Christmas Tree of Hope

Rachel Stephens, Austin, Ashley and Avery Tate invite you to donate to The ARK of Cleveland's Christmas Tree of Hope

The ARK of Cleveland invites everyone to join them for their Grand Reopening, Saturday, November 22, from 2-4. ALIVE 105 will do a live broadcast while you enjoy refreshments and register for drawings. Prizes donated by Petco and Happy Tails will be given away at 4 pm.The ARK has moved two doors down from their previous location into a spot better suited to their needs and want to show it off. "We can keep our dogs at this location making it easier for potential adopters to view the dogs during business hours," Bob Caylor, ARK President said.We even have a quiet room, where adopters can take the pet to get better acquainted with it, undisturbed.

The ARK has also started collecting donations from the Christmas Tree of Hope. ARK supporters can purchase paper ornaments to make donations in the name of a former or current pet. "Our 2009 budget is $25,000 and our goal for the Christmas Tree of Hope is $5,000," Caylor said. "This will make it possible for all donations to be kept local," he stated.

Please make a point of dropping by The ARK, Bradley County's No-Kill shelter, Saturday the 22nd to see the new location and say hi to our highly adoptable pets.

You can make your tax deductable donations by dropping by 2163 N. Ocoee Street or by sending it to: PO box 1514 Cleveland, TN 37364-1514




Rachel Stephens, Austin, Ashley and Avery Tate invite you to donate to The ARK of Cleveland's Christmas Tree of Hope

* Leave a comment
* Edit Entry
* Edit Tags
* Add to Memories
* Tell a Friend
* Track This
* Link

Tree Of Hope

Ocoee the lucky dog update

Ocoee Update: Ocoee completed his heartworm treatment last week at Community Animal Hospital. His skin issue is completely resolved, and his fur has grown back. All but $54 of his veterinary bill was provided by compassionate private donors!

When I picked Ocoee up yesterday morning at Community Animal Hospital, he was eager to make the transition to the next chapter in his new life. "He's such a happy and curious dog!" the staff remarked. He sat by me in the front passenger seat and looked over at other drivers with a big smile as if to say, "Hey, look at me now!" After arriving at the new Ark Adoption Center, Ocoee quickly learned to sit, and made friends with the other dogs available for adoption. While on kennel rest the past month he was neutered, vaccinated, and is already housebroken.

Ocoee can be adopted during regular Ark Adoption Center hours. Thanks to the compassionate donors, who made Ocoee's catastrophic veterinary care, a life saving dream come true for him!

Dizz

No matter how long I'm involved with pet rescue, I'm always amazed at the cruelty of some people. This little girl was thrown from a moving car last week. A good Samaritan happened to see the incident and turned around to go back. When she got there, Dizz was still setting on the side of the road, with a bloody nose, waiting on the owner, (cruel as they were) to come back and get her.

The kind lady scooped her up and took her to the Cleveland Animal Hospital, the vet the ARK of Cleveland uses, and they called Bob Caylor, ARK President. Bob was able to find a foster care giver for Dizz, the 7lbs, 4 yr. old teacup chihuahua, and took her in after she was vetted and spayed.

Dizz is a sweet girl who needs lots of love and affection. She is docile and gets along with children and other dogs as well as cats. She's spayed and house broken. You can make her part of your family but dropping by the ARK of Cleveland and paying the $125 adoption fee for her.

Ocoee the lucky dog

Saturday, the ARK of Cleveland took possession of this wonderful dog. He had no collar and was exhausted from looking for help when ARK President, Bob Caylor, took him to Community Animal Hospital that evening. “He actually put his head in my lap and went to sleep on the way,” Caylor said.
Ocoee has been diagnosed with scabbies and is heart worm positive. He’ll be in quarantine for two weeks and on restricted movement for a month while he recovers.
This is a perfect example of what sets The ARK of Cleveland apart. “This animal would have been euthanized if he’d been taken to Animal Control or other local animal rescues. We are truly a no-kill shelter providing catastrophic care when necessary,” Caylor added.
Ocoee’s veterinarian bill will be over five hundred dollars. “This kind of bill is always unexpected and hard to plan for in addition to our usual overhead. We are totally donation driven,” Said Jeanne Hagar, ARK volunteer.
If you are interested in making a tax free donation toward Ocoee’s veterinarian bill, you are welcome to drop by the ARK at 2183 Ocoee Street or mail a check to: PO Box 1514 Cleveland, TN 37364.

Grieving the loss of a pet

Anyone who has lost a pet knows the emotional pain associated with it. So many times grieving pet owners are overlooked by others who may not understand that loss. If you find yourself dealing with the loss of a beloved pet, here are a few things that will help deal with your loss.

How to grieve:
*Pay attention to your feelings. Understand that you may deal with physical problems as well as emotional pain. Allow yourself to feel the pain of loss.
*Be creative. Write a poem, blog about your feelings, paint a picture.
*Get moving. Strap on those walking shoes or take up Yoga. Do something physical to get the endorphins stirred up.
*Spend time with others who have lost pets.

Create a Memorial:
*Create a memorial in your own home. Place pictures of your pet, favorite toys etc. anything that helps you pay remember your pet.
*Give a donation to the ARK of Cleveland or your local humane society.
*Create a poem or piece of art that expresses your love.
*Share stories and memories with friends and family.

When should you get a new pet?
Most experts agree that you need some time to grieve the one you've lost. Pets are not easily replaced.
Sometimes volunteering can help ease the pain and deal with the grief.

If you've lost a pet, we at the ARK of Cleveland understand that pain. We have volunteer opportunities available if you're ready. Please feel free to stop by the ARK and visit with our furry friends anytime.

Here's a link you may find helpful:
http://www.pet-loss.net/resources/TN.html

Georgia Brown finds a home

Our Sweet Georgia Brown was adopted today by some wonderful folks named Hugh & Nancy Keatley from Beckley, WV. They found her on The ARK of Cleveland's Petfinder.com page and called about her. After hearing that she was still available, they made the five hour trip to pick her up.

When asked if they were just "Labrador people" they laughed and said, "We're chocolate Lab people."

Thanks to the Keatley's for caring about Georgia Brown so much they made the long trip for her. I think they'll agree, she was worth the trip!

ARK Volunteer Jeanne Hagar

Jeanne has been a faithful volunteer for about five months now. She's an avid runner, who ran the San Fransico Marathon in 1997. She has a deep love for animals and the environment. Here's Jeanne holding Miss Kitty, one of her favorite cats at the ARK of Cleveland. Miss Kitty has had surgery on her foot to correct a birth defect. The foot unfortunately has not healed properly, but that doesn't stop her from playing and giving lots of love.

Why spay/neuter is so important

Here are some interesting facts I've picked up lately. According to, Rescued, Saving Animals from Disaster, by Allen and Linda Anderson, and un-spayed female cat can generate up to 420,000 descendants in 6 yrs. An un-spayed female dog can give birth to 67,000.

Those are startling stats!

An interesting tid-bit I saw in the informative magazine, Animal Wellness, (Aug./Sept 2008) warns about the dangers of not spaying young females before their first heat cycle. They have an increased risk of breast cancer. In dogs, the risk is almost zero if spayed before their first heat. It rises to about 25% for dogs spayed after the first heat.

You can read more about this in the above mentioned book and magazine.

Bridgett has found a home

It's always nice to report that an animal has found their forever home. Bridgett was picked up a few weeks ago by a lovely couple who drove 5 hours round trip to make her part of their family. She has a new beagle brother named, Buddy who adores her.

Thanks for making room in the family for a little girl who's had a really hard life until now.

Bobly-Wobbly

Why is it that you never have your video camera when you need it? A few nights ago, company had come and gone and we were chillin' before bed. Bob was sitting on one of the couches licking his front paw. Somehow, he managed to step on his tongue. The funny part is, he couldn't figure out how to get his tongue loose. Here he is standing on his tongue, trying to tug it loose while it stretches to an unreal length. That could have been on America's Funniest Home Videos.

Bridgett

This time four weeks ago, our little Bridgett was still living a terrible life. Now, she's a vibrant little friend. Her personality has blossomed and she's ready for her forever home. When she came she couldn't figure out how to exit an open door,walk on a leash, or play. Now, she's just one of our pack taking walks with our dogs, playing with her "baby doll" and chewing on bones. She can go from rambunctious fireball to lap dog in 1.6 seconds. We'll miss her when the right family comes along.

A Beagle does something illegal

It seems this fawn followed the Beagle home, right through the doggie door and onto the couch. It's illegal to have wild animals. Don't think the Beagle knew that.

Bridgett

Three weeks ago today I took possession of a scared, underfed little lemon beagle named Bridgett. She had been rescued from the man who owned her who tied to a tree with no dog house. She was un-spayed at the time and was allowed to breed with any dog that came along. When she had pups (just before she came to us) the man killed them and left her with milk. He was planning to kill her too when the neighbors talked him into letting them have her.

They brought her to the ARK of Cleveland, where I volunteer, swarming with fleas, full of milk and hungry. She was given a flea dip and bath, then taken to our vet to be vaccinated and spayed. When I picked her up at the vet, she was scared and confused, but as sweet as pie. I let her rest for several days, intro. her to my three dogs and she started to come to life.

She's been with us long enough for me to absolutely fall in love with her. It will be bittersweet to see her go to her forever home. They will be a lucky family to have Bridgett. Good girl!