Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana

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Unfortunately Gracie lost her battle on July 1, 2004. Read her story below.

GRACIE'S STORY: Gracie is a mini schnauzer that we took into rescue about four years ago. At the time we took Gracie in, the vet estimated her age to be around 12 years old. We had adopted a healthy young two year old schnauzer to a family that about three months later returned Gracie to us (yes it was the old con of a bait and switch). When Gracie first came to us she had completely unregulated diabetes which was complicated by cataracts that lead to complete blindness (because of the unregulated diabetes). It took us about six months, but eventually we were able to regulate her diabetes (as best we could). Everytime she went to the vet for blood checks, we would hear, "Her sugar levels are off the charts, but they are great for her." We often joked that Gracie would outlive us all. We have had a few close calls, having to rush her to the emergency vet for gastroenteritis, but she has always bounced back from any problems. On cool winter mornings, Gracie would go out and frolic like a young pup (noone seeing her would believe she was blind). When we would pick her up from the vet, she would go crazy once she heard Mac or my voice and wouldn't calm down until we paid her some attention. Most visitors to our house would not know she was blind until we told them, she was able to learn the layout of the house good enough to fool most people (that is until we moved last December and she had to learn a new layout and the mechanics of a doggie door - but she did great learning these new obstacles). About two months ago at her regular vet check we mentioned that she was just not her self lately, and she was diagnoised with Dementia (yes, doggies can have Alzehmier's too). Even with all these problems, she still would get excited when you played with her or gave her treats. Today she went to the vet because she has been having trouble holding down food (so she could not get her insulin). According to Dr. Paula, her kidneys are in the gray area (starting to cause trouble, but not complete failure) and to prolong her life we would need to give her medicine to settle her stomach so she could eat and get her insulin plus she would need meds for her kidneys. I asked Dr. Paula what her recommendation would be if this was my personal dog or one of her pets (because although Gracie came into our lives as a rescue, she was one of my babies), and unfortunately she said there is no chance of any improvement and honestly she sees no spark let in Gracie, so even though it would be a hard decision, she would recommend letting her go. So at 4pm today, Mac and I will go to Dr. Paula's and be with Gracie as she leaves us and travels to the Rainbow Bridge. I know we gave Gracie a few good years and I know one day we will meet again.

We try to help many speical needs dogs, but finances are always a problem, if you would like to make a donation for one of our special needs animals, it's as easy as 1, 2, 3, Just click on the "Make a Donation" Box to get started. THANK YOU

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What is Rescue?

You may not agree with some of the things said on this page, but please understand that these are the realities of animal rescue. You may have encountered rescues who didn't ever reply to your emails, never returned your call, never contacted you about your application, wouldn't let you adopt a dog, wouldn't let you foster a dog, or a rescue person who was impolite to the point of being rude.

As you read the following page you will be given an insight to a rescuer's day/week/month, and perhaps you will begin to see why so many rescuers are hardened, snippy, crabby people who don't seem to be living in the same word as everyone else. When you are finished reading this you still may not agree with how they handle themselves (and even many rescuers feel this way) but hopefully you will at least understand a little better WHY they are like that. Our only goal is to help educate you about rescue....what it is and what it isn't.

WE'LL START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND RESCUE IS NOT A SERVICE FOR YOU ... PERIOD. NOT FOR YOU TO FIND A DOG, OR TO GET RID OF YOUR DOG.

RESCUE IS A SERVICE FOR THE DOGS. WE CARE ABOUT THEM, THE DOG IS WHO WE ARE HERE TO HELP. HELPING YOU IS JUST A BYPRODUCT OF HELPING THEM.

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RESCUE IS NOT A SHELTER THAT YOU CAN JUST STOP BY TO VISIT, PICK OUT A DOG, AND TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES YOU. THERE IS NO PLACE TO DROP BY AND WINDOW SHOP, NO BUSINESS HOURS, AND NO TIMES WE ARE OPEN.

RESCUE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE THE BREED. THOSE PEOPLE OPEN THEIR HOMES AND HEARTS TO THE DOGS, GIVE THEM A PLACE TO LIVE, AND LOVE THEM UNTIL THEY FIND A LOVING HOME. WE TAKE APPLICATIONS, SCREEN THEM, AND SOMETIMES HAVE THE PEOPLE COME AND VISIT WITH THE DOGS IN OUR HOMES.... SEE.... NO SHELTER INVOLVED. THERE IS A VOLUNTEER'S HOME ON THE END OF ANY PHONE NUMBER YOU ARE GIVEN.

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RESCUE IS NOT DIAL A DOG, DIAL A PERSON THAT WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT MY TROUBLES, DIAL A PERSON TO UNLOAD MY DOG ON AFTER I'VE HAD IT FOR 10 YEARS AND IT SIMPLY DOESN'T MATCH THE FURNITURE ANYMORE.

RESCUE IS A PHONE NUMBER THAT REACHES RIGHT INTO THE HOME OF A VOLUNTEER, WHO HAS LITTLE TIME TO DEAL WITH YOUR GUILT TRIP OVER TOSSING "CHI-CHI" OUT LIKE LAST NIGHTS LEFTOVERS, AND EVEN LESS TIME TO DEAL WITH YOU SEE-SAWING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN KEEPING THE DOG AND GIVING IT UP. IF YOU'VE TAKEN THE TROUBLE TO WRITE AN EMAIL OR CALL, THEN 99% OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR MIND SET ON GETTING RID OF THE DOG .....

DON'T LIE TO US OR TO YOURSELF. SIMPLY TELL US THE REASON YOU ARE GIVING THE DOG UP, AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WE ASK. IF WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU, THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS HELP US SPEED THE PROCESS ALONG BY NOT CRYING ON OUR SHOULDERS.

WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE.......... FROM ALLERGIES, MOVING, HOUSEBREAKING, MONEY, NEW BABY, TOO HYPER, BARKING, SICK, INJURED, NASTY, UNCONTROLLABLE, LANDLORD DOESN'T ALLOW, PARENTS SAID NO, OWNER DIED AND NOBODY WANTS, DIVORCE, MARRAIGE, TOO MANY ANIMALS, DOESN'T LIKE NEW DOG, DOESN'T LIKE OLD DOG, CHASES CARS, CHASES CATS, SHEDS, TOO MUCH TROUBLE, NEW JOB, WANTS ATTENTION, TO IT'S CROSS-EYED, IT'S EARS DON'T STAND UP, IT DOESN'T MATCH THE NEW COUCH, IT LOOKS AT ME FUNNY, HE TOLD ME HE'S NOT HAPPY.

WE'RE NOT COLD HEARTED, WE SIMPLY HAVE TOO MANY THINGS TO DO AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO LISTEN TO HOW SORRY YOU THINK YOU ARE ABOUT GETTING RID OF YOUR DOG. RESCUE SHOULD BE ONE OF YOUR LAST RESORTS..... TRY OBEDIENCE TRAINING, TRY CRATE TRAINING, TRY EVERYTHING YOU CAN BEFORE YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GIVE UP YOUR DOG.WHEN YOU'VE DONE ALL YOU CAN THEN CALL US AND LET US KNOW WHY YOU'RE GIVING UP THE DOG IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF WORDS YOU CAN. WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS, YOU ANSWER THEM. QUICK, SIMPLE, AND HONEST.

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RESCUE IS NOT A PERSON SITTING AT THE COMPUTER OR PHONE ALL DAY JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO CALL OR EMAIL. WE'RE ALSO NOT RUNNING HOME DAILY HOPING WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF EMAIL AND ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGES. WE'RE NOT RUSHING TO RETURN YOUR CALL OR EMAIL. RESCUE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE A LIFE, A FAMILY, A FULL TIME JOB, THEIR OWN DOGS, FOSTER DOGS, 30 DOG-REQUEST AND 2 DOG-GIVE UP EMAILS A DAY AVERAGE, 20 DOG-REQUEST AND 1 DOG-GIVE UP PHONE MESSAGES A DAY AVERAGE, NOT TO MENTION PROCESSING APPLICATIONS, AND VET APPOINTMENTS. OH YEAH........AND GOD FORBID WE SLEEP, EAT, AND HAVE A LIFE....I ALMOST FORGOT.

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RESCUE IS NOT A WAY FOR YOU TO FIND A PUREBRED DOG FOR LITTLE OR NO MONEY RESCUE IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR DOGS OF A SPECIFIC BREED, WITH PEOPLE THAT KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE QUIRKS OF THAT BREED, AND HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO HANDLE THAT BREED.

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RESCUE IS NOT A BABY-SITTING SERVICE FOR YOUR DOG, A KENNEL, OR A PLACE THAT WILL TRAIN YOUR DOG. RESCUE IS A SITUATION THAT DOGS WHO ARE HOMELESS, OR ABOUT TO BECOME HOMELESS, COME INTO WHERE THEY WILL RECEIVE THE MEDICAL ATTENTION, PHYSICAL ATTENTION, AND BEHAVIORAL ATTENTION THEY NEED.

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RESCUE IS NOT A PLACE YOU CAN PICK UP A "GIRLFRIEND" FOR Butch OR "BOYFRIEND" FOR Fifi SO THAT YOU CAN IRRESPONSIBLY MASS PRODUCE PUPPIES, SELL THEM TO HOMES THAT VERY WELL WOULD WANT THEM FOR PITBULL BAIT, TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN, SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, SOMETHING TO NEGLECT AND LATER ABANDON.

RESCUE IS RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THE REPRODUCTION OF THEIR BREED. IN FACT, RESCUES BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY BREEDING THAT SHOULD BE DONE IS BY THE FEW RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS OUT THERE, AND ONLY TO IMPROVE THE BREED.

BREEDERS ARE NOT THOSE FOLKS YOU SEE WITH "FREE PUPPIES" ADS EITHER....BREEDERS ARE FOLKS THAT CARE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT AND TAKE PRIDE IN PLACING THEM IN LOVING HOMES WERE THEY WILL BE CARED FOR.

ALL RESCUE DOGS ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED BEFORE ADOPTION SO THAT NO "ACCIDENTS" HAPPEN. YOU WON'T GET A DOG UNALTERED..... DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO ASK.

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RESCUE IS NOT A PLACE THAT WILL TAKE THE MOST VICIOUS, NASTY, AGGRESSIVE DOGS AND KEEP THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN THEIR OWNERS MIND WHILE THE DOG IS MISERABLE.

RESCUE IS A PLACE WHERE THE NASTY DOGS THAT ARE NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO OWN, HANDLE, OR BE WITHIN 5 FEET OF ARE HUMANELY PUT TO SLEEP WHERE THEY WILL BE HAPPIER, AND PEOPLE WILL BE SAFER. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH YOUR DOG WHOM YOU'VE LOVED FOR 6 YEARS THAT BITES, WHAT ON EARTH MAKES YOU THINK THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD WANT IT BITING THEM AND THEIR FAMILY? WE DO WORK WITH EVERY DOG TO SEE IF THEY ARE JUST FRIGHTENED, OR TRULY NASTY.

THOSE WHO ARE SCARED WE ALLOW TIME TO ADJUST AND OVERCOME FEAR. THOSE WHO ARE NASTY ARE PUT TO SLEEP, PERIOD. SOME PEOPLE THINK US HORRIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS, AND THAT'S FINE, BUT LET ME FILL YOUR HOUSE UP WITH DOGS YOU CAN'T SNEEZE AROUND WITHOUT GETTING BIT AND LET ME SEE YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE AND STILL SAVE THE LIVES OF 60 DOGS A YEAR.

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RESCUE IS NOT A MAIL ORDER SERVICE TO FIND YOU THE DOG OF YOUR DREAMS, THE DOG THAT LOVES KIDS, CATS, EVERYONE, DOESN'T BARK TOO MUCH, IS PERFECTLY HOUSEBROKEN, IS 10-15 POUNDS, DOES TRICKS ON COMMAND, AND KNOWS HOW TO ACT IN EVERY SITUATION.

RESCUE IS THE PLACE THAT GETS CALLS FROM SHELTERS AND OWNERS WHO HAVE A DOG IN NEED. SURE, WE MAY COME ACROSS A DOG LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUT CHANCES ARE IT WILL BE ADOPTED QUICKLY AND IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT.

WE WORK WITH EACH DOG TO MAKE THEM BETTER PETS THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY ENTERED RESCUE, BUT WE AREN'T MIRACLE WORKERS. EVERY DOG HAS HIS OWN PERSONALITY, AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS. IF YOU WANT A DOG THAT FITS A FEW CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT'S REALISTIC, BUT TRYING TO FIND ONE THAT MATCHES PERFECTION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON, AND IF ONE COMES IN THAT IS PERFECT, WE HAVE A LINE 5 MILES LONG OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR IT.