June 2015

D
Community Newsletter
June 2015
www.barkva.org
804-449-BARK
Mark Your Calendars
Helping the Community: Adoption News
Adoption Spotlight: Lola and Tango
Doggone Good Info
Volunteer Corner: We Need You!
Thank You!
Notes from the Farm
Happy Tails...Waggin’ Good News!
Ways to Donate to BARK
Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s
Mark Your Calendars!
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday, Applebee’s in Short Pump will be hosting “Yappy Hour” from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Dine on their patio
and mention BARK and 10% of your total bill will be donated to BARK. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend.
This is a great opportunity for fosters to show off their BARK dog!
Wednesday, June 24th- BARK is pleased to participate in Strangeways Brewing’s “Yappy Hour” from 6:00-8:30 pm. On the 4th
Wednesday of the month, Strangeways is hosting “Yappy Hour” to benefit BARK - they’ll have some more of those great BARK/
Strangeways bandanas for sale (proceeds benefit BARK) and we’ll have some great items to raffle off. Come out and enjoy some
great local craft beer and awesome food truck grub. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is a great
opportunity to show off your BARK foster dog!
Saturday, September 26th - BARK’s 8th Annual Pot Luck Picnic will be held for all interested BARK volunteers and Jessica Beath
employees! More information to come, but the event will be held rain or shine and is a great opportunity to meet and simply relax with
other BARK supporters!
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Helping the Community:
Adoption News
Most BARK dogs are rescued from local public shelters. These shelters are open admission facilities, meaning that they are required
by law to accept all unwanted dogs, such as those picked up as strays or surrendered by owners. When public shelters run out of room
to house the dogs, they sometimes euthanize as a means of population control.
BARK and other rescue groups offer lifesaving alternatives by transferring at risk dogs to their facilities, where they are housed until
adoptive homes are found. In addition to finding forever homes, BARK vaccinates, spays/neuters each dog and provides appropriate
veterinary care.
We are proud to report that 28 dogs found loving homes in May including Smitty, Ginger, and Chester 2 from our Oldies but Goodies
program! If you’d like to keep up with the dogs adopted each week, please become a fan of BARK on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/barkva.
Adoption Spotlight: Lola and Tango
Dogs featured in the Adoption Spotlight were selected as personal favorites by BARK volunteers. We hope you enjoy reading their
comments about these wonderful dogs. If you want to know more about a dog, click here for Petfinder bios.
If you are interested in meeting a dog featured in the adoption spotlight, please submit an application online at http://
www.barkva.org/AdoptionApplication.aspx, send an email to adopt@barkva.org or call 804-449-BARK (2275).
“I wanted to give Ms. Lola a shout out,” says her volunteer friend. “She is such a sweet,
sweet girl and is slowly coming out of her shell. Each week she becomes more confident
and will greet us at the kennel door to say hello. Lola walks great on a leash but needs a
very gentle touch. She has a great disposition and doesn’t need to be pulled or forced to
walk. I would like to see her get in a home where she can take the time to get to know and
trust her person. She has so much to give just needs to feel safe enough to spread her
wings. Please give her that chance she so deserves!”
Lola is a beautiful young boxer/retriever mix. She is about a year and a half old and weighs
around 58 pounds. Lola tested positive for heartworms which is a very treatable condition.
BARK will pay for her treatment at our vet. Lola has a soft and unique mocha colored coat
that is easy to groom. She is a bit timid, but warms up quickly for love and affection. She is
waiting for her special home where she can be spoiled. If you are looking for wonderful
companion who will fill your life with love then she is your girl! View Lola’s classified ad
here.
Lola
“Tango is the most fun dog at BARK right now,” says his special friend. “Tango is my new playmate. At the end of my work day at
BARK, when all the other dogs have been returned to their kennels, I grab a Kong and let Tango out without a leash. He chases the
Kong with total abandon and joy. He jumps and scrambles to get that Kong. His energy never seems to run out. It just gives me so
much pleasure to see him run with the Kong in his mouth. His attention never waivers from the Kong. He stays with me and brings the
Kong right back to me—not minding the other dogs in their kennels. Besides being a great playmate, Tango is very loving—ready to
cuddle when he's not playing. This is a wonderful boy who is waiting for his forever playmate.”
Tango is a male 6-year-young Australian cattle dog. He weighs around 38 pounds.
Tango's owner surrendered him to a shelter because he didn't have time for him.
Tango bonds quickly and is very into his person. Cattle dogs are energetic and
need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Tango loves to have a job to do,
and he loves to chase and retrieve a tennis ball. He would do well in a home with
older children, as he is a herding breed and will likely try to herd the children up.
Tango knows some obedience commands as well. He is very eager to please and
has a lot of potential. He has a happy-go- lucky personality that is always ready to
go do something fun. Tango tested positive for heartworms which is a very
treatable condition. BARK will pay for the cost of his treatment at our vet. Tango
would love an active person or family to spend the rest of his life with. He is so
sweet- if you love and appreciate cattle dogs don't miss out on your opportunity to
meet Tango! View Tango’s classified ad here.
Tango
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Doggone Good Information
It’s that time of year again when we need to protect our dogs from heat related
injury. One of the biggest dangers is leaving them in the car. A little heat outside a
car can quickly make it very hot inside. On a summer's day of only 85 degrees
Fahrenheit, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the
inside temperature from climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120 degrees
in 20 minutes. A dog whose body temperature rises to 107-108 degrees will within a
very short time suffer irreparable brain damage – or even death.
My Dog Is Cool fliers and posters can save animals' lives by reminding people that
it is dangerous and deadly to leave a dog in a hot car – even for "just a minute." Take
a minute to print these free fliers and posters to hand out as reminders.
If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, try to locate the owner, notify on-site
security personnel if possible, or call 911.
Volunteer Corner
Volunteer Wish List
This month we especially need:
• Donations of bottled water for the volunteers at the kennels!
• Donations of canned dog food and vienna sausages (for giving meds)! We are in really short
supply!
• Rawhides and Kong toys!
• Evening feeders at the Ashland farm and volunteers for cleaning kennels (call Linda Lane at
804-883-7740).
• Donations of water at the kennels!
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Doggie Stories
We need your DOGGIE story too! Since BARK has so many dogs, it is difficult for volunteers to get to know each of them in the
limited time they share at the farm or at an adoption stand. In an effort to better showcase some of the wonderful dogs currently
awaiting their forever homes, we are asking volunteers to share their stories of working with spending time with the BARK dogs.
Please “vote” for your favorite dog and explain what makes “your” dog deserving of his or her very own forever home. Does he
walk well on a leash? Does he know how to sit or shake? Does he love the water? How does he act with volunteers and other dogs?
Can she fetch? Is he a good kisser? The “winning” dogs, along with the volunteer descriptions, will be featured in the adoption
spotlight portion of upcoming BARK newsletters. These stories will help readers get to know the dogs and hopefully generate
adoption interest. Plus, they’re a lot of fun to read! Remember, your personal experiences could make a difference in the life of a
very deserving BARK dog. Submit your “votes” to robin@barkva.org.
FARM DOGGIES NEED MORE HOUSEKEEPERS and FRIENDS!!!
What better time than now - while we are all considering how we can improve ourselves, our lives and out little part of the world - to
make a resolution to help the less fortunate! I have a terrific suggestion. Why not start volunteering at BARK! You will make a
difference in the lives of many homeless dogs! BARK dogs are safe under our care, no matter how long it takes to find them a forever
home, and they are always welcomed back should the need arise. Once a BARK dog always a BARK dog. Rescue dogs are grateful
for everything they receive and will spend the remainder of their lives showing their appreciation.
Did you know that on any given day in the STATE OF VIRGINIA ALONE there are approximately 6,900 dogs in animal
pounds? This does not include those dogs at rescue groups like ours. Here are a few more statistics about dogs that will knock your
socks off:
Did you know that in Virginia during 2013 35,935 dogs were surrendered by their owner
52,164 strays were caught and taken to the pound
23,648 were reclaimed by their owner
45,322 were adopted
1009 died in the pound, all alone
22,049 were euthanized for whatever reason?
So, the more volunteers we have, the more dogs we can rescue. But it takes a lot of work and we need help. Come alone, bring a friend
or make it a family endeavor. You will have fun, learn about caring for and working with dogs and just enjoy their great personalities
in a pretty rural setting. There are lots of activities that are very helpful: cleaning, walking, feeding, helping with medicines, grooming,
even laundry! WE ALSO REALLY NEED DONATIONS AND FOSTER FAMILIES!!! Foster dogs get adopted much more
quickly. Many dogs are calmer and better socialized when they can stay in a home instead of the shelter. There are loads of ways to
help!
We appreciate all the help we can get and so do the dogs! Thanks for thinking about this and please pass it on to others. You can
contact me, Linda Lane at: billlindaphoto@mindspring.com or call me at 804-883-7740 to set-up a time to try volunteering,
consider fostering or arrange to drop off donated supplies.
Please come out and help. For those interested in volunteering on Saturdays and/or Sundays, ORIENTATIONS: Arranged on an as
needed basis but every Saturday at 11:00 a.m., orientations are conducted by Richard or Claire. Bring your application/waiver
and make sure you have completed the required reading.
Volunteer Groups
The good news is that we have so many new and wonderful groups volunteering. The not so good news is that sometimes too many
show up at the same time. So, all groups must be scheduled before they can visit the farm (experienced or not) to walk and/or help
take care of the kennels. We are limiting the number of visiting groups on any one day for the safety of all. Please contact Carol
Murray at murrsan@verizon.net to arrange a date.
Current Schedule for Kennel and Dog Care
Our flexible work schedule has proven a success by allowing volunteers, once they are trained, to clean any time during the day they
chose to help. Every New Volunteer will receive an “Informational Package” by e-mail and every volunteer must have an orientation,
provide their paper work to a crew lead at the farm (not only on line), and read the required material. Orientations are scheduled on a
one by one basis. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. If 16 or older, the young person must have written permission to
volunteer and be a very responsible young adult. For any questions or to schedule an Orientation contact Linda Lane at
billlindaphoto@mindspring.com or (804)883-7740.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Volunteers are there at various times between 8:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Fridays from 10:30
am to 3:00 pm) We have morning, late afternoon and evening crews on these days. BUT we do not have volunteers there
throughout the day.
Tuesdays and Thursdays: A couple of Volunteers start around noon. Others come after work.
Saturdays and Sundays: Volunteers start coming anywhere from 10:30 a.m. (or earlier).
Remember, the dogs depend on us. We are all they have until a forever home is found for them. Won’t you consider giving them a
little part of your week – just a couple of hours or so? The dogs would love you for it and so would we! Hope to hear from you.
New Kennel Guidelines
For safety reasons, we need to request the following:
1. No one under the age of 16 may walk on the LONG trail without the presence of a parent and without explicit permission from
a crew lead. Any exception to this can only be made through the crew lead.
2. Children under the age of 16 may not be left along at the shelter to walk dogs at any time. A parent must be with them,
helping them get in and out of kennels and making sure they know how to handle the dogs. Very experienced volunteers are
the exception. Again, this is at the discretion of the crew lead. It is not wise to have youngsters running in and out of kennels
or up and down the aisles for obvious reasons. It just gets too chaotic and causes the dogs to become too rambunctious and
excitable not to mention noisy. Please make sure you read the attached guidelines for walking if you have not already and
read them to your children.
3. Groups that come to help walk dogs need to make sure that there are enough adults to supervise the young people at all times.
Please stay with them and help them get the dogs in and out of kennels, leash them properly, follow the walking precautions/
rules and stay safe – dog and child.
4. If you groom the dogs, PLEASE put all grooming tools back where they belong AFTER cleaning all the dog hair off the
brushes and combs.
Kennel Volunteer Programs:
Thanks to a core of volunteers, we are constantly improving the Quality of Life for our dogs. Here are our volunteer needs:
✦ Walking and Exercising Program
✦ Kennel/Shelter Care and Maintenance
✦ Volunteer Follow Up
✦ Special Projects/Facilities
✦ Feeding
✦ Transport
✦ Groups and Community Service
✦ Medical Care
✦ Intake
If interested, please complete a volunteer inquiry form on our website: www.barkva.org. Please note that the majority of our
volunteers work full-time jobs in addition to the time they dedicate to BARK. Please allow up to 2 weeks to receive a response to a
volunteer application submitted online.
Welcome to newcomers Kevin Benton, Chris Blanchard, Patrick Chase, Noah Clarke, Aubri Curtis, Cecilia Eesterline, Lacey
Franklin, Steve & Joan & Katelyn Gorton, Jennifer Gray-Wolford, Kelly Jackson, Carol Jones, Ricco Mendes, Sukriti Ragunath,
Miranda Ricart, Linda Roth, Pam Rush, James & Dolores Stanley, Abhinandan Surapaneni, Melissa Whitehead and Regina
Worrell.
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Thank You!
A huge thank you to Nathaniel Williams, 11 years old. He did a community service project required to get his black belt. He raised
money & bought these supplies for BARK. He is pictured with his family's Bark dogs, Luna and Guiness.
A huge thank you again to Bill Howard of Top Dog Canine Behavioral Training (www.topdogbehave.com). Not only does Bill
volunteer at the kennels with the dogs, he also offers free volunteer training sessions for anyone interested in learning more about
canine behavior, training, and general tips for handling the BARK dogs. The next session will be held on Saturday, June 20th at 11:00
am at the BARK kennels. Mark your calendars and please plan to attend!
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Notes From the Farm
Hi there friends!
By the time you all read this, I will likely be in my forever home! I’m so excited and just can’t wait! A huge thank you to my buddy
Brad for always taking me to events and talking me up to all of his friends. He was such a good wing man, one of his pals decided to
make me his new best friend. I’ll even get to see my buddy Bill Howard, who is going to work with my new family and make sure we
all understand each other. See, the volunteers are right. There’s a perfect home for every dog out there, it just may take longer for some
dogs to find it than others! Thank you to all of the volunteers who took such great care of me while I was at the kennels too! I’ll miss
you guys!
This means that the torch is going to get passed again…I think this time to my pal Larry! Larry is such a great dog - so calm, easy
going, and even great in a home. I’m hoping that the streak will continue and he’ll be the next Oldies but Goodies to find his very own
forever home! Keep your fingers crossed for him and all my other buddies who have been waiting so patiently for their very own
forever home!
Check you later!
Rosko
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Happy Tails…Waggin’ Good News
As we celebrate our precious Hoover's "Gotch-ya Day" we have been reflecting a bit since we adopted him last June. We have been
through a lot in the past year: dozens of bags of dog food and boxes of biscuits eaten, hundreds of doggie bags filled, several new lifelong friends made, many wild places explored, a new house with fenced-in yard
moved-in, a few collars replaced, and one new family bonded. As a couple, we
had been wanting a dog for a long time, but waiting for a more settled lifestyle
that would allow us to give proper care and attention. After living together for
about a year and jumping a few exciting hurdles with family, we found Hoover at
BARK. He was a typical, curiosity-filled beagle waiting for a great home, which
he found with us. Since then, we have learned he loves to lay on the couch, sniff
and follow his nose endlessly, and get into anything remotely food-related within
reach. We believe he is truly loving life, but we are also loving our lives with
him. From many trips to the park, to exploring the beach, we can't wait to see
what we will get up to with Hoover next. Thank you, BARK for bringing us
together!
Max, Georgia, and Hoover
Hoover
Big Willis has been doing well. He absolutely loves going to the river and wading through the water while simultaneously lapping it
up. Although I don't believe he has a future as an off the leash dog, he has done pretty well in a limited capacity. During Riverrock,
Willis and I ran a mud run together which he didn't 100% grasp the concept of but nonetheless he thoroughly enjoyed the race. I've
been really surprised at how well mannered he is. I can have a plate of food on the table, leave, and come back to find the plate
untouched. I've just started him on a few basic commands and he has been picking them up pretty well. He's gotten 'sit' and a couple
of leash commands like 'hold up' and 'come on.' I've been pretty adamant with him about not barking inside and he seems to
understand that most of the time, but he has started barking a lot more when I leave and when he hears me come home. Right now, the
neighbors aren't complaining because they all have dogs of their own and they all seem to be completely enamored with him.
The biggest problem I have had with him though is his reluctance to eat at times. He refuses to eat unless I'm in the room with him
and occasionally he won't eat then. I used to give him his food right before I left as I thought it would be a good way to soften the
blow of me leaving but I think he may have associated himself eating with me leaving. So I've stopped doing that. I often have to mix
his food with water before he'll eat it. I couldn't find the Southern States dog food at first, so I gave him Dog Chow for the first week.
But that seemed to have given him some constipation issues. Luckily, I finally found the Southern States blend at the local farm
supply store near my parents house in Harrisonburg but I still haven't been able to locate it in Richmond. So I am curious if you know
anyplace in Richmond that would sell it. I've looked in vain at Tractor Supply and Petco. The past couple days, he has had a thick
yellowish eye booger problem which I also noticed the pinkeye on his medical records. I should know more on Monday morning as
he has an initial appointment with Betty Baugh. I haven't been able to get too many good pictures of him when he wasn't asleep but
I'll put the best of what I have on here. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from the mud run but below I have two pictures of
him trying to fit on the couch for a nap, one of him at the river, and another of him at the dog park.
Arlo
Big Willis
Remmy and I recently celebrated our one year anniversary together. We even had a party and invited his best pal Raven. I could not
have found a more perfect dog for me. I was looking for a very affectionate energetic dog and that’s exactly what I got with Remmy.
He is the most loving boy and so well behaved. When we first adopted him he had a lot of fears but over time he has adapted very
well. We immediately started obedience training with him when we adopted him which helped a lot. Over the past year he has
learned how to play with toys (even the squeaky kind), chew rawhides, and he loves to go for rides. His favorite activity though is
cuddling with us on the sofa. We call him our gigantic Chihuahua because he thinks he is our little lapdog. Every day when I look at
him I can’t believe there was a time when he didn’t have a family to bond with. I appreciate everything Bark does to take care of these
dogs and prepare them for their forever homes. Thank you for giving me my new best friend!
Michelle
Remmy
Can I just take a moment and tell you how amazing Smitty is? He is a gentleman for sure. He walks wonderfully on a leash and is not
startled easy. We had many children around him petting him and he was loving it. On our walk this evening we had a neighbor bring
out their 5 month old pup…he wanted to play, but he wanted to play hard, so we just let them sniff each other on leashes. We’ll keep
introducing him to various dogs until I get to know better how he will be in a pack at the dog park. The meeting with him and my 1yr
old kitty Ozzie was so funny! Ozzie puffed up and took a few swipes at Smit, but retreated to the upstairs…Smitty wanted nothing to
do with him, no aggression at all from him. I’m sure they’ll be best buds like my other dog was with Oz…time will tell.
Wanted to tell you that I think he is either VERY hard of hearing, or pretty much deaf. Which is totally fine with us….this could also
just be his decompressing too or maybe all the yuck in his ears…we're going to give him the spa treatment tomorrow and get those
ears cleaned.. I plan to get him examined and tested for hearing in the next month once
he calms a bit. I swear he didn't stop pacing or panting for HOURS, poor thing. But he
is resting downstairs on his dog bed, finally. I’m going try and bring him up to our
bedroom but he has expressed no interested at all in the stairs (maybe b/c he thinks Ozzie
is up there, maybe it’s a touch of arthritis ). He truly reminds of our beloved Maudie….he looks like her and is good with all people. he is laid back, but loves to go on long walks and doesn’t tire. I think this was absolutely
the right dog for us. No matter the challenges we may face (if any), we will always give
this loving boy a loving home.
Thanks for rooting for him, you and your team are his biggest fans. Once again, you're
the best Cyndie.….lots of love for you and this sweet pup…
Smitty
She looks great and is quite the character. She has jumped the 6 foot fence 4 times now, so we keep her on leash or a long lead in the
back yard. Taryn is spoiled and now sleeps in the leather recliner or sofa. If we don't close the guest bedroom doors, she makes
herself a nest. Last weekend, I couldn't find her one morning only to discover that she had slept in the pile of winter sweaters that I
had folded on the guest bed to put into storage.
Taryn loves to go on long walks and still pulls a bit - so much excitement with squirrels, chipmunks, birds, bugs and other dogs. As I
wrote below, my husband like to call her "Schnarkles" rather than Taryn because of her "schnarly" grin. We call her "catdog" because
she's the cleanest dog, always grooming herself, and loves her perch on top of the couch looking out the bay window just like a cat.
Thank you again for rescuing her. It was so good to meet you a few weeks ago when we dropped off her BARK tag at the clinic.
Maria Taryn
A friend of mine adopted from BARK a couple of months ago. Linus has been renamed Dietrich, but what he really has is the life of
Reilly. Lucky dog! He is very much loved.
Dietrich
Here’s an adorable picture of Foxy (previously Chalk), loving life in her forever home! Good girl
Foxy!
Foxy
If you have adopted a dog from BARK and have a Happy Tail
or other contribution for the monthly newsletter, please
forward it to robin@barkva.org.
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Anytime is a
good time to
donate to
BARK!
!
Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s
Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all
donations are tax-deductable. BARK is operated entirely by volunteers, so 100% of your
donation will go to the dogs. Your donation will help fund spay/neuter operations,
medical treatments, and daily care and feeding costs for the dogs at the Ashland farm and in BARK foster homes.
You can mail your donation directly to the address below or make a secure donation online at www.barkva.org.
Remember, every penny makes a difference in the life of a BARK dog!
Please accept my donation in the amount of:
! $25
! $50
! $75
! $100
! $125
! Other _________
Gift given in honor of _____________________________________________
Gift given in memory of ___________________________________________
Name __________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
12300 Farrington Rd.
Ashland, VA 23005
info@barkva.org
804-449-BARK (2275)
Other Ways to Support
In addition to direct donations, there are numerous options that allow you to help support BARK and its mission. You can donate
needed pet care items, purchase BARK merchandise or use a search engine that donates to BARK. Using these websites is super
easy and a portion of your purchase will go directly to BARK. Please consider using these sites when shopping for your friends
and loved ones this holiday season…
.
" In addition to monetary donations, is always in need of various pet care and administrative items. To view a complete
inventory of “wish list” items, please visit http://www.barkva.org/Volunteer.aspx.
"
merchandise, such as apparel for you and your pet, housewares, and bumper stickers are now available online
at www.cafepress.com. Check it out!
" If you shop at Food Lion, BARK is now a charity with their MVP rewards. To register your MVP card, visit http://
www.foodlionmvprewards.com/.
" How can you make searching and shopping for that perfect gift even more perfect? Use iGive, where with ever
transaction a portion goes to benefit BARK. Raise a penny (or more) per search and generate donations from any of the
730+ stores listed with iGive, ranging up to 26%. Also, check out the new searchable coupons and deals, where you will
find all available, up to the minute offers and specials. Just visit www.igive.com.
" GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to
the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch
the donations add up! You can even set GoodSearch as your default search engine.
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause!
Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with
GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. So, by making your regular purchases
through this site, you’re helping take care of the dogs while they’re waiting for their forever home!
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter BARK as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the
word! It’s a super easy way to help support the organization.
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