Jamboree Magic! Memories from Sweetwater By Janell Brown, with contributions from Jessica Mannon The Internet is a wonderful thing. It allows people across the nation to join together, sharing their love for dogs in places like Yahoo Groups, Facebook, My Space, and Dogster. But there is no glue to bind those online friendships like meeting face-to-face, everyone gathered in one place, talking, laughing, and sharing their common interest in these wild little spotted wonder dogs. For anyone who happens to be owned by a rat terrier, then the Southeast Rat Terrier Jamboree is that place. After a year of online chatting and late-night frantic E-mails trying to rescue a particularly urgent dog, rat terrier lovers gathered in the tiny town of Sweetwater, Tennessee. The Jamboree isn’t limited to the folks who live in the Southeast or to people who are rescuers--it is a place for all to gather. This year rattie fans from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina and even Washington State were in attendance. Let's look at some of the highlights, excitements, mishaps and even a bit of a love story that happened at the 5th annual Rat Terrier Jamboree. The Dogs The dogs were definitely the stars of the weekend. Almost everyone brought a dog or two (or four or six), and they had a blast running around off-leash in the large fenced-off field where Jam takes place. Even dogs typically fearful in social situations relaxed after a bit and made huge strides in their confidence. As usual, the ratties proved to be somewhat “breed-ist.” They let the poor Doberman attending with a rattie sibling know that she shouldn’t try any funny business. This happened many a time, and I’m not sure that big Dobie will ever be the same. The pug in attendance was more accepted, thanks to her diminutive size but she did get a few confused sniffs. And the poor fluffy Pomeranian was OVERLY accepted--relentlessly humped by several rat terriers with bad cases of fur envy. Many New Rattitude foster dogs were in attendance, and it was wonderful to watch them come out of their shell and join in the wild and crazy fun. Three rescued puppy-mill siblings, Vienna, Victoria, and Hamlin, who are in separate Georgia foster homes, had quite a happy reunion there. Hamlin had just had knee surgery, so he spent much of his time recuperating in an ex-pen, but Victoria and Vienna and another puppy-mill rescue, Kippy, relaxed more than their foster parents thought was possible--romping and playing, full tilt. Buffy, featured in New Rattitude’s Canine Clinic, was also found among the pack of attending ratties. Thanks to the surgeries on her leg, she too was able to run around and play. In fact, she was so distracted by all the fun that she forgot to hold up her previously injured (but now fully healed) leg and started walking on it again. Another clinic dog at the Jam was the now famous Claire. Claire wasn’t especially fond of the other rat terriers sniffing her, but she sure didn’t mind all the humans taking turns petting and holding her. NR fosters Gabby and Dixie Darlin also attended. Along with the current foster dogs there were several New Rattitude alumni in attendance, including Mara Jade, Amy, Eve, Sebastian, Chryssy, Tate, and Toby. Newly rescued 14-week-old Vivi, now named Spunkie, discovered that a puppy is always the biggest star of the show. Her feet barely touched the ground the entire weekend as she was passed from lap to lap. Spunkie had originally been purchased from a pet store in Indiana and lived with a family for two weeks. When she had an “accident” on her owner’s lap, they decided they didn’t want her, and she ended up in a shelter--a dangerous situation for an unvaccinated baby like Spunkie. Indiana state coordinator Nancy Breedlove pulled her from the shelter and transported her down to Jam, where she was scheduled to fly back to Washington state with an attending foster mom who had a spot open for a new foster dog. Before that could happen, however, Spunkie caught a bad case of puppy love. As much as this sweet little dog loved everyone she met at the Jam, there was one person in particular, Wayne Vansant from Alabama, that Spunkie fell for completely. Anytime someone carried her past Wayne, she would whine and stretch in an attempt to get to him. She would cover Wayne with kisses (and a love bite that nearly pierced his ear with her sharp puppy teeth) and then burrow down into his jacket and promptly fall asleep. On Saturday night, Wayne and his wife Heidee, a New Rattitude volunteer, decided to adopt Spunkie, so rather than flying to Washington, she rode to a temporary Alabama foster home instead. Once she has been spayed, she will join Wayne and Heidee and their 3 beloved ratties, Belle, Pogo, and Pebbles. It’s not often that a foster dog gets to choose its own human, but that’s the magic of the Jamboree. Food Fun By Friday evening, most Jam attendees had arrived at the KOA campground. Patti and Jim Jeffries hosted a cookout at the KOA pavilion, serving burgers, hotdogs, and a variety of side dishes, chips, and cookies. Rick Collins and Wayne Vansant assisted on the grill, while Jammers gathered to eat, meet, and greet. Kathy Puckett learned that it's not easy to sneak up on a group of rat terriers--as she approached the pavilion, she was certain she had arrived in the wrong place. It was far too quiet--nary a bark could be heard, so she decided that this gathering must have been a church group and they seemed to be in the midst of silent prayer. But as she tiptoed closer to ask for directions, a cacophony of yaps and barks from dozens of ratties announced that she had indeed found the correct pavilion!   After Friday's dinner, some attendees headed off to their hotel rooms, while others joined Jaime and Neil Restorff for a "Cheese and Whine Fest" back at their campsite to enjoy a variety of Wisconsin cheeses, summer sausages, the campfire, and the company of friends.   On Saturday, the New Rattitude board of directors sponsored a delicious lunch of pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, and soda for just $7. Before lunch Sandy Warner stood guard at the lunch area to ward off all the nosy rat terriers who wandered by hoping to grab a quick bite to eat. But after lunch, foster dog Dixie from Alabama and a few other misbehaving cohorts discovered the leftover barbecue and pasta salad and did a bit of table surfing. Even short little Teddy rat legs can’t stand between a rat terrier and a dish of pulled pork. For dinner on Saturday night, many folks met at The Dinner Bell restaurant for a final gathering before traveling home on Sunday. After dinner round two of the “Cheese and Whine Fest” ensued. Most people couldn’t get enough of the 4-year-old aged cheddar and the double cream Havarti. It was close to midnight when people reluctantly gathered up their dogs and returned to their hotel or campsite. Events Now that the important topics have been described--dogs and food--we’ll move along to the dog events sponsored by the Southeast Rat Terrier group on Saturday. The first event was rally obedience. For those of you who haven’t heard of Rally-O, it is a type of obedience event in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations. Each station has a sign providing instructions regarding the skill that is to be performed. Paula Nowak and her rally pro, Curly, instructed beginners on how it works and then proceeded with the contest. Neil and Jaime Restorff and their dogs Oscar, Satch, and Jersey swept the event, taking home 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons respectively.   The next event was the more widely known agility event. Dogs ran through tunnels, jumped over hurdles and through a ring, ran across a raised narrow plank, and navigated weave poles. They were judged on their ability to perform the required tasks correctly in a designated sequence and also on the speed with which they completed the course. The 2010 Agility winners were: 1st place, Paula Nowak and Curly; 2nd place, Paula Nowak and Tex; and 3rd place, Kim Markham and Daisy. The junior division winner was Tyler Mannon. Lastly, and most popular, were the terrier races. Dogs were divided into two categories based on size and then lined up in lanes and timed and they raced to their handler at the other end. It was loud and raucous fun for dogs and humans alike with yelling, barking, and the noise of squeaky toys filling the air. Winners in the small-dog category were: 1st place, Heidee Vansant and Pebbles; 2nd place, tie between Jolene Coppinger and Apollo, and Shannon Bayless and Nicki; 3rd place, Bethany Adams and Echo. In the large-dog category the winners were: 1st place, Donovan Conrad and Wylie; 2nd place, Paula Nowak and Curly; and 3rd place, Sue Kangas and Gabby. The best in show winner, with the most points for the day, was Curly and his human, NR volunteer Paula Nowak. And all too soon, Jamboree was over. But already the participants are thinking about next year, when once again rat terrier fans will turn off their computers and Blackberries and meet face-to-face for a weekend of fun, friends, and lots of rattie antics. If you’ve never attended the Rat Terrier Jamboree, you are missing out. We’ll all be waiting for you there in April 2011. If you’d like to see more photos of the 2010 Rat Terrier Jamboree, then be sure to visit their Web site at www.ratterrierjamboree.com.

					Raising Money Has Never Been So Much Fun! By Sue Kangas As if it isn't enough to enjoy all the Jamboree activities and the companionship of other rat terrier owners and enthusiasts and to have fun with our dogs during the weekend, the "icing on the cake" is that the Jamboree is one of New Rattitude's biggest fund-raisers of the year.   To prevent any disruption of rattie play on Saturday, the New Rattitude board of directors hosted lunch on the field again this year. For $7 ($5 for kids 16 and under), Jammers enjoyed lunch and a free New Rattitude wristband! With the tempting smell of sweet, warm barbecue sauce wafting through the air, the biggest challenge was keeping the dogs away from the food. Second helpings were free and plentiful, and no humans went away hungry. Thanks to all who prepared and donated food and helped set up, serve, and clean up lunch.   New Rattitude's ReTail Shop had stocked up on an exciting variety of new merchandise to the delight of Jamboree shoppers and their pampered pooches. Among the assortment for the dogs were toys, treats, bully sticks, collars, bowls, bandanas, and transport tags.  For their humans, the shop offerings included "Ratties Rule" socks, rat terrier ball caps, rattie window decals, and training treat pouches. In addition, several Jamboree attendees offered us their crafts to sell or give away in exchange for a donation to New Rattitude. Of course, the donation jar was prominently displayed, and we gratefully accepted contributions, which will be split equally between the two clinic dogs that were in attendance at the Jamboree: Claire and Buffy. If you didn't attend the Jamboree, you still have a chance to purchase most of these great items! Surplus merchandise will soon be available for sale in New Rattitude's online ReTail Shop: www.newrattitude.org/shop.htm.   The perennial highlight of the Jamboree and the event that generated the most money for New Rattitude was the Saturday raffle. The only cost of admission to the Jamboree was the donation of one item per person for the raffle. As the Jamboree crowd arrived with their donations, volunteers sorted and displayed the raffle items and assigned them a number. Raffle tickets were sold for $1 each or $20 for a "stretch" of tickets (meaning the arm span of a person, from fingertip to fingertip). This year, the most highly sought-after "stretcher" was Ben Lockner (Amanda's husband), who after several stretches in a row commented that he was very glad he had received a chiropractic adjustment the day before! After purchasing tickets, participants could drop them in the numbered paper bags corresponding to the raffle items they most hoped to win. Beginning in the late morning and continuing throughout mid-afternoon, more than 100 items were raffled off between other events. Paula Nowak, assisted by Jessica Mannon's son Tyler and Kathy Young's granddaughter Mackenzie, announced the winners. Raffle proceeds of $828 were presented to New Rattitude at the conclusion of the Jamboree! New Rattitude extends a heartfelt thank-you to the Southeast Rat Terrier group for planning, organizing, and hosting this annual event and for so generously donating 100 percent of the raffle proceeds to the rescue organization.   Another entertaining fund-raiser was the "Guess How Many Treats" game. For $l per guess, Jammers could take a stab at estimating how many dog treats of various shapes and sizes were contained in a large plastic jar. Winner Kathy Puckett, whose guess was off by only two treats, was presented with the prize (a new soft-sided dog crate) and the jar of 287 treats! Finally, NR is grateful to Karen Stewart, who donated a portion of the proceeds of her handmade jewelry sold at the BabySue Beads booth at the Jamboree. BabySue Beads features jewelry using glass, gemstones, and metals, inspired by the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and by BabySue, an abused Jack Russell terrier rescued by Karen. BabySue Beads jewelry is also for sale on an ongoing basis at the New Rattitude Web site: www.newrattitude.org/fundraiser2.htm.   All in all, the Jamboree’s events and sales netted New Rattitude more than $1,300 in funds for rescue. Fantastic!

					Summertime Safety Tips By Nadia Chiodini and the Pack As warmer weather approaches, it’s a good time to review how to keep your dog “summer safe.” Here are some simple tips: You and your dog will probably be outdoors more often in the warmer weather, and the pleasant temperatures may entice your rattie to explore, so reinspect the fencing or replace the batteries in any electric containment systems. And since a determined and curious terrier can manage to escape the best of fences once in a while, be sure your dog is microchipped and always wears its collar with current tags attached. When the weather really starts to heat up, limit outdoor playtimes. It’s easy for your dog to get heatstroke while playing. Dogs don’t know when to quit; you must control the situation. Take walks in the early morning or late evening, and avoid the outdoors entirely on humid days with temperatures above 90. When the temperatures do allow you and your pooch to enjoy the great outdoors, be sure to have plenty of cool water and shade available and keep your eyes open to potential dangers in your yard, such as toxic plants, charcoal lighter fluid, and even mulch. While shredded cedar mulch is generally safe, avoid chunky mulch, which could become a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage if swallowed. Never use cocoa mulch, which can be as deadly as chocolate if ingested by a dog. If the cooler temperatures following a storm entice you to take your dog for a walk, don’t allow it to drink from any puddles. They may contain fertilizer and pesticides from lawn run-off and even poisonous antifreeze that has leaked from cars onto the road. Never leave your dog inside a parked car. Sunny days can turn your car into an oven, causing heatstroke in your furry friend. According to the American Humane Society, if the outside temperature is 85 degrees, the inside temperature will rise to 102 within 10 minutes, even with windows cracked open. Other studies show that the interior of a car can heat up to 140 degrees or more. If you can’t take your dog out of the car with you, then it’s best to leave it at home. Speaking of cars, when you do travel with your pet in the spring and summer, don’t allow it to hang out an open window. Not only have dogs been known to jump out of car windows, but they can be blinded by flying debris. Keep windows up and the air conditioning on. Or if you must cater to your canine’s craving for new scents to sniff, open the windows just enough to let some air inside, but remember to keep your rattie safely harnessed or crated.   Of course, summer is the time for the biggest outdoor celebration of all--the Fourth of July. Keep your dog safe by making sure it has gone to the potty and is safe indoors before any fireworks begin. Don’t be tempted to bring your dog to fireworks displays. Most dogs are afraid of fireworks and will bolt, jump, climb anything, or pull out of their collars. Keep them safe inside during those hours, preferably with a family member to provide a sense of security. If you must go out, make sure your pet is crated or in a room where it can’t hurt itself or destroy anything. With a bit of knowledge and planning, you can have a happy, safe summer with your best friend. Check out the Healthy Pet Web site for more information on keeping your dog safe from poisoning. To learn more about heatstroke check out this site: http://dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/qt/heatstroke.htm

					Frodo's Product Review: Comfy Cone By Janell Brown and Frodo First off, I’d like to make it clear that this review has been done under protest. When I signed on for this review job, it was to test food, toys, and treats. No one mentioned anything about cones; but since I was forced to wear one, I figure I might as well let you furry ones out there know what to expect. I recently had a small pimple thing growing near my armpit; and my human decided it needed to come off, in spite of the fact that I volunteered to just regularly lick the spot until it went away. No such luck. She took me to the dreaded vet, where all manner of torture ensued; and she picked me up that afternoon, as if nothing had happened. Then, as if it weren’t bad enough that she had just put me through endless horrors, she slapped this black padded gym mat looking thing around my neck and acted like I was supposed to be happy about it. This cone-shaped collar is dubbed a “Comfy Cone.” Only a human would be so misguided as to call an Elizabethan collar “comfy.” OK, I’ll give them this--at the vet’s office, they put a similarly shaped device around my neck, but this one was made of clear, stiff plastic. It probably would have made a great chew toy, but when worn around the neck, it was pretty awful. This Comfy Cone that my human had purchased was definitely less horrific than the vet’s cone, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it comfortable. Comfortable is a large quilt just out of the dryer, wadded up in a laundry basket, waiting to be burrowed into. Comfortable is not a cone in any form. My human oohed and aahed over how adjustable it was and how strong the Velcro® was that held it in place. She loved the fact that she could put it on tight enough that she didn’t have to run my collar through the provided elastic loops. My foster brother, Quixote, was also using one of these cones after his knee surgery; and not knowing how determined humans can be, he kept attempting to scrape his off. He never did fully get the thing off, but you have to give him credit for his gumption. So please accept my condolences if you find yourself in a situation where your humans decide to adorn your neck with a cone. Here’s a tip that might buy you a little free time. Sometimes if you pretend you are paralyzed after the cone has been put on you, it might get removed for a bit. Just stand stiffly on all fours and look straight ahead with a pained expression. Then no matter what your humans do, don’t move. Even if they pull out the treats, be strong. Pull back your ears in pain, and maybe add a little whimper. This worked a few times for me. However, if they do take the cone off and you feel the need to lick your incision, do not--I repeat DO NOT--lick in front of the humans. This will have you wearing a cone again in no time. Try hiding behind the couch where they can’t see you and lick very quietly. It worked for me. For most rat terriers, the cone in the small size will work best. It costs around $20. Our pack has used this size for dogs up to about 20 pounds. The cones, made by the company All Four Paws, can be purchased at most online pet stores. There is another “comfortable” cone that is an inflatable donut worn around the neck. I haven’t tried it, but I hear from fellow rat terriers that it isn’t that bad and it makes a nice pillow during nap times. But like I said, try your best to avoid letting your human put anything other than a regular collar around your neck. Anything else just doesn’t suit dogs as dignified as we rat terriers are. Information on buying a Comfy Cone is available at these sites: www.drsfostersmith.com www.funstufffordogs.com

					Furever Home We are proud to announce that 14 more NR ratties have found their furever homes. CongRATulations to all, and to the new adopters, WELCOME to the New Rattitude family! Sofia - Fostered by Terry Beale, adopted by Cindy Getty Wyatt - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Mandi Brewer Jake - Fostered by Janell Brown, adopted by Nicole Decor Lilly - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Lori Hunter Emily - Fostered by Shannon Bayless, adopted by Linda Porter Journey - Fostered by Jaime Restorff, adopted by Teri Scott Amy - Fostered by Shannon Bayless, adopted by Markettia Duncan Evolution - Fostered by Jaime Restorff, adopted by Jamie Joseph Buddee Boy - Fostered by Kathy Puckett, adopted by Evan Blair Ginger - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Teena Bowser Stevie Ray - Fostered by Shannon Bayless, adopted by Janet Snyder Bear - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Carla Galgano Infinity - Fostered by Jaime Restorff, adopted by Roxann Elsner Duke - Fostered by Crystal Vostad, adopted by Judy Thompson In The Clinic Charlie was hit by a car in Texas, sustaining severe road rash injuries and a badly smashed hind leg. When he was well enough, he was flown to his foster home in Florida and underwent orthopedic surgery to repair his leg. Charlie's diagnostics, surgery, and follow-up care are estimated to cost $2,500. Dogs in the Canine Clinic have incurred vet bills that adoption fees don't cover. If you can help, please visit the link above to read about these dogs and consider a donation to help us cover these costs. Canine Clinic donors are listed on our Donor Recognition board. We appreciate every dollar...without the help of our supporters, we would not be able to rescue these ratties with medical needs.

					Volunteer Spotlight - Newly Elected New Rattitude Directors By Sue Kangas The New Rattitude membership held its annual election for board of directors in March. Seven candidates ran for the four open seats. The new directors are Cathy Conrad, filling a one-year seat, and Jaime Restorff and Nancy Breedlove, each filling two-year seats. Debbie Collins was reelected for a second two-year term. They join current directors Susan Beard, Terry Beale, and Sue Kangas. Thanks to all seven of the worthy candidates, who were willing and ready to contribute their time and talents to assist our organization and further its mission, and congratulations to the new directors! Meet the four newly elected New Rattitude directors. Cathy Conrad I live in a suburb of sunny Sacramento, Calif., with my wonderful husband, Mark, son Garrett (12), and our oldest son, Spencer (21), who is away at Chico State finishing his junior year. Mark and I both grew up having dogs and can't imagine life without them. Our previous dog of 11 1/2 years was a wonderful bullmastiff who passed away in 2006; we still miss Lucas to this day. We also have two Ragdoll cats, Maggie and Mittens, that we adopted from the city animal shelter nine years ago. Later we adopted Chihuahua mix Coco as a puppy for Garrett, who wanted a dog that could sit on his lap...Lucas was a bit too large for that. After about a year, it became clear that Coco longed for a companion. We found Annie, our rattie, at the Sacramento SPCA. She and Coco became fast friends in no time. Garrett and I spent many Friday evenings watching “DogTown” and talking about ways we might be able to help dogs. I found the New Rattitude Web site while researching rat terriers, and after reading about fostering, I thought maybe this might be the right fit for us. After a family discussion, we decided to make a go of it.  Well, here we are, one year later, loving our fostering experience! Being part of NR has been very rewarding for our whole family. I am continually impressed with the organization and its members, a wonderful group of people! Being elected to serve on the board is truly an honor, and I look forward to serving this fine group of folks who work hard to create a better life for so many deserving ratties. Jaime Restorff I live in Greenfield, Wis., in my real life, but I own a cottage in rural Illinois, which is where I keep my heart. I am grateful to share my life with my best friend, cheerleader, and soul mate, Neil. I have two sons, Matthew (28) and Cody (24). Matt has the "test cats" which I use to "cat scan" my fosters and Cody has the "test child," Gracie, who is my sassy, sweet, and wise-beyond-her-3-years granddaughter. I got my first dog, Oscar (dog of my heart), from a backyard breeder before I knew anything. I was ill at the time, and he was a gift from my hubby, who was desperate to see me happy and well again. We got a puppy from yet another such breeder one year later and had him for only three wonderful days before he had to be put to sleep because of a heart defect. While we were searching for another rattie, we stumbled upon rescue. We did go back and get Satch from the breeder we got Oscar from, but the seed had been planted. Last year we picked up our first official rescue dog, Jersey, from a performance rescue in Iowa. She's not a rattie, but please don't tell her! It's all rescues from here on out! I am lucky enough to spend my free time saving this courageous and comical breed. I started out "just fostering a couple a year." Then I became state coordinator for Wisconsin and now Iowa. Next came the assistant applications manager job and, well, now the board. I guess NR positions are like the ratties we serve...you can't have just one. Nancy Breedlove My husband, Denny, and I adopted our first rat terrier, Lucy, six years ago. We were not breed-specific fans until we got to know her. Now we have three rescued rat terriers and our poodle mutt, Mollbert, whom I found as a stray about 11 years ago. Denny has two grown sons, Andy and Jon, ages 28 and 26, and they are always curious to meet whichever fosters we have when they visit. I got involved with rescue slowly by volunteering to do home visits, which then graduated to applications coordination. I snuck into fostering by taking in two puppies for the weekend, and then it was all over. I had found my true passion of fostering these wonderful ratties. This group is amazing, and I have completely enjoyed getting to know all the volunteers involved with this great group.   Debbie Collins My husband, Rick, and I live in rural Alabama in a house we built ourselves. With our kids grown and gone, our ratties, Tex and Toby, are our "kids" now, along with the ever-changing roster of foster ratties. We fell in love with the rat terrier breed when we adopted our first rescued rattie, Beener, in December 2000 from the Humane Society. In 2003 we adopted Tex from a rat terrier rescue. In June 2006, I became involved in rat terrier rescue as a temporary foster parent, but that temporary status quickly changed to permanent during the time we had foster number two. Being involved in rescue has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, and I'm honored to be able to serve on the board for the next two years and to lend my services in various jobs alongside the fine, dedicated members of New Rattitude.

					Where Are They Now? Minnie By Norma Downing “Faith, hope, and love...but the greatest of these is love."  These words from the Apostle Paul are exemplified in the rescue and adoption of an emaciated, flea-ridden, 6-pound female rattie from a California shelter in the summer of 2009. Minnie was fostered by Amy Flores, who first bathed her neglected little body, fed her a nutritious diet, and began teaching Minnie all about having a “new rattitude.” It was clear from the start that, although she had had her share of hard times, Minnie possessed a calm, confident spirit, which allowed her to fit seamlessly into her foster home. Minnie showed Amy that she was thankful for every loving glance. “Minnie has been the most grateful dog that I have fostered,” recalls Amy.   In a few days, Minnie began having grand mal seizures, which the vet diagnosed as epilepsy. However, with six months of a regimen of seizure medications, antibiotics, and the tender loving care of her foster family, Minnie was thriving and up to her normal weight of 12 pounds. And with her loving, gentle nature, Minnie had already won a permanent place in her foster family’s hearts. Amy explained, “If humans had Minnie’s strength, the world would be a much better place. She has changed our family’s life. Minnie was born with a purpose; it just took us humans a little while to figure it out.”   When the vet pronounced Minnie’s seizures stabilized, Amy posted Minnie’s bio and photos on the New Rattitude Web site, but she wondered who would be willing to give a dog with seizures the chance to show them her huge capacity for love. The answer to that query was Mark and Sally Hargleroad of Modesto, Calif., a bit north of Amy’s home. The Hargleroads had been searching pet adoption Web sites for six months, watching for the “just perfect” dog for them. Their landlord’s restrictions specified a small dog which was quiet and well behaved. Their own search was for a dog which was loyal, brave, and obedient.   I recently phoned the Hargleroads to chat with them about Minnie. I could hear the smile in Sally’s voice as she exclaimed, “When we spotted Minnie on your Web site, we both declared, ‘That’s our dog!’ We took a minute to get lost in those soulful big black eyes. Then we excitedly read her story and were totally certain that Minnie was to be ours.”   After the adoption was finalized, Amy realized that she couldn’t send Minnie on a transport caravan to her new family; she was going to make that 12-hour round trip to Modesto herself so that she could give the Hargleroads each a big hug and personally place Minnie in their arms!   Amy’s hope that Mark and Sally would be the blessing that the stalwart Minnie deserved was rewarded when she stepped into Minnie’s new home.The couple had prepared for the homecoming of their little angel: Minnie’s harness and leash were hanging at the door; her special blanket was draped over the couch; her toys were laid out neatly; and her new parents were beaming When Amy handed over Minnie’s seizure medicines to Mark, he put the bottle on the counter--right next to his own prescription for seizures and Sally’s for sleep apnea. Minnie was, in fact, adopted because of her epileptic condition, not in spite of it, for the couple understood what she had been experiencing and what she needed during her seizure episodes. They knew how important it was for her to be comforted with quiet tones and gentle strokes and to awaken from a seizure to see loving faces.   Within seconds, Minnie was scooped up in Mark’s arms, receiving hugs and kisses from Sally and returning kiss for kiss. Minnie was home…forever home. For whatever reason she had been abandoned and neglected, the great scheme of life was that Minnie was to come home to a tender and loving couple who had medical issues of their own. This must have been her destiny, for that very night she would find her mission in life.   When it was time for bed, Minnie snuggled right between Mark and Sally, not fazed in the least by the intermittent noise of Sally’s sleep apnea equipment. During the night, Minnie’s natural sensitivity towards her new parents’ medical conditions caused her to realize that something had gone wrong, and she began to paw and lick Sally’s face until Sally woke up and discovered that her breathing machine had failed! Minnie had saved Sally’s life by waking her up!   Soon, Minnie would become a guardian angel to Mark when he experienced one of his frequent seizures. Mark told me that he has been drawn back to awareness many times by Minnie’s insistent nosing against his body and scratching him on the face. The pain of her sharp little nails tunes him back into reality, Mark explained. She seems to be demanding that he answer her questions, “Are you coherent now? Are you OK?” What a blessing and comfort Minnie is to Mark, who had often endured seizures all alone. He won’t ever be alone again. Mark and Sally have faith that Minnie will look out for them, just as surely as she put her faith in them to watch over her. Minnie’s keen ability to respond correctly in a medical crisis seems to be a natural gift from God. At critical times, she purposefully gets as close to Mark or Sally as possible. When Mark feels Minnie nudging him or pawing at his legs, he knows to sit down immediately, for he is beginning to have a seizure. When the episode subsides, he is assured that Minnie will be faithfully licking his face, welcoming him “back to the world.” Mark and Sally both said that having their guardian angel Minnie smiling sweetly at them and giving them her special brand of rattie kisses is more wonderful than they can put into words!   Mark is currently working with Minnie on the requirements to become a therapy dog. Minnie’s calm and unflappable demeanor has been an advantage in her training. So far, she has learned to be focused and confident in all manner of social situations with people, dogs, and cats--while walking in heavy traffic areas, close to noisy city buses and large trucks, in bustling stores and busy hospitals. She is even getting used to the sounds, speed, and enormous bulk of passing trains. Minnie absolutely loves going for walks, whether she is in training or just out for fun to enjoy the lovely grassy parks nearby.   Minnie’s reward in being part of this couple’s life is that she has her family with her nearly 24/7. In addition to receiving their lavish attention and being cradled upside-down in their arms having--in Sally’s words--a “scratch patch” session, she is with experts to care for her medical issues. When she is about to have a seizure, Minnie goes straight to Mark or Sally and attracts their attention, for she knows that they are her guardian angels. Minnie, Sally says, is an integral part of their perfect three-some family and is just as excited as she and Mark are to wake up every morning expecting it to be their best day yet. Sally told me that it is nearly impossible to relay how important Minnie is to them. She described Minnie as being content, happy, sweet-natured, mellow, their heart and soul, just the best little girl, and that “last piece to complete their family puzzle.”   Mark and Sally have an endearing ritual that they practice every night, before falling asleep. They hook their pinky fingers and together whisper, “Forever.” Minnie quickly caught on to this expression of love after observing their poignant habit a few times…and now, every night, she smiles and lays her dainty little paw right on top of their love-connected fingers.

					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, and more. As a member of our team, you will always be treated with respect and your contributions appreciated. Volunteer education and training are ongoing, and support and advice willingly shared. If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out our online Volunteer Application! 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 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 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! Go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter New Rattitude as the charity you want to support.   GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall that 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 and 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, Nadia Chiodini, Debbie Collins, Norma Downing, Barbara Hill, Patti Jeffries, Sue Kangas, Jessica Mannon, Sue Painter-Thorne, and Heidee Vansant 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.