  page!  Graduates page is now for any dog that has completed a class in addition to a Basic class.  Because the majority of our dogs have been through a Basic class or beginner's class, we would have a VERY long list.  So we decided to change it to 'higher education'.   Email Debbie at debbieandnic-rescue@yahoo.com with dog's name, class, and your first name(s), and if possible a digital picture.

OUR 'BUSINESS' PAGE

Are you new to the dog world?  Is this your first puppy or dog?  Are you an experienced owner, but looking for a new dog school, vet, groomer, daycare? Please check out our recommended business page!  These businesses love Happy Tails dogs, and are all recommended by the director or volunteers of the rescue.  Mention to them that you heard about them here.  If you want more information before contacting the business, there is a rescue person contact for each item listed.

  WHERE ARE YOUR DOG'S LONG LOST BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

Ever wondered where they are?  Would you be interested in corresponding with them, or maybe setting up a 'doggy play day' with them?  We have a volunteer that is willing to keep track of your email address and then forward it when we get email addresses from others from your dog's littermates.

We have had several people ask about doing this, but our director and webmaster just haven't found the time.  We will only share email addresses that are sent in.  For privacy reasons, we will not share any information off your application.

To start with, we are using the webmaster's rescue email at debbieandnic-rescue@yahoo.com for this so the volunteer doesn't get hit with all the spam.

If you would like to be added to the database, and have any littermate's emails sent to you please send a note with your name,  your email, your location, dog's name, dog's rescue name, and what litter they were from.  If you have one of our Mom dogs, and want to get together with their puppies, feel free to write too.  If we start getting a lot of responses, we will have a form on the website to fill out, but we don't know how many people are actually interested in corresponding with each other.

 WE WANT PICTURES!

We would like you to brag about your adopted. Please send email updates for the brag page to Debbie at  debbieandnic-rescue@yahoo.com  If you have a dog that you either recently or not so recently, adopted from Happy Tails, we would like to include the dog and a few words from you about the addition to your family, so that potential adopters can know about your happy experience.  

We ask that you include the dog's present name, and their rescue name.  Sometimes we get pictures with a new name, and since the puppy has grown up, we have no idea who it was originally.  We have the adoption pictures we have been posting, you only need to send a current pic.  If children are pictured, you must give your permission to post the picture.