Safe Harbor's Lab Gab
April 2009
Volume II, Issue 5 |
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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.
Statistics as of March 31, 2009
This month YTD
Labs Taken in.... 23 66
Labs Placed... 23 62
Spayed/Neutered.... 10 24
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Hello Friends of Safe Harbor,
Spring is here and what better time to do a little "spring cleaning" for your favorite pup than at our 3rd Annual Bath Day fundraiser on April 11! Our Lab loving volunteers will be on hand to scrub, fluff and buff your best friend. You'll have a great time meeting other Lab lovers, browsing some fun stuff and best of all helping the rescued Labs while your Lab has some good clean fun. See you there!
Hope you'll enjoy our new monthly feature "Kara's Trails". Kara will give you the inside scoop on some great personally Lab-tested hikes. Grab a day pack, some water for your best friend and get ready to hit the trail!
Best Regards,
Jacky
President
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue
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Success Story ~ Midas' Touch 
At their very first meeting, Midas captured the hearts of Caroline and Keith, and their Lab, Faithy. Still mourning the loss of their beloved Lab, Toby, Caroline and Keith decided to take a chance after seeing Midas' picture on our website, and "at least meet him." Although no one can replace the loss of a beloved pet, Midas has managed to fill the emptiness left by Toby's passing in his own special way. "Midas has the biggest heart of any Lab we have ever met. For a puppy his temperament is even, gentle, calm and loving. He's just a sweet, sweet guy." Say his new owners. "At 80 pounds, he seems to know how big his is, is cautious around our littler Lab Faithy, and is gentle when he approaches for playtime, love and attention, which is often." Midas enjoys his daily walks and playtime, and is learning "the ropes" of being a running partner, too. He is happy to just lie near Caroline and Keith while they work, quiet as a mouse. He has formed a strong bond with Faithy, and cuddled his way onto laps, every bed in the house, and the entire family. He looks forward to many years of adventures, car rides, running, hiking and family time ~ in short Midas' Touch has helped restore his family's happiness with his unconditional love while finding the loving, active life every Lab dreams of. Midas was recently voted Pet of the Month by High Plains Veterinary Hospital. Read his story at Midas Pet of the Month
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 Your Donations Make A Difference ~ Spree's Story
Barely eight weeks was old, little Spree was picked up as a stray in the middle of January. When she arrived at the shelter there was concern about her dangling, unusable front leg and they called us for help. Eager to explore her world like any puppy, Spree did her best to maneuver on three legs, but fell often and used her chin to support herself.
Pre-surgery water therapy
An orthopedic specialist at CSU examined Spree for us and found everything from her foot to her shoulder severely deformed. After gaining strength and balance on her three good legs, Spree had her useless leg removed. She's a recovering well in her new home.
Spree's surgery at CSU was very expensive and far exceeded her adoption fee. A thoughtful tax free donation to help with little Spree's medical costs would be most appreciated.
Please visit our Lab Life Line Fund page Lab Life Line Fund to see other Labs we are helping. 
"Already Running!" |
TRAINER'S CORNER ~ Socializing Your Puppy
Do you wonder why some dogs are afraid of children or people in hats? Some are "hand shy", don't like to walk on concrete surfaces or long grass? The answer is improper early socialization.
Puppy socialization is so important, that organizations as diverse as the AKC and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior published position papers this past year. Formerly, Veterinarians recommended keeping puppies home their first six months, to minimize possibilities of disease. Now Vets and Animal Behaviorists recommend puppies start socialization and training classes at 7-8 weeks. Research shows the first three months of a puppy's life are prime opportunities; their sociability far outweighs fear, and learning is fastest. Exposure to new people, experiences, other puppies, sounds, textures and surfaces, will build the puppy's confidence to meet any new challenges he may face. Dr. Ian Dunbar, recommends a puppy meet 100 different people by the age of 12 weeks; especially people of color and children of all sizes.
Puppy classes offer a controlled environment in which to learn simple obedience cues and interact safely with other puppies. The AVSAB recommends owners take advantage of every safe opportunity to expose young puppies to a variety of stimuli, and encourage enrollment in puppy classes before three months of age.
Take your puppy everywhere, introduce him to everyone and keep him safe, while that window of opportunity exists. The benefits will last his whole life long. To see more about puppy socialization and to visit Diane's website, click here: Waggins West Puppy Socialization article
*R.K.Anderson "Puppy Vaccination and Early Socialization Should Go Together", Center for Study, Human-Animal Relationships.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - Linda Hartman
One day back in 2002 Linda Hartman and her husband Ernie rescued an abused Lab and then thought . . . Oh my now what! An on line search led them to Safe Harbor and it was the start of a beautiful relationship. "I guess I was just born to rescue!" says Linda. "I love everything about it."
Linda, who is currently the Volunteer Coordinator and SHLR Database Manager, has done about every job imaginable at Safe Harbor: Foster Coordinator, Poop Sheet writer, Transport Coordinator, transporter, shelter rescuer, Lab photographer, adoption follow up and success story writer. Linda's husband, Ernie is her right hand helper for moral support, transport and photography.
When asked about a favorite rescue dog Lab, Linda said, "I've fallen in love so many times! I especially remember Bogart - he was a quick bonder and curled up on that cold hard shelter floor and put his head in my lap." Linda's heart belongs first and foremost to her 9 year old yellow Lab, Kelly and her eight year old Golden Retriever, Dugan. Every fall they all head up to Estes Park for an annual week long dog-oriented vacation. There they always look forward to seeing Pal, a senior black Lab who Ernie photographed as Mr. November for our 2008 calendar.
Linda with her kind heart, always friendly, helpful and thoughtful demeanor and ongoing dedication to Safe Harbor is the kind of volunteer most organizations can only dream of!
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 KARA'S TRAILS ~
Three days after the "March Blizzard of 2009", a friend and I and his two labs hiked the Beaver Brook Trail on Lookout Mountain.
The trail winds along the face of the mountain, alternating between open sunny stretches and cool forests. Sometimes you dodge large rocks on the ground, and other times you grab for a handhold on solid rock. It is a very scenic trail with a great variety of terrain.
There wasn't much change in elevation in the first mile and a half;
however, it was narrow in places with a couple "cliff hangers", so
wear sturdy shoes. Keep your eyes on the trail while in motion, but be
sure to stop often to appreciate the views and listen to the quiet.
Just short of the one mile point, there's a steep step. Look before
you leap. For some, this might be a good place to turn around. Just
past the 1.5 mile marker, a large rock, beautifully sculpted by the
elements, sits prominently on the point, making a pleasant picnic
spot. Keep your dogs leashed and away from the edge. We turned around
here - the full trail is 8.5 miles one way.
To get there, take 19th Street out of Golden. Turn left on Lookout
Mountain Road, and drive 3.3 miles. It's not well marked and looks
like a scenic overlook.
Dogs are required to be leashed on this trail, and while I may
occasionally report on leash-optional trails, owners of rescued labs
should be very cautious letting their dogs off leash.
Labs love to run free, and they may be on their best behavior with you
for months, hiding their true personality until one day they see the
open road and run like the wind. Ask me how I know!
 View from the trail |
| Upcoming Events
Safe Harbor Lab Rescue - Bath Day
Calling all dirty dawgs...
you bring 'em we'll wash 'em!
Saturday, April 11th
11am ~ 3pm
at
Muttz N Stuff
12620 Washington Lane #303
Parker, CO 80112
303-790-9490
Baths: $20 Large DogsNail trims ~ $5.00
Volunteers will be on hand to bathe and pamper you pup.
Proceeds to benefit SHLR!
no reservations required
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Foster Home Education Seminar
presented by Ted Terroux, Ted Terroux's Canine College
Date: Sunday May 3, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Place: Ted Terroux's Canine College, 9797 W. Colfax Ave, Lakewood, C0 80215
Cost: $25/person or $35/couple; this includes a copy of Ted's book "The Complete Family Dog" and light refreshments
To reserve your space please call 303-232-1034 or email TedTerroux@att.net; space is limited; do not bring dogs.
All our current foster families and those who may be interested in fostering are encouraged to attend this practical and informative seminar.
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PHOTO CONTEST REMINDER ~ Keep those entries coming!
DEADLINE IS MAY 15TH!
Thanks for supporting us!
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| Letter to the Editors
Thank you very much for the work all of you do it is amazing that so many of our four footed friends need your special attention. My family and I rescued Zach last year through SHLR about mid year. We had already rescued another lab Knight (87 pounds today) from the Mish May Foundation earlier in 2008 and wanted him to have a friend. It quite frankly has been one of the most rewarding experiences my wife and I have ever had. Zach is now called Venture he is 63 pounds and has got to be the most loving friend a household could have. With some special attention to his training needs (training is always on going with Labs as you know) he has developed in to one fine guy. When he first came home he did have some issues but a positive environment, some specific training and lots of love from us and his partner Knight he has done great. It is hard to picture life without our Labs. We love them both and they us. Thanks again for doing what you do, it takes special people for special dogs. You folks are special.
Richard & Vicki Carl
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 EVERGREEN ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE LOOKING FOR ANIMAL EMERGENCY TEAM VOLUNTEERS
EAPL's Animal Emergency Team sets up a temporary shelter to care for the animals belonging to people evacuated from their homes during a fire or other disaster, and who are staying at a Red Cross shelter in the area. The current dry conditions make it seem almost inevitable that there will be a fire this season of a large enough proportion that our Animal Emergency Team will be needed. EAPL does not have enough volunteers to maintain the shelter for an extended period. If you are intertested in volunteering or if you would like to know more about the Animal Emergency Team, please call Suzie deDisse at (303) 674-4121, or send an email to c1suzie2@comcast.net
Please tell Suzie you heard about this volunteer opportunity in Safe Harbor Lab Rescue's newsletter.
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| Contact Information
601 16th Street, #C-322
Golden, CO 80401 phone: 303 464-7777
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