McMuttigan's

On a recent visit to pick up dogs for the program, I walked through Simpson County Animal Shelter with Katherine..She was showing me dogs and cats, as well as introducing me to my new kids for the program. As I was leaving, she hugged me and thanked me for all I do...I took 2 dogs?? Her response, those were 2 dogs that would've been in danger due to space...That statement, that is so true in the shelters, made me sad...Then I hear her ask me.."Do you know of any Coy Dog Rescues?" I thought I would die, because I actually looked for one for the program due to their intelligence. She, the Coy, is a bag of bones..but in the back of my mind..if found healthy, I want to foster her and find her a home that loves a brainiac dog.lol Unfortunately I saw a precious Beagle Mix as well.. I couldn't even wait to get home..I called and told her, "Kat, don't let anything happen to those 2, and if I can help you with the others, I will do my best."

That little Beagle took my heart out of my chest and said "You can find someone to love me.." and yes, I will, I am already working on it. I can't tell you how many great dogs waste away in shelters or never find homes..That is something I can no longer sit by and not bust my behind to change. Anyone who is looking for that special pooch, hit your shelters..Puppies are cute, but don't count out those adult dogs..I love having the program to help train unwanted dogs and give them new lives, but so many others are left by the wayside..I will soon be posting links to shelters and rescues that I work with..They are incredible people who do all they can for the dogs..and in turn, it is my duty to do all I can for them. The loss of the nameless Boxer will never be in vain...He gave me my rainbow, just not the way I was looking for it, it came in colors and breeds of dogs..the best rainbow imaginable.:wink:

My morning began with a phone call about a dog that I was  going to rescue. "Donna, when I got their they said he died Saturday. I'm so sorry." This dog was to come to my home on Friday, but nobody would answer the phone and the forgotten Boxer couldn't be picked up. So I was happy and ready to get him this morning, all the bells and whistles. It was like a punch to the gut when I heard those words! I felt all the happy drain and the questions and worry about how and WHY! This was a dog that on Friday was ??? healthy, but on Saturday he was dead. I feel as if my eyes want to burst into tears and at the same time I would like to get to the bottom of things, but the tears come a lot easier. No, I'm not a crier with most things but a dog dying when it could be safe makes no sense to me. I have spent the day trying to answer emails, phone calls, get my graduation things together, anything to take my mind off of the nameless Boxer...It as if I have been looking for a Rainbow to brighten my day when the sky is clearly blue. For me the day has been a definite day of reflection, looking at my fosters and personal dogs and telling them, "I wouldn't trade one minute of you for anything." My heart breaks for the dogs that never know the love and families that they so deserve. They give us whatever it is we ask...even if we think they are misbehaving, in some way we made that OK. I hope in some way I can begin to help those that are truly helpless...the senior dog that lost his owner to cancer, the young dog thats family is moving away, or even the awkward dog that with a bit of attention and training can become a wonderful pet. The lows are very low in rescue and I dream of a day when I can say these kinds of instances don't happen. I would save the world of dogs if I could because they have always been a source of comfort for me. This boys death will not be in vain, but I do believe it could've been averted. I feel sad that it wasn't. For the next dog that I see in harms way I will be much more tenacious and probably a lot more aggressive if something happens to it. I wish all the puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs all the love in the world. If not given by me or a rescue or shelter friend, by someone who sees their face, and for whatever reason it may be says, "that's the dog I've been waiting for". To all you misfit pups out there, even though you don't know it, you are loved. You weren't a waste of my time Boxer boy, and you made your way directly to my heart at first glance. I loved you even though you never knew me. You made a mark on my heart.

This morning I had to put my Shep mix of almost 16yrs to sleep. It's days like this that make me want all my dogs have that forever family that knows what is best for them...The hardest decisions are sometimes the right ones and only someone who truly loves you can know that. I love the dogs in my classes and I know this may sound crazy, but I want the people who adopt them to love them with all of their hearts and give them every wonderful advantage that a family dog deserves.

Deige, my old man, was the oldest dog in his class to earn his Canine Good Citizen at 11yrs old. He taught many dogs that came through our home how to be good dogs. At our house everyone is inside!! That's a lot of bumping into each other on the way to the kitchen, but Deige let them know what was, and wasn't acceptable. He was no pure bred beauty of a dog...we joked when he was young that he looked like WILEY COYOTE...but he was a patient soul. Goofy as a pup, but as he aged he grew into a patient young man who loved everyone, enjoyed kids and most other dogs, loved going for rides to see what he might be getting and who he might meet. His favorite thing was rolling in the grass and kicking his feet up as high in the air as he could. He was a dog..no bells and whistles, just happy to get his scratches on the head and crackers before bedtime. He was my old man!! He is one of the best dogs I have ever known, came from a pound. A dog like him would've been looked over in most instances, but for me, he was perfect. Like all the dogs in my classes, he got overlooked a few times, but when a friend saw him he knew I would love him and adopted Deige for me for my 21st birthday, it was a match made in heaven. I have never given up on a dog..When they come through the door, they become family, if not mine, extended adopter family.

I hope anyone who reads this takes a second look at the dogs I have...each has its very unique personality, and each deserves all the love and affection they deserve, they also deserve to live out their days with their families and be treated with dignity in the ends of their lives. They are no longer cast offs when they come into your home and steal your heart. Deiger Creature will be missed forever, and the lessons he taught me in patience and love are gifts that I will continue to return to all of my kids. RIP Deige..Lily is waiting for you!!

What can I say other than WOW!!! This new class of dogs is wonderful, I am so proud of the dogs that are gracing my presence. Most all of them are shelter dogs. Some have come from horrible conditions, some have come from severe neglect, and a couple were Puppy Mill dogs. All are doing very well adjusting. We have so many with therapy potential that it boggles the mind. I have something for everyone in this class and can't wait to have the pics and profiles to prove it. I can't wait to share these guys with all of you that have become supporters, or adopters as well as those of you that just follow the program to see what's next...The dogs are my life and this bunch puts a huge smile on my face every week. If you are looking to adopt, get your apps in early, this group has a lot to offer. AHHH!!!! Great pups are hard to find and these guys, with a lot of help from Stephanie Green, Dyersburg, TN shelter, FOSS of KY, Lexington Humane, Indiana Petite Paws, and even some owner surrenders have made this class not only diverse, but very great future family members. LOVE THEM!!

GO DOGGIES!!!

Donna

Heather, with Indiana Petite Paws has been a friend of the DRD for well over a year now. She has sent great pups through the program, one of which is now living it up in Germany. She has been a great friend to the program as well as a wonderful advocate for the dogs, and an ear to me....Now she has a little girl who needs our help. I realize this may be unorthodox for some, but when a pup is in need, a pup is in need.

I am adding a link to Miss Gracie Anne's page, so she can get help on her vet bills. This tiny girl has a long road ahead, and she needs all the love, well wishes and prayers that can be sent her way. I will be perfectly honest with you...Heather has never asked for a thing from me(and will probably be embarrassed by this), but this girl has stolen both of our hearts and what kind of friend would I be if I didn't help her help this itty bitty. I don't think the rescue would care if you sent $1.00..every bit helps. If I can help them, help Gracie all the better. Many rescues are in need, but all proceeds sent to this link will go for Gracie's heart surgery.

This blog is all about Gracie..I think we have all had one, or a few that have touched us so deeply that doing nothing, was not an option...that's what Gracie's face did for me. I saw it and had to give a big AWWWWWW!!! I hope if you read this, and have a dollar or so to spare, that you will help the plight for Gracie. She is not a McMuttigan's pup, but she is a friend, and isn't that what it is all about.

 http://www.petitepaws.us/animals/detail?AnimalID=1985924 

If any of McMuttigan's friends can help with this girl..if it is well wishes or prayers, any support you have for the wee one, it will be appreciated. Heather, I am behind you all the way...and I have the highest hopes for Gracie..That face is one in a million!!

Thank you for always being a friend and for taking this girl into your care...

Sadly for this class, not many people are interested in adopting. I have some of the most wonderful dogs that have ever been run through the program, but it seems no one wants them. These poor dogs have lived a lifetime of rejection and I thought, as well as their rescuers too, that this would help these great dogs find homes. I feel like I am failing these guys on a monumental level. They have all tried so hard and learned so much. I have never had a class that had so many that could go on to become therapy dogs, and others that are perfect cuddle bugs. It makes me sad to think that the program has gotten them trained so well, only to let them down and not be able to find the perfect homes.

Yes, I am particular as to who gets the dogs, I have to be. I have seen things happen to dogs that no one should ever have to witness, and I know the sadness of a dog that has attention given and then pulled away. I don't want any of these dogs to feel let down....and they do regardless of what people may say. I have heard dog trainers say "Dogs only live in the moment.." That may be true to some extent, but I have also seen dogs wait. looking out kennel doors waiting for someone to come back. I have also seen dogs that when seperated from owners for long periods of time remember them in an instant. I came across a dog not so long ago that had been a puppy for adoption at the shelter I worked for. He saw me, and ran to me, putting his head against my legs and giving me love as if to say thanks for finding me a home.

It is my job to find great homes, and I won't settle for less than the best. I feel like the dogs are getting the short end of the stick unfortunately. I will push them as hard as I can and pray that they do find their families.

Good Luck Puppies. I love you and promise to do my best for you. The end never stops with the program, the dogs are on my mind til they find their homes.

It drives me nuts when it seems to take an eternity to do things, and lately either time is flying or I am in slow mo... I finally got all the wonderful dogs of this class online. I am amazed at how wonderful they are. They range from young to older, brave to scared, beautiful to beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I know their personalities, so they are all gorgeous to me. Most all have known love at some point. I say most all because some don't understand it yet.

Wiley, the class phenom, was a shelter dog pulled at the last minute because another dog fell through (Thank you Stephanie for picking such an awesome dog!). He has proven to be one of the smartest dogs I have ever seen. I seriously don't think there is anything he can't do, once he sets his mind to it, consider it done...and he is a well socialized dog. Some of the kids are just that, silly youngsters that are learning to grown into their adult personalities. While others are a bit older with awful scars on their hearts due to neglect and abuse.

Heidi and Pepper are prime examples of dogs that people would never think end up in rescue or shelters, but they are all too common, and just as often abused. Heidi was abandoned, and Pepper was found on the side of the road, matted and confused, mind you these dogs are Toy Poodles, topping out at a large 11inches tall. Abuse knows no size I suppose, but it was a shock to me as to the extent of abuse and neglect.

The rescue did all they could for these pups, but people overlook a dog that is shy. That is what the program is all about. The dogs with a story that deserve their little voices be heard. They are the survivers of the worst conditions possible, the puppies that were dumped because no one wanted to spay their female dog, the mutt that just wasn't cute enough, and the dog that has lost its home due to foreclosure, or divorce.

The saying bad things happen to good people goes for dogs as well. Every one of these dogs is a GOOD DOG!!! Yes, they have their quirks, but whose perfect and how boring would that be?? They have sad stories, but are looking at life through new eyes and knowing the future is brighter. I know this because each week they become a little bit braver, a little happier to see me, more prone to acknowledge a stranger, and more willing to step outside of their safety net. Once they are in the prison, there is no escape of noise, or hustle and bustle. Many professional trainers start dogs with no distractions, these dogs don't get that...distractions start day one, and all the dogs adjust in their own way. I am so proud of these inmates and these dogs for what they accomplish. Each pairing is not by chance, but by who can learn the most from each other, and how they can benefit each other. I have NEVER seen an inmate give up on one of their dogs, and I have NEVER seen a dog not do all the inmate asked of them. It is a true story of a loving bond. They help fix each other and this class is no different.

I was asked by one of my trainers, "Ms Donna, why did you give us such a shy dog?" I asked if she was willing to learn and the response was, "We've already taught her all of her commands but she is so scared." I told them, "If she has learned all of her commands in a week, you know she isn't stupid...It will just take her a little longer to come around to being confident." With that they were satisfied, and as of a week ago, she is now playing with the other dogs.

It is not what has been done to these dogs that matters in the long run, it is the repairing and what we do in the future to prove to them, that they will not suffer again. That is why when you apply for a dog and I talk your ear off and want as much info as possible, and you may think I am taking up too much of your time.....I am not taking the time for myself, I am taking that time to make sure that THAT dog, never suffers again. I promise them....all of them....as they enter the prison, welcome to your new life and I promise you, you will never have to suffer again. I mean that, they have been through more than enough and deserve the best!! Mutt, pure bred, pretty, or homely.....they are the best dogs in the world. At least in my world.

AND NOW THEY ARE FINALLY ALL ON THE WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time is going so fast I can not believe it. It is as if this class just began and now it is coming to an end. Graduation is always a bittersweet time.

Each of these dogs holds such a special place in my heart. Bonnie with her Diva beagle attitude and Crissy being the little Princess. Then there is Simon who is a wonder dog and Smokey Joe who is just plain wonderful. Chico with his sweet face and Pixie with her little strut, Eclipse as GI Jane, and Chopper with his winning smile. Then you have Damen a complete chicken, but he could not love with any more of his huge heart, and Molly who so wants to make you happy, but sometimes her shyness gets in the way, she doesn't mean to be scared. Memphis and his exhuberant personality always ready to go and Polly with her chubby body on those little legs that wants nothing more than a big hug and a belly rub. Junior and his work ethic, he may not be able to hear you, but he can do things a lot of dogs can't and Oreo who can hear just fine and does what he is told, but he'd rather just be a couch potato. Shelby and her outgoing nature who never meets a stranger to Taz who really is not a fan of them, and would prefer you just be on your way, unless he chooses you, to Oz who will love you soooo much and looks in your eyes to make sure you know its you he adores. Then you have Charlotte, the hound with a big heart who was a joy from day one to Kaja who was a little shy but so cut you couldn't help but fall for her, last but not least Mallory who has a personality unique to her and such an endearing spirit.

Each of these dogs has a spot in my heart. You would think it would be full by now, but there is still plenty of room. With each graduation comes questions, will they keep in touch? are they going to love them as much as they can? are they going to cherish this dog for the phenomenal animal it is? Is this truly the last time this dog will ever have to worry about is this my forever home? Each graduation I have tears before and after. I so love these dogs and whether the adopters know it or not, they have just taken a piece of my heart with them. If ever they need anything, all they have to do is call, I may not remember your name, but if you tell me your dogs name at graduation, I will be taken right back to that face I grew to love.

For all of the adopters, Thank you for giving these dogs a chance at a new life. Know that if you ever hit a road bump or a hickup, call me, I am more than happy to help you. Know that you are now a part of my extended dog family, some adopters have actually become family. I love to get pictures and updates on the dogs because it is not only great to know that you are happy with your new family member, but that all the work and love that was put into that dog is being returned.

Each graduation I am sad to see them go, but I know, there are 20 more dogs that need their lives changed as well. They too, will soon hold a special place in my heart. It is my deepest wish that everyone who gets a Death Row Dog know, that you always have a backup, and that your dog is special to more than just you and me. This program offers so much and I am humbled by the fact that I have the pleasure of being the one to find and help train these dogs. I would not trade one day of being stressed out and overwhelmed for this program and these dogs, they are worth it, and I will save as many as I can and continue to have bittersweet graduations. I am lucky to be able to do something I dearly love, the added bonus is that it is not for private clients or the money, it is for the love of the dogs. They fill my life every day with joy, and I couldn't imagine my life without them. To the adopters, thank you, and please keep in touch. To any of you who are considering one of these dogs, you won't regret it. I would like to see every class 100%adopted, but until that day, I am lucky to say they have wonderful rescues to go to and people who will love them until they do find there forever homes.

Good Luck Class 25, you will be missed!!

The fundraiser went on without me. I was very disappointed, but after driving for 2 hrs trying to find the location, only to find out I was minutes away when I turned around, was awful. I hate that I was a no show, but if I can't mapquest it, I usually can't get to it.lol As far as class goes the dogs are AWESOME!!!!!!!! I haven't gotten the responses I was hoping for yet, but I know that happens when things change. The dogs are doing great. I am so happy with the kids in this class, they are really something and I dare say, they are probably one of the best group of dogs that have ever come into the prison. Sure, a couple have some issues with cats, some are too small for kids, and one is deaf and thinks cats and cars are a great game, but he is also one of the smartest dogs I know! My rescue pups are coming along. One is learning his obedience, while the other is learning to trust by watching other dogs interact with people, it's going to be a long road for him, but he will make it. My old Rotty girl may never find a home and at this point that is OK, she is just another foster failure as they call them, I have quite a few of those.

I have spoken to several past adopters and they are still in love with their dogs, how could they not be.lol But for now, I am focusing on the kids I have to place at the GRCC and already lining up potential newbies. It is a neverending cycle, but each dog holds a special place in my heart. I can tell you about each of the dogs in those pics, may not remember who got them, but each dog left a mark on my heart. This class is making its impact as well. I love the dogs I have the best way I can, and I hope they each find wonderful homes, that will love them like they are the most precious gift they have ever received. To love a death row dog is something that too few will have the opportunity to do, and the ones that do are extended family for life. We are part of a group, and for past and present adopters, I am always available for questions....

Paws crossed for my pups,

Donna

This is my little Olive when she was first healing from Pneumonia. She was 3lbs and so sick she slept around me neck. She is now almost 20 lbs and is still my baby. No one thought she woudl make it, but it's amazing what love can do. Taken in Dec, 08.

This is a busy week for McMuttigan's. We had class on Tuesday, I'm making a trip to Nashville tonight to take one of our dog to the airport to meet her new owner tomorrow. She is flying in to meet her and do some hands on work before she takes her to her forever home.:D I think she's gonna be pretty happy with her new girl. I then am helping a couple of other rescues this weekend with a fundraiser. I will be in charge of the SPEED OBEDIENCE CLASS!!! LOL It should be fun to see how quickly the owners pick up the training and if the dogs respond. It will be all in good fun, I predict some dogs looking at their owners like "Are you crazy?", but isn't that what our dogs are best at anyway? It will be fun and dogs will be there for adoption as well. For info on the fundraiser go to Muttbone Rescue in KY. It will be a good time.

I hope next week is a little more normal, no long trips at least. Who knows, I'm glad to make the trip if the home is just right, and Hailey will have to fly. I will try to get some pics and keep you posted!

Wags for now,

Donna