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GSP Rescue New England Newsletter
January 2010
In This Issue
Meet Sam!
Health Tip
Adoption Updates!
Volunteer Spotlight
Quick Links
Did you know..
~GSP Rescue New England is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit. 
 Any donations made are tax- deductible!   
 
~We successfully placed over 50 dogs in 2009!
 
~and that we have over 150 volunteers that devote their time and energy to the process of finding homes for our dogs!
Success Story?
If you've adopted a dog from us, we want to hear from you!  Send us an update about your successful adoption along with a picture and we will feature your story in a future newsletter!  Send updates to:
 
 [email protected]
Easy and FREE Ways to Donate:
www.iGive.com/GSPRescueNE
 
www.shaws.com
 
(community rewards program..our vendor ID 5336085)
Consider adopting Sam!
SamA well trained Buddy... 
 
Sam has been in foster care now for some time.  He's taken full advantage of that time to learn all of the commands - sit, stay, come, down, etc.  In addition, he even knows a few tricks!  Sam is trained to an invisible fence, an electronic collar, and thrives off leash.  He's also been trained to run next to you as you bike or run!
 
Sam will thrive in an active family and will make a great partner for any long distance runner or a mountain biker!  Sam has a high prey drive, so we advise a home with older children and without cats or small dogs.  He does better with female dogs than male, so a home with a female companion or a single dog home will be best for him. 
 
To read more about Sam or to view other adoptable dogs, visit our adoptables page: www.gsprescuene.org/adoptables.htm
 
Health Tip: BLOAT
Left untreated, a dog suffering from bloat can die within 30 minutes!! 
Bloat is a life-threatening and painful condition where the stomach becomes filled with gas and may twist.  If the stomach twists, it's blood supply will be cut off, risking death of stomach tissue and compromising the blood supply for the entire body. 
Risk factors for bloat include:
   Deep, narrow-chested dogs
  Older dogs and male dogs
  Gulping food and water
  Vigorous exercise immediately before or after meals
  High levels of stress at or immediately following a meal  
Symptoms of bloat include:
 Abdominal swelling or tenderness
 Retching without vomiting
 Drooling
  Licking the air
 Restlessness
 Hunched back
To Help Prevent bloat:
 Avoid exercise for one to two hours after a meal or excessive drinking

 Don't let your dog roll on his back after eating

Don't feed your dog when he is overly stressed

 Monitor your dog after his meal
 

If you think your dog is suffering from bloat, immediately take him to your veterinary clinic or an emergency facility!  GasX may be used to try to help relieve gas pressure while you seek medical attention. 

 

GSPs are at high risk for bloat!  Please speak with your veterinarian to ascertain your dog's risk for bloat and what you can do to prevent it.    

Issue: #2 Jan. 2010
Dear Friends,
 
We hope your holiday season was filled with happiness and joy as you celebrated with family, friends, and your beloved animal companions!  
 
With the start of the year marked by a very successful adoption (see Gunner's story below!), we are hoping to make many more matches between owners and dogs this year!  If you are considering adopting a dog, please check out the dogs on our site; the right dog may waiting there for you.  And remember, often the dog we think we want is not the dog we need.     
 
New Hampshire Volunteers Needed!!
We are looking for individuals who would be willing to conduct screenings for adoption applicants in New Hampshire.  The screening process includes a phone call, a vet reference, and a home visit.  Central and Northern New Hampshire volunteers are especially needed, though we need volunteers across the state!  The need for volunteer hours varies based on application submissions, volunteers, and the location of the applicant.  This is a rewarding experience as you have the opportunity to meet new people and you are helping a dog find its way to a new home!  Training on the screening process will be provided to new volunteers.
If you can volunteer a few hours a month to help us out, please contact Jami at: [email protected]
 
Sincerely,
GSP Rescue Board Members:
Celeste Long, Audrey Carmosino, and Jami Barrett
Adoption Updates!
GunnerFirst Adoption of 2010 is a Perfect Match!   
 
Gunner, a 5 1/2 year old owner surrender, was adopted by Jim and his family on New Years Day!  Gunner's former owner trained him as a hunting dog and preferred he go to a hunting home.  Jim has plans to take Gunner hunting with his friends and family next season and is excited to see him work the field.  In the meantime, Gunner is getting to know his new family!  With three kids and another dog around the house, Gunner has plenty of attention and companionship.  Jim enjoys spending time with Gunner and is finding that he is a well trained and obedient companion.  Above, Sam gives Gunner a hug while their resident Lab supervises under the glow of the sunrise.  
 
A happy ending is the best way to start the new year!  We look forward to more happy endings as the year continues.     
 
To see dogs available for adoption, please visit our web site at:  www.gsprescuene.org
 
If you have a success story you wish to share, please email Jami at: [email protected] 
Volunteer Spotlight
CelesteCeleste Long - President/Board Member
 
Twenty-seven years ago, I brought home two 8-week old GSP puppies named Luke and Lucy and I knew I was hooked on the breed.
 

Born and raised in NYC, I hadn't a clue what a GSP is or even what owning a dog was all about!  My husband said he always wanted a GSP so I found a litter advertised in our local paper,went and met them and came home with not one but two! Luke and Lucy lived a long life with us, brought us much joy, and when the time came, having spent their entire lives together, were put to sleep together too. We have many fond memories and wonderful stories about our Luke and Luce. 

 

I wasn't ready for another dog for a long time but our kids wanted a dog badly because they had never been without one. I finally gave in and found GSP Rescue online, filled out an application halfheartedly and forgot about it. This was the year that a GSP won Westminster so everyone was applying to adopt one.I never thought I'd hear back.A month or so later I got a call from Michelle Salyers, the founder of GSP Rescue NE and still running it at that time.She had a young female dog, Roxie, in Missouri who was just sprung from a kill shelter and asked if I might consider taking her. I asked why she was turned in to the shelter and Michelle said "excessive barking."  I thought to myself..."oh boy..I don't know about this, I have neighbors with young children.."...Michelle convinced me to take Roxie on a trial basis for a month, that if I didn't love her I could return her but would I please commit to at least a month. Again, halfheartedly, I said ok. 

 

A few weeks later I received an email from Michelle that Roxie was going to be transported to CT and she included the transport list in her email. The list was 3 pages long! 33 people had volunteered to transport this one little girl from the Midwest to New England.  I was absolutely stunned when I read it! All these people for ONE dog! I knew then what a special organization rescue is.  Soo...on a dark, snowy night in February my Roxie came home and it was love at first sight. Roxie is still here of course (and rarely barks!), along with County from Maine and Scooby from Texas as well as a bunch of other fosters that have been happily placed with their forever homes.

 

Rescue work has become one of the great pleasures of my life.  I meet people all the time, every day, that share a common passion and a joke or two about their beloved GSPs. The stolen food off the counter, learning to sleep in 1/4 of a bed, stolen shoes and socks, coming home to what used to be a stuffed toy animal and is now just stuffing all over the house...you know the stories...we all have them. It gives us a common bond and makes us appreciative of the blessings our dogs bring to us. Most of all my rescue work and all of the friends I've made and willing volunteers I am in contact with every day remind me in this world of chaos how good, how decent, and how kind people are.

 

I thank all of you for hearing the call for help and for stepping up to the plate. Our volunteers are the best and I'm very proud to be a part of this organization!

 

Oh...and p.s...whenever my husband comes home and there's a new little brown face looking at him he'll always ask "What's this one's story? And how long is he here for?"...my answer is always the same to him.. "You only have yourself to blame...I did not know what a GSP is..."

 
Each month we will introduce a dedicated volunteer.We will start by formally introducing our board members so you may get to know us better!      
 
GSP Rescue NE gives a special thanks to Tracy Landauer.  :-)