TV Interview with Karen on Kare 11 Today show TODAY!!

Karen Good of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue will be interviewed on the Kare 11 Today show on Monday, March 28, 2011. TV show starts at 11 a.m. and Karen expects to appear at about 11:30 with Ah-nung as a RLRR ambassador dog. Marilou of Pet Haven adopted Ah-nung and she has become a therapy dog.

Pet Haven's 2010 The Fast and the Furballs Team

Many thanks to all who helped raise donations for homeless dogs and cats and who participating in the Dogs Day 5K9 run .... for the second year in a row, Pet Haven's The Fast and the Furballs joined in the fun!!

As a result of our online fundraising we were able to raise $975, all of which will go directly towards homeless dogs and cats!

What a great turn out at the inaugural Dog Days 5K9 run with over 300 pooches, of all different sizes, colors and breeds! We had one foster dog, Julius, who joined us for the run. Volunteer Tiffany who begins training for the Twin Cities marathon today kicked off her training with Julius .... at the end of the run, all she had to say was "Julius was a perfect runner." Sounds like he was so focused on running that he didn't even want to stop for water breaks ... even squirrels couldn't distract this boy ... and best of all, no swerving or tugging on the leash!! Here's Julius giving Tiffany a big kiss after the run ....

Julius got to hitch a ride to the event with Ahnung (Pet Haven alum), who like Julius was rescued from up north at  Red Lake reservation. We believe Julius could be one of Ahnung's pups from a litter prior to when she was rescued. Ahnung is now a registered therapy dog and is protective of her "son" :) She says that Julius is the perfect dog and would make a great therapy dog. If you'd like to learn about 10 Reasons why you should adopt Julius, check out Ahnung's blog. She has a lot to say about it!!

Many thanks to all who participated in this year's event!! Without your support we would not be able to continue in our mission of rescuing and re-homing dogs and cats and reducing the needless suffering of homeless dogs and cats.

To view more photos from the 5K9 Run click here.

Adopted Dog Update: Ahnung - continuing to shine

It's been over a year now since my last "foster failure" (in animal rescue term that translates to ... the foster can't let go of their foster dog and adopts their dog!! ... fyi, this last foster failure was my third one with Pet Haven so I am officially on the DO NOT LET MARILOU FOSTER!!) ... On January 3rd, 2009 I officially adopted Ahnung (pronounced ah-NUNG and means star in ojibway). Ahnung came to Pet Haven from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue .... dumped along with her litter of 8 puppies in October, 2008. She has come a long way since then ... she arrived with heartworm, lymes disease, coccidia, and no front teeth (grinding her front teeth down to her gums in search of food) ... after adopting her and getting a thorough check by our vet we learned she had also been shot and has remnants of a pellet in one of her nipples. There is so much to her story, and to mine, as we have walked this incredible journey of healing together. And as we have done we have expanded that circle of healing to include youth at a program of St. Paul Public schools called The Lab that serves youth in special education, grades 7-12 and are committed to providing creative and experiential learning opportunities that support long-term social & emotional health for urban youth.

Last year Ahnung and I spent many hours and months bonding and going through training. At the end of 2009 Ahnung officially passed the Delta Society therapy dog test and we are now a Pet Partner team as we volunteer doing animal assisted education at The Lab. I wrote a reflection piece that was posted on The Lab's website that shares more of the work we are doing at The Lab. I named my sweet girl Ahnung because I wanted her to have a name that will always remind her of her roots ... I wanted her to know she came from Red Lake reservation and to be proud of her ojibway roots. I also wanted her to know that she is my north star and as she works with youth at The Lab I have witnessed over and over again the birth of a star as I witness the connection and healing that takes place between a youth who has been through so much (just like Ahnung, and many of us) and an angel with four legs and lots of fur! :)

Ahnung and I will continue our work in the community and at the end of April will be going through training so that we can volunteer at hospices in addition to schools.

If you would like to read more about her journey and her adventures, she has her own blog: http://ahnung-northstar.blogspot.com/ and you can also find her on facebook ... search for "Ahnung".

I have been blessed and honored to be serving my third term as president of Pet Haven. And I share with you just one story of the gift I have been given through the work of Pet Haven ... there are many more, and I am sure all of you have many to share as well. If you have adopted a dog or a cat from Pet Haven we would love to hear from you. Email us at editor@pethavenMN.org.

Ahnung's story in photos ....

This past Monday, Kelly shared with you on our Adopted Monday blog posting that Ahnung was adopted ... YES, for third time I have "failed" at fostering (i.e. - adopted all 3 fosters!). I have conceded that I am simply not capable of fostering :) I think I should just focus my efforts on continuing to serve in my role as president of Pet Haven and stay out of the fostering world :)

I would like to challenge others, however, to consider fostering. Heck ... give it a shot! If you fail, then that's okay ... simply means another homeless dog has found a forever home! Maybe you'll even "fail" three times like me!! I now have 3 big black dogs at home :) [On a side note: Did you know that black dogs and cats get euthanized at high rates in shelters across the country --- a phenomenon known as Black Dog Syndrome. Pet Haven has lots of wonderful black dogs still waiting to be adopted. Please help us get the word out about these beautiful black dogs. Please consider adopting one of these black beauties!]

This Sunday morning Ahnung wanted me to share with you her story, so I share with you a video I put together. Many thanks to all of the incredible volunteers and supporters of Pet Haven and to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue -- together we can works towards a day when there will be no more homeless animals!

Marilou
marilou@pethavenmn.org

Adopted Dog Monday!

We have a lot to celebrate this week!

Miss Bailey, a springer/lab mix, has landed in a foster-with-intent-to-adopt home. They spent some time with her before the holidays but couldn't bring her home until after they finished their holiday travels. Everyone who met Bailey and her new "foster" parents at our adoption event on Saturday has a great feeling about this match!






Lady, a yellow lab mix, has won the hears of her foster parents. They are adopting her! Congratulations, Lady!









Rae Ann, a hound mix, has found her new home with a Min Pin sibling and two boys of her very own. Everyone who met Rae Ann fell in love with this gentle girl and we are very excited for her. Congratulations, Rae Ann!







Drake, an American Bulldog, and his family stopped by our adoption event this weekend to make things official after fostering with intent to adopt for a couple of weeks. Check out this photo of Drake and his adorable canine sister, Zoey.






Ahnung was adopted this weekend by Marilou, President of Pet Haven. We have all enjoyed ribbing Marilou for "foster failing" (adopting your own foster dog) for the third time (she has only "fostered" three dogs). Ahnung is a lucky girl and we are glad that she is "staying in the Pet Haven family" and we will all get to see a lot more of her.



Gale, a female mixed breed from Rosie's Red Lake Rescue, never even made it onto our website. While out walking with her foster mom last week she met some neighbors who fell in love with this little girl. She now has a Boxer brother and a mom who works from home. She has come a long way from being abandoned in northern Minnesota with a litter of puppies!