Welcome to all the new members of our fluff-loving community!!

First, some sad news.

In Summer of 2002, we received a call about a pitiful, smelly shih tzu dumped in an animal control facility in the DFW area. He had horrible skin lesions and as it turned out, severe demodex. His little body had been ravaged for so long, the insides of his ears were totally closed from all the scar tissue from constant, chronic infection. The little guy was so horrible looking, the staff at the animal shelter called him Brillo, as in Brillo pad.

We brought Brillo to Houston and treated his demodex. When he started to get healthy, we took him to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, where Dr. Heidi Hottinger removed both ear canals to rid him of the constant, severe infections.

Brillo was soon adopted by a wonderful, caring couple in Houston. Brillo was a very lucky boy - although he continued to struggle with health problems - most resulting from the terrible neglect he suffered prior to coming to us - his mom and dad adored him and gave him everything possible.

Just a few months ago, Brillo was diagnosed with Lymphoma - a systemic cancer which offers very little positive prognosis. He went through several chemo treatments, but, unfortunately, Brillo's body did not respond to the treatment.

Our little Brillo was released to the Rainbow Bridge on, February 12, 2005.

In addition, two of our more recent seniors, Lupton and Marcilynn crossed over to the bridge in the arms of their "mom." They didn't have much time when we got them, but they did know love since their "mom" Linda took them in.

This newsletter is dedicated to all the ill and aged who are left in the shelters with no hope - except for YOU.

Update on Shelter dogs

I promised an update and now its ready. We've rescued nine dogs this week - pictures of many of them are already up on the website. Thank you for helping us save these little dogs. We have already received enough to sponsor two of them through the month.

Look for pictures of Boo, LillieBelle, Benny, Shiro, Cinnamon, Chelsey, Sarabella, Tramp and Sundance.

Boo is the one I mentioned last week - he was turned over to one of our most wonderful volunteers, Tammy, by his owners. He is 14 years old! He has terrible skin problems (soon to be on our allergy-buster diet), probably because he lived in a garage with little human contact for quite some time. I visited Boo last week and the poor little guy just stood quivering the whole time. He has no idea what has happened to him, but as soon as he's healthy, he'll be pampered forever. Oh, by the way, his ex-owners are on the way to getting a new puppy now that they have rid themselves of Boo.

We need a home for Boo - if you are one of those nurturing people that can handle an calm, sedate elderly boy, please consider giving Boo a home for the rest of his days. We're not sure anyone would want a 14 year old dog, but...we can always hope.

Also check out beautiful LillieBelle - she is a breeder turn in. Ulcers on her eyes and a bit timid, she's still a beauty.

Tramp was also turned in by his owner - he's a bit grumpy so will go through quite a bit of training and will need to go to a home with no contact with children. But, oh what a cutie.

The rest are all shelter abandonments. Little guys that showed up in the DFW and Houston area shelters either as a stray or as an owner turn in. All we know about them is that they are ADORABLE and deserve to be allowed to find a great home. If that home is yours, APPLY TO ADOPT.

Thanks to the following for their generous donations:

Dana Woodruff, Nancy Kurtzeborn, Lisa Agnew, John Stippick, Wendy Piatek, M Katherine McDaniel, Cindy Ruby, Wendy Barnum, Sandra Brehm, Pamela Glass, Mary Davis, Erin Shulkin,
Sherri Baker, Kim & Joe Nuzzo, Cynthia Bulanek, Cynthia Anderson, Emma S. Aguilar, Sunny & Robert Goldberg and Dave Fleger.

See Boo and the rest here - www.shihtzu-rescue.com/Incoming2005-04

Donate for the April 2005 Dogs needing Rescue

If you cannot be a foster parent, but would like the satisfaction of saving JUST ONE, please consider donating to our little fluffs. You can click on the button on the web page (www.shihtzu-rescue.com/Incoming2005-04) or send a check to
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
P O Box 1346
Pinehurst, TX 77362-1346

THANKS!!

Update on the ill and injured

Guys, we are getting way behind on our vet bills right now. We've taken in a ton of babies needing medical rehabilitation. Unfortunately, we also lost two older, very neglected dogs who came into the program with severe upper respiratory problems. So, if you like knowing your support goes to medical bills alone, just look at one of the ones needing alot of medical help. Its not their fault that they were not cared for in their prior home. We're just trying to make it up to them and make them healthy so someone will want them.

I know you are all behind us, so check out the ones that have suffered neglect and in some cases, SEVERE neglect.

Our ICU - the ill and injured - www.shihtzu-rescue.com/Sponsor

Special Shih Tzu Quilt auction for a deserving little dog!!!

Well, it's here at last the Shih Tzu Lap Quilt. It measures 48 x 60, in colors of cranberry, blue, black and of course, the various colors of the Shih Tzu and the little Interloper........aka a Maltese.

The auction has been going on for several days and the bid is over $100 now. It is warm and cozy, would look good as a throw over a chair or the bottom of a bed or back of a sofa, or over your lap on cool evenings.

If you are interested in bidding, please email Barb at antybarb@charter.net. She'll send you a few pictures of the beautiful quilt. Proceeds from the quilt will go toward Scarlet Rosie's vet bills. You can read her story at www.shihtzurescue.us. Scarlet Roseie is beautiful little redhead, just 10 months old....just a baby.

Thanks from: Anty Barb and Miss Scarlet Rosie

Anty Barb Moran
antybarb@charter.net
Furever Shih Tzu Minnesota
Shih Tzu Havn Hus
www.shihtzurescue.us

(This group is one of the members of the national coalition of Shih Tzu Rescue groups to which Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue belongs.)

Scarlet Rosie - Furever Shih Tzu MN

Tribute to our Animal Control FRIENDS

The work we do could not be done if not for the Animal Control officers, staff and volunteers in the local animal control facilities. These people, go way overboard to ensure that our rescue is made aware of the little mop dogs that have been dumped at their shelters. They often hold these dogs a couple of extra days until we can get the funds to "spring" them.

So, if you go into one of the shelters, thank the very overworked people behind the desk, in the kennels and in the clinics for helping SAVE the lives of these little dogs.

They put just as much effort into the life-saving initiatives as anyone else!!

Landry, Artie and Arrow

Arrow and Landry

Two amazing, yet very sad stories...

Landry is a very young male shih tzu who was found by a good samaritan laying in a neighbor's front yard. The samaritan interrupted two little boys who were spraying Landry with a water hose. Unfortunately, Landry had recently experienced severe trauma to his back which resulted in a severed spinal cord and consequently, Landry could not even escape from those mean boys.

When the samaritan went to see how he was, he laid his head in her hand and licked it. See Landry's story at www.shihtzu-rescue.com/LandrysStory.

Arrow is a recent rescue thanks to the kind people at the Rowlett Animal Shelter. He was one big tangled mess when we were called to help. The shelter took hours to shave him and found a cute little dog there. He will have to have one eye removed because of neglect and injury, but...he's now going to be in for a great life. Check his story out at www.shihtzu-rescue.com/ArrowsStory.

If you'd like to adopt Arrow, apply at www.shihtzu-rescue.com/Application

We'll send out updates to these little guys' stories in the near future.

Artie's story is just as amazing. He suffers from demodex, a mange that typically results from a suppressed immune system. When he came to us several months ago, he had open, dripping sores all over his body and very little hair. The entire dome of his skull was one HUGE scab. It had to be repeatedly soaked off and his entire head covered with neosporin for weeks in order to get it to heal.

Today, he still needs a bit more hair, but 90% of the open oozing sores are gone and he is a happy-go-lucky little guy.

His story is at www.shihtzu-rescue.com/ArtiesStory. He needs a home, too.

Read about them here

Finding a lost dog...

As much as we hate it, sometimes dogs get away and LOST. I can't tell you how many people email me about losing their little dog. Here are some MUST DOs if you've lost your little fluff.

1. THE DAY you lose the dog, put up 500 posters all around the location the dog was last seen. The post should read "LOST DOG, $500 reward" in large letters and a description of the dog in smaller letters.
2. Don't wait until the next day - do it THAT day even if it means staying up all night.
3. Be certain you offer a LARGE reward on DAY ONE. Most little tzu and lhasa that never make it back home are kept by the people that find them. It's a good idea to offer a reward which is in excess of the cost of a new puppy.
4. Take the posters around to every house in the area - hand them to kids. Can you imagine the "army" you will have if you offer a bunch of 12-year-old kids a $500 reward??
5. Put the posters in all businesses in the area - coffee shops, hair salons, restaurants, department stores, etc. EVERYWHERE.
6. Go to all local animal shelters EVERY THREE DAYS. Do not call - go to the shelters personally. Strays get three-five days in the shelter before they are euthanized. And, don't call expecting the animal control officers to identify your dog for you. By the time your dog gets to animal control, matted and stinky, it may look like a poodle or who knows what. GO IN PERSON if you care for your dog.