Memory of Monroe Scottie Rescue
10th Annual Scottie Lover's/Rescue Reunion
September 13, 2008
We learned a big lesson on Saturday, September 13, 2008. Rain is a pain when you've got an event planned, but it does not dampen the Scottie spirit! Wow!
We had a great turn out and a wonderful fund raiser, celebrating our tenth rescue reunion. We are lucky to have covered and enclosed areas at our picnic site, and although the little paws were damp, the people, for the most part, stayed dry.
All the rescue dogs had on their signature red bandanas, and the Class of 2008 had special bandanas identifying them as such. We had a great number of our Class of 2008 joining us and it was very rewarding and wonderful to see them all with their new families. Somehow or another, these dogs know the day is to honor them.
We had a record number of volunteers this year. Approximately 45 individuals gave up part of their day to help us in various ways by serving food, getting the silent auction tables ready, pricing items, getting attendees registered, selling items to fund rescue, holding dogs, checking out the auction items, sorting items, and doing whatever else needed to get done. We had a grooming demonstration by Joel and Kay Addison, Sue Storms and Peggy Gerold did a demonstration on obedience and obtaining a Canine Good Citizenship Certificate. Carol Johnson did a demonstration on Tellington Touch.
Our bagpiper, Mike Kotch, did a great job leading the Class of 2008 to the stage area for their introductions, and later again for the parade around the fairgrounds. Introducing the Class of 2008 is a highlight. These are dogs who were turned into rescue through no fault of their own, and successfully placed into new, loving homes. Many of the dogs came from puppy mills in the upper Midwest and required a lot of love and care before being adopted. We have seen more dogs come in due to people losing their homes. Regardless of the reason, they are all enjoying their new lives.
Tim Forsman joined us again this year to offer a blessing to the dogs in attendance. He also listed the names of the dogs who have passed away since our last picnic and to a special group of rescue ambassadors consisting of animals who shared their homes and lives with Memory of Monroe foster dogs. It seems as though the Rainbow Bridge had a bumper crop of new members this year. The balloon release was for:
Heidi – owned and loved by Bob and Sharon Dodds – now joins
her previous owner, Gary Penke
Daisy and Baxter – owned and loved by Rich Brown and Greta
Berg
Maggie – owned and loved by Steve, Jody, Anna and Noah
Estabrooks
Fergi – owned and loved by Denice and Charlie Allen
Jenna – owned and loved by Marion Johnson
Mac – owned and loved by Bob Popelka and Paula Steuttgen
Lacey – owned and loved by Meg McMillan
Sammy – owned and loved by Sarah and David Volk
Morty – owned and loved by Carol Jones
Angel – owned and loved by Carol Johnson
Sammi – owned and loved by Judy and Bill Bickerstaff
Maggie – owned and loved by Sue and Dave Neubarth
Albert Hendrickson
Rosie Fiona and Frasier Seeger and the cat, Sylvester
Booker McDuff Storms
Kirbie Gordy-Steyer
The Spirit of Tessa Award went to two special girls, Goldie and Tessa Lesmeister. Goldie and Tessa came into foster care from a puppy mill in April, 2008. They were outside in a pen and had a bowl of frozen water with no protection from the elements. Their fur was full of burrs, feces, mats and other material. It took longer to clean them up and trim them than it did to housebreak them. They housetrained in one day. Their personalities were to die for. They were both sweet as can be, but needed extensive vetting. Both of them had extensive dental work done as well as spaying and all their bloodwork and vaccinations. Tessa's teeth were extremely bad and it was suggested all four canine teeth be removed. She would need two separate surgeries for that. We decided to give her a break and wait a bit. At 9 and 10 years old, they had been bred their entire lives. Every bit of love they got made them blossom more. Finally, a new home was found and the family wanted them both!
Soon after they were adopted, Tessa developed a fast-growing growth on her shoulder. The growth got bigger very fast and was deemed malignant. The vet pronounced her condition as "grave" and said that despite the removal, they almost always return and with a vengeance. He didn't expect Tessa to make it very long. Sadly, her family accepted the news, but said they were committed to making her life comfortable. To date, she has surpassed our expectations. She loves going on walks with her new mom and her best forever friend, Goldie. We are so appreciative to Dottie and Richard Lesmeister for taking a chance on two puppy mill dogs, and seniors at that. They said they wouldn't have it any other way!
Our June Bug Spirit Award is sponsored by June Bug's owners, Bob Popelka and Paula Steuttgen. June Bug is a puppy mill girl who overcame many obstacles to become the Queen Bee of the household. June Bug arrived to Paula and Bob as a traumatized young dog with little to no socialization. She was timid, fearful, and didn't know how to play or enjoy a family. June Bug rules the roost in her home! Bob and Paula generously donate $500 to Memory of Monroe Scottie Rescue to sponsor the June Bug Award. Eligible dogs are invited to apply for the award. They must explain how their dog overcame the demons associated with their former life. This year, two lucky dogs won the award.
The first recipient is McMurphy Fett. McMurphy was rescued with three other Scotties from a puppy mill in South Dakota. McMurphy was very skittish and didn't trust anyone. With a lot of love and hard work, his owners, Susie and Ron Fett, watched as he gradually turned the corner. McMurphy preferred the safety of what he knew, didn't want to play, and didn't trust anyone. Over time, he has learned to play, and to love and trust his humans. The transformation has been significant. Not long after the Fett's adopted McMurphy, he escaped and ran away from home. Their hearts were broken as they didn't think they would ever be able to find him and lure him home. Luckily for everyone, McMurphy reached out and trusted when he saw a family member he recognized. McMurphy knows a good thing when he sees it!
The second recipient is a sweet little Westie girl named Heidi. Heidi came from a puppy mill in northern Iowa and is the full sister to last year's recipient, Holly. Heidi spent her time in foster care learning what it's like to live in a home. She was still quite shy and unsure of people when her family adopted her, but with a lot of love and affection, she was reassured constantly and started enjoying her new life. Heidi has not had an easy go of it, especially in the last couple of years. She has undergone two separate surgeries on her legs for ACL. Her most recent surgery was a week before our picnic and she attended in a little wagon with her sidekick, Stanley the Scottie. Heidi was diagnosed earlier in the year with a cancerous tumor in her nasal cavity. While her situation was very serious, her family knew they had to try whatever they could to keep her with them. Heidi underwent radiation at the University of Minnesota. She is doing well - free of the tumor and loving life. Just as it should be!
Sharon and Bob Dodds generously donate the Gary Penke Meal Deal award. This is a random drawing and given in honor of Gary Penke, who loved to eat and loved to feed his dogs, Aunt Stella and Heidi. The award is a $50 certificate to Petco and another $50 certificate to Cub Foods. Mary Rock was this year's winner! Congrats Mary!
The raffle items were all won by people at the picnic:
Scottie Mailbox - Connie Ball - Adoptive mom to Margaret and Bailey
Scottie Pillows - Judi Miller and John Biesanz - Adoptive parents to Annie and Misha
Scottie Quilt - Deb Waldhauer and Mark Kawaguchi
The silent auction was chock full of items and we cannot thank all the donators enough. We had more items this year than in the past and ran out of room for some of the late additions. We have some silent auction tricks up our sleeves for next year, so be ready to see more great items.
Crossroads Animal Shelter in Buffalo, MN set up a booth and sold some marvelous items. Their crate pads are awesome and are very cute! They've got a lot of these in Scottie patterns, and the foster dogs here give them a four-paws up award. The rescue dogs seem to find one or two pads they like the most -- and, they wash up great! Thanks to John and Steph Wisecarver, Carla Dixon and Susan Brouse for joining us.
And lastly, thank you to all who attended this gathering. We had a very successful event, despite the rain and the Scotties and I appreciate all that was done for us. We had many donations this year, more so than in recent years and it is humbling. We cannot run the organization or take care of these dogs without your support. It is greatly appreciated.
We will see you on Saturday, September 19, 2009 for the 11th Annual Memory of Monroe Scottie Rescue Picnic!