Those of you who have gone to our GA Gives page to donate, read about Alfie, a rescue that came in starved and abused. His adopter donated, and emailed us an update.Turns out today is his “Gotcha Day,”when he was adopted, and here’s Alfie now. This should make you believe in miracles and how your support for Atlanta Lab Rescue changes lives.We are so grateful for your financial support that makes it all possible, and for those volunteers who make it all happen.We didn’t quite meet our goal for Giving Tuesday this year… so let’s make it Giving Friday!If you haven’t had a chance to donate to GA Gives, you can still do it by clicking below. Your donations are tax deductible and guaranteed to make you feel good… Thank you!!Becky CrossALR Director You can also mail a donation to PO Box 250206, Atlanta, GA 30325 or VENMO @AtlantaLabRescue and indicate “Giving Tuesday.”Click Here to DonateOnce you’ve donated, tell your friends by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or the social media platform of your choice. Let’s show them how much heart GEORGIA has!!!
Here is some great information from Angie Woods at US Canine & Dog Psychology 101 —
Baby, it’s cold outside… In typical Georgia fashion, the weather has decided to plummet more than forty degrees in a matter of days. It can be a challenge to adjust, for you and your dog. As humans, we tend to hunker indoors with a warm mug, a blanket, and a TV. However, your dog’s idea of a good time is to explore. Dogs in the wild spend each day on the move, largely in search of food. Temperature changes may mean changes in food supply or hunting patterns. Regardless, they want OUT when all you want to do is stay IN. It can be hard to dawn your parka and ‘adventure’ into the wilds of your neighborhood. Remember: Dogs need regular and consistent exercise and mental stimulation. A bored dog with too much energy can quickly turn frustrated and destructive. Regular exercise supports their overall mental and physical well-being and keeps their behavior in check. If weather conditions prevent outdoor activity, get creative providing some exercise indoors. We offer a few ways to do just that. Check out our YouTube video for all the specifics.
The Shell Game and Finders Keepers: Good for food-driven dogs. A progressive strategy of hiding treats and teaching your dog to find them when instructed. Be sure your dog is calm before you treat. Feed calm states of mind, not excitement.
Obedience Training: Commands can be useful in the world and a great way to engage your dog’s brain! Use the time inside to work on a few basics, or your next adorable TikTok video.
Busy Work: A Kong treat-ball smeared with peanut butter, nut butter, cream cheese, or another treat can keep them occupied for some time (Pro Tip: Freeze your treat for an hour to make them work a little harder).
Toys/Balls/Frisbees: Tossing toys in the house can be a great way to get some energy out. A small hallway or set of stairs can work well. Be cautious of your dog’s physicality and modify accordingly and always be cautious when playing in the house.
Treadmill: A great supplement to outdoor walks (watch the video for full guidance on how to train your dog to walk on the treadmill).
Go Outside: Be brave dog person. Suit up and go on an adventure with your dog. The fresh air will do you both some good!
Remember that your dog relies on you to be the leader and to give them what they need both physically and mentally so they can be happy and well-adjusted. Find us on Instagram or Facebook and share your cold weather adventures! You can also drop us a video or photos in our Dropbox! You can check out our website at uscanine.com
Cheers to you, your dog, and your new relationship together!
Here is a nice article from Purina on traveling with your dog this summer. It is a good quick read and will provide some great tips for a happy and healthy vacation for all!
Planning a Trip? Support Your Dog’s Immune System with FortiFlora
Regardless of the season or where the next trip takes you and your dog, traveling can be stressful for your hunting partner. By doing your homework and planning ahead, you can help ensure your dog’s safety and comfort while on the road. Follow these tips to help simplify your journey, regardless of the time and distance.
Meal Prep for Your Dog
If you’re on a weeklong trip in remote areas, the odds of finding a quality performance dog food, such as Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula, may be challenging. Proportion your dog’s food so you have an ample supply. You’ll likely feed your dog slightly more than usual during a multiday event, so be sure to pack extra. A good rule of thumb to gauge a dog’s food consumption is one pound of food per dog per day.
Bring Your Own Water
A change in water source, especially going from hard to soft water, can upset your dog’s GI system, increasing his or her risk of diarrhea and potentially causing dehydration and overheating. Dehydration can be dangerous because it increases your dog’s heart’s workload, impairs the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste from the muscles, and reduces your dog’s ability to maintain a normal body temperature. Bring several gallons of water from home as a consistent source, or use bottled water while traveling. To help encourage your dog to drink when away from home, bait his or her water with a small handful of kibble. On hot travel days, you can also cut blocks of ice and place in your dog’s bowl in his or her crate in the back of your truck or trailer for the dog to lick.
Stock Up on First-Aid Essentials
Canine first aid is crucial when you’re far from a veterinarian. Brush up on your basic knowledge of performing first aid and replenish your kit with these supplies:absorbent gauze pads, elastic bandages, tape, tweezers, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, antihistamine, saline solution, and any veterinarian-prescribed or recommended medications.
Build an Insurance Policy
Research veterinarians who can treat hardworking dogs that are located every couple of hundred miles along your planned route and near your final destination. You should also look for 24/7 emergency veterinary clinics if you’ll be traveling at night. Jot down all names and contact information and keep in a handy place, such as inside your first-aid kit.
Customize Your Packing List
Every destination has unique packing requirements. For example, if you’re headed to Montana, you may want to bring a Quill Jig and needle-nosed pliers in case your dog comes across a porcupine, or if you’re crossing into Canada, you’ll need a veterinarian-signed copy of your dog’s rabies vaccination, as well as a health certificate for puppies 8 months of age and younger, to get through customs hassle-free.
Comfort Is King
Despite travel not being restful for a dog, you can at least do all you can to ensure his or her comfort. In warm weather, keep a frozen water bottle in your dog’s crate so he or she can lick the condensation to stay cool between stops. In cold weather, bring a vest and boots to keep your dog warm, a shammy to keep him or her dry, a cover to insulate his or her crate, and a ½-inch pad or piece of Styrofoam to place under the crate to keep him or her off of cold surfaces. Regardless of the season, don’t forget a crate lock for security.
Brake for Rest Areas
Map out rest areas along your route that are situated away from traffic and suitable for dog airing. Some Cabela’s locations even have a reserved area for dogs. Plan to stop every couple of hours to air and exercise your dog on a leash, and know that puppies may need more frequent breaks.
Don’t Skimp on Stake Outs
Bring enough tie-out cables and stakes for as many dogs as you’re traveling with so that in case of emergency, such as a vehicle breakdown, your dogs are secure while you tend to the situation at hand.
Mind Your P’s & Q’s
Basic obedience is important at all times, but especially during travel. The last thing you want when you’re stopped is to open your vehicle door and have your dog bolt out and run around aimlessly. This puts your dog at risk of being hit by a car or getting into something he or she shouldn’t, such as diesel fuel or antifreeze. Avoid accidents while stopped in a parking lot of rest area by training your dog to “stay” when you open the vehicle door or dog box. It’s also a good idea to keep your dog on lead in busy areas. If you find a safe, remote area to air your dog off lead, make sure you can stay in control of your dog and clean up any mess.
BONUS: The One Thing to Never Leave Home Without
You should always pack a thermometer in your first-aid kit, especially during summer travel. If you’re worried about your dog overheating, stop and take his or her temperature. If it’s as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit, get your dog into the shade and cool him or her down, making sure the temperature comes down. If it doesn’t, take your dog to a veterinarian right away.
Planning a Trip? Boost Your Dog’s Immunity with FortiFlora
Traveling can cause stress that can affect a dog’s immune system. To help support your dog’s immune system health, keep a supply of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora canine probiotic supplement handy. Available through your veterinarian or online at www.proplanvetdirect.com, FortiFlora contains a special strain of probiotic that promotes normal intestinal microflora. After consulting with your veterinarian, consider starting FortiFlora a few weeks before leaving on a trip to increase levels of beneficial bacteria and promote a strong immune system, and continue administering it a few weeks after arriving at your destination.
Here is a great link from Angie Woods of US Canine and Dog Psychology 101 on Separation Anxiety and your dog. Take a few minutes to view the video – we hope is it helpful!
I never met a dog I didn’t want to hug. The feeling, alas, is likely not mutual. In a giant bummer of an article published recently in Psychology Today, Stanley Coren — who studies canine behavior at the University of British Columbia — makes a sadly strong case against the dog hug, arguing that although humans love embracing their canine pals, the physical contact stresses dogs out.
If you know what to look for, their annoyance becomes obvious. Lesson one: Coren writes that a dog’s most common outward signal of stress or anxiety is when he “turns his head away from whatever is bothering or worrying him, sometimes also closing his eyes, at least partially.” Lesson two: Just like humans, dogs have whites of the eye — it’s just that you never see it unless the animal is stressed. And lesson three: An anxious or stressed-out dog’s ears will be “lowered or slicked against the side of his head,” Coren writes.
In the Psychology Today piece, Coren describes a recent data collection exercise of his, in which he combed through Flickr and did a Google image search for terms like “hug dog” or “love dog,” and found 250 photos of people hugging their dogs. He and some colleagues then analyzed these photos by rating the dog’s body language, looking for those signs of dog-anxiety. Nearly 82 percent of the dogs in the selected photos showed at least one sign of stress. To reiterate: Dogs hatehugs.
An embrace between humans signals communication and warmth and intimacy, but dogs, of course, are not humans. Coren explains why the restriction of an embrace may annoy or frighten a dog:
Dogs are technically cursorial animals, which is a term that indicates that they are designed for swift running. That implies that in times of stress or threat the first line of defense that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away. Behaviorists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilizing him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog’s anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite.
To let your dog know you love him, a pat on the head or a nice belly rub or a treat will suffice. And if you need a new photo opp idea, maybe take a note from Coren’s UBC bio, and politely stand next to your dog. No hugs necessary.
Here is a great post sent to me by one of our all time great fosters at Atlanta Lab Rescue….The article is from Positively, a website from Victoria Stillwell. Here is the LINK to the article.
As we have said many times in person, at adoptions, via email and newsletters, Atlanta Lab Rescue could not operate without Fosters!
Tuck enjoying his last day before crossing the Rainbow Bridge.
There are few things that compare to the heartbreak of losing a dog. But what happens when it’s not “your” dog, but rather a dog you saved from death days, months, or years ago and then found a forever home for? It seems that I’m not the only one going through this struggle, so I’ve decided to share my story in the hopes that it may help others through their grief.
I’ve been rescuing and fostering homeless dogs since I was a child. I always felt that if I could do something for a dog in need, it was my responsibility to do it. So I guess it was only a matter of time before I had to say goodbye to one of the dogs that started his journey with me.
Tuck was a purebred Golden Retriever that ended up at a local animal control facility, where he was picked up as a stray in horrendous condition. He was a senior, and was weak, emaciated, and almost completely hairless. He had a host of medical issues, and no one was sure if he could even be saved.
Thanks to the help of Golden Retriever Rescue in Atlanta, I was able to pick up Tuck from the shelter, and we started him on the road to recovery. He was in the worst condition I’ve ever seen a dog, and I covered him in a blanket in my car as we headed to his first vet appointment. Despite the pain he was in, I could hear his tail happily thumping in the backseat. That was a good cry! He stayed with me briefly while the rescue found a long-term foster home, and he was eventually adopted by a wonderful family. Click here to read more about Tuck’s story.
I found out recently that Tuck’s health was rapidly declining. Although he had completely recovered from the neglect of his past, he was still a senior dog and only had limited time to begin with. I never expected him to live as long as he did, but when the time came, it still didn’t seem fair.
Tuck had a wonderful last day with his amazing adoptive family, and peacefully passed away. It was the first time I’ve had to deal with the death of a dog I rescued, and I was surprised by how hard it was to deal with the loss, even though I hadn’t seen him since he was adopted.
I’ve come up with a few thoughts that I hope will help others in the same position.
1) You did your job. As a rescuer or a foster, your job in each dog’s life comes to an end. Whether you’re still their primary caregiver in the end or you’ve passed that torch on to an adopter, cherish the role you played in that dog’s life.
2) You changed lives. Of course, you changed the dog’s life. But you would be amazed by how many people can be affected by an animal throughout the course of that animal’s journey with us. It might be something subtle, like teaching someone about the plight of shelter dogs. For others, that dog may have actually saved someone’s life. Be proud that you were even a small part of that journey.
3) You made a happy ending possible. A dog’s life may be spinning on a terrible trajectory, but your intervention changes everything. Overnight, a dog can go from shaking in a shelter to being loved and cherished in a caring home. You made that possible.
Dogs handle death better than we do. They live so gratefully in the present that even a few days knowing love and safety outshines the years of abuse or neglect that they may have experienced before you. They live and die with peace in their hearts, and we can’t ask for anything more than that.
If they could, I bet they’d pat us on the back and say, “job well done.” I sure hope my Tuck thinks so.
THANKS TO YOU, DREAMS COME TRUE!
Once you’ve donated, tell your friends by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or the social media platform of your choice. Let’s show them how much heart GEORGIA has!!! 
