Meet the Winners of Rattie Idol, Season Two! By Sue Kangas New Rattitude is pleased to introduce the three winners of Rattie Idol 2010! Photos submitted for each of these rat terriers received the most votes, crowning them the winners in their respective categories. Without further ado, meet: Sexy Cecil Cutie Pie Winner Cecil belongs to Hildreth Cooper of Durango, Colorado. Sexy Cecil was found wandering the streets of Warner Robbins, Ga., a few years ago and turned over to a rescue group. The little goofball was adopted at about the same time his new rescued stepbrother, Oscar, showed up. Their recent move from Florida to Colorado was not as traumatic as expected, and they are both learning to love rattie playtime in the snow along with their dad. Rattie Taking On a Reindeer Best Performer Rexifer Maximous (Rex) belongs to Carrie Erskine of Ontario, California. Rex was "rescued" from a backyard breeder. He loves his mom, toys, and his old special blankie. Rex is a natural performer and enjoys learning new tricks--anything to get some more attention. Luma Cali Miller: City Dog Most Stylish Luma belongs to Molly and Joey Miller of Atlanta, Georgia. Luma (previously known as Petals) was rescued by New Rattitude in December 2008; two weeks later, she gave birth to a litter of seven puppies. The Millers adopted Luma from New Rattitude in August 2009. She joined a rat terrier brother, Tucker, who is also a rescue from the local humane society. Luma spends her time eating, going on walks, sleeping in a quiet corner, and of course, being “stylish.”   Each Rattie Idol contest winner will receive a rat terrier ball cap, a tote bag from SitStay.com, a “Dog is my Co-Pilot” T-shirt, a $50 e-gift certificate to restaurants.com, a $25 PetSmart gift certificate, a gift for their four-legged friend, and a personalized, engraved Rattie Idol 2010 collar tag. Thanks to everyone who entered the Rattie Idol contest this year and/or submitted votes. It was a very successful fundraiser, earning just over $1,000 to help towards the medical expenses of dogs in the “Canine Clinic.”

					New Rattitude's Benny - Canine Good Citizen! By Barbara Hill You've seen those bumper stickers that proclaim "My child is an honor student…" or "My dog is smarter than your honor student…" Well, foster parents Kim Markham and Donovan Conrad have every right to boast "My DOG is an honor student!!" That's because Kim and Donovan's Benny is New Rattitude's first dog to receive a certificate for passing the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test while in foster care. When Kim and Donovan first got Benny, they were concerned about his behavior. Found as a stray, Benny came to New Rattitude through a man named Ben, a good citizen himself, who had taken care of vetting and neutering but found himself unable to keep the dog. Naming their new foster Benny to honor the guardian angel who took him in, Kim and Donovan immediately noticed behaviors that caused them to wonder if Benny's past had included abuse. He showed his teeth to their personal dogs, and he didn't like fast movements. He had even snapped at Kim and Donovan. After observing Benny's reaction to the friendly humans who approached his crate at their PetSmart's Adoption Days, Kim and Donovan knew that Benny's fear might ruin his chances of being adopted. He was baring his teeth and snarling at people, literally showing himself as a vicious dog. Kim and Donovan decided to enroll Benny in an eight-week Canine Good Citizen training course. Developed by the AKC, the Canine Good Citizen program teaches dogs basic good manners and helps to strengthen the bond between human and dog. Over the weeks, Benny learned how to allow a friendly stranger to approach, how to greet other dogs, and a number of other behaviors to ensure that he would be a happy, well-adjusted member of an adoptive family. Benny graduated "with honors" from his class, and his foster parents are proud of the Canine Good Citizen certificate that signifies what he has accomplished. Now all that awaits is a chance to show off his new behaviors and give his love to a special new family. Kim reports that Benny is not a big barker, sleeps well in a crate, and just loves attention. His favorite thing is to be on his human's lap. He only asks that humans not force him into situations or places he doesn't like and that any children in his life be mature enough to understand these boundaries. Yes, people love to express themselves through bumper stickers. Perhaps you'll be seeing a new one soon: "New Rattitude's foster parents are the BEST!" For more information on the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program, check out www.akc.org/events/cgc

					News and Events Great Lakes Pet Expo New Rattitude volunteers participated in the Great Lakes Pet Expo in Milwaukee, Wis., on February 6. Jaime and Neil Restorff, Lindy Darovic, and Diane and Larry McClane manned the NR booth while foster ratties Bocephus, Vinny, and Rodey worked the crowd. Everyone had a great time! PetSmart National Adoption Event The "Second Chance For Love" National Adoption Weekend was held February 12-14 in PetSmart stores all across America. New Rattitude PetSmart Partners participated in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Washington. Sponsored by PetSmart and Hill's Science Diet Brand, this was the first of four National Adoption Event weekends to be held in 2010. PetSmart Charities offers participating partners $25 in adoption rewards funding for each animal adopted during these events. 2010 SE Rat Terrier Jamboree To put it simply, you've GOT to be there! The 5th Annual SE Rat Terrier Jamboree will be held April 16-17 in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Get ready for two days, JAM-packed with fun, as rattie owners and rescuers from coast to coast converge on the little town of Sweetwater for the most talked-about rat terrier event of the year--competitions, free cookout, vendors, exhibitions, and of course the famous Jamboree raffle to benefit New Rattitude. Motel and campground discounts are available. Visit the Web site for more information and to pre-register online. Come Play!

					Frodo's Product Review: JW Pet Company's Squeaky Toys By Janell Brown and Frodo Life without squeakies to kill is a little less worth living. This is a lesson about the rat terrier psyche that I wish humans better understood. We must hunt. We…Must…Kill…Squeakies! There is no other choice. Just as the squirrel sitting outside the window, crunching on a peanut and waving its tail, must be made to pay, so must the squeaky toys. We do not rip them to shreds because we are wasteful or destructive. You must understand--their whole point is to be destroyed. That is what they are for, you two-legged idiots! OK, I’m going to take a few deep breaths and try to offer you humans a compromise. What if I could tell you about a squeaky toy that lasts a little longer? One that is (dare I say this?) even somewhat fun to play with after the squeak is dead. Well, I can. Over the past four years of my life, I have dedicated myself to testing (and this is the honest truth) nearly every squeaky toy made by the JW Pet Company, and I can give you a rattie toughness rating on them all. JW pet toys are sold nearly everywhere, and their Good Cuz and Bad Cuz toys are probably the most famous. I know the inner workings of these squeakies--their strengths and weaknesses. Some I have ripped apart in a day. Others I still battle a year later, but every single one is going to last longer than a plush squeaky. Of course, we four-legged creatures prefer the plush squeakies as gutting them gives such satisfaction, but we are working on a compromise here: a squeak for the four-legged folk and some longevity for you two-legged ones. So I’m going to run through some of JW's popular squeaky toys and let you know how they stood up to my ferocious fangs. The Cuz, good and bad: The original Cuz will squeak for quite a while, but those feet you humans think are so cute are oh-so-easy to chew off and swallow. They once nearly cost me a trip to the emergency vet. Try the newer Other Cuz, whose feet are less cute but more tough. I still chew them off, but the pieces are smaller. Both versions of the Bad Cuz--original and Other--sport little horns that are always the first things I detach before moving on to the feet. An appetizer, one might say. The Dino Cuz: I cut the tail off this baby in less than five minutes. Sadly, that was the end of its squeak. The Ruffians Chicken, Fish, and Octopus: It is a joy chewing off the fins and legs of each of these, but for the most part, they still squeak after their appendages have been removed.  The Ruffians Cat: I swear this beast truly has nine lives. I have owned the blasted cat for over a year, and still it squeaks, albeit quietly and with a distinct wheeze. The ears, legs, and tail are long gone. Puncture wounds decorate its backside, and yet still this evil feline squeaks on. A plus for this one: the shape makes it great for playing fetch and tug. JW's Ruffians Bear is similarly shaped and, I’m guessing, lasts as long as the cat. The iSqueak Bowling Pin: It took me a few months to fully de-squeak this one, yet after the death of its squeaker, it is still a favorite for games of fetch thanks to its wild and crazy bounce. I give it two dewclaws up!  Darwin the Frog and Dexter the Elephant: While I really love these guys, I have to be honest and say that Darwin’s eyeballs didn’t last a day and Dexter’s trunk is a bit grisly to chew on, once removed. Darwin the frog still squeaks if my human uses those blessed opposable thumbs to cover his freakishly empty eye sockets. The Serious Squid: Do I even need to tell you not to buy this one? The nasty little foster puppies in my house were even able to destroy this. Plus, it isn’t built with a squeaker, so what is the point?  Don’t get me wrong. Your rat terrier will destroy these toys; but if you are lucky, you’ll have time to rest awhile before you need to take another trip back to the pet store for reinforcements.

					Furever Home We are proud to announce that 18 more NR ratties have found their furever homes. CongRATulations to all, and to the new adopters, WELCOME to the New Rattitude family! Athena - Fostered by Di Cosentini, adopted by Gerald Thomas Downpour - Fostered by Linda Kuiper, adopted by Elyse Kamps Suni - Fostered by Diane McClane, adopted by Janice Peterson Gibbs - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by John Bennett Dancie - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Karen Stewart Honey Bun - Fostered by Kathy Puckett, adopted by William Reich Taffy - Fostered by Bethany Adams, adopted by Karrie Himebaugh Tyler - Fostered by Bethany Adams, adopted by Babs Maas Deacon - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Devin Brown Teagan - Fostered by Bethany Adams, adopted by Sean Allen Apollo - Fostered by Di Cosentini, adopted by Mindi Pierce Absorn - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Craig Johnson Brewer - Fostered by Lindy Darovic, adopted by Dottie Campo Bocephus - Fostered by Lindy Darovic, adopted by Cheryl Madden Achilles - Fostered by Di Cosentini, adopted by Thomas Manley Mila - Fostered by Michelle Harris, adopted by Susan Murkland Star- Fostered by Janell Brown, adopted by Whitney Mayor Sweet Pea - Fostered Kathy Young, adopted by Chanel Barber 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.

					Clinic Dog Update - Claire By Sue Wichman and Sue Kangas In the September edition of 'Tude News, you read the story of Claire, an emaciated, sick little rat terrier rescued by New Rattitude in July 2009 from a county animal control facility in Michigan. Claire was diagnosed with kennel cough, insulin-dependent diabetes, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). She walked a fine line between life and death for the first two weeks after her rescue. Over the past seven months, Claire's journey to recovery has included numerous trips to the vet with lots of trial and error to get her EPI and diabetes under control.   Today Claire is a healthy rat terrier weighing 11.2 pounds. However, Claire has one more hurdle to overcome before we can call her journey complete. She has mature diabetic cataracts in both eyes. Not only does this type of cataract impair functional vision, but it also causes lens-induced anterior uveitis, a form of immune-mediated inflammation inside the eyes. Claire has been examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist who found her retinas healthy and gave her a 99 percent chance of regaining her vision with cataract surgery.   Claire would love to join in chasing squirrels with the rest of her pack or to run in her yard without crashing into the chain-link fence. She longs to take walks in the woods without being carried most of the way for fear she'll run into a stick or twig and lose an eye completely. There is an ever-present fear of her falling down a flight of stairs or off the deck or retaining wall. Although Claire has become familiar with her foster home's layout, she struggles whenever she goes to new places. She is vulnerable in her blindness and deserves the added cushion of safety that sight will give her.   The EPI and diabetes are conditions that Claire will live with for the rest of her life, but her blindness can be corrected. We at New Rattitude, along with the medical staff caring for her, feel that giving her back her sight is one of the greatest gifts we can offer. Therefore, Claire will soon be undergoing expensive cataract surgery. To help raise funds towards the cost of Claire's surgery, the story of her rescue and recovery has been entered in an "Inspiring Rescue Stories" contest. The winner will receive $1,000 worth of prizes, and the author of the book, "New Lives, Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing, and Giving Hope" will donate 15% of the book sale profits through April 30 of this year to the winning shelter or organization. You can help New Rattitude win simply by reading Claire's story and replying to it with a short comment at www.inspiringrescuestories.com.   For those who have donated to Claire's recovery in the past, we thank you! For those reading Claire's story for the first time, please know that every donation, big or small, will bring Claire one step closer to completing her journey from sickly shelter dog to a healthy, well-loved family pet.   You can see more photos of Claire in her online album. If you would like to make a contribution towards Claire's cataract surgery, you can do so by visiting the Canine Clinic on New Rattitude's Web site.

					Volunteer Spotlight - Barbara Hill By Jessica Mannon When she's not rescuing rat terriers, you're likely to find her in the kitchen making jalapeno jelly or baking sweet rolls or focaccia bread. She's New Rattitude's very own Barbara Hill!   Barbara and her husband, Zack, were married in 1962. They have three grown children--two sons and a daughter.  Today Barbara and her husband reside in Whitehall, Montana. In her spare time, Barbara runs a home bakery and has quite a few delicious recipes for both canines and their human companions. When the weather is right, you may just catch Barbara on the slopes--she loves to downhill ski!   While Barbara joined New Rattitude in 2009, rescuing ratties has been a part of her life for much longer. Barbara says, "As a child, I was always rescuing something, and when I married, I found that my husband was the same way.  We had dogs from the minute we married and in 1964 bought our first rattie mix for five dollars. She was a poodle/rat terrier mix named Gussie."  Seventeen years later while living in Lakewood, Colo., Barbara and her husband were looking for another rattie or rattie mix. Their search led them to Arkansas, where they picked out their first purebred rat terrier. "That is the first time we ever dealt with a breeder. It must have been a puppy mill…It made me sick but we took little Gus home with us. We rescued another poodle/rattie mix in 1983 and paid $50 to get him out of the situation he was in."   In 1989, Barbara took in her daughter's rat terrier, Candy, and another puppy, Panda. After Candy and Panda died 15 years later, Barbara welcomed Hannah and Kelby into her family. Hannah died last November, and Barbara is looking to adopt another rattie. Since joining New Rattitude, Barbara has been a member of the fund-raising team and a writer for the 'Tude News. She's always available to offer a word of wisdom when it comes to training and caring for rat terriers.   Barbara, thank you for your support of New Rattitude and for what you do to help ratties in need every day!

					Why I Rescue By Jessica Mannon and Jaime Restorff Res•cue (transitive verb): to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil. This is what New Rattitude does every day for rat terriers in need. It's a job that literally involves life and death for these animals. Animal rescue work can be emotionally, physically, and spiritually taxing, yet volunteers all across the country engage in rescue work. Some people would ask why. In this article, we have decided to ask a few of New Rattitude's volunteers that exact question: Why do you rescue, and what brought you to it? Marybeth Voss (GA) In late fall 2004, my friend found a tiny puppy wandering down a road in Yulee, Florida. She pulled over, and the little pup came to her. The dog was skinny and wormy and had fleas and a horribly injured eye. It was obvious she had been bitten badly at some point, even though she was only about 7 weeks old.  Three days later, I met this pup at my friend’s stable, where I had gone to ride my horse. We had no clue what breed she was, but she was such a happy-go-lucky girl, who was chasing chickens four times her size. I picked her up, and she covered my face with kisses. My friend couldn’t keep her as she already had several dogs, and Mitzy was too likely to be stepped on by a horse since she was small and blind in one eye…so I took her home. After some research, we figured out that she was a type B, aka short-legged, rat terrier! Except for a few trips to family in Atlanta, Mitzy and I have never been apart since Halloween night of 2004. She is probably the result of a backyard breeder who couldn’t sell her because of her injured eye. But to me, she is my “heart dog!" Mitzy is what got me into rescue, including fostering other rat terriers and adopting Gilby from New Rattitude. I will always be grateful to my friend for stopping and saving Mitzy...so I try to help other rat terriers in need. Janell Brown (WA) I wasn’t really a dog person or even an animal person for most of my life, but nearly five years ago, my son started begging for a dog. Both my husband and I had grown up with dogs, so this wasn’t a totally foreign thing, but we definitely balked about it for quite a while. Then like so many parents, we caved. We did a bunch of research and decided that the rat terrier breed might be a good choice for our lifestyle. We researched breeders, visited a couple to make sure they were legitimate, and then finally ended up purchasing an 8-week-old puppy. Little did I know how much this tiny little 2-pound pup named Frodo was going to change my life. Through our love for him, we became interested in rescuing other rat terriers who needed help finding their way to a loving family. Two years later we considered adopting a rescued rat terrier, but after lots of discussion, we decided to look into fostering instead. Since that time, nearly 40 dogs have spent time living with us as they wait for their new life to begin. I have had the honor of getting to know many like-minded folks who have dedicated themselves to rescuing homeless dogs. It can be emotionally exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time, but in the end, the support from these friends and, of course, the dog kisses make it so worthwhile. Nadia Chiodini (MO) I got into rescue in 2000. I actually started out by getting a rescued Lab-mix pup to raise for a school that trained guide dogs for blind people. The school ended up going down the tubes and we kept Cokey, but since he had been brought to me by rescue transport, I got to meet a great rescue volunteer named Carl Nylund and learned all about rescuing dogs. Since I run a dog business, it is easier for me to handle and foster many dogs. I have over the years fostered between 5 to 10 dogs at a time and many different breeds. I even ran my own Australian cattle dog rescue for four years, but because of the heavy expense of running a rescue, I could no longer afford to carry on, on my own. I had along the way rescued a few ratties and loved them very much, so I did some research on them and found out that my two breeds of choice have a lot in common. With quite similar personalities and traits, ratties are like small and tamer cattle dogs. The ratties also get along very well with my cattle dogs, so it was a wonderful fit for us. I started doing some searches on rat terrier rescue groups, checking them all out. I can honestly say New Rattitude is not only one of the very best rat terrier rescues I found, but NR is one of the very best rescue organizations in the nation today. I have worked with many different groups over the years, both nationwide and local, so I do have a lot to compare New Rattitude with. We have a wonderful fund-raising department that helps keep us in funds. I just love these little ratties, and I love New Rattitude. We all have our reasons why we do this work.  What's yours?

					Where Are They Now? Aden By Norma Downing Just me for you and you for me alone... Oh, can't you see how happy we would be? These lyrics from the old stand-by "Tea for Two" aptly describe the canine-human relationship in our story below. Some dogs seem to have a mission in life. They endure all sorts of hardships to end up making a difference in just the right home with just the right person. This was surely the case for a little rat terrier named Aden. In the spring of 2009, nearly 100 dogs living in deplorable conditions were removed from the home of a hoarder in Illinois. One of those dogs was tiny, frightened, and hugely pregnant Aden. New Rattitude's road warrior, Julie Barr, drove from Indiana to Illinois and back to rescue Aden, and foster parent Bethany Adams and her family nursed the dog and her three pups to health. As Bethany got to know her new foster dog, she realized that Aden "needed to go to someone who had lots of time for petting because she craves love and attention more than any dog I have had." Prospective adopter Art Kluka used a wheelchair and couldn't chase down a disobedient dog, so he sought one that craved snuggling and followed commands. When Art saw Aden looking straight into his heart from NR's web site and read that she had the exact qualities and traits that he was seeking, he knew he had found his new four-pawed buddy. Today Aden--renamed Suzy Q--is right where she was destined to be...in the loving care of her adoptive dad, Art. When I spoke with Art this week, his affection for, and appreciation of, his Suzie Q was so evident in his telling of their life together that I could "hear" him smiling large. "She has been a godsend for me...just what the doctor did order." Art continued, "She was extremely shy when she came here, afraid of new people, apprehensive about her new environment, (and) so frightened that she hid under my wheelchair." Concerned, he contacted Bethany to walk him through Suzy Q's transition period, and he worked faithfully with the sweet girl to allay her fears. He was happy to report that now "Suzy Q is a perfect fit for me and my life's situation. She is my best buddy and loving companion--just what I needed." Art continued, "My most favorite thing about Suzy Q is that she gets so wound up when I come home from my dialysis treatments. As soon as I let her out of her crate, she hops right up onto a chair, flips over on her back, and wants a belly rub." Since Art's nine siblings take turns accompanying him to doctor's appointments and to dialysis, Suzy Q is learning to trust them, too. She is also becoming an ambassador of goodwill and spreader of joy with the senior residents at Art's apartment complex. Nowadays, she greets them eagerly with a wagging tail, going from one to the other to receive lots and lots of petting. The neighbors say that she is really "coming out of her shell," aided perhaps by their tendency to bring her treats like yummy chicken suppers! Art says that Suzy Q has learned his schedule when he has to leave to see the doctor. On dialysis days, she plops herself down on a particular rug and watches him closely while he gets ready to go. Then she quietly goes right into her crate to wait for her most favorite person in the world to return. She loves her life of leisure, cuddling, and snuggling close. "She is literally my shadow. If I move, she moves. If I am still, she is still. Right now, she is lying behind me in the chair, snoring soundly!" There you have it! Mission accomplished…sit back and enjoy. Suzy Q and her doting papa are a fine example of a mission success story. Kudos to New Rattitude, the transport angels, and a caring foster mom. Kudos to Art Kluka for giving a very frightened rattie a chance. And kudos to Suzy Q for being courageous, strong-spirited, and adaptable. Let's all sing along now, "It's me for you and you for me alone…Oh, can't you see how happy we would be?"

					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.