ABMC Malinois Rescue Blog

May 14, 2013 Around midnight Tuesday evening (May 14), several coordinators got a notification of a dog with an injury in a Georgia shelter needing a commitment by 4 pm on Wednesday or he would be euthanized. This was a cross posting from a woman in Portland, Oregon who just tries to help shelters throughout the country find rescues for dogs that are to be euthanized.

Pictures confirmed Mal, but we knew nothing more about him except that he seemed very frightened.

I picked up the email until mid morning on Wednesday, and some other coordinators (Tracey) had already started looking for solutions for that boy. As is typical in these urgent cases, many folks work many angles and we start putting about 3 plans into motion and see which one gels first.
We had a temp foster offer in GA from an approved foster home but it was several hours from the shelter and would not be able to get the dog until later in the week. We also had an offer from a foster applicant, (a friend of one of our coordinators, Katrina Kardiasmenos) whose application was almost approved. She worked at a vet’s office and had experience – with a mal we knew little about, I was looking for someone who had worked with many different types of mals.
There was FB frenzy (in a good way) and emails flying, and just staying on top was admittedly a challenge. Other offers came in from folk who worked at UGA vet school to temp hold and have his eye looked at. But again, transport and hold were the issues. We were getting excellent advice though about collars and walking, to avoid further damage to the eye.

But between all these various options, we felt that we would be able to pull it together and I called the shelter to put the hold on the, as yet, nameless dog. I also called the shelter volunteer who would be able to pull to confirm that we would take him. The shelter was willing to hold him overnight, and we had until Thursday to get him out.

We all worked into Wednesday evening. Val, Dana and Julie also got the foster, Hillary, in NC approved, with Erica Haverty doing the home visit Wednesday night. I worked on transport, seeing if we could get it arranged for Thursday. It was more complicated by the fact that the shelter is only open half days on Thursdays. And of course people have jobs. That’s when transport was turned over to the pros – our own Lin. However it was still unclear when he would be going. I arranged for the shelter volunteer to pull him on Thursday, to get him safe, and take him to her vet for overnight boarding.

CJ offered to drive all the way to GA, which actually became AL where the boarding vet was. Friday was most convenient for her. Lin got the transport from Columbia, SC to Fayetteville, NC filled for Saturday. Only that 1st leg was “open”, though Cj was willing to drive that if needed. That’s when I contacted Melissa to ask her to do that one – I just didn’t want Cj having to drive again if it could be avoided. So on Thursday, about 3 p.m., Gail Posey, the shelter volunteer, pulled him and took him to her vet across the line in AL. Then Friday, Cj drove 10 hours to pick him up and take him to her house. On Saturday, he was off again, on a 4 (I think) leg trip to his foster mom.

Cj and everyone involved with him have reported that the dog, now named Willie by his foster Mom, is very sweet, soft and just happy to be out. He has many challenges ahead as we deal with his eye, and have him neutered and fully vetted (something that impoverished shelter in GA does not do), but with support from this community and the love of his foster Mom, we think he will do just great, and be an awesome companion for someone in the very near future.
Janet McSwain/GA State Coordinator/ABMCR

A huge thank you to the transport team – CJ Landry, Melissa Poage, Dean Bain, Ken Johnson and Hillary Daly – who came together so quickly to get this boy moved to his foster mom. He is doing very well, is relaxing with Hillary and will be medically assessed early next week. Please keep him in your thoughts.

Thank you to everyone who put aside their plans to get this boy to safety and started down the road to appropriate medical attention, blossoming in his foster home and seeking his forever home. We are so grateful for you! Willie is living proof what can be accomplished when we pull together. Best wishes for a wonderful life Willie!!

Lin Karrels
ABMCR Transport Coordinator

Saturday, April 6, 2013 – Tasha is a 7 year old gal who is sweet as she can be…she loves to play fetch and knows sit. She was found as a stray, roaming the streets. She carried a microchip, but on contacting her owner the Humane Society was told he no longer wanted her. She had been adopted out of MDAS for use as a guard dog but she did not have the temperament for that vocation. Because of her sweet disposition, her energy and playfulness, she had quickly become a favorite at the shelter. She is very affectionate to the staff and will be very much missed…but they know she deserves a much better life.

And so on this Saturday morning with the help of her transport team, Tasha begins the journey to her foster home with Terre Hall in Panama City. Thank you to Paula and the staff at the Florida Humane Society for contacting us to get Tasha into rescue, and for the wonderful care she received there.

A HUGE thank you to Tasha’s incredible transport team – Stacy Santarone, Eileen Burnell, Rita Wolf, Karen Alderson, Ruth Stanton and Terre Hall for giving up their Saturday to get this amazing girl on the road to her future. And for all of the wonderful accessories you provided to her for her safety, comfort and enjoyment.

UPDATE: Within a day of arrival to Terre, Tasha (now known as Poppy) has wowed everyone who has met her! Terre took her along to club on Sunday where they were testing for Canine Good Citizen and on a whim a friend took Poppy thru testing and she ACED it!

We wish Poppy a wonderful future full of adventures and love… you’re proving yourself every day Poppy-CGC!

UPDATE: Applications have already started coming in for Poppy so we are very hopeful that the perfect home for her will be found soon.

Lin Karrels/ABMCR Transport Coordinator

Easter Sunday – March 31, 2013 – Bella was suffering repeated attacks by another dog in the household. The owner feared for Bella and contacted ABMC/R volunteer Maury Mills who was able to help. Bella was brought into rescue and placed in short-term foster care with Erica Haverty and her family until long-term foster situation could be worked out.

A foster was found in Dayton OH and so a plea was put out for any drivers who could help get her there. There is no easy way to get from Fayetteville NC to Dayton OH but lucky for Ms. Bella Helen Igo was attending a herding class in Sanford NC and offered her a ride north on Easter Sunday on her return home, an overnight and then additional trip north to meet up with Sandra Stealey who would take her on to Chillicothe OH where the Slavens would meet her.

Unfortunately there was a huge accident on I-77 that Sunday morning and Helen and Bella spent 4-1/2 hours waiting for the interstate to clear. They took advantage of the time and made friends with other drivers.

Thank you so much to all of Bella’s angels – State Coordinator Janice McDonough, Maury Mills, Erica Haverty and family, Chloe Wells, Helen Igo, Sandra Stealey and the Slavens family.

Bella is settling in nicely with her new peeps as you can see from these recent photos. Bella has a new family and buddy to share life with – all full of wonderful adventures.

We wish you all the best Ms. Bella!
Lin Karrels ABMC/R Transport Coordinator

March 2013 – Over the period of a few weeks, Lucy traveled from southern Texas to Ohio to what was going to be her foster home.

Mercy spent some time with Tammy before catching a ride with Penny Winegartner to meet up with Anne Tindell who was headed to Wisconsin. Anne and Lucy made excellent time coming north, braving the cold weather!

In Illinois they met up with Sally and Ernie Atterberry who would be holding Lucy for a week until she was able to be received in Ohio.

Sally and Ernie had wonderful things to say about this sweet girl. More than once she weasled her way onto Ernie’s lap to enjoy pets and hugs.

After a week with Ernie and Sally, it was time to once again get on the road with Lucy’s final destination being Ohio to her foster home with Carrie and her family.

A huge thank you to everyone who played a role in rescuing Lucy… Texas State Coordinators Paula Sherrouse and Lee Ann Doyle, Tammy Ritchey, Penny Winegartner, Anne Tindell, Sally and Ernie Atterberry, Beth Beck-Marts, Mike Carrigan, and Carrie Morrow.

And to the Morrow Family – congratulations on Lucy’s adoption. It appears this was a foster failure situation before Lucy even got to her new digs in Ohio. One very lucky girl, one very happy family… we wish them all our best!

Lin Karrels/ABMCR Transport Coordinator

Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 – This one is all about the pictures folks! These 2 girls came into rescue earlier in the year. Halle was dropped off at a shelter as a “stray”. She was overweight and lacking muscle tone with kennel sores on her elbows. It is suspected she may have been used as a brood bitch and dumped when no longer needed. She is very sweet and craves attention.

She was pulled by Tasha Belfiore who short-term fostered her for 3+ weeks until a foster home could be found and transport arranged.

Meesha was brought into rescue, a petite girl who was severely malnourished. Thanks to the efforts of Coordinator Claudette Fisher, Meesha slowly improved, gaining a bit of weight, but unfortunately proved to be heartworm positive. The perfect foster home was found for her and as both girls were traveling north a transport was put in place to move them together up to SC where Meesha would meet her new foster mom, Annie Manchester, and Halle would overnight with Dean and Diana Bain and then depart for her foster home in PA on Sunday.

Unfortunately we were having trouble filling the 2nd day of transport for Halle, from SC to PA. Weather in the north, lack of drivers along the route, whatever the reason, it was not looking good and so we were in the process of making back-up plans for Halle when Jeff Wheeler with Wanna Go? Pet Transport provided the answer to get Halle to her foster home.

Jeff picked up Halle on Sunday evening and delivered her to PA on Monday morning. This Florida girl discovered what snow was all about when she got to PA!

All transports are special, but these 2 girls are both around 8 years old and waited so very long for the life they should have had. Halle, Meesha and all the coordinators with ABMC, not to mention all the FB followers for these 2 girls – well we want to send out the biggest THANK YOU ever to Tasha Belfiore, Claudette Fisher, Tracy and Scott Weldon, Annie Manchester, Donna Sees, Suzanne Behrens, Beatrice Moyer, Suzi Graham, Dean and Diana Bain and jeff Wheeler – you all made the difference in their lives. Meesha will be undergoing HW treatment with Annie. Halle will be getting a bit of socializing in and will be up for adoption soon. That’s Meesha in her beautiful new jacket and that is Halle with her new foster dad Scott. Can’t you just feel how happy and proud they are! The pictures say it all… thank you!

Lin Karrels/ABMC-R Transport Coordinator

Friday and Saturday, February 15-16, 2013 – Ember came into rescue in 2012 and has been patiently waiting for her forever home to be found. She has been enjoying her life with her foster family, foster mom Robin Barfoot, but it is time for her to have her own home. And it is finally her turn!

No easy trip – Michigan to Iowa in the winter…. but Ember had a lot of help along the way.

Foster Dad Patrick Harrington takes the first leg across Michigan and into the snow. They meet Pat Eddinger on the west side of Michigan and head to Indiana.

Sue Spinhirne meets Ember in Indiana and transports her to Illinois where I met them. Ember spent the evening with us in northern Illinois before heading out Saturday morning to meet her new mom and friends.

And finally it’s time, time to meet her new mom, time to take that last leg of transport home, with much thanks to Harold and Jolene Eichmann who drove so that Ember and her new mom, Brenda, could get to know each other.

And check out the cool bowl that her foster dad sent with her, signed by every transport angel along the way, welcome home Ember… welcome home! Thank you to all that helped Ember on her journey home!

Lin Karrels ABMC/R Transport Coordinator

Saturday, February 2, 2013 – McCoy turned up in the Greenwood, SC shelter in late October 2012, a very frightened little guy. He was evaluated and brought into rescue. In early November he went to his foster home with Stven and Chrissy Muxo.

While with Steven and Chrissy, he learned about living in a house, getting along with other dogs and to be the trusted companion of small children. He proved himself to be just a great guy, quick to learn and very laid back in the midst of all the household activities. They reported that he was an easy, happy go lucky fellow almost from day one. He just wanted to be with people.

Grady was looking for a best friend, a buddy to go with him to work at the vet clinic at Fort Benning, and had fallen in love with Malinois working with the military working dogs at the clinic. He wasn’t looking for a working dog, just a great fellow to train and be with. McCoy’s easy going nature and desire to please made them the perfect match. And so transport was arranged to move McCoy to meet Grady half-way home.

We want to thank all of McCoy’s Angels who helped him on his Journey… Jackie Brown, Janet McSwain, Steve and Chrissy Muxo, Russ Raniszewski, Ruthanne Wilson and Alena Buckmaster.

And congratulations to McCoy and the Horner family…. we wish you many wonderful adventures to share. Dreams really do come true….

Lin Karrels
ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator

Friday, February 1, 2013 – Gena was discovered running in the streets south of Atlanta GA. She is a pretty young female but is unchipped and no one came forward to claim her. She was brought to our attention by a local volunteer and after her hold was up, she was evaluated and brought into rescue. A foster home in SC who had recently secured a wonderful forever placement for their foster was now open and willing to take her, so transport was arranged and Gena made the trip on Friday.

Heartfelt thanks to Dee Watts for bringing this girl to our attention and for being available to help with transport, to Coordinators Jennifer and Robert Black and Janet McSwain, to Barbara Mahoney who gave Gena a ride from Atlanta GA to Florence SC, to Robert Black and Steve Muxo for driving, and to Chrissy and Steve Muxo for fostering Gena. She is a beautiful girl and is settling in…. soon to be looking for her forever home.

Lin Karrels
ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator

Sunday, January 27, 2013 – Fluff (now named Geita) is the last of 5 littermates brought into rescue (see stories below on Viki, Mattie and Molly) and now it is her turn to make the trip to her forever home. 450 miles between her foster home and her adoptive home, and with a lot of nasty Midwest winter in between, but thanks to the amazing team that volunteered to get her home, she made the trip on Sunday.

There was a weather event headed up from the south that was predicting heavy icing along Fluff’s route from Indianapolis eastward. We had to wait until Sunday morning to make the decision about whether we should go or not. After much deliberation the decision was made – It was a go!!! And little Fluff loaded up and headed out.

She was a great girl on transport, like she knew she was headed for good things. A huge thank you to foster mom Tracy Weldon, drivers Tracy Weldon, Lisa Weber, Carol and Steve Spring, Cheryl and Ron Callander, Sharmon Rudin, Lisa Nadasi and Mike Carrigan – and congratulations to new mom Janice Millis. I know there are lots of new adventures ahead for this sweetie. Congratulations Janice and Geita!

Lin Karrels
ABMC/R Transport Coordinator

Saturday, January 12, 2013 – Susie is a 9 year old female Malinois who came into rescue after the death of her owner. She was left at the shelter in Miami-Dade, confused and alone.

Susie is now headed to her long-term foster home in Maryland for evaluation so that Rescue can find the perfect home for her. On Saturday she made the trip from Tampa FL to the Atlanta GA area where she stayed with Sharon until Monday and then they rode all the way to Maryland together.

Susie has had some real angels helping her along the way – foster Tasha Belfiore, drivers Donna Sees, Beckie Haughton, Bill and Dee Watts, Mike and Bridget Russell, Sharon Webb and long-term foster home with Jason and Bridgitte Bailey.

Susie was very lucky to have such wonderful drivers helping her along the way, especially with Donna taking a 250 mile leg and Sharon giving her a lift from Atlanta to Washington DC on Monday to meet her new foster family.

She was a very good girl on transport, and certainly seems to be settling in well with the Bailey Family (yes, that is a picture of Susie snuggled in and sharing a bed with another pup at the Bailey household).

Thank you to all of Susie’s rescuers, State Coordinator Janet McSwain, foster homes and drivers that rescued Susie and got her to safety. At her age, the chances of adoption out of Miami-Dade were pretty slim – she now has a chance to live out her life enjoying her days shared with love and companionship – go Susie!!

Lin Karrels – ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator

Saturday, January 5, 2013 – 678 miles Molly and Mattie are 6 month old littermates, part of a litter of 5 females brought into rescue in Pennsylvania and held with Tracy Weldon and friend Allyson while foster homes and transport arrangements were worked out. Like their sister Viki who made the trip to her foster home in Wisconsin last week, they were now ready. They had been in foster care for 2 weeks, were fully vetted and had stabilized. Both were doing very well, learning how to eat from a bowl and function in a family situation with people who cared about them.

The “girls” departed PA Saturday morning and made excellent progress throughout the day. Mattie was stressed and chewed thru her leashes but did very well overall. Molly was gold.

ABMC/R would like to thank the Weldon family, and friend Allyson, for short-term fostering, and foster moms Teresa Hatcher and Jan Saylors for offering to foster the girls thru to adoption. A round of applause for drivers Rachel and Allyson, Linda Torson, Lauren Cathis, Cheryl Calendar, Mary Ann Gibson, Susan Geers-Meiners, Bill and Margaret Bond, Susan Dyer, Teresa Hatcher, Lynda Joyce and Jan Saylors for stretching out and making this transport work. Even as late as Friday morning I had serious doubts we were going to fill this run – but as always, everyone worked together to get them safely home.

These beautiful little girls will be up for adoption soon, so be watching the website for them.

Congratulations on a job well done! Lin Karrels ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator

Sunday, December 30th – 570 miles. Viki is one of a litter of five 6-month-old Malinois females who came into rescue earlier in December in Pennsylvania. Foster Theresa Weldon scooped them up on intake and brought them home for vetting and stabilization until foster homes could be found and transport arranged. We had transport all set for Saturday but the heavy snow conditions in the Pennsylvania area of departure and along the transport route made it impossible for her to go on Saturday and we had to cancel. Most all of our amazing drivers were able to reschedule on Sunday and with David and Sue Carr adding the missing leg to the one they were already driving, plans were set in place for Sunday.

Viki and her sisters had severe malnutrition and were an unruly little pack with very little if any socialization. Theresa had been working miracles with them, helping them adapt to eating food from a bowl and sleeping in crates. It was now time to split them up so they could develop their own personalities and find their forever homes.

A huge thank you to foster home Theresa Weldon and Allyson who helped with one of the puppies, drivers Scott Weldon, Linda Torson, Penny Clark, Sue and Adam Carr, Etsuko Dlouhy, Kathy Miko, Dia Morgan and driver/fosters Jeanine and Kevin Daugherty.

Little Viki is now with her new foster mom, Jeanine, and resident Malinois Georgia and Liam. She has a new name, Brek, and is celebrating New Years with her foster family in Wisconsin. Watch the website for this gorgeous little girl, I’m sure she will be available for adoption soon.

A New Year miracle – thank you to everyone who helped Brek on her journey, ABMC Rescue State Coordinator Julie Bear, foster homes Tracey Weldon and Jeanine Daughterty, and of course all her wonderful drivers who made the trip to her foster home possible, thank you for braving the snow and cold… Happy New Year!!!

Lin Karrels
ABMC/R Transport Coordinator

September 29, 2012 – These 2 beautiful little girls were found at a dump in Mississippi. They were quickly taken in by Sue Sexton where they had a chance to be medically stabilized and put on a little weight before moving them to their foster homes in the north. Sue did an amazing job with them and they were dubbed Doe and Rae.

They are outgoing, spirited little things who love to chew on each others ears and wrestle and run, run, run… A foster home was finally located with Tanya Pariseau in Illinois and the search for drivers began. The first attempt at transport failed. The second wasn’t going to complete either, but we could get them all the way to Memphis and we had a very generous offer to board them in the Memphis area and catch a ride later that week up to mid-state Illinois. And so the girls departed Sue and headed north with volunteer drivers Amelia Hudson, Kirk Glessinger, Brianna Taylor, Leslye Koch and Peggy Robinson.

Peggy brought them to long-time friend Ken Blackman who opened his heart and home to these cuties for 5 days until their ride headed north to mid-state Illinois with Sheila Hoffman.

My husband and I met the pups in Mattoon IL and transported them back to northern Illinois where we spent 3 fun-filled days with these 2. Adorable, rambunctious, sweet and outgoing, these two were very attached to each other so the decision was made to split them up so they could both develop their own personalities and get ready for their own forever homes. Sharon Roundy and her husband Joe Szewculak were contacted to see if they might be interested in fostering one of the girls. They readily agreed and during the following Sunday and Monday the girls made the trip to their respective homes.

They made the transition very well and continue to grow into absolutely wonderful puppies, I really can’t say enough about their personalities and temperament. I’m sure they will be available for adoption shortly – we wish them a beautiful future filled with love and wonderful adventures.

Thank you to all the incredible people who rescued them from the dump, brought them back to health, transported, overnighted, fostered and loved these little girls. They are what it is all about.

Lin Karrels/ABMC Rescue Coordinator

September 22, 2012 – Falyn came into rescue in April of 2012. A young female estimated around 2 years of age. She settled in with State Coordinator Jennifer Harrison-Black in Georgia to stabilize, blossom and to find her forever home. It did take awhile but in September that perfect home was found with the Crowley family who lived in Maine.

We started posting a standard transport but received a wonderful offer from Kristina Senter who was traveling thru the GA area and headed to Maryland. Kristina picked up Falyn and over the next couple of days they made their way to Maryland where volunteer Heather Roche stepped in and transported Falyn up to Maryland. The Crowley family left Maine and headed to Maryland to meet her – and what a wonderful meeting it was.

And what a perfect fit it is. 1275 miles Falyn traveled to find the perfect home for her. She is a happy girl now, her days are spent with her family and canine buddies and filled with adventures in the outdoors in Maine. Thank you to all the volunteers who touched Falyn on her journey to home. The perfect spot for her.

Lin Karrels/ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator

Saturday, October 13, 2012 – Sonny is a handsome 8 month old male Malinois pulled from a shelter. He has been in boarding and patiently waiting (okay, anxiously) for a foster home to open up. It’s finally happened and today is the day.

It’s a wonderful day, a solid transport running perfectly on time, and he is enjoying the attention from his road angels, drivers Heather Roche, Linda Goetchius, Carrie Terbush, Garland Homes, Jill and Skip Roofner, Berniece Peterson, Dana Harrington, Jennifer and Tony Rush, and finally his last driver and foster dad, Geary Martin.

It was a long trip for Sonny, but then finding your way down a new road is never easy and this boy is on his way to a lifetime of adventures. He should be available for adoption shortly.

Thank you to all the dedicated drivers out there who delivered Sonny into the hands of his foster family – you saved him today, you gave him a new road to follow.

Lin Karrels – ABMC Rescue Transport Coordinator