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Gateway Pet of the Month... | |
Little Bean was born on 9/24/10. Little Bean currently weighs 33 pounds. She loves to romp with her 90 pound foster siblings. She is 100% leash trained. When she goes outside to go potty she will run to you, sit, and receive her treat. She is ONE smart cookie!!!
Little Bean has mastered sit, down, and is now learning to roll over. She thrives on learning new things. She would thrive in a home where there is another dog that she can snuggle with and play with.
Little Bean LOVES the big dogs in her foster home and will love on each and every one of them!
We are also asking that only individuals with children over 8 years old and a fenced-in backyard apply. She is quite the curious pup and needs to be able to investigate every inch of one's fenced-in backyard.
To apply for this sweetheart, please contact us so that you may receive an adoption application.
Puppy smooches, Little Bean |
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What's on your mind?
A letter from Kelly Trout, Foster Coordinator and Mentor
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Have you ever wondered how you can "pay it forward?" Gateway Pet Guardians is always struggling to find foster homes for our forgotten dogs and cats. Opening your home as a foster parent is enriching and rewarding. Two things that are crucial to fostering: a love for animals and patience. Most of the dogs have never been in a home, nor have they slept inside a home. Some of these dogs are scared, but once they realize how wonderful it is to sleep indoors and what a soft bed feels like, they show you endless affection. It is amazing to see a shy dog reach their true potential and find their forever home.
PJ feeds these dogs daily and knows their personality on the street. As a precautionary measure, we also evaluate the dog to ensure that he/she will get along with other animals. We also offer to have someone bring the new foster over for introductions to their household pets.
We cannot rescue the dogs and cats from East St. Louis unless we have a foster home for that animal. The process to become a foster home entails completing a foster application. Your references will be checked, a phone interview will be done, and a home visit will be conducted. Once approved, I will personally work with you during the entire time you have the foster in your home. I am available to answer any questions and my goal is to help you find the perfect forever home for your foster dog/cat.
Fostering entails taking your dog/cat to adoption events, making sure the dog learns basic commands, housebreaking, and socialization. Gateway Pet Guardians pays for all vetting and we do receive dog food donations on a regular basis.
Our goal at Gateway Pet Guardians is to find forever homes for these animals and to not have them returned. We cannot save animals without foster homes; this is where you come in!!!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mckess@yahoo.com. We would love to have you become part of our Foster Family.
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ADOPTED! Pet Spotlight
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Hi! I'm Roxy. When I was 3 months old, on the harsh streets of East Saint Louis, two big dogs were picking on me and they bit me on my snout. Gateway Pet Guardians saw this, so they took me in and I was named Egypt. A couple days later I was put into foster care with a lady named Ana. She had another dog and I really liked playing with other dogs! About 3 weeks later, when I was 4 months old, I got taken to a new home in Affton. The people there were a couple with 2 kids. They gave me lots of toys, good food, and a pink collar with a diamond name tag! It took me a little while to get used to the new home, but soon enough I settled in. They decided to name me Roxy, but I get called "The Pup" a lot too. I love it here. Next door lives my best friend Meska. We like to sneak into each other's yard and wrestle. I love playing catch with my humans and my favorite thing in the whole wide world is SNOW! It's just so fun! I like getting my picture taken and playing soccer when it's warmer. I don't like hot weather, though. I like cuddling with my people and laying at the foot of their beds at night. Well, now I'm almost 2 years old and I love where I live. I couldn't ask for a better family. Thank you Gateway Pet Guardians for making my life AMAZING! |
| Dedicated Volunteer of the Month |
Jennifer Delnegro has been a dedicated volunteer for over a year. With her stellar organizational skills and passion for animal rescue, she was an obvious choice for our Adoption Records Coordinator. Jennifer has done amazing things to finalize adoptions and continues to keep us organized. The rescue is rolling out a new Shelter Software Database and Jennifer is the leader of the "pack." Thank you Jenny for everything you do for our group, both as a volunteer and a foster mom!
I have always had a love for animals, but growing up in a hectic household never allowed the time to have a furry friend in our family. It wasn't until I was 23 and living on my own that I was blessed with the best gift I've ever received, an adorable black ball of fluff named Raven. It was love at first sight and I've been hooked on kitties ever since! She kept me company when I was lonely, consoled me when I was sick, and made me realize that unconditional love is a blessing to never take for granted.
On Thanksgiving Day 2009, I went on my first ride-along with PJ and Jamie Case. Seeing all of the dogs and cats living on the streets, cold, hungry, and wanting nothing more that to be rescued and loved was a true eye-opening experience. I knew from then on that I wanted to do something to help. When my boyfriend Eric, myself, and our two cats relocated to St. Louis from Chicago, I started volunteering for GPG and am now the Adoption Records Coordinator, as well as a foster mom. Even though I don't get that much hands-on experience with our rescues, I still get a warm fuzzy feeling for every adoption application I receive to be processed for one of our rescues! It has been a truly rewarding experience and I encourage everyone to sign up to volunteer. You can't beat the feeling of knowing you contributed to a cause that is saving our animal friends.
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
~Anatole France
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| ADOPT. |
Adoption Events
4.16.11 Pets in the City outside adoption event!
4.30.11 Tees and Tails/Wine and Wags |
Low Cost Spay/Neuter
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Spaying and neutering your pets is one of the most important steps a pet owner can take toward making their dog or cat's life a long and healthy one.
Myths and Facts of Spaying/Neutering
Myth: Pets will get fat and lazy if they are spayed/neutered.
Fact: The only reason animals become fat and lazy is if they are overfed and under-exercised, or are diagnosed with thyroid problems.
Read Entire Article HERE
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Donate Now!
Help homeless animals by donating to Gateway Pet Guardians.
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Gateway Pet Guardians is dedicated to rescuing homeless animals from the harsh streets, giving them the veterinary care needed and placing them in a foster home until they find their forever home.
Monthly, vet bills can range from $1000-$5000. We need your help to continue rescuing animals in need!
Gateway Pet Guardians is a 501c3 organization.
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Our monthly newsletter is received by over 1200 local opt-in recipients and is growing daily. In an effort to connect with our partners who offer pet related services with our friends who need them, we are now offering advertising space in our monthly e-newsletter. GPG is a 501c3 organization, and all payments for advertising space will be considered donations and therefore are tax deductible.
$50 donation - one month sponsorship
$200 donation - 6 month committment - get 2 months FREE
$360 donation - 12 month commitment - get 3 months FREE
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Introducing a New Dog Into Your Household:
I have personally had good luck by having the dogs meet on neutral territory and then taking the dogs who are meeting for the first time on a walk together while avoiding a face to face confrontation. Walk them side by side on no longer than a 4 foot leash, then one in front of the other so they can take turns sniffing one another. All the while being very aware of the dog's postures (look up dog postures on Internet if you are not sure). If all goes well on walk it is probably safe to let them interact in a neutral fenced in area again paying close attention to body postures. The Humane Society has some basic tips on how to introduce a new dog here: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/introducing_new_dog.html
Getting a professional trainer or handler to assist you is a must if you are not very experienced with dogs. If you feel you need help with this or any other training/behavior issue, please contact me, Jamie Kelly/certified positive reinforcement trainer @ 314-623-9879.
Dogs are not people dressed up in fur coats,
and to deny them their nature is to do them great harm.
~Jeanne Schinto
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PJ Hightower started feeding dogs in East St. Louis, a very impoverished neighborhood in Illinois just east of St. Louis, in 1995 on her way to her sister's house. She began going on a regular basis from there and has not missed one single day since 2001. The dogs rely on PJ, waiting for her car every morning. They come running at its sound and most come straight up to her car door as she stops. She not only feeds, but medicates, domesticates, and rescues when a home is available.
A small group of people decided to form Gateway Pet Guardians around PJ's efforts in 2004. Gateway is fast growing and excited about what the future holds for the stray dogs of the East side, or hopefully lack there of.
When we rescue an animal, we give it veterinary care and put it in a foster home where it can learn to live as a pet should live and be loved. We find that with our "virtual" shelter system, the animals tend to have better outcomes in their forever homes. Although we are saving to build a shelter, we still plan to keep our rescues in foster homes as often as possible.
We are a small group of people devoted to solving the homeless dog population in East St. Louis through education/outreach and spay/neuter programs. We would love your involvement!
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Design Brought to You
by Ashley Hinkle : HInkle Photography And Design
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Purchases that make a difference!
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$5 of your purchase is donated to GPG! Click Here Call Today 618-402-8873 
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