Remember Me Thursday 2018

Barks, meows, and whimpers bounce off of the walls.  Furry paws frantically scratch at wire cage doors.  Tears stream from their eyes staining their fallen faces.  Hope begins to fade as time marches on bringing these orphaned pets ever closer to their grim demise.

Sadly, over 2.7 million shelter animals are euthanized every year before they are able to find their forever homes. (Source:  Animal 24-7 published by Merritt Clifton).  What's even more heartbreaking is that just 30% of pets in the United States are adopted from rescue facilities. (Source: The Humane Society of the United States 2013).  This means that a staggering 70% of pets are still being purchased from breeders.  

As a pet parent of five rescue dogs and three cats, I've never understood why people looking to adopt often immediately seek out a breeder.  They pay thousands of dollars for a custom canine or cat when their perfect match could be just around the corner at their local animal shelter.  

Some of the reasons I've heard from such adopters are:

• The shelter won't have the specific breed I'm looking for.
• Shelter animals have behavioral issues.
• I want to know my pet's linage.
• If I buy from a breeder, my pet's temperament will be perfect.

 In reality:

• There are hundreds of rescue groups and organizations across the country that are dedicated to specific dog and cat breeds.  I even know of several that only deal with differently-abled animals (blind, deaf, etc.).

• Many shelter programs incorporate training into the animals' daily routines.  If the prospective pet does have any issues, the shelter staff or foster parents will be able to inform potential adopters so that there won't be any surprises post adoption.

• Unless you plan on breeding or showing your new dog or cat, there is no real value in knowing your pet's linage or having official papers.  Also, it has been proven that mixed breed animals have less inherited genetic health problems than purebreds.

• Shelter animals have the added benefit of gaining socialization skills.  From group walks to day trips with their foster families, shelter animals get to experience the world around them.  However, animals coming from breeders are often kept in isolation to ensure that the bloodlines will remain pure.  

I would like to share the adoption stories of four of my dogs:  Theo, Penny, Adriel, and Hope.  Theo and Penny were almost euthanized while Adriel and Hope were rescued from backyard breeders.  Here are their stories.

Theo:  While not much is known about Theo's past, one thing is for certain:  He was abused by children.  Whenever Theo saw a child, he would fly into a barking and snarling frenzy while hiding behind our legs.  This is probably why he was dumped at the local humane society and labeled as vicious.

None of the staff could get close to Theo.  He was tired of being abused.  He was shut down.  The date for his euthanasia was set.

Two hours before Theo was to be killed, a woman specializing in Pug rescues came into the shelter.  She was immediately drawn to Theo.  The staff warned her that his time was up and he couldn't be rehabilitated.  The woman decided to try anyway.  

There she sat on the cold, hard concrete for two hours straight.  Theo had stopped snarling.  He sat next to the steel bars of the door and allowed the woman to pet him.  The staff was amazed when the woman left the building with Theo in tow, smiling.

Theo is now 15 years young.  If it wasn't for the kindness and patience of this woman, his life would have been cut drastically short.

Theo is now 15 years old!

Penny:  Penny was found roaming the streets of California.  She was immediately taken to a high-kill shelter.  While Penny was a sweet and loving pooch, her unique looks made her undesirable in the eyes of would-be adopters.  She was born with a deformed front paw and a severe overbite.

One day, a woman entered the shelter and discovered Penny.  She immediately made a call to her veterinarian friend, Cynthia Lee, who just happened to own Second Chance Animal Rescue in Springfield, Illinois.  Lee wasted no time in getting Penny out of the shelter.  In fact, she paid an animal transporter to drive Penny from California to the rescue in Illinois.

Penny's adoption profile was posted on Petfinder.com.  Still, no one wanted to adopt a seemingly "broken" dog.  Then I came across her biography and fell in love the moment I saw her picture.

While she may look different, nothing holds her back from living her best life.  Penny recently celebrated her seventh birthday.  She also has an award-winning children's book that tells the tale of her adoption journey to inspire others to adopt differently-abled animals.  Penny is also a volunteer with the Animal Protection Association of Missouri where she helps co-teach the humane education class. (www.pricelesspennyp.com)

Penny and her children's book.

Adriel:  Adriel was rescued from a backyard breeder.  She had been kept in a wire crate for most of her young life.  Her leg muscles did not develop properly because of this and she is unable to jump.  Adriel was also born with a very distinctive birth defect:  Her tongue is longer than her head so it always sticks out.  

From the moment I saw Adriel's picture on the St. Louis Senior Dog Project website, I knew she should be a part of our furry family.  When the adoption application was approved, we were overjoyed.  I couldn't wait to bring her home.

Several weeks later, I picked her up at the local Petsmart.  While I was excited, Adriel was terrified.  Her dark brown eyes darted back and forth.  She actually held her legs stiffly out in front of her so that she wouldn't get close to my face or chest.  I feared that she didn't like me.

Bringing her home was also difficult.  She ran and hid from me and my husband...but fell in love with our resident dog, Theo.  While they bonded quickly, it took several months before Adriel felt she could trust us.  

My husband and I worked diligently on training and studied up on dogs that had been rescued from breeders.  We soon learned that her terror was associated with the human interaction she received while at the breeder's facility.

Thankfully, with love and patience, Adriel soon blossomed into the world's best lap dog.  She now eagerly soaks up attention from everyone that she meets and will paw at the person if they stop petting her.  Adriel is also a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International where she provides touch therapy to kids' clubs, nursing home residents, Autism groups, etc.  

Adriel has been a therapy dog for 7 years!

Hope:  Hope is the product of a backyard breeder.  She is a mini double dapple Dachshund that was born without eyes and is completely deaf.  Her breeder bred two dapple Dachshunds together knowing that doing so can result in double dapples, which often have health issues such as being born blind, deaf, or both.

The exotic white coloring of the Dachshund pups in double dapple litters is highly sought after by adopters.  Often times, they have no idea what a cruel practice this is.  Upon finding out that Hope was both blind and deaf, he wanted to kill her.  She was useless to him because he couldn't breed her.

Thankfully, the man's wife stepped in and claimed Hope as her own.  Hope was protected for several years until the woman died.  The breeder than took Hope with a choke chain around her neck and surrendered her to Dachshund Rescue North America.

Hope was immediately placed into a loving foster home where she even had other doxies to play with.  I knew when I saw her on the rescue's website that she would need lots of extra care and attention.  My heart kept saying, "If you don't adopt her, no one will."

The first week post adoption was daunting.  My husband and I watched helplessly as she excitedly raced around the house running head first into the walls.  But, she never made a sound.  Hope simply backed up and went in another direction.

By the end of the week, she had learned the entire layout of the house.  Two months later, she taught herself to bark at the back door when she wanted to go out and potty and knew to come back to the door and bark to be let in.

She might be differently-abled but never disabled!  Hope has been featured on The Dodo where her video went viral with over 5.5 million views.  She has also been featured on numerous Facebook and Instagram pages.  Hope has over 7,000 followers on Instagram and receives messages daily about what an inspiration she is.  One person in particular sent a private message to her Facebook page stating that seeing Hope living such a wonderful life helps the person cope with his/her depression.

Most recently, she was selected as an Honorary Inner Beauty Ambassador by Instagram sensation, @a_gecko_and_his_pjs.  She now has custom stickers and magnets that are being sold with 100% of the profits benefiting Wayside Waifs, a no-kill shelter in Kansas City, Missouri. (www.havinghopealways.com)

Hope is known as the Queen Ween on Instagram!

I hope that these stories inspire you to adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue group.  Together, we can end the needless killing of animals; be a voice for the voiceless; and ensure that all creatures find a loving forever home.

Please take a moment today to remember those animals whose time ran out before they could be united with their forever families.

Just Me, Wrigley Book Review

Just Me, Wrigley, the third installment in the Furever Home Friends series by Savy Leiser, follows one special pooch on her quest for a forever home.  Wrigley is starting to notice that she's different from the other dogs. 

She's not athletic like her friend Frank or delicate and dainty like her pal Fluffy.  Wrigley loves to dance!  Still, her moves have yet to impress potential adopters. 

One day, Wrigley's dreams come true.  She becomes a surprise Christmas present for a young boy.  Instead of being delighted, the boy is disappointed.  He doesn't care for Wrigley's dancing and was hoping for a Dalmatian.

A sad and confused Wrigley is returned to the shelter.  She tries to be more like the other dogs, but nothing seems to work.  Her paws are too big to be dainty.  Her coordination is too poor to make her a star athlete.  Will Wrigley ever find a family that loves her just the way she is?

I love this book!  The story is filled with humor and heart.  I fell in love with Wrigley from page one and rooted for her throughout.

Being a pet parent to five rescue dogs, I can definitely relate to the breed prejudice that many shelter dogs are subjected to.  Instead of viewing each dog as an individual and seeing if his/her personality is a good match, many people are more concerned about designer breeds, coat colors, and whether or not the pup is already trained.

Several of my dogs were returned to the shelter for "behavioral issues" that my husband and I have yet to see.  It is truly heartbreaking knowing that so many wonderful animals are treated like disposable objects.

The illustrations are whimsical and fun.  Leiser uses a combination of hand drawn images with mixed media pieces to create truly stunning artwork.  Every turn of the page is a surprise that is sure to delight readers.

This book is perfect for animal lovers of all ages.  I can definitely see this book being used as part of the humane education curriculum in animal shelters and rescue groups across the country.

The Detective Dog Book Review

The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson follows one super sleuth canine on a mission to solve a most puzzling mystery.  Detective Dog Nell loves solving crimes.  But that's just what she does Tuesday through Sunday.

On Mondays, she goes to school with her six-year-old boy, Peter.  The children read all sorts of wonderful stories to the popular pooch.  Nell's favorite books are the ones about dogs.

One Monday, Nell's sensitive sniffer detects a problem.  Racing inside, she and Peter discover that all of the books have been stolen.  Will the dynamic duo be able to find the clues and recover the stolen property?

I greatly enjoyed reading this book.  I love the idea of a mystery solving canine that uses its nose to snuff out crime.  Donaldson's characters are smart and lovable.  Nell's larger than life personality definitely tickles my funny bone.  I wasn't expecting for the text to be in rhyme, but it adds a fun musicality to the mystery.

I also love that Donaldson includes children reading to Nell as part of the story.  As a certified therapy dog handler, this is a program that is close to my heart.  I hope that more schools will open their doors to therapy dog teams as the benefits of children reading to dogs is truly monumental.

Sara Ogilvie's illustrations are amazing.  Her style appears to be ink with watercolor.  Each image pops off of the page and will certainly delight young and old readers alike.  I love how expressive she made Nell's ears.  My favorite illustration is the vignette of a boy reading a book about knights to Nell.

This is a fun, furry mystery read for children ages 3-6.  I can't wait to read about Nell's next adventure!

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog Book Review

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp tells the tale of one girl's journey to become a better reader.  Madeline hates to read.  Book, magazines, menus on ice cream trucks.  She wants no part of the reading scene.

Ms. Finn has a secret.  She has trouble reading.  Words become a jumbled mess on the page.  Her mouth traps sentences like flies in a frog's tongue.  She stutters and stumbles doing her very best.  Still, her classmates laugh at her.

All Madeline wants is the coveted gold star from her teacher.  But the Keep Trying hearts are piling up fast.  One Saturday, her mom takes her to the worst place ever:  the library.  Mrs. Dimple, the librarian, has a trick up her sleeve that might just change the way Madeline reads forever.

I love this book!  The story is full of compassion and heart.  While I never struggled with reading, one of the elementary students I mentored while in high school did.  He tried so hard to get the words right, but his lisp and speech impediment made it difficult.  I wish Bonnie could have visited him.

Being the owner of a certified therapy dog, this story definitely has a special place in my heart.  While we have not yet tried the reading program, I know how much children love dogs and open up to them with free hearts and minds.  My dog and I visited a kids' club that had an Autistic little boy.  The club workers were shocked when he ran over to my dog and not only touched her but spoke to me.  They then informed me that that was the first time they had ever heard the boy speak.

The story shows just how amazing dogs truly are.  They make no judgments and place no blame.  Dogs only love unconditionally and hope to have their affections returned.  They are the perfect companion and reading buddy.

Papp's illustrations are gorgeous.  They remind me of the original artwork from the A.A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books.  I especially love the colorful cast of canine characters.  I also like how the illustration styles are different on every page.  Some are single page spreads, others are doubles, some feature vignettes, and more.  This really captured my attention and made me pause to enjoy each one.

This is a fabulous story for (especially struggling) readers ages  4-8.  I could definitely see this book also being used in therapy dog programs throughout the country.

MVP: Most Valuable Puppy Book Review

MVP:  Most Valuable Puppy by Mike and Stacy Greenberg, tells the tale of one special dog.  Phoebe is a white pup with one very unique feature.  She has a pink tail!

She recalls the day that she met her best friend in the shelter:  The Girl with the Curly Hair.  Phoebe can't believe that she not only has a loving forever home, but a big sister and baby brother to play with.  Her favorite thing to do is wait for her sister to come home from school.  They always play a game of fetch and share a snack.

One day, Phoebe and her family go to the playground.  She is so excited to play with her sister.  A group of kids see the pair playing and ask if they would like to join them for a game of soccer.  They're having a great time...until the game switches to football.

Running with all her might, Phoebe's sister attempts to catch the ball and makes a huge fumble.  Can Phoebe help her find the courage to get back in the game?

I really enjoyed this story.  There are multiple themes that I think both children and adults will relate to.  I love that the story is told from Phoebe's perspective.  This definitely captured my attention and I found I was even more invested in the story than if it would have been narrated by the little girl or her parents.

I also love that this book sheds light on the importance of animal adoption.  Being a proud pet parent to five rescue dogs and three cats, this is definitely a cause that is close to my heart.  The idea of finding your best friend in a local animal shelter or from a rescue group is truly inspiring.

A more hidden aspect that I love about the book is that Mike and Stacy Greenberg are donating 100% of the profits from the sale of this book to their Heidi's Angels program.  The program helps to fight pediatric cancer through its support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.  This is also a cause that is near and dear to my heart as I lost both of my grandmothers to cancer and have a friend whose daughter is battling a cancerous brain tumor.

This is a wonderful read for animal lovers of all ages.  Young and old alike will fall in love with Phoebe and cheer her on in her mission to be the Most Valuable Puppy.

Sterling, Best Dog Ever Book Review

Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie follows the adventures of one very confused Dachshund.  Sterling hasn't had very good luck in finding a forever home.  His owners seem to always lose interest, sending him back to the streets.

One night, Sterling notices a sign at the Butlery Cutlery Company.  Their utensils are being shipped to "all the best homes."  He decides to hide in one of the boxes where he waits to be delivered to his perfect home. 

The Gilberts are surprised to see the pup inside their box of forks.  Yet, Sterling has a plan.  He won't just be any fork; he's going to be the best fork ever!  But when his plan starts to unravel, will he find the courage to be what the family really needs?

I absolutely adore this book!  This is definitely one of my favorite picture books of all time.  Sterling's character is beyond adorable.  He reminds me of my own dachshund, Hope.  Young and old alike will relate to his struggle of feeling like he needs to be something other than himself.

This story is full of emotion and heart.  I loved watching Sterling's silly antics, yet my heart broke when he kept trying to be what he thought everyone wanted.  I definitely shed tears at the end.

The character of the little girl reminds me of myself.  I noticed that her bedroom wall is covered in dog posters and drawings.  She also has numerous stuffed dogs tucked away under her night stand.  I can totally relate to her passion for pooches (especially dachshunds). 

I also love that this story sheds light on the importance of animal adoption.  As the proud pet parent to five rescue dogs, I know that many of them have a story similar to Sterling's.  They were loved for a time, yet dumped when the owners became "bored" with them.  This book would be a great addition to the humane education curriculum at animal shelters and rescue groups across the country.

Cassie's illustrations are truly stunning.  Sterling's expressions are priceless.  I was in love with his character the moment I saw the book cover.  I also love the spotlight illustrations at the beginning of the book that show Sterling trying to imitate numerous items.  My favorite was the curling iron (my husband favored the jackhammer).

This book is a fantastic read for animal lovers of all ages.  Readers will cheer Sterling on in his quest to find his true purpose.  I hope to see more books featuring the best dog ever. 

Paws of Triumph Blog is Live!

I'm very excited to announce that I have created a new blog called Paws of Triumph.  The purpose of the blog is to provide valuable content and resources for animal lovers of all ages with a focus on pet parents of differently-abled fur babies.

Having adopted six differently-abled animals, I know how challenging issues such as blindness and deafness can be.  But I also know how precious the love of a special animal is.  These creatures are truly amazing and have such a zest for life.

The blog will feature personal stories, product reviews, guest posts, and so much more.  Visit Paws of Triumph now by clicking on the link:  https://www.pawsoftriumph.com/

Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest pages!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pawsoftriumph/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pawsoftriumph/

Pintrest:  https://www.pinterest.com/pawsoftriumph/

Triumphantly Yours,

Lauren

Snow Dog's Journey Book Review

Snow Dog's Journey by Loretta Krupinski follows the winter time adventures of siblings Anna and Olen.  The pair love to play in the snow.  Anna decides to build a snow dog instead of a snow man.

The children fall in love with their snowy creation.  They even provide a scarf and hat to keep him warm.  Later that night, the Frost King, bringer of all snow, flew overhead.  Spying the cool canine, he stopped and decided to make the pooch his companion.

Snow Dog can't believe that he has come to life!  The Frost King happily scoops him up and flies back to his icy palace.  Snow Dog cares greatly for the King, but deeply misses Anna and Olen.  He must now make the ultimate decision:  live forever with the King or risk melting away to be with the children he loves.

I thought this was a fantastic read.  The story is a mixture of Frosty the Snowman meets Pinocchio.  Krupinski has created in-depth characters that are full of heart.  The idea of a Frost King bringing the winter snow is truly magical.  Children will love the sense of fantasy that this story evokes.

Krupinski's illustrations are stunning.  Most of the scenes take place at night.  She does a magnificent job of balancing the dark background with cool blue tones to create winter pictures that will make readers want to snuggle up with a blanket a mug of cocoa.

This is a wonderful book for animal lovers of all ages.

Stanley's Little Sister Book Review

In Stanley's Little Sister by Linda Bailey, Stanley has a problem.  His once perfect home has been invaded by a new, furry stranger.  That's right, Stanley's parents have done the unthinkable.  They adopted a cat!

While furious, Stanley knows that he must be nice to his new sibling.  He greets her with a friendly sniff...and she promptly whacks his nose with her paw.  Stanley cannot believe what the cat has done! 

Letting out a series of barks, Stanley begins chasing the cat around the room.  His parents are not pleased.  The next day, he decides that he will win the cantankerous cat over by licking her.  This gesture of friendliness is also rejected.  Will Stanley ever find a way to befriend the furry feline?

I really enjoyed this book.  Bailey creates characters that are both realistic and hilarious.  Stanley is reminiscent of Doug from Disney's Up!  Being the owner of five rescue dogs and three cats, I can totally relate to the relationship between Stanley and the cat.  New pet introductions are always an adventure.

Bill Slavin's illustrations are larger than life and full of heart.  The images truly leap off of the page.
Children will delight in the hilarious and heartwarming scenes that fill the book.

This is a wonderful read for children ages 3-7.  Looking at the topic of relationships through the eyes of a dog and cat really makes the often tough subject attainable and fun to read.  I think this book would also make a wonderful gift for children who are in the process of adopting a new pet.

Widget & The Puppy Book Review

Widget is back in an all new adventure in Widget & The Puppy by Lyn Rossiter McFarland.  While  relaxing with Mrs. Diggs and the girls, a puppy wanders in through the cat door.  Mrs. Diggs puts Widget in charge of watching the puppy while she attempts to locate the owner.

Reluctantly, Widget takes on his new role.  The puppy starts getting into everything!  From eating the girls' food to drooling on everyone's beds, this pup proves to be a challenge. 

Widget is run ragged by this mystery guest.  He accidentally falls asleep and loses track of the puppy.  Will he be able to find the precocious pup before Mrs. Diggs returns?

I really liked this story.  Widget's character is lovable as well as funny.  McFarland does a wonderful job of describing the actions of a puppy.  I felt tired right along with Widget.

Jim McFarland's illustrations are vibrant and fun.  Children will delight in his depictions of animals at play, especially the puppy!  The expressions on the cats' faces are hilarious.

This is a wonderful read for children ages 3-6.  I think that this book would also be a great gift for those who are considering adopting a puppy.

Sofa Dog Book Review

Sofa Dog by Leonie Lord follows one dog on his epic quest to reclaim his sofa.  Sofa Dog loves spending time on his sofa with his human Sophie.  They are soon interrupted by the neighbor's cats who also want to share the sofa. 

Sofa Dog makes room for the two cats and Sophie.  Then the doorbell rings and Sophie's three aunts have come to stay.  The sofa is getting more and more crowded.  Will there still be enough room for Sofa Dog?

I love this book!  I fell in love with Sofa Dog the moment I saw the cover.  Being the owner of five rescued dogs, I can totally relate to Sofa Dog's situation.  This usually happens with my lap.  Each dog believes that my lap is his/her property.  Somehow, my lap always seems to have room for one more.

Lord's illustrations are whimsical and fun.  I love the intricate detail of the flea.  Children will love the colorful cast of characters that seek the comfort of the sofa.  They will also cheer Sofa Dog on as he attempts to regain his favorite spot.

This is a great read for children ages 4-8.

Teddy the Dog: (Almost) Best in Show Book Review

Teddy is back in a brand new adventure!  In Teddy the Dog:  (Almost) Best in Show, Teddy decides to compete in the Strut Your Mutt Dog Show.  He knows he has the style, class, and charisma to bring home the gold.

The sassy pooch keeps his head held high as he prances on the red carpet upon arrival.  Teddy easily makes friends with his fellow competitors.  But he soon finds out that being a show dog is much harder than it looks.  Does he stand a chance against these seasoned veterans?

I love this book!  Teddy's character is truly larger than life.  His sense of humor is spot on and had me laughing with every page turn.  Teddy's personality definitely reminds me of my own dogs.

Jonathan Sneider's illustrations are fantastic.  Bursting with vibrant colors and a memorable cast of canine characters, children are sure to delight in every page.  I love how Sneider shows Teddy's emotions with his eyebrows since his eyes are covered by his signature shades.

This is a hilarious read for children ages 4-8 and for anyone who has a dog with an attitude like Teddy's.