Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue Newsletter April 2010
April: Going green and orange!
Everyone is quite familiar with the phrase 'Go Green!' It's appropriate this month because of Earth Day. When it comes to helping make your pets' lives a bit greener, you'll find some steps surprisingly similar to those you make in your own life: stay away from junk food, use green cleaning products, and clean up your messes. And, of course, (green) treats are always a great way to show appreciation and affection.
Here are a few simple steps on how you can help your pet go green:
1. When it's bath time, use organic or natural products that don't have a chemical base. The same goes for your stain and odor removers for the house.
2. At playtime, make sure your pets toys are made with organic cotton or natural dyes. Many toys actually have pesticides in them, and can cause pet allergies.
3. Buy hemp collars and leashes instead of leather or nylon. Nylon is made of petroleum, which is a diminishing natural resource. Hemp is not only softer than nylon, but it is all natural.
4. And most importantly - When searching for your next pet, always opt to adopt and not buy. Puppy and kitten mills are very real and horrific in their practices. There are enough stray babies on the streets and in the shelters looking for a loving home. You'll save money while saving a life.
And now the looming question - what is this 'Going Orange'? Many of you are familiar with the ASPCA. The ASPCA celebrate their anniversary in April and have deemed the month in celebration - Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. This month can hit especially close to many of us in the resuce community. It's very sad, but unforunately not uncommon to rescue dogs that have been in severely cruel situations. Help RMLR spread the awareness in your community by wearing ORANGE!
 Then take pictures and send them into the ASPCA Go Orange Photo Contest! Let's show America who RMLR is (lucky us, our logo is orange!) and how much we support our pets! See the ASPCA website for more information!
Also one tid bit of information: April 18th is Responsible Pet Owner's Day! So toast to yourself, rescue parents and adoptee families! Thanks for supporting such a great cause, close to our hearts - your pets thank you! This also happens to be the date for the Canine Classic. Come visit RMLR at the Boulder Res!
Dog of the Month: Murray
Murray is a very shy puppy who needs time and patience when meeting new people and when experiencing new things. He is very loving and likes to sit near you and be petted any chance he gets. He loves to romp around in the yard and play with his retrieving toy. He is learning to sit and go into the kennel on command. He walks with minimal pulling on the leash and he is currently being introduced to a head training collar. He is very quiet both in and out of the kennel and he loves to go for his morning ride in the car. The perfect home for Murray would be a family who has plenty time, experience, patience and love as it seems that he has not had the most positive start to his life. Come meet this beautiful big boy.
Check out more information about Murray and our other Labs for Adoption under Adopting
Success Story of the Month: Athena
Athena came to Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue in November 2009 from a gassing shelter in Joplin, MO. We originally expected to get her and her 5 puppies, but sadly none of her puppies were alive when it came time for them to come to Colorado. So she came on her own. She wasn't the easiest foster--chewing out of 2 kennels, jumping the fence, destroying 5 blinds, eating seatbelts, barking at strangers--but her foster loved her!! They worked on her separation anxiety and her fear of strangers for two months and then RMLR received a call from, Janet Bayless, a trainer who trains service dogs for Vietnam Veterans. She had a man that was interested in a service dog and we thought Athena might be a good match.
It was a match!!! Charlie loved Athena, but Athena wasn't too sure of him, although loved the jerky treats that he had to offer her!! Athena and Charlie have bonded to each other and Athena has quite a purpose in life now!! Charlie has PTSD, so before Athena came into his life, he didn't leave his house much. With Athena, he says that he has left his house more in 3 weeks than he had in 3 months!! Athena is able to calm Charlie when his bad dreams wake him in the night by laying her head on his chest or licking his neck. Charlie is also diabetic and when Athena senses that his blood sugar level is high she alerts him by licking him. They are only in the beginning of their relationship, but they have become best friends. Once Athena is further along in her training, Charlie hopes to help by fostering/training more dogs for this purpose. Athena escaped the gas chamber of the Missouri shelter and is now serving such an important job for Charlie. She is his lifeline!
These are words from Charlie: "Upon meeting Thena she was scared of me. After a little while, she started licking my hand. So she stayed. A couple of nights later I had a dream. I scared the poor dog out of bed. As I lay there shaking, here comes Thena and started licking my neck. Right then and there she was worth her weight in gold. Now I enjoy getting out of the house with Thena. No more sittting in the house 24/7. Thena is more than a dog or friend, she is a life line. Thena is with me 24/7. I wish I could tell you what that means. So please save more than one wag at a time. Thanks to everyone who has helped me! "
Send us your Success Stories by email to rockymountainlabrescue@gmail.com or upload pictures to Facebookand tag Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue in your photos.
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Events
We have a bunch of upcoming events! Take a look and come have fun!!!
Crossroads Church of Denver
9725 W. 50th Avenue
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
We're using this event as a means to educate people about rescue dogs and how wonderful they are and to also possibly find some new volunteers. RMLR would like to set up a table and have a few volunteers and dogs there to answer questions.
Saturday, April 10th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
The Empty Bottle
1886 S. Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80210
Wine Tasting Fundraiser
Please join Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue, when they partner with Front Range German Shepherd Rescue, for a wine tasting fundraiser.
We suggest a donation of $20 per person and all proceeds go directly to the dogs. You can reserve your spot by clicking on the Paypal link on our website. We can also accept donations the evening of the tasting. A portion of your ticket ($15) is tax-deductible and it all goes to a great cause!
The Empty Bottle specializes in eclectic and smaller produced wines that are of exceptional value. They are determined to provide a non-pretentious atmosphere for customers who love to drink wine, but dislike attitude. The owners are also extremely dog friendly, so they welcome your pooch anytime you come shopping. Visit our website for details.
Saturday, April 17th, 10:00am-4:00pm
Yellow Scene Magazine
2nd Annual SuperKids Expo
95th and Arapahoe
Atlas Valley Shopping Center
Lafayette, CO
Yellow Scene Mag's 2nd Annual SuperKids Expo
Please join RMLR and our amazing foster dogs for an adoption event on Saturday, April 17th, from 10am - 2pm.
We will have foster dogs available for adoption and volunteers there to answer questions. If you are approved to adopt and circumstances permit, you may be able to take your new family member home with you that day.
We do ask that all household members, and especially your dogs (if you have any), are there to meet the available foster dogs.
We look forward to meeting you!
Sunday, April 18th, 8:00am-12:00pm
Boulder Reservoir
Canine Classic
The Canine Classic is an event for runners, walkers and dog lovers of all ages, and while certainly encouraged, canine companions are not required to participate. This event is also a popular tune-up and qualifying race for the BolderBoulder.
This year the Canine Classic will be a 5K run/walk with a Canine Carnival. The Carnival will run during and after the race and will feature a great vendor expo, live music from Rob Drabkin, food, Avery Beer and incredible displays of canine talent.
Each year, more than 400 dogs and 800 of their humans turn out for this exciting event. This year we anticipate 1,000 participants and 600 canines, making this year's Canine Classic one of the largest human-canine events in the area.
The first 1,000 participants will receive a race tee-shirt with the Canine Classic Logo and a goodie bag. RMLR will have a booth there all day - so come visit!
 Sunday, May 16th, 8:00am-12:00pm
On May 16th, 2010 we'll be hosting the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue Run/Walk 5K and rescue expo! It will be at Caranci Pavillion/Community Dog Park 955 Bella Vista Dr. in Louisville, Colorado. Sign-in and sign-up (if spots remain for day of registration) will begin at 8AM, run will start at 9AM, and the fair will continue until 11:30am.
This event is a family fun 5k run/walk that you can bring your dog to. You are allowed up to 2 dogs per family. There is 300 participant limit and last year we hit 225 participants, so register early!
We would really like to see as many dogs as possible that have come into our lives and have changed yours. It will be a great chance for all of those of you who have adopted puppies to see their brothers and sisters. All of the RMLR past adopters will get a special goody bag if you register for the run/walk. There will be a lot of giveaways at the end of the race for those who run or walk. After the run there will be a family fun expo with doggie swimming pools, face painting for the kids and many pet vendors showcasing their products.
The sign up link HERE. 100% of the proceeds benefit the rescue. We hope you will come out and participate in our biggest fundraiser of the year!!!
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Get Your Children Involved!
We have worked and submitted RMLR Stories to Happy Tails Books - here is a new project gears towards kids!
Happy Tails Books, publisher of books that support animal rescue and advocacy, is inviting children ages 8-16 to submit short stories, essays, poems, and artwork depicting all of the wonderful reasons they love their adopted pets. This is a great opportunity for children to participate in animal advocacy, win great prizes, and get their work published (the best entries will be published in a book). Click on the green writing contest link at http://happytailsbooks.com for more details.
Deadline: June 15th, 2010
Type of submissions: Short stories, essays, poems, artwork
Age Divisions: 8-12 years old, 13-16 years old
Prizes: 1st place in each division receives $50, 2nd gets $25, top 5 in each category receive t-shirts. Everyone will receive bookmarks.
Entry Fee: $10 suggested donation
How to Enter: Enter at http://happytailsbooks.com/contest.htm
Winner Announcements: July 2010
Publication Date: "I Love Buddy", full of the best children's works about their adopted pets, will be published by September 2010.
About Happy Tails Books:
Happy Tails Books™ publishes breed-specific compilations of stories about rescued dogs. These thought-provoking books are meant to entertain pet lovers, raise awareness about pet adoption, and highlight typical breed characteristics. They provide a venue for proud owners to showcase their adopted pets and generate funding for rescue groups through the donation of a significant portion of each sale.
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A Note from our Foster Coordinator:
To the RMLR Volunteers:
Daily, we are forced to turn away great dogs, either as owner surrenders or from high risk shelters, because we don't have enough foster homes to accommodate them. We feel that many of the dogs would be highly adoptable and would probably be placed quickly, but without the foster openings we must turn them away.
Please consider fostering, even if only once. Maybe you could only do it for a few nights. Whatever you could do, we would appreciate it. If you have friends that are thinking about getting a dog, fostering would be a good first step for them. If you know people love dogs but travel too much or don't want to make a long term commitment, fostering might be a very satisfying alternative.
So many dogs are in jeopardy right now because people are losing their jobs and their homes. Please consider fostering, and please help us to come up with ideas for getting new foster homes.
If only this, take a second and print out our foster flier. Hang it up at your local dog park, vet's office or pet supply store. Every little bit helps!
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