Tzu News
The Newsletter of Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue
November 2010
One by one.. Until there are none..
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President's Message
It is remarkable to me how each year passes more quickly than the last. It seems just a few months
 | | Celeste and the Faulks |
ago that we were preparing to wrap up 2009, and here we are on the brink of the 2010 holiday season.
 | | Aidan and Rachel |
October was a VERY busy month for CSTR as we saw our Tallahassee, FL foster program really get up and running and the IL/IN program continue to step up to address the ever present need. We saw the intake of several more Missouri dogs, freed from their lives in puppy mill prisons, into our foster program, including three refugees who came in on Halloween. Alvin, Aspen, Martin, Roxanne, Mandy and Justin arrived earlier in the month, and then three girls, yet unnamed, arrived unexpectedly on Halloween afternoon. Those three girls are currently at our vet, waiting to be evaluated, spayed, vaccinated and, of course, groomed before they head to their foster homes and the first big steps toward learning what life outside a mill is like and preparing for forever homes of their own.
 | | Cooper and the Griffins |
We did see several of our foster dogs find their forever homes in the month
 | | Breanna and the Kruseys |
of October, including three in the Tallahassee program, and are thrilled to congratulate Joel, Francine, Travis, Breanna, Celeste, Aidan, Cooper, Justin and their new families!
As has been my constant refrain, we desperately need foster homes, both in the Chicagoland/ northwest Indiana area as well as in Tallahassee, FL. The number of dogs we can rescue and set on the way to new lives is limited each month by the number of foster "spots" we have open and, of course, the funds to vet them properly. Right now, we are filling open spots almost immediately as foster dogs are placed in their forever homes, but we are also turning away large numbers of other dogs needing to get into rescue just because we don't have anywhere to
 | | Joel and the McGaths |
put them.
We are closely watching the state of Missouri as Proposition B goes to a vote on Tuesday, Nov. 2. This proposition could drastically change the conditions that puppy mill dogs would live in, the number of dogs bred and how often they are bred, and require puppy mills to make huge, costly changes to their facilities. It could affect CSTR in that, if Proposition B is passed, it is estimated that at least a fourth of the mills in the state will shut down, rather than pay the fines and costs, which would result in 40,000 or more dogs being released. While CSTR does not suffer under any delusion that we can make a dent in 40,000 needy dogs, we do know that we can help the ones that our resources will allow. We cannot do that, however, without foster homes, volunteers and donations for vet bills.
 | | Justin and the Bozemans |
If you have been thinking about fostering, we need you. CSTR provides as much or as little financial assistance as you need, in addition to covering all veterinary costs for the dogs in our program. I have been fostering for almost ten years, and I can honestly tell you that it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To see a dog who had never known what a warm bed, good food and affection were like blossom under rescue's care and then find the right forever home and begin the life of a cherished pet and friend makes all of the ugly things that I see every day in the shelters and puppy mills worthwhile. Will you fall in love with your foster dog? Absolutely. Each one makes his/her own place in your heart, and they take a bit of your heart with them when they are adopted. But the joy far outweighs the
 | | Indy, Anne and Travis |
pain, and each one teaches you something that you can use as you bring the next foster into your home and family. If you are ready to bring one of these wonderful dogs into your home and family and become a CSTR foster family, please visit our web site and complete the Foster/Volunteer Application today.
If you are unable to foster a rescued dog but would like to help, we desperately need help with fundraising. If you are creative, if you like to talk to people, or if you just have a heart to help these dogs who so desperately need us, we'd love to have you. Visit our web site today to see the opportunities that exist for volunteers and to fill out our Foster/Volunteer Application.
And last but certainly not least, we cannot continue to do any of this without the funds to pay for
 | | Francine and Sandy |
vetting and other expenses associated with rehabilitating these dogs. With the holidays coming, we hope that if you can give, you will to help us change the lives of these dogs who desperately need us. To see how you can donate, please visit our web site today or click on the PayPal button at the bottom of this message.
My thanks to each and every one of you who reads this newsletter every month and who donates of your time and money to help us further our mission of making a difference in the lives of these wonderful dogs.
Leann Lund
President
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