Puppy Mill Dogs
It is an unfortunate reality in our society that puppy mills exist. Puppy mill dogs are typically kept in extremely harsh conditions, and receive very little, if any, human interaction, resulting in a mix of poor health and socialization / behaviour issues. Due to their lack of human contact, they are usually quite wary of all humans—not just the bigger more intimidating humans, but
All Dogs Are Working Dogs
Libby When I was speaking with my sister recently about her Yorkie, Libby, who is almost two years old, she was telling me how she finds Libby’s typically fearless terrier behaviour endearing. I got a sense that she believed it was just Libby specifically who has this “attitude,” so I thought I would make her aware of the background of Yorkshire terribles terriers. My
Why I Volunteer: Nick
And Why You Should Too. Without a doubt, animal rescue is a morally righteous hobby. It is hard to disagree when you look at the state of animal welfare in our society, from general overpopulation, punitive training techniques, to puppy mills. But everyone finds their way into activities in different ways, and mine was purely self-serving. I grew up with a family dog. After
Did You Know TAGS Microchips?
One of the least known aspects of the TAGS organization is its microchip clinics. In an effort to provide the community affordable care for their pets, TAGS offers microchipping of cats and dogs for the very affordable price of $30. But what is a microchip? A microchip is the size of a grain of rice that, when scanned, relays a number that correlates with
Guess the Breed Contest: DNA Testing
Many of the dogs we see go through our program are interesting mixes. Well, one of our past adopters couldn’t keep guessing and decided to DNA test her two TAGS dogs. Cora Dusty If you guess a correct breed in the comments section of her blog by Sunday (Jan. 13), their mom, Cathy Witlox, will give you your choice of prize: either a custom
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…
For those who are not involved in rescue, some of the policies and practices of a rescue group may seem odd. While many of the policies are put in place due to past experiences, the decisions rescue groups make can sometimes be more puzzling. When I originally got involved in rescue, I was preparing myself for some really difficult situations. Many of the reactions
I Wanna Pit Bull
Now that I’ve been volunteering in rescue for a few years, I am finally ready to start considering what type of dog I would get in a perfect world. For the record, I am not yet ready / able to give a dog what it needs; I am merely daydreaming. I’ve come to the conclusion that my dream dog would be the biggest, baddest,
Compassion in Rescue
Much has been made in the past five or so years of the different styles of dog training. When it comes to rescue, training methods are more important because many of the dogs in rescue come with built-in issues, a product of a past that we do not know about. Using punitive training techniques on a dog who has experienced trauma can cause the