Dogs of the 9th Ward

Holla at us!

2011-01-29T17:42:00.001-08:00

Since Dogs of the 9th Ward was founded on My 19, 2009, one volunteer has been single-handedly handling all our communications. However, as the rescue has grown in both capacity and popularity, it has become a more than 1-man job. If you have tried to get in touch with us lately and haven't gotten a response, we do apologize -- we've just been swamped.

Here is our new and improved contact information:

For adoptions and fostering interest, contact: D9adoptions@gmail.com
For volunteering opportunities, contact: D9volunteers@gmail.com
For media/outreach inquiries, contact: D9community@gmail.com

We prefer to communicate via email, due to the busy schedules of our volunteers. However, you can also call us on new dedicated rescue number: 504.222.3686.

We do our best to return all emails and phone calls in a timely fashion. Please remember that we are a small, all-volunteer organization and we all work and/or go to school full-time. Please know that we value every single email or call and we will get back to you ASAP!

Thanks for your support, yall, and hope to hear from you soon.

New Year, New Home? Don't forget your dog.

2011-01-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

I rented 3 different apartments with this 160lbs Saint Bernard. Anything is possible.

Renting with any animals is somewhat more difficult than renting with no animals. Renting with dogs tends to be more difficult than renting with cats. Renting with multiple dogs is harder than with one dog. Renting with big dogs is harder than renting with small dogs. Renting with pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans is probably harder than any of the above.

However, all are possible and the challenge is not insurmountable as long as you are determined and well-equipped for dealing with worried landlords.

I rented with three 100lbs + dogs. It's possible.

Every year, thousands of animals are surrendered to shelters, given away, or even abandoned on the street because their owners were moving and "couldn't" find a place that would allow animals. Remember that dogs are living creatures who rely on their human caretakers entirely. Don't fail your pets by abandoning them rather than putting in the time and effort to find a pet-friendly apartment or house.

In addition to good, old-fashioned hard work and determination, here are some tips for ensuring your new home will be as welcoming for your dog as it is for you:

Plan ahead. It may well take you a bit longer than your dogless friends to find a new place to live. You might have to look longer, explore different neighborhoods, and make some extra phone calls. If possible, give yourself a couple months to complete the process.

Put your best foot forward. What is your most landlord-friendly characteristic, as a person? Probably not the fact that you own a dog. It might be that you are a professional, that you've had the same job for 5 years, that you're a graduate or professional student, or that you are a stable couple in a long term relationship -- whatever it is, mention that to your potential landlord first.... before mentioning your dog at all. Try to get him/her hooked on your great potential as a responsible renter before you break the bad news about the d-o-g.

Make your best first impression. Do you come across really well in person? Ask for a one-on-one meeting. (Again, this is before you talk about the dog issue.) Are you great on the phone? Call. Do you write really well? Try an email. Now, I love individuality and I want everyone to be a free spirit. However, for the purposes of your initial meeting, try to dress decently. It's amazing how much landlords care. They're making snap judgments on the fly -- it's not fair, but it's in your best interest to make sure they don't have anything to hold against you.
Put your (dog's) best paw forward. There will, of course, come a time when you have to mention your dog. A lot of potential renters, fearful of being rejected on the basis of their doggyness, make a horrible error. They say something along the lines of, "I have one enormous dog," or, "I have a big male pit bull." I can't tell you how many times I've heard this. Is your dog sweet, well-behaved, and friendly? Say so! "I have a very friendly dog. He loves everyone." Or, "I have two very well-behaved dogs." That's the way to broach the subject of canine companions. If the landlord goes on to ask if the dogs are big, or if they're pit bulls, you might have to fess up, but at least start it off right.

Keep going with the positives. If the landlord seems skeptical of your best friend -- or if he or she outright rejects you on that basis -- remember that negotiations aren't over. Instead of giving up or becoming defensive, just start explaining why your dogs -- and you -- would be great tenants. Remember that most landlords aren't just dog-haters. Most are worried about three things: liability for injuries on the property, property damage, and keeping good relations with the neighbors.

Liability for injuries:

play up your dogs' friendliness. Is your dog good with adults, kids, other dogs, cats? Say so.
Do you always keep your dog leashed in public? Say so. (And I hope you do!)
Suggest a meeting with your dog. Your potential landlord can see first hand how friendly your buddy is.
Have you had your dog a long time? Tell the landlord. It will give credence to your claims that the dog is friendly. (As opposed to, Oh, I just rescued him a month ago, but he's never been mean yet!)
Is your dog spayed/neutered? Say so.
Offer references and other people to vouch for your dog's friendliness. Good references for this include veternarians, trainers/behaviorists, and petsitters/boarding facility staff.

Property damage:

First, references. If you have a good relationship with a previous landlord, ask them to vouch for your non-destructive pup.
Is your dog old? Point out that your dog is well past the "puppy" stage and not destructive.
Do you crate your dog when you're not around? Say so. Crated dogs can't chew woodwork, pee on the floor, or eat walls.
Do you have a short haired dog? If your landlord is worried about carpets, point out your non-shedding (or at least, minimally shedding) friend.

The neighbors:

Do you have a great relationship with your current or past neighbors? Ask them to be references. They can say how wonderful your canine buddy is.
Is your dog quiet? Point it out. Barking is a major neighborhood nuisance.
Is your dog never outside alone? Say so. Dogs in the yard tend to bark more, possibly escape the yard, and generally cause more trouble for neighbors.
Again, do you always keep your dog leashed in public? Neighbors generally prefer that.
Always pick up after your dog immediately? Say so.
Do the neighbors have pets? Play up your dogs' well-socialized natures, and also offer to produce vet records.

Document things: Landlords (and many people) tend to be very impressed by paperwork. Have print outs of vet records on hand, as well as printed copies of pet references from past landlords, vets, petsitters, etc. Somehow, having a stack of papers to show people generally makes them feel very happy.
Point out the negatives you and your dog don't have: Think of the things landlords do NOT want, and list all of them that do NOT apply to you and your dog, and then also emphasize the opposite quote-unquote "good" attribute that does apply to yall: "The dog is not big, it's very little." "We don't have parties, we're very quiet." "My dog never digs holes, he sleeps all day." "I don't smoke, or burn incense...." (I couldn't think of a positive for that one.)
Make intelligent pet choices when you're renting: If you don't actually have a pet yet, but want one, think hard and make careful choices. Remember that big dogs, pits, Rotties, and young puppies might make renting harder. When adopting a pit, remember that folks seem to be most afraid of brindle, blue, and white dogs, big pits, and pits with cropped ears. This is all very silly, but still worth thinking about: are you up for the additional challenge?
Stay positive. Remember that you WILL find a place for you and your pup to live. It's just a challenge -- but in the end, the reward of having your life enriched by an amazing, happy, loving companion is worth the effort.

a moment of silence for the murders of 2010

2011-01-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

I am not a very spiritual person.

But sometimes I think we need a moment of silence, just to think about things.

It was an extraordinarily bloody end to the year in New Orleans, the murder capital of the country. As of last year, our murder rate was #1 in the country and #3 in the world. Up until the second week in December, the city was celebrating having about two weeks with no fatal shootings. Yes, we celebrate that in this city.

Then, we had 7 murders in 4 days. More murders ensued. Five were in the 9th Ward; the rest were fairly evenly distributed around the city, with a concentration in the East.

The 8th Ward, my childhood home, also had more than its fair share of violence.

Just after Christmas, a warehouse where a number of young homeless folks were living burned down. The "squat" at the edge of the 9th Ward burned entirely, killing 8 young people inside, along with their 2 dogs. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Of course, in the wake of that tragedy, folks started making disparaging comments about "gutter punks" -- the New Orleans term for youngish, homeless people, primarily (though not exclusively) white, who panhandle and play music on the streets. In response to that, a number of people -- including the press -- have defended the "gutter punks".... renaming them "train hoppers," "travelers," "homeless youth," and more, depending on where you go.

The loss of life in the warehouse is devastating. My heart goes out to the people who died and their family and friends. Any loss of life is devastating. There shouldn't have to be any mudslinging -- there shouldn't be any justification of lifestyle.

Gutter punk, traveler, train hopper....

It's sad, no matter how you phrase it.

But all the lives lost are sad. Magnolia Shorty, a well-known local female rapper, was gunned down just before Christmas in New Orleans East (technically, though not culturally, part of the 9th Ward). Other young black folks are shot all over New Orleans on a regular basis.

The majority has a tendency to say that they are "thugs" and "gangstas" and therefore are, apparently, unworthy of life. But they are young, vital people who have a lot of life left ahead of them.

Just like the folks in the warehouse that burned.

For the year of 2011, I just ask that everyone remember that, just like all dogs deserve to live, regardless of breed, all people deserve to live, regardless of race, age, or lifestyle. Any loss of life, though perhaps unavoidable, is sad. I hope that, this next year, New Orleans will start to move in the right direction.

By the end of 2010, we more than matched our murder total for 2009 of 174. Our murder rate in 2009 was about 60/100 -- New York City's is about 7/100, to put it into perspective.

I love New Orleans, my city. And I love my home, the 9th Ward.

Please remember New Orleans, and remember the 9th Ward. We need your help moving forward.

So you want to rescue a pit bull.....

2010-12-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

Woadie, currently available for adoption!

It's always awesome to hear from folks who want to rescue any dogs, but it's even more awesome to hear from folks who want to rescue a pit bull. Because of irresponsible ownership, indiscriminate breeding, and breed discrimination and misconceptions, pit bull-type dogs are the dogs most commonly coming into rescues and shelters -- and for the same reasons, they are among the hardest dogs to place.

Pits are wonderful, sweet, affectionate, loyal, fun, and intelligent dogs. They make fabulous companions. Most pit owners can't imagine life without a pit.

Every pit adopted means another deserving dog can be rescued. Every time a pit is adopted, a life is truly saved.

However, there are a lot of things to consider when deciding to adopt a pit bull. By thinking hard before committing, making sensible, informed choices for your family, and doing some pre-planning, you can help turn the pit stereotype around -- and gain a lifelong friend. But remember that by impulsively adopting a pit, even the most well-intentioned adopters are not only letting themselves in for trouble, but doing the breed a disservice -- and are certainly doing a disservice to the particular dog they adopt.

IS YOUR HOUSING SITUATION BOTH PIT-FRIENDLY AND STABLE?

"Moving and can't find a place that allows pits" is probably the number one reason pit bulls end up in shelters.

Do you rent? Due to silly misconceptions about the breed, it is MUCH harder to find a place to rent with a pit. It's hard to find a place with any large dog, but it's even worse if your dog is a pit.
Do you own? Remember that many insurance companies do not cover properties with pit bulls on them. This includes Louisiana Citizens.
Are you in the military? Most military bases do not allow pit bulls on them. Many pits are given up for this reason every year.
Do you move a lot or anticipate moving? First, this compounds the problems of finding pit-friendly housing, because you'll have to do it frequently. Also, keep in mind that many towns and cities (including major cities like Denver and Miami) have bans on pit bulls.

ARE YOU ACTIVE?

Do you like to walk, run, or jog? Pits are excellent companions for these activities!
Are you more of a stay-at-home type? Many less active folks (myself included!) happily own pits, but it's important to have a plan for exercising your pit, especially if he/she is young.
Do you go to dog parks? Some pits and pit mixes do excellently at dog parks; however, many do not. Especially due to the bad rap that pits have, it's important to be very careful with this.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER DOGS OR DO OTHER DOGS VISIT FREQUENTLY?

Pits are generally extremely sweet with people. Dog-aggression is more common. If you have another dog, be sure that the two dogs get along well, but also be prepared to keep them separately if problems develop.
Adopting a puppy with another dog? Although almost all dogs get along with almost all puppies, this does not necessarily mean that problems will not develop as the puppy gets older. Use caution -- sometimes it's better to adopt a slightly older dog so that you "know what you're getting," so to speak.
Crate dogs! Until you are 100% sure that the dogs get along well, separate them when you're not there.
Use the same caution you would when monitoring play between any two dogs. Remember that pits are medium to large, strong dogs. Dog fights are scary and potentially dangerous.

WHERE WILL YOUR DOG LIVE?

Will your dog stay inside? The vast majority of dogs are healthier and happier inside with their family. However, in the case of pits, their very social nature combined with their short, thin hair makes them very bad candidates for life outdoors.
Will your dog stay outside? If so, at a minimum, your dog will need a well-insulated dog house with lots of blankets. No dog should be tethered. Pits are athletic dogs and can jump a high fence.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Pits are usually excellent with kids! (Think Petey from Our Gang/Little Rascals.) However, use the same caution you should with any dog/kid combination: don't leave children alone with the dog unsupervised and be sure to carefully teach both the dog and the children how to interact.

CAN YOU AFFORD A PIT BULL?

Pits are active, medium to large dogs that can easily eat $50+ worth of high-quality kibble per month.
Heartworm and flea preventative for an average-sized pit cost around $45 per month.
Skin issues and allergies are especially common in pits and require additional veterinary expenses.
You may need to pay an additional housing deposit for a pit bull.

DO YOU CARE WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS THINK?

Depending on the neighborhood you live in and the canine demographics there, you might find that your neighbors are hostile to your pit bull. Although we all know this is crazy, you need to be prepared to deal with it by helping your pit be a good representative for the breed (and by being a good pit owner yourself!).
What will you do if you neighbors complain? This is important to think about.
Finally, remember that, irrational as it is, people are afraid of pit bulls. For the good of your dog and the breed in general, it's important to be an exceptionally responsible owner and to be sensitive to others' fears, while at the same time trying to change their minds.

We certainly hope that you will enjoy a long, happy relationship with your adopted pit bull!

Dogs of the 9th Ward has many adoptable pits and pit mixes available. Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com for more information or see http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=LA237 The Sula Foundation is New Orleans' dedicated pit rescue, education, and advocacy group. Please see: http://www.sulafoundation.org/ Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) is a no-kill shelter that is pit-friendly: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org/index.html

Mercy, currently available for adoption!

who we are, and how you can help

2010-12-23T19:56:00.001-08:00

The dog above is the dog who started it all: a hairless, starving, 6-month-old pit bull was dragging a long chain near the Florida Projects in the 9th Ward on the morning of May 19, 2009. Her life changed that day, and so did the lives of more than 80 other dogs between then and the end of 2010. Of those roughly 80 dogs, 12 are currently adoptable and in rescue, waiting for forever homes.

Pauline, the "pink puppy" who started everything, appeared to make a full recovery. However, she battled autoimmune conditions her whole life, and she became suddenly ill in May, 2010. We lost Pauline on May 12, 2010, to an undiagnosed neuromuscular autoimmune condition. We consulted specialists all over the country, but all the tests came back negative. Many people mourned Pauline. But her spirit lives on in Dogs of the 9th Ward, which wouldn't exist without her.

Dogs of the 9th Ward is a unique rescue. All the dogs were take in are directly off the streets -- we don't take owner surrenders, and we don't pull from shelters. We basically do animal control in the 9th Ward. The need here is extreme. On any given day, you can see five, ten -- sometimes more -- wandering dogs without even trying. The dogs are in horrible condition -- starving, injured. Embedded collars are common. Packs of feral dogs wander the area.

We take in the dogs in the greatest need. We rescue the dogs very few rescues are able to: pit bulls, feral dogs, dying dogs, terrified dogs. We trap dogs, we pull feral puppies out from under vacant houses. Almost all our dogs come to us with hundreds of dollars of vet bills.

D9 is known as the biggest pit bull rescue in the city, even though we aren't officially pit rescue -- we're all breed. But more than 90% of our dogs are pits and pit mixes. We have no limit or "quota" of pits in the program. In fact, we prefer to take in pits because we know we are these dogs' first and last chance.

We never euthanize a dog because we've run out of space or because the dog's "time is up." We expect our adult rescues to stay with us for a minimum of 1 year. It just takes a long time to find them homes. Most of our dogs have major health issues, but most are treatable (we do humanely and compassionately euthanize for untreatable health issues). Many have behavioral issues, and we do everything we can to work them through those issues.

All our dogs live in foster homes. With the exception of young puppies, most dogs go home house-, crate-, and leash-trained and knowing some basic obedience. Dogs are temperament tested with a variety of people, other dogs (male and female), and cats prior to being put up for adoption. Dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for any health conditions prior to going home. The majority of our dogs come to us heartworm positive. HW disease is a potentially deadly condition which is extremely common in the Gulf South. It costs hundreds of dollars to treat for HW disease, but we complete the treatment with our foster dogs. We also commonly treat for demodex mange, trauma/injuries, parasites, and malnutrition-related illnesses.

It's long, hard, and expensive work.

Here's how you can help:

Volunteering:

We need volunteers in the New Orleans area! We can put you to work for any amount of time, just contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com to discuss it.

Fostering:

We are always in great, great need of compassionate, dedicated fosters. We can't do what we do without fosters. Each person who fosters saves another dog's life -- it is a powerful, transforming experience that everyone should have. Email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com

Adopting!:

If fostering isn't enough, we of course always need adoptive homes. By adopting an amazing 9th Ward dog, we are able to take in another street dog -- and not only save its life, but save it from suffering and dying a horrible death.

Donate!:

The number one thing we need -- other than fosters, volunteers, and adopters -- is monetary donations. There are several ways to donate:

--call our amazing vet, Prytania Veterinary Hospital (M-F 8am-6pm Central, 8am-1pm Central on Saturday): 504.899.2828. Please reference the Dogs of the 9th Ward Rescue Account. Please note that Prytania does NOT have additional info about our adoptables. Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com for info about our adoptables. Please do not call the vet -- they help us out a lot and we don't want them to be our "receptionists" taking our phone calls!

--send a check to us at Dogs of the 9th Ward, 2315 Congress, New Orleans, LA 70117. Please write the check payable either to Prytania Veterinary Hospital or our director, Kelly Gaus.

--Paypal a donation to help.pauline@gmail.com (our account from when we were raising money for our sweet little girl Pauline!).

--Donations of supplies can be sent to Dogs of the 9th Ward, 2315 Congress, NO LA 70117. You can also drop them off on the porch or email kellygaus@gmail.com to set up a time to drop things off. A list of what we need is at the bottom of this post!

Thank you for your support! The dogs of the 9th Ward need you. The situation here is hard to believe. There is so much suffering -- both human and canine -- here in the 9th Ward that we really need help from other areas to make a real difference. Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com with any comments or suggestions. We're always trying to do more with less and to make a greater impact!

Happy holidays, yall, and merci beaucoup!

Kelly
D9 Director

D9 WISH LIST

Dog food!: we always feed the best we can afford. Our aim is to get Iams (a good quality/price compromise). We need both puppy and adult.

Flea preventative: we love either K9 Advantix or Frontline. (We recommend Comfortis, but that is prescription only.) We have a horrible year-round flea problem in New Orleans.

Blankets/bedding: During the cold months (roughly now through April) we need bedding. Cheap fleece blankets from places like Wal-Mart and Big Lots work well. We prefer not to have quilted blankets, because quilting is potentially dangerous to dogs if they chew it. Towels and sheets are also good!

Collars, harnesses, leashes, etc: We're pretty straight on regular collars and leashes. However we need martingale-style collars (like collars for sight hounds). We also love "Gentle Leaders" and "Easy Walker harnesses" (both made by Premier) because they are gentle, humane training tools that help our dogs learn to walk politely. We do also need very small puppy collars!

Crates/kennels: we prefer plastic, airline-type crates, but we love any :)

Chews: Anything to chew on is great for our dogs while they are crated. Kongs are great. Rawhides and other chews are good too.

Dewormers, vaccines, etc: please call in a monetary donation to our vet, Prytania Vet, 504 899 2828 so that we can buy these items from them!

The dogs thank yall!

No Mercy in the Desire Area

2010-12-02T15:09:00.001-08:00

When I'm not feeling great about life, I drive around and check on the state of the 9th Ward.

Today was such a day, and I drove into the Desire Area of the 9th Ward. I randomly decided to drive through the former Press Park Apartments -- Housing Authority of New Orleans Properties that are now the subjects of demolition by neglect, the belongings of their former inhabitants still inside them, 5 years after Katrina -- and the first thing I saw was a very pathetic looking little dog.

I see stray dogs constantly -- sometimes as many as 10 per day. But this little girl was missing half her hair and bleeding from raw, open sores. I couldn't leave her there, even though Dogs of the 9th Ward is totally out of space and even more out of money.

Our wonderful vet saw "No Mercy" today. Mercy is around 1 year old and is a very petite pit female at about 35 pounds. She has very severe demodex mange and a bad secondary skin infection. She's staying at the vet to begin treatment, and will be ready to join foster care soon.

If anyone has even a dollar to spare, we really need help with No Mercy's treatment. Our dogs come to us in such bad shape that our vet bills are constantly high. In fact, the majority of our adult dogs are -- like Mercy -- obvious abuse/neglect cases.

Please help us keep helping the dogs that care forgot.

You can donate to our wonderful vet, Prytania Veterinary Hospital, at 504.899.2828 8am-6pm CST M-F or 8am-1pm Saturday. (4907 Prytania Street, New Orleans, LA 70115) You can also donate via paypal to help.pauline@gmail.com.

Thanks yall!

Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward

Update: Rosie's Puppies!

2010-11-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

Rosie, the small pit mix girl who was living around the abandoned Gentilly Woods shopping mall, gave birth to her 7 puppies just after we finally managed to catch her. Now, 4.5 weeks later, they're doing fabulously, getting big, and are healthy and sweet. And did I mention cute?

These 4 girls and 3 boys will ready to go to new homes right around the holidays. They will be dewormed, UTD on shots, and spayed/neutered before leaving. Mama Rosie is an approximately 40 pound black and white pit mix; we don't know who Dad was, but all the puppies are black and white like Mama. We expect them to be medium-sized as adults and they are already sweet as can be!

We are taking applications for the pups now, and they are available to meet. The puppies' adoption fees will be $100, which covers a portion of our costs caring for them and vetting them. Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com for more information!

TIANA

Tiana is one of 4 girls. She is the largest puppy in the litter and is very friendly and outgoing.

PIZZA

Pizza is one 4 female puppies. She is mostly black with some white and is pretty outgoing. She is about the same size as most of her brothers and sisters.

WYATT

Wyatt is one of 3 boys. He's the most outgoing of the boys and just loves people. He's about the same size as most of his brothers and sisters.

CALAMITY

Calamity is one of 4 girls. She is the smallest of the puppies and is also a bit shy. She loves her brothers and sisters though and is very playful!

POSEY

Posey is one of 3 boys. He is the only dark-colored male of the litter. He is medium in size and is moderately outgoing.

THROTTLE

Throttle is one of 3 males. He is outgoing and happy and is one of the larger puppies.

TILLY

Tilly is one of 4 girls. She is friendly and sweet.

Strays in New Orleans: the dogs that care forgot

2010-10-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

Stray brindle mix in the Florida Area of the 9th Ward

In a city with countless problems, stray, abandoned, and abused dogs are just one of them. They are overlooked. Everyone knows they are there, but the people in this city with the resources -- that is, the money and power -- to get something done about it find it more comfortable to look the other way.

The stray and feral population are just one part of the larger issue. The other parts: poor public education, a lack of low-income housing, lack of job training programs, bad public transportation, police corruption and brutality -- just to name a few.

What, one might wonder, do stray animals, public education, low-income housing, job training, police corruption and brutality, and public transportation have in common? Though disparate in their effects, they are united in one way: they are overwhelmingly the problems of the poor and the disenfranchised. They are issues that, at least in New Orleans and probably in most places, effect primarily low-income, minority groups.

That is, they are problems that overwhelmingly effect those with no voice.

In the case of stray and feral animals, you might say that the issue is compounded: after all, the animals have no voice, either.

There are plenty of people in New Orleans who -- like me -- care deeply about animals. They get their dogs and cats the best veterinary care they can, they take them to dog parks, they buy them super-premium food and designer collars. Their animals are part of the family, as they should be.

Many of these folks also care about rescue. They know there are many other people, total unlike them, who dump dogs in the streets, who leave them at shelters, who simply "let them go." And they think it's horrible. On the rare occasion when they are brought face-to-face with the plight of animals, they are shocked and want to take action. Frequently this means that they pick a particularly sad-looking dog or cat up and take it home. That one lucky stray hit the jackpot and will now live the life it deserves.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of strays are not so lucky. Partly, the numbers are just too great. But partly, it's a factor of where they are. The 9th Ward has always been a convenient place to forget. In fact, it's long been a place that New Orleans can send it's unwanted trash. After Betsy, the rest of the city literally buried its trash in the 9th Ward, at the Agriculture Street Landfill (on top of which a whole neighborhood was built, and still exists). But even earlier than that, just after the majority of 9th Ward had been drained (it was formerly swamp land), New Orleans city officials had a great idea: build two huge public housing complexes out there. Thus the Desire and the Florida came to be. And when you think about it, they are in probably the worst possible geographic location for poor people with no cars: isolated, cut off by water and train tracks, with no jobs nearby.

It wasn't a matter of building in a place that made sense. It was a matter of hiding the projects away, somewhere where the people whose tax dollars made up the majority of the tax base wouldn't have to see them.

Stray dogs in the 9th Ward find themselves in a similar situation. People around the city talk about their support of rescue. But they don't see what I see: countless dogs, many feral, wandering the streets. Breeding, starving, suffering, dying. My friend and neighbor leaves for work while every morning as it's just getting light. She tells me she sees numerous wandering dogs every day. On a bad day, I might see 15. On a good day, maybe only one or two.

And that's just in my particular part of the 9th Ward.

These dogs are always around. If any of the folks from other parts of town who support rescue wanted to, they could drive around and see them for themselves. But they don't want to it. It's sad.

It's better left alone, tucked away in a part of town the more politically resourceful class never has to see. A part of town -- the 9th Ward -- that many residents will literally never go to. A part of town, they think, where crime is rampant, where everything revolves around drugs and violence. (This is false, by the way.) This, they think, is not part of their world. Like some far away country, it's easy to ignore.

And so, the dogs of the 9th Ward continue to suffer and die, and the people of the 9th Ward continue to have to deal with them. Folks in other parts of town might feel like "having to deal with" stray dogs isn't a problem; but the stray and feral dogs (and especially feral packs) do represent a legitimate health and safety concern. While feral dogs are generally very afraid of people and totally non-aggressive, they can pose dangers to resident dogs and cats, as well as feral cat colonies. They also are frequent carriers of disease and parasites. Stray (but not feral) dogs are usually not human-aggressive, but they might be. One dog we got recevently, Woadie, will bite a person if he's scared. And several of our dogs are aggressive towards other dogs.

And then, what I keep coming back to is, simply put, this: folks should not, in the United States of America, have to live with packs of dogs living, breeding, and dying under their houses. But believe it or not, that is the situation.

These dogs have no voice of their own. And unfortunately, the folks affected most deeply by the dogs -- the only people who can't just ignore them -- have been stripped of their voice.

Just as the New Orleans public schools will only really be transformed when people other than their own constituents become interested in transforming them, the dog situation in the 9th Ward will only change when people outside of the 9th Ward become interested. The same can be said for other high-stray areas of New Orleans: Central City, the East.

You don't see packs of feral dogs in the Garden District, or roaming Tulane's campus.

You do see packs of feral dogs in the Lower 9th Ward, the Florida and Desire Areas, in Central City, at Tulane and Broad. And for the sake of the dogs, the people, and the city, everyone should be concerned.

Although many people seem not to have noticed, the City of New Orleans failed to extend the Louisiana SPCA's Animal Control contract. This means that, completely unfunded, AC is basically non-existent in New Orleans. While AC was never impressive in this city, it is now completely crippled.

It's not the first time. The city didn't renew the SPCA's contract for the month of December in 2009. AC was restored in January, 2010.

The LA/SPCA cannot adequately fund AC alone (indeed, in my opinion, it has never been adequately funded, even with the city contract). In 2009, the LA/SPCA's AC contract was worth $2,350,000. But AC cost the SPCA $3,404,000 to operate. So an addition $1m was covered by the LA/SPCA. Animal Control is the most costly program the SPCA runs. In 2009, the SPCA brought in $218k in adoption fees and fees for services. An additional $185 came from the SPCA's endowment, and $107k came from the SPCA's wellness clinic. This left the SPCA to raise an additional $1,824,000 to cover AC costs, as well as costs of their other programs, including the $73k required to run the clinic and keep their shelter running. The SPCA's total revenue for 2009 was $4,684,748 and the organization's total expenses were just under $4, 669,909. There is not additional money left for Animal Control. (All figures are from the LA/SPCA's 2009 Annual Report.)

In a city with the massive stray, abandoned, and feral dog problem we have in New Orleans, AC is not a luxury, but a necessity. It's necessary for the welfare of the animals dying on the streets, and it's necessary for the people who live here. City Council's lack of interest in the dying animals on the streets of New Orleans says a lot about their compassion.

But it also says something about the people of New Orleans. Residents in all parts of the city need to make it clear that AC needs to be a priority, not an afterthought. It's time to stop turning a blind eye to the plight of fellow living things just because they are sometimes hard to see.

The animals need you. It's a problem for the whole city, not just the 9th Ward, or any other area.

Please, contact your City Council representative and let them know that the lack of animal control is unacceptable.

There are other ways to help. If you can donate, volunteer, foster, or adopt, you can help save the lives of animals.

To volunteer with Dogs of the 9th Ward, email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Even an hour a week will help our dogs. To donate to Dogs of the 9th Ward, email contact Prytania Veterinary Hospital at 504.899.2828 or 4907 Prytania, New Orleans, LA 70115. You can also donate via Paypal at help.pauline@gmail.com. Any amount is appreciated.

The dogs pictured in this post are stray and feral dogs in the 9th Ward. There are thousands more like them. They have not been rescued. They will not be -- unless people like you take action.

feral shepherd mix in the Lower 9th Ward

feral shepherd mix next to the former Florida Projects

adoptable dogs November, 2010

2010-10-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

All of these wonderful dogs are available for adoption! All our dogs are found stray, abandoned, or feral on the streets of New Orleans. All dogs are fully vet-checked, vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm tested and treated if necessary, spayed/neutered, and treated for any other conditions. An application, vet reference, and adoption fee ($75 for dogs over 4 months and $100 for puppies under 4 months) are required to adopt. Some dogs have other adoption criteria (described below). Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com if you would like more information about adopting.

Thanks to Prytania Veterinary Hospital for providing the best possible care for our rescued dogs.

DOLCI

Dolci is an adorable, loving 2-year-old brindle pit mix female. She was found by a caring 9th Ward resident with severe burn wounds on her back. The scaring is likely permanent, but it doesn't bother this happy girl in the least. Dolci adores all people, enjoys trips to the vet, and loves to take walks and jogs. Dolci weighs about 60 pounds and is full grown. She is currently being treated for heartworms, and has about 2 more weeks of treatment before she's good as new! Dolci is otherwise healthy. She seems to be fine with cats, but is picky about her canine company and would love to be an only dog or live with an easy-going male. She does behave nicely around dogs in public, though. Dolci is house- and crate-trained. A home check is required to adopt Dolci. Pit or pit mix experience is preferred.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking these beautiful pictures of Dolci!

FLEA

Flea, a pit bull boy, was found by some high school students from out of state while they were volunteering in the Lower 9th Ward. Emaciated, Flea had a staph infection and heartworms. He is now at a healthy weight of about 50 pounds and is infection-free. He's got 2 more weeks of heartworm treatment and will then be ready for his new home. Flea is a very active boy who is working on manners and is a star student when it comes to training. He knows sit, stay, and down so far. Flea is also crate trained. Flea is good with most dogs, but will do best with a mellow, easy-going canine housemate. He loves all people, but is not good with cats. Flea is about 3-4 years old. A home check is required to adopt Flea. Pit or pit mix experience is preferred.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking these beautiful pictures of Flea!

7th WARD EMMA

7th Ward Emma was found by a 9th Ward resident running stray in the rain. She is a pit mix female who has definitely been used as a breeder in the past. Now she is spayed and all that is behind her. Emma is about 3 years old and is finishing up heartworm treatment. Emma loves other dogs, is fine with cats, and adores people. She is a smaller pit girl, around 45 pounds. She is in very good health and will be 100% after she finishes heartworm treatment. Emma is house- and crate-trained, but is prone to chewing when left alone. She is a very active girl who would love to have a playful canine housemate or an active human family. Emma would probably do best with another pup to play with, as she is a bit shy when she's on her own.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking this beautiful picture of Emma!

IRIS

How is it possible that we still have this sweet girl? Iris was one of 11 puppies rescued from under a house in February, 2010. Her mom and all the other puppies have been adopted to wonderful homes, but Iris, now 11 months old, is still here! Iris is a beautiful, medium-sized black lab/spaniel mix. She weighs about 40 pounds and will probably still grow a bit more. She is incredibly sweet and submissive with both dogs and people. She also does fine with cats. She is crate- and house-trained and walks nicely on leash. She is shy in new situations, but will warm up quickly. Because she was born feral (didn't know people until she was 2 months 0ld), she would do best with another playful dog or two to keep her company. She is an active girl who loves to play. Iris is very healthy and ready to go to her new home any time.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking this beautiful picture of Iris!

MARIGNY

Marigny now

Marigny before

Marigny was found in the 8th Ward by a caring resident. He had been stray for a while, and the poor guy had obviously been severely attacked -- probably multiple times -- by other dogs. We will never really know what happened to Marigny, but he's been a trooper through it all and is so sweet and loving. He adores all people and is good with most dogs, despite everything he's been through. He's also fine with cats. Marigny is a playful, happy young guy who is only about 1.5 years old. We think he is a catahoula/pit mix. He weighs around 50 pounds and is done growing. He is heartworm positive, and he is about to begin treatment for that. He will be ready to go home after treatment. All his wounds are healed and soon he will be all ready for his new life! Marigny is crate- and house-trained and walks nicely on leash.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking these beautiful pictures of Marigny!

KEEM

Note: Keem is available for adoption only to a very well-qualified home. More details follow his description.

Keem is a stunning pit/lab mix who had a rough start. He was found by a D9 volunteer, so emaciated that he was only about half the weight he should have been. He also had chemical burns on his legs and was heartworm positive. He is now almost at his full healthy weight of about 70 pounds and is being treated for heartworms. Keem is very gentle and sweet and especially adores women. However, he is very protective and will protect his women from men, which is something that we are working on. He also is fearfully aggressive with animals and needs to be the only pet in the home. He is a truly beautiful dog who will flourish in the right situation.

A home check is required to adopt Keem. Keem will not be placed in a home with any other animals. Pit experience is preferred. Experience with territorial/protective dogs is required.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking this beautiful picture of Keem!

EAMS

Eams was found by a good samaritan at the bridge over the Industrial Canal between the Upper and Lower 9th Ward. He is a tiny little pit mix guy, currently weighing around 25 pounds (should be about 35-40). He is extremely sweet and loving with people and fine with cats. He is a bit afraid of other dogs and is picky in his canine company. He is only around 1 year old and other than being underweight is in good health. He is heartworm negative, and as soon as he's gained enough weight he will be neutered and will be ready to go to his new home.

WOADIE

Note: Woadie is available for adoption only to a very well-qualified home. Please see the additional adoption criteria after his description.

Woadie was found on the anniversary of Katrina in the Lower 9th Ward. He had a very tight, semi-embedded collar that had caused his neck to swell up and become infected. He's all healed up now, but still bears the emotional scars of his ordeal: Woadie is sometimes fear-aggressive and prone to snapping (especially if he feels "cornered" and threatened) and he doesn't like to have his collar touched. Despite all that, he really loves people and is also good with most other dogs. He is crate trained and learned to walk nicely on-leash. He also knows how to sit and lay down. Woadie is a dominant dog who would do best with an experienced owner. Woadie is about 2 years old and weighs around 65 pounds. He is a chocolate-colored pit bull.

Pit experience preferred. Home check required to adopt Woadie. Dominant dog experience is required. Woadie will not be placed in a home with small children due to his fearfulness. Woadie does not do well at the vet and will need special accommodations for annual vetting in the future.

Thanks to Michelle Icahn for taking these beautiful pictures of Woadie!

ROSIE

Miss Rosie was spotted by a D9 volunteer living at the abandoned Gentilly Woods shopping mall and hanging out by the neighboring Chase Bank. The volunteer fed her for more than a month before realizing the bad news: she was pregnant. Rosie was terrified of people and was very hard to catch; after being caught, she almost immediately went into labor. Rosie now has done a total 180 and is very sweet and friendly with people. She is a petite pit mix girl who is about 4 years old. She will be available to be adopted after she has weaned her puppies, been spayed, and treated for heartworms. Right now, Rosie is focusing on being a great mama!

ROSIE'S PUPPIES

Mama Rosie had 7 beautiful puppies! We have 5 girls and 2 boys. The puppies were named by some of the many folks who helped us save Rosie and her litter! The girls are: Tiana, Posey, Tilly, Calamity, and Pizza and the boys are Wyatt and Throttle. All the 7 pups are either white with black or black with white, and all are incredibly adorable! They are about 1 week old right now and will be ready for new homes when they are 8 weeks old and have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Until then they are getting regular vet checks and deworming. So far, the pups look mostly pit, but it's very early to tell. Stay tuned for more updates as they get bigger and stronger!

THANK YOU!

Dogs of the 9th Ward thanks all our volunteers and others who help make every rescue possible:

Volunteers and fosters (in no particular order)
Earle
Michelle
Margaret
Chris
Emily
Lisa
Jay
Glynnis
Melissa
Jason
Crystal
Daisy
Ginger

Our vets
Dr. B.
Dr. Nathan
Dr. Armani
and the entire staff of Prytania Veterinary Hospital

and of all sorts of support:

Sleeping Tree Pictures
Animal Rescue New Orleans
Tia Maria Torres and Villalobos Rescue Center
Melanie Manning and Vet Adoptions

Injured -- but incredibly sweet -- pit needs help

2010-09-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Meet Dogs of the 9th Ward's newest rescue, Marigny, a pit found by Cheri Deatsch on Marigny Street in the 8th Ward. Rescuers across the metro area came together to make this rescue happen. Marigny's rescue story started more than 2 weeks ago when Ms. Deatsch found him, a bit ragged and flea-ridden but otherwise intact, on Marigny near Florida. Ms. Deatsch called Jacob with PAWS, who in turn called Dogs of the 9th Ward. We were full, but started circulating Marigny's pictures, and on Friday, we had found a foster spot that would be available on Monday. Ms. Deatsch, who had been feeding Marigny this entire time, was thrilled. We planned to go pick Marigny up off the street Monday morning.

Then, Sunday night, Ms. Deatsch called to say that Marigny had stumbled over for his dinner, swollen and torn open -- obviously severely injured by another dog. We'll never know exactly what happened to Marigny -- whether he got into a fight over the female he was with (who was in heat), or was used as a bait dog in a street fight, or any of other numerous options -- but Ms. Deatsch knew she had to get him off the streets, and quickly.

Jeff Dorson with the Humane Society of LA offered to hold Marigny over night so that we could take him in the morning. When Dogs of 9th Ward got Marigny to the vet, we found that he had multiple large, deep lacerations on his front legs, puncture wounds on his rear legs and torso, and numerous minor scratches on his face. In addition, one very deep puncture wound to his foot was horribly swollen up. Through it all, Marigny has been a trooper -- and sweet as can be.

Marigny is now hospitalized at Prytania Veterinary Hospital through Dogs of the 9th Ward. He is having hydrotherapy to clean his wounds and got an antibiotic injection. Some of the larger lacerations will probably need to be debrided and sutured once they are totally clear of infection. Some of them are already healing nicely on their own and will just require further cleaning. We expect Marigny to join foster care with D9 sometime later this week.

In addition to his injuries, Marigny is heartworm positive and will be treated. He has been treated for intestinal parasites and has some hair loss from flea allergies, but is otherwise quite healthy. Marigny is only about 1.5 years old and weighs 50 pounds. He is very sweet with people and is a big hit at the vet. So far he seems to be good with other dogs and cats.

Marigny is just one of a long list of pits and pit mixes who have come into D9 in the past couple months with major health issues -- and possibly as the result of human cruelty and neglect. Keem and Flea came to rescue in July, severely emaciated -- only about 2/3 of their optimal healthy weight. In August, Woadie was found by Scotlund Haisley with the International Fund for Animal Welfare in the Lower 9th Ward with an embedded collar that had caused his neck to swell to more than twice its natural size. About the same time, Dolci joined us, a pit with large chemical burns on her back which have caused permanent scaring and grey hairs in a dog who is only 2 years old. Only a few days later, we got Sweetie, a pit mix with a severely broken femur (special thanks to ARNO for sponsoring Sweetie's surgery!).

Because almost all our dogs come to us with major health issues, our vet bills are constantly high. If you would like to donate towards the vet bills for Marigny and our other stray, abandoned, and feral dogs, please contact Prytania Veterinary Hospital at 504 899 2828 (MF 8am-6pm CST, Sat 8am-1pm CST) or 4907 Prytania, NO LA 70115. You can also donate via paypal to help.pauline@gmail.com. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who made Marigny's rescue possible, and to everyone who continues to support the rescue of the stray, abandoned, and feral dogs of the 9th Ward.

Best,
Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward
www.dogsofthe9thward.org
Also, follow us on Facebook!

MARIGNY'S RESCUE WAS A TEAM EFFORT.... SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Cheri Deatsch
P.A.W.S.
The Humane Society of LA
Prytania Veterinary Hospital
all the wonderful individuals who have donated towards Marigny's care
And, to Michelle Icahn for taking these great photos

RIP Jourdan: 2005-September 7, 2010

2010-09-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

After months if not years of surviving on her own on the streets, Jourdan joined Dogs of the 9th Ward over Labor Day weekend. A kind resident had been feeding her as she and one other male dog roamed around the Make It Right houses in the Lower 9th Ward. Concerned, their caretaker told her she thought Jourdan was pregnant. We immediately decided to take Jourdan into rescue -- who wants another feral litter of puppies growing up -- or, worse, dying -- on the streets of the 9th Ward?

Terrified of people, Jourdan was not easy to catch. Her dedicated rescuer eventually managed to catch her, and she came to D9 the next morning. Almost immediately we knew we didn't have a pregnant dog on our hands -- something else was going on.

Jourdan looked like she'd given birth recently, but wasn't nursing puppies. Our vet suspects they were probably either stillborn or died. Jourdan's abdomen was swollen, she had open sores all over her skin, and she seemed to have trouble balancing. When she laid down, her back legs seemed to collapse out from under her.

He condition deteriorated throughout the weekend. She starting coughing -- the congested, raspy cough of heartworm disease. She had a hard time moving around, and panted constantly. On Tuesday, we put her in a crate and brought her to the vet. Jourdan had become feral, and was so terrified of people that she needed to be sedated for and exam and testing.

The diagnosis was quick: congestive heart failure due to advanced heartworm disease, and most likely other illnesses as well, along with a horrible skin infection. Advanced stage heartworm disease like Jourdan's is not treatable. Jourdan never came home from the vet. We did what we knew we had to do, and what every rescuer hates to do: after lots of treats and petting, we put Jourdan to sleep at the vet last on Tuesday afternoon.

She isn't suffering any more. It's a sad rescue, but a rescue nonetheless: Jourdan never got the life she deserved, but at least she didn't have to die a death no animal deserves. She didn't have to slowly die of heart failure on the street, having to wander in search of food and water, protecting herself and dodging cars.

Jourdan, like so many dogs in New Orleans, knew nothing of humans but fear and cruelty. In her time with us, she started taking treats from my hand, and on our last day together she licked canned cat food off my fingers. Yet, she had a collar on. At some point in her five years of life, this girl had an owner.

This is the fate of dogs abandoned and left to their own survival skills on the streets of New Orleans.

These are truly the dogs that care forgot.

Rest in peace, Jourdan.

Special thanks to Leslie, Robert, Earle, Dr. Nathan and the entire staff of Prytania Veterinary Hospital for their help with Jourdan's rescue and care. Thanks to ARNO, Melanie Manning, and Tia Maria Torres for their advice and unwavering support.

Katrina: five years later... why not commemorate with a few new rescues?

2010-08-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

A note from Kelly, Director of Dogs of the 9th Ward

Dogs of the 9th Ward Supporters,

Yesterday, I got an email from a good friend of mine, James, who moved away a few years ago. It started out:

"Hey baby, five years since our lives were turned inside out. Life has never been the the same since the levees broke. It kind of feels like it was yesterday and it kind of feels like a bad dream that you know really happened when you wake up. There were so many tragic things and people lost there lives. Many left and never came back, yet through it all I have some good memories as strange as that is. One thing is for sure that damn storm became a part of our lives forever, and those that did not go through it will never get it."

Through the build up to August 29, 2010, I steered clear of most of the media hype. I didn't turn on the TV at all. But that email was all I needed. It sort of chilled me. Because it's true. It did change our lives, and things will never be the same.

Some things are better, some not. Mostly, it's just different. Friends and neighbors have moved away. The neighborhood I grew up in, which did not flood, is still totally different. It's a different place. It will always be New Orleans, just a different New Orleans.

And in a way, what my friend James says is true. Going through Katrina is something you just can't understand if you didn't do it.

A lot of rescuers from around the country were in town for the fifth anniversary of Katrina. These folks all came down in 2005 and got dirty, exhausted -- they saved the thousands of animals left behind after Katrina. "K5," they called the "reunion" of rescuers. An award-winning documentary filmmaker was filming. There was a very interesting agenda of seminars and talks. A few friends of mine were involved.

I was Facebook invited -- but I didn't feel that the K5 Rescue Reunion was mine. I didn't rescue after Katrina. I sat in exile, obsessively watching the news and checking nola.com and wishing I was home.

By the time I got home in December, I was depressed, exercise addicted, and anorexic. That was my Katrina experience. There was no rescue, except perhaps of myself.

And I'm busy. I have the dogs, the rescue, and of course my "day job" -- my second year of law school at Tulane -- to keep me occupied. So I didn't think much of K5, or any of the Katrina anniversary events.

'Nough said, I thought, about Katrina.

I woke up on August 29 feeling no different than ever. I walked or jogged with my dogs and all the fosters. I am not very good with dates and anniversaries anyway. But I woke up to an email: a report of a pregnant pit bull roaming in the Lower 9th Ward, at the Make it Right development (aka "Brad Pitt's Houses"). We were full, but I knew we had to do something. The last thing D9 -- or New Orleans in general -- needed was another feral litter on the streets.

Game time, for sure. And to anyone who loves dogs and has never gone out on a challenging rescue -- you need to. That shit is addictive.

So, D9's go-to team of volunteers came out with us on the evening of the 29th. These folks deserve some serious applause. Earle, Emily, Michelle, Margaret -- we ended up with a big group for a serious search party.

It was raining. It seems like it's always raining when we go out on a rescue. Raining, cold, muddy -- those are prerequisites. I was wearing muddy jeans, a tattered New Orleans Hornets T-shirt, and hadn't washed my hair all day, despite getting drenched at least 5 times. I was not looking glamorous.

Charlotte, the director of Animal Rescue New Orleans, called me. A rescuer in town, Scotlund Haisley, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, had found a dog in the 9th Ward. ARNO was full to overflowing. Have him call me, I said.

And he did. Would I help him with the dog? Well, yes, I said. It's just we're out looking for this pregnant pit bull right now. We are at Deslonde and North Johnson.

Oh, he was only a block away.

What a coincidence. So, he pulled up and opened the back of his rented truck. A truly terrified male chocolate pit was there, shaking, and when I reached out to pet him he flinched, almost -- but not quite -- snapped.

Do you have a lead, this Scotlund asked.

I have a slip leash in the back of my truck, I say. I jog over to get it.

And as quickly as he came, he left. And there I was, holding a slip leash from my vet, Prytania Veterinary Hospital, with a terrified chocolate pit bull in the middle of a muddy, torn up street in the Lower 9th Ward.

And that was how I saluted the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The chocolate boy, Woadie, had a very tight, almost embedded collar. His neck was swollen. It is draining through an open, infected wound. As I held his leash, Emily got his collars -- yes, both of them -- off. He immediately decided he loved both of us.

Woadie went to the vet today. He was so scared, they couldn't do a proper exam. But he got much-needed antibiotics and pain pills. We'll try again for a full exam next week.

We have two other new recruits to the D9 foster program.

Dolci is a brindle pit female who was found by some wonderful folks in June. She was suffering from chemical burns down her back -- a common occurrence for pit bulls in New Orleans. This girl is sweet as can be with people, and good with most other dogs. She's about 2 years old and a lover. Dolci is heartworm positive and will be treated. But we know she has a bright future ahead of her.

And then there's this nameless little black and white girl. She was found during a Katrina Anniversary event in the Lower 9th Ward. This baby is super-sweet but a little shy, and was being literally kicked away from people at the gas pumps at a gas station. A kind person took her in, but cannot keep her, and she is in desperate need of a foster home. She loves other dogs and people. Please let us know if you can foster this baby. We are working overtime to find her a place.

As always, thanks for your support. Five years after Katrina, the dogs of the 9th Ward are still in desperate need of help. Only with your support can we save even more of them. Please help us save the dogs that care forgot from a fate even worse than euthanasia.

Sincerely,

Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward
kellygaus@gmail.com

Help needed for HW+ dogs!

2010-08-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

TO CONTRIBUTE TO D9's VET BILLS, please go to:
http://dogsofthe9thward.chipin.com/heartworm-treatment-for-keem-flea-emma-and-sweet-p

Heartworm disease, which is spread by mosquitos, is rampant in the Gulf South. In New Orleans, virtually every dog who is not kept on heartworm preventative contracts heartworm disease.

Four of our pit rescues are no exception. They are all heartworm positive, and need to be treated before they can start their new lives with forever families.

Even though we are getting a great deal on treatment, heartworm treatment is expensive. The regular, non-rescue rate is around $600-$1000+ for a medium to large dog. There is currently a shortage of the drug required to treat for heartworms, but our wonderful vet has set some aside just for us!

Each of these four amazing dogs needs you, so please help us help them! If you prefer, you can also donate to Prytania Veterinary Hospital in person or by mail (4907 Prytania, NO LA 70115). Just reference Dogs of the 9th Ward Rescue Account.

Huge thanks to Dr. B at Prytania Vet and Dr. Jessica with Pets R Our World Mobile vet clinic for all their help and support!

SWEET P is an adorable, super-fun 2-year-old pit/bulldog mix who came to rescue after her owner was incarcerated. She loves all people and other dogs, though she is dog-dominant. She is crate trained and house trained. Sweet P weighs 60 pounds and will be ready to find true love after she finishes heartworm treatment.

FLEA is a really happy, sweet little cow-spotted pit mix boy. He worships people, but needs to work on his manners, as he's constantly excited and does everything with a true pit bull joi de vivre. He is about 3-4 years old and will weigh around 45 pounds when at a healthy weight. He is crate trained and learning obedience. He likes to play with other dogs. Flea will be ready to go home after heartworm treatment.

EMMA is an energetic, affectionate brindle pit girl who was found running in the rain in the 7th Ward. She adores all people and other dogs. She's even fine with cats and chickens! She is house trained, crate trained, leash trained, and knows basic obedience. Emma is about 2.5 years old and weighs 45 pounds. She will be ready to go to her forever home after she is treated for heartworms.

KEEM was found wandering near the Florida Projects, severely underweight and sick. He has been treated for infections and is starting to gain weight. Keem has had a rough life and needs love and stability in his new home. He absolutely loves people, but won't be placed with other dogs or cats. He is crate trained and is starting to work on obedience. Keem will weigh around 65 pounds when at a healthy weight. He will soon be neutered and then will be ready to go home after finishing heartworm treatment.

D9's adoptables -- July, 2010

2010-07-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

We currently have 10 amazing dogs looking for love and forever homes. If you have any questions about anyone, please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Thanks!

IRIS

Iris was rescued with the rest of her littermates in February. She was one of 11 puppies born under a house in the Florida area of the 9th Ward. Her mama, Louisa, has a forever home and is a super-sweet, gentle 40-pound spaniel/lab mix. Louisa takes after her mother: she is gentle, sweet, and super-submissive. She loves other dogs and is fine with cats. At 6 months old, she is the last of her litter. She is house-trained and crate-trained and knows how to sit. Right now, Iris weighs around 38 pounds and we expect her to be about 45-50 when full grown. Iris is shy at first, but has really opened up in the last few weeks. Now all she needs is her very own forever home! An application, vet reference, and $75 adoption fee are required to adopt Iris. Iris is fully vaccinated, spayed, dewormed, and vet checked.

SWEET P

P came to us after her owner was incarcerated and she was left behind. Sweet P is a pit/American Bulldog mix and is just amazingly cute with a goofy underbite. Sweet P is extremely affectionate and loving and just wants to be near her people. P is about 2 years old, weighs 60 pounds, and is going to start heartworm treatment soon (she is not available for adoption before treatment). Sweet P is a happy and playful, and she loves to play with submissive dogs. She is submissive with people but dominant with dogs, so she will do best in a home with easy-going playmates. P might be a bit too playful for cats, but she is learning to be polite. Sweet P is an active girl who likes to walk, run, and play fetch. She would love to be your forever friend! Sweet P is spayed, fully vaccinated, dewormed, vet checked, and pending heartworm treatment. An application, vet reference, home check, and $75 adoption fee are required. Pit experience is also required. Sweet P will not be placed with dominant dogs.

FLEA aka LIL DUDE

Flea was found by a group of out-of-state high school students volunteering in the Lower 9th Ward. He was starving, full of worms, and had a staph infection. The students' teacher brought him to D9, and he has now been to the vet and is doing well. Flea is a 3- to 4-year-old small pit mix. He currently weighs around 38 pounds and probably will be around 40-45 when at a healthy weight. He is active and silly and just adores people. Flea is very sweet, gentle, and submissive. He would love to be able to follow you wherever you go. Flea is also fine with other dogs and is playful with them. He's doing well with his feline foster brother, although sometimes he's a bit too interested. Flea is crate trained and doing well with house training and learning to walk on a leash. Flea is a loving, gentle guy who just needs a happy forever home! Flea is still not healthy enough to be vaccinated, neutered, and treated for heartworms, so he is not ready to be adopted just yet. We are taking applications! A vet reference, application, and adoption fee ($75) are required to adopt Flea.

SLIM - ADOPTED!
Slim has gone to a forever home Wyoming!

Slim is a two-year-old flat-coated retriever mix. He is a sweet, super-intelligent, devoted boy. Slim weighs almost 70 pounds. He is affectionate with everyone, but especially loves kids. He also loves to run and play with other dogs, and he has learned to tolerate cats. Slim was abandoned by his former family when they moved away, and has been looking for a home since August, 2009. All he wants is a family to play with and cuddle with! Slim is really a lover. He is active but not hyper, and would be content laying by your feet while you watch TV. He also loves to walk, run, play with other dogs, swim, and play fetch. Slim is exceptionally smart and learns very quickly. He's an eager-to-please boy. Slim knows how to sit, stay, come, and lay down. He is also house trained, crate trained, and leash trained. Slim is neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, vet checked, chipped, and HW- and on preventative. An application, vet reference, and adoption fee ($75) are required to adopt Slim

BART -- ADOPTED!
Bart has gone to a forever home in uptown New Orleans!

Bart is a beautiful 1.5-year-old catahoula/beagle mix. He is a gentle, sweet, submissive boy who loves all people and also other dogs. He is great with cats, too. Bart is such a loving guy, and he's very easy-going. He was rescued as a stray back in June, 2009 -- and he was just a 5-month-old pup. Now he's a full-grown, gorgeous dog, and he hopes to find his forever home soon! Bart is pretty much ideal: he is house trained, crate trained, and leash trained and knows basic obedience. He is well-mannered and gets along with everyone. Bart weighs around 55 pounds. He is moderately active and is pretty content to either run and play or just hang out on the couch. He just wants to be near his people. Bart is neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, successfully treated for demodex mange, chipped, HW- and on preventative, and vet checked. An application, vet reference, and $75 adoption fee are required to adopt Bart.

7th WARD EMMA

7W Emma is an incredibly sweet, 2-year-old brindle pit who was found as a stray back in December of 2009. She is a petite pitty, weighing in around 45 pounds. She has badly-cropped ears that are a little lop-sided, but she's still cute as can be! Emma is happy, active, and loves everything -- people, dogs, cats, even chickens! She is a wonderful girl who would fit in well to any active household. She likes to play with other dogs or go on walks. Emma is house trained, crate trained, and leash trained. She does know basic obedience. Now all Emma needs is a home of her own! Emma is spayed, chipped, fully vaccinated, dewormed, and vet checked. An application, vet reference, home check, and adoption fee ($75) is required to adopt Emma. Pit experience is preferred.

EMMA

Emma is an adorable, 55-pound, 3-year-old pit mix who was found by a good Samaritan just over 1 year ago. She was stray and not in good shape, so she went home with her rescuer who is still fostering her now. Emma adores people, but she seems to be spooked by kids. She plays well with other dogs, too. In fact, Emma has gone to day care at Canine Connection and done fabulously! Emma is house trained, crate trained, and leash trained. She has been fully vaccinated, spayed, treated for heartworms, and is all ready to find her new forever home. An application, vet reference, home check, and adoption fee are required to adopt Emma. Pit experience is required. Emma will not be placed with cats or small children.

KEEM

Keem was found by a D9 volunteer near the former Florida Projects. He was emaciated, very weak, and had a staph infection. Keem is currently in need of a foster home while he recovers. Keem is extremely gentle and sweet and would love to be near you all day long. He is about 2 years old and came in weighing 45 pounds, while he should be about 70 pounds. He is now gaining weight and getting lots of rest. Keem is a red pit mix. Keem is fine with some dogs but not others. He will do best with more submissive, laid back pack members. Keem is crate trained and learning to walk nicely on-leash. Keem really needs a special, loving home soon so that he can live the life he deserves! An application, vet reference, home check, and adoption fee ($75) are required to adopt Keem. Keem will be neutered, fully vaccinated, and treated for heartworms before placement in a forever home. Keem will not be placed with dog-dominant dogs. Pit experience is required to adopt Keem.

THE LADY MOTLEY

The Lady M is an adorable 1.5 year old beagle/boxer mix. She is sweet as can be and just loves people. Motley was found as a stray and we traced her owner, only to discover that the owners had intentionally left her behind at a vacant apartment complex when they moved away. That was back in October, 2009, and Motley has been with us ever since. Motley is good with all people and loves to play with other dogs. She is a bit too playful with cats. She is house-trained and leash-trained and knows basic obedience. She is not destructive when left alone. Motley is a petite girl of only about 40 pounds. Motley is fully vetted and all ready for her new forever home! An application, vet reference, and adoption fee ($75) is required to adopt Motley.

TIP

Tip is a beautiful, sweet 1-year-old pit who was found as a skinny, scared 4-month-old puppy. She was adopted once, but her family decided she was too much dog for them and gave her back to rescue. Tip is now a happy, healthy, wonderful girl: she is a bit dominant with other dogs, but very friendly and does well at the dog park, she loves all people, and is fine with cats. Tip is a great cuddler, and is also active and playful. Tip weighs right around 55 pounds and is full grown. She is house trained, crate trained, and leash trained and knows basic obedience. Tip is fully vetted and ready for her new life! An application, vet reference, home check, and adoption fee ($75) is required to adopt Tip. Pit experience preferred.

Following D9 from a distance? You can help!

2010-06-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

If you are one of our many fans in a faraway place, you can help D9 right now, from the comfort of your own -- and all it will cost you is a couple minutes of your time!

We have been amazed by our recent success with out of state placements, and after talking with other rescues in New Orleans, we would really like to develop more (and better) methods of getting dogs adopted in other areas. Adoptions in New Orleans have always been slow, and now the oil spill is making placements more difficult than ever. Animals are being surrendered to shelters in record numbers. So getting these poor dogs out of Louisiana might, in many cases, be the best option.

But we need a plan -- that's where you come in! All you have to do to help is fill out the survey below about dog ownership in your hometown. Just skip any questions you don't know the answers to, tell us as much or as little as you like, and just like that, you can help us plan our rescue strategy.

It would really help us out a lot if a lot of folks participated from various areas, so please share with friends -- and as always, thanks for supporting Dogs of the 9th Ward!

To participate, just click on this link. Thanks!

Why we Need Your Help... and what you can do

2010-06-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

This picture pretty much explains why my work is so hard.

As a law clerk at the Orleans Public Defenders Office this summer, I go to work every day feeling like I'm marching off to the battlefield, to wage war on everything that's wrong with the criminal justice system here in New Orleans.

When I come home, I start my other unpaid, full-time, soul-crushing job: running Dogs of the 9th Ward as we head into Rescue Year 2. It's very similar really: every day it's Me vs. The World, and every day I fight the battle, and sometimes I win, but mostly it's a draw -- at best.

It's strikingly similar. In both capacities -- and both are my passion -- I put everything into what I do, but the chips are stacked against us. The problem I'm fighting is just so huge, it seems like every small victory is overshadowed by all the losses.

Rescue in New Orleans is not like rescue anywhere else. At least, not like rescue anywhere else in America. This isn't America; this is a hot, sweaty, poor town down on its luck, but alive -- very alive. And that's what makes it wonderful. Second lines, kids practicing trumpets for band in the streets, parades for any reason or no reason, crawfish boils -- these are the things that make New Orleans better than any other place in the world.

But the there's the other side. To quote our former (and infamous) mayor C-Ray, pardon my French America, but I am pissed.

The dog in the picture above is -- or was -- a black and white pit bull with a pink harness. She died on Claiborne Ave. near Elysian Fields in the 7th Ward/Treme Area. I assume she was hit by a car. I saw her some four, five weeks ago. I called Sanitation to pick her up. They told me to call Animal Control with the LA-SPCA. Called them -- they never called back. I emailed the CEO of the SPCA and asked her to please get me the contact info for who I should contact.... nothing. I called sanitation again. Still nothing.

Meanwhile, her body decayed in the 80+ degree heat. The heat and the humidity break tissue down so fast. Someone -- some compassionate person -- put a towel over her dead, decaying body. Not that that stopped the flies.

When I finally went to take this picture almost one week ago, this girl had become nothing but a skeleton, and even her bones had started to decompose. Here I was, in the middle of an urban area, underneath an on-ramp to the Interstate 10. And I felt like I was on some paleontological expedition: you're not supposed to find skeletons in the middle of the city.

The worst part? This girl has tags on.

This dog was someone's friend and family member. They probably don't know what happened.

If I was braver, I'd get her tags off her and call them. But I'm not.

My point is this: until the people in this city realize that they count -- they're worth something, and people should care about them -- the problems we have will persist. This is truly the City that Care Forgot, and the people of New Orleans consider themselves the People that Care Forgot.

And maybe it did forget, but it's about fucking time that someone woke its ass up and reminded it.

The situation we have here -- not just in the 9th Ward, but in many areas -- its unique. We have dead, decaying dogs on major streets. We have packs of three, five, ten -- sometimes more -- feral dogs living in terror of humans, while those people are equally terrified of them. Imagine this: imagine living in Uptown New Orleans, or in New York, or California, or Minnesota, or wherever you live, and imagine that a pack of large dogs, most missing hair, injured perhaps, take up residence under your house. You can hear them knocking into gas and water pipes under your house. Your kids go out into the yard, and sometimes the dogs are there, terrified, and your kids are terrified of them.

Then one day the have puppies. All night you listen to puppies barking and crying under your house. You call the LA-SPCA Animal Control -- that's the only Animal Control we have here in New Orleans -- and report the problem. They come. They look. They say, "It's impossible." And they leave you with your feral pack.

Most of those puppies won't even reach adulthood. They will die of starvation, dehydration, trauma, disease. Maybe they'll freeze if it's winter; maybe they'll overheat if it's summer. They might die under your house. Imagine having puppy corpses decaying under your house.

Best case scenario, most of the pups will live, and they will eventually leave your house and move on, move under some other house, or maybe into the interior of a vacant, gutted building. They will grow up terrified of you, and you of them.

This is not a situation that should exist in urban America.

Fuck Katrina. That was 5 years ago, and it's not an excuse.

The pictures below are all dogs who have not been rescued. They probably never will be. They will live out miserable lives on the streets, having litter after litter, and then dying.

We have so far to go before we get to where we want to be -- where we need to be. All of these dogs are dying a death far, far worse than euthanasia. The SPCA uses a humane lethal injection -- no gas chambers (though we have em in rural areas!), no heartstick. These dogs are living miserable lives and dying miserable deaths.

The 56 dogs we've rescued are the lucky ones. For each of them, hundreds more in the 9th Ward alone are dying. Across the metro area, I won't even make a guess at how many homeless, dying dogs there are.

Without more support from locals and others alike, we will always lose this war.

There are many things you can do to help, no matter where you live!

If you live in New Orleans, contact City Council reps and tell them we need more and better Animal Control.
Foster a dog from New Orleans! Yes, you can even foster if you are long-distance! We are starting dog transport and foster programs in other areas. Foster space is our single greatest need. We pay all expenses, you provide loving, stable, happy homes.
Feed a dog! For the price of a couple lattes or one Domino's Pizza, you can feed a dog for a month. Donating $15 per month feeds one large dog.
Vaccinate a dog! $30 completely vaccinates one dog -- Rabies, 3 rounds of boosters, plus kennel cough (bordatella).
Spay/neuter a dog! $45-$75 spays or neuters one of our dogs (depending on size).
Live far away? Advertise our adoptable dogs wherever you are, and we will fly them to you.
Transport a dog! If a dog has a home far away, about $250 will get that pup home.
Are you local? Help plan adoption events, help socialize dogs.... we have many opportunities.
Local or long-distance, we need help with admin/clerical work! I'm doing it all myself right now. I need help with email, organizing, etc.

Can you think of any other way to help? We want to hear from you! Please email dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com.

As always, donations can be made to help.pauline@gmail.com via paypal, or to our vet, Prytania Veterinary Hospital 504 899 2828, 4907 Prytania, NO LA 70115. Seriously: no amount is too small. It adds up, and every dollar counts!

I beg folks from other areas to look at these pictures and my story, and please realize what we're dealing with here is very serious. It's just another world, honestly. And these are all different breeds of dogs. Although D9 focuses on pit bulls, we are an all-breed rescue and have had everything from beagles to retrievers to shepherds and Rottweilers come through rescue. Please help us save dogs from the worst fate imaginable, and support the dogs -- and the people -- of New Orleans.

Sincerely,
Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward
kellygaus@gmail.com
504 390 5836

help send the last 3 Mardi Gras pups to wonderful homes in Aspen, CO!

2010-06-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Good news! The last 3 of the 11 Mardi Gras puppies have homes waiting for them in Aspen, CO, courtesy of Animal Rescue Foundation of Colorado! Now all we have to do is get them there. This is really exciting because we've been trying to place these girls here for almost 4 months -- they're now 6 months old and SO ready for their own homes! N.O. to CO is not a typical rescue route, so the girls will be flyingup there. We had some airline-approved crates donated today (thanks Earle and Shoshanna!), so now we just need to raise funds.

And unfortunately, that will take some doing. But we're confident we can do it, with yall's help. Help us send Iris, Shangri-La, and Muses to Colorado and forever homes!

For anyone who may not have been following the Mardi Gras pups' journey these past few months, here's the short version: 11 adorable puppies were born under a house in the 9th Ward right around New Year's Day. Mama, Louisa, was a 40-pound lab/spaniel mix who had lived under houses her whole life. She was scared of us, but gentle. Just before Mardi Gras day, two D9 volunteers pulled all 11 of the sweet pups out from under the house. They were terrified, full of worms and flea-infested. We got them all vetted and fixed up, and over the next several months, 8 of the 11 pups found homes, but interest down here has dried up.

And worst of all, since we are completely full, we are unable to take in any of the pups in 3 other litters we know of -- all on the street, hiding under houses.

Each of the girls' "air fare" will be $215. In addition, they will need health certificates from a vet (they're already vetted, but need health certs to travel). The health certificates plus the vet check that is required will be around $50 per pup. Then we just need to buy each puppy airline-approved food and water bowls -- about $10. So, we need to raise $215 + $50 + $ 10 = $275 per puppy. That's $825 total. So! We need to get to work!

We are so excited about this opportunity, but we need everyone to step up and help to make it work. This would be so amazing for these girls, because placements here in New Orleans have been so slow lately, that it is taking us an average of 3 months to place puppies -- yes, healthy, happy puppies!

If you have even a dollar or two to spare, please send it via paypal to help.pauline@gmail.com. You can also mail checks to 2315 Congress, New Orleans, LA 70117. Please help us make this work!

Remembering Pauline the 9th Ward pit bull

2010-05-13T11:22:00.001-07:00

Hello friends of Dogs of the 9th Ward and Pauline,

I am devastated to have to tell you that yesterday, exactly one week shy of a year after her rescue, Pauline died in the ICU of acute fulminating myasthenia gravis, an immune deficiency disorder. We did everything we could to save her, and specialists were consulted from all over the counrty. Yesterday, while visiting Pauline, I asked her to hang on for one more day to let us try one more medication. But I guess she just didn't have it in her, because she went into respiratory paralysis only a few hours later and was never revived.

Of course I am stunned and shocked. Pauline was a mere 1.5 years old and the picture of health up until a couple weeks ago. My friend described her as "constantly ecstatic," and I think that's an apt description. For just under one year, she was truly the happiest pitty in the world. Pauline was recognized everywhere she went. People would ask, "Is that THAT dog?" and "Is that the pink puppy??" Pauline always met them with a smiling face and a wagging tail.

Pauline changed my life, and lives of the 55 other dogs who have come through D9 this year. I want to thank everyone who supported Pauline and me throughout this year. Pauline made something very special happen, and I credit her with bringing joy into my world and with saving the lives of 55 dogs.

Please help turn Pauline's death into a chance at a new life for more stray and abandoned dogs in the 9th Ward. We are asking for donations in memory of Pauline to help us rescue even more dogs in the next year. Please share this information with your friends and let them know how to help. We are accepting donations at Prytania Veterinary Hospital (Prytania and Upperline, 504.899.2828), via paypal to help.pauline@gmail.com, or by checks made payable to Dr. Dusty Allen, sent to Dogs of the 9th Ward, 2315 Congress, NO LA 70117.

Thanks again for your help and support throughout this year. Pauline and I are both extremely grateful. Attached are pictures of Pauline's -- and my -- amazing year.

Gratefully,

Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward
www.dogsofthe9thward.org

Introducing: Stray, Abandoned, and Feral Dog reporting in the 9th Ward

2010-04-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

Dogs of the 9th Ward is proud to launch a new initiative: online stray, feral, and abandoned dog reports for dogs sighted in the 9th Ward. If you see a stray, or know where a stray or feral dog lives, just go to the form, give us a few details, and we will go out to check on the dog's condition and decide what we can do for him/her. If the dog looks like it needs veterinary attention, we will get that done. If the dog seems adoptable, we will do everything possible to get it into an adoption program (ours or another one). And we are also working on feral trapping options.

You can access the form by clicking on this link.

Please help us out by giving this form a try -- and of course let us know what we can do to improve this service! The sooner we learn of a dog's location and condition, the quicker we can get it the help it needs. Unlike Animal Control, we are pretty persistent and don't shrink from a challenge, so we want to know about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

If you provide contact info, we will let you know what our progress is.

Thanks again! Please share this with your friends and help D9 and the dogs of the 9th Ward.

D9 Shout outs!

2010-03-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to give a shout-out to some of our wonderful supporters. Without yall, we couldn't make this happen! Please support these folks' efforts in rescue and beyond!

DR. DUSTY ALLEN and STAR: have graciously helped with lots of spay/neuter and other vetting. These folks run a fabulous house call veterinary practice in the 9th Ward. They also spay/neuter at area shelters. 504.620.1081 to make an appointment.

DR. BIONDOLILLO and THE ENTIRE STAFF OF PRYTANIA VETERINARY HOSPITAL: have vet-checked, spayed/neutered, and treated many of our rescues (as well as many of our personal dogs). Thanks for donated services and products, as well as taking donations for us. This amazing veterinary clinic is at the corner of Prytania and Upperline uptown. 504.899.2828 to make an appointment with any of their incredible doctors. See www.prytaniavet.com.

BRENDA with PET ASYLUM: has donated food and otherwise supported us. Thanks!! Pet Asylum is a really cool locally-owned pet store in the French Quarter. They carry high-quality products and also have a groomer. In addition, Brenda and her staff are very dedicated to rescue and also support WAIF (feral cat TNR and adoptions in the Marigny/Bywater Area). 510 Dumaine Street (in the French Quarter between Decatur and Chartres).

MICHELLE ICAHN: our go-to photographer! http://icahnographs.blogspot.com/ Also and awesome all-around volunteer. Thanks Michelle! (aka adoptive "mom" of D9 girl, Mae)

BEST FRIEND'S GENERAL STORE: has donated a loads of wonderful toys and supplies! This really cool, online-only store based in Arizona has a great selection of toys, as well as positive training tools. Plus, great prices! Please see http://www.bestfriendsgeneralstore.com/

PYRATE WEEK NEW ORLEANS: going on right now!! http://nolapyrateweek.com/ These folks have a great community focus and are donating time and money to D9. Go see them in the French Quarter!!

ZUES' PLACE: has donated food and supported us. Zues' Place is a great dog boarding facility in the Uptown Area. http://www.zeusplace.com/

JODY AND NICK PEARSON: from Slidell, LA, have graciously donated and volunteered on a regular basis. Thanks yall!

MARCIA HILL: has donated a bunch of amazing supplies to D9. Thanks -- we're glad Biloxi knows about us!

AISLINN COSTELLO: has donated many bags of food and volunteered. Thanks Aislinn! (aka adoptive "mom" of our boy, Basil!)

CRYSTAL EMBRY: our go-to bartender. Thanks, Crystal!

NEW ORLEANS DOG NANNY: has boarded our pups, hosted a fundraiser, and sold calendars for us. Thanks! They are a wonderful dog day care and boarding facility in the CBD. http://www.neworleansdognanny.com/

SHEILA STROUP of the TIMES-PICAYUNE: thanks for many wonderful articles!

MELANIE MANNING of VET ADOPTIONS: our mentor/supporter. Thanks! Check out this amazing rescue. http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/va.html

LISE, CHARLOTTE, MIMI, and EVERYONE AT ANIMAL RESCUE NEW ORLEANS (ARNO): always there for us and helping us. http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org/

TARA and EVERYONE AT PITBULL RESCUE CENTRAL (PBRC): amazing national pitbull rescue/advocacy group -- thanks for donating to D9! http://www.pbrc.net/

And finally, our go-to team, who have my eternal gratitude!:

EARLE our foster/volunteer/stray dog catcher extraordinaire! (Gentilly)
EMILY our puppy fosterer/graphic designer! (9th Ward)
ANDREA our long-distance volunteer coordinator! (Tucson, AZ)
BEN our foster! (9th Ward)
JAN foster/volunteer/graphic designer (Warehouse District)
SHERYL foster (9th Ward)

And a million thanks to everyone who has donated, volunteered, and offered their support. We are touched and indebted to you.

Yours,
Kelly
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward

URGENT: SPCA harasses D9, and we need foster homes!

2010-03-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

As the founder and director of Dogs of the 9th Ward, I have been to meetings asking the LA-SPCA to step up their enforcement of animal laws. Many of yall may not be aware that "tethering" an animal as a "primary means of confinement" is illegal in Orleans Parish, pursuant to section 18-2.1(b) of the Municipal Code. Further, every animal is to have shelter (ie, some sort of building with three walls and a roof) and clean water at all times. Why, you might wonder, are there so many chained up dogs throughout the city, many with no shelter and no access to clean water?

Well, the LA-SPCA, a private organization, has contracted with the City of New Orleans to enforce animal laws (all found in Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code; see http://www.cityofno.com/pg-1-42-municipal-code-of-ordinances.aspx). Ana Zorilla, the Director of the SPCA, and those in charge of Animal Control at the SPCA, explain that they are too underfunded and understaffed to enforce all those laws.

And I believe it. On my block, every single occupied house is home to at least one dog. The house on the corner is home to 5 intact pit bulls. Two live inside and three are chained up in the yard with pieces of plywood leaned up against the house and a junked car for shelter. They had a litter of pit puppies several months ago; all 10 puppies died of unknown causes. Then, nextdoor to me, is Roxie, the adorable 10-month-old pit (from the neighbor's past litter) who is chained up to the house. I gave them a harness to use to chain her, because they were using a choke chain. Roxie has no water most of the time, has only under the house for shelter, and is fed primarily left over fried chicken and other table scraps. Then, across the street, two houses have a total of 3 small dogs in them. These are inside dogs, but they are allowed to run loose up and down the street in the morning and evening. Finally, on the far corner, is a house with 5 intact, breeding German Shepherds in the yard. They are not chained, but they also have no shelter and only have water twice a day.

So, given all that -- and just on my block -- I believe the SPCA can't enforce those laws. Not to mention that, supposedly, the SPCA also picks up stray/abandoned dogs and other animals. Well, as most of yall know, the main reason D9 exists is because no one else is picking up the dogs in the 9th Ward.

I have always defended the SPCA's Animal Control (AC). I always tell folks, they try hard and do what they can, but they just don't have the resources for the mammoth job.

Given all this, never did I think that I might be the target of an AC investigation.

Now, I knew that I had more (many more) animals at the house than I'm supposed to. However, the four animal limit applies only to dogs and cats that you "own" (and I do not "own" my fosters, but merely care for them), and "dogs" as defined in Chapter 18 applies only to dogs over 3 months old. So, the two litters of puppies we have on the property don't even count -- they're not over 3 months. Therefore, since my house is zoned 2 lots, I'm allowed to have 8 dogs and cats at it -- since my neighbor and tenant has 2 of her own, I'm still 1 animal over the limit. But again, I don't own them.

At any rate, all my neighbors always told me they supported what I do and have even offered to help. Why, then, would I have any cause for concern?

I don't know how or why, but yesterday afternoon, as I sat with my computer outside with 7 adult dogs and 9 puppies playing peacefully around me, an Animal Control truck rolled up. I went out to meet them. Definitely having one of those sinking feelings in my stomach.

And in the back of my mind: wow, amazing, I've sure as hell never seen yall in my neighborhood before. I thought maybe you were afraid of the 9th Ward.

The AC officer told me she was here to do a condition check on my animals. I asked why. She said she couldn't say. I told her that I knew that, if someone had complained, that was confidential; but I wanted to know if someone had complained, and if so, what the complaint was. She told me it was against policy to tell me.

I explained to her that I had a lot of fosters at the house, that I run a rescue group pending 501(c)(3) status (she asked, "What's 501 mean?"). She then asked if I was affiliated with any rescue. No, I explained; I run a rescue. I pick up dogs off the streets of the 9th Ward, get them vetted, evaluated, and fostered until they get adopted. I told her I've worked with ARNO, the Sula Foundation, and the SPCA in the past. I told her that I've been involved in pulling dogs from the SPCA and that, in fact, I've been in meetings with Ana Zorilla about Animal Control.

She told me she'd go call her supervisor. A few minutes later she re-emerged from her truck saying that her supervisor had told her to go ahead with the condition check, but that it was okay that I had so many animals at the house. I told her fine.

About 20 minutes later, the AC officer was finally ready to come in the house. I had crated all the rescues; my own dogs were loose in the house. "Do they all stay indoors?" she asked me. Yep, I told her. Just like you see them right now. "Why were they outside when I got here?" Well, I just got home from class -- I'm a student in law school -- and everyone usually comes outside for the rest of the afternoon if the weather's nice. We'd all been out playing.

"Why aren't your dogs in crates?" Well, because I don't crate my dogs.

"Where do they sleep then?" In my bed, of course! "All those dogs?" Yes, damn it! (Of course I didn't say damn it.) Yes, ma'am, I share my bed with a St. Bernard, a Great Dane, a pit bull, and a Mastiff puppy. Hence I have no boyfriend.

She asked for each dog's name, breed, and age. She wrote it all down painfully slowly. My St. Bernard, whose name is Chalmette (get it -- St. Bernard, Chalmette?), became "Shelmette" for her purposes. Whatever.

"And," the AC Officer asked, "are any of these dogs vaccinated?"

Of course, they're all up to date on all shots. All my own dogs and the older fosters are fully vaccinated. They've each had 4 rounds of shots, including Rabies and bordatella. The younger pups have had one or two rounds of shots, depending on how long we've had them.

As I held one of the Who Dat puppies up to have her mug shot taken, the ACO noticed her spay incision. "Oh," she said, "has she been spayed recently?"

Yep.

"Have any of the others?"

Yes! All the dogs are spayed/neutered. Every single one! My dogs are fixed because I want them to be; my rescues are always fixed before adoption, no exceptions.

"Okay," she said. "But the puppies haven't had their Rabies shots?"

No. They haven't. They can't! Legally, a puppy must be 12 weeks before they get their Rabies shot. Only a licensed vet can do it, and it's illegal for them to do it before 12 weeks.

"Well," she said, "you'll have to get that done, because that's a violation. I'll give you 15 days to get their Rabies shots and fax over confirmation. If you don't, they'll be impounded."

But -- they're not old enough! So now, guess what: I legally have to keep the pups until they're old enough to have their shots. That's insane. Further, it's explicit in the Code that there was no violation. Only "dogs" over the age of 3 months need to have their Rabies shots. No mention is made of puppies under that age.

Fine, whatever. So the ACO checked to see if "each dog had food, water, and shelter." Of course they have shelter; they live inside! Yes, she said, but she needs to make sure it's adequate shelter. How is my house not adequate shelter? I live here!

We went outside to photograph the yard. She also took the liberty of photographing my Japanese Magnolia tree -- although I fail to see how my beautiful, flowering tree relates to my dogs' care. "You really need dog houses out here," she told me. Why? The dogs are all inside dogs! "Well, if they stay out for more than 45 minutes, they need dog houses. In case the weather gets bad."

I took a deep breath. "All my dogs, including the fosters, are inside dogs. They do not go out unless I'm there. If it rains, or is hot, or is cold, they come back in. I do not leave them out over night. I do not leave them out for the whole day. They live in the house."

"All of them?"

I don't think she ever believed me.

"Where," she asked, "are the pit bulls puppies? And the two pit moms?"

I told her I have no idea what she's talking about. I have no pit puppies. I have no mama dogs at the house, period. She just shrugged. I actually said, "Are you sure you have the right house?"

So, I got a 5-page "violation report" filled out. It fails to state any violation. All the dogs are listed as being either 4's or 5's on the 1-5 scale of health. The puppies got 4's. I have no idea why; they look healthy to me. Bart, one foster, got a 4. I asked why. She said, "Because he's not in perfect shape." She didn't explain what about him looked not perfect. She failed to rate any of my dogs. Just as well: Pauline probably would have gotten a 2 for being overweight with hair missing from her chronic demodex mange.

As we inspected the yard, my neighbor's tethered pit bull Roxie barked at us. The ACO didn't mention her. Little dogs ran up to greet her as she left -- out, loose, no owner even in sight. The ACO didn't comment.

At the end of the day, my point is this: given the limited resources that AC has, it's completely insane that they spent more than 2 hours at my house, investigating my dogs. All my dogs have full vet records. My own dogs eat Merrick brand dog food (main ingredient: Venison. cost: $60/bag -- I, meanwhile, eat mostly exclusively brand-X food. My dogs come first.) My fosters are eating super-premium Blue Buffalo and Diamond. All my dogs, including my fosters, are current on Heartworm preventative. All of them are spayed/neutered. All sleep inside. All get hours of exercise each day. My dogs are my life. I love each and every one of my fosters as well. I've spent hundreds of dollars of my own money and untold hours saving my fosters' lives. This is a labor of love. I am both insulted that I had to be subjected to a search and threatened with seizure of my foster puppies, and also appalled -- truly stunned -- that the SPCA would waste almost half of an ACO's day at my house when there are dogs dying in the streets right now.

Even better: both litters of puppies would be at the SPCA right now, except that the SPCA failed to respond at all to the call about the Mardi Gras puppies, and they deemed the Who Dat puppies were "impossible" to get. Apparently ACOs would rather harass me than crawl under a house where there is a newborn litter of puppies -- during the hard freeze we had in January. Along with three friends/volunteers, we spent several hours getting the pups out, crawling under a house only 12" off the ground. It took a good 3 hours -- but you know what? They could have done it in the amount of time they spent telling me I should get dog houses for my inside dogs.

All of this is to say: first of all, I'm asking that everyone fill out and submit our brief survey showing your support in REFORMING ANIMAL CONTROL IN NEW ORLEANS. We need functional AC services that enforce laws properly and reliably. The more names we get, the greater a chance we'll succeed!

Second, and equally important, D9 IS IN DESPERATE AND URGENT NEED OF FOSTERS. The three dogs over the age of 3 months who are currently fostered at my house are Slim, Bart, and Tip. They are all with me because they were adopted out and returned to us. Unwilling to let them go to a shelter or end up in any unfavorable home, we took them all back. Now, however, we urgently need to get them into a different foster home, in case the SPCA decides to continue its harassment of D9. Because I, as Director of D9 and loving foster of these dogs, would rather die than see them end up at the SPCA, I am asking that someone open their homes to any one of these amazing dogs. That is the only way we can be 100% sure of their safety.

Please contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com with any questions or to offer your support.

Please don't forget to fill out the survey below so that we can make sure these urgent and dire issues get addressed by the SPCA and the City of New Orleans. Share with everyone!

Gratefully,

Kelly Gaus
Director
Dogs of the 9th Ward
kellygaus@gmail.com

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2010-03-11T09:56:00.001-08:00

adoptable dogs

2010-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Check out our adoptable dogs' profiles! We have 18 adoptable dogs/puppies right now. If you have any questions about anyone, please contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com

ADOPTABLE DOG PROFILES:

7th Ward Emma's profile
Baby's profile
Bart's profile
Breesie's profile
Chaos -- profile soon!
Derby's profile - pending!!
Drew's profile
Emma's profile
Eve aka Nemesis' profile
Iris' Profile
Deuce's Profile
Muse's Profile
Shangri-La's profile
Slim's profile
The Lady Motley
Tip's profile

Tip's profile

2010-03-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Meet Tip!

age: 10 months
breed: pit bull
color: red nose/white with red
size/weight: large/55 pounds (when full grown)
full grown?: no
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: very good
playful?: very playful
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Tip was rescued as a stray pup, adopted out, but brought back because she was "too big." Now she's settled into fostering excellently, but craves her own forever home.
to find out more about Tip: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

The Lady Motley's profile

2010-03-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Meet the Lady Motley!

age: 15 months
breed: boxer/beagle/?? mix
color: tan with black mask
size/weight: medium/35 pounds
full grown?: yes
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: low-moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: tolerates, but not great
playful?: very playful
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: no, but non-destructive when alone
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: The Lady Motley was abandoned by her former owner and a D9 volunteer found her and took her in. She has been with us since October, 2009!
to find out more about The Lady Motley: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Slim's profile

2010-03-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Meet Slim!

age: 16 months
breed: flat coated retriever mix (maybe with lab?)
color: black with some white on chest
size/weight: large/70 pounds
sex: male
activity level: high
dominance with other dogs: low-moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: chases, but non-aggressive
playful?: extremely playful
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Slim was abandoned by his previous owner when they moved away. Then a woman took him in, but abandoned him here with us. Then this boy was adopted out, only to be returned for being "too playful." Can't someone help this lover find a forever home?
to find out more about Slim: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $75 adoption donation apply.

Shockey's profile

2010-03-10T13:01:00.001-08:00

Meet Shockey!

age: 10 weeks
breed: German Shepherd mix
color: gray with black
size/weight: medium-large/50-55 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: low-medium
dominance with other dogs: low-moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: fairly playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Shockey was rescued as a 3-week-old pup from under a house in freezing weather.
to find out more about Shockey: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Shangri-La's profile

2010-03-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

Meet Shangri-La!

age: 12 weeks
breed: lab/pit
color: black
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Shangri-La was rescued as a 8-week-old pup from under a house.
to find out more about Shangri-La: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Sasha's profile

2010-03-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

Meet Sasha!

age: 1.5 years
sex: female
breed: pit bull
color: red nose red with white
size/weight: large/60 pounds
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: not sure, but we think not.
playful?: moderately
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: wants to chase small animals, suspicious of other dogs when on the leash
health issues?: being treated for heartworms
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Sasha dumped during rush hour traffic. She was a breeder in her previous life.
to find out more about Sasha: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Roscoe's profile

2010-03-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Meet Roscoe!

Roscoe is pending adoption to a wonderful family in Baton Rouge, LA! We are still taking applications on Roscoe.

age: 5-6 months
sex: male
breed: pit bull
color: brindle with white
size/weight: large/60 pounds (when full grown)
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: low
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: excellent
playful?: very
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Roscoe was abandoned chained up after his owner was arrested.
to find out more about Roscoe: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Muses' profile

2010-03-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Meet Muses!

age: 12 weeks
breed: lab/pit
color: white with brown
size/weight: medium-large/40-45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: low
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Muses was rescued as a 8-week-old pup from under a house.
to find out more about Muses: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Deuce's profile

2010-03-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

Meet Deuce!

Deuce is pending adoption to a wonderful family in Ontario, Canada! We are still taking applications on Deuce.

age: 10 weeks
breed: German Shepherd mix
color: black with gold
size/weight: medium-large/45-50 pounds (when full grown)
sex: male
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: very playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Deuce was rescued as a 3-week-old pup from under a house in freezing weather.
to find out more about Deuce: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Iris' profile

2010-03-10T12:31:00.001-08:00

Meet Iris!

age: 12 weeks
breed: lab/pit
color: black with white
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: moderate-high
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Iris was rescued as a 8-week-old pup from under a house.
to find out more about Iris: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Fujita's profile

2010-03-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

Meet Fujita!

age: 10 weeks
breed: German Shepherd mix
color: tan with black and white blaze on chest
size/weight: medium-large/45-50 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: very playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Fujita was rescued as a 3-week-old pup from under a house in freezing weather.
to find out more about Fujita: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Eve (aka Nemesis) profile

2010-03-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Meet Eve aka Nemesis!

age: 12 weeks
breed: lab/pit brown
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: low
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: good
playful?: playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Eve was rescued as a 8-week-old pup from under a house.
to find out more about Eve: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Emma's profile

2010-03-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Meet Emma!

age: 2 years
sex: female
breed: pit bull
color: white with tan
size/weight: large/60 pounds
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: no, bad.
playful?: moderately
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: chases small animals, suspicious of strangers
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Emma was found as a stray starving on the streets.
to find out more about Emma: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Drew's profile

2010-03-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Meet Drew!

age: 10 weeks
breed: German Shepherd mix
color: tan with black
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: high
dominance with people: moderate
good with cats?: good
playful?: very playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Drew was rescued as a 3-week-old pup from under a house in freezing weather.
to find out more about Drew: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Derby's profile

2010-03-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

Meet Derby!

age: 1 year
breed: pit bull
color: brindle with white
size/weight: large/55 pounds (when at a healthy weight)
sex: male
activity level: medium
dominance with other dogs: low
dominance with people: very low
good with cats?: unknown
playful?: very playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: no
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: being treated for severe infection and starvation
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: will be before adoption

history: Derby was found on the street in very bad shape by some D9 volunteers. We believe he may have been used as a bait dog in the past because he has a lot of bite wounds.
to find out more about Derby: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Breesie's profile

2010-03-10T10:45:00.001-08:00

Meet Breesie!

age: 10 weeks
breed: German Shepherd mix
color: tan with black
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds (when full grown)
sex: female
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: moderate
dominance with people: moderate
good with cats?: good
playful?: very playful
house trained?: no
crate trained?: 50%
leash trained?: no
obedience training: none
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Breesie was rescued as a 3-week-old pup from under a house in freezing weather.
to find out more about Breesie: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

Bart's Profile

2010-03-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

Meet Bart!

age: 1 year
sex: male
breed: catahoula/beagle
color: white with tan
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds
activity level: high
dominance with other dogs: low
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: very good
playful?: extremely playful
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: none
health issues?: none
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes

history: Bart was rescued as a 5-month-old pup in June, 2009. He had been living on the streets his whole life.
to find out more about Bart: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $75 adoption donation apply.

Baby's profile!

2010-03-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Meet Baby!

age: 1.5 years
sex: female
breed: pit bull/Staffordshire terrier
color: tan
size/weight: medium/40 pounds
full grown?: yes
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: high
dominance with people: low
good with cats?: no, bad.
playful?: very with people
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: chases small animals, dog selective (ie, picky about canine company)
health issues?: heartworms, finishing treatment
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes
BABY'S PERFECT HOME: would have no other animals or only older, low-key dogs

history: Baby was found as a stray starving on the streets.
to find out more about Baby: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

7th Ward Emma's Profile

2010-03-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

Meet Emma!

age: 1.5 years
sex: female
breed: pit bull
color: brindle
size/weight: medium-large/45 pounds
full grown?: yes
activity level: medium-high
dominance with other dogs: very low
dominance with people: very low
good with cats?: very good
playful?: extremely
house trained?: yes
crate trained?: yes
leash trained?: yes
obedience training: basic
behavioral issues?: destructive when left alone
health issues?: heartworms, being treated
spayed/vaccinated/chipped?: yes
EMMA'S PERFECT HOME WOULD HAVE: dogs, cats, kids...whatever!

history: Emma was found stray after apparently being used as a breeder.
to find out more about Emma: contact dogsofthe9thward@gmail.com. Application, home check, vet reference, and $125 adoption donation apply.

please help!

2010-03-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

With almost 30 adoptable dogs/puppies, we are in desperate need of donations! Please consider donating -- any amount will help! It's easy to donate by credit card or via paypal:

Please check out our amazing adoptable dogs!

2009-12-15T17:05:00.000-08:00

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updates on available dogs

2009-11-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

We have 5 dogs available for adoption.

Scout is a 3-year-old house trained purebred German Shepherd. 70 pounds.

Slim is a 1-year-old retriever mix who is being returned to us. 65 pounds.

The Lady Motley is a boxer/spaniel mix. She's about 1 year old.

Genna is a purebred pit bull. She's about 2 years old and will be available after she's spayed.

Cici is a corgi mix. She's about 1 year old.

All these dogs are fully vetted, spayed/neutered, and ready to go. All are friendly with both people and other dogs. Please email kellygaus@gmail.com for more information.

Slim is happy at home, and D9 prepares for Tropical Storm Ida!

2009-11-09T14:53:00.001-08:00

I'm pleased to say that Slim, our Retriever mix whom we rescued in August, is doing great in his new home in the Memphis area. He's checking out his new digs and wagging his tail non-stop -- typical Slim! We're so happy it worked out for this sweet, beautiful boy!

All the 9th Ward dogs are hunkering down here in the 9th Ward for Tropical Storm Ida. I was thinking I didn't need to secure the yard at all, but when I got home today, the doggy pool (aka baby pool) was over the fence and in the middle of the street -- so apparently a little bit of securing is necessary! Now we're all ready to watch the show.

We do expect to lose power, so I might not be as quick to respond to emails as usual. If you have any questions about D9, please email me at kellygaus@gmail.com -- and weather permitting, I'll get back to you soon!

Slim and Ryda go home!

2009-11-07T18:27:00.001-08:00

Ryda the Rottweiler: abused and abandoned, now adopted.
pending heartworm treatment.

Slim the flat-coated retriever mix.
abandoned, now adopted.

A good week at D9! Two of our amazing adoptable dogs, Ryda the Rottie and Slim the Retriever mix went home this week! Ryda went to a great home in the Mid City area of New Orleans, and Slim is making the trip all the way to Memphis.

That means that from a peak of 13 dogs, D9 is down to 3 adoptables: Bart (beagle/catahoula, 11 months), the Lady Motley (boxer/spaniel/??, 11 months), and Scout (German Shepherd, 3 years).

If you're interested in finding out more about any of these great dogs, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

pending adoptions and donations desperately needed!

2009-11-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

We at D9 are very pleased to say that two of our dogs, Ryda the Rottweiler and Slim the retriever mix, are pending adoption! In addition, we've had some wonderful interest in some of our other dogs recently. We're very pleased with this and hopeful that some of our adoptables will be going to wonderful forever homes very soon!

We are, however, in desperate need of foster homes and donations. We are still in debt to our vet, and we still only have about two foster homes. Without more fosters and more funding, we are unable to take in any more dogs.

We are working on completing our 501(c)(3) status and hope that we will be building capacity as we move forward.

D9 has rescued 18 dogs off the streets of the 9th Ward in 6 months. However, please remember that there are literally hundreds of dogs in the 9th Ward wandering the streets every day. These dogs are meeting fates far worse than euthanasia: these dogs are being hit by cars, starving, dying of disease. It is easy to forget about these dogs, hidden in an area of the city many residents never have occasion to visit. Please help us raise awareness about this very real, desperate situation. If you are able to help us, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

The dogs below are living in the streets of the 9th Ward right now. They have not been rescued (one is deceased).

D9 rescued these puppies, but the older dog was killed
about 1 month later. He was hit by a car.

This dog is wandering around N. Galvez St.

This shepherd mix is wandering on Desire St.

become our friend on facebook!

2009-11-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

D9 has a new Facebook page -- check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogs-of-the-9th-Ward/330570150159

Lots of photos, updates, and more coming soon!

Please also check out our Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44159625@N04/ Lots of pictures of all the D9 dogs, past and present.

Thanks so much to our dedicated foster and volunteer, Myrtle, for helping out with this! If you've adopted a 9th Ward dog and would like us to add pictures of your 9th Ward pup in his/her new home, please let me know at kellygaus@gmail.com.

hot off the press! 2010 D9 rescue calendar

2009-10-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

Please support D9 and get a really cool calendar!

The Dogs of the 9th Ward 2010 features 12 pages of pictures of our beautiful rescues. All the dogs in the calendar were rescued off the streets of the 9th Ward. These are some of the 18 dogs we've rescued in the past 6 months. The calendar has some details about their rescue. We hope that the calendar will both raise awareness about the really dire situation here in the 9th Ward, and raise much-needed funds to help D9 get more of these dogs to safety.

The calendars are 8.5" x 11" and printed on high-quality glossy cardstock. The cost of a calendar is $15. If you choose to order one online, please send $15 + $3 s/h to help.pauline@gmail.com via paypal, or contact me at kellygaus@gmail.com for more information and payment options.

Basil goes home!

2009-10-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that Basil, our 5-year-old abandoned hound mix, was adopted on Monday. We're very happy for him!

Also, Ryda the Rottie is at the vet getting neutered as I write this, and he is pending adoption. Hopefully Ryda will be going to his new home next week.

That means our remaining adoptables are Bart, Scout, Slim, and the Lady M. We expect that they will be joining us for some fundraising/adoption events in mid-November and December -- stay tuned for details!

D9 updates

2009-10-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

D9 fosters Slim and Bart attempt to play tug of war with a Kong

Thanks to Canine Connection for including us in their BARKtober Fest event yesterday!

We have several pending adoptions, which may free up a little foster space, but D9 is in desperate need of money for vet bills before we will be able to take in any more dogs. Right now we are trying to raise money for Ryda's heartworm treatment and neuter. The total bill will be in the $1000 range -- and we're only about 10% of the way there! So, we are financially unable to take in any additional dogs at this time.

I'm also trying to get the foster numbers down at my house. Even with one less dog around (my poor Remy!), having three here with me is quite a lot.

Please spread the word about the amazing dogs that we have! The current, up-to-the-moment list is:

BART: 35-40 pound beagle/catahoula mix male, very sweet, smart, loves everyone, about 11 months old

BASIL: (adoption pending) 70-pound male black and tan hound mix, very affectionate and easy going, about 5 years old

THE LADY MOTLEY: (adoption pending) 35-pound boxer/spaniel mix, female, very sweet and fun, about 11 months old

RYDA: (adoption pending) 80-pound purebred Rottweiler male, loving and gentle, about 1.5 years old

SCOUT: 70-pound purebred German Shepherd male, shy and gentle, about 3 years old

SLIM: 65-pound retriever mix male, super-friendly and playful, about 1 year old

All these amazing dogs are fully vaccinated, treated for heartworms if necessary, spayed/neutered, microchipped, and very thoroughly vet checked. Application, vet reference, home check, and $100 adoption donation are required to adopt any of our dogs. For more information about any of these dogs, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

adoption event/fundraiser today!

2009-10-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

D9 will be at Canine Connection's BARKtober Fest today from 4pm-8pm! This fun event will include trick or treating for dogs and a canine costume contest. Please bring your dogs out for a Halloween party of their very own!

D9 is in desperate need of donations, and we will be selling handmade ceramic pumpkin candle holders, as well as D9 logo gear and handmade dog bowls.

We expect that Bart and Ryda will be our attending 9th Ward dogs tonight. Information will be available about all the other 9th Ward dogs as well. Please spread the word!

Remy's Memorial Rescue Fund

2009-10-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Remy the Saint Bernard

rescued 2006 - died October 19, 2009

Hello D9 followers,

As some of yall know, I lost my beloved Saint Bernard, Remy, to cancer this past Monday.

I am starting a rescue fund in his name. I hope you will consider donating to Remy's Memorial Rescue Fund, and please spread the word. All funds in Remy's name will be used for "emergency rescues" -- dogs who are very sick, badly injured, or otherwise in great, urgent need. An emphasis will be placed on rescuing XL breeds, as well as pit bulls (Pauline was Remy's great love). These dogs will be from the New Orleans area, and will be the only dogs in our program not necessarily from the 9th Ward. Remy's Fund will allow us to help some of the city's neediest dogs -- and I know Remy would like that.

Remy's story is pretty remarkable. He was left wandering in rural Mississippi after Katrina. He came to me starving, with heartworms, and suffering from infected bullet wounds. One front leg was so severely swollen and infected that my vet and I were concerned we might lose the limb. Amazingly, Remy recovered entirely from everything, with only a few scars to show from his ordeal. He bonded deeply with me, but loved everyone, and touched a lot of lives and made a lot of people laugh. At the end of his life, he was generously sharing his home with three of our D9 rescues. Sadly, Remy's condition worsened quickly, and on Friday he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On Monday, we had to let Remy go. Remy was only about 6 years old, and I only had him since 2006. But I feel like I had him my whole life, and I truly owe him my life. After Katrina, Remy was constantly by my side, helping me recover from anorexia and depression as the city struggled to rebuild.

Remy was an amazing dog, and owning him changed my life. I made some wonderful friends who I never would have met if I hadn't had Remy. Sadly, one of those friends, LJ Kerr, who owned a Great Dane, also passed away just over a year ago. A true fan of big, slobbery dogs, I know LJ would support Remy's Fund if she could.

Thank you all for your help and support, and please consider making a donation to Remy's fund. To donate, please send checks payable to Prytania Veterinary Hospital to me at 2315 Congress, New Orleans LA 70117. The above picture is Remy on his last afternoon with us. The pictures below are Remy in happier, younger days.

Gratefully,

Kelly

Dogs of the 9th Ward

Remy, tired from bar hopping in the French Quarter (2006)

Remy just fitting into his favorite chair (2008)

Remy dresses as Deuce McAlister at Barkus 2007

Remy gets ready for Carnival 2009

D9 at BARKtober Fest this Saturday!

2009-10-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

BARKtober Fest is an annual event hosted by Canine Connection, a full-service dog boarding facility. The fun will include a Canine Costume Contest, music, food, and drinks. In addition, D9 will be on scene showing off our dogs and raising awareness about our work -- and, hopefully, raising some much-needed funds as well. We'll be joined by the Sula Foundation and Louisiana Boxer Rescue. Proceeds from this event benefit the LA-SPCA. Please come out and support us and other rescuers.

For details, please see the story on nola.com: http://www.nola.com/haunted/index.ssf/2009/10/canine_connection_to_host_4th.html

please join D9 at the Bywater BARK Market tomorrow!

2009-10-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

All our amazing dogs will be at the Bywater BARK Market tomorrow, Saturday, from 9am-4pm! We're really excited about this event, and it should be a lot of fun. Even our new boy, Ryda, will be there!

Check out Chris Bynum's article about the event at nola.com: http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/10/bywater_bark_market_dog_adopti.html

Lots of other adoptables will be there, too, so you're sure to meet your best friend! Please spread the word.

one adoption! updates on Ryda and the other D9 dogs

2009-10-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Our second to last little girl, Charlie, went to a wonderful forever home on Monday evening! We're very excited for her. Above, she is cuddling with her new big buddy, Blanks. She is doing very well in her new home, and we're happy to see it.

Now our only remaining puppy from our litter of 6 is Andi, a sweet, shy little girl. Andi was very sad the first night her sister was gone, but now has adjusted and is bonding with her bigger foster friends. Andi will be at our upcoming adoption day on Saturday, and we certainly hope she'll find her forever home!

Ryda the Rottweiler and Pauline the pit bull

In other news, Ryda is doing very well. He's really coming out of his shell and becoming much more confident and less afraid of humans. He usually comes up to me happily and has stopped cringing most of the time. Ryda has also been hanging out with Slim so much he's become a retriever. He's very good at it, too! Now that he's put on a bit of much-needed weight, he's really become a strong, athletic boy -- and stunningly beautiful. He loves to prance around the yard, and it's a joy to watch.

Ryda is learning to walk on leashes, starting on obedience, and also is doing very well at crate training. He is progressing well on house training too. He also rides nicely in the car. In no time this boy is going to become an amazing dog!

Bart strikes a lovely autumn pose.

All the other D9 dogs are doing well. Scout and Basil are finishing up heartworm treatment; soon they'll be good as new! Slim and the Lady Motley are working on their manners and obedience. Meanwhile, Bart had a fall photoshoot, as you can see above. He has really grown into a beautiful, gentle boy.

Looking ahead to the Bywater Bark Market! and, 9th ward news

2009-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Newsflash! Next Saturday, from 9am-4pm, D9 will be at the Bywater BARK Market! This should be a lot of fun: it's the Bywater Art Market, but it benefits the LA-SPCA, and all of our adoptable dogs will be there! In addition, Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, the LA-SPCA, and P.A.W.S. (Plaquemines Parish Animal Welfare Society) will also be holding adoption events, plus there will be lots of dog-themed vendors there. And, the top it all off, there will be $25 microchipping! If your dog isn't chipped, please come get it done -- it can really be a life saver if your dog ever gets lost.

We're especially excited because this will be our first adoption event in our very own 9th Ward!

For more information about the Bark Market and the list of vendors, please see The Bywater Art Market's website.

Please tell all your friends that we will be there. We will have 5 older pups/adults dogs and 2 young puppies there. (Our newest addition, Ryda, will likely not be able to attend, but we'll have information about him, too.) For more information about any of the dogs, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

Also, we unfortunately broke New Orleans' 15-day no-murder streak with a murder in the Desire Area of the 9th Ward, right at the Sampson Playground, which I pass by all the time. (The Desire Area borders my own neighborhood, the Florida Area.) We love our neighborhood and are very sad about this. We at D9 remain dedicated to making a positive impact in our home area.

Ryda: good and bad news from the vet

2009-10-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Well, Ryda took his first ride in the car to the vet yesterday, and we're SO proud of him: he did great! He rode quite nicely and although he was very scared at the vet (he'd probably never seen so many people in one place, plus he is scared of his leash), he did great and was sweet and gentle with everyone. This is one amazing boy!

The vet puts Ryda's age at about 1.5 years and he's a bit underweight at almost 80 pounds. Unfortunately, he also has heartworms, which will cost between $500-$700 to treat. We are in desperate need of donations towards this, so if anyone can help, please let me know! The plan is to give him some time to adjust to his new life and then have him neutered, and then once he's recovered from that and the weather has cooled a bit, we'll start his heartworm treatment.

We are taking applications on this sweet, amazing boy. He will really make someone a wonderful, wonderful dog. Please spread the word, and please let me know if you're able to help out financially in any way!

updated 9th Ward dog bios: check out all the amazing adoptable dogs!

2009-10-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

There are 8 amazing 9th Ward dogs who need to find loving forever homes! Please see everyone's updated pictures and bios. For more information, please contact kellygaus@gmail.com. Please forward this information to all your friends!

ANDI

Andi is one of the 9th Ward puppies who were rescued from the Florida Area of the 9th Ward about 3 weeks ago. They were orphaned after the mother died. Their mother hung herself from the chain she was tethered with when she tried to jump over a four-foot chain link fence. We think they are lab/shepherd mixes and we expect them to be about 50 pounds when full grown. When they came into rescue, the 9th Ward puppies were completely unsocialized with people and were very shy and scared. Now Andi is friendly and loves to be held and cuddled. All the puppies were underweight and worm infested. They all had cuts and scrapes. In addition, Andi had a horrible burn scar on her tail; happily, it's completely healed and her hair has even started to grow back!

Andi is now about 13 weeks old and one of the remaining two 9th Ward puppies we have for adoption. She's very sweet and totally adorable. Andi was one of the smallest and most submissive pups of her litter. She does well in a crate and is well on her way to being house trained. Andi loves other dogs and kids and would be great in a family setting. Andi has had her first two sets of shots and has been dewormed twice. An application, home check, vet reference, and $150 adoption fee are required to adopt Andi. If you are interested in adopting Andi, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

BART

Bart was rescued as a five-month-old puppy in June. He was living under vacant houses in the Florida Area and eating out of trash cans. That didn't get him down in the least! He was very happy and social. Bart was severely worm- and flea-infested and also had demodex mange when he was rescued. He was also severely malnourished. Now, he's 9-10 months old, extremely healthy, and a very happy, sweet boy.

Bart is a beagle/catahoula mix. He's a petite boy at only 35 pounds. Bart is very energetic but also does well in a crate and rides perfectly in the car. Bart's favorite pastime is playing in the hose! He is submissive and gentle and good with all people and dogs. Bart has never met anyone he didn't like. Bart has been to day care and done very well. Bart would be an amazing dog for an active family -- I couldn't think of a better running partner. Bart is house trained and doing well on leash and obedience training, but he'll need more work. Bart is now fully vaccinated, neutered, heartworm negative and on preventative, flea-, demodex-, and worm-free, and microchipped. An application, vet reference, home check, and $100 adoption donation are required to adopt Bart. If you are interested in adopting or fostering Bart, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

BASIL

Basil was abandoned by his former family at the Industrial Canal in the 9th Ward. Basil, however, is not letting that get him down! Basil is extremely happy, outgoing, and very affectionate. Basil is about 4-5 years old and 75 pounds. He is a black and tan hound mix. When we rescued Basil in June, he had a horrible infection and was also heartworm positive. Now he's been dewormed and treated for infection, and he is just finishing up his heartworm treatment. Happily, he's done great, and he should be good as new within the next two weeks!

Basil is fully vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered. Basil would love to find a home with his buddy Scout, the German Shepherd, who was also abandoned with him. Basil is a very laid back, easy going guy whose favorite activity is laying around and hanging out with you. Basil would always be happy to spend Sunday on the couch watching the game! Basil is good with most dogs and he likes to play with them. He is also very gentle with children. Basil would be a fabulous dog for a laid back, fun-loving family. Basil does have beginning stages of arthritis, which may require medication for pain in the future (but doesn't slow him down now). We have x-rays of his hips and back which will be given to his new family. An application, home check, vet reference, and $100 adoption are required to adopt Basil. (If you're interested in adopting Basil and his friend Scout together, there will only be one $100 adoption donation.) If you are interested in adopting Basil, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

CHARLIE

Charlie is one of the 9th Ward puppies who were rescued from the Florida Area of the 9th Ward about 3 weeks ago. They were orphaned after the mother died. Their mother hung herself from the chain she was tethered with when she tried to jump over a four-foot chain link fence. We think they are lab/shepherd mixes and we expect them to be about 50 pounds when full grown. When they came into rescue, the 9th Ward puppies were completely unsocialized with people and were very shy and scared. Now Charlie is very outgoing and loves to hang out with people. Charlie had a number of scrapes an abrasions when she came into rescue, but they are all healed now.

Charlie is now about 13 weeks old. Charlie is one of two sweet girls we have left from this litter. Charlie was the smallest puppy in the litter and one of the most submissive. She loves other dogs and is very playful. Charlie does well in a crate and is well on her way to being house trained. She's so smart, she's even started to learn to sit! Charlie is truly adorable and will be great for any family. Charlie has had her first two rounds of vaccines, been treated for a number of ailments, and has been thoroughly dewormed. An application, home check, vet reference, and $150 adoption donation are required to adopt Charlie. If you are interested in adopting Charlie, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

THE LADY MOTLEY

The Lady was abandoned by her former owner who was no longer able to take care of her. The Lady is a young lady, only about 10 months old. She is quite healthy, except for being a bit underweight. The Lady is a petite girl of only about 30 pounds. Our best guess at her breed is boxer/shepherd/spaniel mix -- but really, she's a purebred 9th Ward mutt!

The Lady is very sweet and loves everyone. She's submissive and gets along very well with other dogs -- although she can wear them out pretty quickly! The Lady is very energetic and playful, so she would do really well with an active, fun family, or with another young, playful canine buddy. She loves cats, but perhaps a little too much -- she wants to play with them. Motley is a very fun dog, but she'll need work on obedience and walking on a leash. She loves to chew, so chew toys are essential. With patience and training, the Lady will be an amazing girl, as she's very smart and eager to please. The Lady is fully vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed. She is heartworm negative. An application, home check, vet reference, and adoption donation will be required to adopt The Lady Motley. If you are interested in adopting The Lady Motley, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

RYDA (not yet available for adoption, but taking applications)

Ryda was found wandering in the Florida Area of the 9th Ward last Saturday. He has clearly been abused as he is extremely skittish and scared of people. He is terrified of being hit, kicked, or having things thrown at him. However, in the five days we've had him, he's made incredible progress. He is becoming much more social and adjusting to his surroundings. We hope that he will be available for adoption soon.

Although very scared, Ryda is one of the sweetest, least aggressive dogs you'll ever meet. He's great with other dogs. He seems to get along with both male and female dogs of all sizes. Ryda is very smart and attentive; he's a very quick learner. He has made such great progress already that we're sure he will come around to his new, safe life quickly. He will need a very loving, stable home environment where he can get lots of attention. Ryda will not be available for adoption until he has become a bit more confident, and he also needs to be vetted and neutered. If you're interested in adopting or fostering Ryda, please fill out an application. Once Ryda is treated for any medical conditions, dewormed, vaccinated, and neutered, he will be available for adoption to a very special home. Application, home check, vet reference, and $100 adoption donation will apply. If you are interested in adopting or fostering Ryda, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

SCOUT

Scout was abandoned by his former family along with his buddy Basil the hound mix. Scout is a beautiful, gentle purebred German Shepherd. He is about 2-3 years old and weighs about 70 pounds. Scout is a very sensitive soul and his abandonment seems to have taken quite a toll on him. He is very sweet by shy and nervous. He needs a very loving, stable environment to help him gain confidence.

Scout is an active dog, and as soon as he finished his heartworm treatment (about two weeks), he will need exercise like runs or long walks. He is a well-behaved boy who loves to hang out with you on the couch. A true shepherd, he is very smart and bonds strongly with his family. Scout would love to stay with his buddy Basil, so if you could find it in your heart to take two big, lovable dogs into your life, Scout wants you to know that just one adoption fee will cover both of them! Scout is almost done with heartworm treatment and is vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered. Application, $100 adoption donation, home check, and vet reference are required to adopt Scout. If you are interested in adopting Scout, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

SLIM

Soulja Slim was abandoned by his former owners when they moved out of their home in the Lower 9th Ward. He came into rescue with his friend Mia who has since been adopted. Slim is a very healthy and happy one-year-old flat coated retriever mix. He looks and acts just like a golden retriever, except he's black. Slim is smart, attentive, and very affectionate. He is good with all other dogs and all people, including kids. A true retriever, Slim loves to fetch and also loves water.

Slim weighs about 65 pounds and is a really beautiful dog. He still has a lot of puppy energy and will need both further training and lots of exercise. He would be a perfect running or hiking partner, and also a great candidate for trips to the dog park, frisbee, flyball, obedience, or agility. Although he hasn't had any training in his past, he listens very well and is very eager to please. Slim would be perfect in a household with active kids or another playful dog to hang out with. Slim is heartworm negative, neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. Slim's adoption will require an application, home check, vet reference, and adoption donation of $100. If you are interested in adopting or fostering Slim, please email kellygaus@gmail.com.

top 10 reasons to adopt a 9th ward dog

2009-10-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

(1) You want to rescue a dog. Our dogs are rescues in the very purest sense. All our dogs are picked up off the streets of the 9th Ward, saving them from the possibility of starvation, getting hit by cars, fighting with other strays, and a hundred other possible fates.

(2) The stray/abandoned dog problem is exponentially worse in the 9th Ward than in most areas of the city and the country. Four years after Katrina, we still have stray breeding under vacant, blighted houses; people from other areas "dumping" their unwanted pets here; and dogs living in vacant properties. The problem will not go away on its own, and unfortunately, the 9th Ward has been an underserved area for generations. With folks still struggling to get back into their gutted homes and to get their children into decent schools, no one is doing much about the stray dog population.

(3) All of our dogs are very, very thoroughly vetted. We believe our rescues deserve just as high quality vet care as our own dogs get, and for that reason, our dogs are not merely vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped; they are carefully vet checked, heartworm tested (treated if necessary), fecal samples are tested and all dogs are dewormed multiple times, are on flea and heartworm preventative, and you will have their complete vet records when you adopt. If there are any outstanding health concerns, we'll explain them to you in detail (chronic conditions, signs of joint issues, etc). We also get a careful age estimate from the vet.

(4) We are very knowledgeable and honest about breeds. If we think a dog is a pit bull, we say it's a pit bull; we don't call it a "boxer mix," as some shelters/rescue do. We believe you should know what you're getting into. (That said, we love our pitties!) We consider the opinions of our vet and other knowledgeable sources and we stand by our breed judgements! We also admit defeat: a few of our dogs can only be called purebred 9th Ward Mutt.

(5) We love our adopters, and we want to help you make the best decision for you. We will never try to "push" a dog on to you; we want you to take the dog that's right for you (even if it's not one of our dogs). We believe that responsible dog ownership begins with responsible dog selection, and the only way you can be a responsible dog selector is by getting honest, forthright information from us. And that's what we aim to provide.

(6) We're here for you (and our dogs) throughout the dog's lifetime. If you have questions or concerns about your adoptee, we're always happy to help. You'll have our contact information, and we guarantee we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Again, we're all about helping you be the happiest, most responsible dog owner you can be!

(7) All our dogs are in loving foster homes where they get the things every dog needs to be healthy, happy, and stable: food, shelter, exercise, love, attention, and training. Since our dogs are not sheltered with minimal human and canine interaction, they are better adjusted than many sheltered dogs. We also know them very well; they live with us! We'll tell you all their behavior quirks (including the bad ones -- who's not leash trained, who's not house trained, etc), and we'll get them started on learning manners and learning how to be the best dogs they can be. Of course they'll still be plenty of work for you to do -- but at least they'll be started in the right direction.

(8) Our dogs are all very sweet and friendly! They're good with people, other dogs, and children. We will let you know if the dog has ever had any behavioral issues; however, every single one of our adoptable dogs is friendly, gentle, and reliable. We would not adopt out a dog we had any doubts about the temperament of. We will also not adopt out dog-aggressive dogs.

(9) We're actually pretty cool people! We'll work with you, we'll be happy for you to take your time. We are a small group of very dedicated, passionate people who will be happy to talk dogs with you for hours on end. Come out and meet us and our dogs at an event and you'll see what I mean!

(10) We whole-heartedly support all rescue efforts. If you don't see the dog of your dreams among our 9th Ward pack, we'll be very happy to recommend other area rescues and shelters. Whatever sort of dog you want, someone has it, and we'll be happy to tell you all about the other amazing rescue efforts in the area.

puppy adoptions and donations needed for abused Rottie

2009-10-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Meet Ryda.

You'll actually have a hard time meeting him because he's very scared and will run away. If you're lucky enough to catch him, though, he'll give you some slobbery Rottie kisses.

For about a week, a very scared, starving Rottweiler had been hanging around my block. He wouldn't come to me or my neighbor, even with food incentives. I told myself that I absolutely could not take on another dog -- we're currently sorely lacking in money and space. But the poor Rottie was not making out too well -- he was limping and favoring one front foot and clearly not eating much. So yesterday morning my friend and I managed to catch him. I have now decided that I am truly insane: I have 7 dogs in my house! Yikes!

Ryda is gorgeous, sweet, and young. He is also terrified of everything. He's clearly had nothing but bad experiences with people and will run away from you when you approach. Sudden movements scare him; loud noises scare him. Even leashes and collars scare him -- in fact, anything you're holding in your hand scares him. Going through doorways scares him, and coming into the house scares him. He's getting a lot better already -- he doesn't try quite as hard to get away from me. I know that with time, love, and patience, he'll be a wonderful dog. He's truly a sweet boy: even though he's so scared and has had such a rough start to life, he hasn't shown one ounce of aggression. Ryda has not growled or snapped or shown any other sign of fear aggression. Once he finally gets the nerve to come close to you, he gives kisses and clearly wants to be friends. He seems to like other dogs and is more comfortable with them than with people. Right now he's crated in my kitchen and he just watches the rest of the dog crew. He hasn't barked, but has howled a few times.

Ryda picked a good block to show up on, and I'm dedicated to getting him vetted and helping him learn about how great life should be. But I'm currently in debt to my wonderful vet, so Ryda is in desperate need of donations. Any amount is helpful and greatly appreciated. At a minimum, this boy will need to be vaccinated and neutered, and he will probably need additional treatment as well. Please spread the word and help give this boy the chance he deserves!

Donations can be made to Prytania Veterinary Hospital, 504.899.2828, at 4907 Prytania, New Orleans LA 70115. Please reference "Kelly Gaus Rescue Fund." I could also use donations of Science Diet dog food for him (I go through insane amounts of food!). If you think you might be interested in fostering or adopting Ryda, please contact me. He is not currently available for adoption, and will need a very special home to help him learn how to trust people again. I don't know how long it will be before Ryda is adoptable, and his adoption will have special requirements: breed experience, special needs dog experience, and a very calm, stable, loving home will all be required. Right now he is a challenge: when you finally catch him to put a leash on him, he cowers on the ground and won't move. But with time and patience, I know he will be an amazing dog for some lucky person.

On a happier note, two 9th Ward pups went home yesterday. We now only have two left, two cute, smaller girls, Andi and Charlie. These sweethearts are now 12 weeks old and doing great. They've really learned what it is to have a true home, and we hope they'll be in their forever homes soon.

gearing up for the Freret Market tomorrow!

2009-10-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

We are all getting ready for our big adoption day at the Freret Market tomorrow (Freret and Napoleon, 12noon-5pm) -- all the dogs got baths today, and we're all ready to put our best paw forward tomorrow!

Six adult dogs (10 months to 4 years) and 4 amazing puppies will be available for adoption.

We are all really looking forward to this fun event. We hope to see you there! Check out the nola.com blog post by Sheila Stroup here. This should be a great event!

tomorrow: D9 adoptions at the Freret Market! Also, supply drive!

2009-10-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Join us tomorrow from 12noon-5pm at the Freret Market! This will be a huge market with lots of vendors, free live music, and the Sula Foundation will be hosting a low-cost shot clinic for pit bulls. All of our wonderful adoptable dogs will be in attendance, and we'll also be joined by Emma, an adoptable pit bull mix who was rescued from the 9th Ward. So in all, D9 will have six amazing dogs and 4 adorable puppies there! Please spread the word and come out and support us.

Also, we are in desperate, desperate need of donations. If you would like to help but can't donate money, we have some recession-proof donation needs! If you have any of these items laying around your house and don't need them, please bring them by the Freret Market for us! We need:

leashes and collars in all sizes
medium to large dog houses and crates/kennels
toys of any shape or form
rawhide or other chews (medium to large sizes)
dog and puppy food (unopened bags/cans only); preferred brand is Science Diet
folding chairs (for us to sit on at events)
blankets and towels
brushes
dog shampoo of any variety

If you can help us out with any of these items, that will free up our resources to help pay for vet bills. We are currently in debt to our wonderful vet, so we need all the help we can get!

Please contact kellygaus@gmail.com with any questions. Hope to see you tomorrow!

busy in the 9th Ward!

2009-09-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

Three adoptions last week! Tip (the pit pup), Zula (the lab mix pup), and Mia (the lab mix) went to wonderful forever homes, and we're very happy for them!

That leaves D9 still inundated with amazing dogs -- four more 9th Ward puppies need homes (3 females and 1 male) and other wonderful dogs are still searching. The Lady Motley was spayed last week, so she is ready for her forever home.

On Saturday, D9 will be debuting at the Freret Market! That should be a lot of fun and all the adoptable dogs and pups will be there, so please spread the word and come out to meet them.

We can't take in any more needy dogs until we place some -- and there are so many that need our help. The pictures below are of a (gorgeous!) large male Rottweiler who was roaming my block last night (the small dog in the pictures belongs to a neighbor). I have to ignore amazing dogs like these every day until I can get more adoptive homes, more foster homes, and more donations. If you can help in anyway, please email me at kellygaus@gmail.com

new pups, adoptions, and lots of vet bills!

2009-09-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

tomorrow: adoption day at Cabrini Park! 3pm-6pm! Details below

What a week!

Mia, our sweet lab mix girl, is pending adoption.

Zula, the black 9th Ward pup, went to her loving new home today!

Any this morning we vetted a wonderful, sweet little abandoned pit pup, Tip. She is 16 weeks old, white with red spots and red nose (like our very own Pauline -- got to love those red nose babies!) and very underweight.

Tip, a beautiful red nose puppy

skinny Tip

It was truly Tip's lucky day! She went home with Zula and her new family, who had been looking for a pit pup to adopt for a long time. We're very happy for these two little girls!

Tomorrow we'll hope to see yall at our 2nd Cabrini Park Adoption Day! The remaining four 9th Ward pups will be there, along with some of our other amazing adoptable dogs. We have a variety of sizes, ages, and breeds, but they're all friendly and amazing. Please come out and see us from 3pm-6pm tomorrow, Saturday the 25th, at Cabrini Park (corner of Dauphine and Barracks Streets in the French Quarter). Please come out and support us and the 9th Ward dogs. Email kellygaus@gmail.com for more info.

Look at the 9th Ward pups!

2009-09-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Looking great, feeling great -- what more could you want?

Andi (female)

Rexie (yellow pup), Zula (black pup -- adopted!), and Andi (brown pup) play with Miss B the Great Dane pup and Pauline the pit bull puppy.

Rexie (yellow pup) & Andi (brown pup) use Remy the St. Bernard's tail as a pull toy.

Rexie hangs out outside with me

a busy month at D9

2009-09-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

September has seen D9 take in 7 new dogs: the 6 9th Ward pups and the Lady Motley.

At the end of September and throughout October, we'll be really stepping up our adoption/outreach efforts. Please mark your calendars for these fun events, come out, and show your support for D9!

Saturday, September 26, from 3pm-6pm: "Meet the adoptables" at Cabrini Park in the French Quarter! This will be lots of fun with free cold drinks for all and lots of puppy love. Please stop by the say hello and mee tthe wiggly, adorable 9th Ward pups! Cabrini is at the corner of Dauphine and Barracks
Saturday, Oct 3, from 12noon-5pm: D9 will be at the Freret Market! Meet our amazing adoptable dogs, shop for unique items and tasty food, and enjoy live music! This is a neighborhood market that is a real community effort. At the corner of Freret and Jena Streets (see www.freretmarket.org)
Saturday, Oct 17, from 9am-4pm: D9 will be representing the 9th Ward at the Bywater BARK Market! The art market/adoption day will feature tons of adoptables, and proceeds go to the SPCA heartworm treatment fund. We're really excited to be included and hope to see you there. In Mickey Markey Park, corner of Royal and Piety in the Bywater area of the 9th Ward.
Saturday, Oct 24, from 4pm-8pm: BARKtober Fest at Canine Connection! We will have some adoptable dogs with us and lots of information and even some giveaways; plus this fun event will feature a Canine Costume Contest and Trick or Treating for Dogs. This event will take place at Canine Connection at 4920 Tchoupitoulas Street.

Please come out and show your support and have a lot of fun! All of us at D9 look forward to meeting you. For more information, please email kellygaus@gmail.com

healthy puppies, and upcoming adoption events!

2009-09-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

9th Ward pups Rexie (yellow female) & Andi (brown female) play by my bed

The 9th Ward pups got a good, thorough vet check yesterday, and nothing more serious than a severe case of intestinal worms came up. Soon they will be worm-free and all healthy and happy. One puppy, the black male, was even lucky enough to find a wonderful new home! Hurray!

If you would like to meet the 5 remaining 9th Ward pups (1 male and 4 females), or any of our 6 amazing older puppies and adult dogs, you'll have two opportunities:

Next Saturday, September 26th, D9 will be at Cabrini Park in the French Quarter (corner of Dauphine and Barracks) from 3pm-6pm. Come hang out with the dogs, enjoy a complimentary cold drink, and maybe meet your best friend!
The following Saturday, October 3, D9 will be making our debut at the Freret Market! The Freret Market features a wide array of hot food, produce, arts and crafts, and other items for sale, as well as live music and pet adoptions. Please come out and support us, get some good food, and hear some music. The market will run from 12noon to 5pm.

We are really excited about these events and look forward to seeing you there. Please email me at kellygaus@gmail.com for additional information. If you would like to volunteer at either event, please let me know.

9th Ward puppies at play!

2009-09-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

9th Ward pups Rexie (front) and Charlie playing in the yard

Look at the sweet, cute babies doing SO much better! Check out their video on youtube -- adorable 5-way tug o war!

The puts are going to the vet this afternoon, and one -- the black male -- is pending adoption!

5-way tug o' war! Everyone except Piglet is in on it.

Piglet, the brown male, chills in the back yard.

The 9th Ward pups play with Pauline, the 9th Ward pit bull. Clockwise starting from Pauline: Rexie (yellow female); Zula (black female); Charlie (Yellow female); Cash (black male; adopted!); and Andi (brown female). To give a sense of scale, Pauline is about 45 pounds. She is gentle, adores the pups, and takes good care of them for me!

D9 breaking news: 9th Ward pups, The Lady Motley, & Mia

2009-09-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a very eventful week here at D9.

9th Ward pups: Doing great! Loving foster care, making up for lost time on socializing, getting happier and healthier by the day. They will soon be fully vetted and ready to go to their forever homes. These sweet, orphaned babies deserve the best home possible. Please consider donating towards their veterinary care (we are in desperate need!) or maybe even taking one of these sweet pups into your home. kellygaus@gmail.com

yellow girl #2 "Charlie" and brown boy "Piglet"

The Lady Motley: The Lady went to the vet yesterday and everything went fabulously. She is an estimated 8-10 months old, 30 pounds and slightly underweight (should be 35), and quite healthy: heartworm negative, intestinal worm free, and not showing any signs of other illness. The vet was, of course quite taken with her: this is one sweet little lady! We think she has some spaniel and boxer in her, and quite likely shepherd somewhere in the background. The Lady Motley would love to meet you soon. She'll be ready for her forever home as soon as she's spayed. If you're interested in Miss Motley, please contact kellygaus@gmail.com.

The Beautiful Lady Motley

Mia: Mia went into foster care on Tuesday -- finally sprung from the vet! (Although her poor buddy Slim is still there.) She is doing fabulously at home, not having housebreaking issues, and getting along well with her other animal family members: two elderly dogs and a cat. She's learning some remedial manners and her foster mom raves about her. This little lady also had a play date at my house on Monday and did great with all my dogs. She's a very sweet little lady and is fully vetted and ready to go home. Please contact kellygaus@gmail.com to meet Miss Mia.

the 9th Ward puppies say thanks!

2009-09-16T04:47:00.001-07:00

D9 wants to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has reached out to help the 9th Ward puppies. We really appreciate it, and I think we're well on our way to being able to save all of these babies. We still don't have the funding to vet them all, but we're doing getting there! Most importantly, all the pups are safe and won't be without food and shelter again.

The pups are looking so much better already, only one day after rescue! These sweet puppies will be looking for new homes soon, so if you're interested in rescuing one of our orphan 9th Ward pups, please email me at kellygaus@gmail.com

update: the 9th Ward Puppies

2009-09-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

9th Ward pups Dreya (yellow female) and Andy (brown female)

update:

Good news! Thanks to Cheri, D9 has acquired a kennel! This will mean that, worst case scenario, the pups will be able to stay with us while we search for wonderful foster/forever homes for them. More good news! Much thanks to Zeus's Place for donating enough food to feed all the pups!

Extra special thanks to Earle, Emily, and Crystal who aided in "The Great Puppy Round Up" and are now caring for pups. Gold star for these super D9 volunteers!

The pups are all doing really well: eating and drinking like all good, healthy pups should, finally more or less flealess, and getting bolder, happier, and more sociable with people. It's clear these pups never had any human interaction before, but they're coming around very quickly. They're running and playing and cuddling and enjoying the life they always deserved.

We are still in desperate need of donations to treat these pups -- in addition to the complimentary vaccinations, we need to get them spayed/neutered, dewormed, vet checked, and treat any conditions they have. I'm pleased to say they seem much healthier already -- the pustules (ant bites) are gone and their coats look much better.

If you are interested in adopting, fostering, or donating, please contact me at kellygaus@gmail.com

The 9th Ward Pups' Story

Last night, with the assistance of three of my amazing volunteers, I rescued 6 puppies. The story seems to be this: Last week, the mother, who was chained in the back yard, hung herself trying to jump the four-foot chainlink fence. The woman who owned the mother consequently "let the puppies go." They were wandering around in the middle of the street when I first saw them. I have the 6, and the woman told me there was a seventh, but she doesn't know where it is I couldn't find it. They're probably about 7 weeks, no longer nursing or anything, but very scared and not at all socialized. These pups were a mess: malnourished, stunningly flea- and tick-infested, and some have sores/cuts/other injuries. They are also covered in pustules that appear to be ant bites. They are NOT showing any signs of other illness (parvo, distemper). They seem to be lab mixes. The mother was a medium-large dog, maybe 50 pounds. Don't know who dad was.

Please, please help with these babies. They're off the street, which is good, being fed and cared for. They're all being fostered temporarily, but I DO NOT have the fosters or the MONEY to take all these pups into my adoption program.

I can probably keep some of these pups, but not all. If anyone can take any or all of them, I am willing to get them vet checked and get their first round of shots. I will deworm them as well as you're getting (more or less) clean puppies. These sweet babies deserve a chance, and I really want to find them help.

If anyone can help, please respond to my email or call me at 504.259.3744. PLEASE forward to this to anyone and everyone.

Details about the pups are:

yellow female #1 -- very small and skinny, with abrasion on her face and LOTS of ant bites

yellow female #2 -- very skinny but otherwise in good shape

black male -- only puppy with slightly "fluffy" coat

black female -- very small and scared

brown female -- black muzzle, with LARGE swath of black scare tissue on her tail, maybe a burn?

brown male -- black muzzle, largest puppy, very scared of people, cuts and scrapes

Pictures include an older dog who was with the puppies (reportedly a puppy from the previous litter). I don't have him.

Please, please let me know if anyone can help. I don't know how long I can keep these babies, as I am already overflowing with dogs. But at least they're safe and getting food.

yellow female and black female with the older male they lived with pre-rescue

black male pup

Andy, female pup, next to a Great Dane foot

Dreya, yellow female pup

Dreya, playing at our house

Andy the brown female pup plays with Pauline the 9th Ward pit bull

supply drive: D9 needs a kennel!

2009-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

I have always strongly believed that sheltering/kenneling rescue dogs is not conducive to finding them new, wonderful forever homes. I am now more convinced of that than ever. I have been telling myself (and everyone else) that I can't take in any additional dogs unless I have foster homes lined up for them. I think it's very important to get the dogs into loving home environments where they can learn manners, socialize, and discover the life they always deserved in the first place.

That's all well and good, but unfortunately, it has become increasingly apparent that I don't really get to choose when I take in a new dog; it just happens. Slim and Mia were dumped with me; we found The Lady Motley thinking she was lost, only to discover she had been abandoned. These are all dogs I just "wound up" with, and clearly I have a duty to take care of them, even though I'm plum out of fosters.

Happily, Mia and Lady have both found fosters. But Slim remains at the vet, and honestly I don't think I could hope for anyone to take him right now: this is a young, healthy retriever who has been kenneled for three weeks. He has ENERGY! He wants to PLAY! Like so many sheltered/kenneled dogs, he's accumulated so much pent up energy, he's almost uncontrollable. I need to get him out of there, but there's no foster in sight.

I am going to bring Slim home and kennel him. Obviously this is not ideal, but my house is very full with four large rescues (one of whom is somewhat picky about his canine company). I literally have no space for an extra crate. But I do have a very large yard. I am planning to acquire a crate, shade cloth, and some sort of dog house and Slim will stay there while I'm not home to supervise, and while I am home, he can run and play with me and my dogs, like he should be able to. He can go for longer walks with me, and we can start working on his manners, his leash training, and his house training. It's not perfect, and it's not a long-term solution, but I need to start socializing him and working with him so that I can then find him a long-term foster or a forever home. At my house, Slim will get what every young, healthy dog needs: lots of exercise, a chance to stretch his legs, time in the house learning about the joys of the couch, and training.

In the future, after Slim has moved out and on to a regular foster situation or a permanent, loving home, I will use the kennel for other "emergency" or short-term needs. If I am forced to take a dog outside of the vet's business hours, I can keep him/her separated from the other dogs until he's vetted and deemed non-contagious; and if I end up in a situation like I am with Slim, I'll have an option that's better than 24/7 kenneling. No dog who is sheltered or kenneled long term gets the sort of interaction and exercise a dog really needs to be healthy. So I need to make sure these situations don't arise in the future.

So, all of this is to say: I need supplies! If anyone has a big outdoor kennel (I'm talking about one of those chain link "dog run" type things) that they'd be willing to part with for $100 or less, I'll take it! I'd also gratefully accept donations towards the kennel at help.pauline@gmail.com. I can contribute some funds of my own, but every little bit helps!

I also need:

a dog house of some sort (large)
a large sheet of vinyl flooring (which I'm going to use to deter digging out)
a large sheet of shade cloth
a big bucket to ensure plenty of water is available
TOYS to occupy a bored young dog during the times I'm away
a dog bed (one of the plastic, elevated kinds that you can keep outside)

Please let me know if you can donate any of these items. Thanks! kellygaus@gmail.com

more about the Lady Motley

2009-09-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

The newest 9th Ward dog settled into her foster home yesterday evening, and she seems to be making herself quite at home. Her foster describes her as a "total lady," and says she is gentle, dainty, and well-behaved. I am now calling her The Lady Motley. Lady is playful, sweet, and craves nothing more than companionship. We still don't have all the details on her, but this is one sweet, pretty, gentle lady!

Check out these awesome pictures of The Lady chilling in her new foster home.

D9 welcomes Motley!

2009-09-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

While D9 is full -- overflowing, actually! -- we are happy to welcome Motley into rescue. Motley is a medium-sized mix breed girl who we don't have a whole lot of information about yet. One of our wonderful fosters found this girl by the Press Street train tracks last night. We located her former owner who was no longer able to care for her. So -- now we are pleased to introduce Motley!

We will post updates about Motley as we find out more. She is definitely a young, sweet girl who plays well with others. We should be finding out more about her health and breed soon.

Happily, a Lower 9 resident has stepped up to foster Motley. We are still, however, in desperate need of fosters (Mia and Slim are still homeless!), so if you have ever wanted the joys of caring for a dog without the financial responsibility, please get in touch! kellygaus@gmail.com

Please contact us about Motley. Motley will be available for adoption after she's been fully vetted.

Motley plays with her foster brother, Eli the Cocker Spaniel.

Motley checks out the snoozing Basil, a fellow 9th Ward dog looking for a home.

Rescued pup from the Lower 9

2009-09-10T16:54:00.001-07:00

This lovely brindle pup was rescued by a kind family several days ago. He is about 4.5 months and does appear to have a heart murmur, which his rescuers are looking into. Very underweight and weak, he is now gaining strength and owes his life to his rescuers. If anyone is able to help this pup, who needs a long-term foster or forever family, please let me know. kellygaus@gmail.com (This is not a D9 foster, we are just assisting 9th Ward residents in this placement.)

D9 wants YOU!

2009-09-09T12:18:00.001-07:00

I have been lucky in getting a lot of moral and financial support from the New Orleans community and beyond. Now, I'm asking for something else from yall (and better yet, it's free!)... I need ideas. I need suggestions on advertising, events, pretty much ANYthing that might be helpful in getting dogs placed with wonderful forever families. No suggestion is too obvious or too nonconformist -- I'm open to anything creative and different. Anything!

So basically, if you've ever had any thoughts about dog rescue and how it should be done, or if you've ever wanted to get involved in anyway, now is the time. Why? Because D9 is a new organization, and as such I'm still learning and still perfecting (or trying to perfect!) the process. Many organizations have been around a while and have a set way they do things (perfect or otherwise), and might not be open to suggestions. I, however, don't have a set way of doing things and I'm extremely open. So, please, bring on the suggestions/comments/criticism/critiques -- send everything to kellygaus@gmail.com, or post a comment in response to this post.

Thanks, yall! Dogs of the 9th Ward need you.

trying weekend at D9...

2009-09-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

...well, only three full days later and poor Scout is back with us. I feel bad for him. Sorry, Scout.

So, there are still five amazing 9th Ward dogs looking for love. With a German Shepherd (Scout), a hound (Basil), a beagle mix pup (Bart), a lab/pit/?? mix (Mia), and a flat coated retriever mix (Slim), we have pretty much a dog for everyone. Our dogs are:

from medium to large (30 pounds to 70 pounds)
male and female (currently 4 males and 1 female)
energetic (Bart!) and lazy (Basil!) and everything in between
friendly with people and dogs
100% fully vetted: vaccinated, spayed/neutered, microchipped, and checked

If you or anyone you know are interested in a dog, please let me know! kellygaus@gmail.com

Mae helps educate New Orleans

2009-09-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mae (the former Amber) was adopted from D9 by photographer Michelle about a month ago. Michelle has been integral in helping out with D9 all summer. Check our her blog post about Mae here. Her remarks are very interesting and spot-on, and of course the photos are gorgeous.

a happy day!

2009-09-03T16:58:00.001-07:00

Today was a happy day for D9. Scout, the sweet, gentle German Shepherd who was abandoned at the edge of the Industrial Canal last spring, went to his forever home today. He's still right here in the Bywater area of the 9th Ward, living the good life he deserves with his new family. When I left Scout in his new home, he was a very happy, tail-wagging boy -- perhaps happier than I've ever seen him! We're all thrilled for Scout.

going home: Scout!

2009-09-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Scout, the sweet, gentle German Shepherd who has been with us since early July, has found a wonderful family and will be going home on Thursday! We're all very happy for Scout. And he'll still be right here in the 9th Ward, so we'll get to see him often.

I am still desperate for fosters, as Slim and Mia are still boarding at the vet. I'm also still searching for donations for Tula's heartwrom treatment (see story below). Tula will make it to San Fransisco this evening, and then she'll begin searching for her forever home. Meanwhile, Bart is going to be on TV soon -- details to come soon!

A long way to go....

2009-08-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

640 miles for Tula so far! New Orleans, we still need 1,633 miles at 25 cents per mile to help poor Tula. Please buy miles by donating to Tula's own paypal account, help.tula@gmail.com. Please help me show Tula and her rescuers that New Orleans cares. As you can read below, Tula needs about $600 for her heartworm treatment. Please help!

a 2273-mile rescue: 9th Ward pit bull San Fransisco Bound

2009-08-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Two San Fransisco residents came to New Orleans for a vacation. Towards the end of the trip, they decided to rent a car and see the Lower 9th Ward first hand. While there, they saw three starving dogs. Only one came to them: a skinny black and white female pit bull with a big open wound on one side of her face. The sweet, gentle girl won them over, but they couldn't bring her back with them.

Tula, as she came to be called, was taken to the LA-SPCA, but her rescuers promised to come back and get her if no one in New Orleans could take her. Tula passed the SPCA Safer test with flying colors, as so many of her breed do. She was spayed and vaccinated. Unfortunately, she tested heartworm positive.

That was when I went to meet her, hoping to take Tula into my adoption program. The SPCA, however, deemed her to be "very dog aggressive," and said they would not release her to anyone except her rescuers, who had signed up for the Call Back Program. And so on Friday, Aimee flew from San Fransisco, adopted Tula out, and brought her to my house to see how she did with my dogs. This is a very sweet little girl. She is picky about other dogs -- gets along with some and not others -- but it's very manageable and she will be a great friend for the right family. She is very lucky to have another chance at life, courtesy of some very devoted folks from the West Coast.

Tula is now travelling 2,273 miles to San Fransisco, where she will be treated for heartworms and hopeully placed in a rescue program, or else adopted out privately. Her rescuers have already spent well over $1000 on her rescue, and heartworm treatment will cost another $600 or so. So I am asking for help for Tula: all we need to do is sell 2,273 miles! Please buy miles to support Tula. Each mile costs 25 cents, so if we sell all 2,273, we will pay for Tula's heartworm treamtent! To buy miles, just send a donation to Tula's own paypal account, help.tula@gmail.com. I know Tula and her rescuers will appreciate whatever support we can muster.

Stay tuned for updates!

The scar on Tula's face that would generally render her unadoptable at the SPCA.

Tula getting ready to set off for her first day, heading to Texas.

Tula gives SPCA behaviorist, Jordan, love at our first meeting.

Tula and Jordan at the SPCA. Tula is clearly underweight.

the state of the 9th Ward, four years later

2009-08-29T18:35:00.001-07:00

Four years ago, the 9th Ward of New Orleans became a household name. Once known primarily by New Orleanians, Southern rappers, and a scattering of historians and preservationists, this area was thrown into the national spotlight as media coverage showed houses launched off their foundations, buildings inundated in dirty water up to the rafters, stranded residents on roofs, and a barge resting on top of a house. The levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated the 9th Ward on both sides of the Industrial Canal, and to a large extent, the 9th Ward remains devastated today, four years later.

Our businesses and institutions are still closed. Homeowners are still trying to get back into their gutted houses. Kids play in the streets in front of empty houses and abandoned cars. Greenish water bubbles up from cracks in the roads. In some blocks, one lone house stands in the center of empty, overgrown lots and crumbled foundations.

And of course, the stray and “feral” dog population is enormous. It’s an easy place for dogs to hide. They live under vacant houses, and indeed inside them. Sometimes you’ll see, in the evening as it gets cooler, a pack of dogs hanging out on a porch of an abandoned house, just watching the world go by like many of the area’s human inhabitants. Some of these dogs are friendly; some are shy and timid. Some are actually aggressive, particularly towards other dogs.

All these sorts of conditions – roaming, starving animals, falling down houses, general decay – all these are seen in what we now, in our politically correct world, call “developing countries.” But this is America. And I truly think that residents of the 9th Ward deserve better than this.

Not the entire 9th Ward is still so badly off. The Bywater area, which largely escaped flooding, is flourishing. The St. Claude area, which had largely moderate flooding, is largely repopulated. Many of the houses in that area were owned by absentee landlords who had the resources to patch them back up and get tenants back into them. But the remainder of the 9th Ward – many of the historic and unique neighborhoods that really embodied the spirit, for lack of better word, of the area – these areas were home to working class homeowners, many elderly, and many who had lived in these houses for decades, if not generations. They did not have the money, time, and sometimes knowledge to get back into their homes. These are the folks who are still suffering.

My neighbor, Ms Matilda, is still fighting to get back into her house. They took away her FEMA trailer, so now she’s staying with family. Think about that: a self-employed, middle-aged woman, who bought a home, raised her children, and who came back to her tattered neighborhood has been unable to get back into her home for four years. I don’t think people outside of New Orleans – hell, outside of the 9th Ward, really – understand what is going on down here.

Across the street, my 80-some-year-old neighbor, Grandma Gaines, tells me every day that she’s “too blessed to be stressed.” She’s back in her house. But she knows the neighborhood will never be the same. Grandma Gaines is a retired seamstress who worked at department stores downtown most of her life. In true 9th Ward style, she’s fighting on and making the best of things, but no elderly woman should be going through what she is. In fact, she survived an “unexplainable” fire in her FEMA trailer. Unfortunately, her dog at the time did not.

On the other side of my house, a middle-aged couple is back in their home. The husband is a Tulane Health Sciences Campus employee.

Just one small example of some folks who won’t be coming back: a middle-aged woman with adult children who worked for the Children’s Museum, and had been married to a retired Post Office employee. The couple bought a house in the Florida Area more than forty years ago. They raised all their children there. They lived there entire married life there. In 2004, they renovated it, planning to stay there the rest of their lives, with their son living in the other side of the shotgun double. Katrina pushed them out, but they knew they wanted to return. But before they ever got back in their home, the husband died, and the wife found herself unable to keep up with the completion of the work. She finally was forced to sell the house and move in with her daughter.

I know this story because these are the folks I bought my house from in March, 2009. I almost felt guilty at closing.

My point, then, is these are the people that are still hurting: good, honest, hard-working people. And these are the people who, four years later, are still being forced to live off the charity of relatives. It’s humbling at times, humiliating at others. And it’s wrong.

Here in the Florida Area, and across the tracks in the Desire Area, and the entire Lower 9th Ward, folks are still trying, but we need help. I know the rest of the country is sick of hearing about Katrina, and believe me: we are too. But it’s still there, and still very much a part of our daily lives. So if you want to stop hearing about it, help us. Tell people wherever you live – whether it’s across the city or across the country – that we have not recovered down here. The Federal Government – namely, the Army Corps of Engineers – flooded our city and destroyed neighborhoods and lives, and it’s not back yet. It’s not right yet.

As for the dogs: I’m trying to do my small part on that front, but I need help, too. No one else is coming in and picking these dogs up. That includes the Louisiana SPCA, who runs our Animal Control down here. They’re understaffed, underfunded, and frankly swamped. So dogs are allowed to wander and search for food, and starve and die of disease. They are also spreading disease to owned and cared for pets. They are a risk to the health and safety of these kids who play in deserted streets. They are a risk to the safety of neighborhood dogs and cats. And they are truly a visible, obvious marker of the sort of lack of care – the sort of devastation – that has come to characterize the 9th Ward. Because if New Orleans is the City that Care Forgot, the 9th Ward is the neighborhood that care forgot, and I just want to remind everyone. We’re not whole yet, not by a long shot. And these dogs are visible, daily reminders of the suffering that’s going on here.

Owners, Animals Control, and the general public have abandoned these animals to fend for themselves. Much the same way as the rest of the country – and even the rest of the city – has abandoned the 9th Ward.

In May, 2009, I found a starving, hairless, bleeding, nearly dead pit bull puppy. Over the last few months, she’s battled back to health, and in the process won my heart and that of many others. When her rescue day pictures circulated, many people were both horrified and touched at the sight of the tiny, sick dog – who still had the courage and heart to wag her tail.

This red nosed pit bull who now shares my bed every night was the very image of suffering, neglect, and abuse. But she was still happy, still loving, still fighting. She is truly a 9th Ward dog. This area has suffered so much, and not only since the levees broke. This is an area that has been neglected and underserved for decades – particularly since the 9th Ward public schools were used as the city’s desegregation guinea pig, resulting in white flight and an increasing lack of public services. But this place is alive, always has been, and God willing, like Pauline, it will continue to fight.

This, the 9th Ward, is where black New Orleans families first sent their children to “white” schools, in the Florida Area. This is where the New Orleans Black Panthers had famous stand offs with the New Orleans Police Department, in the Desire Area. This is where Homer Plessey sat in a “whites only” train car, in the Bywater. This is where jazz legend Fats Domino lived, in the Lower 9. This is an amazing place, and I think all of us – not just New Orleanians, but Americans – have reason to see it survive.

And the 9th Ward will, I believe, survive. Because despite what we’ve been through, we will keep fighting. This is a special place. And like Pauline, we’ll fight through it, tail wagging.

If you can help Dogs of the 9th Ward, please let me know. If you are interested in helping out in the 9th ward in any capacity, please get in touch and I will help you connect with the appropriate folks.

Thanks,
Kelly
Dogs of the 9th Ward

Mia and Slim updates

2009-08-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

The two newest 9th Ward dogs, Mia and Slim, are still boarding at the vet, awaiting foster homes. They're doing great! They will be spayed/neutered this week, and after that they'll be ready to go. These two pups are healthy and friendly and will make an awesome addition to pretty much any home.

Thanks to Michelle for the new pictures!

Amber, happy at home!

2009-08-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Miss Amber -- now known as Mae -- has made quite a transformation! She is now happy in her new forever home, getting healthy and living the life she deserves. Mae is now at home in the Treme (hence her name) and is loving life with her new best friend, Michelle. Check out her beautiful pictures!

Can you believe this little girl, only about 7 months old, was recently picked up running with a feral pack, full of demodex mange and starving?

Look at Amber -- errr, I mean, Mae! -- hanging out on the bed! Now that's a happy 9th Ward pittie!

on rescue, in the current online climate

2009-08-23T15:55:00.001-07:00

I had thought that silence was the better part of valor; I thought it I stayed out of all this ugliness, I wouldn’t sully myself. But this has gone too far, and gotten too ugly. I can’t ignore it any more in good conscience.

Dog rescue, like any community effort, is a phenomenal amount of work and is an uphill battle, every day. This is work that takes dedication, willpower, and a whole lot of heart. I haven’t been working in rescue nearly as long as a lot of folks have, but already I can say this: you have to wake up every day willing to work long, hard hours, struggling to find money, to find space, to rehab animals – it’s truly something you have to feel is your calling. Oh, and after all of that, you have to go work your regular day job, too.

Don’t get me wrong: rescuing an abandoned dog – maybe sick or starving – and seeing it happy and healthy in its new home is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. But it’s a long, hard road there: we all pull late nights, we spend our own money and resources (donations cover most of my vet bills, but everything else – food, supplies, gas, photo copies, boarding, training, you name it – that’s all my own money, and I know I’m hardly the only one who does this). And we try hard – really hard – to do right by every animal, every volunteer, and every adopter.

I am a private rescuer, and I’m not affiliated with any rescue group. Some folks have been very supportive of me. ARNO and Lise McComskey in particular have supported me. I have no “inside” knowledge of ARNO, or any other shelter or rescue. I can only really speak for myself – but I’m sure my comments apply widely to many, many rescuers, and I hope you’ll consider them. I think they apply to ARNO, truly one of the most active groups in the city, too.

My comments being:

I would never, ever knowingly endanger any dog, adopter, or volunteer. To that end, I would never adopt out a dog I had any reason to think would be a danger. Us rescuers love our volunteers, and more than that, we need them. They are truly a top priority. That said, accidents can – and unfortunately, do – happen. I want to be clear that I do not know of any dog bite situations in any shelters or rescues (including ARNO), but I know it’s a concern, and I know it’s the last thing any of us rescue folks want.

I am candid with my adopters. One of all us rescuers’ overreaching goals is to encourage responsible dog ownership, and naturally that starts with responsible dog selection. I would never conceal or distort anything about a dog. That said, everyone can be wrong. Things don’t always turn out like you think they will. We rescuers are fallible like everyone else. Our work involves constant research, information gathering, and a whole lot of very carefully considered educated guessing. I have made mistakes. But God knows I try everything I can to avoid it.

And we are operating with finite – and very limited – resources, but the issues we’re facing are huge. I live in the 9th Ward; it’s my home, and I love it, and I wouldn’t leave it for a lifetime supply of Nutro Dog Food (and I feed my four dogs plus five rescues, so that says a lot). But as I drive to and from Tulane Law School every day, I could probably point out anywhere from three to ten stray dogs. Many of these have been stray for a long time, and are unsocialized and scared. I wish to God ARNO had the resources to take all of them into their feral rehab program; and I wish I had the knowledge to do it on my own. There is a tremendous need, and to be sure, sometimes we make mistakes, like overextending ourselves (I’m currently guilty of that one). But with more help, more money, more volunteers, we could accomplish more. And that’s all we really want.

And so, my point, then: all us rescuers, though sometimes overextended and sometimes unsuccessful, wake up every day with the strength and courage to fight the good fight, to go out there and do battle and to try our damndest to win. When those who are not out doing the same instead have the time and the sadistic desire to snipe us with nasty comments via relatively sketchy websites such as Craigs List, all it does it make it that much harder, that much more of a challenge, for us to do what we do. In the best-case scenario, it makes us more passionate; worst case, distraction over others’ petty nastiness actually gets in the way of our work.

Also, I want to say that if anyone has any well-informed, relevant criticism to levy, I encourage them to do so in a constructive – or at least civil – manner. I know that I am happy to entertain other ways of doing things, personally; so please, if anyone thinks I have made an error, let me know, personally – but also civilly.

We rescuers have the courage and the stamina and the moral fortitude to go out there every day and fight. Those who hide behind anonymous internet ID’s and make hurtful comments either have no facts to back those up, or simply lack the courage and strength to voice them in an appropriate way. I, and the rest of the rescue community, have no use for such people. God knows I’ve lost sleep over it in the past, but I refuse to do so any more. I refuse to let it get in the way of what I do and who I am. And I can only hope that other rescuers do likewise.

Finally, direct nasty, disparaging, unfounded, and truly hurtful remarks against an individual – and not an organization – are not only painful for that individual, but painful for all the rest of us rescuers to read. We’ve been there before, and we know what it’s like; just don’t do it. It’s cowardly, it’s juvenile, and it has no place among intelligent adults with any sense of decency.

By disparaging ARNO (or any rescue or other organization, for that matter) in this uninformed, insensitive way, all you are doing is hurting the mission you claim to support. It’s shameful, it’s hurtful, and it’s purely destructive. Think hard, yall, before you engage in such a senseless activity.

I hope you will understand that I wrote this out of compassion for fellow rescuers, as well as dedication to the cause. Some few out there are hurting all of us, and I can only hope someday you hear something – probably not this, but it was my best effort – just something that makes you realize how destructive, petty, and counterproductive you’re being.

My support goes out, as always, to ARNO and Lise.

Kelly Gaus
Dogs of the 9th Ward
www.dogsofthe9thward.org

desperate for fosters!

2009-08-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, for complicated reasons, I am suddenly overflowing with dogs. If ANYone is willing to foster a sweet, gentle dog, please let me know, and please pass my plea on. Two of the three are pictured below. They are SLIM a black retriever mix who is very gentle and friendly and who was found along with MIA a smallish, golden colored female in the Lower 9th Ward. The other new rescue will be a one-year-old female pit bull. She is not in rescue yet, but will be by the end of the week. Please, please let me know if you or anyone you know might be able to help.

I'm pleased to announce that AMBER, the 6-month-old pit bull, has been adopted! She is happy in the Treme with her new best friend, Michelle. I've had a couple other very promising adoptions fall through, so please help spread the word!

SLIM, pictured above, is a very loving, sweet boy who is probably under a year old (more definite info soon). He tested negative for heartworms today and got vaccinated. I'm guessing he weighs about 60-70 pounds (again, more definite info soon). He is a black retriever mix.

This is MIA, who also tested negative for heartworms today, is also probably under a year old and might be about 30 pounds (again, more definite info soon!). She is a true mystery mix at this point, I'm guessing she has lab, pit, and something a lot smaller in her. She is a very playful, rough-and-tumble girl, but is a bit scared boarding at my vet (where both she and Slim are pictured).

Feast of Saint Roch fundraiser TODAY!

2009-08-16T06:49:00.001-07:00

Friends of D9, please come out today, August 16, from 4pm-7pm, and join us in celebrating the Feast of Saint Roch, patron saint of dogs and those who love them! This will be a really fun event, and your well-mannered canine family members are welcome. ALL the proceeds go to D9, and believe me, it's much needed! Scout and Basil begin heartworm treatment on Tuesday, so I am in desperate need of funds for that. In addition, there is an injured dog in the Lower 9 I'm trying to take in, and that will of course result in more vet bills!

This should be a really fun day, so please join us and show your support! Pauline will be in attendance, and hopes to see you there. Applications will be available for adoptable 9th Ward dogs.

It's been an exciting week! The press has been good to us here at D9. In addition to Sheila Stroup's column last Sunday (link posted previously), check out these articles at examiner.com: one is about each of the adoptable 9th Ward dogs' stories (here: http://bit.ly/5pFND) and the other is about our event today (here: http://bit.ly/DWlRx). We also have an upcoming article on the New Orleans Institute site, and I spoke with Humane Society volunteers and reporters yesterday about the state of dog care in the 9th Ward.

Also, we have had a lot of adoption interest this week, so I'm hopeful that several 9th Ward dogs will be going home soon!

Reminder: Feast of St. Roch on Sunday!

2009-08-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Remember, D9 friends, D9 and all the adoptables will be at New Orleans Dog Nanny on Sunday, August 16th, from 3pm-7pm. This will be a really fun event, and will benefit Dogs of the 9th Ward, so we're really excited about it! Thanks to New Orleans Dog Nanny for hosting this great event.

The fun will include:

Snowballs from Plum Street Snowballs!
Beverages for humans
Pupsicles and other dog treats
Dog wash
Saint Roch Medals
Dog themed merchandise
Raffles
Meet all the adoptable 9th Ward dogs!

We hope to see you there! Please feel to contact me with questions.

T-P article and a successful Saturday!

2009-08-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to say that yesterday's "Meet the 9th Ward Dogs Day" went very well! We had a lot of folks come out and a lot of interest, and we have a couple of applications in the works. Amber's adoption is pending, which makes us VERY happy. It was also a lot of fun to have Emma join us. Most importantly, EVERY SINGLE 9th Ward dog did WONDERFULLY! They all played perfectly with each other and other dogs and were friendly with everyone. It was really a wonderful (but tiring!) day. Thanks to everyone who came out to meet the pups, support D9, and donate!

Also, Sheila Stroup wrote a wonderful article about Pauline and D9 which ran in the Living Section today. Please go to nola.com to check it out! The article leads up to our first fund raising event next Sunday, when New Orleans Dog Nanny will host a celebration of the Feast of Saint Roch, patron saint of dogs and those who love them. This will be a benefit for Dogs of the 9th Ward, and we are excited and honored! The event will take place at New Orleans Dog Nanny from 3pm-7pm on Sunday, August 16th. Mark your calendars, folks! We hope to see you there. The fun will include:

cocktails and other drinks for humans
snacks for humans
snacks for canines
dog-themed merchandise
Saint Roch medals for sale
dog wash
dog portraits
a chance to meet all the adoptable 9th Ward dogs!

All well-mannered dogs, adults, and children are welcome! Please see NewOrleansDogNanny.com for a map of the location. This will be a fun event and an opportunity to show your support for D9, so please come out and tell all your friends!

Yall come out! First "MEET THE 9th WARD DOGS" is TOMORROW, Saturday Aug 8th, from 2pm-6pm!

2009-08-07T16:20:00.001-07:00

Everyone, PLEASE spread the word! Tomorrow, Saturday the 8th, is the first ever MEET THE 9th WARD DOGS day! All the adoptables will be there, PLUS we'll have FREE cold drinks as well as other info, etc. All this will be going down at Cabrini Park in the French Quarter, corner of Dauphine and Barracks, from 2-6pm. We can't wait to see yall!

FIVE WONDERFUL DOGS will be joining us:

-- AMBER the 6 month old pit bull pup
--BASIL the 4 year old black and tan hound
--BART the beagle/lab mix 6 month old pup
--EMMA the 1 year old pit mix (independent foster)
--SCOUT the 2 year old German Shepherd

Applications will be available, but no dogs will go home tomorrow, as vet references and home checks are required. You will have the opportunity to meet ALL these wonderful dogs, so please stop by and tell everyone you know! For more info, email me at kellygaus@gmail.com. Thanks, yall!

special 9th Ward dog toy offer!

2009-08-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

Bart, available for adoption, models a Fat Cat bottle cruncher toy from Best Friend's General Store!

If you're a dog owner and have never checked out Best Friend's General Store, you need to do it right now! This online-only store has a STELLAR selection of toys of all sorts of different types, and some other dog supplies as well. It's my go-to for toys for the 9th Ward pack and my rescues. I've gotten some excellent toys from Best Friend's -- and believe me, my pack of large, rough-and-tumble pups put them to the test!

D9 is very grateful to Best Friend's General Store because they have just graciously donated a selection of cool toys for us to raffle off at our fundraiser on August 16th! Thanks, BFGS! Also, they have generously created a special coupon for D9 and our blog followers: if you got to their website, when you go to check out, you'll have an opportunity to enter a coupon code. If you enter 9TH WARD, you'll receive 15% off your purchase -- and their prices are already really good! Thanks, Besty and Norman at BFGS! The 9th Ward pack urges you to go check that out RIGHT NOW!! Click right on over to http://www.bestfriendsgeneralstore.com/

FYI: Pauline especially recommends the Wild n Crazy Anteater. She says it's the best toy ever created. It rattles. It grunts. It's just fabulous.

Also, in other good news for the day, Amber is doing great, and although she doesn't have a foster home yet, she is safely at the vet, and is going to be spayed on Wednesday. This special girl is so sweet, we know she'll find a home soon!

Pauline the 9th Ward pit bull shows off her anteater toy.

Chalmette the St. Bernard tries to entice the other girls with a bungee pull toy.

Pauline and Remy the Katrina Rescue St. Bernard play with the ever popular Yada Yada toy.

Reminder! D9 will be at Cabrini Park this Saturday!!

2009-08-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone, remember to mark your calendars. Dogs of the 9th Ward will be holding our first "Meet the 9th Ward Dogs" day at Cabrini Park this Saturday, August 8th, from 2pm-6pm. Our four wonderful 9th Ward dogs will be there. This will be a rain or shine event -- in the event of rain, we'll be huddled under the pavillion, but we'll still be there! This is a great opportunity to meet the dogs we have: you can easily meet all of them at once, AND you can bring all your family members to the meeting!*

Our four dogs range from 6 months to 4 years, from medium to large in adult size, from high-energy to low-energy.... you may well find your best friend! Applications will be available, but dogs won't go home until vet references are checked and a home check is completed. Please come and meet our three boys and one girl:

AMBER: 6-month-old fawn pit bull, very sweet and playful, being treated for demodex mange; currently 27 pounds; found stray.

BART: 6-month-old beagle/lab mix, fun-loving and affectionate, being treated for demodex mange; currently 28 pounds; born on the streets.

BASIL: 4-year-old black and tan hound, super loving and very laid back; about 70 pounds; abandoned by previous owner.

SCOUT: 2-year-old gorgeous German Shepherd, very gentle and sweet; about 70 pounds; abandoned by previous owner.

All of these amazing dogs adore people and are friendly with other dogs. It's incredible that such great and beautiful dogs don't have homes to call their own! Please stop by and meet them. Tell your friends!

*NOTE: Cabrini Park is used as an off-leash dog park, so please use caution in bringing children, as D9 is not in control of other dogs that happen to be at the park during the event. Dog- and people-friendly dogs are welcome, but if you think your canine family members are "iffy" with other dogs, please set up a private meeting for them.

introducing Amber!

2009-07-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

Amber was found suffering from severe demodex mange earlier this week by a wonderful fellow rescuer. Thankfully, D9 has been able to take in this poor baby! Amber is a 6-month-old, 37-pound pit pup. She is the sweetest, most affectionate girl you'll ever meet, despite her condition! She is playful with other dogs and loving and gentle with people. She appears to have a little bit of basic obedience and must have had a home at one point in time -- but judging from her condition, it must have been a long time ago!

Amber is fawn with white on her nose and feet; she sort of appears brindle in the pictures, but that's actually just patches where her fur has fallen out due to mange. Other than the demodex, she is a pretty healthy little girl: heartworm negative, no signs of infection. She will need oral liquid meds for the demodex for several months. We hope she will be spayed and chipped next week.

Amber is currently boarding at the vet, but hopefully will be in a foster home next week. If you are interested in adopting or fostering Amber, or if you can spare a few dollars towards her veterinary costs (likely a total of around $800, including spay), please contact me at kellygaus@gmail.com. Amber's adoption fee is $100, to help cover the costs of her treatment.

Save the Date(s)!!

2009-07-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

News flash! Well, news flashes, actually.

On Saturday, August 8th, we will have our first ever "meet the 9th Ward dogs" event! This will take place from 1pm-6pm at Cabrini Park in the French Quarter (corner of Dauphine and Barracks streets, 70116). All currently available 9th Ward dogs will be in attendance, and applications will be available (please note that as vet checks and home checks are required, no dogs will go home immediately), and donations will be gladly accepted, of course!! In addition, some D9 merchandise will be available for sale, and Pauline will be meeting her public! Please email me at kellygaus@gmail.com for more info.

Also, on Sunday, August 16th, we will be at New Orleans Dog Nanny celebrating the Feast of St. Roch, patron saint of dogs! Dog wash, dog portraits, and food and drink highlight the fun event, plus adoptable 9th Ward dogs will be there. Proceeds go to D9, with grateful thanks given to New Orleans Dog Nanny -- New Orleans' premier, cage-free dog day care and boarding facility! They also offer grooming, training, and other services. We hope to see all our friends at both of these great events!

Bart plays with the 9th Ward Pack!

2009-07-25T16:28:00.001-07:00

What a happy Bart! At 6 months old, he's a sweetheart.

Pauline the pit and Miss B the Great Dane play with the always-submissive Bart.

Pauline, 8 months, and Bart, 6 months, hang out in the back yard.

Pauline chasing her big sister Chalmette, the St. Bernard.

Super Bart! This is one happy, sweet, playful puppy!

Bart says hi to Remy, the old Katrina rescue St. Bernard.

Bart weaves in and out of traffic to evade Pauline.

Bart and Pauline had a great time. Almost the same age and same size, it was lots of puppy play!

If you think Bart might be the ideal new family member for you, please contact me at kellygaus@gmail.com. Bart is a sweet, submissive and friendly boy who is vaccinated, neutered, chipped, and being treated for demodectic mange. All the other dogs pictured are part of my "9th Ward Pack."

call for help!

2009-07-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

D9 has been extremely lucky in receiving many generous donations over the past few months. With that money, I'm proud to say that we have rescued 5 dogs from the streets of the 9th Ward! Most 9th Ward dogs come to us with a lot of health issues (malnutrition, mange, parasites, heart worms, etc), and treating these conditions, plus spaying/neutering, vaccinating, and microchipping the dogs, is costly. I am proud of the progress we've made, and also truly touched by the donations we've been lucky enough to receive.

I have to beg for help again, unfortunately. Our two new boys, Scout and Basil, are heart worm positive, and although our vet is giving us a good rate on their treatment, it will still be expensive, and will completely wipe out our funds. In addition, Basil needs to have his hips X-rayed to look for possible dysplasia, and we need to purchase 2 large crates so that the boys can be kept quiet during treatment while their foster mom is out. All this is going to really add up! Donations in any amount -- nothing to small! -- are greatly appreciated.

Since we are not yet a 501(c)(3), we prefer cash donations be made directly to our vet, Prytania Veterinary Hospital, at 504.899.2828, or 4907 Prytania, New Orleans, LA 70118. Donations of supplies or gift certificates (towards buying a crate at PetCo/PetSmart, etc) can be made directly to me. Thank you so much for your generosity! The dogs of the 9th Ward need you.

updated profiles on Scout, Basil, and Bart

2009-07-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Meet Basil!

Basil was found by a caring 9th Ward resident near the Industrial Canal, where he had been dumped along with his friend, Scout. Basil is about 5 years old, 70 pounds, and appears to be a hound or hound mix. Basil is showing signs of hip dysplasia, which we are looking into. He also is being treated for a severe yeast infection, and is, unfortunately, heart worm positive. He will begin heart worm treatment soon. Despite all his misfortune, Basil is absolutely the most loving, sweet dog you'll ever meet! He adores any sort of attention and just wants to be close to you. Basil will make a fabulous friend for any family.

Basil is neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and will go to his new home heart worm free, unless he is adopted during treatment. All 9th Ward dogs go home with full vet records. We are asking for Basil's adoptive family to make a $100 contribution towards Basil's heart worm treatment. Application, home check, and vet reference are required.

Meet Scout!

Scout was found after being dumped at the Industrial Canal with his friend, Basil. Scout is a truly gorgeous purebred German Shepherd. He is a little timid and shy, but loves people and gets along well with other dogs as well. Scout is about 2-3 years old, and at 65 pounds, he's a bit underweight. Unfortunately, Scout is also heart worm positive. He will begin treatment for that soon. Scout does show some signs of previous abuse that his happy-go-lucky buddy Basil doesn't seem to, so he'll need an especially sensitive family.

Scout is neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and will go to his new home heart worm free, unless he is adopted during treatment. All 9th Ward dogs go home with full vet records. We are asking for Scout's adoptive family to make a $100 contribution towards Scout's heart worm treatment. Application, home check, and vet reference are required.

Meet Bart!

Bart was found living under abandoned houses in the Florida Area of the 9th Ward, where he had spent the first 5 months of his life. He was severely infested with every sort of parasite: fleas, mites, and intestinal worms. He was also malnourished. He did test heart worm negative, but will need to be rechecked to be 100% sure. Bart has been thoroughly dewormed and is now being treated for a minor case of demodectic mange (non-contagious). He is a very sweet, loving, HAPPY puppy who just wants a family to romp and play with! Bart gets along well with others, both human and canine. Bart is such a fun pup!

Bart will go to his new home neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and will have any current medications with him (most likely oral liquid Ivermectin for mange). All 9th Ward dogs go home with full vet records. Application, home check, vet reference, and adoption donation of at least $50 are required to adopt Bart.

If you're interested in adopting, please contact me at kellygaus@gmail.com.