December 2009

Dear DAWGS Family, From all of us here at the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary, Inc. (DAWGS), we wish you the happiest of  holidays.  Over the years, your generosity and support has literally saved thousands of lives.  This year, in spite of dwindling donations and pitiless weather, we have been tirelessly caring for hundreds of beautiful dogs and cats waiting for their second chance to find a forever home. And, thanks to you, second chances do happen!  Since we began in March 2003, we have rescued 5,047 dogs and cats and 4,238 have found loving homes (or were returned to their homes).  This includes the many dogs that we transferred to other shelters--as far away as Chicago, thanks to PetAir--where they were placed in loving homes almost immediately.  But these second chances are only made possible through your support, as we do not receive any funding from local or government agencies.  We depend entirely on those of you that share our love for animals to help save these precious lives.  We'd like to share some of their heartwarming stories that were only made possible, this year, through your kindness and generosity: N O E L   and her puppies (Dancer, Prancer, Donner, Vixen, Dasher, Comet, Cupid, Blitzen and Rudolph-with a black nose) NOEL is a beautiful shepherd who had been dumped in the country.  Pregnant, cold and all alone, she took refuge in a small, dilapidated, shell of a barn to protect herself from a early Texas winter cold front and there she gave birth to her babies.  At night, she would listen to the coyotes howling, as they came closer and closer to where she slept. Unknown to her, a farmer lived nearby and he had also noticed the reoccurring sounds of the coyotes during the last few nights.  The weather had changed to freezing rain that night and during a break in the storm, he decided to take a ride around his ranch. The sight he came upon was alarming. In the lights of his pickup, he saw a pack of coyotes that had surrounded the old barn. At this point, he saw a dog boldly trying to protect her territory, racing in and out of the barn.  To his amazement, he saw the dog fall between two of the coyotes and then quickly pull back and sprint  inside the barn. As the coyotes started to follow, he raised his shotgun and fired shots in the air and the coyotes retreated into the darkness.  The farmer checked the young dog for wounds, and other than several scratches, she luckily was unharmed. As he was petting her, she kept leaving and running back to the corner of the barn. The farmer followed her, and there he found what she had fought so hard to protect....nine beautiful newborn puppies!  The next day, the man called us for help and brought  Noel and her babies to DAWGS.  We immediately had them checked by our vet and everyone is fine. Because of donations like yours, Noel and her beautiful babies are safe and warm this holiday season. And then there is BELLE, a tiny black and white kitten who came to us one day at a pet adoption.  A woman had been walking her dog when she noticed two large rotties chasing a little kitten across the dog park, with a frantic man pursuing them.  They got to the little kitten just as the man grabbed their leashes.  It was Belle's lucky day. The immense dogs could have crushed her in a heartbeat but instead they slobbered all over her and gently let her loose.  At that time, the woman, gasping for breath, arrived on the scene.  The man had picked the little kitten up and gently checked for wounds as the big dogs watched. The kitten began to purr and the man handed her over to the woman, stating he knew nothing about cats.  For the next three hours, the woman searched for a rescue or shelter that would take the little kitten but everyone was full and someone suggested DAWGS.  So Belle arrived, still covered in slobbery kisses and we took her home with us.  Today, she is spayed, up-to-date on her shots, and is ready for adoption. We are hoping she finds a home for the holidays and forever.  Thank you for giving Belle the chance to live.    B E L L E                                                    S O P H I E   and   S P E N C E R                                                                                                                          .     And then sweet SPENCER, an adorable cocker spaniel.  He came to the shelter when his owner had died and the family had no place to keep him.  Spencer was grieving and refused to eat.  He would just stand in a corner and whine for hours.  All the volunteers would make a point of visiting with him and loving on him, but nothing really seemed to help.  One day, little Sophie came to visit, a precocious two-year-old.  She went immediately to Spencer's pen and started talking to him (well, in a language unique for a two-year-old, lots of chatter and some words), but whatever  she said, Spencer loved.  He stopped whining and went over and licked her face, which set off a chain of giggles.  Sophie handed Spencer some little doggie treats, previously ignored, and he gently took them from her hand and ate them! As long as Sophie was near, he was content and happy.  So Sophie took Spencer home with her and today they love to snuggle and to play. Spencer was just waiting for the right person to love and, thankfully, because of your support, Spencer found his forever home. H O P E The story of HOPE ...A woman came to our shelter looking to adopt.  A year before, she had lost her beloved black lab.  She had searched for her for days and then the local authorities told her that her dog had been hit by a car and was dead.  A year later, on the anniversary of her loss, she decided she would adopt a new dog to love.  As we walked through the kennels to view the dogs for adoption, we heard a dog whining and running back and forth in its pen.  We were puzzled because we had always known this little girl to be very shy, quiet and withdrawn. As we came closer, this dog was barking and jumping...and, suddenly,  the woman started running towards her, crying, tears streaming down her face.  Our HOPE was her own lost dog, whom she believed to be dead!  Hope's story proves that anything is possible!  Thank you for helping us give Hope a second chance to get back home! Since our beginning, we have seen so many "second chances" only because of your generosity.  With your help and support we can save more lives and continue to place more precious animals into loving and caring homes. Thank you so much ! Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays, Diane and Mark  and everyone from DAWGS DAWGS (Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary, Inc.) is a private, non profit 501 (c)(3) organization. P.O. Box  911, Dalhart, TX  79022   Email:dawgsntexas@yahoo.com  Website: www.dawgsntexas.com (888) TXDAWGS  or (806)244-3217   Fax: (806) 244-2472 In Memory Of Athea and Victor Bearden Buffy Becker Dusty Bentley Sherman Boddy William Boyd and Austin, Petey and Gretchen Lily Boynton Cleo Brown Lenny Cash BamBam Chernowez Raymond Conway Janet and Clinton Cook Tommy Crisler Willie Faust Oscar Feuer June Anne Fey Sonora Fischer Betty and Roger Fuller and Nancy Hazel and Eugene Fuller Helen Blue and Harold Fuller Beau Goodman Tina Goodman John Graham Pumpkin and Saint Kanner Meredith Kayser Anna Marie Klondike Casey Kraft Larry Krepela Putri McAree Little Chip Luter Wes Watson David Maller Gunny McKee Piper Menges Sara Mercedes Sabrina Michaelson Ray Miller and Junior Sherwin Miller and Muffy Bootsie and Tippy Normand LaVell Nutt and Charmer and Raskal Baxter and Noel Peel Milly Perry Ruth G. Pickup and Bridget Jim Poole Gracie Prater Copper and Maizey Roberts Bo Rapstine Bogue Rice Dugan Roth Pickles Salk Arnie Schenker Laura Viola Scott Libby Skinner Inga, Sweetpea and Tecumseh Stenstad Pepper Sucich Themba Tedesco Dusty, Peanut and Princess Waters Jean Hayman Wilson Angel and Midge Wright Lady Bug Von Vorys Luna Youner In Honor Of Phyllis Alexander Shirley Anderson Marie Arnone Nancy and Ken Becker Janina Beagan Cynthia Bentley James and Sue Boulware Chris Boyd Terry and Judy Brown T.D. and M.R. Brown Glenn and Patti Cain Sue Cash Bonnie and George Chambers Cathy Cherry Fran and Joe Cooper Mark and Roberta DeBoer Frances Dolcater John and Mary Feeley Eileen Fox Britt and Janis Goodman Jerry and Bertie Goodman Brian and Rebecca Goodman Suzanne and Desi Hall George, Janet and Thomas Jeanes L.A. Justice Anne Kanner Ellen and Robbie Little Sherri Locke Tonya G. Longo Walter and Dawn Lowe Diane Maller Dixie Rose, Zoe, Scout and Rio Mary Kay and Winston Wright Craig and Anita Woods Diana Monaghan Ruth Normand Leslie O'Loughlin Jennifer Peel Barbara Polk Karen Poole Barbara and John Prater Nancy Prater Alan and Sharon Preen Inge Rapstine Michael Riccardi                            Eve and Donald Rinaldo Diana Robinson Lou Schuler Mimi, Joe, Boudreaux and Aztec Spruiell Kurt and Robin Stratmann Mary Ann Sumners Patricia Tabor Mark and Wendy Taylor Steve Toman Mona Trace and the sweet D.I.R.T.S. Rose, Bill and Roxanne Travers Dr. Gina Trew Barbara Von Vorys Sally Walter Elizabeth Waters Lynette Washburn Paul and Sue Webber Martha Wilcoxen Stan Wileczek