The Life of Strelka-Lelka

Strelka and I met up with Melissa and Thai on Thursday night.  We went to the East Atlanta Farmer's Market.  Strelka showed off her pirate outfit, though she decided the hat was not neccessary for the ensemble.  The lovely lady at Big Daddy Biscuits gave her a cookie and took her photo to post on Facebook later.  We ended up buying some delicious chedder/bacon biscuits.

 

Then we went back to Flat Iron for Soysage reubens and a beer.  Strelka crunched on her treats and watched all the new people walking buy.  She even met an adorable little baby that is also available for adoption.  I believe the puppy was part of the group called Southern Hope.  Let's hope baby and Strelka both get a home soon!

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is the first annual Bully March in Atlanta!  I am super excited and so is Strelka.  We will attend the march together and then I will be at the Bully Rally without her later.  Hope to see you there!  And, as always, this little pirate is available for adoption and ready to go home with you!

 

 

 

Two Flyers to Choose from!

Virginia Holcombe was kind enough to make this flyer, and I love it!  Between this one and the one that Christy Thompkins-Freeland made, I know we will get this girl adopted soon.  Please e-mail me for the PDF or hard copies so that you can help me by hanging them up around your community.

Anyone Good at Making Flyers?

This is the current, boring flyer.  Is there someone out there that could make me one that is more attention-grabbing?  I would love the help. 

Exploring East Atlanta

Strelka's puppy side is finally coming out.  She loves playing with toys and getting attention.  She is not as docile as she once was, but she is a lot more eager to explore new places and meet people.  She is so incredibly loving and sweet.  I cannot resist those pleading eyes, and that happy tongue that hangs out of the side of her mouth when she is pleased. 

Today, we took a trip to the Park Pet Supply in East Atlanta.  The two women working there were really nice.  They were sweet with Strelka, and she loved them.  One of them said she had rescued and adopted out a girl that looked a lot like Strelka but larger.  She assured me that I would find this baby a home, and it felt so good to have the extra vote of confidence.  They handed her a bully stick that she could not resist.  In the end, we purchased the stick, a brand new Halloween toy, and some--try not to get too excited--poop bags!  We even earned some free treats as frequent shoppers.  The pet store has been kind enough to let us keep a flyer hanging up there.

Then we walked around East Atlanta, stopping at the cd store to listen to some Whitney Houston, before heading over to Joe's for an iced coffee.  They also let me hang her flyer up here.  We are lounging around on the patio together now, meeting new people from time to time.  She is loving her bully stick and is content to be in her favorite place--at my side.  It is amazing how bonded she becomes to people.  I have said it before, but I will say it again, someone is going to be so lucky to get this girl.  She will be smitten with them for life.  This is the kind of pup that thinks her owner can do not wrong and wants nothing more than to please them.  I am looking for someone who will feel the same way about her.

I couldn't get any pictures of Strelka in EAV because my camera, conveniently, ran out of batteries.  This is a picture of Strelka hanging out with one of her biggest fans and past foster caregivers, Jasmin Butler.

Starting Off on the Right Paw--Basic Obedience Training

We make sure to practice our basic obedience every day so that when Strelka goes into her new home she will have a good headstart on her training.  We are so hoping that someone takes a liking to her soon.  She is going to be the perfect pet for some lucky person.  They just don't know it yet.

Strelka knows exactly where to go for dinner and how to sit pretty while waiting on it.  Did I mention that she is perfect?

 

Strelka is crate trained.  Here we are, out in the rain, for a bathroom break.  Even the dogs I've had for years won't do that!

 

We do not believe in all work and no relaxation though. Often, Strelka and I just cuddle, read books together, and wait for  ADOPTION DAY.

10 Reasons to Adopt/Love Strelka

1.  She rides great in a car.  She lays in the backseat, patiently, until you arrive at your intended destination.

2.  She is loyal and attentive.  Once she bonds with you, which does not take long at all, she wants to sit or lay right beside you while you type, talk to a friend, or read a book.  She never butts in--unless you ask her to!

3.  She is not loud.  She will bark if she needs to.  She will let you know a stranger is walking up to your porch, but overall she is a very quiet girl that does not whimper or throw temper tantrums.

4.  She has long legs and a goofy gait.  She is so much fun to watch, as she clumsily saunters down the street on a walk.

5.  She has a great appetite and is very food motivated.  This makes training easier!

6.  In that same vein, she is very intelligent and responds quickly to learning new things.

7.  She is easy to bathe.  I am not saying she loves it, but she stands still and endures it with grace.  You won't need to visit the chiropractor every time she gets a little muddy at the park.  You know what I'm sayin'?

8.  She smiles!  Not all dogs do this.  She makes a funny face, with her lips pulled back, as she tilts her head side to side and wags her body.  She only does this when she gets very excited.

9.  She is gorgeous.  She is lean and her coat is shiney.  She has long legs, a trim waistline, and love-me-now eyes, which are hard to resist.

10.  She loves playing with other animals.  I have seen her bound around with the best of them and then leave tired, ready for a long nap.

There are so many good reasons that Strelka should have a loving, permanent home.  There are so many good reasons she should never have to see the inside of a Shelter.  This girl is going to make someone very happy.  She is so committed to me after such a short time.  I cannot imagine how bonded she will become with the person that actually adopts her.

                         *Please note that Strelka is no longer in foster care but is back with me*

One Month

It has been a little over a month since I found Strelka and Belka in my driveway.  Unfortunately, Strelka still does not have a loving family.  She is still waiting on the person who will take her in, give her security, toss her a toy from time to time.  She has so much to offer.  Lifetime loyalty and friendship being at the top of the list.

Please consider helping me by hanging up a new flyer in independent pet stores, coffee shops, bars, dog parks, anywhere you can think of.  Of course, ask permission.  We really need to get this girl settled and the best way to do that is to spread her name far and wide.  Please help!  It will take a lot of people to save this dogs life, but I know we can do it together.

Please e-mail me at mckelvey.laura731@gmail, and I will e-mail you the PDF or I can print it up and give it/send it to you.

A Visit With Strelka

I went to Strelka's foster home for a visit yesterday.  She was so happy.  She would even "smile" in the beginning, when she was really excited.  We took her out to play with three other dogs.  She had a blast romping around and wrestling with dogs much larger than herself.  She is still so small!

Strelka was soon exhausted so her and Brady went back home to watch movies and receive lots of petting and attention.  She was completely chill and relaxed, just happy to be livin' her life.  She is really a very easygoing pup and someone is going to be very lucky to bring this girl into their family.

mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com
(770)374-1338

Starving and Neglected Puppy at OneTrueMedia.com

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Strelka is Making New Friends Every Day

Strelka is approaching a new horse at the farm with curiosity.  She has met all types of animals now!  The world is so exciting.  She would love to have a family to share it all with.

Strelka is lucky to have two wonderful women helping to raise her up right.  Here she is learning how to get a human to give her a treat with her mentor and fellow pit bull, Brady.

Strelka sits and the treat comes!

Strelka has learned a lot in a few short weeks, and she has met a lot of new friends.  The only thing she is missing now is a loving and permanent family.  Do you have some room in your home for this sweet girl?  Just a few weeks ago, she could barely move from exhaustion and starvation and now she is healthy, happy, and in love with life!  It makes me feel inspired!

Laura McKelvey
mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com
(770)374-1338

Spay Day!

 

Strelka recovered quickly from her spay.  She was pretty pitiful when I put her in foster mom's car after being spayed at PAWS Atlanta, but now she is back to her adorable and fun-loving self.  She also got some booster shots and a microchip while she was knocked out!  This puppy is officially ready for ADOPTION.

Belka's Big Day and Strelka's Trip to the Horse Farm

Strelka had a pretty exciting day visiting the horse farm.  She played with a beautiful rescued pit bull named Nala and had a blast.  Hopefully, I will have a video coming soon!

Meet Nala.  She was walking Brady the other day and today she played with Strelka!

Belka went straight to the vet after work to get another look over before heading home with a wonderful woman named Megan and her boyfriend, Hunter. Dr Lindsay Henschel at Dearborn Animal Hospital was incredible with her and thought she was quite a catch.  We couldn't agree more.  She went home on a trial basis, but she is already doing great.  Megan got her all sorts of fancy things.  High quality food, toys, treats, a crate, the works.  She texted not that long ago to let me know that Hunter and Belka were crawling around the floor together for cute puppy time.  She says she is confident it is going to work out.  Belka's new name might be Runi!  Don't worry, I will make sure to pass on the updates !

At the Vet's office

Sniffing the flowers outside

Megan and Runi

Amazing Grace

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Incredible Friends

The progress of the puppies was astounding, but I was feeling very overwhelmed with 5 dogs, 2 gerbils, and 1 fish.  Working at the shelter, volunteering, dogsitting, crating and rotating.  It was just too much.  A coworker and friend, along with her wonderful roommate (also a friend), agreed to foster Strelka.  What a relief.  I had one of my dearest friends come with me to the horse farm to do introductions.  Strelka was scared and shy at first, but it did not take her long to settle in with an adult pit bull and several cats.

I get frequent reports from her now, and they say she is doing great.  She is an incredible dog.  She is doing great with her crate training and la la loves being with the other animals.  She really loves her people too.  She isn't jumpy, nippy, or very loud like some under socialized puppies.  She can only be in this foster home for a short time though, and she is desperately in need of a home.  We are hoping that someone will see one of her online ads, her fliers spread all across the city and beyond, this blog, or hear about her from another friend.  

Belka just learned how to play with toys yesterday.  She was so excited she began hoarding them in a corner.  Collecting them, dragging them across the room, and leaving them in a pile.  She was clearly just happy to be alive and, for once, not afraid of what was around the corner.  She goes into a one week trial adoption on Thursday, and I am hoping for the best!  She deserves it!

Another volunteer stepped forward with $100 for their care and just in time!  They are going through one bag of dog food a week, need more vitamins, cream for their ears, and need another round of vaccinations.

Even if you cannot adopt, you can tell everyone you know about the wonder dogs, Strelka and Belka, and we can make the wrongs done unto them right.  We can show them how wonderful, kind-hearted, compassionate, and loyal humans can really be.

ONE WEEK

After a week of getting regular meals and lots of attention the puppies looked ten times better.  They were filling out, and it was amazing!  Seven days.  A lot had happened.  A lovely woman came by to meet them and went home to talk to her boyfriend about possibly adopting.  They both learned to sit in one day. It took about five days for them to take a step with a leash around their necks.  They had probably never seen or felt one before.  They didn't like baths, but they sat still for them and made it easy on me.   And, after several days of blowout diarrhea caused by killing off their whip worms, they began to respond to crate training.  The taller one (Strelka) was the bravest and the quickest to bond with people, but even the little one (Belka) was learning that people were not so bad and grew quite bonded to me.  They started following me around the backyard like ducklings.  I bought them nice new collars and threw away the ratty red ones they had come to me in.

DAY TWO

The search was on.  I contacted everyone and anyone I could think of for advice.  I posted and people reposted.  A wonderful volunteer and friend gave me $100, knowing that the pups might still end up at animal control, but allowing me to give it my best shot.

 I bought Orijin, high quality puppy food, and nutrical to help with their malnourishment.  They tested negative for giardia and parvo.  They were given a full set of shots, dewormed, and put on heartworm and flea preventative.  Days later they would be skin scraped and given a DTM.  Their spays were being scheduled with a wonderful local group who had offered to do them for free.

DAY ONE

I came home from work and found a miserable, emaciated black puppy in my driveway.  My heart broke for her, and I agonized about what to do.  I have dogs that do not play well with others and did not know if I had anything to offer her.  I went inside to grab a bowl of dog food.  First things first.  I came back out, shook the bowl, set it down, and lo and behold, out of the bushes comes another black and white face.  I saw every bone in their bodies as they scarfed down the food.  I knew that I had to give them small meals no matter how hungry they were.  If they ate too much, in the condition they were in, they could die.  I broke down crying, sitting in my own driveway, cursing the people who had left them like this, and unsure of what I could possibly do for them. 

After they were done eating, I sat with them and lured them to me with treats.  I scooped them up and took them to the vet.  Upon returning home, I put them in the bathroom while I made up a Great Dane sized crate.  I put linens, fresh water, and toys in there and urged them inside.  They slept most of the day and night.  They needed to gather their strength for whatever was ahead of them.

Animal Control was closed and it is always overrun with pit bulls and pit bull mixes anyway.  These girls did not stand a chance.  I figured I could give it until Tuesday, three days, knowing full well that I probably wouldn't find anything for them in the meantime.  I posted on Facebook, Rescueme.org, and gathered helpful information from vets and pit bull rescues.  They were posted on petfinder.com.  I contacted local groups about joining up with them at their offsite adoption events.

That night I had nightmares about my other dogs and woke up to a nasty mess at 5:30 in the morning.  I cleaned up the babies before heading off to work to clean up more babies.  I was frantic.