Celebrate Seymour

Roberta Littky recently shared the story with us of how her dog, Seymour, joined her family. Here is how it all happened, in her own words:

After raising three small dogs for many years, our oldest, Princess died in June of last year.  Her passing left a gaping hole in our hearts.  After six months, we decided it was time to add another dog to our family.

For the first time, we decided to rescue an older dog.  We went to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and met our adoption counselor, who listened intently to our needs. She understood that we were not looking for a replacement, but a wonderful new addition to our family.

She patiently showed us through the "small dog" room and asked us to look at each dog as we walked through and see if we could relate to not just their looks but their personalities.

Obviously, we could not adopt all of the dogs, but we did see a very calm and adorable one.  He appeared to be without anxiety; he did not bark or cry.  He just lay at my feet waiting for a tummy rub.

My husband and I were in love, but we needed to bring in Norman and Sophie, our two Shih Tzus to see if they would give Seymour a “thumbs up,”

I can't say they loved him immediately, they just really didn't mind him.  We took him home that day.  As soon as he was inside our home, he ran up the stairs and jumped in our bed.  I think he realized he was home.

We have trained Seymour to be a certified therapy dog and he volunteers at Quantum House every Tuesday, entertaining the children and their parents.  He can now play our baby grand piano and has learned other tricks.  Seymour has brought so much joy to our family!

We are eternally grateful to have a facility like Peggy Adams. Seymour was only there a few days, but he was very well taken care of during that time and was carefully checked for any health problems or social issues.

We always thought that rescuing a dog or cat was a one sided transaction. We are indeed fortunate in our community to have a "home" like Peggy Adams.

Do you have an adoption story you'd like to share? Send them to marketing@peggyadams.org

Celebrate Max's Journey

Sometimes one animal's journey to a new home can produce ripples of caring. We'd like to share one such story with you.

Not long ago, Max was found wandering the streets of Delray Beach. A good samaratin found the scared and dirty stray. It was obvious that the 10 year old had once been in a home and had received some training. But there was no lost and found report and no identification on the animal.

But Max needed a family, so the good samartain brought him to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. While he was with us, Max received a safe, dry place to sleep, medical treatment, a neuter surgery, and love from our Kennel staff.

Soon Max received a clean bill of health and was able to enter our pool of adoptable animals.

About a month later, this sweet dog was adopted by a wonderful family. Because Max is over 5 years old and his new family is over 55, the adoption qualified for our Senior to Senior program, which means that the adoption is free. Without the support of our many friends, we would not be able to offer this program.

Just today, Max was back at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League for a routine visit. We're proud to report that he has settled very well in his new home and even attended his first horse show the other day.

As we mentioned, Max's journey created ripples. Before arriving at our Shelter, the kind person who found Max, had brought the dog to meet some of his friends at a Boca Raton office. They were so touched by Max that they bought a Guardian Angel sponsorship in his honor. This will continue to help other lost dogs for the next year.

This year, we expect to oversee 3,500 adoptions, Each animal, like Max, has a special story and each deserves a happy ending.

Your Dog Will Love Saturdays

Did you know that Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League offers free training classes every Saturday morning? It's a great chance to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. 

Here are just a few of the things you'll be able to share with your dog:

• The commands for sit, lay down, stay, and come
• How to walk your dog in a controlled manner
• How to prevent unwanted behavior, like jumping
• Better communication and understanding

The classes are provided by staff and volunteers from Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. As a nonprofit, we will always welcome donations any collected money will support our animals.

The sessions are held outside in our training fields, which are on the eastern edge of our property.

To maximize your experience, keep these things in mind:

• Arrive by 8:30am to register - classes start promptly at 9AM
• Do not feed your dog in the morning—we will be doing reward training.
• If your dog is very energetic, please exercise your dog prior to joining us.
• Wear closed-toe, flat shoes. No flip-flops or heels. Sneakers are preferred.
• Bring a 4’ or 6’ leash—no retractable leashes permitted.
• Please bring soft, chewy treats for your dog. No Milkbone or cookie-type treats.
• This class is open to anyone in need of help. It doesn't matter which shelter you adopted your dog from!

Our goal is to teach you positive reinforcement and proactive training methods proven to produce quick, happy responses & long lasting results. Puppies get a chance to interact with other pups in a safe & professionally controlled setting.

Make Saturdays a special day for you and your animal.

In case you missed it, here's a look back at Day One of our Mega Match adoption event. The two days saw 163 animals find new homes!

 

The Miami Hoarding Dogs - Ready to Go Home

It was easy for us to fall in love with the 11 dogs we recently rescued from a Miami hoarder. Now they are ready to go to new homes. 

Like any animal who comes to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, they were given a full medical checkup, any treatment needed, preliminary vaccinations (including rabies), a microchip (in case the animal is ever lost), and a heartworm test. The dogs also had their spay/neuter surgeries and received some extra TLC in our grooming room. 

Now these wonderful dogs will be headlining this week's Mega Match-A-Thon. What's that you ask? Mega Match is a weekend adoption event that's funded by a grant from the ASPCA. It's happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.

Our goal is simple: we want to find good families for 200 dogs and cats. Helping us with this adoption event will be several other rescue groups from across our area. They'll all be at our campus this weekend. Many will have dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens that have just entered the pool of adoptable animals. So if you've ever thought about adding an animal to your family, this is the perfect event for you.

We want to make this an enjoyable time and you'll also be able to enjoy a pet costume contest, dog games and activities, an animal communicator, a pet portrait station, gourmet food trucks, a DJ , a raffle, vendors, and much more!

 

Adoption fees will be discounted for the event and all adopters will receive a goody bag with a collar, ID tag and other fun stuff!  For more information on this event, click here. 

Just a few weeks ago, we saw the "Miami 11" arrive at our shelter. Now we hope to see them lead a proud pack of animals into new homes. 

Help Us Spread the Word: Mega Match-A-Thon

Max Can't Wait to Meet You

If you or someone you know has ever thought of adopting your first or another animal, then we have the perfect event for you. Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is proud to be a part of the 2013 Mega Match-A-Thon.  

The event is part of a nationwide effort that’s coordinated by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the ASPCA, we are planning a huge, weekend adoption celebration that has a goal of finding new homes for 200 animals. Keep in mind that we are aiming for 200 quality adoptions. The League and our partner shelters will follow our normal adoption protocols.

To help us reach our goal, we’ve invited many rescue groups from across our area to our campus. So if you're looking to adopt a dog or a cat, you will have an amazing number and variety to meet in one place.

You’ll also be able to visit with pet service vendors and enjoy other fun activities. To find out more, click here.

This special event will take place on Saturday and Sunday (Oct 19 & 20) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To help us make this a historic day for our community, we need your help:

1. Help us spread the word. We know there are many people who are thinking about adopting an animal in our community. This is a perfect chance to find a new best friend. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide support.

We would hate for someone to miss out simply because they weren't aware of the event. 

2. We need volunteers. As you can imagine, for an event this big, we need help in a variety of areas. While we'd love to spend the day with you, it's more than okay to come for a shift. Specific needs will be defined on Monday but for now we're asking if you can let us know if you are interested in being part of this event.

To start this process, please contact Juliette at j.rohr@peggyadams.org or call her at 561-472-8855. 

Here are some of the dogs who will be up for adoption from our shelter. This clip is of their arrival:

 

We Have Much to Celebrate

While Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has been a part of our community since 1925, our clinic was created in 1973. As we preparer for its 40th birthday, we thought it would be fun to look back at this facility as well as our organization.

We estimate that during the past 40 years, 200,000 spay/neuter surgeries have been performed in our clinic. The clinic has also given people an affordable source of vaccinations for our animals.

To find out more about our clinic, click here.

Calendar Alert - Our Blessing Of the Animals is Coming Soon

It's the phrase that we hate to hear: "I forgot about the Blessing of the Animals."

We know this is one of our most anticipated events of the year, so we want to remind you that it will be taking place on our campus, by the Berman Memorial Garden, on Saturday, October 5th. The brief service will begin at 10 a.m.

By popular demand, the uplifting event will once again be led by renowned spiritual leaders, Father Frank and Rabbi Frank. 

You and your pets will also enjoy music during the service. A Cantor and a soloist will bring a new dimension to this special day.

After the service, we'll continue our tradition of giving you and your animal some one-on-one time with Father Frank and Rabbi Frank. You'll leave with a special certificate and a link to a professional photo from your visit with the "Franks"

The Blessing of the Animals is free to attend. We do accept donations and we think the $5 sounds like a good amount. As always, all donations will help the animals at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

We know that it can be warm in early October, so we will have some drinks and light refreshments available.


But wait, there's more! Our friends with Scenthound Dogwash and Care will be on our property, that same day, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. It's a great chance to give even more TLC to your animal.

Update: Our 11 Rescued Dogs

Arriving at the League

We've received lots of questions from you about the 11 dogs we received last week from a hoarding situation. So we thought it would be good to give an update.

But first, we have to thank all of our donors who make it possible for us to care for these and other dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens who are in need of a second chance. Every day, your support makes you a hero.


All of the 11 rescued dogs have been given a full medical checkup. We're happy to see that none of them have any serious medical issues.

Shampoo Time!

We've also given them a little TLC in our grooming room. Wouldn't you agree that there's nothing like a good shampoo and a nail trim to make you feel a little better?


Now, the animals will continue through our adoption prep process like any other dog or cat who come to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. 

They will include preliminary vaccinations (including rabies), a microchip (in case the animal is ever lost), and a heartworm test. The dogs will also need to have their spay/neuter surgeries.
 
When all of these things are done, they'll enter our pool of adoptable animals.

Nothing better than a good bath!

If all goes well, they should be ready for their new forever homes in less than a month.

We'd love it if they could be part of our Mega Match-a-Thon. This is a weekend adoption event (Oct 19-20) where our shelter and several others hope to find homes for 200 dogs and cats. It will take place on our property and will be funded by a grant from the ASPCA.

While our goal is high, all of the participating shelters will make sure that every animal is placed into a good, loving home.  And who knows, we may see some of the dogs at this year's Walk for the Animals.

Here's a video clip of when the animals first arrived at the League.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Come to Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Here are five reasons why you need to join us on Sunday, September 15 for our Responsible Dog Ownership Day:

1. A costumed parade of some of our favorite adoptable dogs. Have you ever seen a dog dressed up like a dinosaur or a hot dog?
2. Can you say, "Pampering?" We've got it with dental brushing and massage demonstrations.
3. You know your dog is an expert in the field but on Sunday, we can see it as your animal takes on our agility contests and games.
4. Free loot! Toys, treats, and other goodies available from area vendors.
5. Action packed, memorable demonstrations of agility, obedience, and more.

Please join us on Sunday, September 15 from 9 a.m. - Noon for this massively memorable day.

In other news, this week, we received a special delivery of eleven dogs who were rescued from a hoarding situation. Here is their arrival at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

We've also given our website a major facelift. Check it out at hspb.org

The Publicity Hound: We Celebrate Your Animals

A full color glossy magazine that we've produced for 40 years gives you the chance to show off your dogs and cats as well as help those animals in need of a second chance.

It's call the Publicity Hound and it's become part of a proud tradition at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

Here's how it works:

1. You pick your favorite picture of your animals and/or yourself.
2. You choose the size and whether the image is in color or black and white.  
3. You purchase an ad in the publication. 
4. You enjoy seeing your picture featured when the publication comes out in early December (It's unveiled at our Christmas Ball).

If you run a business or know someone who runs a business that caters to animals, then it's a no-brainer to take out an ad in the the Publicity Hound as it is targeted marketing at its finest.

And the gift of an ad would make for the perfect gift for a loved one. 

Keep in mind that at a time when magazines are becoming an endangered species, this is a publication that will stay on a coffee table all year long and become proudly "dogeared."

All proceeds from the Publicity Hound help our animals.

Why not click here to find out more information?

And by popular request, here's a replay of our video about the scent training work we're doing with our animals. 

Shaggy Shoppe Special Delivery

The boxes kept arriving but no one seemed mind all of the unpacking. The other day, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League received a big shipment of new merchandise for The Shaggy Shoppe, our boutique and pet supply center.

Inside the boxes are lots of fun items for your Halloween and Christmas celebrations. Every year we introduce some new items to the mix of popular favorites.

But wait, you say, "It's 90 degrees and super humid outside. How can we think of fall holidays right now?"

We're all about preparation but if you feel like you must shop for summer, while it is summer, then you'll love our selection of nautical and Hawaiian themed dog outfits.

And you can make sure your cat doesn't feel left out by picking up a new toy from our wide selection.

There's nothing scary about our Halloween chew toys. And what dog wouldn't want to sink his teeth into a squeaking "Chick Magnet" toy.

We know this is a lot of information to take in but we want to make sure that you understand that all proceeds from the Shaggy Shoppe help our adoptable animals.

We are very excited about our new collection of Pet Odor Eliminators. These sprays and candles come in a variety of scents. Here's the super cool part: These enzyme formulated products attack and remove pet and household odors.  And did you know that they are Made in the USA? Want to find out more? Go to this website.

We also carry all the essentials to start off right with your newly adopted pet. Everything from collars, leashes and ID tags to litter boxes, cat beds, and a variety of cat toys. We carry name brands such as Kong, Premier, Zymox, Science Diet, and our hottest NEW product, the Thundershirt for very anxious dogs. We also have a variety of Barkworth gourmet dog cookies, training treats, pill pockets and cat treats. 

Our Shaggy Shoppe is constantly evolving to meet your needs. It's located next to our lobby in the Grace Pavilion and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Every once in a while, visitors to our lobby are awarded a coupon to the Shaggy Shoppe.

If you're still in the shopping mood, you might want to visit our Thrift Store in West Palm Beach.