Letter to a Frustrated Applicant

This letter was originally written by a friend and colleague of ours, Tara Lord, founder of Mile High Siberian Husky Rescue.  I found it to be so profound I borrowed it, changed it up a little to make it our own...  

Dear frustrated rescue applicant,

I do understand your frustration, and I am truly sorry that you are so upset.  I ask one last favor from you.  Please consider putting yourself in our shoes before you get so upset with our process.  

Abby, blind, frightened and in pain

We’re not just a “rescue” or a faceless corporation; we’re people with good hearts that go way beyond the average person to help a defenseless animal in their time of need. The adoption fee that we ask doesn't begin to cover what we spend on each dog.  We neuter or spay, groom, de-worm, heartworm test, vaccinate, microchip, treat injuries, illness, fleas, buy quality dog food, bowls, tags, collars, leashes, heartworm and flea preventative, crates and anything else we need. The $300 adoption fee doesn't even cover one healthy dog that comes in, let alone all the ones with major health needs.  Just this summer, one young, healthy boy went in for routine neuter surgery, complications arose and the fee was almost $900.  If you still think $300 is high, please call your vet and price out all those things I listed above and see what it would cost you.  Now add on operating costs of insurance, website, hosting, phones lines, business cards, etc., and I think you’ll agree that this isn't out of line.  

We are an all-volunteer based organization.  Everyone is donating their time; no one is paid a salary.  We don’t have a facility; the dogs live in volunteer’s homes.  100% of donations and adoption fees go to run the rescue and help save the lives of orphaned dogs.  Furthermore, think of all the personal donations made by our volunteers – food for longer term dogs, gas used to drive back and forth to the vet office, home visits, events, going to shelters, doing behavior evaluations, training, etc.  This week alone, one volunteer drove over 36 hours to pick up three homeless pups that we were able to bring in to rescue.  She drove her own vehicle, paid for gas with her own money.  


Not only do these amazingly generous volunteers spend money on gas and incidentals for the dogs, not only do they give up their time and space in their homes for these dogs, but they also at times give their hard earned money as a donation to the rescue just to keep it operational!! 

Abby after her surgery, happy and alert and pain free!

Many the dogs come in sick and stressed because they’ve been in a shelter and lost their family. They don’t understand what’s going on.  We nurse them back to health, comfort their emotions, spend our OWN money on them and turn them into adoptable dogs.  The last thing we want is for them to end up in the same situation again.

Have you ever had a job where you had to work with the ‘general public before?  It’s not always pleasant or easy.  Have you ever placed an ad online to sell something?  Sometimes you find that people will lie and try to cheat you – you don’t know if they are honest from an e-mail or quick contact, I doubt you would trust the first Craigslist response you receive.   


People will say ANYTHING to get a dog from a rescue.  Most are honest and good, but some will lie and manipulate. They’ll waste our time and say they have a fenced yard and then when we ask for a home check, we find out they live in an apartment. Or, we’ll do a vet check and find out they never vaccinated or spayed or neutered their own dog.  Or they make up references just to take the 'easy' route.  The list goes on and on… Even with all our screening, sometimes dogs are still returned to us by people who promised us that they would  "never give up a dog…” 

If all breeders would screen better, the way the rescues do, maybe we wouldn't have such a problem with homeless pets. There wouldn’t be Siberian huskies dying daily in shelters because someone chose to breed them irresponsibly.  If you buy from a breeder, (we do hope it’s a responsible one and we’ll be happy to make some suggestions), you’ll pay hundreds, if not thousands on a puppy.  If you buy from a pet store, and remember those cute puppy's parents are living in deplorable conditions in a puppy mills, you have no idea what health and behavior problems you’ll have.  And you'll spend around $800 or more for that privilege.   After you buy the dog, you’ll still have to pay to have them spayed or neutered and vaccinated.  

Did I mention to you that we take our adoptable dogs back in to rescue?  Many breeders (again, we're happy to recommend good ones) and certainly no pet stores will say that, so if you have a life change and can’t keep your dog because of death, divorce, job loss, allergies… you’ll be on your own.   

A happy, healthy Abby at the dog park with her adoptive family

Our gorgeous and many times pure bred Siberian huskies are typically adopted in a matter of a few weeks, we take care of their needs and make sure they are behaviorally sound and as healthy as possible – we owe it to them to do everything in our power to make sure that they aren’t going to be homeless again.  


We don't give up on our long term dogs either.  Some stay with us for months because they are so under socialized from living as breeder dogs that they need this time to learn how to not be afraid of stairs or tile floor let alone to function as a pet.

Imagine this:  Pretend you are out for a walk in a park.  You find a scared, beautiful but very thin Siberian husky.  She has no collar and leash.  You take her to the vet and find out that she is micro chipped.  You call the number, but the phone line is out of order.  You post flyers in the neighborhood and place ads on facebook to try to find this dog’s owner.  No one comes.  You then take it to your own vet and make sure that she has everything she needs.  You spend your own money to bathe her, feed her… you housetrain her, work on that food aggression issue and teach her how to play.  You love her and let her sleep with you at night.  You clean up her messes and accept the damage when she chews up your favorite pair of shoes.  You make sure she is spayed and has her vaccines.  You love her like your own dog and go about trying to find her a good home.   Will you give this dog, who you’ve loved and cared for, to the first stranger that sends you an e-mail?  Probably not – and neither will we.

We’re sure each applicant is a good person, but please remember, we don’t know you yet.  You are just an e-mail address and a piece of paper.  This is why we call your references and talk with your vet.  This is why we need to speak to your landlord.  This is why we want to see your home and meet you before we say “yes, you may adopt one of our dogs”.  

Adopting from a rescue will give you amazing satisfaction of knowing you’re part of the solution to the animal over-population problem. You get the satisfaction of giving a home to an animal in need and in turn your new family member will give you unconditional love.  We hope our adopters don’t think of the adoption fee as anything more than their contribution to paying it forward, and giving us the ability to help and save another dog.  If all you can see if the price tag and hassle, then maybe we’re just not a good fit. 

Here’s where the rubber meets the road.  If an applicant is not willing to go through our process, we’re sorry, there are plenty of other families out there willing to endure our scrutiny in order to save a life so we will move on.  We do understand that our adoption fee may be out of your budget, if that is the case, we would like to suggest that you go to a shelter and adopt a dog, the cost is less and you can still be part of a homeless pet solution – and we applaud that!  

Abby celebrating her birthday at HOME

We have our policies because we know they help us place our dogs into wonderful homes with good hearted people who understand the breed they’re adopting and are well educated on what it takes to be a responsible pet parent.  We also have our policies in place because we know we owe it to dogs that are not yet homeless and puppies that haven't been born yet to still be operational when they are discarded and need our help. We have to be responsible to the dogs first.  That is our mission and the basis of our organization.  

We have been told that adopting from us is about as hard as buying a car or as rigorous as adopting a child (that is absolutely not true).  As a response – I will proudly say “yes!”  This dog will potentially be a member of your family.  If you can't see the importance of that, then perhaps we both need to move on and go our separate ways.   

Our job is to advocate and protect the dogs that are in our care, not make it easy for you to make a snap decision to get a dog.  Once you open yourself up to our process, we hope to welcome you with open arms into our rescue family and call you friend.  But we need to KNOW you first, we already know and love the dogs. 

Keep on keeping on.....

Can I go on?

speaking to kids at the Council Bluffs Library

It seems as if I’m always tired, my muscles and joints ache more and more, I walk up the stairs like a woman older than my age.  There was a time when I felt younger than my 46 years, now I feel older.  I could have had some work done to hide my tired eyes with the money I’ve spent on dogs that are not my own in this last year.  

The time I spend on e-mails about huskies in need consumes what used to be my free time; I’m tethered to my phone night and day.  On a rare day when I start the day with no pleas about a dog that is out of time, I can rest assured that it won’t last through the day. 

I’ve neglected my family and friends.  I can’t remember the last book I read and I no longer have the Cornhusker football team roster memorized.  I used to live for finding tickets and going to the games on football Saturdays, but now those Saturdays are filled with dog events, meetings and other rescue work. 

I’ve spent days reaching out to help a husky, trying to secure a transport or a foster home only to run out of time and to learn that he had been euthanized in order to make room for the next lost soul. 

Hope was given a couple hours to find a rescue.

I walk away from my desk to steal a shoulder massage and sympathetic ear from my very understanding husband.  I let the dogs out and come back to find another husky in desperate need.  There are times I really dread checking my e-mail and voice mail.  How will I find the money?  Where will I find another foster home to save yet another dog? 

I save one dog and two more take its place.  There’s always an owner who is overwhelmed by the antics or the energy, there’s always one who escapes, requires too much attention and exercise, the puppy that somehow became a dog and got too big, the husky who chases a cat.  I’m moving and chose to move in to an apartment where I can’t have a dog (even though other options exist).  

one of the shelter dogs we couldn't help

My inbox fills with picture after picture of sad tormented faces that plead to me.  I see them in my sleep; their sad eyes fill my dreams. 

Pet stores don’t want to hear about these dogs.  They either don’t realize or just don’t care that 13,699 are dying in shelters every day, they don’t realize or they don’t care how many behavior problems exist within the breeding stock that they continue to perpetuate. 

Jackie with Badger, Blue Taysia and Jambalaya

And yet, my dog Jambalaya curls up next to me on the sofa, Blue snuggles with me in bed, Badger nudges me wanting to be brushed and Taysia dances for me and makes me giggle.  They comfort me; they make me smile and laugh every day.

The thought of others suffering moves me, tugs at my heart.  I owe it to them; they are counting on me to make things better. 

And then I get another e-mail, this time from a volunteer offering to foster or suggesting a fund raising event that they will manage!  And then I get another e-mail with pictures, this time of a happy dog in their new home, the e-mail tells me how they can’t imagine their life before they adopted their dog and are so grateful.  

Jackie & Mike working the Four Legged Food Drive

I am not alone in this.  I am so blessed with a husband who not only supports and encourages, but who also rolls up his sleeves and jumps right in with me.  I am blessed with volunteers who I can call friends, who offer support, encouragement as well as their homes, their hearts, their time, their mileage and their car.   

Taysia Blue volunteers at a birthday party

I am blessed with amazing friends who don’t always understand why I do what I do, but cheer me on and help support my cause.  

I am blessed with a mom who wants to be at events and to help in any way she can, I am blessed by my dad’s smile when I drop by to visit him in the nursing home with yet another foster dog.  I am blessed with fellow husky enthusiasts from all over the world who share their stories and advice, their wit and wisdom and urge me to keep going.  

Nikita smiling with her new 'dad'

I know we can’t save every husky in need, but we can save one at a time.  My efforts are a tiny ripple in a huge sea of amazing people and organizations.

Yes.  I get tired and overwhelmed, but I know I won’t quit – I can’t quit.  I know because Jambalaya, Blue, Badger and especially Taysia count on me and remind me that one has become almost 30 in a matter of months.  I can’t quit – there’s another 3 e-mails in my inbox and another voice mail on my phone. 

By Jackie Roach,

inspired by a poem written by Joan Fremo,  I Want to Quit

Pet Stores and Puppy Mills - The Truth

There it was...an email with a poignant question.  I love my dog, I bought her from Tully's and now people have told me Tully's is bad, they have made me feel for getting my sweet dog there.  Is Tully's bad?

How do I answer this?  Tulley's is a business  A business with owners and employees just trying to make a living, there is no ill intent, only the American dream.  Ten or twenty years ago, there wasn't a shroud of negativity around pet stores...but now with awareness, there is.  Tulley's sells puppies.  Lots of puppies.  There are a lot of stores that do, but probably none as big in Omaha as Tulley's.  

Let me start off by scolding the insensitive person that made this young woman feel like her dog was bad in some way.  For making her feel ashamed.  She loves her dog and would go to the ends of the earth for her dog.  All dogs should be so lucky.  Six years ago when I got my first husky, I may have done the same thing.  Had I known they had Siberian husky puppies, I would have gone to check them out, I may have been wooed by their cute faces, their beautiful eyes.  I wouldn't have been bad, just uneducated, unaware. 

Since starting Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue, I have encountered many a store bought husky.  Some are the resident dog of an adoptive family, some are currently in our rescue looking for a second chance.  Those needing a second chance are because the owners were not adequately prepared for the antics and energy of a husky or due to behavior problems, presumably because of either a lack of socialization during a critical age or due to careless breeding, or due to leaving the litter mates or mom too soon. 

I am not going to preach to you that you shouldn't buy a puppy, I am going to simply attempt to educate anyone willing to learn so then an informed decision can be made.  Personally, if you want to buy a puppy, let me know and I will point you in the direction of a good breeder.  They do exist, just not on Craig's list or in the newspaper.    

A pet store owner will never tell you that their puppies come from puppy mills.  Most are bought through a broker that sells dogs that come from USDA licensed breeding kennels.  Some store owners will try to tell you that they know the breeders and will lead you to believe they have visited the facilities. 

Let's break this down into smaller chunks:

1.  Can a puppy mill be a USDA licensed breeding kennel?

2.  What do pet store owners know, really?....and how to probe effectively.

3.  Doesn't the puppy need saving anyway?

Can a puppy mill be a USDA licensed breeding kennel?

Both Hearts United for Animals and Best Friends Animal Society estimates that 90 to 98% of all pet store puppies come from puppy mills.  This is the proverbial pig with lipstick.  Puppy mills can and do have USDA licenses. 

There are roughly 5000 puppy mills in business in the US.  Some are small, others have as many as 1,000 dogs.  These mills produce about 500,000 puppies for sale each year while 5,000,000 are euthanized each year because they find themselves homeless. 

The USDA has just 120 inspectors to enforce the Animal Welfare Act.  That averages out to 2 or 3 per state.  These inspects are required to inspect 15,000 licensees which include breeders, brokers, stores, zoos, circuses, and research facilities.  Considering the math and geography, I'm not sure how that occurs. 

Puppy mills are essentially factory farms that thrive in Pennsylvania and in the Midwest, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Missouri being the puppy mill capital. This is a livestock mentality that is attributed to dogs and breeding. 

To give you an idea of USDA requirements of space for an animal, a dog 40 inches long is required to live in a cage roughly the size of a bathtub.  Many facilities are filthy and females are bred every time they come into heat, over and over until their bodies give out.  Cages often have wire bottoms so the urine and feces has somewhere to go, the wire causes pain and discomfort for the dog's feet.  These dogs don't ever know what grass feels like, or what it's like to run or walk or play or bond.  When they can no longer breed, they are destroyed or sold at auctions.  Sure, fines for violations are handed out, but the facilities continue to operate, even after repeat offenses.  

What do pet store owners know, really?....and how to probe effectively.

Pet stores vary from small independent boutiques to large franchised stores, most will claim they don’t get their puppies from puppy mills.  The truth is that most get their puppies from brokers who are distributors licensed by the USDA to buy and sell puppies at wholesale.  The brokers buy their puppies from mostly USDA licensed breeders.  Now it's a matter of interpretation.  Some people can sleep at night believing that a USDA licensed breeder or kennel is not a puppy mill.  I have heard first hand pet stores claim that they visit and know the breeders personally.  I believe in the goodness of humanity, and I also believe that if that were true, they would no longer be in the business of selling puppies.  

Here are some things to probe with the store employee that can help you make a more informed decision:

1.   How many dogs did the breeder of this puppy have?

2.  Can I have a copy of their USDA inspection?

3.  Did the puppy’s parents live in the house or in a kennel?

4.  Can you give me the breeder’s phone number so that I can call them?

I highly doubt you’d get completely straight answers to these questions.

Pet stores typically have a health guarantee, how about probing further as there are many things to watch out for before you buy a puppy from a store.

1.   Will the guarantee cover ALL medical expenses regardless of the cost? 

2.  Will the pet store only let you use their vet? And if so, what if you don’t feel that your puppy is being properly cared for, will they cover the cost of a vet of your choice?  If not, why?

3.  If your puppy dies from a disease such as parvo, will the pet store refund your purchase price or require you to get another puppy that might also be sick?

4.  If your puppy suffers from hip displaysia two years after you purchase, will they cover the cost of the surgery?  Will they refund  you the price of the puppy or will they require you to bring the 2 year old dog back to them for a new puppy? 

Read the guarantee very carefully, you will likely find that your choices should your puppy become ill, are not an option for you and your family. 

 

Doesn't the puppy in the store need saving anyway?

It is so sad to see puppies in the pet store cages, I am flooded by emotions when I see those roly poly husky puppies behind the glass.  I have known people who have bought a dog from a pet store in order to "rescue" him, and I get it... I understand this feeling.  These are good intentions, but by financially supporting pet stores with puppy sales, this kind of rescue adds to the problem. 

Puppies are nothing but inventory to these stores, a source of revenue just like Wal Mart.  If there’s an out of stock, they will order another to replace it.  The sad reality is the millions of dogs and puppies who are still in the mills, living in a small cage for their entire life.  They only way puppy mills will go out of business is if we stop buying from puppy stores. 

Just like products that don’t sell at Wal Mart, pet stores have inventory that doesn’t move too.  The store will clearance the dog and mark down the price as it grows larger and larger and has no opportunity to learn how to bond.  We have seen examples in Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue of just this situation and we spend much needed resources working to rehabilitate dogs because of this. 

Don’t take my word on puppy mills, but please do your research before you choose to shop instead of adopt.  There is a wealth of resources available, please read more about the Best Friend's Animal Society's Puppies aren't Products campaign. 

Will I be able to say "good bye"?

Just before Thanksgiving, a call came in from our local animal shelter asking if we could take a blind husky. They thought the blindness might be due to a head trauma because of a small scar above her missing eye. From my research, this would have been the better cause. The other cause to be concerned about was glaucoma...which can be painful and expensive to treat.  

We went to meet this sweet dog and fell in love. She was so scared - walked with her tail between her legs and laid down on the floor rubbing her one eye that was left.  We agreed to take her into rescue.  Almost immediately, she perked up.  The shelter environment was so stressful for her.  We took her to a specialist and discovered Abby had been a former patient!  At last we had her medical history!  The bad news was that Abby was blind due to glaucoma.  Tests were done and confirmed that Abby had no vision in her remaining eye.   The doctor confirmed that she was in constant pain and discomfort, sort of like you and me having a migraine.  We had no other choice than to have that eye removed also. With less than $100 in the rescue account, we began a fund raising effort.  We posted the need for Abby's surgery, we started looking in to our personal accounts and calculating our pay days, and we elected to do a raffle on some donated jewelry - just in time for Christmas... and we hoped for the best.

I couldn't believe the generosity - people, friends and strangers, from all over the country opened their hearts and wallets to help. We raised $800 in just a matter of a week or 2! We applied for 2 grants to cover the balance and both came through. Abby had her eye removed the week before Christmas.

We thought we had found a home for her, who would have thought a blind dog could find and catch a cat? The family, after just 24 hours with her, and a traumatized cat was in tears when they told me they couldn't keep her.  That was mid December.  We have received no other inquiries since then.
We talk everyday that if only someone would give her a chance or at least want to meet her, they'd see that she's a regular dog who can run and play and climb stairs and get around wonderfully.  She wants to be thought of as a dog.  Not a dog with a handicap.  Nonetheless, she isn't for everyone and the days turned in to weeks.

Abby has been living us for about a month now. My house is probably too small for my pack plus the 2 fosters, but I have grown content with the thought that maybe Abby was with us permanently. Maybe no one would want to adopt a blind dog.

Abby is my first smile every morning. Her whole face lights up when you call her name, her entire body wags and wiggles when she comes to you. Everyone who meets Abby, falls in love.

We have found that doing eBay auctions is a nice cash stream for the rescue. We had some antique skeleton keys we put up about a week ago. A man in Kansas bought them. He was curious about the organization that he had just supported and found Abby. It just so happened, he used to have a blind Siberian. He currently has one of the Beruit dogs rescued by Best Friends in Utah. And he wants to meet Abby.

I always hoped Abby would, if she were adopted at all, be a local adoption. If all works out, Abby would be living in Kansas. I would have to say good bye. I will, of course, Abby needs a forever home, she deserves it. It would mean another dog could be saved. It's the right thing to do. I know all this. This is why I started TBSHR. But I think my heart may break just a bit.  I love you little Abigale.

One Life at a Time

I knew when I decided to start Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue that there would be a lot of ups and down and I knew, without a doubt that there would be a lot I didn't know... I had no idea in a few short months how much of an education I would receive.

It seemed like it took forever getting all the ducks lined up - forming the corporation, drafting by-laws, and applying for 501(c)3 status took months and a thousand dollars, then came the insurance, the state license - everyone had their hand out, or so it seemed.

Mike and I started a Siberian husky play group - from there, we were able to meet and network with other people who love the breed and our volunteer base was established.  What fun this has been to have play dates and organized walks and hikes with our wonderful furry friends and we have truly met some wonderful and amazing people through this group.  Some volunteer with the rescue, some have become fosters and some we simply look forward to sharing the latest antics of the huskies that we love.

Once October hit, it seems like everything started to fall in to place.  My dogs were certainly enjoying the cooler weather, the 501(c)3 was official and we had finally raised enough money to pay for our insurance.  Without a day to spare, there it was, our first official request to take a dog, our first decision to say 'yes' and we were official!  We had our first dog in rescue - Maddie was up for adoption!  Another few weeks went by and another dog, Georgia, came our way.  Then Kaisha, then Abby, then Dakota and Nikita.

Now there are days when I dread looking at my e-mail because these days, I have to say 'no' more than I can say 'yes'.  Sometimes I have to say yes to the easy dogs when I really want to help the cases where there is a greater need.  We don't have enough foster families, no rescue group does, I'm sure.  I remember one day in particular, just a few weeks ago.  I received requests to help 7 dogs.  In a span of 5 short hours, I saw their pictures, read their stories and just went home and cried.  I could help one.  Only one.  One out of seven.  Friends will tell you that you can't save them all, but you can save one at a time.  And I KNOW that and tell myself that all the time, but still.... one out of seven.

Then, there are days when I go home to my sweet foster dog, Abby who is blind.  She literally smiles and wags her whole body when I say her name, she bumper cars her way to greet me and I say a silent promise to find her only the best home.  I have days when I'm greeted with soft kisses on my hand from shy Kaisha who makes progress everyday.  They are small baby steps of progress, but she's getting better one day at a time.  I smile as I realize that it will be months before she will even be ready to be adopted and I smile when I count my pack of 4 plus 2 fosters because I know they are safe, healthy and their lives more enriched than before.

And there are days when I jump for joy, when I receive adoption requests from great families with fabulous references and I know this is why I wanted to start a rescue.

My wishlist is long... money to continue giving shelter and care, maybe one day a facility to shelter when fosters can't be found, a wait list of foster volunteers.... not only is this list long, it's probably unrealistic, but it's my wish and dream nonetheless.

I suppose I won't feel like I've made an impact until the requests cease and we, as a nation, stop killing almost 14,000 pets each day just because they are homeless and unwanted.  I will keep doing what I'm doing until pet stores alter their business model to accommodate adoptions which in turn would put out of business the filthy, crowded, awful puppy mill operations who don't respect lives of their inventory.

For now, Maddie, Georgia, Abby, Kaisha, Dakota, Nikita and Serendipity are safe, happy and healthy.  One life at a time and right now, those lives mean the world to me!  

Georgia's Big Adventure

Last week Georgia arrived after to the safely to Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue - just 5 days after her 3rd birthday.  Three years ago, a couple bought a husky puppy, now in their 80's, they realized that their health didn't lend itself to a young husky so they surrendered her to a shelter on October 4th.

The day she was surrendered, she was given a bone.  A staff member tried to take the bone away and she snapped.  She was labeled aggressive and scheduled for euthanasia.  Lucky for her, she had an advocate at the shelter who continued to work hard to try to find her a second chance.  She contacted me with less than 36 hours left.  I made the decision that we could help.

She got to Omaha and I met a very fearful, skiddish dog.  She didn't even want to get out of the car.  It was clear that she hadn't been properly socialized with people or with other dogs.  We spent the day with her and she started to warm up a bit.  We introduced her to our dogs and she tentatively began to understand how to play.  How is it that a 3 year old dog didn't know her name or how to play?  She wasn't house trained and she didn't even know how to sit!  

We took her to her foster home and the worst happened.  Mike had her leash as she went to meet the new foster husky brother.  As I told him that she was about to back out of her collar, she was gone!  She took  Mike on a 5 block, 20 minute chase through the backyards, garages and alleys of Dundee, in the dark.  This was a dog that didn't know her name and was wary of people.  How in the world would he catch her?

My heart skipped a beat when I saw him walking up the street WITH Georgia!

I hadn't seen her for a week when I met Georgia and her foster mom at the vet for Georgia's check up.  I was met at the door by a dog with a happy, wagging tail.  She was happy and alert and not really afraid of anyone!  We brought her to the Petco for an event and she lapped up all the attention.

Hooray for Georgia's progress... she will find a home very soon!

Georgia on my mind

I really thought my next blog post would be about the ups and downs of rescue.  Obviously I've been quiet for 2 months and that's not for lack of something to say, I think it's just plain exhaustion and a bit of feeling overwhelmed.  But I'll write more about the roller coaster of animal rescue another time.

This entry is about a lot of things.  It's about football, Nebraska and Missouri football, racism, a families strength to rise above bigotry, it's about a dog, a woman and a rescue on a crisp October morning.


I'm a big time Nebraska football fan.  I have been since I was a little girl when I'd get up early on Saturday mornings and drive the 3 hours to Lincoln for the chance to go to the game with my grandfather or dad.  There wasn't anything better.  I loved the football, but it was such a wonderful bonding time for my family.  Over the years, I've maintained a collection of stories in my head from players long past.  One of my favorites is the story of George Filppin.


I know you're wondering what this has to do with huskies and rescue.  Stay with me, I'll try not to get to my point soon.  This story is facinating and amazing.  Try to imagine the era, imagine the location.... Swedish and German settled small town Nebraska...


George Albert Flippin was born February 8, 1868 in Ohio to Charles and Mahala Flippin.  His father, Charles, was a freed slave who fought in the Civil War on behalf of the Union in the 14th US Colored Troops Co. A.  After Mahala died in 1871, Charles and his two children moved to Marion County, Kansas. Charles attended The Bennett Eclectic Medical School in Chicago and became a doctor.  In 1885 Charles married Mary Bell Reed, a white physician, who was also a graduate of the Bennett Eclectic Medical School.  In 1888 the Flippin family moved to Henderson, NE to set up a clinic and pharmacy.


George Flippin attended the University of Nebraska from 1891 to 1894.  He was the first black football player for the University.  Missouri refused to play a scheduled football game, forfeiting 1-0, because of Flippin’s presence on the team.  He was the first black player inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1974.


George married Georgia Smith in 1893.  Georgia, from Des Moines, Iowa was a piano student at the Nebraska Conservatory of Music in Lincoln prior to their marriage.  They moved to Chicago where George attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons.  After graduating, George and Georgia moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where George practiced medicine.  They had two children, Dorothy May (Jeffers) and Robert Browning Flippin. 


In 1907 George moved to Stromsburg where his father and stepmother had established a medical practice in 1901.  He built the first hospital in Stromsburg, which is now the local Bed and Breakfast.  George was part of the first civil rights case in Nebraska when he was denied service at a York restaurant.  He received the first warrant issued by York’s police court for speeding.  Contrary to local legend, George Flippin did not own one of the first automobiles in Stromsburg.  That notoriety belonged to his father, Charles.


George was a respected physician and surgeon, known across the county and state for his willingness to make house calls regardless of the distance or the ability of the family to pay.  George Flippin died May 15,1929 and is the only African-American buried in the Stromsburg Cemetery.


So... can you imagine the strength of character it took for either George or his father Charles to do what they did at that time?  It's sad that, as someone who grew up in the state of Nebraska, never heard of George until I found an old picture of the football team.  I saw a black player and wondered who he was and researched the story.  There weren't many teams that allowed players of color on their teams in the 1960's and even 1970's let alone the 1800's!  Where was George in our Nebraska history books?  

So, back to today.  It's October 30th and it's a gorgeous football Saturday in Nebraska.  Air is crisp, the sky is clear and the Huskers play Missouri this afternoon.  I always think of George Flippin on Missouri game week.  Missouri refused to play Nebraska back in the day because George, a Black man was on the team.  Missouri forfeited that game.  Shame on you Missouri.

On Thursday of this week, I got a call from a shelter in Columbia, MO (home of the University of Missouri) where there was a husky that was going to be put to sleep on Friday because she protected a bone that she'd been given.


Columbia is about 5 hours away from us.  I asked for a few extra days to try to find someone to transport and to foster.  My friend, Georgia, stepped up and said she'd give up her Saturday and make the drive.  By late this afternoon, we'll have our 2nd rescue dog with us.


Naming our dogs has been half the fun.  We decided however campy it was, we would name our dogs after famous Nebraskans, so what to name our new dog.....


I kept thinking that it was too bad we weren't picking up a boy dog, I'd name him George after Mr. Flippin,   The dog is in a shelter in the same town as the University of Missouri and after all, this is Missouri weekend for Nebraska.  And then I thought, "eureka!" (another inside joke since there's a Eureka, MO), Georgia is picking up the dog... George is similar to Georgia that will work!  It was only later that I realized that George Flippin's wife was also named Georgia!  I just love serendipitous moments!


Godspeed Georgia and Georgia!  And welcome home!!!  This weekend is the beginning of your new life!  We will work hard to find you a wonderful, forever home!

Can you imagine?

Kobe was a happy, loving 11 month old Siberian Husky puppy enjoying and loving life.  It was Memorial Day weekend, a reason to celebrate summer with friends and fun.  Kobe was tethered on a line and like many typical huskies, he escaped.  His owners thought that someone may have just taken him...They had no idea he would meet such a deplorable end.  The story is sad in and of itself, but what a lesson in human cruelty was taught to his young owners.  

Someone found him and tied him to the railroad tracks where his fate was sealed.  The line was knotted to the tracks, it was an intentional act of violence, not a tragic accident.  This was the act of someone without any respect for life.

Can you imagine what Kobe thought or felt? Can you imagine yourself the owner and getting the call from the sheriff's office.  Can you imagine another human being capable of such calous disregard for life?  Did he wait and watch?  Did he feel remorse?

An updated news story posted on Aug 19th indicate that there is a suspect, but no arrests have been made.

For more information, see this article from the Denver Post  and keep updated on Facebook's group page:  Justice for Kobe.

Happy Gotcha Day Mr. Blue!!!

It was a year ago...
I had spent the day at the Nebraska Humane Society helping with adoptions.  Early that morning I had fallen in love with an all white husky - I think her name was Snowy.  She was the sweetest little thing with gorgeous blue eyes.  I had mentioned her to my husband and I didn't hear the usual "we can't have 4 dogs"... so there was a glimmer of hope.  But then it happened...around 2:30 I took a nice couple back to one of the get acquainted rooms and they wanted to meet Snowy.  Of course they fell in love with her and as hard as I was on them... grilling for husky compatibility, at last, they seemed like a great fit!  They had a Shar pei puppy and the dog introduction went well... they all went home together.

I watched them out the window as they got into their SUV and drove off.  I said a little prayer for Snowy and turned around to leave.

And there he was...staring me in the face from across the room was a scraggly looking white husky!  What were the odds... 2 all white huskies in one day.  He romped over to me... pulling the dog walker with him... and gave me a big kiss.  That was it.  I was pretty much done at that point.

...But there was the husband to deal with.  

This scranny little guy was a mess, not like the beautiful Snowy I had described earlier in the day.  He was heart worm positive, his fur was almost completely gone on the tips of his ears from fly bites, he was skinny and his fur was like something out of Dr. Seuss.

Our scars (literally) from our last rescue and the work it took to integrate a new dog in to our pack was fresh in our minds.

My husband still wasn't saying "no" so I e-mailed to check on him on Monday.  He had just been put in the adopt area so I took a chance and pended him for a meet the spouse and resident dogs the next day.

What a site we must have been... 3 huskies entering the lobby of NHS!  We put them all in a staff member's office while Mike got to meet Blue for the first time!  Mike had already been getting kisses from Blue in the kennel area.  When Blue saw Mike in the training room, he launched himself on him and covered his face with sloppy dog love.  There was no convincing Mike - but now, what about Taysia who doesn't get along with any dog????

One by one each dog met Blue.  He was so submissive with a laissez-faire attitude that the intro went beautifully.  After they all met one at a time, we brought the pack in.  All I could think of was, 'what have I done?  FOUR huskies???

Blue actually changed some of the tense dynamics in the house and the 4 actually get along better than when it was just 3!  Because of the heart worm, we had to keep him calm and separate from the others for several weeks.... that was a chore.  Try to tell an otherwise healthy 18 month husky that he has to be calm and can't play!!!

He settled into the house quickly and easily.  He's the only lap dog husky I have ever knows.  He wants to be glued to our side at all times.  He's the sweetest boy.  It's hard to imagine why someone didn't come looking for him.  He had been picked up as a stray and held in hopes that his owners would look... or care.

Regardless... we're blessed that he is our family now.  Happy one year gotcha day, Mr. Blue!

King Tut and the Case of the Broken Heart

I can usually be found on Saturdays at the Nebraska Humane Society helping out with adoption counseling.  This is a wonderful shelter with so much space inside and outside for the animals, hundreds of volunteers, great staff and unparalleled support from the Omaha community.

I'm in my 3rd year of adoption counseling.  There are good days and bad days... A good day is when you aren't obsessing about an adoption.  A bad day is when you question a match.  Maybe the new owners didn't listen, maybe there was just 'something' that didn't feel quite right and you worry about the animal.  I hate bad days.

Saturday was a good day.  I was there almost 4 hours and worked with 3 different families.  No one took a dog home with them.  I didn't create any space for the dogs in the back waiting for a kennel in adoption, but I felt really good that I did my job as a counselor.  I think I did the right thing by the dogs and by the humans.

King Tut stole my heart on Saturday.  He was a 7 year old Golden Retriever.  This dog was gorgeous, sweet, lovable, typical golden retriever.  What the hell was he doing at the shelter?  Oh, yes, that's right.  His family moved into a brand new house.  They couldn't have fur all over or scratch marks on their new floors.  No worries, they will be sure to buy another dog at another time.  7 years this dog was a loyal, loving companion and he ends up in a shelter?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  What lessons about disposable society and limited loyalty do you suppose their children are learning?  What are you teaching your family about your commitments?

Can you imagine what this dog felt.  He was probably thrilled to be going for a car ride with his 'dad'.  Possibly in the back seat of the family suburban going from window to window so excited about the adventure they were on.  They pull up to a big building and walk in.  Oh, goodie!  are we at day care?  are we going shopping for a new toy?  They walk up to a counter, the mood is somber and all of a sudden a stranger takes the leash and leads him away to a holding kennel.  His dad looks away ashamed and sad.  Another stranger comes to take him to a room where his picture is taken without any time for posing.  He's poked and prodded and put in another kennel with dozens of other barking dogs.  Where's my dad?  When are we going to go outside and play ball?  Hey!  It's getting late, I usually sleep on my bed in your bedroom dad... this floor is cold and it's noisy... how can I sleep here?

A wonderful family considered adopting him on Saturday.  King Tut's owner checked a box on a surrender form indicating that he 'attacked cats'.  We're not sure what that meant, we're not sure that was true.  The family that I met with was stunned that this loving dog was at the shelter - up for adoption after 7 years of love and loyalty.  They wanted to take him home and make sure he had a good life for the rest of his years.  They wanted to make sure that he didn't end up back in a shelter again.  ... But they had 3 cats to which they were responsible.  Three cats that they signed up to give loving, wonderful homes to for the rest of their lives.  We couldn't be sure about King Tut so we left it up to the fates that an equally loving, responsible family would adopt him.

At the end of the day, it was the right thing to do.  I have to admit, I wanted them to take him home... to work it out with their cats.  I knew they would be a good family for him.  They were rescue people.  They understood.  But on the other hand, I respected their responsibility to their furry family and counseled in that direction.  It was a good day.

Sunday, King Tut found a home.  Sunday was a good day too.

Is she deaf out of that eye?

Of all the crazy questions I've been asked over the years of owning huskies...
"Is that a wolf"
"Is he blind?'

Today we had our first meeting with potential volunteers for Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue.  We met at Blue Planet Grill to discuss some of our next steps.  We brought Taysia Blue to introduce her to the volunteers... it was a gorgeous day and we thought she'd enjoy the outing.

Taysia was tethered to the fence surrounding the eating area greeting everyone coming and going from the restaurant.  One woman stopped and was looking at Taysia's bi eyes.  She has one blue and one brown eye.  She pointed to the blue eye and asked me if she was deaf out of that eye.

... really?

I wonder if she ever really realized what she said!

How to Succeed in Business

I have been doing nothing but chasing down insurance quotes and trying to get some bags printed for my volunteers.  I can't believe that people who own their own business do not return e-mails and phone calls.

What is that?  Is your business that good that you would treat potential work and income with such little disregard?  I may be starting a rescue and may be small... but how do you know I don't work for a multi billion dollar corporation who might be influential in making decisions on procurement or insurance?  How do you know I don't have thousands of followers on Twitter to hear my complaints?  Short sided thinking.

On the other hand, I had 2 companies exceed my expectations today.  One was Kennel Pack Insurance.  The other one I have to tell you about - I was delighted and happily surprised with their customer service.  That company is Barker's Closet.  Julie, the owner went out of her way to quote me a good wholesale price on some terrific looking bandannas.  She followed up on the order, walked me through some fabric choices, individually wrapped and packaged my order (beyond my expectations) and shipped the order quickly.  The quality was amazing.  Now that is how to succeed in business!

Hey friends - if you want something to treat your pups, think of Barker's Closet!  Tell her Taysia Blue sent you!  BOL!!!

A New Endeavor

Taysia Blue Siberian Rescue in Nebraska, Inc is officially live!


Friend's ask me what I need help with and It's an overwhelming to realize that I don't know yet what I don't know!


Thankfully, I have a network of wonderful rescue friends who are so helpful and willing to lend their advice!


I suppose this is what its all been leading to - from here on out it's all about the rescue. It's all about Taysia Blue.


Hang on, the ride is just beginning!

RIP Jerry Austin

I'm not sure what possessed me, but sometime in the mid 1990's, I picked up a brochure about going on a sled dog trip in Alaska through Austin's Sled Dog Adventures. The trip was expensive and would require more time off than I could spare so it simply went in to my bucket list.

when I met Mike, now my husband, I asked him if this sounded like something he'd like to do - I suppose now it retrospect it was a sort of test - He answered to the affirmative and we made plans for the Iditarod trip in March 2010.

Austin's Sled Dog adventure is owned by Jerry Austin, 18 time finisher of the Last Great Race and charter Itidatod Hall of Fame member from St. Michael Alaska. When we arrived this March, it was clear to us that Jerry wasn't in great health. His daughter and son in law had taken over the operation of the business, but Jerry was center stage during our time in Nome for the finisher's banquet and regaled stories of his youth and mushing experiences during and after meals in his home.

One of the first things I remember about his home was the years of memorabilia that adorned the walls of his house. Awards and commendations and photographs were among the treasures. I can honestly say that Jerry Austin was one of the most interesting persons I have ever met. I'm honored to have known him and my heart is heavy learning of his recent death.

My sympathies go out to his wife, Clara and their children, grandchildren and all those who knew and loved Jerry.

Jerry's Hall of Fame profile
Article on Jerry's death

Maya - my first official 'rescue'

It was a number I didn't recognize, should I pick it up or let it go to voice mail? Ultimately I answered and on the other end of the phone was the receptionist from my vet's office. "Jackie, I hope you can help. There's this dog that needs to find a home..."

And so it began.

Maya was a 7 year old petite Siberian Husky with gorgeous blue eyes and epilepsy. That was the problem. The humane society will take on special needs dogs, but only if they have applicants available to take them on.

It was clear to me that Maya's owner loved her dearly, this wasn't a case of someone growing tired of caring for their dog. Quite the contrary, actually. Once I met the owner, not only was I on a mission for Maya, but also a mission to make sure that the home I found for her would be a home that the owner would want for her sweet pup.

My cyber husky friends offered advice and encouragement, my work friends offered support and even helped get the word out. A social media page was created, Maya was Tweeted about and a Craig's list ad was written. Now... let the screening of the crazies and undesirables begin!

I had several great inquires, many were out of state and had other dogs so the question of Maya mixing with their resident dogs was always the concern. I needed to make sure that the new owner was aware and willing to accept the responsibility of owning a dog with epilepsy, who would take on the commitment - time & financial.

After a few weeks, it came. An e-mail in the account I created for Maya. The first thing that struck me was that it was well written, several paragraphs rather than the typical, "how much do you want for your dog?" kind of responses that are common. This family was local, had a husky so they were familiar with the breed and seemed mature enough to handle the responsibility she would mean. They had rescued previously. I did my best to not get my hopes up, to try not to push. I wanted it to work out so much for Maya, but I've done enough adoptions to know that it has to be a good fit for all.

After a home visit and a meet with the resident dog, it was clear that Maya was going to have an amazing, loving home. Maya officially moved in to her new home last weekend. I miss filling my weekends and nights with her quest, but I can sleep well,knowing she's home - forever.

What has been in my heart for years, now has sprouted wings. I've got someone working on a logo, I've bought the domain name for the website, I've solicited information from friends in rescue and I'm putting together the information for the 501c. Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue of Nebraska. I probably can't say it's born yet, but certainly on it's way.

This breed is my passion. Adoption is my passion. Living and advocating for a world where there are no more homeless pets is my mission.