UAN Journal | Summer 2011

Vol. 25
| No. 3 | Summer 2011
P U B L I S H E D F O R M E M B E R S O F U N I T E D A N I M A L N AT I O N S
UAN is now
UAN announces new name and bold new vision to help animals: Page 2
New lives for 700 cats • Volunteers help hundreds of disaster victims
Hoarding victims get homes • Financial aid grants save lives
Greetings!
I’m so excited to be writing to you as the leader
of RedRover! Now, with a strong name that
captures the passion and determination of our
volunteers, supporters and staff, a name that
stands out and is memorable, a name that
unifies and strengthens our four key programs
(see Page 2), our organization is set to reach
new audiences, new goals and help more
animals than ever before.
With the demand for our services higher
than ever, we need to grow and evolve. As
RedRover, we aim to become a household
name. We will encourage more people to
take action to bring animals out of crisis and
open more
minds to the
significance
of empathy in
our lives and
the value of
turning around
the life of a
single animal.
You and
I both know
the way this works. We set out to rescue an
animal — or simply to love an animal — and
we find he or she has rescued us as well, made
us more whole, more alive.
When you support RedRover, you are
strengthening the bond between people and
animals and connecting suffering animals with
people who care. You are a critical part of our
organization, and we will need your help to
achieve our goals. See Page 3 for ways you can
help. Thank you for your commitment to this
organization.
Warmly,
Nicole Forsyth
President and CEO
Above: Nicole greets a canine guest at the
RedRover launch celebration in Sacramento,
California on June 11.
Vo l . 2 5
| N o. 3 | S u m m e r 2 01 1
Table of Contents
2
UAN has new name, new vision
for the animals
4
Volunteers participate in largest cat
rescue in U.S. history
6
Hundreds of human and animal
disaster victims grateful for volunteers
8
Financial assistance grants
save animals
10
Bringing humane education
to the classroom
12
Dogs from hoarding cases find
health, happiness
13
New “tribute fund” honors pets
while helping others
C O V E R : A flood evacuee in Kennett, Missouri greets his dogs
at a temporary animal shelter.
4
8
12
Photo: Debbie Ferguson
The Journal is published quarterly by RedRover and
is distributed to its members.
© 2011 RedRover.
Design/Layout Page Design Group
S TA F F
President and CEO Nicole Forsyth
Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sarsfield
Director of Programs Karen Brown
Director of Communications Alexis Raymond
Education Manager Karly Gould
Development Manager Linda Bak
Membership Services Coordinator Grace Burcham
Program Coordinator Esperanza Zúñiga
Volunteer Coordinator Susie Hawkins
Program Assistant Laurel Meleski
Administrative Assistant Casey Slagerman
RedRover
P. O. Box 188890
Sacramento, California 95818
tel: (916) 429-2457 fax: (916) 429-2456
web: www.redrover.org e-mail: info @ redrover.org
Tax ID #68-0124097
RedRover’s mission is to bring
animals out of crisis and
strengthen the bond between
people and animals through
emergency sheltering, disaster
relief services, financial
assistance and education.
RedRover accomplishes
its mission by engaging
volunteers and supporters,
collaborating with others
and maximizing the use
of online technology.
Members Matter
Brilliant. Took me a minute to get the multiple levels going on
here but when I did I just loved it. What a fabulous choice for
the work you do.
UAN is now
– Caryn in Virginia
What’s in a name? An EARS volunteer by any other name will
smell just as funky! RedRover is more likely to stick in people’s
minds. I like the idea of being a RedRover Responder… I know
our volunteers’ dedication and service to the animals will make
RedRover a household name in no time.
– Andy in Florida
I definitely like the new name: more active, less stuffy… even
though I liked UAN I believe RedRover could lead to more energy
and more support for taking the organization to the next level.
On June 11, United Animal Nations
changed its name to RedRover.
At left are a few of the positive comments
we’ve received from our supporters about
this change. Please turn to Page 2 to read
more about the name change.
– Anna via Facebook
I love it. RedRover RedRover, send the
rescue team over! This will bring more
sponsors and catch on quickly!
– Laura via Facebook
Ballot for election
of board director
Joy O’Neal is a philanthropist, educator and
animal advocate from Birmingham, Alabama.
She holds a master’s degree in public administration with a nonprofit specialty and is certified
to provide equine assisted family counseling and
teambuilding. She is a member of the Association
of Professional Humane Educators, a trained
RedRover Readers volunteer, a member of the Regional Leadership
Council for Alabama Nonprofits and a representative of the Black
Stallion Literacy Project. She recently received the John Phillips
Award from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society for her work
with Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch.
Please vote on the enclosed envelope and return it by
September 15. For a director to be elected by written ballot, the
nominee must receive a majority of affirmative votes, with at least
six percent of members voting. Votes withheld are not counted for
or against a nominee. The board of directors will fill this vacancy
if members do not return a quorum of ballots.
Above: Dogs and humans celebrated UAN’s name change to RedRover
on June 11 in Sacramento, California. Courtesy Wes Davis.
Summer 2011 Journal www.uan.org
1
UAN News
United Animal Nations is now RedRover
New name reflects leadership in providing emergency sheltering,
disaster relief, financial assistance and compassion for animals
O
n June 11, United Animal Nations
(UAN) officially changed its name to
RedRover and announced four ambitious
goals to help more animals by 2015.
According to President and CEO
Nicole Forsyth, the name RedRover
better reflects the organization’s work
to bring animals from crisis to care and
strengthen the bond between people
and animals.
“We chose a distinctive name that
differentiates us from the ‘acronym soup’
of other animal nonprofit groups and
agencies,” Nicole explained. “It personifies our organization and is active by
definition. The name RedRover captures
the energy, dedication and tireless
work of our organization, volunteers,
supporters and donors.”
Victoria Stilwell, star
of Animal Planet’s hit
show It’s Me or the Dog
and a RedRover board
of directors advisory
member, delivered a
video message to people
attending a celebration in Sacramento,
California and 40 other “house parties”
around the United States and Canada on
June 11, encouraging them to spread the
word about RedRover.
“When I learned that UAN, now RedRover,
is working to save animals suffering in puppy
mills, and that its volunteers are using
positive reinforcement methods in temporary
shelters to help these traumatized animals
overcome their shyness and fear, I knew I
wanted to be involved,” Stilwell said. “I look
forward to working
with RedRover staff
as they build on the
spirit of tireless work,
unwavering resolve
and endless compassion that has defined
the organization for
nearly twenty-five years.”
On the next page,
Nicole answers some
of the most common
questions we’ve
received about the
name change.
Above: A canine guest at the June 11 name change
celebration in Sacramento, California checks out his
dining options. Left: Animal Planet’s Victoria Stilwell.
Courtesy Wes Davis.
Watch our announcement
video at redrover.org.
2
United Animal Nations Summer 2011 Journal
Q: What are your new goals
for 2015?
A: We intend to:
• Double the RedRover Relief budget
to increase the number and size
of grants awarded
• Increase the number of RedRover
Responders by 50 percent
• Reach 30,000 children through
the RedRover Readers
•
Left: RedRover Education Manager Karly Gould makes an announcement at the June 11 name
change celebration in Sacramento. Right: Two guests enjoy the celebration. Courtesy Wes Davis.
Q: Are the programs changing?
• LifeLine Grants is now RedRover Relief
Animal Nations, we had very inconsistent
naming across the organization and its
programs. EARS, LifeLine and HEAR took
on lives of their own with no connection
to United Animal Nations. These factors
made it difficult to increase our name
recognition, implement our programs
and attract new donors. Now as RedRover,
we can be clearer, more effective and
more focused so we can help more
people and animals than ever before.
• Humane Education Ambassador
Reader (HEAR) program is now
RedRover Readers
Q. Why did you choose
the name RedRover?
A: Other than to become bigger and
stronger, no! We’ve made a commitment
to grow the programs so we can help
more animals for years to come, and
we have renamed the programs to link
them to our core brand, as follows:
• Emergency Animal Rescue Service
(EARS) is now RedRover Responders
• Our animal cruelty rewards and
My Dog is Cool Campaign are united
under the name RedRover Reporters
Q: Why did you change the name?
A: First, the previous name and logo
implied that we help all animals, all over
the world. But our programs, by their
nature, help mostly dogs, cats, birds,
horses, rabbits and other domestic
animals in the U.S. and Canada only.
Second, we’ve heard from many people
over the years that “United Animal
Nations” sounds militant, extremist and
activist, which was a barrier to implementing our programs. Lastly, as United
A: The point of changing our name is
to increase name recognition and awareness of our organization, and to create a
brand that reflects the services we provide
and the work we do. We wanted a name
that is memorable; conversational; easy
to say; warm, friendly and personal, like
the services we provide to animals, pet
owners and others; stands out amid other
nonprofits/acronyms and builds on the
powerful “red shirt” identity derived from
our emergency sheltering responses.
We want to make our organization
into a household name, and RedRover
will allow us to do that.
Initiate a
volunteer crew
of RedRover
Reporters
Get on board
with RedRover!
Here are five things you can
do to help RedRover grow:
• Like our new social networking sites:
— facebook.com/RedRoverOrg
— twitter.com/RedRoverOrg
— youtube.com/RedRoverOrg
• Sign up to receive our email
updates at redrover.org/email
• Make a donation to RedRover today
by using the enclosed postage-paid
envelope
• Order RedRover logo gear at:
cafepress.com/RedRoverOrg
• Participate in a local event to
spread the word about RedRover
in your hometown. We can provide
brochures and educational materials.
Email us at info@redrover.org for
more information.
Summer 2011 Journal www.uan.org
3
Emergency Sheltering
New lives for 700 cats
Volunteers participate in nation’s largest feline rescue
By RedRover Responders volunteer Beth Gammie of Tallahassee, Florida
“Hang on. I’ll be back for you.”
T
his is the vow Alachua County Animal
Services Investigator Lin Santerfeit
made to a cat she saw when investigating
a citizen’s complaint of animal abuse
at Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary in High
Springs, Florida.
“There were cats hunched over water
bowls, drooling, squinting, trying to find
water. One reached a paw out to me.”
At that memory, Lin’s eyes filled with
tears. “And I told that cat, ‘Hang on.
I’ll be back for you.’” The RedRover
Responders helped Lin keep that promise.
In June, a team of RedRover
Responders (formerly United Animal
Nations’ Emergency Animal Rescue
Service) assisted Alachua County
Animal Services and The Humane
Society of the United States in the
nation’s largest cat rescue. The 697
cats were rescued from deplorable
conditions in a failed cat “sanctuary.”
Rescuers found cats everywhere on the
eight-acre property — in wire pens,
fenced areas, in the owner’s home.
The conditions were vile. The stench
emanating from the house and pens
Below: Elaine Dohms of Bradenton, Florida (left) and Diane Dupont of Lynn Haven, Florida (right)
were among 20 RedRover Responders volunteers to travel to Alachua County, Florida to shelter
and care for 697 cats rescued from neglect. Courtesy Beth Gammie.
4
United Animal Nations Summer 2011 Journal
was sickening. Hundreds of cats stared
out helplessly from filthy cages, crowded
and sick.
RedRover Responders volunteers
constructed an emergency shelter for the
rescued cats. This was an especially sick
population; the cats suffered from severe
upper respiratory infections, skin
diseases, eye infections, matted fur,
emaciation and gastrointestinal infec-
There were cats hunched over
water bowls, drooling, squinting,
trying to find water. One reached
a paw out to me. And I told that
cat, ‘Hang on. I’ll be back for you.’
– Lin Santerfeit
tions. An army of vets examined and
began treating the cats, more than half
of whom needed medication.
RedRover Responders volunteers took
gentle care of the beleaguered cats.
They were fed and watered and offered
gentle pets and kind words. Within days,
many cats perked up. Their appetites
increased, they became more physically
Above: Two rescued kittens enjoy the newfound luxury of the temporary shelter. Right, top to
bottom: Cate McManus, DVM plans to adopt Possum, a rescued cat who is blind but affectionate;
Possum takes a nap; RedRover Responders volunteer Angel Zebraski of Hampton, Georgia
introduces one of her charges to the pleasures of human affection; an adorable calico kitten
was among the 697 cats rescued from Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary. Courtesy Beth Gammie.
active and their eyes grew brighter. The
sound of raspy breathing decreased.
Cats happily greeted the volunteers
making rounds with food, water, medicine, treats and toys.
However, for others, the road
to recovery will be longer. Years of
untreated infection, illness and injury
have caused serious problems.
nature touched volunteers and vets alike.
He senses people’s presence, purrs full
blast, reaches out for contact and basks in
the kind attention showered on him. He
received plenty of that from RedRover
Responders volunteers.
Possum’s future is bright. Cate
McManus, DVM, with Maddie’s Shelter
Medicine Program at the University of
Florida, fell for Possum
The 697 cats were rescued from deplorable condiwhen she first saw him.
“There’s something
tions in a failed cat “sanctuary.” Rescuers found
about him that grabs
cats everywhere on the eight-acre property —
your heart,” she said.
in wire pens, fenced areas, in the owner’s home.
When Dr. McManus
learned that Possum was
The conditions were vile. The stench emanating
feline leukemia positive,
from the house and pens was sickening. Hundreds
and thought about
of cats stared out helplessly from filthy cages,
the veterinary care he
crowded and sick.
would need for the rest
of his life, she decided
Possum is one of those cats. This
then and there to adopt him.
three-year-old Siamese is blind due to
For Possum and the other cats, the worst
untreated eye infections. He also suffered
is behind them. Once the legal proceedings
from an upper respiratory infection, ear
conclude, the cats will be placed with
mites and fleas and tested positive for the
reputable animal groups nationwide —
feline leukemia virus. Despite the horrid
until each one has a forever home.
conditions he lived in, Possum holds no
grudges. His equanimity and affectionate
Summer 2011 Journal www.uan.org
5
In the Eye of the Storm
Volunteers rally when nature’s wrath displaces people, pets
M
OTHER NATURE has released her fury in 2011.
Responders how grateful she was that we were “there for her
Tornadoes, floods, fires — often more frequent and
and her babies at the moment they needed us.”
more ferocious than ever before. This spring and summer,
IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, another group of RedRover
volunteers with the RedRover Responders (formerly United
Responders provided similar comfort to a pet owner who was
Animal Nations’ Emergency Animal Rescue Service) have been
forced from her home by floodwaters.
deploying almost non-stop, trying to make life just a little more
bearable for people who have lost their homes and for some,
Romie is a Great Dane/Labrador mix weighing in at about
140 pounds. His owner is active military, so his grandma was
their loved ones, by caring
for their pets while they try
to rebuild their lives.
Denice Felker is one of
caring for him while her son was out
“I have never seen anything on that scale
protecting our country. The fact that
before. It was like bombs went off. There was
his owner was recently injured in the
line of duty and his dog’s care was
those people. Denice had
total destruction, as far as the eye could see.”
entrusted to the RedRover
only minutes to evacuate
Responders volunteers made them
when flooding threatened
— Debbie Ferguson
her Pierre, South Dakota home. She was terrified of losing
her home, but even more terrified of leaving her “kids”—
schnauzers Tasha, Teddy and Pepper.
“With tears flowing, she shared her fears of losing everything,
and of trying to rebuild what was left on her own, but her
biggest worry was leaving her babies,” said RedRover
Responders volunteer Debbie Ferguson of Kildeer, Illinois,
even more inspired to ensure his
ultimate comfort during his stay at the temporary shelter.
Another pet owner who visited the Natchez shelter was very
worried about being separated from her eight-year-old pit bull.
They had been together since he was three weeks old and had
never been apart.
RedRover Responders volunteers brought her through the
shelter and showed her how comfortable the dogs were. “She
who led our team at an emergency animal shelter in Pierre.
was crying the whole time because she
“We all choked back tears as we assured her we would take
was so relieved to know she could
very good care of her babies and give them as much love and
attention as possible.”
Denice’s home did flood with several inches of water. But
on repeated visits to the emergency shelter, she told RedRover
bring her best friend here and he
would be taken care of,” said
former Emergency Services
Manager Janell Matthies,
who led the volunteer team.
BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Pierre, South Dakota flood evacuee Denice Felker
and her three schnauzers; another South Dakota flood evacuee; RedRover
Responders volunteer Lee Lagomarsino of Easton, Pennsylvania bottle
feeding displaced kittens in Natchez, Mississippi.
2011 NATURAL DISASTER RESPONSES*
# of deployments
4
Volunteers deployed
Volunteer hours worked
1,875
Animals helped
1,750
Farthest a volunteer traveled
43
1,223 miles
(Easton, PA to Natchez, MS)
* As of July 7, 2011
Also among the shelter residents in Natchez were three litters
of kittens so young they had to be bottle fed. The kittens were being
cared for by foster parents who had to evacuate, and they got roundthe-clock care and feeding from the volunteers.
IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI, RedRover Responders volunteers
encountered destruction on par with Hurricane Katrina.
“I have never seen anything on that scale before,” Debbie
Ferguson said. “It was like bombs went off. There was total
destruction, as far as the eye could see.”
But kindness and compassion rose from the rubble. RedRover
Responders volunteer Shari Neal of Marion, Iowa said many people
found stray animals and brought them to the shelter for help.
“One man from out of town was at a work site and found a kitten.
TOP: Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield was instrumental in encouraging
residents of Natchez, Mississippi to evacuate their pets; destruction in Joplin,
Missouri; BOTTOM LEFT: species collide at the South Dakota shelter.
He scooped him up, left the job site and brought him to us,” Shari
explained. “Even though he was a stranger, he grilled us to make
sure only good things were going to happen to this kitten.”
Thanks to people like Debbie, Shari and the 41 other volunteers
Are you prepared?
who deployed to disaster responses so far this year, RedRover
connects animals displaced by floods, tornadoes and other
catastrophes with the loving embrace of people who care.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME A VOLUNTEER
AT REDROVER.ORG/RESPONDERS.
Take these important steps to make sure your pets
are protected if disaster forces you to evacuate:
✘✘ Identify places you can evacuate with your pet.
Never leave your pet behind during a natural
disaster.
✘✘ Identify your pets with a tag and permanent
microchip to ensure you can be reunited if you
are separated.
✘✘ Make a disaster kit for each of your pets and
store it where you can grab it quickly during
an evacuation.
✘✘ Form a buddy system with a trusted neighbor who
can evacuate your pets if you are out when disaster
strikes suddenly.
Get more details and more tips
at redrover.org/disastertips.
Financial Assistance Grants
The LifeLine Grant program is now called RedRover Relief! We provide lifesaving
grants when economic hardship prevents pet owners, Good Samaritans and disaster
victims from getting urgent veterinary care for an animal. We also help domestic
violence victims escape abusive environments without leaving their pets behind.
Meet a few of the animals we helped through RedRover Relief recently.
Skully
E
verything seemed to be going well for
Christine and Rich Beck: They had just
tied the knot and moved into a new home.
But their lives suddenly turned upside down
after a freak accident left their beloved dog
of ten years near death. Rich came home
one day and found that Skully had tried
to jump a baby gate but instead became
entangled. Her legs were extended through
the gate, her stomach was enlarged,
and she was bleeding from the mouth
and listless. Without hesitation, Rich
scooped up his dear friend and rushed
her to the emergency clinic.
Choose gates with safety in mind. Opt
for gates designed for pets or modify
gates to reduce chance of injury.
RedRover Relief also helped…
Dew… a rescued
The surgeons worked for hours to repair
Skully’s twisted stomach, which had caused
her spleen to rupture. The Becks made a
deposit to start treatment, but knew they
would not be able to afford the whole bill.
They reached out to the RedRover Relief
program for assistance and received a grant
to help cover the cost of Skully’s extensive
care; now Skully is “making a steady
recovery day by day.” Christine and
Rich recruited family and friends to help
with dog sitting on workdays and plan to
construct a new setup for Skully’s hangout
area with no baby gates involved. “I don’t
know how many lives she has, but it’s a
miracle she made it through this!” Christine
said. “We are so grateful for your help.”
Lambchop… a rescued kitten,
receive surgery to repair an umbilical
hernia that threatened her life.
Italian greyhound,
obtain surgery to
repair a broken leg.
Tiger… a stray cat,
receive urgent care after
he was hit by a car.
8
United Animal Nations Summer 2011 Journal
Naomi… a surrendered
horse, receive treatment for
a severely infected hoof.
Learn More on the Web
Read more happy ending stories
at www.redrover.org/relief.
Eleven
A
nna Calkins has a soft spot for small
critters. As a volunteer with North Star
Rescue, an organization dedicated to rescuing
small animals in Northern California, she
worked with thousands of rats rescued last
November from a hoarding case in Southern
California. RedRover Responders volunteers
set-up a one-of-a-kind emergency shelter
at Andy’s Pet Shop in San Jose where volunteers like Anna provided round-the-clock care
and helped coordinate adoption events in the
months that followed. Anna grew fond of many
of the rats and decided to adopt a small colony,
including one rat named Supermom because
she had nursed dozens of baby rats who had
either lost or been abandoned by their mothers.
One female caught Anna’s attention because
“she was just so beautiful.” As the weeks passed,
hundreds of rats were adopted, but not this one.
Anna could not get the tiny critter out of her mind.
The volunteers named the rat Eleven because they
had a feeling she would become the eleventh rat
of Anna’s colony — and they were
right. Soon after, Anna discovered
Eleven had a respiratory problem
and several fast-growing tumors.
She reached out to RedRover for
financial assistance with Eleven’s vet
care, which included surgery to remove
several cancerous tumors. In June,
Anna reported that Eleven was doing
great and only 275 rescued rats were
Read more about the rat
rescue in the Winter 2011
issue of the Journal.
still looking for new homes.
Letters of Appreciation
T
hank you
so much for
everything, it’s
comforting to
know that there are
organizations like
yours that truly want
to help! — Jillian Meridith
Brunswick, GA
T
hank you
so much for
helping to save
my dear friend
of 14 years. Your
help makes this surgery possible, and
takes some stress off of our family in
these struggling times. I am so grateful
that there are people out there who care,
and your incredible generosity in this
desperate time will not be forgotten.
Thank you from our family and from
my sweet Timmy!
— Alexis Ishida
Redondo Beach, CA
I
wanted to say thank you again
for helping Sissy get well. If
it hadn’t been for RedRover we
would not have been able to get
any vet to treat her. She’s doing
better than ever!
— Jessi and Elijah Thomas
Winston Salem, NC
www.uan.org
9
Humane Education
M
arie Kurtzman, a third grade teacher at John Cabrillo
Elementary School in Sacramento, California, has welcomed
volunteers with the RedRover Readers (formerly Humane
Education Ambassador Readers) into her classroom for two
years. RedRover Education Manager Karly Gould talked to Marie
about the program and the benefits it brings to her students.
Karly: How have your students
benefited from the RedRover
Readers program?
Marie: It has opened up their minds to
things that are out in the world that they
might not have otherwise been aware
of. I have seen the program change
the children’s behaviors and attitudes…
I have seen very positive growth with
my students.
Karly: Can you give an example?
Marie: Someone had a dog and didn’t
take very good care of him. They lost the
dog and were going to buy another one.
One of the students who had been part
of the program said, “That’s not right,
that’s like Dolores and her cat. That’s
someone who just wanted an
animal and isn’t taking care of it.
That’s not right to get an animal
and not take care of him.”
And another example is that
one of my students last year, his
family was part of a dogfighting ring.
This program brought a whole new
awareness to them. The student was
now asking the parents about this.
Karly: Asking their parents about
dogfighting?
Marie: Yes, about why they would
participate in dogfighting, just
thinking about it in a different way
instead of accepting it as what
should happen.
Above: RedRover Readers volunteer Whitney Best
helps children at John Cabrillo Elementary School
in Sacramento, California develop compassion
and empathy toward animals. Below: RedRover
Education Manager Karly Gould engages students
in an activity during a volunteer visit.
Karly: What would you tell another
teacher about the RedRover Readers
program?
Marie: I think as teachers we get really
nervous when someone comes to our
classroom. Is this going to be very disruptive?
It is a lot of things that we don’t have
a chance to touch on as teachers. It
makes much stronger lessons. Having
someone come in and show this side
to our students is very, very powerful.
– Marie Kurtzman, third grade teacher
at John Cabrillo Elementary school
Is it really productive for the curriculum?
Are the students really learning? I can assure
any teacher that there is definitely learning
going on. The volunteers who come in
are very prepared. They have activities to
keep the students involved. But also they
value the students. They are showing that
the students’ opinions are very worthwhile
and give them that chance to talk. It is
encouraging for the students as well.
It introduces a whole different range
of information for them.
Karly: Would you recommend the
program to other teachers?
Marie: Absolutely. I have a colleague who
has just signed up for the program because
I spoke so highly of it. I think it is fantastic.
10 United Animal Nations Summer 2011 Journal
Karly: Do you think that the RedRover
Readers program fits social-emotional
learning?
Marie: Yes! It is a lot of things that we
don’t have a chance to touch on as
teachers. It makes much stronger lessons.
Having someone come in and show this
side to our students is very, very powerful.
Karly: Have you seen your students
behave differently toward each other
after participating?
Marie: It has opened up a channel of
Above: the RedRover Readers program is designed to build children’s
perspective-taking skills so they can develop traits like compassion,
respect and responsibility. Below: Students at John Cabrillo Elementary
school in Sacramento, California participate in a RedRover Readers visit.
communication. When a student had a
dog who ran away and was very upset, the
[other] students were able to show more
compassion about this particular incident.
Karly: How did they show compassion?
Marie: They were gentler with each other.
Karly: Do you think the RedRover
Readers program can help prevent
bullying?
Marie: Absolutely. As we learn compassion toward other living things that certainly
spills over to compassion toward others,
doesn’t it?
Karly: Thank you.
Marie: No, thank you. The RedRover
Readers program is fantastic. It has a lot
of benefit not just for our school climate
but for society as a whole.
Attention teachers!
Two exciting opportunities to learn
to implement the RedRover Readers
curriculum in your own classroom:
•Texas teachers are invited to participate
in an online humane literacy course.
The three-week, self-paced course will
run October 17 through November 4. The
fee is $55. For more information, contact
Karly Gould at kgould@redrover.org.
•Teachers in Sacramento County, California
can participate in a workshop on October
20 from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the SCOE
Administration Center. The workshop is
free for Sacramento County teachers.
Register at scoecatalog.net.
Summer 2011 Journal www.uan.org 11
Specializing in second chances
Dogs rescued from hoarding cases
find happiness with adoptive families
W
hen Dena Dowd first met Twiggy,
the German Shepard was “a
mess.” Her matted fur clung to her
emaciated body and Dena and her
husband were “devastated at the shape
she was in.” But Twiggy’s pitiful condition
only fortified the Dowds’ resolve to give
the dog a better life than she had before.
Twiggy was rescued in February, along
with nearly 350 other dogs, from a
massive neglect situation at One More
Chance Rescue and Adoption in
Springfield, Ohio.
The dogs were found living in their
own waste, alongside rats and other
vermin. Many were in critical condition
and varying stages of illness. Volunteers
Twiggy
with the RedRover Responders (formerly
Emergency Animal Rescue Service) cared
for the dogs at a temporary shelter after
they were rescued.
RedRover Responders volunteer Diane
Buhl spent a week at the emergency
shelter with her husband Dale; they took
three rescued German Shepherds home
to Pennsylvania for adoption through a
local breed rescue group.
The dogs were found living in
their own waste, alongside rats
and other vermin. Many were
in critical condition and varying
stages of illness.
“She needed our help the most,”
Dena said of their decision to adopt
Twiggy. “We didn’t change her name
because it reminds us of where she
came from and what she is today.”
What she is today is healthy and
happy. Twiggy has gained 25 pounds
since being adopted, has a canine sibling
named Jules, takes walks every day and
sleeps on comfortable beds placed strategically throughout the Dowds’ home.
“She is an awesome dog, amazing,”
Dena says. “I think we needed her just
as much as she needed us.”
Zoë
Miranda Ford fell for another of the
rescued German Shepherds Diane
brought to Pennsylvania from Ohio.
Miranda and her boyfriend are both
teachers and they planned to adopt
a dog this summer. But their schedule
accelerated once they met Zoë, a
gentle girl with a missing eye.
12 United Animal Nations
Former victims of hoarding in Ohio, Twiggy
(bottom left) and Zoë (top right) enjoy freedom
now that they have forever homes.
Zoë
“We were not planning to get a dog that
day, but our emotions took over,” Miranda
explains. “We opened the door to our jeep
and she jumped right in the back, laid down
and nuzzled me. We decided right then we
had to adopt her.”
The last few months have been fun and
rewarding for the first-time dog owners. Like
the day Miranda came home from school
to find Zoë greeting her at the door, despite
being left in a crate fortified with zip ties
that morning. Or getting used to Zoë’s habit
of knocking over trash cans and laundry
baskets but never taking any of their contents.
Miranda says Zoë is scared of loud noises
like thunder and skittish around certain
men, possibly a result of the conditions she
endured before she was rescued. But her
new family wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Honestly, I think we were so lucky to get
her, she is the sweetest dog,” Miranda says.
Kismet
Fate definitely brought Kismet to her new
family, Juanita Ladyman and John Sanders.
In March, Juanita volunteered with the
RedRover Responders to shelter 250 dogs,
cats and other animals rescued from a
hoarding situation in rural Arizona.
Never a dog owner herself, Juanita
noticed Kismet when she was being
unloaded from the rescue vehicle at the
temporary shelter because “she was smiling
at everyone and her tail was wagging.”
Pug-tastic Kickoff to
RedRover’s New Circle
of Life Tribute Fund
After she returned home, Juanita
learned that Kismet had been transferred to the Denver Dumb Friends
League for adoption — just minutes
away from her home.
She is partial to rolling in
the grass each morning and
“there is no way you can hurry
this process.”
“I went there and found out she
was 12 years old and had a lot of
health issues,” Juanita recalls. “I’ve
always liked beagles and had a soft
spot for them, and she seemed like
the right beagle for me.”
Since her adoption, Kismet has
gone on an eight-day road trip with
Juanita and her sister, riding in the
car and staying in motels “like she had
been doing it all her life.”
Juanita reports that Kismet (Kizzie
for short) likes everyone she meets
and has learned to walk nicely in her
harness. She is partial to rolling in
the grass each morning and “there is
no way you can hurry this process.”
Kizzie knows “sit” but other
commands are still just “suggestions,”
Juanita laughs, taking
the quirks of her new
companion in stride.
“She is just the sweetest
little dog,” Juanita says.
“I am pleased that
I can make her
happier than she
was before.”
Top: Zoë being rescued in Ohio (photo courtesy ASPCA) and at
home with mom Miranda. Bottom: Kismet is a friendly and sweet
beagle despite the neglectful conditions she lived in for years.
Kismet
Cassie and John Matthew help those in need.
They opened their home to two foster daughters and recently rescued a dachshund named
Coco whose owner no longer wanted her. But
a few months later they learned Coco had
a bladder infection, kidney stones and other
problems. An initial vet bill of $270 for shots
and medications swelled to far more than
Coco’s adoptive family could afford when
surgery was recommended.
‘We love her, but this is so much money
when we have so many other obligations,”
Cassie told us. “We would be so grateful if you
could help us.”
Thanks to the new Circle of Life Tribute
Fund for RedRover Relief and the generosity
of longtime supporter and
donor Susan Meller, Coco
is on the road to recovery. Through this fund, donations of $150 or more in
honor of a beloved pet will
go directly to an animal
needing urgent and lifesaving veterinary care.
In 2010, Susan and her
husband Frank Rubenfeld
made a $5,500 donation
to UAN’s LifeLine Grant
program (now RedRover
Relief) in their dog Vicky’s
honor when she passed away at age 17.
Susan’s inaugural Circle of Life Tribute
Fund donation made in honor of Yoyo-Ma,
her newly adopted
pug, provided the
funds the Matthew
family needed
to get Coco’s
lifesaving surgery
underway.
Would you like to honor your pet by
saving the life of an ill or injured animal?
Contact us about making a Circle of Life
Tribute Fund donation today! 916.429.2457
or membership@redrover.org.
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Good Samaritan helps dog cheat death
“She was shot, dumped, hit by a car, and left for dead,” Meagan Early recalled
of the night she found Claire while driving home after an out-of-town weekend.
“I saw what looked like a tire tread just outside the yellow line of the left
lane. As the people in front of me passed it, the wind blew her ears back
and I realized it was a dog.”
Meagan stopped and found a lifeless seven-month-old black Labrador
covered from head to toe in ticks. She put Claire in the back seat and
drove for several hours to an emergency visit she had arranged by cell
phone with her veterinarian. The diagnosis was sobering: Claire had
a fractured pelvis,
multiple broken bones,
Help animals like Claire
detached eye lenses
and ehrlichiosis, a ticksurvive. Donate today at:
borne illness.
redrover.org/donaterelief
A hospital scrub
tech, Meagan was
well versed in medical jargon. She consulted with various
doctors to coordinate treatment for Claire and learned it
would cost thousands of dollars — money she didn’t have.
“I couldn’t just let her die,” Meagan said. She created
an online fundraiser and applied for a RedRover Relief
grant (formerly United Animal Nations LifeLine Grant).
Claire underwent multiple surgeries but is now
on the mend. “She’s completely stolen my heart and is
a total joy,” Meagan said. “I might be biased, but I think
she’s the best dog ever!”
Claire after receiving vet care,
attention and love.