A Week In Rescue-Midnight Blue 6

I sat at the first of the week cleaning up the rescue's website. I removed those who were going home, revamped the profiles of Dane's still waiting on their forever homes, and secretly smiled thinking we were low in number with Dane's for the first time in quite a while. I promise I never spoke out loud about this low number of Danes as I know it can serve as taboo, but I did think it.

Our newly voted in Vice President Caroline York called and with a shaking voice told me she had been contacted by an ASPCA President about 2 Danes who were being confiscated and could we make room. Of course we can make room for two Dane's. By evening the 2 Dane's turned to 6 and it was noted they were all in poor condition. The Danes were coming from the Memphis area which made it logical that they come in to our Nashville Branch and start on the road to their forever homes. The "Good Life" as we tell all Dane's in the beginning.

I had to listen with pride in the Young Woman's voice as she told me her plan of action. I never dreamed several years ago when she was adopting my foster dog Apollo that i would work in this capacity with the Woman. Caroline York, adopter, foster failure, and valued as a member of Dames for Danes Great Dane Rescue. Amy Mumpower and I started this rescue $50 dollars in the hole and one Dane at a time. So my pride cannot be masked when I speak of how we have grown and the good clean reputation that has grown with us.

Caroline organized the pickup of the Midnight Blue 6 with our wonderful foster parents Lisa Coffel and Jesse Ross of the Nashville Area. Three cars and six Danes were in a caravan coming through Tennessee to save these babies. I got phone calls in which exclaimed the dismay at the poor condition of the Danes. I listened to Caroline's usually powerful voice, now small and weak crying for one particular Dane female who was in her vehicle.

As a rescuer you get far too used to seeing emaciated dogs. You become far too used to seeing poor conditions and conditions in which to the average human seem larger than they really are. We have touched the bones of dogs in which protrude from the skin and looked into the hopeless eyes of a dog who has given up. It is a rough day for us as Human Beings though when it is the worst we have personally witnessed. This would be Caroline's first experience with a truly emaciated Dane. My first was Crockett. Amy's first was April. It is then in which you cry together for not only the horror of what you’re seeing but you cry because it hurts you to touch them. Feeling the physical pain with each pet you give to this poor animal is something many humans never experience. It is what make rescuer's special. We have the ability to move past the appearance and give our heart to a Dane who needed our love and powerful prayer.

Caroline quickly dubbed her Bella as her project. There would be no doubt she was taking this Dane home. Despite the fact she needed to be carried as Caroline thought Bella would break simply touching her, Caroline wanted Bella to make her whole again. By morning again a small voice comes on the phone and says "Bella is heartworm positive". I knew from the sound of the tears and the small voice that approval not to put this Dane down due to medical condition was being asked for. It is a voice i know well as it is one I have spoken to Amy and one Amy has spoken to me...one in which the other says...."Let us treat her. Let us get her to a healthy weight and then work on her medical conditions". I told Caroline exactly that as I knew without calling Amy it would be a unanimous decision. There are some things i just know about the women i work with.

It was on to raise money for these Danes. Quickly organized fund raisers, begging, and television should aid us in finding help for these Danes who needed it so badly. I sat in amazement as my phone never stopped ringing with offers of adoptions, money, and foster parents who were reaching out to help these poor Danes. There are many days being a rescuer can be so lonely. So many out there do not understand a drive and passion to live among the fur creatures. However on a day like yesterday it restores my faith in the Human Race and allows me to realize that there is so much love and hope out there.

I want to thank everyone who came through yesterday for Dames for Danes and for these Danes who needed your love and support so badly. I want to thank our foster parents for pulling through when we really needed them. I want to thank Village Vet Hospital in Mount Juliet Tennessee for accomodating so many so quickly and with such love. What a marvelous staff they have there. Thank you Caroline for keeping your cool and for loving the breed as passionatley as you do. We are so happy to have you on our team. Thank you to every donator and every person who sent prayers our way. Thank you for all on our side in fighting the good fight for the animals. And God Bless every rescuer out there seeing your first horror. Our hearts are with you as you touch the animal who hurts you so deeply it strips your faith in Humanity.

God Bless All and never forget that the best possible way you can help our cause is to go home tonight and kiss the furry faces of those who inhabit your homes. Take them to the vet when they are ill. Keep them on their preventatives and feed them well. Remember they depend on you and look to you for the love they should know. And always ask for help if you cannot find the solution as there is always a rescuer out there willing to lend their ear and help.

Much hope for tomorrow and those who are now in our care. The Good Life is waiting and we promise to show you how marvelous it is. Bella, Bubba, Midnight Blue, Chloe, Zoey and Mama Lexus you will have a couch to call your own. You will never spend another night in the cold. You will never know anything but human kindness and affection from this point forward. And you will never miss another meal. It is in our power and we at Dames for Danes will keep this promise to you.

Eileen Our Three Legged Dane

When we took the call to rescue Eileen we knew she had been hit by a car and was facing an amputation of a back leg. Our fears were confirmed by Dr. Shaw and the leg would need to be removed. This beautiful glossy black Dane was in wonderful shape. Eileen was young and otherwise healthy so we placed fear aside and took the plunge. Eileen would be our first three legged Dane. This is in fact how her name came to be. I had to find some humor in the horror. "I-Lean".

The very day she lost her leg i walked into the vet clinic and walked back to the surgery room where she was sitting up in the floor wagging her tail. Fighting the tears was not a success for me. Openly i cried for this poor girl who had no idea her leg was even gone.

Our wonderful foster and volunteer Laurel Bowen took on the task of fostering Eileen during her recovery. Eileen came along very well. Before Eileen even fully recovered she was adopted by one of the most wonderful families (and our friends) we know. Eileen when well would have a new Dane sister named Lady Belle, two parents, and five human siblings. We were thrilled this family came forward!

Tonight i recieved a call from the new family! Eileen is a love who has fit right in with their family. She loves the children and her new Dane sister. However there was an incident. No one knew or even dreamed that Eileen would be a runner. An accidental drop of the leash and Eileen saw runner's freedom. Her new Mom said she never dreamed a three legged Dane could run so fast! Eileen ran fast and hard with her new family chasing behind her. It was our lovely Lady Belle who ran in to save the day! Lady Belle stopped Eileen and held her there until the family could reach her.

Our lesson was learned...Three legs are as quick as four. Although a scary experience it was one of joy for all of us who have prayed and held Eileen close to our hearts. From this we learn to never give up no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how bad it looks, we still can run if we want to bad enough. Thank you Eileen for reminding us.

Rescue at 41

There is not a day in which goes by that someone is not critical of my work when it comes to rescue. I hear many things like "It takes alot out of you, Karen", "Why dont you dedicate time to something worthy", "You must be crazy to do this on top of working and going to school". Those phrases are those i have become most familiar with.

It is a hard thing to explain to those who do not share your passion. It becomes harder when i say i could not live without waking up with dog hair on my face. To say i love this creature beyond measure is something many people just do not understand. However i can say beyond a shadow of a doubt i have met people who i love who share my passion and without them i could not get through my days.

Great Dane Rescue. Could i have picked a larger breed to fall in love with? One with less slobber and less health issues.....sure. However when i learned exactly how gentle, kind, and giving these gentle giants are i was forever hooked. There is nothing like being squashed between three Great Danes. Forever can you look into their souls and watching how forgiving they are of human beings is a lesson in which every one of us could learn.

Let none of you mistake the fact that i have other types of dogs too. In fact i have six dogs. Each one of them a rescue.

Ginger-My Rat Terrier who is 11-12 years of age. She was a breeder dog who turned circles for hours on end due to the fact the cage she lived her life in was the only room she had ever known. It took a couple of years before the circles stopped. She sleeps under the covers at my feet during the night. She has been loved, is loved, and she no longer shies away from humans.

Teddy-My Pit Bull/Chihuahua Mix-7.5 yrs old......o yes....this is his breed. 22lbs of chihuahua voice with a stocky build of a Pit's body. When i got Teddy he was covered in cigarette burns, a few broken bones, and no respect for Human Beings. It would be six months he lived under my bed before he became the leader of my pack. There is no doubt that Teddy is the Boss of the House.

Ruthie-My Peke-5-6 yrs old......whatever could i say about Ruthie? A call came in to the Dane Rescue one late night. The next morning i sent my Sweet Sean to pick her up. We won't bother to say it was a pretty site as he tried to place her into the crate. There was blood, some cussing, and a promise that he would never let that dog out of the crate until i got home. Somehow though she won her way into our hearts and she came here to say. The most demanding of every dog within the house.

Jake- My Dane/Deerhound Mix. 3yrs old I do not tell the others but by far this boy is the light for me. Jake and i have developed that special bond that leaves me in tears at the thought of one day losing him. He is 175lbs and the most gentle being i have ever known. He is protective of his Mom and lets me know at every step he is there for me. His playful jumps when i come home bring a smile to my face even though it usually involves a scratch or two. Thank God i went to see that sick litter of puppies that night against the wishes of all in my home. I wanted him from moment one.

Sophie- Mantle Female Dane 13 months old-O Sophie.....you are the most difficult Girl i have ever known. It is possible some mild retardation is present but her face is incredibly sweet. Sophie minds very well but still must be crated at night as she has quite expensive tastes which include leather love seats and rooms full of Berber Carpet. She never ceases to amaze me in situations where there are many other dogs. Sophie is kind to every human and dog she comes into contact with.

The newest addition is here.....

Emma-Brindle Female Dane 3 yrs old. A Rescue who came through Dames for Danes in which i have fallen head over heels for. Through all of her different homes, being chained, and not properly cared for she is the reason i rescue. I watch as she has been transferred into several homes now adjust and continue to be filled with joy. She has loved so many and lost. Yet she happily goes to the next place and finds a great joy in the people. Emma forgives......truly a quality we lack as human beings. She reminds me daily that there is joy in every situation and with the bad there is so much good. Watching her learn to lay on our bed and realize she is getting food every day is melting my heart. My darkest secret here is that she reminds me of my Jessie Girl who i lost some time ago. The personality is similar except that Emma does not bite men. The bouncing happily ever after attitude is like my Jessie is in the home once more. Although i know there is a difference i have somehow found comfort in this girl. The adopter coming forward would have to be way better than my own home. Way better. I dont think you could shake this girl off me with a stick.

Rescue is new every day. There is always some type of crisis, dog in need, ear to bend...Rescue never sleeps nor do the people who live by this code.

How it Started

As a child i have no memory without a furry friend at my side. Sooner was a black lab mix who my parents rescued before my birth. It became evident as i learned to walk and venture out on my own Sooner would never be far from me. Together we got into trouble crossing the fence line into a neighbors yard. The neighbor was neither fond of children nor dogs.

My parents did not believe in dogs sleeping within the house. This was something i desired greatly as a child, to have Sooner laying next to me in the dark of night. Each morning i would run outside and Sooner would greet me with sweet kisses and the happiest of tail wagging one could imagine.

There was a day i ran out and Sooner did not greet me. It would be years later that i found out she had been shot and killed by a neighbor whose trash cans she had violated during the night. It was then i knew somehow it was my job to protect those with no voice. It was my job to educate those who desired pets within their lives. Most of all it was my job to be the one who looks, stops, and works daily to save the lives of God's creatures.

It did turn into hurt birds, turtles, baby rabbits new from the nest, cats, dogs, and even the occassional guinea pig that the neighbor children wanted to drown. Each one of these creatures recieved the best of care and the most love a little girl had to offer. What more could one ask to be? I did not know then that rescue would become a majority part of my life.