The obvious question to answer as we begin the happy ending story for Frodo is how did a Springer end up with a name like Frodo! The name is quite unusual and comes from the fact that Frodo is one of the fictional characters in the movie series, The Lord of the Rings. Our Frodo was obviously given that name as a puppy by his original family that must have been fans of the movie.

And since we mentioned Frodo’s original family, he was purchased as a puppy as an AKC registered ESS and raised in a loving home with children for 5 years. His original family sold their home and found that they could not bring Frodo along to their new housing situation. Rather than advertise him or surrender him to a public shelter, they elected to surrender him to a private rescue group in Madison, MS that only houses their animals in foster homes. Frodo was fortunate enough to catch the eye of the rescue director and find himself as a guest in her home for a few days.

Through a mutual friend, Hart (the rescue director) as able to make contact with Bill Arnold, a local ESRA volunteer, and inquire about the possibility of Frodo coming into ESRA foster care. After seeking ESRA approval, Hart delivered Frodo to the Arnold home in Madison for fostering while awaiting his initial vetting. A few days later, Frodo was transported to Quitman, MS to an ESRA rescue vet for his physical and to remove a fatty tumor.

Shortly after the Arnold’s brought Frodo into foster care, Bill received an email from a local family in Madison that had spotted Frodo on the local rescue facebook page and inquired with Hart about him. Hart directed them to email Bill with their interest and Bill then explained to them that Frodo was an ESRA foster boy now and suggested they complete an app for him, if interested. The family completed the app within a few hours and submitted it to Barbara Welty with interest specifically for Frodo. Frodo was also able to accompany the Arnolds to meet his prospective new family and home during the ESRA home visit. With a few days, the necessary interviews and visits were completed to approve the Warner family in Madison, MS as Frodo’s new forever family!

Since Frodo was in vet care in Quitman, Amelia Hudson brought him into her home kennels for a few days until the Warners could meet her in Meridian MS to complete the adoption of Frodo. A happy ending photo is included to show a happy forever family and a very happy Frodo! A final interesting note is that Frodo never had to learn a new zip code from his original family, his shelter home, his foster home and now his forever home since the process from surrender to adoption took place in Madison, MS.

Frodo spent less than one week as an ESRA foster dog because of the efforts of so many volunteers that helped to approve him, rescue him, vet him, post him, do the phone interviews and visits, transport him, and all of the paperwork necessary to help him move into his forever home so quickly. Bill Arnold worked with the local rescue group and he and Robin did the home visit.  Pete Cuttino did the vet check and phone interview.  Barbara Welty coordinated the adoption.  Bill transported to Amelia Hudson so she could coordinate vet care; then Amelia met the adopters.  Thanks to each of you for all that you do and we are certain that our Lord of the Rings star, Frodo, sends an especially big and wet smooch to each of you!

Enjoy the slideshow!!!

If you have photos to add to our collection here and in our ESRA-Southeast facebook album, please submit them to info@SpringerRescueGAAL.org.

On top of all that fun, $1350 was raised for Springer Rescue through raffle items and personal donations!

Big THANK YOU to Judie Lemsky, ESRA AL Events Coordinator for putting on this wonderful celebration. You throw a great party, Judie!

We also took the opportunity to show are appreciation to volunteer, Rachel Palarca for all she has done for rescue in the past few years. Rachel and family are moving to California soon and we will really miss them all.

Enjoy more pictures from the picnic in the slideshow below.

ESRA booth

ESRA volunteers on hand included Carol Sanderson, Angel Reed (big thank you to Angel for picking up puppy ‘Odessa’ and bringing her to the event), Emily Pike (big thank you to Emily for picking up ‘Gabe’ and Charlie’ so they could join in the fun), Susan Phillips and Nancy Wilkinson with ‘Hank’ and ‘Maggie’, Diane Samdahl, and Nita Watson & ‘Dottie’. Especially gracing our booth is every springer’s favorite Uncle Don Lloyd with ‘Bridgette, and our friends with CESSCGA Len & Zippy Cooper with ‘Callie’, Don & Debbie Bush with ‘Julian’ and ‘Annie’.

'Uncle' Don charms Miss Dottie

Maggie, Hank & Dottie

Two & Four legged friends just enjoying time together

Hank catching some rays

Dottie thinks this ESRA 'ambassadog' gig is pretty cool

Carol gets some lovin' from recent adoptee, Annabelle as her proud new dad, John, looks on.

ESRA Booth

Morning rain couldn’t dampen spirits at the Hawgs and Dogs event at Earl Small’s Harley Davidson in Marietta last Saturday, April 21. Weather improved and we had quite a crowd of humans and dogs in the afternoon. The combined motorcycle/dog rescue event was sponsored by the kind folks at Earl Smalls and included nine animal rescue groups and a variety of motorcycle clubs and vendors selling motorcycle apparel and accessories. Dogs competed in a costume contest and a band provided entertainment. Proceeds from Earl Small’s Poker Run are being divided up between the rescue groups.

Gabe all dressed up for the occasion

English Springer Rescue America passed out flyers, sold snacks and accepted donations, but the real attractions in our booth were all three Goo Goo pups – Gabe in his motorcycle jacket, Odessa and Olivia – all looking for loving homes. ESRA foster dog Sparky also came to the event to say goodbye to all our volunteers, since he has now found a Forever Family.

ESRA volunteers at the event were Melissa Underwood (with Greta), Carol Sanderson, Monica Smith (with Sparky and Bailey), Sheila Krawchuk (with Olivia), Becky Junkins, Cindy Peterson, Sue Schroer (with Gabe and Odessa) and Emily Pike (with Rowdy).

Melissa & Greta

Becky with Sparky, who is getting adopted soon.

Odessa soaking up some love

Gabe all dressed up for the occasion

Rowdy looking for a new ride

Monica brought Sparky and Bailey, with Becky

ready to ride

Many people have thanked Meredith and I for putting on the pinic but we also need to thank Bill and Kathy Powell for donateing the chick that was so generously cooked by Rick Mendanhall who also cooked the pulled pork and baked beans (sorry he say the recipie is and old secret family recipe sp no you can’t get a copy. A big Thanks you also has to go to Nancy Schmiedecke and Laura Zavatkay for there hard work in putting together the raffle and silente auction and selling so many tickets.

We had so many positive comments about this years picnic at Ft. De Soto Park. I made resevations for next year’s Picnic. Print this and put in the fridge door or whever you will be reminded of the date.

3rd Annual FL ESRA Fundraising Picnic
April 20, 2012
10:00 AM until ?
Ft. De Soto Park Shelter #12So start planning now for next year 4/6/13 for another great day at the park and beach.

There is a large campground in the park that some of those that are farther away can utilize. Camp sites can be reserve 6 months in advance.

Ron Press, English Springer Rescue America, Volunter
Caesar, Cassie, Wrangler and Stetson

Heather Parker

I have mentioned a few times when Mom allowed me to break the rules and have two foster cadets in the academy for short periods of time.  Actually, Mom would much prefer two fosters than one puppy anytime but I don’t push her too often!  One of those times happened again when Maggie was in our foster care.  My email beeped one morning and I found an urgent note from the animal shelter director in Tupelo, MS about a Springer female she had recently received.  The urgent nature of the email was due to the fact that the Springer was found to be heartworm positive and the shelter did not have the resources to treat her for heartworms.  But there was no doubt that the girl was gonna get treated by ESRA so we agreed to rescue her quickly!

Maggie keeps Tupelo company on her first ride into rescue

Maggie and I convinced my dad that we should be allowed to visit the shelter with him and help to rescue this little girl.  Shelter dogs are usually frightened and uncertain when they are first brought out of the shelter and into an automobile.  But I knew that Maggie and I could help the transition for our new friend.  We took a quick vote, of which I always maintain the majority, and agreed to name her Tupelo since that’s where we first met her!

Tupelo’s first stop was at the grooming salon in Oxford where she got 2 baths and her first grooming to get her nice and clean!  Her shyness only lasted a few hours and she was quick to check out everything in the house.  And, of course, she ended up in Dad’s lap during most of her stay with us, which was ok with me since she needed some loving after that shelter experience.  She seemed to bring out the mother instincts in Maggie also with Maggie always keeping her close by and nurturing her along.

Amos, Maggie & Tupelo

Once we got Tupelo to our rescue vet, she actually tested negative for heartworms and we had a great celebration!  A second check is always a good idea and especially when the first one is positive since testing can be faulty at times.  So little Tupelo was in great health and ready to roll.  And roll she did too with lots of inquiries from prospective forever families as soon as her bio and pictures hit the website.  Her music video about the Cinderella Springer seemed to stir up some interest too.  In about one week, Tupelo was headed out to a forever family on the GA coast for a life of luxury.  Maggie and I were sad to see her go but happy to have been a part of her life for a short while.

Tupelo and her new family

My next cadet was another south Louisiana guy named Roux.  Roux pretty much looked like his name since he was a dark liver color, just like a roux that is used to start a great pot of seafood gumbo!  Roux was found covered in fleas and tied under a house before he was rescued and sent to an animal shelter.  He came into ESRA as a foster that was thin, weak and very much in need of a friend.  And you know by now that we are very much friends to those that need us most so Roux’s life took a dramatic turn for the better.  It makes my eyes moisten to see what poor pups like Roux have to experience in order to come into our rescue but it also commits me to making sure they see the very best that life has to offer from that point forward.

Surprisingly, Roux tested negative for heartworms when Ms Amelia had him vetted.  Ms Amelia reported that he came in with a grin on his face but really got a very big smile when he got his first bath and grooming!  For those of you that dread a bath, you just need to see what a doggie that hasn’t ever had a bath looks like when they finally receive one!  Baths are very under-rated and should bring a smile to any smart Springer.  So after vetting and grooming, Roux was ready to make the famed 2 hour trip from Ms Amelia’s to my foster academy.

Amos and Roux

Roux carefully poked his little head through the academy door one afternoon to make sure it as ok to come on in.  I met him at the door with the traditional sniff test and we became fast friends.  I wish I could explain to you how fosters that have never been in a home can develop the best house manners but there is no logical explanation for it!  Roux certainly proved that he belonged in a home as he molded right into the indoor life as if he was meant for it.

Roux and the lake ducks

Roux soon fell for the trick that our ducks in the lake out back try to pull on every new foster.  He ran out to the end of the pier to see the flock of ducks that were teasing him a few feet away in the water.  Roux took his best leap into the lake to grab a duck but only ended up with a mouthful of water as the ducks swam away quacking at him.  Dad had to fish him out of the lake by his collar and then dry his shivering little butt off with a towel.  I fondly call this the lake duck lesson that each foster learns initially but retains for life – so Roux simply watched the ducks afterward from the safety of the pier…

Within a couple of weeks, Roux’s bio and video caught the attention of a family in Florida that also have a home in the NC mountains.  They had adopted a Springer named Gidget from ESRA earlier and were now ready for Gidget to have a brother.  Roux made a quick transport trip over to Birmingham for some quality time with my Springer pal, BJ, while he awaited his forever family to pick him up on their drive from NC to FL.  I have enclosed a picture of Roux and his new forever family as they meet for the very first time.

Roux's new family

It feels really good to report on another couple rags to riches stories which typically define our ESRA doggies.  And until next week I will be ….

Paying it forward,

Amos

Both pups were transported to Amelia’s for initial vetting and grooming.  There were found to be approximately one year old and in great health.  Apparently, they had very little interaction with humans and were extremely shy but obviously very dependent upon each other.  The two pups were separated for a week in separate fosters homes with other Springers to allow them to gain confidence and overcome their shyness.

The two pups were reunited after a week of separation and the results in their attitude and confidence was very noticeable.  A picture of Alex and Allie snuggling in a soft chair in their foster home is enclosed.  Barbara Welty received lot of interest in both pups from potential forever homes shortly after their posting went onto the ESRA website.  Some homes did want to keep both pups together but we believed they would continue to shine apart from each other.

Alex was adopted a few weeks ago and Allie remained in foster care until we were able to find just the right home for her.  A sweet, retired couple in North Carolina spotted Allie on the website and thought she would be the perfect companion for them and Maggie, their Springer that they adopted from ESRA as a pup as part of the Kansas puppy mill rescue a few years ago.  They contacted Barbara Welty and asked if Allie could join their forever home in Raleigh.  Home visits, vet checks and interviews were done with the results being that they were the right home for little Allie.

The Burke’s met Allie’s foster Dad in Jackson, TN this week to adopt Allie.  A picture of the new forever family is enclosed.  Allie immediately came out of her foster car to greet her new mom and dad and also her new sister, Maggie.  In fact, the family had to coax Allie out of their car in order to take the happy endings photo since she apparently was very ready to go to her new home!

The transformation of Allie has been simply amazing.  Her first night in foster care was spent with her sister, Alex, huddled into a corner of a garage as scared little pups with no idea of the life ahead of them.  Allie was the shyer of the two pups and took many weeks in foster care to learn to love humans and allow them to care for her.  By the end of her foster stay, she was not happy unless she was sitting in her foster mom’s lap to watch television.   Sometimes it saddens us to see how some of our incoming Springer rescues have been treated by other humans but the transformation into amazing forever dogs certainly makes our efforts as rescue worth all the work!

Tremendous thanks to Bill Arnold, Allie and Alex’s Foster Dad for submitting both Alex and Allie’s successful  Happy Ending Stories.  Also, appreciation is due to the Amos Arnold Foster Dog Training Academy and all the dedicated volunteers who helped Allie find her family.