2015 Trip

2 days of flying

8 days of traveling

8 states

$45+ in tolls 

2,011 miles driven

59 Rock City Rescue dogs

One amazing, unforgettable trip!

I am beyond thankful for every single one of you that I met along my journey. You made this trip one that I will truly never forget and one I cannot wait to do again! When I first began working with my local kill-shelter here in Arkansas, my mission was simple:  rescue those dogs from their inevitable fate. I never thought about all the families that would be forever changed by one sweet, Arkansas dog. 

That's something I heard, over and over, throughout my trip. How I changed individuals' and families' lives, healed broken hearts, brought joy where it had been lost. I needed that, as much as these families needed love and joy. Rescue is an emotional roller coaster, like none other. It's exhausting and never ending. It takes and takes and rarely gives back all that it's taken. This trip was extremely cathartic for me and despite the lack of rest and relaxation, it was a journey of reconnection. 

From seeing dogs I rescued 4 years ago to seeing dogs I rescued 2 months ago, dogs who have been diagnosed with cancer and I wasn't sure I'd ever get to see again, dogs who I fought for in court, dogs I watched fight for their lives through parvo, dogs that were split up at the kill shelter only to be reunited and adopted together a thousand miles away from where their journey began.  Seeing them again, knowing they're happy and safe, knowing I found families who love them, makes it all worth it to me. 

So, thank you to every single one of you that took time out of your busy lives to meet with me and thank you to everyone who opened up their homes to me. You made this trip incredibly special for me and the 59 pups I got to see again.  And, who knows, hopefully in a few years, I'll get to do this all over again!

"In every dog - and possibly every donkey, kangaroo, or dolphin, there is a chance, often far more than one, for grace, forgiveness and recovery" (Braitman, "Animal Madness"). 

Celebrate National Dog Day!

Celebrate National Dog Day!

1. Adopt a dog from your local shelter or  rescue organization. Volunteer at your local shelter or rescue and offer to walk a dog or play with a dog, clean cages or anything else they need help with.

 2. Have a safety check of your home to make sure it's safe for your dog and others.

 3. Donate blankets, food and toys to animal welfare organizations.

 4. Organize a peaceful demonstration in front of your community pet store that sells puppies.

 5. Write your Congressman and ask that he/she support the ban of Puppy Mills and Gas Chambers in your state.

 6. Order an adorable dog shaped flower arrangement from 1-800-Flowers.com and enjoy a 10% discount by using code GOODLIVING when placing your order!

 7. Have a National Dog Day party and invite all your friends and their dogs!

 8. Spend the day taking photos of your dog and then enter our photo contest!

 9. Buy an official National Dog Day Tee here and sport it proudly!

 10. Assist an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog.

 11. Have a portrait painted of your dog to suspend the fleeting magic of dogdom.

 12. Buy your dog a fun new dog toy....or two...or five.

 13. Give your dog some fun exercise by taking him or her to a doggy play resort.

 15. Brush your dog to eliminate excess fur.

 16. Give your dog a massage or holistic spa treatment.

 17. Teach your dog a new trick.

 18. Buy your dog a fashionable collar and leash.

 19. Hire a professional pet photographer for a fun photo shoot.

 20. Take your dog to the beach.

Change A Pets Life Day

Change A Pet's Life Day

Five simple ways to help change a pets life TODAY!

1. Make a donation to Rock City Rescue online here or mail here

(Rock City Rescue, 2513 McCain Blvd, Ste 2, #176, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116-7606)

2.  Volunteer with Rock City Rescue here

3. Purchase something off our Wishlist

4. Become a Foster family (email rockcityrescue@gmail.com)!

5. Spread the word by sharing our FB page, Twitter, Instagram, and review us here!

2015 New Years Resolutions for You and Your Dog!

2015 RESOLUTIONS

With the arrival of a new year inevitably comes a variety of new year's "resolutions." We vow to better ourselves through losing weight, quitting smoking, stop procrastinating, and so on. But how may we improve ourselves as pet owners? What new year's resolutions should dog owners consider? Here are 13 suggestions for your consideration.

1. Vow to provide your dog with the highest quality nutrition possible. This means researching the ingredients in dog food and often, thinking outside the grocery store kibble aisle. The Whole Dog Journal is a fantastic publication which publishes annual dog food reviews. WDJ offers unbiased reviews as a publication which subsists entirely on subscription revenue - they do not accept advertisements from manufacturers.

2. Make it a point to ensure your dog's health through providing adequate and appropriate exercise.

3. Be realistic about your dog's weight. It's scary how few people recognize weight problems in dogs and equally scary when people think their pet's obesity is funny or a joke. Obesity shortens longevity, both in dogs and people. If you can't feel your dog's ribs easily, he is too fat. Ask your vet for guidance in regulating his weight and achieving healthy body condition.

4. Train your dog. Training is not a luxury, it is necessary Not only will appropriate training make living with your dog more enjoyable for you, it will make life more enjoyable for your dog by providing him with the mental stimulation all dogs need and crave.

5. Play with your dog. Play can take many forms - training, tug, fetch, food dispensing toys, nosework games and exercises, off leash adventures in safe environments, etc.

6. Keep your dog well-groomed and maintained. Mats in the fur, parasitic infestations, rotten teeth, overgrown toenails, embedded collars, yeasty ears, oozing or itchy eyes, hot spots, etc. are all unsightly and worse, uncomfortable for dogs. Routine care and maintenance can significantly improve your dog's quality of life.

7. Make it easy for your dog to succeed. If your dog loves chewing on shoes, do not allow him unsupervised access to shoes. If your dog eliminates in the house, provide him with plenty of opportunities to eliminate outside by giving him frequent breaks. If your dog bites strange children, don't bring him to your daughter's soccer game.

8. Vow not to get mad at your dog for your management failures. If your dog loves chewing toilet paper and you leave the bathroom door open, it's your fault, not his, that the toilet paper is now strewn throughout your house in 7,986,235 pieces. Simply clean up the mess and next time, close the bathroom door!

9. Be appreciative of how wonderful your dog is. One of the biggest elements of successful training is looking for desirable behaviors and reinforcing them with something your dog likes and appreciates - a treat, a butt scratch, a game of tug, the opportunity to go for a walk. Never miss an opportunity to thank your dog for good behavior.

10. Make time for your dog. This may mean rearranging your schedule. It may mean going out in the cold or rainy weather to give your dog a walk. It may mean skipping Wednesday night book club so that you can enroll in the agility class you wanted to take. It may mean spending less time on Facebook and more time playing, training, and exercising with your dog.

11. Be a responsible dog owner - keep identification tags on your dog, renew your dog's annual license, make the annual veterinary appointment, clean up after your dog, respect leash laws, etc.

12. Keep learning and improving as a pet owner. What does your dog love? What stresses him out? How does he communicate his emotions through body language? Understanding your dog will enable you to be a better friend to him, this year and every year.

13. Help a less fortunate dog at least once this year. Remember that not all dogs are as lucky as yours. Not all dogs have regular meals, veterinary care, someone who loves them and will play with them, a home to call their own. There are many ways you can help less fortunate dogs - by making donations (either goods - beds, leashes, collars, food, toys, etc. or cash) to a local shelter or rescue, volunteering at a local shelter or rescue, organize fundraisers, help take pictures of adoptable pets for adoptapet listings, apply to become a foster parent, etc.

About the Author: Casey Lomonaco graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior, and is a member of the following professional organizations: APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), CGC evaluator - AKC (American Kennel Club), TDF (Truly Dog Friendly), and the No-Shock Collar Coalition. She is also the author of Dogster's popularDog Training Guide.

The Twelve Pets of Christmas

THE TWELVE PETS OF CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shelter,

The Twelve Pets of Christmas were in need of a helper.

For although these Twelve Pets have so much to offer,

These groups are ignored when it comes to adopters.

Charlie:  Male, Orange Tabby, Approx 1 year old

Group One is adult cats, aged nine months and up.

Why adopt only kittens? They’re cute, but grow up!

Fully grown cats need forever homes too,

Could one of these cats make its new home with you?

Harvey: Male, Hound mix, approx 3-4 years old

The next group of pets (and this one astounds):

Big, lovable dogs weighing forty-plus pounds.

A cuddly pooch you can squeeze on and hug -

Couldn’t your family welcome an affable lug?

Zeus:  Male, American Pit Bull Terrier, 3-4 years old

Group Three is made up of the much-maligned pitties.

(I know one named Rufus with a soft spot for kitties!)

“Pit Bull” type breeds can make loving pets too,

Why not meet one yourself – see if they’re right for you?

Finn: Male, Smooth Coat Collie, 8 months old

The next group of pets – give a shout-out (or yelp!)

Have some medical needs that require some help.

Just a pinch extra care (and sometimes a head cone),

Please, give them a pill and throw them a bone!

Jolie:  Female, Catahoula, approx 6-7 years old

Oldies but goodies – pray, how old are you?

People are ageist towards older pets, too.

Though a pet may be older, there’s still love to give,

Take a senior pet home with your old self to live!

Liliana: Female, German Shepherd, approx 2-3 years old

The pets in Group Six are a bit – ahem – plump.

Who among us does not have some junk in the trunk?

If you haven’t gone big, you may as well try it –

Adopt a plump pet – you can both start a diet!

No current bonded pairs

Two adorable pets are better than one.

Our next group of pets is double the fun!

Bonded pairs that want only to be kept together,

Can you give them a home that will last them forever?

No current bashful pets

Kitties with sass, dogs with raw puppy power,

Are first to be picked before a wallflower.

Pets in the shelter who act bashful and quiet,

Once settled at home can be quite a riot!

Melrose:  Female, Chihuahua mix, approx 2 years old

The pets that make up Group Nine may surprise ya.

They’re dogs, not accessories – aye Chihuahua!

Such cute little pups to be left all alone,

Can’t you take one or two or three of them home?

Indigo:  Female, Lab/Terrier mix, approx 1-2 years old

The next group of pets is happiest single.

Not suited to other pets’ party and mingle.

Much better for you, you will bond that much quicker,

Take an ‘only pet’ home; be like thieves, only thicker.

Murray:  Male, Lab/Boxer mix, approx 1 year old

Group Eleven is made up of pets that are black.

Hard for me to believe - I have a whole pack!

Black pets are so handsome and shiny and sleek,

Why not adopt one for each day of the week?

Max:  Male, Hound mix, approx 10 month old

The Twelfth Group of pets, through no fault of their own,

Have had longer than average waits for a home.

They sit and they sit and they wait, wait, wait, wait.

Go ahead, go and meet – fall in love! It is fate!

***

So this Holiday Season, won’t you please share the love,

With one or more groups of pets mentioned above?

Let’s all spread the word of these under-served pets,

And make 2015 the most hopeful year yet!

Throughout December,

all pets that fall under the 12 Pets of Christmas categories will have reduced adoption fees.

Meet our pets here.

Spread the word and share on social media using:

@rockcityrescue | #12PetsXmas

Happy Holidays from all of us at

Rock City Rescue!

By: Estelle W.

#GivingTuesday

After three days of consumption and shopping, it’s time to kick off the giving season! If you didn’t know about GivingTuesday, it is the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, dedicated towards bringing the giving community together.

Please support Rock City Rescue this holiday season by sharing our adoption messages. We have many playful, cuddly dogs and cats looking for their forever homes. As a non-profit rescue group, we rely heavily on our supporters, donors, and volunteers to spread the word about our organization so we can reach as many potential adopters as possible.

To help, simply:
Donate to our CrowdRise Fundraise here.
Like, comment, and share our adoption posts on Facebook.
Retweet and favorite our Tweets on Twitter.
Read and share our blog posts.

#GivingTuesday follows two of the biggest shopping days of the year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We are hoping to parlay these traditional spending days into a day of donations for the animals. Rock City Rescue plans to promote our #GivingTuesday event throughout our community as a way to raise awareness for homeless dogs and cats during a time when many people are already focused on giving. We want the residents of Central Arkansas, as well as our supporters in the Northeastern United States, to factor in the animals when they think of giving. By giving to RCR, donors help give animals the gift of life, hope and happiness.

ALL of the funds we raise will go directly towards helping shelter animals - including cats and dogs being cared for in our many foster homes. In addition to this, our rescue also helps pay for owned animals in our community to receive food, shelter, and veterinary care that cannot be provided by their owners. We also encourage volunteer participation, educate the public about adoption, vaccinations, spay/neuter, and other animal welfare issues. Being no strangers to hard work, we often make great effort to raise funds for the benefit of specific animals in need.

Rock City Rescue was created to support the animals of Arkansas. Being an independent, non-profit organization, RCR does not receive funds from the government - we are rely solely on your donations to continue saving hundreds of animals' lives every year. 

No, A 'Dog Year' Isn't Equivalent To 7 Human Years

Dogs age at different rates compared to humans, but the simple rule of 7 dog years to 1 human year is far from accurate. If humans aged seven times slower than dogs, then many of us would be able to reproduce at age 7 and live to be 150. Obviously, that's not the case.

The reason that dogs can reach full sexual maturity after only a year is that our canine friends age faster during the first two years of their lives than humans do. Even this general statement is slightly off since smaller breeds tend to mature faster than larger breeds.

Compared to humans, dogs age more quickly at the beginning of their lives and slower toward the end. Therefore, calculating your dog's age relative to yours is a bit tricky, but luckily it's possible.

Since smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds, it's important to calculate your dog's age, according to the right category: small (20 pounds or less), medium (21-50 pounds), large (51-90 pounds), or giant (over 90 pounds).

Although the origins of the seven-year myth is unknown, people have been trying to find a good way to calculate dog years in human years since the 1200s. One of the earliest examples of this is an inscription at Westminster Abbey that dates to the year 1268 and calculates that one human year is equivalent to nine dog years, which was part of some strange way to calculate the end of the world in the 1200s.

The seven-year rule is thought to much more recent. A veterinarian at Kansas State University told The Wall Street Journal: "My guess is it was a marketing ploy. It was a way to encourage owners to bring in their pets at least once a year."

We originally learned about the information in this post through an article in Pricenomics.

Whole article found here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/no-dog-isnt-equivalent-7-233457570.html

Let Your Vote Go To The Dogs

Frequently there's legislation related to animals up for a vote. Sadly, here in Central Arkansas the "pit bull" breed, along with "pit mixes" are outright banned in many cities and killed in large numbers simply because of the way they look. It doesn't matter how great their temperament, it doesn't matter if they love people, dogs, and cats..... but because they look a certain way, they are deemed "less than" and are killed in staggering numbers. 

Here at Rock City Rescue, we have quite a few pit bulls and other breeds that have been deemed "dangerous" in the past. We love the underdogs. They have a special place in our heart because we know how insanely amazing they truly are and we pity anyone who looks at our Pit Bulls or Chows and reacts in fear, or even worse, disgust. 

Aurora, Colorado voters will soon decide whether to keep or repeal the city's 2006 pit bull ban, and it could be the most controversial issue on the ballot in that city. We're asking that If you live in Aurora, CO make sure you are voting YES to 2D on Nov 4th!!

Aurora's vote, the first in the nation on a general-election ballot, could presage other public votes on so-called "breed-specific legislation," laws that either ban some types of dogs or require they be sterilized.  This can be a passionate issue on both sides, but please don't engage in Internet debates, especially with haters. It's counterproductive and plays into the drama they are trying to create. If you want to be heard, then vote and get others to join you. For people that can't vote, responsible pit bull owners like us can show our support by posting pictures of us with our good dogs on our profiles followed by ‪#‎coloradogs‬ and ‪#‎mollywouldbanmetoo.

‬ Let's light up FB with a bunch of great people and great dogs!

Aurora, the eyes of the nation are upon you. What you choose to do on November 4th can dramatically chance the landscape of legislation regarding pit bulls, so please, make the right choice.

What's Behind Rescuers That People Don't See

Just because we rescue animals doesn't mean we sit by the phone waiting for it to ring so that we can jump up and save the next dog or cat in need.

Just because we rescue animals doesn't mean that we have more time and money than the next person.

Just because we rescue animals doesn't mean that we can perform miracles and turn that horribly aggressive or horribly abused dog around into beautiful family dogs like they were born to be.
Sometimes we can't save the dog and the outcome isn't the outcome we all dream about.
What people don't see about animal rescuers is:
A house that needs cleaned
Laundry that needs done
Bills that need to be paid
A full time job that is extremely demanding
Errands that have to be run
Our own animals that take the back seat to all the animals in need
Our family who takes a back seat to all the animals in need
Health issues, either ours or a member of our family
Financial struggles
Cars that need oil changes, new tires, etc.
Dentist appointments
Doctor appointments
The lawn that needs mowed
The friend's wedding we are in
The baby shower we're planning
The close family member or friend who has passed away

We are JUST LIKE YOU!!! The only difference is we have an overwhelming calling that we can't ignore to help those who can't help themselves. So when someone calls and says "COME AND GET THIS DOG NOW," that means we are leaving our significant other sitting alone in a restaurant with a 1/2 eaten meal in the empty seat next to them while we rush to help whatever animal needs us next.

That means we have to NOT piss off our paying job by finding someone to help while we are at work and then RUSH out of work right at 5pm to step in. It means that we don't get our laundry done, we don't get our house as clean as we want it, we don't eat dinner until 10pm at night and we go to work tired the next day. All because we have to COME RIGHT NOW!

And to top it all off WE ARE NOT PAID ONE DIME! NOT ONE CENT! And, in the long run we usually lose more money than some people make in a year!

So the next time you are angry because a rescue person can't help, or needs help, or the outcome of an animal that you donated money to doesn't come out with a fairytale ending that you hoped for stop and think COULD YOU DO WHAT WE DO?

COULD YOU SACRIFICE EVERYTHING WE SACRIFICE?
I've heard people complain, "Oh, that poor dog shouldn't be in a kennel for 8 hours a day while the foster is at work or that dog shouldn't be in a foster home for so long; it should already be in a forever home". Think of it this way. Someone sacrificed A LOT so that "poor" animal could be there, alive! And NO it isn't perfect, but it is temporary and necessary.
The alternative is certain death....Which do you think the dog would prefer?

(Adapted from an Animal Anarchy Rescue's FB post)

4 Simple Ways You Can Help A Dog Find A Forever Family

Four Simple Ways You Can Help a Dog Find a Forever Family

Even if you can't foster or volunteer, there are still ways you can help rescues like us out!

• Buy an extra bag of food, treats, or a toy for rescue – many stores have a bin to collect donations for rescue; it doesn’t have to be a lot, just what you can afford. We frequent Hollywood Feed in North Little Rock, AR and they would be happy to hold on to donations for us, OR we also have things listed on our Amazon Wishlist

• Donate old towels and blankets to rescue – towels, blankets, comforters, etc. are ALWAYS in need at our rescue. 

• Share images of adoptable dogs on social media – I’m not talking about all the horror stories you see frequently on Facebook, I’m referring to the ones that help a dog find a home. Sharing our dog's photo albums can help tremendously in finding them forever homes. 

• Inquire about sponsoring an event to promote rescue – Any help we can get in setting up events and fundraisers helps us out greatly! 

Why Crate Training is NOT Cruel

Crate training is in our opinion one of the best things you can do for your dog and your peace of mind. It gives them and you a safe option if there is stress or too much activity in your household. Start early and at bedtime every night. They will thank you for it and so will your bed partner!

"For thousands of years dogs have sought out small, enclosed spaces for shelter and security. These dens have functioned as dog safehouses for the newborn and ailing, as well as resting places for the weary.

With the den boasting so many advantages, why do we humans debate the idea of putting a dog in one? Whatever the reasons, our dogs—if they could—would surely beg for a crate of their own. If you’re one of those people who are still on the fence about whether or not to crate your dog, here’s what you should know.

For the young dog
For puppies, the crate functions as a sort of babysitter when you can’t be there to monitor unsafe or undesirable behavior.

For the traveling dog
For the dog who travels often with his family, the crate can be a constant and familiar haven, from car to weekend retreat—a place to feel secure when the world around him changes.

For the insecure dog
Because dogs feel responsible for their own territory, the insecure dog should have less space to protect, not more. A crate (rather than the whole house) means less territory to patrol, making it easier for the insecure dog to settle down and relax.

For the rescued dog
To the rehomed dog, a crate is sometimes the only consistent environment he has ever had. A crate gives this dog time to safely adjust to new surroundings, as well as the luxury of not having to fight for his own space in new territory. It can ease the transition from one family to another."

From: http://www.woofipedia.com/articles/why-crating-not-cruel

HOWEVER, a crate will NOT teach a puppy to "hold it." Puppies' bladders aren't fully developed until they are 4 to 6 months old, so trying to force them to learn something that they are incapable of learning can backfire. Crate training for long periods of time can cause separation anxiety, depression, and/or hyperactivity.

So, we recommend using a crate or kennel with a new dog for at least the first few weeks until they get comfortable with their new home and slowly allowing them to be out of the crate for longer periods of time. Some dogs will prefer the crate to being left out and some will prefer to be left out in the house. If you have a new puppy, we recommend a puppy play pen or gating off a puppy in a room with easy to clean floors, since puppies are incapable of holding their bladders for too long.