Won't You Be Our Partner AKA How You Can Help!

The good news is 100% of the funding GPPR receives goes to the dogs.  You read that right, 100%.  Now I wish I could say our funding needs are 100% met, but they aren't. However, you can help.

You can sponsor a specific dog and be a Pointing Partner.  Your donation goes to your partner's food, vet care, toys or anything else needed to help in the journey to a forever home.  You can have a direct impact on the second chance your Pointing Partner has in our program.  In doing this you support the dog, the foster home and GPPR.  Gotta love that.

Sometimes we have dogs in our care with special medical needs.  They are not adoption ready and are listed under the title of Sponsorship.  Lila and Pete are both examples of Sponsorship dogs.   They need lots of love and financial support to assist in the healing process.

You can also donate in the memory of a loved one, either two footed or four footed.  It's all good and goes to helping our dogs find wonderful forever homes.  Maybe you are the family looking to adopt and maybe you can't adopt, but still want to help.  We love you for your support.  Just like we love the dogs in our program.  In whatever way you can....won't you be our partner???

Love Is In The Air At GPPR

A few words about love and GPPR.  I may be uniquely qualified as I am both a volunteer for GPPR and an adopter from them. Right now I am Buddy's foster Mom. In the past I was the foster Mom for Layla, Chukar, Addy, Wallace, Snowflake and Jesse.  It's a revolving door of fosters here and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Valentine's is just around the corner and we have some real sweethearts looking for love on our website.  

It takes a special person to adopt a rescue dog.  We find they are people full of hope.  People who embrace second chances.  People who are willing to love a new dog, and the special quirks they come with, into their lives. Quirks you say? Yup, we have them and dogs have them. Quirks, idiosyncrasies, baggage, history. I mean that in the best way!!! Rescue dogs are grateful, loving, adaptable.  Some do best with experienced owners, some may have special needs.  All are waiting for that perfect forever home. Are they adoptable - absolutely.  Are they fabulous - completely.  Do they have a whole lot of love to give - totally.      

We understand that adopting a new pet is a commitment, and we are committed to helping your new family member adjust into your home and heart.

Think about the love you have to offer, and the dogs waiting for their forever home.  Let's do a little matchmaking.  Love is in the air.

Labor Of Love

What does rescued mean to you?  It can mean "saved", "helped", and even "sheltered".  It can also include working through issues, past traumas, re-adjustments and healing.  It involves change.

Rescue is becoming more and more popular.  Great Plains Pointer Rescue loves that. While many who rescue have good intentions, some don't see the whole picture.  Are rescue animals always broken? Of course not. However they may come with baggage, or a hidden history if you will.  They may have experienced a past mishap, harsh training, no training or a lack of love overall.  Luckily animals are forgiving creatures.  While they cannot tell us what has or has not happened, they can show us what they know or don't know. 

Yes, there are folks that have adopted and in turn been disappointed.  "This is not the pet you described, you didn't tell us about this behavior, and this is what they do".  But first things first....rescue saves the animal. With the use of volunteer foster homes, animals are evaluated, aided, healed and placed in forever homes. All of this is part of the labor of love.

Too many times people live with false expectations.  If the newly adopted animal veers away from what they were told, or begins to change within the new environment, anxiety and disappointment unfold.  While most people treat their pets as family members, they can also forget they are still animals, not humans.  Animals cannot read minds. They require guidance, structure, training and security.  They need to know what humans expect from them.  This too, is part of the labor of love and where some people give up.

Have you ever heard the story where someone had a nightmare pet?  They struggled, cried and were generally ready to give up...but in the end it turned out to be the best pet of their lives.  This is because they let go of expectations and worked with the animal.  A bond was created, trust was earned and an understanding developed.  

This is not a perfect world.  Animals, like people, are not perfect.  It's not always sunshine and rainbows (or dog treats raining from the sky). Environments change, people change, families change, and yes, animals can change.  When you bring a new rescue into your home, let go of expectations. Enter with open arms and an open mind.  Be prepared for an imperfect member to join your family. With time and love they may become the most perfect companion you have ever known.  You will love your pet, and yourself for this investment, this labor of love. Then the meaning of rescue will become personal and you will have been changed because of it.  

Scrap-paw-looza

You could say we are cut ups over Great Plains Pointer Rescue.  Scrappy, crazy, talented, silly, fun loving...and totally dedicated to the pointers.

What does Scrap booking have to do with dogs?  With rescue?  Well, it is one of our yearly fund raisers that benefit the dogs that grace our program. Our 3rd annual scrap booking event is coming up October 10th & 11th, 2014 at Scrapping Studio. Scrapping, food, fun, shared creativity and some pointer loving! Sound like fun?  Ask us for more details!! 

  

You may also find us in parades, at rescue events, and at the dog park. See us in our GPPR t-shirts at the store?  Ask us about those shirts and watch our faces light up.  We love rescue and love to share our stories. Plus, we're not shy at all about talking dogs!

For us, every day is a Pointer-paw-looza.  A day to save dogs and help them find a forever home.  If that journey takes us scrap booking, so be it. Sharing our talents and loving the dogs.  It's what we do.  

Moving on After Losing A Beloved Pet

We've all been in those shoes.  Our beloved pet crossed the bridge and we're devastated.  Looking at their bed hurts, you want to pick up their bowls and you just can't do it.  Tears flow freely and your heart feels numb. You didn't have enough time with them. You think you can never love another one again. It's impossible to replace that special pet.  And that's true.

Losing a pet is part of loving a pet. Though that loss is keen, you have the satisfaction of knowing you loved and cared for a precious life.  If you are grieving the loss of a pet please know we understand.  If you think that nothing good can come of it please think again.

Think about adopting a rescue dog in honor of the pet you have lost.  It is a pure and simple way to share your love, and the love your pet enjoyed over the years.  I have no doubt, as they cross the bridge, that they would say "please love again" if they could.  They know us inside and out.  Know when we are joyful and when we are sad.  They know the comfort of a gentle hand just as we know the comfort of soft fur and a cold nose.  

One can't replace a beloved pet, but one can move on and love again. Find a way to honor your pet.  Make a donation in his/her name to your favorite shelter or rescue. Foster in their honor. There are always dogs needing foster homes. Or, better yet, adopt in their honor.  Honoring the loss, and the love you shared, helps the healing process. 

Buddy's Story - How You Can Help

Buddy joined the GPPR family in March.  He was vetted, had some lumps removed and was moved to a foster home.  Okay, he was moved to our home. His lumps were mast cell tumors and while at first we thought his prognosis was good, now we are finding his status has changed. He is having an additional lump removed next week.  We''ll know more about his status then.

This will sound funny, but we feel pretty darned lucky to love this guy. Sometimes our fosters find their forever homes, sometimes we are that forever home. While our dream is placing them with a loving family, sometimes we are blessed to be that family.  We feel bad for him. We wanted him to find a fabulous home and live happily ever after.  We always have high hopes for our fosters, and fall in love with them in the process. Seriously, isn't making a commitment to love, honor and cherish what pet ownership is all about? Why would fostering be any different.

The decision has been made to change Buddy's status from adoption ready, to sponsorship only.  What this means is Buddy will live out his days with us. Rest assured he'll be loved, pampered, kept comfy, and we pray it will be for many, many days.  He'll get his romps in the country, naps in the sun, and we'll work closely with our vet to make sure comfort is his first priority.  If you'd like, you can sponsor Buddy, or dogs in situations like Buddy's.  Your donation will go directly to the medical needs of that dog.  Sponsorship donations are every bit as important as adoption fee's.  Your contribution makes a difference.  Your donation will help us keep Buddy a happy guy. 

We love this old boy.  We know you would to if you could meet Buddy.  Help us care for him.  Loving them to a new home, or until they cross the bridge, is part of what we do at GPPR.  Please share this journey with us. 

Why Dogs Come Into Rescue Programs....the Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Ugly Excuses.

Don't get me wrong, we are tickled pink to have dogs come into our program. And while we'd love not having dogs to adopt, and others waiting to come in to the program, we love giving them a second chance in life.  We live for that. We understand that second chances are the best possible outcome for dogs in unfortunate situations.  

People often ask why people surrender their dogs.  Many of these answers will infuriate you, sadden you, will make you shake your head and roll your eyes. Believe me, that's our response too.  Here are the ones we see most frequently.

 1.  We had a baby, or are expecting a baby and we just don't have time.

 2.  Tank got too big for us, too active for us, and he sheds!

 3.  Wesson won't hunt.  He gun shy and worthless.

 4.  Buster is too old and we need space for a new puppy.

 5.  Spot has accidents in the house, separation anxiety.

 6.  Champ goes crazy when it storms.

 7.  Fido ate a bird and freaked the kids out.  

 8.  Sidney's owner died.

 9.  Moving, divorcing, relocating, deployed and can't keep him/her.
                
10. She is to old to breed anymore.

11. Fence jumping.

12. Health issues...in the dog.  Health issues....in the owner.

13. Rufus is completely untrainable.

14. My girlfriend/boyfriend doesn't like dogs.

15. He barks.  Or, he doesn't bark and I wanted a guard dog.  

16. Daisy killed the chickens, or the cat.  

17. She/he is aggressive when the kids pull, push, crowd and tease.

18. I didn't expect them to be so energetic.  

19. King doesn't get along with the new puppy.

20. Dog chews on the furniture, the crate, shoes.

21. They are too needy.

22. Sarge gets loose and won't come when called.

23. They howl, bark, dig holes when left outside all day and night.

24. We can't afford the dog's food and medical needs.

25. We wanted a lower maintenance dog.

26. He kept biting the testicles of the other dogs in the house.  


So...these are just some of the reasons/excuses we hear.  Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.  It is what it is, and why the world has rescue programs.

We encourage you to know the breed you are adopting and recognize that owning a pet is a life long commitment.  It is not jumping blindly into pet ownership.  It's not about seeing a puppy and impulsively buying it. It's a big deal and a big decision.  After all, the dog you choose depends on you. Don't let them down.