Since getting our nonprofit status, SNIP has made some great connections with local and national spay/neuter/rescue organizations. The most well known is Best Friends Animal Society, creator and sponsor of No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA), of which SNIP is now a member (click here for Best Friends article on NKLA). Although we're not in LA proper, our membership allows us to bring our rescues to NKLA's adoption events-- a great alternative for finding these pets forever homes.

Also, as we've mentioned, we work with FixNation to neuter colony (feral) cats in the (trap/neuter/return) TNR effort that has proven so successful in many areas. See the video for more info on TNR.

Developing such connections in the spay/neuter/rescue community lets us share resources with like-minded folks committed to helping our four-legged buddies.

On a Social Network note, SNIP is now on Pinterest, the hottest new social site (kind of like YouTube for images). You can see our board (the place on Pinterest that shows our pictures) by clicking here.

We hope you enjoy this issue! And we want to thank profusely those who have donated to our cause--you're our angels!

 

Six of the 13 Desert Puppies.

Sometimes, to break up my hour-long commute, I take one of the less traveled dirt roads that criss-cross the desert in the Antelope Valley. It was on one such diversion that I came across a huge white dog walking on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. She was a friendly dog, thirsty, hungry, and clearly had just had puppies. After she ate and drank (I always carry food and water in the truck), she started walking back down the road. I followed and watched her turn into a break in a fence leading to a rundown property. A few skinny horses were milling around, and a dilapidated trailer provided the only shade, where the white dog went to lie down.

Moments later a pickup truck slowed by me, ready to turn into the property. Luckily he was a friendly man. I asked about the dog, and he said she just showed up one day and he suspected her puppies were hidden in a den near his fence line. We stayed in contact, and I stopped by every few days to bring food for the mom. I told him that I would find homes for the puppies if we could find them and I would take the mom too.

Two Desert Puppies 'before'

Brindle pup and sister 'after'

A few weeks later on one of my regular check-ups, the man told me he hadn't seen the Mom for days, and the puppies were crying and starting to come out of their den. I drove to town and returned with puppy chow. The puppies came out of their den to eat but would run back in if we got near. Unfortunately, I never got to help Mom--we found her dead at the side of the road, probably hit by a car.

Without Mom to protect them, they didn't stand a chance. It was a big litter, so I went home to get a big crate. Fortunately, the rancher was a good guy. When I returned near nightfall, he crawled into the den, and he all but disappeared into this hole. Next thing, I heard a yelp and he handed out the first of 13 tiny puppies. This was repeated until all were safely loaded into the crate.

I then headed out with my treasure to Lisa and Lauren Fidelibus, who help us with so many rescues. They found homes for all the puppies! These turned out to be truly exceptional dogs. Most adoptive owners stayed in touch with Lisa, and all said what wonderful ranch and family dogs these were. The first of two followup stories follows.

Brother and sister in their new sweaters

Another case solved by The Pet Detective!

 

 

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Little Puddin' with her Uncle Franky

This tiny kitten was found by a neighbor who, of course, brought her to us. After two days in a crate in Susan's room, where she could see the other cats who live in the room and the dogs that sleep in there, she came out eager to play! She chases the other cats around and even plays with Roger, our Rat Terrier, who can't get enough of her.

Franky has adopted her as his "special little one," and they play all the time and sleep curled up together. She's found her forever home with us!

Spay/Neuter Implementa- tion Program (SNIP) is a 501(c)(3) corporation that promotes the spay/neuter of domestic pets in Lake Los Angeles and Littlerock in Southern California. We provide a unique service in that we pick up pets from the owners, take them to the vet for neutering, and return them if the owner is able to care for them; if not, we find them homes. SNIP bears the entire cost of the neuter.

We rely on the expert assistance given by High Desert Animal Care/Littlerock Pet Clinic and donations from pet lovers who understand the vital importance of keeping pet population under control so pets are not abandoned in the desert or neglected and mistreated at home. We also work with FixNation in Trap/ Neuter/Return of feral cats.

We want all pets to be lovingly cared for!