(Editor’s note: The following article is about Maggie, a Precious Paws Animal Rescue puppy that was
Maggie, a Precious Paws Animal Rescue puppy, and her owner Leah Anson
Maggie at 8 weeks old when Leah Anson started fostering her. Anson later adopted Maggie.
adopted from the rescue. Leah Anson, her owner, later became a foster, and Maggie is an integral part of socializing and helping foster dogs learn how to play and behave like a dog, Precious Paws said. The article was written by Leah Anson.)
This is Maggie. She has changed my life dramatically. We cannot imagine our family without her.
My name is Leah. I am married with no children. I
Leah Anson said Maggie has been wonderful with the other dogs.
have always been an “animal person.” Instead of dolls I collected horses and played with the many dogs and cats we had. Unfortunately, our family did not spay or neuter our pets. We lived paycheck to paycheck, and there were not low-cost spay/neuter clinics then. So, I became an expert on helping birth the many puppies and kittens.
I started with one dog and ended up with three. I have always had a heart to help animals in need. We bought our first home in the summer of 2014. I had a goal to start helping dogs more after we got our own home. The “puppy bug” hit me, but I knew adding more dogs would really be difficult. I started browsing a local Facebook pet page looking for a puppy. I saw pictures of Maggie and her litter mates and read their story of their abandonment. My husband and I had come to agreement that I could foster puppies. That way I could get the “new dog” or “puppy bug” out of my system without ending up a dog hoarder.
I contacted Precious Paws Animal Rescue about fostering. I did not know how many I could handle or which ones I wanted to foster, so Cathy brought the whole litter over to my house. I, of course, wanted all of them, but I the narrowed the litter down to two puppies that I thought I could handle. Those two were Maggie and her sister Mellie. I took them in around November. We quickly fell in love with both of them.
My husband agreed that I could keep one. That was such a hard decision – to pick just one. I instantly had a connection with Maggie when we got her, so we decided she was the one for us. Her sister Mellie got adopted Jan. 1, 2015. That was so hard giving her up, and it will never get easy giving up a foster. But I am always so happy for the family adopting. My goal is to make sure each foster goes to a home as good as mine or better.
Maggie is such a character. She can always make you smile. She is not the most coordinated or graceful dog, but she is sure to make you smile and laugh. Her antics keep our house full of fun. Maggie has such a wonderful personality. She is so friendly and loving with everyone she meets. She especially loves children. Maggie is over a year old now. In that time, I decided that I wanted to get her certified as a therapy dog. She goes once a month with a group of dogs to a local nursing home to visit the residents. It’s amazing how much joy petting a dog can bring to the residents.
Just a few weeks ago, Maggie got her Canine Good Citizen Award. That is the first step in getting certified. I know she will be great with children in traumatic circumstances. She is so gentle with them, and she loves when they whisper in her ear. Children tell her their secrets, and she just listens lovingly and gives them hugs. She will stay put as long as she is being petted.
Maggie is also wonderful with all of the subsequent fosters I have had since Maggie. Last year, I fostered and adopted out seven dogs. Each dog has a special place in my heart. Maggie and I are a great team. We usually take dogs with social or emotional problems and help them become more sociable. I have a special place in my heart for the “under dog” – dogs who most people have passed up or considered a hopeless cause. Maggie has been able to draw each dog out of their fear and help them feel more comfortable. Even dogs who were mild and never played eventually opened up and ended up running through the house playing with Maggie. She has become best friends with each of them. They feel immediately comfortable with her.
Her sweet and fun spirit has made our house so much livelier. Having four of my own dogs and one foster nearly constantly is hard at times, but I would not change it for the world. It is so rewarding knowing that I have helped so many — one dog at a time. Not only do Maggie and I help the individual dog, but I know we have helped so many families. Their adopted dog has filled a hole in their lives or made their family complete again.
Every foster dog that I have, I put their paw prints on my basement wall with their name beside it. That way I can always remember each dog. I consider them forever a part of my family. It also symbolizes that they have left paw prints on my heart.
‘Paws’ for a moment and look at these cats
Di – calico, Mickey – white and orange and Ryan – orange tabby
Di is an adult female medium hair calico.
Mickey, an adult male, was found as a stray. He is very calm and quiet. He enjoys lounging in the sun and on pillows. He needs a family to call his own that will either let him lounge all day living the cat life or will bring him out of his shell.
Ryan is a male domestic short hair orange and white tabby.
Mary is an adult female. She is a little skittish. She was a stray that was brought in from the cold. She is getting
Mary – grey tabby
better with the PAWS volunteers and new people who sit with her for awhile. With a little time and patience she would make the perfect best friend.
All cats have been spayed/neutered, Feline Leukemia tested and have received basic vaccinations, a rabies vaccine, wormed and have had a wellness exam by one of Clarion PAWS veterinarian partners.
The adoption fee costs $35 for adults and $70 for kittens.
An adoption application is required.
They need help and homes
Meanwhile the center is trying to help the owner of multiple cats who can no longer afford to care for them and find homes for the 50 furry residents at its shelter.
A Facebook post said Clarion PAWS has committed to alter and vaccinate as many as they can catch at our April 30, 2016, clinic but they need help.
Tax deductible donations can be made to www.gofundme.com/
The center is located at 11348 Route 322, Shippenville, Clarion River Hill, between Scrap Happy and Clarion Electric.
Its hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed Fridays and Sundays. The center’s mailing address is P.O. Box 804, Clarion, PA 16214.
More information is available by calling Clarion PAWS at (814) 229-1231 or online at www.clarionpaws.org.
Learning to trust again
Diesel
Diesel, a pit bull terrier/shepherd mix, is a 4-year-old neutered male. He has a sleek brindle coat with a white blaze on the chest and dark brown eyes. Diesel is a shy, athletic dog who has been through a lot.
His previous owners separated, and neither one could take Diesel. He’ll need time to trust someone again, Diesel gets along better with women than with men. This handsome dog is looking for a special someone who understands his needs.
Looking for super soul mate
Ziggy
Ziggy, a domestic medium hair, is a 9-month-old neutered male. He has an inky black coat with a tuft of white on the neck and lime-green eyes. Ziggy is undemanding, gentle and talkative. This silky cat is looking for a super soul mate.
The Venango County Humane Society, located in Seneca, is open from noon until 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. All animals adopted from our shelter are already spayed or neutered, which the law requires you to have done upon adoption.
More information about humane society is available by calling (814) 677-4040 or online at venangocountyhumanesociety.org
Bella, formerly Munchkin, has found a permanent home.
Starved dog finds ‘furrever’ home
A post on Tri-County Animal Rescue Center’s Facebook page revealed that Munchkin, a dog removed from an Oil City home suffering from starvation, has found a new home and a new name.
“Munchkin, now Bella, came to TCAR as part of a humane case, literally starving,” the post said. “Through the help of a foster, she was nursed back to a good weight. Although she has had her share of medical problems because of the abuse, Bella is now a very-much loved, very happy girl.”
Bella’s adopter Brianna Danae Polka thanked the center for helping her find Bella saying, “Bella is so happy to finally be adopted and I am so happy to be able to finally call her all mine!”
Kitty shower underway
Tri-County first kitty shower will continue until 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2016. The virtual kitten shower will be held online. A Facebook event page has been created for the shower. A Facebook post said the center has 14 kittens 3 weeks of age and under and a momma due any day now.
The Facebook post asked for help for the center’s newest additions by purchasing one or more items off these online baby registries.
Follow these links to the registries:
https://www.walmart.com/lists/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/
“If you shop Amazon, please use Amazon Smiles and we get funds through that program as well,” the post said.
“If online shopping isn’t for you, you can still participate by purchasing Purina Kitten Chow, canned pate-style food, scoopable cat litter, laundry detergent or bleach and drop off at Tri-County,” the post continued.
Vendors being accepted
The center is also in the planning stages for its fourth annual International Homeless Animals Day event which will be held Aug. 20 in Clarion.
The event includes a rabies clinic, nail trim clinic, speakers, awards for rescuers, luminary in honor/memory of pets or rescuers and raffles.
The center is looking for vendors for the event.
Vendors must provide their own table, chairs and more. The park is pretty shady. There is on street parking surrounding the park and on the streets nearby. The vendor fee costs $20 (animal related non-profit groups that produce an item to support their cause will not be charged a fee).
Vendor applications are available by emailing the center at contactus@tricounty-arc.org.
The center is located at 9562 US-322, Shippenville and can be reached by calling (814) 918-2032.
More information is available online at www.tricounty-arc.org or on the group’s Facebook page.
Get on board
Clarion PUPS is looking for businesses who want to take advantage of sponsoring sign boards at its dog park, Haws Park, in Clarion County.
A Facebook post said corporate sponsor sign boards are available for Haws Park. Those interested in ordering a sign can call (814) 226-4683.
Pricing is:
- 3 x 5 for $300/year or $500 for 2 years or $1,500 for permanent
- 4 x 8 for $500/year or $800 for 2 years or $2,500 for permanent
- 5 x 7 for $800/year or $1400 for 2 years or $5,000 for permanent
Contracts for annual and two-year will be renewable at the end of the term.
The signs will be the better metal 040 aluminum material and will include regular trade name and logo. If there is greater detailing or special effects there may be extra cost involved that will be payable by the business owner.
More information about Clarion PUPS is available on the group’s Facebook page.
(All About Animals is a weekly blog that appears on Venangoextra.com and Clarionextra.com. Interested persons or groups can submit information to bigdogs.thederrick@gmail.com. More information about the blog is available by contacting Anna Applegate at (814) 677-8364.)
