My name is Phoebe and I'm the pretty blonde Akita/GSD mix in the photo.I was homeless in Kansas City MO and I had a secret.So I took up residence in the yard of a vacant house in Kansas City and scrounged around for garbage and mice and stuff to eat doing the best I could, and I kept my secret.
So I was just at that vacant house for a little while and the realtor lady came over to show the house and so I barked at the people to let them know that if they bought the house and let me stay, I'd be a good watch dog for them. Well, people being (in my opinion) not quite as smart as dogs, they mistook the whole situation and everyone got scared and went away.Then the realtor lady told a neighbor that she was having her husband come over and get rid of me one way or the other.They didn't know my secret.
Fortunately the neighbor knew a dog rescue lady named Joan Nickum and so Joan got busy and found a rescue in Colorado that would take me.So Joan and some other folks came over and caught me and took me to the nice people at Winding River to stay until Blue Moon Akita Rescue had a space for me.And I kept my secret.
I liked it OK at Winding River because there was good food to eat and the people were nice, but I knew that I still couldn't tell them my secret.
Then the big day came and I got in a box in the van with a whole lot of other dogs in those dog boxes and we rode a long way.The people were nice but I was real nervous about the other dogs because I knew they all knew my secret and I was sure hoping none of them would spill the beans.But they kept my secret because they were all as scared as I was about going to a strange new place.
So then we got to Denver Colorado and the Blue Moon lady came to get me.She took one look at me and our eyes met, and I knew she knew my secret.I was a Trojan Dog ... she didn't seem to be quite as happy as I hoped, but she took me back to Blue Moon and introduced me to the other dogs there.Holy Cow those Akitas are big dudes.Right away they all knew my secret too and I had to get right in their face and tell them to mind their own business.
So then the next day Karena took me to the vet and she told him my secret, but he didn't seem to be at all surprised.He examined me and said I was pretty healthy it seemed like but just way to skinny and we went back to Blue Moon and boy I got special food and a lot of it, and I didn't have any secret anymore!So Karena and everyone at Blue Moon waited with me and I had a big soft bed and a warm place to be (I really don't like this Colorado winter stuff very much).
On Friday, November 13, I went into labor and I delivered 7 healthy puppies - three boys and four little girls.They are big and beautiful and they were my secret.And they are special because they are all WANTED.Every one of my babies has a super home already waiting to take them home in January, and the people who were originally going to adopt me ... well they are waiting for me and I am going to be adopted too!
So that's the Story of Phoebe's Secret.I wanted my babies to be born in a safe place where they would always have enough to eat and people to love them.Clever girl that I am, I hid my secret very well until it was safe for me to share.
Many thanks to CARE from Phoebe and Blue Moon Akita Rescue ... our little Trojan Akita Mix has given us 7 sweet babies ... so bringing Phoebe from Missouri, you didn't save one dog ... you saved 8!!!Thanks also for the wonderful donation of food and bedding for Phoebe and the kids and for making Phoebe one of the Jake's Fund dogs!
Phoebe will be spayed in January after her babies are weaned and then she's looking forward to going to live with her new family in Vail.... and Phoebe promises me she will have no more secrets!
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On New Year's Day, the puppies were 6 weeks old. They will be able to move to their new homes in 3 weeks.
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CHUCKLES
Lisa - Chuckles rode with CARE in August 2008 and bless his heart, over here he was "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" but we just knew his day would come. Sure enough, we got an inquiry from Seattle WA about Chuckles ... they made a formal application to adopt Chuck, we did our due diligence and said "ya'll come" and Cheryl, John, Patrick and their pretty girl Shasta drove from Seattle to Denver, arriving 4/26 to meet Chuck. It was love at first sight across the board and Chuck is now enroute home to Seattle with his new family and dog sister Shasta. Thanks to CARE.
If you remember, Chuck was rescued from the Kansas City shelter on his "last day", spent some time in boarding in Missouri waiting for a space to open up and then transported to Colorado by the wonderful folks at CARE. Chuck's long journey home is complete and he now has what every one of these animals deserve -- a forever home of their own filled with love and and happiness.
Thank you, CARE, for making Chuck's dream come true.
Kira/Abby Missouri to Denver to a wonderful home in Las Vegas
Lisa - Our pretty baby Kira/Abby went to her forever home in April. As I'm sure you recall, she was fostered for awhile by D'Ann in Maryville and then transported Kansas City MO to Denver, CO to finally go to her new family in Las Vegas, NV in April. This little baby Akita girl would have died in that small town shelter if we hadn't had the wonderful resource of CARE to get her out of Missouri and to Blue Moon where we could give her a safe haven until her forever family could find her. Thank you so much and God Bless!
BTW this family drove through our weekend blizzard in April to come from Las Vegas for this sweet baby girl. They drove all night to get here, they were so excited. Little Kira/Abby has some big paw prints to fill as her Akita girl predecessor was killed protecting her family during a home robbery in Las Vegas. The family was devastated by the loss of their family member. But you know that Akita girl is today smiling down from the Rainbow Bridge knowing that her family made room for an orphan baby to help heal their loss.
Thank you CARE. One Akita died protecting her family, but you prevented the loss of this innocent baby and gave her the opportunity for the future she never would have had without CARE.
Akita Samauri is forever home! As you may recall, Sam was so sick and frightened that he was carried out of the Springfield shelter. He spent almost 3 months in boarding in Maryville regaining his health, being vetted and waiting for a place to open up at Blue Moon. Then CARE brought him to us in Denver. He waited here at Blue Moon for another couple of months and then the right family came looking for him and now he is safely home and much loved!
Thank you CARE for giving Samauri the transportation he needed to have a happy ending to his story!
karena
Blue Moon Akita Rescue
Arkansas Andy
Karena from Blue Moon Akita Rescue writes:
Andy arrived in Denver Saturday, 1/24/09 and went to his new home Monday, 1/26. Without CARE he would have been dead in Arkansas on Monday morning. That's what CARE does -- it saves lives. Here is Little Andy's story ...
Andy is so very happy! He traveled from Arkansas to arrive at Blue Moon on Saturday evening 1/24 after a very long day. He had a big dinner and was very content to climb into his crate and sleep solidly for 8 hours. On Sunday Pat, Becky and the kids came to visit Andy and the rest is history. On Monday Andy sailed through his veterinary checkup and went to his new home in Lafayette, CO. We're so eager to watch this little guy grow up. He's got several acres to run on and our own Ms Ray has gone home with Andy to ensure that he's got a big sister Akita to grow up with and show him the ropes. Stay tuned for the rest of Andy's new story!
Back in Arkansas Andy told us "So much has happened to me. I was born in Arkansas in late September and my Akita momma told me and my brothers and sisters that was a good time to be born because we were going to be Christmas puppies. We didn't know what that meant, but we sure had fun. Akita momma was good to us, we all ate together and we played and played. Then one by one my brothers and sisters started leaving the yard with new people, but that was ok I guess because everybody seemed nice and I still had my Momma.
"Then the people right next door came over and got me and I heard them say "Christmas Puppy" and I was so proud because I knew that was exactly what Momma said I was going to be. So I went to live next door, but I don't think this is what Momma had planned. I could still hear Momma thru the fence, and I missed her and I cried and people got angry with me. And I cried, and my Momma cried.
"And I was so lonely. The kids liked me but they went back to school and I stayed in the yard with another guy who wasn't nice to me. See, the new folks already had a big ol' dog and he was real clear to me that I needed to stay out of his way because HE had not been the one wanting any puppy. The big guy didn't like me and he didn't have any use for puppies except maybe for dinner. So I only got to eat after he was done, and he tried not to leave anything, so I got hungry, and I cried. I couldn't play with any of the toys because he'd come take them away from me. He was not nice to me and I could hear my Momma on the other side of the fence worrying about me. And I cried. I was so afraid of the big guy, I just tried not to do anything that would make him any more angry than he already was about me being there.
"Then about a week ago, the kids were giving me and the other guy each a cookie. Well he ate his right down and then he came and took my cookie away from me. I cried and he grabbed me by the face and shook me until I thought my neck was gonna snap. The man said I had to go because if I didn't the big dog was going to kill me. I believed that. I was terrified. They took me back next door and I got happy cuz I thought I would be with Momma again but Momma's people told them they didn't want me and would not take me back, not even for a little while.
"So we got in the car and went to a pet store that was having something called an adoptathon. My people explained to those people that my Momma's folks didn't want me back and would not take me back. They said the cut on my face was from the big dog that didn't like me and that they couldn't keep me because he'd just kill me. So they left me at the adoptathon. I guess that was better than being left in the parking lot or alongside the road.
"I'm trying to be a real big boy and make my Momma proud, but I'm so lonely. They have been so nice to me here. I got my first set of puppy shots and the vet was real nice. He also checked me for parasites and said I was in good shape. The vet told me that the cut on my face from the big dog was going to heal up just fine and I'd grow up big and handsome.
Thank you for your interest in Blue Moon Akita Rescue. We know we cannot change the world, but for the orphan Akita you take into your heart to help feed, cover medical expenses on or give a forever home, you truly have made a difference and given the gift of life. Blue Moon Akita Rescue operates with a 501C3 and any assistance you give our dogs can be used as a tax deduction and you will be sent a receipt.
BLUE MOON AKITA RESCUE http://www.bluemoonakitarescue.com
Arkansas Andy
Ms. Ray on a hot August day
Ms. Ray
Karena, from Blue Moon Akita Rescue writes:
From August 2008 until the end of January 2009, Ms Ray patiently waited for her turn. Monday 1/26 it was her turn and she left Blue Moon and went to her forever home. Had it not been for a CARE transport last August, she would have died in the Osceola MO shelter. For Ms Ray, CARE was the difference between another chance and no chance. Here is her story:
My name is Ms Ray and I'm an Akita girl, almost a year old, I am spayed, microchipped and current on all my shots. I am completely housebroken and this is my story.
In early August my four year old boy was removed sobbing from around my neck, and then my family left me in the local kill shelter; his little brother was crying too but he didn't know why 'cuz he's just a little guy. I had just last month finished teaching my littlest guy to walk. I loved my boys -- they were usually sticky so I always had to tidy them up.
My family told the shelter they lost our house in foreclosure and they have to go move in with something called "the in-laws." I'm a dog and I don't know what "the in-laws" are but I heard them say that in-laws are not dog people; I sure hope they at least like little kids. I hope my boys don't have to go to a shelter because of in-laws, but I don't know how anybody wouldn't love my kids. I loved my children so much. I slept with them, played with them and took care of them. We ate and played together.
Game over. The in-laws are not dog people and I am a dog, so I lost and ended up in the Osceola shelter with all these barking, howling, snapping dogs. My time ticked by in this small Missouri shelter and ran out. The people here at the shelter were nice and they felt sorry for me, but every day I watched dogs go through the big door and they don't come back. I know they never take a big group of dogs out to give them new homes all at once, so the big door cannot lead to a good place. My time was about up and so the folks at the shelter put out a call for help from Akita Rescue.
So Akita Rescue Western New York responded and said they couldn't take me but that Blue Moon Akita Rescue in Colorado could and so on 8/5/08 I began the first step of my journey to what will eventually be a new family.
Now I'm in Colorado with my foster family and other foster Akitas waiting for homes . There are no children to play with except when we have visitors, but the food is good and the people are nice. We have started doing some obedience work because my foster mommy thinks it will help me find a great home.
I want to make my family proud of me, so I am remembering all my manners and being sweet with everyone. Mommy says she can tell when I think about my family and I miss them, but I know I need to move on and learn to love new people; I can do this. I didn't eat for 3 days after I got here, but Mommy made me boiled chicken and fed it to me by hand in pieces and I'm a good little eater now. I want my family to be proud of me and I can't let them down because they taught me good things and I know they loved me.
Well, I didn't get my new family for Christmas, but guess what!? Today the people who visited me on Sunday called back and said they wanted to adopt both me and little Arkansas Andy. He's too little to understand but I am sooooo excited. We're going to our new forever home! And the best part -- we've got two kids and almost 5 acres! I hear we're going to sleep in Mom and Dad's bedroom and Blue Moon Akita Rescue promised me we've got someone to care for and a home of our own.
Keyah
Well, Keyah's family told Osceola Animal Control if they didn't take her she'd be shot because they couldn't afford to put her to sleep and they didn't want her. Osceola called Blue Moon Akita Rescue and we said we'd make room. So, once again, CARE was quite literally a life saver as they brought this lovely Karafuto Akita girl from Missouri to Denver, Colorado. Here is her story:
Osceola wasn't even sure she was an Akita. I told Osceola definitely she's a long coat Akita (some call them Karafuto Akitas) and that I had no idea how I was going to get her here or where I was going to put her but definitely, go bring her in before Annie Oakley in Osceola shoots her. Then I sat down and asked God for a little help.
Next came the Akita angels. A rescue buddy in Kansas City said he'd go get her from Osceola to Kansas City (thank you Carl), two Akita friends said they would help with board/transport (thank you Susan and Polly). Winding River said they'd board her pending transport to Colorado and, of course, CARE always has my back on these dogs and will run the transport to Colorado from Kansas City. Then my friend Lisa at Blue Lion Sanctuary replied back and said of course she would give this girl sanctuary in Colorado while we work to find her a forever home. Akita Angels.
So today (1/7/09) she arrived safe with us and looking for a home. Keyah is about 3 years old; she's spayed and current on vaccinations; she is healthy and her last family had her for "a few months." So this family told the animal control officer in they had gotten Keyah from "a breeder" who was "going out of business" so they couldn't return her, but that they didn't want her because although she is great with adults and children, she simply won't make nice at the food dish when they feed all their dogs out of one large bowl. For those of you who are familiar with the breed, you have to admit, this Akita girl is amazing in that she tolerated the "community food dish" for 3 months before showing them that Akitas didn't want to be last in line at the food dish. Obviously we couldn't figure out why the family didn't give the dogs separate dishes but ... let's don't even go there.
So on 1/25 folks came to Blue Lion to visit with Keyah and on 1/26 they came back to take her home to Colorado springs. I spoke with them this morning and they say that she is an absolute darling and gets along terrifically with their Shiba.
BLUE MOON AKITA RESCUE http://www.bluemoonakitarescue.com
Keiko
Here's an update on Baby Kieko that you transported to Denver from Kansas in May. She's happily home in Casper WY ... living with Boomer (remember Boomer ?? You transported him too!).Karena Hi Everyone, I thought Ingrid might enjoy seeing what Kia's sister looks like - Keiko. She too is a very sweet girl. Very smart and learns quickly. She is my shadow and follows me where ever I go. She is going to be a big girl when she is done growing! One of the pictures is with her buddy - Boomer. Those two are the best of friends and get along great. We have had snow twice already and Keiko and Boomer love running around in it. Lori Casper, WY
Kia
Thought you'd like to see some recent photo's of Kia - she is an absolute delight. Still a bit submissive, but her personality is coming out more and more. She's very smart and eager to please - not a mean bone in her body.
Absolutely loves the grandkids, not rough with them at all - like she knows to be gentle. Tony and I are still absolutely smitten. Isn't she a beauty? Ingrid
Here's the tally from the Akita side of the world of CARE transport: Since July 2007, you have lovingly transported 17 Akitas into my care:5 Akitas (Kuma, Kia, Baby Kieko, Baxter, Boomer) from Kansas -- two (Kuma and Kia) were placed in Colorado, two (Baby Kieko, Boomer) in Wyoming and one (Baxter) is now home in Vermont.All but one of the 12 Akitas from Missouri were pulled for me the evening of their last day in a kill shelter -- one (Hawkins) placed in Nevada, five (Banjo/Jack, Hattie/Minka, Capone/Henry, Gunner/Koda, Tilley) are forever home in Colorado, one (Angie Molly/Kieko) was a rescue from a puppy miller and lives with her new parents in Utah, one (Apache/Che) found his family in Arizona and three (Ace, Chuckles and Ms Ray) are eagerly waiting for their own forever homes. One sweet girl had psychological problems to the extent that she could not get beyond her past abuse (Shiyawase/Sunny) and with many tears was euthanized for unprovoked aggression All dogs were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped prior to placement.So, no, I'm not changing the world but in 18 months there are 17 Akitas for whom CARE has been, quite literally, the difference between life and death. I wish we could save them all.Karena
Apache/Che
Less than 6 months after Che was adopted, his ACL went on the right side. He had surgery to repair it. Approximately 30 days later the ACL on the left blew. He had surgery to repair it. These are his pictures following completion of physical therapy. Che is the smartest, most willing Akita I have ever trained ... and I've been working with Akitas since 1972. He makes his forever home in AZ. The note below is from his forever owners, Jenna & John.
Che is doing amazingly well. It seems like he turned a corner about four weeks ago and improves a little bit each day. I think his knees have finally healed and he appears to be pain free. The hip has stopped clicking and his gait is pretty much normal. He is hiking every day and is up to about 3 miles with no more sitting down. He even chases rabbits for a short distance. Needless to say Jenna and I are elated, we never expected him to get anywhere close to this. He is truly like his old self. We are making sure not to let him overdo it, but he get so excited about going. We have taken him to an alternative vet for a second opinion and she felt we were doing everything right. For the last several months we have had him on a supplement called "Free and Easy" that is for joint health and I really think that has made alot of difference, so we are going to keep him on that. I have attached some pics from Creede. He just loved getting into the cold streams and being in the mountains. He is still the greatest dog ever and getting better. Thanks for thinking about us and hope things are well with you! John
Baxter
Baxter has had quite a journey. His journey began at a shelter in Kansas City, MO. C.A.R.E. transported him to Colorado and he now lives in Vermont with his new dad. Below is a note we just received from Baxter's family.
It's important to note: for as much as Baxter's life was RADICALLY changed by adoption, the other half of this truth is that life for Judy and me (and her Hallee-mini-Schnauzer) was also RADICALLY changed for the better with Baxter's Rescue/adoption.
Baxter now enjoys 10 acres of Northern Vermont, including the presence of 2 bow-hunters who have dragged deer across our property and reawakened Baxter's DNA memory which has been wondrous to share. Baxter is slowly reawakening to being a free-spirit Akita in a family cluster where he is adored, cherished, and nurtured. His days are filled with cold mountain mornings, gorgeous visTas overlooking Lake Champlain, and the scent of nature- deer, black bear, turkeys, even rumored presence of moose! When he's out for morning ablutions (isn't that a great Brit term?) He's bounding, playful, and in his element. During the day he's protective of his home- our neighbors came up the hill to say hello and Baxter's voice was truly authoritative...he curls up for ear-scratching and back-scratching...lies on Judy's side of the bed every night...and in the morning as we awaken, his Keiter-talk is proud and deep...if I had a dozen of him, my life would be heaven.
He has brought such joy in creating our family- and we adore our Rescue: Baxter. Life is Grand, and he so contributes to that.
Denny & Judy
Keta
The Buck Fund's MiChielle C. had called us to help Keta. This big, sweet dog had been living in a vet kennel for two months after her owner moved into an assisted living facility in Kansas. No one seemed to want to adopt this 5-year-old, female, Heinz 57-collie mix, who was - well - quite portly. But when MiChielle told us about Keta, we wanted to help.
In early July 2008 Keta hitched a ride with Colorado Animal Rescue Express to Denver, and from there went to a foster home where she stayed with a wonderful family for three weeks. The more we learned about Keta, the more we knew there was a perfect home for her.
Julie and Devlin, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, had just moved back to the United States after four years in Japan so that Devlin could attend the NavalPost-GraduateSchool in Monterey, Calif. Their A-No. 1 priority was to get a dog. Keta fit the bill. "After we recovered from jet lag from our trip from Japan and found a house in California our lives were nearly complete," Julie told us. "The only thing we really needed was a dog. We heard about Keta from Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue and looked her up online. Her sweet temperament glowed through her beautiful face. We fell in love with her." In late July Julie flew to Colorado to meet her new dog. It was love at first sight. A few days later Julie and Keta drove back to California, where Devlin was overjoyed to see "his girls." Now Keta is going for daily walks in the cool, Monterey climate and is exploring the California coastline. She is Julie's constant little friend while Devlin is attending classes to complete his Master's. Keta also can't be called a "portly" dog much longer. She is taking part in all of the couple's activities and trips, and gets to go walking, hiking, camping and fishing with her new mom and dad. She will be a toned, muscular dog soon enough -- a true California Girl! "She has been such a wonderful addition to our home," says Julie. "When we are walking she garners at least one compliment per outing. She loves to 'go,' whether for a walk or a ride and is happy to 'help' around the house as we get settled. A dog adds so much life to life. We are happy to share ours with Keta, a collie mix now from 'Collie-fornia!'"
Not only was Keta's future important to us at PCSR, but so was her past. We worked with the Buck Fund to find out who Keta's former owner was. Since it was clear that he loved his dog, we knew he would be happy to know that she was doing great. We were able to talk with his son, whose incredulity spread to joy when he learned that Keta had gone from Kansas to a Colorado rescue and then a California home. The son said he would tell the wonderful news to his father, who was still in the assisted living facility.
Keta was loved once. And she is loved again. Lucky dog.
Hattie/Minka
To all the wonderful individuals who helped with Minka's (aka Hattie's) Rescue
I adopted Minka from Karena (wonderful person) about 3 weeks ago. I wanted to send you all a pic of Minka's first hike in the Colorado mountains. It was just a short 2 miler, and a bit frenetic (there were a lot of dogs on the trail and we're still working on walking on lead and impulse control!) And. . . it's a good thing that my friend took the picture before that lovely white chest rolled around in some cool, wet red mountain soil. . .Bath Time!) She moves right along, even with her stiff back leg. . ..we had a great time. Hopefully, many more to come.
She's a wonderful cuddler, great walker, and loves to protect the house by barking out the French doors at any nervy dogs that set foot on her property! I'm taking her to doggie day camp a day or two a week so she'll have a chance to play, like she did at Karena's, and to work on dog socialization. Training class is coming up. It gives me great joy to see how excited she is about the world, new sounds and experiences.
I know how time intensive, costly, and sad it is to try to rescue these beautiful Akitas. I wanted you to know how wonderful it is that you do what you do, and how much I appreciate having Minka in my life.
Thanks! Rae R.
Jethro
Jethro and his littermate were found wandering in the desert near Gallup NM. The little Akita boys were about 3 months old and had collars embedded in their necks. They were taken to the kill shelter in Gallup and were scheduled to be euthanized if not claimed/adopted. There were no takers and so I pulled them, and their collars were surgically removed before they left Gallup. We networked with various rescue people and did a relay run moving the boys from Gallup to Albuquerque to Denver. In Albuquerque, the Akita Rescue folks had a screened adopter for one of the boys and the remaining little guy came to Denver. He was adopted by Joni and now lives with several horses, donkeys, a cat and 3 other dogs. We may not be changing the world, but in Jethro's eyes, Joni IS HIS WORLD and he would not have had that chance without transport volunteers like CARE.
Colorado Animal Rescue Express (C.A.R.E.) is a 501(C)3 Public Charity
