|
Gateway Pet of the Month ... Kobe | |
 Kobe is an extremely handsome neutered Akita mix. He's about year and a half old and weighs in around 60 pounds.
Kobe was found with a very bad bite wound on his back leg, which had become so infected it had swollen to twice its normal size. He was limping around the streets of East St Louis, in 100 degree heat and 80% humidity. He was found at 6pm in the evening so badly dehydrated his eyes and gums were affected. After a day in the hospital and a week of antibiotics, his leg size was back to normal.
We are pleased to report that Kobe has since made a full recovery! He is a high energy dog and needs an active family to call his own. He gets along well with kids as well as other dogs his size. Smaller dogs tend to peak his interest, so please only families with dogs over 35 pounds apply. He is potty trained and is improving on leash training. Kobe loves to have his belly rubbed ... so much so that he will stop everything just to enjoy one! He also enjoys carrying things around in his mouth including his own leash. He really loves getting constant attention and affection from people - perhaps making up for less happy days. He deserves a better life than what he has known! Can you give Kobe that life?
Puppy smooches,
Kobe
For more information on Kobe or any of the other Gateway Pet Guardian animals available for adoption, click here |
|
What's on your mind?
A letter from Melissa Stiles, Volunteer Coordinator |
 I began fostering in the fall of 2009 after
Executive Director Jamie Case asked if I liked dogs and if I would be interested in helping with the group. My first foster was a puppy named Zach (now known as Bear) who was adopted rather quickly. My own dog and I felt the "empty nest" syndrome pretty quickly. The next time, I brought home three foster puppies, and I've been hooked on fostering ever since! After attending several adoption events, and getting to know the GPG family a little better, I decided I wanted to become even more involved.
Today I am Gateway Pet Guardians' Volunteer Coordinator. I assumed this role about a year ago, and I am proud to report our volunteer base has grown tremendously in that time. Without our volunteers, we wouldn't be able to do any of the events we do. Our dogs would have no reason to appear at these events ... we wouldn't have the volunteers to handle them, ... or talk about their amazing qualities ... or try to recruit new volunteers and foster parents.
The need for volunteers is endless with our group. If you have ever thought about volunteering, but think you don't have the time, or you can't be away from your family, or you don't want to handle a dog, or whatever reason may have been holding you back from volunteering, please push all of those thoughts aside! I have a solution for anything that might be stopping you. Our youngest volunteer right now is 7 years old! Naturally, folks under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent, but what a rewarding way to incorporate more family time in our busy lives! In addition, we have many, many things you can do to help without ever having to handle a dog. Most of our events take place on Saturday afternoons, with an occasional Sunday or weeknight event. As little as 2 hours can make the world of difference at one of our events. See ... there's nothing I can't get around!
If you don't already, please consider signing up to volunteer for Gateway Pet Guardians by clicking here and filling out the volunteer application. If you can make a specific event, GREAT! You're always welcome! If you can't, don't worry about it. I never "expect" or require volunteers to make appearances. I just hope they do and welcome the help each and every time. |
ADOPTED! Pet Spotlight
Meet Bella (formerly Juno) |
 What started out as a trip to PetSmart for some cat litter turned into our finding our next family member. Bella, just a 4 month old puppy at the time, was there with Melissa Weingart. She was the last of her litter to be adopted which makes me believe she was just waiting for us. We brought her home that night and she has been a loving and loyal family member ever since.
Bella is very attached to big sister, Mocha. If they are apart for even a few minutes, Bella greets Mocha with lots of kisses as if they haven't seen each other in a long time. On Bella's first birthday, her present was a little brother, Tiki. Tiki is a very spunky personality and Bella is very patient and tolerant of him and all his craziness. Even though Tiki doesn't seem to realize how small he is, (his 5 pounds to Bella's 45), Bella seems to know and is very careful with him. She also loves our cat, Rascal, and turns to a wiggly mush whenever Rascal is around. Bella has an inexhaustible energy level and is always ready for a session of frisbee chasing in the yard. When she runs down a frisbee, it is always a full on sprint! She is always ready to join me on a run. It is hard to match the great feeling I get while jogging down the road with her loyally trotting right by my side. She not only makes me feel safe, but she keeps me company and even motivates me on those days when I'm a little sluggish. During the summer, we head to our summer place in northern Michigan where we spend many days on the lake boating. Bella loves the water and can hardly keep herself in the boat once we get going. She loves to jump in and swim and can spend hours chasing her "pooch tube" in the water. 
Bella is still a bit apprehensive towards strangers, but to those she knows, you would be hard pressed to find a more loyal and loving dog. Her papers stated when we got her that her personality was "shy but sweet" and I would say that is the perfect way to describe Bella.
We are so grateful that we went to PetSmart that day for litter. Our family became all the better as a result of it.
|
| October events. | |
October 22, 2011
2nd Annual
All-Entertainment Trivial Pawsuit
Join us for our 2nd Annual Trivial Pawsuit October 22, 2011. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Trivia begins at 7:00 p.m. Outside snacks are welcome, but no outside drinks. A cash bar will be available. Silent auction, 50/50 drawing, mulligans, and more! Cash prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners!
To register or for more information click HERE
October 29, 2011
,
Come out to the St. Louis Pet Expo on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Convention Center. Meet Shorty and Hercules from Animal Planet's hit show "Pit Boss". Over 150 exhibitors will be there offering free nail trims, low cost vaccinations and microchipping, adoption opportunities, a pet costume contest, and much more!!
Free parking and admission!
Click here for more information
November 4, 2011
2011 Soiree for Strays
Gala and Fashion Show
Come support Gateway Pet Guardians in our first step towards achieving our lifelong dream of building a shelter on our recently purchased property located in Centreville, Illinois. Events for the evening include a cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, fashion show, silent auction and awards ceremony.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation to the event, click here.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
|
Dedicated Volunteer of the Month!
Sharon Sharp |
Sharon Sharp and Maddy
I became involved with Gateway Pet Guardians after seeing a story about Humphrey, a dog rescued from the streets of East St. Louis, Illinois. I also saw a notice on GPG's website about donations for an upcoming Pasta for Pets fundraiser. I brought donated items to Jamie Case several times before the event, and was so impressed by the organization's work that I decided to give more of my time. Several events later, I am a dedicated volunteer.
I grew up in Granite City, Illinois, in a family full of animal lovers. As a child, I used to rescue strays all the time. I also volunteered at the dog shelter at the U.S. Army Depot in Granite City. Today, it just breaks my heart to hear about all the stray dogs and cats struggling to survive in East St. Louis.
This year, I signed up to be a GPG foster "parent." Kelly Trout e-mailed me about a stray puppy that was hit by a car in East St. Louis, resulting in serious injury to a front leg. The puppy showed up on the property of GPG's biggest sponsor, Metro East Industries, limping and in severe pain. Cindy Tampow called Jamie, and the puppy was rescued and taken to Belleville Animal Hospital. Unfortunately, the injured front leg couldn't be saved.
Following the puppy's amputation surgery, I picked her up and nursed her back to health. It wasn't long before I fell in love with her and decided to keep her. Yes, I am a "foster failure!"
Her name is Maddy, and I love her to pieces. I also have two other dogs, Kopper, an 11-year old border collie-chow mix; and Oreo, a 9-year old, 105-pound border collie-great dane mix. Maddy loves playing with her brothers. She and Oreo are best friends. She is happy, loving, healthy, and active - and she gets around just as well as any dog on four legs!
Maddy is a wonderful example of the good things that can happen when people care enough to help a creature in need. I am proud to be part of this wonderful organization, and will continue to do all I can to help GPG rescue and rehabilitate the neglected animals of East St. Louis.
|
|
 |
|
ADOPT. |
Adoption Events
10.22.11 6pm - 11 pm
2nd Annual
Trivial Pawsuit
Fairview Heights, IL
10.29.11 10am-6pm
St. Louis Pet Expo
St. Charles Convention Center
St. Charles, MO
Click here for our events calendar |
| Low Cost Spay/Neuter |
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
|
|
Video links
 | |
Gateway Girls and Jonesy. B2, Nevada, Hurley, Miscah, Womba and Horton. |
|
 | |
Yella |
Gateway
Pet Guardians
doesn't just
rescue dogs!!
|
Donate Now!
Help homeless animals by donating to Gateway Pet Guardians. | |
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.
|
|
|
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.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!
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
