Safe Harbor's Lab Gab
August 2008
Volume I, Issue 7 |
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Our Mission Statement
SafeHarbor Lab Rescue is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) charitable organization run solely by volunteers for the purpose of successfully rehoming stray or surrendered Labrador Retrievers in Colorado by offering medical care, training resources and breed education.
2008 Statistics as of July 31
Labs Placed.......116
Labs Taken In...132
Spayed/Neutered....45
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Hello Friends of Safe Harbor!
Hope you're having a wonderful summer whether it's mountain hikes or warm lazy evenings hanging out on the deck with your "fur children". A newly rescued Lab would love to hang out with you too for a few weeks this summer on their journey to their forever home. So take the plunge and give fostering a try!
Lab Fest 2008 will be Saturday, September 20 so save the date! Not only is it THE most fun social event of the entire year for Labs, it's also our major fundraiser. What better way to spend a fall Saturday afternoon than playing with Labs and helping others in need.
We know Labs are "all paws" when it comes to sending email, but we'd certainly enjoy hearing from you too! Email us at LabGab@SafeHarborLab.org
Best regards,
Jacky
President
SHLR
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 August Success Story - SamanthaSweet 11 year old Samantha went home to her angel mom Leslie of Littleton today! When Leslie applied with us, she was actually looking at a 3 year old...but she told one of our adoption team members that she kept coming back to Samantha's adorable face online and knew she was the one! Sweet Sam came to us from a shelter after being dropped off by her family. Luckily for her (and for us!), our wonderful intake team brought her in - and she was blessed with Wil as her foster dad - who just completely fell in love with her during the 2 months he had her - and who also got some weight off of her! This very resilient and lovely girl is laid back and so good natured! She came into rescue a rubenesque 96 pounds and is working hard to get down to about 65. Leslie is committed to gentle exercise and restricted calories with a healthy diet to make that happen this summer. She will be so much more comfortable - although she raced up the stairs of the condo to get to her new mom! Pictured here is Samantha and Leslie at home...don't they both look gorgeous and happy together? They were off to the store to get supplies as our adoption coordinator was leaving - we pray they have many, many years together! Fetch! More Success Stories |
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August Vet Corner - SNAKE!
By Jeff Steen, DVM
Colorado is home to many species of snakes. Almost all are considered harmless but two are poisonous - the Massasauga rattlesnake and the Western rattlesnake.
The Massasauga is a small rattlesnake found in southeastern Colorado below 5500 feet in elevation, and their encounters with dogs are rare.
There are two subspecies of Western rattlesnakes in Colorado - the Midget Faded rattlesnake and the Prairie rattlesnake. The Midget Faded rattlesnake is small (up to 26 inches) and is primarily seen in western Colorado. The Prairie rattlesnake is larger (up to 48 inches) and is seen all along the Front Range up to 7500 feet in elevation.
Unfortunately, Prairie rattlesnake bites are very common along the front range of Colorado. Most dogs are bitten on the face or, less commonly, the leg. The severity of the bite varies tremendously depending on the size and age of the snake, and the amount of venom injected.
Prairie rattlesnakes hibernate from October to May, so almost all bites are seen in late spring and summer. Signs of a rattlesnake bite include fang marks with oozing blood, rapid swelling at the site of the bite, intense pain and signs of shock such as weakness, rapid heart rate, pale gums and collapse.
If your dog is bitten by a Prairie rattlesnake, do not apply tourniquets as this will affect circulation and may result in serious tissue damage. Also do not try to suck out the toxin. The best thing to do is keep your dog quiet and seek veterinary care as quickly as possible.
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 TEAM SPOTLIGHT - Transportation Team
This month's volunteer team is responsible for the transportation of Labs from shelters, current homes to foster homes and occasionally to a showing. The transportation team works with many of the other volunteer teams; Foster, Adoption, Shelter Liaison and Owner Surrender Coordinator. Some Labs take leisurely road trips around the city and surrounding areas and others as far as out of state (Las Vegas to Missouri).
Said transportation volunteer, Patsy Juarez "Transporting can be stressful and fun at the same time. It's a great feeling to take a dog out of a stressful, shelter situation and it can be heartbreaking to pick up a Lab being surrendered by his/her owner. You keep doing the work because you know there is a great moment at the end and the dog's life will be changed for the better." And for the better it always is for the Labs as you can read in the adoption/success stories on our web site. The transportation volunteers get great satisfaction and closure from knowing they took part in a successful adoption.
Our 'top dog' transportation volunteers are Nancy Lynch, Bonnie MacLaren, Chris McKeon and Becky Wilson (in photo). With the rise in gas price this summer, the transportation team is paramount - Many Wags!!
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| Dear LabGab Editor,
THANKS! please send me more newsletters they are very interesting
OLIVIA (9 years old)
Oregon
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I live in Craig, Colorado and am the Treasurer of the Humane Society of Moffat County. I found your website a few years ago and reading it all the time is what convinced me to become involved in our local organization. I have shared my home with two labs and suppose they will always be my favorite breed, so that is why I will always check in on Safe Harbor and follow all the good work that you are doing. I wish I could send money all the time...but our local pets need all the help they can get. The newsletter is a great addition to your website and I thoroughly enjoy it! I purchased a calendar last year and love it. This year, I entered photos of my dogs in the 2009 calendar contest and anxiously await the results. Whether my dogs are featured or not, I will buy another calendar because it was very well done and you can't beat the subject matter! Just looking at it everyday brings a smile to my face.
Best Regards,
Carol Scott
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WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR HEAVEN....
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is
likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. But I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, and yet I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.
10. On that difficult journey, on that ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there. Because I love you so.
Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful thing without God's critters. We do not have to wait for heaven to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness.
It is here now, and it has 4 paws....
(this was sent to me by a volunteer -- if anyone knows the author, please let me know so he/she can be credited - Leslie)
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Tidbits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When grooming your Lab outdoors, leave some of her hair in the yard and the birds will pick it up and use it to insulate their nests nearby. Those nests often are used over and over again every year and your Lab's soft fur will help warm baby birds for many years to come. |
Upcoming Events
LabFest 2008 - Join us Saturday, September 20, 2008 at City Bark for our annual celebration of Labs and their families. There will be a Silent Auction, Barbecue, and SWIMMING for the Labs! You can now sign up through the Safe Harbor website and pay via PayPal.
We are excited to again have Bristol Brewery and Great Range Bison donate food and beverages for Labfest - Many Wags to them!
Please contact Judy at funkskater@mywdo.com if you are interested in donating an item for the silent auction or would like information to be an event sponsor. |
 FOSTER HOMES Desperately NEEDEDHello Dear Lab Lover!
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is rescuing us in leaps and bounds! This year they'll save the lives of over 200 Labs just like me! But for every Lab rescued, a short term foster home is needed . . . Will you please help us this summer?
You provide: lots of TLC, good meals and help us with manners. We usually stay a couple of weeks . . . unless you'd like us to sit and stay longer!
Safe Harbor provides: our medical care, training and behavior support and other help as needed.
"Being in foster care is like going from the shelter with little hope to winning the doggie lottery!" woofs our buddy Max.
If you would like to learn more about helping save Lab lives though fostering, please contact Mary at yellow4lab@comcast.net.
Thank you!
The Very Grateful Labs |
| Contact Information
601 16th Street, #C-322
Golden, CO 80401 phone: 303 464-7777
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