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Greetings!
| Happy, Happy New Year!!
2013 brings with it some personnel changes to GSP Rescue New England.
Sadly, we say so-long to volunteer coordinator Andrew MacQueen. Andrew was a huge asset to GSP Rescue. Unfortunately, due to family and work commitments, he found he no longer had the time necessary to devote to Rescue, and made the tough decision to step away. We'll miss him.
Filling his shoes will be Michelle Michaels, a GSP long time volunteer, owner and rescuer. Also filling a new spot at Rescue will be Janice Gregory, who has signed on as corresponding secretary.
Both Michelle and Janice are GSP owners and rescuers. You can read more about them below.
These changes show how, as we enter the new year, GSP Rescue New England continues to expand. As the number of dogs we rescue and rehome grows, the more personnel we need to keep the program running.
We are so very thankful to have people step in to help us carry the workload, and we are MOST greatful for the volunteers who take time out of their daily lives to help us with foster care, with transports, to make phone calls to vets, to potential adopters, and those who, when they can't give of their time, repeatedly open their pocketbooks and help us financially.
Without any and all of you, we wouldn't be where we are today.
So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!
Celeste, Audrey and Michele GSP Rescue NE Board of Directors |
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Introducing Michelle and Janice!
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 | | Volunteer coordinator Michelle Michaels, of Swansea, Mass., and her rescue GSP, Rebel. |
Back in the fall of 2009, Michelle Michaels' husband started looking into the GSP breed and along with that, rescue. Michelle wasn't completely on board at that time because she didn't know enough about the breed. The more they found out, though, the more interested she became. "When [GSP Rescue NE volunteer] Peter Russo came to do our home visit with [his rescue GSP] Gunnar, that was it," says Michelle. "I was hooked!"
A few months later, the Michaels were introduced to Rebel and the love affair began again.
"Slowly, over the next couple of years," says Michelle, "we stayed in the rescue's loop of information and began to volunteer. At first we fostered, then worked on adoption screenings, and transport. I have had the pleasure of helping out at a dog show booth for GSP Rescue NE and the Yankee Candle fundraiser.
"I love being involved in the rescue and I'm looking forward to helping others do the same.
"We are such a wonderful family in this rescue and as folks see that, I hope they get just as passionate as I am to help these amazing dogs.
"This is a new challenge for me in GSP Rescue NE but I hope to strengthen and grow our volunteer team to better serve the rescue as a whole. And I am so thankful to the Board for giving me this opportunity!"
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 | | Corresponding secretary Janice Gregory, of Chepachet, RI, and her GSP rescue, Maia. |
Janice got started with German Shorthaired Pointers in 1983, when she was given littermates, Remington and Cagney.
She's shown GSPs in the breed and obedience ring, and currently competes with her dogs in field trials, agility and flyball.
"I got involved with rescue five years ago when I was looking for another dog to add to my crew. I hadn't had a shorthair in a few years and thought that a rescue dog might be the way to go. I discovered GSP Rescue NE on the internet," she says.
"Since then, I've been lucky enough to have served as a foster home, worked on adopter evaluations, done home checks, dog evaluations, and driven transports. My very favorite jobs are putting together this newsletter and helping with fundraisers.
"I really enjoy meeting people and hearing their dog stories. And what could be better than dealing with people who are really, seriously looking for a rest-of-their-life dog and finding them the perfect match through Rescue?"
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Picture This!
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 | A mural commissioned by Laurel Patt for Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut features her rescue GSP Bruno!
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GSP Rescue adopter Laurel Patt, of Middletown, Conn., works as director of radiology at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Conn.
Every day, patients would pass through her treatment area for MRIs and CT scans -- those full-body x-rays taken in machines resembling tubes. Not surprisingly, not every patient loved undergoing these procedures, especially if they were anxious or claustrophobic.
Recently Middlesex decided to put a new MRI suite in the hospital, implementing the newest technology, a "wide-open" MRI.
 This machine combines a much larger bore (circular opening) size and a much shorter "tunnel" (length).
The new machinery was great, but Laurel wanted even more comfort for her patients. "I wanted some artwork so [the area] wouldn't be so scary for the people" undergoing procedures.
So she called an artist who had previously done some artwork for the hospital.
 | Patrick Ganino
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Patrick Ganino of Madison, Conn., runs a company called Creative Evolution. He paints murals.
Laurel was pretty specific about what she wanted her patients to see. "I wanted a picture like they were looking outside," she said.
 | Painting of the handsome Bruno Patt
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So Patrick created a mural of a woman sitting in an Adirondack chair overlooking a pond, with a dog by her side. But it's not just any dog. It's Laurel's best buddy, Bruno, who was adopted through GSP Rescue about a year and a half ago!
One day, during the painting process, the artist, looking for subjects to add to the mural, turned to Laurel and randomly asked, "What kind of dog do you have?" "A German Shorthaired Pointer," said Laurel. And she brought in a picture of Bruno. The rest is history.
 | | Laurel Patt's two GSPs, Della, left, and Bruno. Bruno is the subject of a mural at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut. |
Says Ganino in his blog, "Painting a mural for the Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT is always a pleasure. The efforts to create something for the patients is a unified process for a similar goal. This latest mural that I painted for the hospital included landscapes, faux wood, Trompe l'Oeil, and more. It is a great combination, ultimately transforming this space into something warm and inviting."
And it offers the comfort of a dog. We all know how healing THAT can be!
 | | The completed project at Ganino's studio in Connecticut. |
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How Smart Are Dogs?
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How smart ARE dogs? Let's take a look . . .
 | | Nova Science Now: How Smart Are Dogs? |
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Lucky Dog Contest!
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 Is your adopted dog the luckiest pet ever?
Let everyone know and win some money for yourself and GSP Rescue New England.
Petfinder.com is offering the "Luckiest Pet Contest." Go to the Petfinder website and check out the directions.
One lucky pet can help GSP Rescue NE win a $5,000 donation, as well as a $500 gift card to Petco for yourself!
Petco is celebrating lucky 2013 by sharing the stories of the luckiest adopted pets -- then helping adoptable pets find homes. Pet parents will upload a photo or video of their pet and describe why he/she is the luckiest, giving color to their life before and after adoption.
Lucky pets can enter the contest now until 11:59 a.m. (just before noon) on Feb. 20. Entrants will select a Petfinder member when submitting their story. The voting period will start on Feb. 21 and visitors can vote once a day for animals throughout the contest, with the voting period ending March 18.
The luckiest pet with the most votes will win a $500 gift card to Petco and a $5,000 donation in their name to the designated organization.
When filling out the information on Petfinder, the code for GSP Rescue New England is MA212.
Good luck!! |
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Recalls
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 Nestlé Purina PetCare Company has announced it is voluntarily withdrawing its Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats sold in the U.S. until further notice.
The company is taking this action after learning this week that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky products.
These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, but are not among those approved in the U.S.
For more information, go to recall
No other Milo's Kitchen products are affected.
The New York State Department of Agriculture informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the company that trace amounts of residual antibiotics had been found in several lots of Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky.
For more information, go to milorecall
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| Lincoln Update! |  Many of you have followed Lincoln's story. Here's a picture of him when we first took him into our program as a stray from a shelter in CT. Emaciated, suffering from Sarcoptic Mange among some other illnesses, we're happy to report that Lincoln has almost made a full recovery. He needs to gain a little more weight but is feeling oh so much better!
Here's proof positive of your donations at work! We couldn't do what we do without you. Just look at our boy now! | | Lincoln and his new sibling Peanut |
Way to go Linc! |
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Look Who's Been Adopted!
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More GSPs have found their forever homes!
They are: Thorn, Buck, Lady, Rigby, Dobbie, Lola, Lizzy, Gigi, Lincoln and Cash.
Hooray for the dogs!! Hooray for their new families!! :-)
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Donations
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Donations have gratefully been accepted this month from:
Chris and Jenny Hart
Alan Goff
Joan Lucas
Meirav Werbel
Melissa Graham
Prudential (matching funds for Melissa Graham)
Sylvia Hess (Fidelity Trust)
Mark Sundermann, in memory of Katie Sundermann
Thomas F. Barks III
Zeppa Studios (Project Rescue)
Sue Tenuta
Cynthia Cook
Margaret Reidy
Molly and Thomas Kingston (donation on behalf of Liz and Aaron Markham)
Douglas and Johanna Voss (donation on behalf of their mom, Christine Voss)
Kathryn Cordeiro and Karin Pomerantz
Ray Lafazia
JoAnn Stevelos
Lauren and Todd Bailey
Frank Straccia
Thank you all for your generosity!
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Thank You, Donors!
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For those who have graciously made donations to GSP Rescue NE and would like a receipt, please contact Celeste.
And, once again, a big THANK YOU to you all. :-)
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Calendars Are Selling Fast!
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We still have 2013 calendars featuring our rescue dogs available but they're selling like hotcakes! Go here to order yours before they're gone! |
| Bobo's Playland |  Bobo's Playland has extended their generosity to GSP Rescue NE until the end of February. 50% of all sales of their products will go to rescue. There are new wonderful cards for Valentine's day, fabulous local coffees made expressly for Bobo and some other new products! Check it out! www.bobosplayland.com |
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Help Us With
Our Year-Round Fundraisers
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Zeppa Studios designs and produces unique gifts for dog and other animal lovers.
Their Project Rescue was specifically created to help rescue groups earn money and for customers to save money!
Enter the coupon code for German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue New England (GSPRNE) during your online check-out or mention it to the customer service rep when ordering by phone. Customers get 10 percent off their order, GSP Rescue NE will get 20 percent.
For information or to see their product line, go to ZeppaStudios
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Thundershirt Program!
Buy one get one for rescue! |  Does your dog suffer from anxiety during thunderstorms, have separation anxiety or travel anxiety?
Thundershirt's gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect for most dogs. Like swaddling an infant, or pressure shirts used by thousands of people with autism. Thundershirt has already helped tens of thousands of dogs around the world.
You can now purchase one for your dog and have one donated to rescue! Read more about Thundershirt and how it works here.
Go Here to find out how to order through Thundershirt's B1G1 rescue program at discounted prices and with free shipping! |
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We need your help. We have recently partnered with Alphapooch to help us provide more comfortable living for our pet residents through their Buy a Bed Give a Shelter Bed Program. Alphapooch has agreed to donate a shelter bed to us for our foster dogs for every pet bed you purchase from their site: Alphapooch.com/pfgroups.
It's pretty simple. For every item you purchase for your family pets, the pets at our foster homes will get a comfortable bed to rest on! Alphapooch uses a wonderfully soft bedding material called Unreal Lambskin® that both cats and dogs just adore. We love the beds too as they are completely machine washable.
You can find more information on the program as well as their extensive catalogue through the link below (just click HERE to go directly to their website).
Help us make our foster homes a more relaxing place for our dogs while waiting for their forever home and while also treating your own pet to a luxurious new bed!
Thank you for the help!
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Book Donations Needed
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GSP Rescue NE is joining with
Got Books? as a new means of fundraising. Got Books? works by placing bins for recycled books in parking lots. If you have a parking lot with one extra space for a bin please contact Celeste.
This is a one year commitment. All you have to do is donate the space and call Got Books? to empty the bins when they're full.
Rescue gets paid per pound of books. Got Books? will work for rescue through active participation by the GSP Rescue organization and the community.
Requirements are:
1. Safety - The bin must be placed in a safe location for drivers, pedestrians and participants
2. Location - The Got Books? container should be visible to your members as well as the surrounding community
Successful programs establish a plan for getting books from the community. Posting information in the weekly program and bulletins, posting information on your website, and alerting local paper
about the Got Books? program and what Rescue is raising the money for. Every organization is unique and there is more than one way to accomplish the task of getting the books in to the Got Books? container.
Got Books? is a great way to increase recycling and earn extra money for programs within Rescue.
For more information on Got Books? or if you have room at your business to house a collection bin, contact Celeste.
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Dog Door Discount!
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GSP Rescue New England is listed among rescue groups and shelters that have participated in Hale Pet Door's Rescue Rewards program.
The Rescue Rewards works this way: When customers let Hale know that they adopted a pet (either recently or in the past), they receive a 10 percent discount on the cost of their Hale Pet Door. And then Hale makes a donation for that same 10 percent amount to the organization that the customer tells them about. In 2010, Hale donated more than $20,000 to rescues and shelters all over the country.
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Partners For Pets Program
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Bissell's Partners for Pets program supports pet adoption and homeless pets. When you buy selected pet products on bissell.com, you save 10% (with free shipping) and BISSELL will donate 10% of your purchase price to a pet shelter of your choice. For more information, click here.
Use the code ADOPT at the BISSELL checkout to receive the discount. Click here to view eligible products.
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COMEDY CORNER
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A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: "Talking Dog For Sale."
He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.
The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking German Shorthaired Pointer sitting there.
"You talk?" he asks.
"Yep," the GSP replies.
After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says, "So, what's your story?"
The GSP looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so ... I told the CIA.
"In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.
"I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running ...
"But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger, so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in.
"I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.
 "I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."
The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.
"Ten dollars," the owner says.
"Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"
"Because he's full of baloney. He's never been out of the yard."
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Milo's Kitchen has also announced
