In this, the official Hallmark Month of Mothers, you can’t help but think about the importance of maternal figures in our lives…and the same importance applies to dogs and their mothers. You may have noticed – TLC often has a lot of mamas and their cute, adorable, and adoptable offspring listed on our website, and their backstories are almost always extraordinary.

It’s 2019 and Carley is a floppy-eared dog about one year-old, maybe a year-and-a-half tops. Emaciated, with scars on her ears and broken teeth, this anxious girl was found wandering the streets of Darlington, SC. She was brought to the shelter and it was evident that not only had she been surviving on the streets for a significant period of time, she was also pregnant. She is like so many other dogs who find themselves alone, and struggling to survive after being failed by humans.

Anyone who has visited a southern shelter will tell you that it’s no place to give birth. They are generally overcrowded, loud, uncomfortable, (as there often is no air-conditioning, fans, or otherwise-regulated temperature) and lacking in adequate financial resources to provide for all of the animals in their care. A shelter’s resources are already thin, and a litter of puppies can add strain to an already overloaded system. In a jam-packed no-kill shelter, dogs are given a chance to live, but they unfortunately are not all provided with the necessities to thrive.

For Carley, thanks to TLC and a group of students from Marsh Creek 6th Grade Center, fate stepped in, and her luck was about to change. As part of their “Agents of Change” project, these students would help care for Carley and her babies. With lots of advice, guidance and care from TLC, the students were excited to be led throughout the whole whelping process from pre-birth to birth to nursing to weaning to solid food and, finally, adoption.

On March 2, 2019, Carley traveled to TLC’s Transport and Adoption Center. Right away, Carley was renamed Sadie, a name better suited to her calm, gentle personality, and a nod to her new life. Just as TLC does with all pregnant mamas in their care, Sadie and her foster family (first time fosters, if you can believe it!) were provided with everything she needed; food, blankets, towels, a sheet of linoleum flooring, a scale, baby wipes, bleach, and more. When Sadie nervously walked through the front door, you can imagine how overwhelming it all must have felt. She was hungry, tired, and very, VERY pregnant. She had no idea where she was, or what was going to happen, but it was nice to feel safe, warm, dry, and comfortable with a soft place to lay her growing belly. She had an entire plastic baby pool lined with towels, sheets, and soft blankets for lounging. Her foster family noticed she was infested with fleas, and the folks at TLC advised them to give Sadie a bath in the baby pool with Dawn kitchen soap. No one knew how far along Sadie was; but what everyone could tell is how happy she was to be in a home. She would wag her tail whenever someone would talk to her. It was evident how grateful she was for any act of kindness, and how much more relaxed she was, compared to her time at the shelter. She was like a different dog, confident and happy!

Exactly seven days later, at around 5:30 am, Sadie began having her babies. In total, she gave birth to 13 puppies! They all survived, which is pretty remarkable for such a large litter! The foster family had been educated on how to spot the signs of labor, what to do, and what to expect, so they were well-prepared. The runt of the litter, Nemo, the last to be born around 11 AM, was struggling to breathe, But, because he was born in a home, surrounded by people who could give Sadie and her pups their attention with medical guidance from seasoned TLC volunteers, Nemo survived. If Sadie had given birth in the shelter, she likely would have been alone, and without much human assistance or life-saving intervention. Each of the 13, named after Disney characters, was weighed and monitored, their birth projected on YouTube for the 6th graders and their families to witness. A daily link was shared where the students could watch them crawl, see their eyes and ears opening, and hear them go from squealing little furballs to barking, frolicking puppies. Simba, Minnie, Lilo, Daisy, Mickey, Jessie, Tinkerbell, Stitch, Dory, Goofy, Belle, Sully, and yes, even Nemo spent the next ten weeks in a foster home and not a shelter. They received their vaccinations, took a visit to the vet for a checkup, and got the all clear to venture outside, to learn about grass, and toys, and treats. Sadie, as many mothers can attest, did the best that she could with her children, and even realized that it’s okay to accept help from other maternal creatures. She would allow her foster sister Cami to help her care for the “kids”, by letting her lick them clean and steer them away from trouble during playtime. We all know someone who, while not our biological mother, still cares for us in a motherly way that makes us feel nurtured and loved.

As fate would have it, it was on Mother’s Day 2019 when 12 of the 13 puppies had their adoption appointments. Goofy was adopted a few days later. Sadie, adopted by her foster family, was promised that she would never have to scavenge for food nor give birth ever again. She’s now in the “Houseplant Era” of her life, where she drinks water, never misses a meal, and sits on a couch underneath a sun lamp for at least 6 hours a day.

Five years later, the foster family is blessed to still receive updates on many of the 13 fully-grown Disney Pups. Some are siblings to human and fellow fur children, while some are companions who make folks of all ages smile, because they have their mother’s sweet nature. Some have sadly crossed the Rainbow Bridge too prematurely to fathom. In the end, the trajectory of their lives, just like so many before and so many since, was changed for the better because of TLC and its volunteers. to become a foster and make a positive impact on dogs like Sadie and her pups.

Meet Abby, a three year old lab/hound mix that came to TLC from Mississippi, along with her 9 puppies. A sweet and affectionate girl, Abby is looking for a calm and peaceful furever home.

She’s not a fan of cats. Abby gets along with dogs who have a puppy attitude, are playful and easygoing. She needs some time when meeting new friends and does best with smaller dogs and puppies.

Abby’s foster family says she “hasn’t met a toy she doesn’t like” and that she collects them in her crate or bed. She can be a little jealous if she’s not getting all the attention and will position her hind end between your legs until you give her the butt scritches this princess requires.

Crate and house trained, she also knows some basic commands and is continually learning others. She loves car rides, but she’s not a fan of loud trucks or the roar of a motorcycle. Chasing delivery trucks when they drive by her yard is something she enjoys, making sure they know she’s the boss.

This girl needs someone who can offer her a quiet place to help her feel safe, so that she can build her confidence and overcome some anxiety. Did we also mention she is the Treat Catching Champ of 2024!

Will you be the person to help Abby grow into the dog that she deserves to be?

Lynn began her journey with TLC Rescue in March of 2020, just as the pandemic began. Four years later , Lynn has enjoyed volunteering with a group of like-minded people who all have dogs and their best interests at heart. She has found everyone easy to work with. There is always someone to go to if you have any questions or are in need of support. Everyone works well as a team, as if they are a well-oiled machine.

Lynn jumped right into fostering after signing up to volunteer with TLC. When she first applied, she was interested in fostering a mama dog and her puppies. Lynn’s first foster experience was with a cute little puppy, but within a week she was called to take care of a nursing mama and her puppies, which she gladly opened her home to.

Lynn has experienced the entire birthing process firsthand, having fostered a pregnant dog mama from the late stages of pregnancy through to weaning her puppies and their adoption day! She describes many emotions: excitement, nervousness, and anxiety. What Lynn learned is that the momma knows what to do through her own instincts. Once the puppies are born, it is important to monitor that everyone is nursing, that the pups are getting enough nutrition, and that they are not squished by mom. The pups are weighed every day to make sure they are getting enough food and that they are gaining weight. If there are other dogs in the home, the mom will dictate through her body language and vocal cues, if she wants the other dogs around. Typically, however, the puppies cannot be around other dogs until they are vaccinated. So keeping momma and her puppies separated from other household dogs is an important step in this process.

When asked if she had a favorite foster, Lynn spoke about “the one that got away,” Vladimir or more lovingly known as Vlad, was an adorable husky mix. Vlad had anxiety, and was unfortunately returned after being adopted because of his anxious tendencies. When he was adopted out again, Lynn said that if he came back a second time, she would have kept him. Vlad went to a wonderful home, and Lynn has been able to stay in touch through Facebook.

Lynn’s advice for anyone looking to foster is “just do it” and to not get hung up in your own emotions. Fostering is so rewarding; it is worth all the heartache, we may go through once the dogs are adopted. We also have a great team to go to for support and for questions. No question is dumb - we all have to learn. You get so much more out of fostering than you could ever put in. Fostering is caring for the dog, providing love and attention, and making sure their basic needs are met. TLC is there to financially support the dog. You are giving the dog a loving home until their forever family adopts him/her. You are also providing valuable information to the adopters about what the dog is like when living in an actual home.

Lynn has found that fostering has brought meaning to her life that she didn’t have before. Seeing the dogs go to forever homes and being able to make a difference in their lives has been extremely rewarding. Lynn has found that the most challenging aspect of fostering is saying no to our foster director when she asks Lynn to take a foster. This no is always respected as we at TLC know that fostering is a commitment and we are here to support our foster families in every way possible. If that means taking a break from fostering or having to say due to already having a foster in the home is always accepted and respected.

Lynn is open to taking cases that others are not willing to take, such as heartworm+ and pregnant mommas. While these cases can present a challenge, Lynn is more than willing to take on these challenges. Lynn finds fostering mommas with puppies to be the most rewarding. She cannot stand the idea of puppies living in shelters, vulnerable and facing disease while she has the ability to give them a temporary safe and loving living environment. Lynn “loooves” the puppies. She finds it very rewarding to watch them grow, watch their personalities come out, and experience their firsts: the first time they open their eyes, the first visit to the veterinarian, the first time they go outside.

Lynn’s favorite memory from fostering was her first litter of puppies. The puppies came when they were 3-4 days old. “It is a lot of work,” Lynn says, “but it is extremely fun, rewarding, it’s just special.” Lynn calls the puppies, “little antidepressants; they keep me going.”

Lastly, to anyone considering fostering, Lynn’s advice is to cover for a day or two, or a weekend. This will get you started and help you get your feet wet.

10 out of 10 Fosters agree that you will not regret it.

As we wrap up our 9th Annual Raffles for Ruffs fundraiser, the team extends its heartfelt gratitude to all of you who made this fundraiser possible: to those of you who donated the many items we used in our amazing baskets, to those of you who purchased tickets, to those of you who shared our social media posts, to those of you who mentioned Raffles for Ruffs to friends and family, to those who worked on the committee and made the 2024 Raffles for Ruffs fundraiser come to life, and to those who gathered the many donations we used to make all the awesome baskets. Without all of you, we would not be able to do what we do, helping so many dogs in need.

Last year in 2023, we sold 30,936 tickets and our profits were $33,000.

This year, we sold 33,794 tickets and our profits were $41,000. The difference in one year has been monumental for our organization.

We sold 2,858 more tickets in 2024, and our profits were $8,000 greater.

We are looking forward to our next fundraiser, Miles for Mutts. Please mark your calendars for October 20, 2024. We will have raffles, a 50/50 and some awesome vendors at the event, in addition to the run/walk.

We cannot wait to see you and your dog(s) there!

Imagine a world where nonprofits high-five each other, sharing resources like best buddies on a playground. Yep, it's nonprofits helping nonprofits, making the world a brighter, cuddlier place, one heartwarming gesture at a time!

At TLC, we are more than just a dog rescue, we believe in supporting our community partners and hope that by doing so we continue to take steps toward making the world a better and brighter place, one non-profit partnership at a time.

Lets get your pup to listen to you & to “Stay”!

Step 1: Start with a treat in your hand, and show it to your pup to get their attention. Make sure they're focused on you.

Step 2: Give the command 'Stay' in a firm but friendly voice. Use your hand to signal 'stay', like a traffic cop holding up their hand to stop.

Step 3: Take a small step back. If your dog stays in place, even just for a second, praise them like they just won a gold medal! If they move, don't worry, just calmly bring them back to where they were and try again.

Step 4: Gradually increase the distance and duration. Start taking more steps back and holding the 'stay' for longer periods. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Step 5: Keep practicing and rewarding. Consistency is key! Keep reinforcing the behavior with treats and praise until your pup can hold that 'stay' like a champ, even when you're across the room.

Bonus Tip

Practice often and in different places. Once your dog is happily lying down on command in your home, start to practice in more distracting environments, like the garden or your local park.

ROUND UP AT THE REGISTER ALL MONTH LONG!

Kimberton Whole Foods in Kimberton is featuring To Love a Canine Rescue as their 2024 Rounding Up at the Register recipient! Stop by the Kimberton location anytime this month to shop, and when you round up on your final total at the register, it will be donated to TLC Rescue! Shop at a great store & give back while doing so!