Rescue Updates from Barbara Welt

September 3, 2010

Rescue had an amazing day yesterday!

A transport started simultaneously with:

1. Bill Arnold, Amos (Bill’s Springer) and Bloom (his foster) in Madison, Ms., (see photo 1)

2. Rick Welch, Belle (Rick’s Springer) and Iko (his foster) from Starkville, Ms. and

3. Amelia Hudson, Vance (one of her fosters), Arnold ( a recent AK rescue Springer) and Buffy (her foster) from Quitman, Ms.

All met in Meridian Ms. at the Cracker Barrel. Bill handed off Bloom and Rick handed off Iko to Amelia so that she could be on her way to meet Jan Savage in Tuscaloosa. Bill took Arnold back with him to Madison to foster and Rick took Vance back with him to Starkville and if he and Belle get along, will adopt him. Rick reported last night that Belle and Vance were doing great! Vance is a big boy and Belle is petite so they look like Mutt and Jeff! J Arnold has already made himself at home at Bill’s house – see photo-2. (Bill is so good at documenting the moment)

From Tuscaloosa, Iko, Buffy and Bloom continued on their way to meet Sandra Storm in Leeds, Al and then on to Heflin, AL to meet Ray Smith for the last leg to Atlanta!

Once in Atlanta, Leslie Allen picked up Bloom to overnight him and then drive him to Greensboro, NC where he will overnight with her again and then on to his new home in Virginia on Saturday morning!

Iko and Buffy were picked up by Carol Thalimer who is adopting both of them! She reported last night that all dogs (they already have 2 cockers) were getting along beautifully. Tomorrow Buffy and Iko will be introduced to their pool.

Meanwhile, Beth Campbell offered to foster Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey for the weekend until they go to their foster to adopt home on Monday. So she headed to Beaver Crossing at the end of the day to retrieve these kids and show them what a wonderful home experience is like.

While this was going on, I got a call from Len Severson who met a lady, Heather Walker, at his groomers who had a stray Springer. Next, a call to Heather to get photos for confirmation and to find out all about her. She is a black and white female, about 2-4 and recently had puppies. We have an adopter waiting who ONLY wants a black and white female so the next call was to her. Cather Werner was thrilled to get my call and she drove to Newnan last night and picked her up. She will take her to their vet and get her groomed today. Their kids have named her Imogene.

Also, behind the scenes, Amelia and I were trading e-mails and photos of a dog in Hattiesburg, Ms. with Britt rescue. Britt says it is definitely a Britt and I think Amelia will be fostering for them since their foster homes are full.

Meanwhile, Sue Schroer was adding volunteers to our e-mail list and by the way, drove all the way from Flowery Branch, Ga. (Lake Lanier) to Henry County and back to Beaver Crossing to rescue Katherine and Spencer on Wednesday.

Opps, I almost forgot, Nita was working on getting transport help to get the Tennessee puppies from Atlanta to Tampa which is no small feat since we have very few volunteers from Macon to Valdosta.

A huge thanks (that just does not seem like enough) goes to all of you for your special role in helping these wonderful Springer Spaniels. All of you make up a group of caring, giving individuals who are always there when our Springers need you. Thanks also goes to those of you who have helped to process the applications of our adopters who are now giving these dogs a wonderful home. And of course to Nancy and Linda for keeping all of that straight.

On a sad note, Debbie Kersey’s mother passed away yesterday morning so let’s all keep her in our thoughts and prayers. Those of you who know her personally may want to reach out to her individually.

Barbara

A big thank you to all the folks who helped out with transports this past week - it has been a busy few days for driving Springers around.

On Thursday, Cindy Peterson met with Kathie Milne of Suncoast Springers from Florida who had come to Atlanta for a dog show. She brought Gilligan up from Tampa with her, Cindy picked him up and took him back home with her for a few hours until meeting his new family from Tennessee. You have probably already seen the pictures from Barbara. It looks like he has landed in a great new home. Of course, they probably had to struggle him free from Cindy as she was so taken with him, she did not want to let him go.

On Friday, Carol Sanderson got Charley & Herbie over to Emily Pike for the night and then Emily drove them down to Florida (on Saturday) where they went to (really) short term foster care and are now with their very own brand new family. Many thank also to Mickey & Marilyn Creek for taking great care of these boys during their stay in Atlanta.

On Saturday, we had a multi purposed transport to get Hoke from his temporary foster home in Alabama to his new foster home in Georgia, AND to get puppies, Cappy & Annabelle from their foster homes in Alabama to their new family in NC. Helping out on this trip were foster moms, Claire Boone, Connie Vice, Rachel Palarca & Janet Jackson and drivers Sandra Storm, Cindy Peterson, Becky Junkins, Melissa Dratnol, Angel Reed & myself. I also want to thank Sandi Garris, Ray & Monica Smith who offered their help on this transport. Picture is attached of AnnaBelle & Cappy with their new mom & dad, David & Linda Parker.

On Sunday Ray & Monica Smith picked up Buck at the GA welcome center at the GA/TN line and brought him back to Atlanta where he caught a ride with the same nice lady who had brought Gilligan up from Florida. She took Buck back to Tampa with her. Additional thanks go out to Beth Campbell and Melissa Dratnol, who also offered to help on this transport.

I hope I didn't leave anyone out or get this mixed up. This is a great group of volunteers here in this region and there is always something going on, in one area or another of the process of rescuing Springers. Thank you all!
nita watson
ESRA volunteer

Sissy was adopted today by Gary Turner and his family and Melissa is ready for the next foster!

Woody - was caught today by our "Recapture Team" ! He is at Carol's vet and she will update us. So Far: 1-2 years old but probably closer to 1. Very good at the vet. Very sweet - no neutered. Carol will ask for a discount and if not, we will have to get him to BC for neutering. He is heartworm negative!!!!

Henry (pictured here) - our little blind guy is adopted! Susan Zuker had a wonderful home that wanted a special needs dog. Henry will be flown by private plane to Cape Cod this week!

I am working on matching dogs for our approved apps but will take the afternoon off.

Recent days have been very busy in rescue. It has borne sadness and heartbreak, as with our dear Hershey. It has also born the triumph of lives saved.

It happens every year and is heartbreaking to see. Dogs come into rescue year round. But the busiest time of year for rescue are the fall holiday season and the summer vacation season. This is when some people will dump their loving pets, or their pets are lost due to leaving them at home, unattended while vacationing. Adding to that this year is the very difficult economic times that many are facing, everywhere. Some people, simply can no longer care for pets that they love dearly and are seeking help. Animals are going into shelters and rescues at record setting rates. And our beloved English Springer Spaniels are no different.

Here in Georgia, Barbara & Nancy are working very hard to process applications and get these precious dogs into new loving homes. Many of you went through this process yourself to get the Springer that now sits so contentedly at your feet. Many of you help with this process doing phone interviews and home visits. Keep volunteering for that. This is how we change the futures for these babies who have lost their previous homes by finding the new forever homes where they will be loved and cherished.

Many of you have responded so wonderfully, always, and particularly in recent weeks to pleas for help in getting Springers from shelters to vet care and then to foster homes and forever homes. Keep volunteering for that. This busy season is not over. There will be more cries for help.

Several have stepped up to foster, some are new, some have been doing this for years. We need all the foster homes we can get. While it can have its sorrow, fostering is ultimately the greatest gift you can give these dogs and is in itself a wonderful reward. Even with the heartbreak Marilyn now feels over the loss of Hershey Kisses, I know she cherishes these past 2 months when she shared her life, her home & her heart with that precious little boy and knows the difference she made in his life. She also knows, as others do, the great pleasure of seeing other fosters off to a great new life. If you have ever considered fostering, please do. We will work with you on your schedule and circumstances and support you with your fostering.

I know you all enjoy, just as I do, the updates we see from Barbara or from the foster homes of how these dogs are thriving in their new homes with their new families.

Sometimes, fosters come into rescue and go out to new homes so quickly that they never make it to being posted on the ESRA website, so even the most diligent of “available dogs” watchers would never know of all the dogs that come through rescue.

I thought I would introduce you to just a few that have been rescued recently; lives saved due to the wonderful volunteers in ESRA:

On Tuesday, Ralph was pulled from the Cherokee County Shelter by Beth Campbell and with the help of Pete Cuttino made it to the vet and the start of a new life. Ralph is HW positive, as so many rescues are. Ralph is now being fostered temporarily by Leslie Paulsen, while her other foster, Banjo is starting his heartworm treatment. Ralph needs a new foster home to get him through his heartworm treatment and while his new forever home is found.

This is Rudy. Rudy was pulled from the Effingham County Shelter on Thursday by Susan Krebs.

Susan was actually all set to foster Ralph until this boy appeared on the horizon and much closer to Susan’s home in Savannah. So now Susan has opened her home to this little fellow. Though Susan is quite an experienced groomer, herself, she had to get help clipping this boy. After spending 4 hours, painstakingly trying to clip the mats off of this boy without hurting him, she finally took him to the vet for help. they had to sedate him to get to some of the mats so deeply embedded in his ears that maggots had taken up residence. Hopefully Susan will share new pictures of Rudy with us, but I am sure we all can realize that this boy’s life has already been changed drastically for the better. Susan says he is pure energy now, a constant wiggle butt.

This is Sissy (was Sierra). Sierra was at the Henry County Shelter, pulled by Mickey Creek on Thursday and scooted off to the vet.

Sissy is a beautiful little 2 year old that was picked up as a stray. Just look at that face; don’t you just want to hug it? Well, Sissy starts her new life today, going into foster care of Mellissa Dratnol, who adopted Blaze a few months ago. I can tell you that this girl and Blaze are going to have a great time playing together.

Here is Rowdy, the second dog to be pulled from the Cherokee County Shelter by Beth Campbell in one week. Beth picked him up yesterday afternoon and I met her and took him in for vetting. Look at that sad face. Well it’s not sad anymore. Rowdy is a typical happy go lucky , goofy male Springer. He is being picked up from the vet today and will spend the weekend with Amy Schroer (Sue’s sister-n-law), then will be fostered by Tracey Showalter.

Here is Rowdy at the vet. Rowdy is a big boy at almost 70 pounds and will need some dieting help in rescue. But he is just a great big bundle of love.

As I type this out, a new boy is on his way to vetting, thanks to Sheila Krawchuk & David Scott. He was found by a dog lover who already had 3 dogs of her own, but just had to help him, so she contacted ESRA. We will all be anxious to learn more about him. He needs a foster home.

Folks, this is 5 days of rescue, here. All of these dogs have been coming into rescue since Tuesday. And this is only GA. Many other Springers are finding rescue in the states all around us and across this country. There are currently 21 Springers in foster care in our ESRA region of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana.

There are another 6 or 7 Springers in the wings in Georgia, that Barbara is working with owners or others who have picked up stray Springers. We are getting alerts from shelters on almost a daily basis of Springers in their facilities. They need our help to save their lives.

Whether you are in Georgia or Alabama or Florida, Tennessee or the Carolinas or anywhere else in this wonderful organization – if you can help, please do. Contact your state coordinator and let her or him know what you can do.

“Did you know that if you don't have a dog and you drop some cheese on the floor, it stays there?"
-M. Christopher

The great news is that Samson went to his new home in North Carolina this weekend. He was adopted by a nice retired couple, Jack and Joan Boling, who will give him a quiet home which is what Samson needs. He does not like new situations. They live on a lake and a golf course so he gets at least 2 walks a day. Today when I spoke with Joan, she and Sam were on the sofa together - taking a nap! Samson left Mississippi on Friday morning (thanks to Bill Arnold, Amelia Hudson and Peggy Crowder) and ended up with Emily Pike and kept her company Friday evening. Emily said he was a perfect gentleman and houseguest. Saturday morning, Emily drove him to meet his new parents and the whole family came to meet him - Jack and Joan's daughter, son in law and 2 children showed up at the rendezvous site to welcome him to the family. When they got in the car to make the trip back to NC - Joan sat in the backseat with Sam to comfort him. Thanks to Bill Arnold for fostering him and to all of those mentioned above for the transport and overnight to get Sam to his new home.

BJ - as you saw from Leslie's e-mail (thanks Leslie!) BJ went to his forever home. I spoke with his new Mom today and she said he is fitting in perfectly! He is being fed 4 times a day to fatten him up a little so that he can withstand his heartworm treatment better. Leslie sent him to Lisa Brooks with instructions and supplies to cook BJ (now Max) chicken, rice and carrots! Thanks for fostering him Leslie!

Sue Schroer has been working with an older lady, Mrs. Brooks, in Thomasville, Ga. who needed to re-home her 2 Springers due to economic reasons. We have a contact in Thomasville who was kind enough to go and meet these dogs and evaluate them. It turns out that a neighbor wants the male dog and then Mrs. Brooks feels that she can keep the female and care for her adequately. Hopefully this will be a happy ending. Sue, thanks for all of the hard work you put into this.

Yesterday morning Amber Silfies pulled "Logan" from the Henry County Shelter. After visiting Beaver Crossing and getting his shots, he is now being fostered by Leslie Allen. Logan is a beautiful liver and white boy who was turned in to the shelter by his owners because he was food aggressive with their 7 year old son. The shelter said they had no problems with him and his food. Leslie reports that he loves the water in their fish pond :-) and chasing the fish. She had no problems when she fed him. She also reports that he is very friendly and playful.

Tomorrow Becky Junkins will be pulling a male from the Chattoga Shelter. He is a young black and white male, about 50 lbs. That is all we know so far.

On a sad note, I received an e-mail from Herb and Catherine Sandy that Sweet Pea went to the Rainbow Bridge. The found out in April that she was in advanced stages of Kidney failure. They did all they could for her and loved her very much. They only had her about 10 months.Our condolences go out to them. Herb and Catherine are such wonderful adpopters because they like the older ones which are so difficult to get adopted sometimes because everyone wants puppies and the younger ones. Herb and Catherine - thank you so much for opening up your hearts and your home to Sweet Pea and for the love you gave her before she went to the Rainbow Bridge. Attached is a photo of Sweet Pea watching TV.

Last but not least, all of our foster homes are full at this point - the next Springer that we are notified of may not have a place to go which means we will have to leave him/her in a shelter. Please don't let that happen. We need foster homes immediately - please let us know if you can help.

I am going to start updating on a more frequent basis because it is too time consuming for me to go back and get all of the details for the many things that have happened in the past 3-4 weeks.

Cooper (Big Boy) was adopted this weekend by a wonderful family. His Mom does not work and will be with him all of the time except for errands and dinners out. Cooper really likes men and while I was talking to his Mom this afternoon, his Dad had gone to play golf and Cooper was sitting at the door crying. The first thing Cooper did was fall in the swimming pool so they will be teaching him how to get out in the days to come. Thanks to Nancy Gosline for evaluating them and to those who provided transportation. As always, thanks to Eileen Parker, who works at Beaver Crossing for making sure Cooper got the very best vet care, to Cheryl Gardner for giving him a foster home until he went to Camp Krebs (Susan) to learn more manners.

BJ - Kim Blantz, one of our new volunteers and foster homes, pulled BJ from the Clayton County shelter (the same shelter that had Hershey Kisses) and delivered him to Beaver Crossing Animal Hospital. He was so matted that the shelter workers could not tell if he had been neutered or not! The groomer at Beaver Crossing was out sick but Eileen and one of the vet techs worked their magic and got him cleaned up and shaved up. He is very sweet and friendly but skinny and of course, heartworm positive. He was neutered on Friday and went to his foster home with Leslie Allen. BJ has a forever home waiting for him but Leslie Allen wants to fatten him up and make sure his heartworm treatment goes well.

We are getting steady stream of applications and Nancy Gosling is coordinating the processing. Georgia/Louisiana/Mississippi have about 11 Springer in foster care right now. Samson will go to his new home this weekend and Stringer will go to his forever home around the first of July. There are 4 seniors (not included in the 11 above) that will live out their lives with Amelia Hudson.

For us to get a dog from shelter to forever home takes the work of many people - (I hope I don't forget anyone!)

Martha Lang and Pete Cuttino - Petfinders/Craig's List Searchers
Sue Schroer - Shelter Coordinator
Marilyn Gorman - Foster Home Coordinator
Nita Watson - Transportation Coordinator
Nancy Gosling - Applications Coordinator
Judie Lemsky - Owner Relinquishment Coordinator
Eileen Parker - Vet Coordinator
Millie Christopher - Web mistress and Adoption Agreement Coordinator
Mickey Creek - Microchip Coordinator
Amelia Hudson - Mississippi/Louisiana Foster Super Mom

Last but not least, all of you who volunteer to help with transportation, fostering, processing applications.

Everyone is so important in this process and I appreciate each and every one of you! Keep up the good work!

Note from Nita: As of today, for GA, LA, MS & AL we have rescued 42 Springers in 2009. We have also helped with coordinating rescues for a number of Brittanys & English Setters.

There are currently 22 Springers in Foster care for these four states and 44 Springers have been adopted out in 2009 for these four states.

Wiley the pup - we were contacted last Thursday by Carla, who rescues German Sheperds. She contacted Carol Sanderson and Sue Schroer within hours of each other. Carla was at the Barrow County shelter and saw Wiley - who is 4 months old. His mug shot is attached (P3120212) - look at that face!!! Carla said she could not leave him there so she sprang him from the shelter and took him to her vet for shots and the unthinkable! She was not even sure what kind of dog he was but quickly identified him and found us. On Friday Sue Schroer picked Wiley up from Carla and took him to her sister in law, Amy Schroer, who loves having rescues for the weekends. She has helped us foster numerous times and it saves the poor babies from being at a vet's office, or worse, staying in the shelter any longer. Since we have applicants waiting to adopt, I starting sending his info out. Audrey and Bill Ruccio claimed him the minute they saw his photos. So by 4:30 pm on Sat he was on his way home to the North Georgia mountains! Photo 2840 is of him in his new backyard. Thanks to Leslie Paulsen who did the home check and to Nancy Gosline for doing the telephone interview and the vet check!

Smudge - (pictured on the right) He is 8 months old and an owner turn in because the family has 3 kids and do not have the time to train Smudge. Smudge was doing typical dog stuff like jumping on the kids etc and therefore they were keeping him in his crate a lot. Judie Lemsky was instrumental in getting all of his info and paperwork to make sure we could take him into our program. Another approved adopter, Dan Bishop and his family, who have had 2 previous Springers and who specifically wanted a black and white one, went to meet Smudge and took him home Saturday evening. Thanks to Mary Alice Ortiz and Nancy Gosling for processing this one and to Len Severson for doing the home visit.

Judie Lemsky is working on 2 owner turn ins - Sam and Oreo and Marilyn is working on getting foster homes for them. Sandi Garris and Paul Henderson went to evaluate Sam so that we would know something about him in order to get him the best home. He is 7 years old and his owner just retired and said he did not have time for Sam! Then the real truth came out today. Sam is evidently rough on the plants in the yard and his owner wants to put in lots of landscaping when spring comes so Sam has to go!

Lynn- She is going to her new home with Shawn Whitehouse and her family on Friday. Lynn is currently being fostered by Bill Arnold in Mississippi. Thanks to Pete Cuttino and Diane Samdhal for processing this application.

Luey - He is almost 2 years old and was rescued from a shelter in Louisiana. We received a PetFinder notice that he was in a shelter and Amelia Hudson immediately put the wheels in motion to have him pulled, vetted and transported to her home in Mississippi. Once Lynn is adopted from Bill Arnold, Luey will be transferred to Bill for fostering. Thanks to Amelia for organizing his rescue so quickly.

Nita kept us updated on the amazing job the Ga. volunteers did with driving to MO and back to rescue many Springers from the puppy mill situation. Thanks to ALL who participated in all aspects of that rescue.

Last but not least, Nancy Gosline and several of you have been busy as bees processing the applications - thanks to all of you! We got some good publicity from the TV spot on the MO Springers and it has generated a lot of applications. If you can help - please let Nancy know.

I am sure I have forgotten something or someone (and I apologize) but that's the update for now.

Well, this week/weekend was not quite as busy as last but successful just the same.

Otis went to his forever home with Nancy Ruberton in Sarasota, FL. on Saturday. Thanks to Amelia Hudson, Lenn Jackson and Leonard Sharp who helped Otis get to his new Mom. He was probably traveling about 10 hours that day so I am sure he was tired when he got to his new home. I have checked with Nancy and she is thrilled with her new boy.

Tomorrow, Kelly, an Alabama Springer, will go to his new home with Betty Allen who lives in Long Beach, Ms. Thanks to Amelia and Phyllis Workman for making this happen.

Sammie, who is being fostered in Ms. by Bill Arnold and his wife and their Springer Amos, will be going to his forever home this coming weekend. His new family is very excited!

Sue Schroer pulled Sadie, a liver and white female, about 18 months old, from a shelter where her owner turned her in because she was digging out from under the fence when she saw people going by on the street. Cheryl Gardner agreed to foster her and Cheryl reports she is just a delight! She is over weight so we suspect Sadie was relegated to the back yard, not given much exercise and attention, and was digging out to go see people and get their attention. We will work on getting her the home she deserves but in the meantime, Cheryl and her family, are giving her plenty of love and attention.

As always, Millie is taking care of the website, Nancy Gosline is processing the applications with her usual thoroughness and speed, Sue is always on top of the dogs in shelters with the help of Pete and Martha finding them on Petfinders, Marilyn is always making sure our foster homes have all of their questions answered and getting new ones. The foster homes are invaluable to us as they make is possible to rescue to dogs and find out what they are like so that we can place them in the right homes. And last but not least, all of you volunteers out there who help us with transports, shelter pulls, vet visits, fostering and anything else we need - there are too many of you to name and I always leave someone out!!!!!!!

I am sure that Deborah Sconyers will be following up with complete Happy Endings and photos on all of these dogs.

I hope that everyone has a great week and if you have been sitting on the sidelines, please step up and let us know if you want to help. It is the most rewarding thing you will ever do in your life and is a wonderful tribute to the Springer you love.

Wednesday - Bill Arnold and his wife drove Murphy to Meridian, Ms. to meet Amelia Hudson, who had Sammie and Clover. Adopters Jimmy and Susan Reddick met everyone in Meridian Ms on their way back to Sandestin from Columbus, Ga. (quite a little detour!). The Reddick's took Murphy to adopt him and also Clover home with them for temporary fostering. Bill Arnold took Sammie back to his home for fostering. To the right is a photo of Murphy and his new parents.

Saturday - The Reddick's drove Clover to Tallahassee, FL, with Murphy's help of course, to meet Clover's new Mom, Brenda Junco, who drove from the Tampa area. About the same time in the Atlanta area, Craig Kennedy drove from south Ga. to Loganville where Amber was being fostered by Eileen Parker. It was love at first sight, and Amber now has her new forever home.

Sunday - Leslie Allen was fostering Emmy, who had come to the specialty show to be fostered in NC, but Leslie could not resist her cute face and took her home. The Pollan's had just been approved and seemed a perfect match for Emmy. They met her on Sunday and took her home.

Thanks to everyone who had a part in rescuing these Springers and getting them to their new homes.

I am so far behind in keeping everyone apprised of our rescue activities. I apologize but will try and get everything posted in the next few days. There are lots of Happy Endings stories.

I do just have to tell you though what an amazing group of volunteers you are. Last week we started getting lots of e-mails about 3 dogs in shelters, several owner turn ins and a couple of dogs in Mississippi. I felt like we had dogs coming out of our ears!!

Sue, our Shelter Coordinator, Nita, our Transport Coordinator and other volunteers, swung into action and here is what happened:

We had to rescue Danny in Americus (south Ga.), Ginny in north Georgia and Bubba Lee in Newnan, Ga. A lady from the shelter drove Danny from Americus to Warner Robbins to meet up with Nancy Gosline who then drove to Newnan to meet Janet Jackson, who had pulled Bubba Lee from the shelter there. Then Sue drove from Flowery Branch, Ga. to Eagles Landing Parkway (way south of Atlanta) to meet Nancy and transfer Bubba Lee and Danny to her car. The all 3 proceeded to Crabapple Knoll to get these boys checked out. Sue stayed with them until we had a status report on each one. A little later in the afternoon, Beth Campbell drove northward to rescue Ginny from a lady who pulled her and kept her overnight. Then Beth met up with Greg and Mitch in the evening and they took Ginny home to foster/adopt. All of this was arranged in a 24-48 hour period. These ladies and gentlemen were amazing!!!! It took a lot of planning and coordinating on everyone’s part to make this happen so quickly and save 3 Springers in one day. Thanks to everyone.

Danny is on his way to his new home, Ginny is now Sadie and is adopted by Greg, Mitch and Sully, her new brother, and Bubba Lee is being fostered by Leslie Paulsen and is going to his new home on Thursday to play with two boys and his new Springer brother, Fred – also an ESRA Springer. We will get photos as soon as we can.

We had another situation similar to this in Mississippi a couple of months ago. I opened my e-mail one morning and had two Petfinder e-mails from Pete Cuttino (who, along with Martha Lang, checks that site for us daily) and one from Bill Arnold, one of our foster homes in Ms. Lily Ann was in a shelter in Cleveland, Ms. Then, early the same morning I got a call from Bill Arnold who said he was going to be up that way and could go and pull her. Wow – what luck!! Bill, took her home that night and the next day, took her on sales calls with him to a vet in West Point, Ms in preparation to go to her foster home there.

The next day, we got another call from a shelter in Columbus, Ms about Ginger. I called Shelia Connelly who prompt went and pulled her and is now fostering her.

With volunteers like this, our Springers don’t have to worry – someone from ESRA will be there to rescue them.

I want to thank everyone who made these rescues possible and also to thank all of you out there who do other things for us, like telephone interviews, vet checks, home visits, transports, evaluations, fostering, computer work etc. YOU ALL ARE AN AWESOME GROUP!!!!!!

Last but not least, I need to thank Amelia Hudson, our foster home in Mississippi, who fosters all of the dogs we get from Louisiana and Mississippi. She has state of the art kennels in her daylight basement with a doggie door to the outside. She is an amazing woman who handles as many as 14 fosters at one time and just picked up 3 ten week old Springer pups yesterday. We could not save as many Springers as we do in that area without Amelia.

MY SINCERE THANKS GOES OUT TO EVERYONE. I am very proud to be a part of this group!