NR Rattie Idol Contest WINNERS! On January 14, New Rattitude kicked off our first fund-raiser of the year: Funniest Rattie Idol. Contestants had one week to submit their funniest pictures of beloved canine companions, at $5 per entry. 83 photo entries then vied for the title, with each contestant hoping to win fame and fabulous prizes. The audience had two weeks to vote for their favorite "auditions," at $1.50 per vote. The competition was fierce, with contestants shamelessly begging friends, neighbors, relatives, and pedestrians off the street to vote, vote, vote. Voting ended February 5. After an amazing 1,129 votes were cast in a very close competition, the winners were announced: First Place: With 129 votes, the prizes for first place go to Tex, Fini and Beener for "The Three Sopranos," submitted by Debbie Collins of Helena, Alabama. Debbie and her talented trio won a $100 gift certificate to PetCenterDirect.com and a $25 e-gift certificate to restaurants.com. Second Place: 119 votes earned a second place finish for Emily, submitted by Alyson Quinn of Decatur, Alabama. Emily and Alyson's second place winnings include assorted SitStay.com goodies, a $50 hotel gift card, and a $25 e-gift certificate to restaurants.com. Third Place: Just a nose length behind, with 108 votes, was third place finisher Chico, submitted by Susan Wichman of Martin, Michigan. Chico and Susan will also take home assorted SitStay.com goodies and a $25 e-gift certificate to restaurants.com. This fundraising event was a major success for New Rattitude, bringing in about $1,300 after expenses. According to team leader Jessica Mannon, it took a lot of  behind the scenes effort to create, organize, promote and manage this unique contest. "From Paula (Nowak)'s great idea, to Bethany (Adams)'s hours of coding and Sue (Kangas)'s meticulous counting of over 1,000 votes..." Thanks to all involved! We also applaud everyone who contributed by entering photos and voting. We hope you had fun, and THANK YOU for supporting our fundraiser! Welcome New Members!   We'd like to welcome the following new members to the New Rattitude family. Thanks for joining our team! Crystal Vostad, Temporary Foster Parent - Florida Michelle Lynch, Foster Parent - Louisiana Nimmi Smith, Volunteer - California

					Puppy Love The joys and frustrations of fostering puppies By Janell Brown Charles Schultz said it best. "Happiness is a warm puppy." And that is so true. Well, it's true if you don't mind the boundless energy, the teething, and the housetraining. Currently New Rattitude has plenty of tired foster moms who are experiencing the happy and not-so-happy times of raising puppies. At one point, the group had five nurseries with more than 25 pups!  One of the first litters that came into New Rattitude's care was the Georgia nursery fostered by Paula Nowak. Paula received a call about a beautiful rat terrier that had given birth to six puppies in a northwest Georgia shelter. Much to her husband's chagrin, off she drove to pick up the seven dogs, thus beginning a 12-week-long puppy roller coaster ride. Paula said, "I learned so much with these fragile foster kids. I learned what to expect in the first eight weeks of their lives, how awesome they were to hold and watch for hours, how much joy (and frustration at times) they brought me and how much love they shared in a huge way." Karen Stewart, another Georgia foster mom, noted that "taking in a pregnant dog is what happens when you read your email on Christmas Day after having two Bloody Marys!" Of course her husband noted that, in his experience, she would have done it, even without the drinks. Karen is currently fostering rattie mama Petals and her seven newborn pups. When puppies leave the newborn stage, things can get wild and crazy. Older puppies are full of energy and always testing limits. Their hilarious antics are a joy to watch but all the potty breaks (and the cleanups) can be a lot of work. Jaime Restorff, foster mom to Marlena and her litter of seven pups, notes that even at three weeks the puppies were "walking, barking, running, growling, biting, tugging, and even butt-scooching across the carpet." Jaime is already planning the post-puppy carpet cleaning. Perhaps a more apt version of Charles Schultz's quote is "happiness is a warm, SLEEPY puppy."  Becky Patterson, a Texas foster mom with lots of puppy experience, has the following advice for foster homes considering taking in a litter: -    Expect a big, stinky mess and lots of time cleaning. Carpet won't work. You'll need a hard surface for the puppies, and that surface will need constant disinfection and lots of newspapers. -    Puppies cannot regulate their body heat, so for the first few weeks they'll need to be kept very warm. Use space heaters, heat lamps, and heat pads to keep them toasty warm. -    Weigh pups frequently for the first few weeks. If they don't gain weight steadily, you may need to intervene. Sometimes all it takes is making sure that the pup gets to a nipple first during nursing time, but sometimes extra bottle feeding may be necessary. You may need to consult a vet. -    Mama will need extra calcium and calories. Feed her puppy food along with calcium sources such as cottage cheese, yogurt, or eggs with ground shells. -    You will need LOTS of newspapers! Hit your neighbors and friends up for papers they would usually put in the recycling bin. Snag the papers at your office at the end of the day. If you have a newspaper office in town, ask if they have out-of-date newspapers to give you. -    To keep the pups safe and out of trouble keep them in an X-pen. Inside the pen provide a doorless crate with towels in it for mama and pups to sleep in. According to Becky, "work aside, the most rewarding thing is watching their personalities develop." She noted that her current foster puppies started trying to play with each other when they could barely stand up longer than a couple of seconds. “I heard the first squeal that will turn into a bark and watched them paw at each other, show their gums to each other, and chew on an ear." For a rescue organization, pups are a mixed blessing. There are always folks out there eager to adopt these little roly-poly furballs of cuteness, and puppies bring in stacks of adoption applications. On the other hand, equally deserving two- and three-year-old dogs (still young, when you consider that ratties often live to 17 years or older) may wait months for homes. Adopters should consider that giving up a few months of cuteness can be a smart choice. An adult dog's personality will be clearer and more easily matched to the adopter’s lifestyle.  An added advantage is that adult dogs are usually already housetrained. Thank you to all the foster moms currently volunteering to foster New Rattitude's nurseries:  Paula Nowak with Sansha and her six pups, Jaime Restorff with Marlena and her seven pups, Karen Stewart with Petals and her seven pups, Connie Hendsbee with Gaho and her five pups, Becky Patterson with Soleil and her two pups, and Michelle Harris, who fostered Allie and her two pups earlier this winter. For more puppy photos and information, you can visit our puppy nursery webpage. Rattie Nattie's Advice for New Puppy Parents By Nadia Chiodini Before your new puppy comes home, it’s time to check and puppy-proof your house and yard just like you would for a child. Pick up clutter and put away items that could get torn up, or worse, eaten. Tempting and potentially hazardous items include books and magazines, remote controls, headphones, cell phones, children’s toys, video games, CDs and DVDs, purses and their contents, and eyeglasses. Put all sewing, craft, and hobby supplies up. Remember that houseplants can be poisonous and should also be placed out of reach of your puppy. Shoes and clothing/laundry should be put away and closet doors kept closed. Find a safe place to keep your kitchen, bath and office trashcans and make sure that cabinets containing chemicals or cleaning supplies have doors that latch securely. Of course, even following these common sense precautions will not keep your puppy (and your possessions) out of harm’s way if it is allowed to be loose and unsupervised in your home or yard. Puppies can get into a remarkable amount of trouble when no one’s looking. Plan to have a crate or x-pen available to use during those times when supervision is not possible. These items are essential for housetraining as well. Training your new puppy should begin as soon as it comes home. Besides the obvious housetraining, this includes teaching your puppy how to be a well-mannered member of your family -- at home, as well as in public. It’s a good idea to read up ahead of time so that you will know what to expect and be prepared to avoid potential problems before they occur. Behavior issues are much easier to prevent than they are to correct. A very good reference is Ian Dunbar’s “After You Get Your Puppy.” Check into the availability of puppy obedience classes in your area. These classes are a great opportunity for socialization, building confidence, mental health, and stability. If possible, try to observe a class or two to become familiar and comfortable with the trainer. Successfully raising a well-trained puppy requires time, focus, patience and consistency throughout its first year. There will be moments of frustration (for both you and the pup), but the rewards are obvious. Remember, at New Rattitude, we are always available to our adopters for help and advice.  If you are having problems with your new puppy or dog please contact their former foster parent.

					News and Events PetSmart Adoption Day Fun! New Rattitude has a growing number of members who are PetSmart Adoption Partners. Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, this program provides free adoption space for shelter/rescue "partners" inside PetSmart stores across the country. Adoption partners also receive up to $15 in adoption rewards funding for every pet adopted through the adoption center. Other benefits include additional funding from the PetSmart Charities' annual Wish Tree and Santa Claws campaigns. These funds are raised in the stores through PetSmart customer donations and are allocated equally among each store's adoption partners. NR currently has partnerships at stores in Georgia, Alabama, Indiana and Washington, and still more are in the works. This program is a very positive opportunity for our rescue. On Adoption Days, members can bring their fosters to the store, set up displays, hand out NR brochures and other information, and accept applications. It's a great way to promote NR, great exposure for the dogs, and it's fun! At a recent Adoption Day at the Northlake PetSmart in Tucker, Georgia, New Rattitude set up with 12 available dogs and 10 volunteers. By the end of the day, NR had 7 adoption applications in hand, $76.19 in donations, and had received some serious interest in fostering. Thanks to all the New Rattitude volunteers who donate their time on Saturdays to participate in the PetSmart Adoption Partners program. Mark Your Calendars! New Rattitude will be participating in the Southeast Rat Terrier Jamboree to be held in Sweetwater, Tenn., on April 24 and 25, 2009. For those who may not be familiar, this is THE rat terrier event of the year -- a super fun-filled weekend of events, games, and ratties galore! NR, with members attending from coast to coast, will be sponsoring several fundraising activities, including lunch on Saturday, contests, merchandise for sale, and a microchip clinic. The Jamboree hosts will be holding a raffle with all proceeds to be donated to NR. Make your plans to attend now. You won't want to miss this party! For more Jamboree information, visit the link above. We hope to see you there! Visit the New Rattitude ReTail Shop! Hats, socks, earrings, pewter collar charms, car magnets, stickers and more! Our unique, custom designed rat terrier hats are a must-have! The low-rise light beige ball caps feature a beautifully embroidered rat terrier head in profile view on the front. The back has an adjustable opening and the words "New Rattitude" in small navy blue lettering. Show your rescue pride with our rescue-themed pewter collar charms. You'll want one for your pooch and one for yourself as well...perfect for a necklace or bracelet! Oval magnets (3.875" x 5.75") are great for your vehicle, refrigerator, or file cabinet at work. Choose from "Rescue Mom," or "Rescue Dad," each with a pawprint design. The 4" x 6" stickers are also oval, with four different designs to choose from. These items and more can be ordered from the ReTail Shop. Jewelry by BabySue Beads Check out the beautiful handmade jewelry in multimedia of glass, precious and semiprecious metals and stones, inspired by the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and by BabySue, an abused Jack Russell terrier who was rescued by the artist. Visit the NR Special Fundraiser page to see available pieces and to purchase. Coats and 'Jamz' by Best Friends Fleece Comfy and warm, hand-sewn fleece garments for dogs! Coats and 'jamz' are created from the "Woofy Wear by Wendy" Simplicity pattern, with minor modifications for embellishments, customized fit, and fabric. All BFF are sewn from soft fleece, which provides a comfortable, stretchy outfit for your dog. 50% of proceeds from all sales of Best Friends Fleece will go to New Rattitude! The price for coats, all sizes, is $10 plus $3 shipping. 4-legged Jamz, all sizes, are $15 plus $3 shipping. Visit Best Friends Fleece for more information and to see fabric choices.

					Rescue Angels Our friends in the professional and business world Dr. Henvil Grant, Veterinarian By Pattie Jeffries Chryssy and Calleigh were picked up by animal control when it was discovered that their owner had passed away. The two girls were in awful condition, having been left outside without food or care for an extended period of time. Both dogs fell ill, and the weaker of the two, Calleigh, spent a week in intensive care at the vet's, trying to overcome a severe respiratory infection, pneumonia, and the debilitating effects of neglect. Unfortunately, Calleigh wasn't strong enough and died. With Dr. Grant's help, Chryssy was able to fight her way back to recovery. Establishing a good relationship with a veterinarian is imperative for a foster parent, but it's not always easy to provide proper veterinary care for fosters without going totally broke at the same time. That takes a vet with a big heart...with compassion for both the dog and the rescue group trying to save it. This is the story of my vet, Dr. Henvil Grant of Coral Sands Animal Hospital in Atlanta. Dr. Grant is a 1991 graduate of Tuskeegee. His office is not in one of the exclusive Atlanta neighborhoods. He is not wealthy, unless you count his family and his loyal clientele who have come to him for many years. He has been my vet since 1992, and I worked with him for about 2 years before he opened his own clinic. I still go to him with all of our hairy bunch, and know that he will always be there in the case of an emergency. That is what happened when I picked up Chryssy and Calleigh back in November and discovered just how badly neglected they were. Both of them were touch and go from day one. Dr. Grant worked constantly with Calleigh from the time I took her to his office on Monday morning until she passed away the following week.  Her breathing was monitored, she was fed anything she wanted, and she was treated with a nebulizer.  He came in on his day off to care for her, and stayed in contact with the technician when he could not be there himself. He was almost as devastated as I was when we lost her. He has also been one of Chryssy’s biggest cheerleaders -- amazed each time she makes another step forward towards being a “normal” dog. It takes good people like Dr. Grant to help us with our rescues. He is definitely a very generous “rescue angel." Thank you, Dr. Grant, for all you do. We appreciate you! Jack Garver, Rescue Ambassador Submitted by Jill Heizer on behalf of Jack Hi, I’m Jack. Don't let the name "Jack" fool you though; I am indeed a rat terrier. I was asked to write an article for the 'Tude News to tell you about my dad, Tony Garver, and how he came to be so generous to other rat terriers like me. I was rescued from an Alabama kill shelter in the nick of time by some really nice people who answered my prayers and got me into rescue. That's how my dad found me. And since he decided that all members of the family need a job, nowadays I am a working dog. I work at Dave’s Goody Barn, a retail store in Gainesville, Georgia, and help my dad keep the company running smoothly. Every week I have to decide what the "Jack’s Specials" will be, and pose for pictures for newspaper ads. (If you go to the sponsors page of the New Rattitude website, you'll see me in the logo!) I greet the customers and let them know how much we appreciate their business, and I love to chase away flies that might be bothering them. I get to inspect the merchandise (especially the candy on the low racks) and I mark the outside of the building with my special Jack-was-here scent. (Dad has asked me to not mark inside the building and I really try hard to remember.) I have my own office, which has a name plate on the door saying “Jack’s Office,” and the store cats are not allowed in there. I hate cats! When things get stressful for my dad because of all the hard work he does for Dave's Goody Barn and BGA Consultants, I take him for a long walk in the park and then he feels better. Since Dad is a pilot and we go everywhere together, I have learned to be a co-pilot when we go flying. I also help Dad pick the charities we support. Since he can't imagine life without me, Dad agrees that supporting New Rattitude is a good thing to do. We were glad to be able to donate $2500 to New Rattitude recently, to help save other needy dogs like I once was. I can't wait for Dad to see our pictures in the newsletter so that he will know how greatly his donation is appreciated by all the New Rattitude volunteers and their foster dogs!

					Furever Home We are proud to announce that 31 more New Rattitude ratties have found their furever homes. CongRATulations to all, and to the new adopters, WELCOME to the New Rattitude family! Quizzy - Fostered by Terry Beale, adopted by Keith Lawton Oola - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Jamie Marshall Teebo - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Alisha Searl Totsi - Fostered by Connie Hendsbee, adopted by Heidi Morse Tinker - Fostered by Bethany Adams, adopted by Linda Woody Dukey - Fostered by Jessica Mannon, adopted by Kelia Hamilton Windchill - Fostered by Linda Kuiper, adopted by Jerry Graves Pal - Fostered by Connie Hendsbee, adopted by Jerome Richland Chryssy - Fostered by Patti Jeffries, adopted by Helen Derickson Allie - Fostered by Michelle Harris, adopted by Geney Lo Minnie the Mooch - Fostered by Suzy/Peggy Roberson, adopted by Sandi Flieger Jordache - Fostered by Terry Beale, adopted by Mark Irle Button - Fostered by Connie Hendsbee, adopted by Jenny Cassell Tinkerbell - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Frank Wang Jawa - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Jerri Freeman Tate - Fostered by Donovan Conrad and Kim Markham, adopted by Malcolm Buck Tehya - Fostered by Sharon Smith, adopted by Agathe Crocquet Buster Brown - Fostered by Noreen Seeders, adopted by Gale Gehret Tanga - Fostered by Bethany Adams, adopted by Sonya Guidish Buddy - Fostered by Noreen Seeders, adopted by Michael Doyle Kai - Fostered by Sharon Smith, adopted by Brent Dube Mara Jade - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Leah Padilla Wampa - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Anne-Kathryn Love Kasa - Fostered by Connie Hendsbee, adopted by Carolyn Speer Aurora - Fostered by Jessica Mannon, adopted by Angela Remsing Gaho - Fostered by Connie Hendsbee, adopted by Carmen Prilik Comet - Fostered by Debbie Collins, adopted by Sherry Blair Deacon - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Alex Alaniz Romba - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Cynthia Roque Dalton - Fostered by Terry Beale, adopted by Brian Cafferty Doppler - Fostered by Linda Kuiper, adopted by Joseph Gomes Photos of these lucky ratties can be seen in our "Happy Hearts Adoptions" photo album. In The Clinic New Rattitude currently has several ratties in the Canine Clinic: Sebastian, who has had a tough time with his perianal hernia, and Wyatt, Aurora, and Smokey, who are being treated for heartworms. Dogs in the Canine Clinic have incurred costly vet bills that will not be covered by their adoption fees. Please visit the link above to read about these dogs and consider a donation to help us cover these costs. Many thanks to everyone who donated to Rocket, previously in the clinic. Rocket's bills have now been paid in full! Without the help of our supporters, we would not be able to rescue these ratties with medical needs.

					"What's their story?" is a question we are often asked about our fosters.. "How did this dog end up in rescue?" In this column we'll be sharing some of those stories from time to time, beginning this month with Jiri's story.. "What's Their Story?"    Rescuing Jiri...Nadia's Recipe for "Lemon 'Aid'" By Levecke Mas New Rattitude has rescued 160 dogs since our inception in August of 2008. Most often, the ratties we save come from shelters. Some are strays, some are owner surrenders, some are breeding females that are “used up” and dumped, but usually we have no idea why...all we know is that these dogs are in imminent danger of being euthanized. This is the tale of a somewhat different rescue, which still left us all wondering “why.” Recently, Missouri foster mom Nadia Chiodini was driving along rural Buck Creek Road when something on the side of the road caught her eye -- a little yellow and white (the color known as lemon) Teddy rat terrier sitting in an old, dirty knit hat! Nadia stopped and tried her best, but could not catch this little rascal. He was frightened, she thinks, of her long, heavy winter coat and ran away. Nadia didn't chase him for fear of sending him closer toward a nearby busy highway. She went home to find some treats to tempt him, but when she returned the old hat lay empty and the little dog was nowhere to be found. That night brought a winter storm of snow and ice, along with the ever present threat of coyotes hunting for their dinner. Nadia worried and searched unsuccessfully for 8 long days. She watched the local newspaper and finally an ad appeared. Someone had found a small yellow and white dog and was looking for its owner. Nadia called, and it was indeed the same little rat-in-the-hat that she had seen. The woman who placed the ad had not received any response and she was more than happy to turn him over to rescue. So Nadia went and got him and named him Jiri in honor of another much beloved, but now deceased, dog which she had rescued long ago. There was much speculation among the NR members about Jiri and his hat, and how he came to be left behind in that remote spot with a winter storm brewing. Most likely he was dumped, as no one was looking for him except Nadia. But in spite of it all, Jiri is a loving, sweet and completely trusting member of Nadia’s pack. He has a whole New Rattitude and is ready for an adoptive family to welcome him into their lives and to show them how good true love can feel.

					NR Volunteer Spotlight - Jaime Restorff By Sue Kangas If you’re a rat terrier who is lucky enough to land a foster placement at the home of Jaime Restorff, you won’t leave for your adoptive home without receiving some thorough training and socialization. That’s Jaime’s focus as a New Rattitude foster parent, and she firmly believes that individualized training leads to a “quality dog” that isn’t likely to be returned once it finds its forever home. Jaime’s love affair with rat terriers began in 2003, when she got her first rat terrier puppy, Oscar. A year later her second rattie, Satch, joined the family. Oscar and Satch both compete in flyball. Jaime and her husband, Neil, are members of The Milwaukee Dog Training Club’s “Great Balls of Fur” flyball team, which travels all around the Midwest to compete in tournaments. During the flyball season, Jaime, Neil, Oscar, and Satch attend practice once a week and compete once a month. Each time a team races in a sanctioned flyball tournament, their dogs earn points based on the team’s time. At the club's recent annual dog club dinner, Oscar was honored for obtaining his FGDCh (Flyball Grand Champion) and FM (Flyball Master) titles, while Satch finished his first year of racing with five titles. Current foster dog Murphy attends flyball practice along with his “brothers.” Although he’ll likely never compete, Murphy is learning to listen and respond and work with and for his trainer, skills he’ll take with him to his forever home. Jaime has been involved in rat terrier rescue for almost a year and joined New Rattitude in November 2008.  In just three short months, she has fostered 10 rat terriers: Lilly (adopted), Murphy (current foster), and Marlena, who came to her very pregnant from an Indiana shelter on December 27 and delivered seven healthy babies eight days later. The puppies are already beginning their “super puppy training” under Jaime’s direction. Because well-socialized pups tend to have less stress as they grow up, Jaime’s goal is to have them meet 50 dogs and 100 people in their first 90 days of life. In addition, every day the pups get their feet, ears, and tails touched and do other exercises to introduce and expose them to small amounts of stress. Besides having her hands full caring for and training her foster brood, Jaime also serves as New Rattitude’s Wisconsin State Coordinator. Jaime was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but moved to Wisconsin 15 years ago to get a job in nursing. She is a critical care nurse, working in nine different ICU’s in five different Milwaukee-area hospitals. She and Neil have two adult sons. Jaime says, “Helping people is my profession…helping puppies is my passion.” She is very happy to be volunteering for New Rattitude because it makes her feel good. “Every day Murphy looks into my eyes, and I feel loved and appreciated and thanked,” adds Jaime. What more could any foster parent want or ask for? Jaime, thanks for all you do and give to make your New Rattitude fosters the very best dogs they can be!

					Norma's Rattie Notes by Norma Downing For the love of... How many of you became a rescue volunteer because of a special rattie's influence on your life? Here a few folks that were led into rescue by their extraordinary love for a rat terrier. For the Love of Callie Shea About 7 years ago, in a raid on an infamous Tennessee puppy mill, I found a beautiful female rat terrier. She was imprisoned in a dirty old chicken coop that was third from the bottom in a 4-coop high stack, one of about 15 such stacks. The barn was beyond dirty, was smelly, and was frighteningly dark. There were many different breeds of dogs. Most were emaciated, filthy, covered in sores, and their muscles atrophied from being locked in small crates and never allowed to walk or exercise. Right in the middle of that horrible mess was this beautiful (although skinny as a rail and incredibly dirty) little rattie girl of about 3 years old. Her hindquarters were so badly atrophied that she could not stand up. She surely would have been one labeled by the authorities to be put down, as she was very crippled. As I approached her, she turned to look at me straight on, and her entire soul shone in her eyes. In that split second, her life and my life were bonded together with a special glue made of love. We named her Callie Shea, and she has been our darling ever since. Callie Shea is now a happy girl. It took years for her to recover physically and mentally from the abuse and neglect she had suffered in the mill, but she is loved with our whole hearts, and she knows it. Our dramatic and exciting adventure rescuing Callie Shea and that barn full of dogs 7 years ago, is when Gus and I seriously became involved in rescue. ~Contributed by Sherri Chatterton, NR member, NC For the Love of Tiny Tim I don't know if anyone will remember the old man, Tiny Tim, that was fostered by Kathy Young in Washington state, years ago...I was living in Pennsylvania at the time, and wanted a little dog. I went online and found a rat terrier rescue and Tiny Tim, a precious little old man that peed on his leg. I adopted Tiny Tim, and I loved, loved, loved that dog! I also adopted little Wren, another of Kathy Young’s fosters. Kathy Young and Jacki Lugg, foster parents, somehow convinced me to foster, and Jacki gave me my first foster rattie. Being a foster parent has brought so much joy and happiness into my life, even during the sad times. I remember the ones that have passed away -- Lady, Gilbert, Bethany, Teetsie, Buddy, Nerissa, Ike, Red, and sweet Milli. Then I remember All the ones that found happy homes -- Jessee, Rex, Maxie, Waylon, Shelbee, Corkie, Blessed, Dandy, Pearl, Pepper Anne, Bruiser, Annie, Katie, Benny, and so many more. Then I think of my very own, ever so precious, tennis ball fanatic, Hudson, and I know my life would be so empty if Tiny Tim and Kathy Young and not come into my life.   Such fabulous folks I have met with the three rescues I have now worked with, and I cannot imagine my life without my "rescue family." I volunteered for New Rattitude because of the dogs, but also because of the special people like Terry Beale, Kathy Young, and a host of others. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the pack! ~Contributed by Jodi Cotner, NR member, TX For the Love of Boozer and Geigh I had always wanted a dog. When my nephew brought home Boozer, it was love at first sight. I wanted to do everything and anything I could for him. Two months later, I got Geigh, a tiny female..... Talk about my heart dog! I didn't think I could love a dog more than I did Boozer, but boy, did my heart do flip flops when I first held Geigh. I knew from that moment that my life would never be the same. I truly think about her every minute of the day that I am away from her. Her undying love has been such a gift to me. When I came upon others on forums for rat terrier owners that loved their dogs like I did, I was thrilled! I also found out that there was a rescue for rat terriers. I could not imagine even one of the them being in a shelter or being mistreated. The thought of a rat terrier being abandoned or mistreated, when they could mean as much to someone as my Geigh and Boozer mean to me, was hard to take.   I pledge to do all I can and give all I can to help these beautiful dogs. ~Contributed by Jena Gammon, NR member, LA

					Want To Get Involved? Join The Pack! Volunteer participation is critical to our success and our ability to save dogs. New Rattitude has many volunteer opportunities and ways that you can participate that involve as little or as much time as you wish to contribute: Fostering, transporting, adoption screening, fundraising, organizational tasks, shelter monitoring, public relations, newsletter, special events, recruiting and more. As a member of our team, you will always be treated with respect and your contributions appreciated. Volunteer education and training is ongoing, and support and advice willingly shared. If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out our online Volunteer Application! Other Ways to Contribute Donate Cash donations go directly to pay for veterinary expenses for our rescued dogs, including vaccinations, heartworm testing and treatment, spay/neuters, antibiotics, etc. Since we are an all-volunteer organization with virtually no overhead, 100% of your donation goes directly to care for the dogs. To donate, send check or money order to: New Rattitude, PO Box 14064, Lansing, MI 48901. Or donate via Paypal by sending a payment to: treasurer@newrattitude.org GoodSearch/GoodShop GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter New Rattitude as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!   GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's, and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop. Every time you place an order, you'll be supporting New Rattitude as your chosen cause.

					'Tude News Team Managing Editor: Susan Beard Copy Editor: Kathy Puckett Staff Writers: Janell Brown, Sherri Chatterton, Nadia Chiodini, Debbie Collins, Jodi Cotner, Norma Downing, Patti Jeffries, Sue Kangas, Levecke Mas, Sharon Smith Webmaster/Archives: Bethany Adams 'Tude News is published monthly. Freelance submissions are welcome. To submit a story or story idea, please contact the Managing Editor at newsletter@newrattitude.org. Visit our archives to view previous issues of 'Tude News.