Wag Street Journal

A Q u a r t e r l y N ew s l e t t e r f r o m L a C r e s c e n t A n i m a l Re s c u e

Mission Statement: To provide

consistent and compassionate NEW HOURS!
care to stray and homeless dogs
and cats in the La Crescent area. Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Goal: To provide care for stray
and homeless cats and dogs, spay Sunday: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
and neuter them, and find suitable
foster and permanent homes for **All other days and times by appointment only.**
them.

Fall Issue 2010

Volume 1, Issue 4
Fr o m T h e P r e s i d e n t
Inside this issue:
Thank You! 2
As of August 9, the new Shelter has been open for one year! It has been an inter- Foreclosure Pets 3
esting and educational year. We had anticipated dealing with more surrendered and stray Moving With Pets Information 4
animals due to having a public location, but this year has been challenging. The continuing Saving Money On Your Pets 5
economic conditions, as well as having weather favorable to newborn survival, has led to a
full Shelter. We are not the only one, though - all area shelters are full and many are turn- Calendar of Events, Wish List 6
ing away surrendered and stray animals. However, you can help! Introduce your family, Dog/Cat of the Season, Happy Tails 7
friends and neighbors to the Shelter. We cannot find forever homes for our furry friends if
Happy Tails, Volunteer of the Season 8
the public does not know who we are, what we are about, or where we are located. Visitors
and adopters are welcome anytime, but please note that Tuesdays and Thursdays are the Info, Rainbow Bridge, Fundraisers 9
Shelter’s “super cleaning” days. So, visiting after 4:00 p.m. is best on those days, but you A Fantastic Deal 10
need to call for an appointment outside of regular visiting hours. Second, you can help by Petfinder and AdoptaPet, 11
volunteering to write some descriptions of our available animals for Petfinder.com - espe-
cially for our cats! Adding more personality to the descriptions may peak more adopter Donation Form
interest. Contact Heather Sayers at the Shelter’s website, info@lacrescentanimalrescue.org,
for more information. Third, foster homes are always appreciated. I know that fostering is
a bigger commitment, but we know that dogs do better in a foster home, and our cats would
like some one-on-one time, too! I would like to extend a big thank you to all the volunteers
and members who donate their time and money to La Crescent Animal Rescue. This never-
As of August 9th, our physical shelter
ending work would not be possible without your help. has been in operation for ONE
YEAR!!
Have you been to the new website? The website was changed a few months ago.
This new site is easier to update and can do more than the old site. A few “bugs” need to be
worked out, such as updating the calendar and posting the newsletter as a PDF file on the Terry Schleifer began La Crescent
Animal Rescue in 2004 out of her
site. You may have noticed that clicking the old address: www.lacrescentanimalrescue.org, home, but finally having our own
takes you to the new address: www.lacrescentanimalrescue.blogspot.com. This redirect building has allowed our organization
to expand, grow, and help even more
will work for about the next year before becoming dormant. The new address is hosted for abandoned and homeless animals in
free, thus saving $110 per year. Please bookmark the new address in your browser and up- the La Crescent area!
date any links you control. Are you on the La Crescent Animal Rescue e-mail list? For Happy 1st Birthday!
updates between newsletters, please send your e-mail to the Shelter, which remains the
same at: info@lacrescentanimalrescue.org.
- David Fanning, 895-3269
A SPECIAL THANK YOU...
Dear Dale and Nancy Olson:

La Crescent Animal Rescue (LAR) wants to give the two of you a warm and wholehearted thank you
for everything that you have done for the organization. Our appreciation for you is beyond words, and what
both of you have done for LAR is exceptional!
Dale, you essentially built the shelter through your skillful planning, personal contacts in the construc-
tion business, attention to detail, and sheer will and determination. If it were not for you, La Crescent Animal
Rescue would not have a physical shelter! Your experience in planning and construction was invaluable, and
the contacts that you had from past projects allowed the Shelter to be built with smaller financial costs. You
even persuaded high-quality people and companies with specialized skills to donate time and materials to com-
plete the shelter. The donation of your personal time, funds, and expertise collectively saved our organization
thousands of dollars during the building process.
In addition, you were the President of La Crescent Animal Rescue, and you were an excellent leader
who guided our group through a HUGE transition. You stayed with us until we were able to settle into the new
shelter, and work out the difficulties that came with that new challenge. Also, we really appreciate you leading
our organization through changing the bylaws, as well as introducing the adoption of policies and procedures.
Overall, we really appreciate and respect the job that you did as the President of LAR!
A wholehearted thank you also goes to you, Nancy, for the many activities that you did for LAR, in-
cluding the meaningful, personalized thank you notes that you tirelessly wrote. You were also such a gracious
hostess throughout the years by opening your home for meetings and fundraisers. In addition, you shopped dili-
gently and contributed many wonderful items for our silent auctions. These examples are just a small illustra-
tion of how thoughtful, kind, and caring you are, Nancy!
Dale and Nancy, you are well respected throughout the La Crescent Community and beyond. You give
your time, skills, and money to help improve the community as a whole, which is so admirable. You selflessly
donated time and money to our organization, and displayed some amazing acts of unselfishness. An excellent
illustration of this was the gifts that you gave each other for your anniversary. Dale, instead of giving a typical
anniversary gift, you purchased the shelter’s air conditioning as your gift for Nancy. In turn, Nancy, you gave
Dale the dog grooming station for the shelter as his gift. You are extremely unselfish and generous people, and
all of your combined acts of kindness purely illustrate your devotion to La Crescent Animal Rescue!
Our appreciation for all of the work that you did for the Rescue is beyond words. Please remember that
both of you always have a place in the hearts of all of us at La Crescent Animal Rescue. You will always be a
huge, significant part of the Rescue’s history, and we simply cannot thank you enough for ALL that you have
done! As a token of our appreciation, we purchased a cement bench that is sitting outside the Shelter’s main
door, which has been inscribed to dedicate the shelter to both of you. Thank you for allowing us to work with
such amazing, unselfish, kind, hard-working people, and we truly love both of you!!

Sincerely,
La Crescent Animal Rescue

THANK YOU!! La Crescent Animal Rescue would like to sincerely and wholeheart-
edly thank everyone who responded to our request to raise money for
Tequila’s surgery! We greatly appreciate
everyone’s financial contributions be-
cause the money allowed this little kitten
to have the surgery that she needed.
Now, Tequila is able to walk, and she
can now lead a normal, happy life!
However you want to say it - Toda, Gra-
zie, Gracias, Mercie, Mahalo - we appre-
ciate your support and generosity!

Page 2
 An enormous and heartfelt thank you to Robin
Miller for acquiring thousands of cans of Fancy
Feast for our cats at the !! With three deliveries,
Robin has already secured the shelter a staggering
21,264 cans of food, at a wholesale value of
$2,747.47!

Thank you also to Purina for donating the food, as

well as to Hot-Line Freight System for transport-
ing the cans. We greatly appreciate everyone’s
efforts because this has been such a wonderful
benefit for the Shelter! Great Job, Robin!!

FORECLOSURE PETS By Mariah Forster Olson

An economic hardship that is becoming all too common is when a person loses their home because it has gone into
foreclosure. Basically, a foreclosure is when a lender repossesses the home after the borrower stops making the home
loan payments. Both the poor economic conditions and the rapid increase in unemployment can sometimes result in a
borrower simply becoming unable to make their payments. Foreclosures can arise from the following events: unem-
ployment – being laid off, fired, or quitting a job; inability to work because of a medical condition; alcohol or drug
addiction; excessive debt and massive bills; arguments with the co-owner of a home, sometimes resulting from a di-
vorce; or a job transfer to another state.1 A foreclosure means that the home must be vacated, so unfortunately, this
can sometimes lead to people abandoning their pets and leaving them behind in the vacated home to fend for them-
selves. This has happened so many times that these victims have been named “foreclosure pets.”

The number of foreclosures has increased 46% from March 2008 to March 2009, and some report that foreclosures
have increased as much as 62% this year. The increase in foreclosures has had a direct increase on abandoned pets –
“as people leave their homes, they leave their pets as well.”2 Some responsible people do bring their pets into shelters,
but others simply turn their pets loose, dump them to fend for themselves, or they completely abandon the animal in
the empty, foreclosed home, often as a form of punishment to those involved in the foreclosure. This truly makes
these poor animals the victims! It is difficult to imagine that some people do not view their pets as “living, breathing
creatures incapable of fending for itself. They see a pet as property…”1 When the animals are found, they generally
have no food or water, there is feces and urine all over, and the environment is not temperature-controlled. The ani-
mals are often in very poor condition, both physically and emotionally. Without food and water, foreclosure pets can
become dehydrated within 24 hours, and will starve to purely skin and bones. Often, these animals are found dead.

How can people possibly do this to their former furry family members? People may view their situation as something
that is beyond their control, which can result in feelings of helplessness and depression. This emotional instability can
cause indifference to others, themselves, and their obligations, such as their pet. On the other hand, people that lose
their home from a foreclosure need to find another place to live. Since they cannot buy another home, people often
have to rent an apartment, which may not take pets.

If your house is in foreclosure, please do not abandon your pets! Yet, there are things that the rest of us can do to help
save foreclosure pets. If you know anyone involved in a foreclosure, you can always ask if they have made arrange-
ments for their pets, or you could simply leave animal rescue information behind for them. After the home has been
vacated, make sure that there are no pets tied up or left in the back yard. You could call a real estate agent to make
sure that there are no abandoned pets inside. If there is suspected animal cruelty from abandonment, call the police!
Unfortunately, not everyone is an animal lover and not everyone considers their pets to be family members. Thus, we
have to be a voice for these pets because foreclosures are increasing, and we need to do what we can to help these in-
nocent victims!

References:
1
“Abandoned Foreclosure Pets.” Retrieved from: http://homebuying.about.com/od/4closureshortsales/qt/10208_ForclPets.htm.
2
“Abandoned Pets.” Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandoned_pets.

Page 3
 La Crosse resident, Rachel Beauchene, is in the running for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant. She wants
to use it to sponsor over 200 shelter animals to get spayed/neutered, as well as to purchase supplies for
5 local rescues, including La Crescent Animal Rescue. You can help by voting every day during the
month of September at:
http://www.refresheverything.com/lacrossespayandrescue

Moving – Remember Your Furry Family Members

By Mariah Forster Olson

Many animal lovers cannot even fathom leaving their pets for any reason because they are truly members of the family.
However, the economic crisis sweeping through the nation has forced families to leave their homes and relocate, and many
are simply leaving their pets behind. Throughout the United States, 50% of abandoned pets are euthanized and the remaining
50% end up in shelters.1

The Champaign County Humane Society states that “two of the most common reasons people
give for leaving their pets at the shelter are, ‘We’re moving’ and ‘The Landlord won’t allow
my pet.’”2 Another explanation may simply be that an owner does not want to take their pet
with them. Lately, La Crescent Animal Rescue has been bombarded with people that are mov-
ing and cannot or will not take their pets. These poor animals are truly victims because they
do not understand why their owners have left them. Although animals cannot tell us how they
feel, they often exhibit signs of stress and anxiety when an owner abandons them.

There are alternatives, however. First and foremost, renters that own pets need to PLAN AHEAD if they are moving! It can
be difficult to find an apartment that allows pets, so you need to leave plenty of time to find a place that does allow animals!
In addition, the following articles will give you tips on moving with a pet, as well as ideas to save money on pet care.

References
1
“Abandoned Pets.” Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandoned_pets.
2
“Moving with Your Pet.” Retrieved from: http://wwww.cuhumane.org/topics/hove.html.

Tips for Moving With Pets

By Mariah Forster Olson

When families include furry members, care needs to be taken during a move to make sure that your pet is feeling calm,
and is safe during the moving process. Hopefully, the following tips will be ease the stress of moving with a pet.

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for the following reasons: to have an overall a check-up on your
animal; to make sure that your pet is up-to-date with vaccinations; to get copies of your pet’s medical records; to
discuss the possible use of a sedative during the move; and if you are moving out of the area, check with your
current veterinarian to see if they have any suggestions on a veterinarian in the new area.
In order to be prepared, make a list of everything you will need for your pet while traveling, and pack the items early
so that you have everything on moving day. Some necessary items include: pet carrier; food and water; bowls;
toys; pillows, towels, and/or blankets; a favorite bed; copy of veterinarian records; any prescriptions used by
your pet; leash, collar or harness; and cat litter and an appropriate litter box;
A pet should be transported in a pet carrier, cage, or crate. If you are driving, your pet should remain in the cage dur-
ing the trip. Although you may want to hold your furry companion, it can be dangerous for both you and your
pet. However, if you are flying, your pet will most likely have to travel in the cargo area of a plane. This can be
very stressful for an animal, so your veterinarian may prescribe a sedative to ease the stress and anxiety.
New surroundings can be confusing, stressful, and terrifying for a pet. When you arrive at a new place, such as a
hotel along the travel route or your new home, it is important to give them familiar items, such as a blanket or
favorite toy, to keep him/her comfortable and calm.
(continued on page 5) Page 4
 (Continued…)

Make sure that you keep your pet occupied and put him/her in a safe place when you are moving items in and out of your
home. Take the proper precautions because pets can sometimes be injured if they are underfoot while you are moving
large items. Also, the door is often left open when moving boxes and furniture, so pets can escape. If this happens, it
is important that your pet has proper identification, including a collar and tags, and/or a microchip. Identification tags
should include your cell phone or another contact number, the pet’s name, and your new address. In addition, the most
current rabies tags should be attached to the collar.
It is important to let your pet explore his or her new home. You need to give your pet the space and time to adapt to the
new surroundings. Some pets may even go into hiding, but they will eventually get used to the new environment.
Once in your new home, it is important to keep your pet’s routine familiar and consistent. For example, make sure that you
stick to the feeding schedule that you had at your previous residence. If you own a dog, walk him or her at the same
time(s) you did at your previous home. This will help your pet stay calm and content, and it will make it easier for
your pet to adapt to the changes.

References:
Schmidt, Diane. “Moving Pets: Taking Them on the Road.” http://moving.about.com/od/movingwithdependents/az/pets_road.htm.
Wikipedia. “How to Move with Pets.” http://www.wikihow.com/Move-with-Pets.
Zagata, Darlene. “How to Calm a Pet During a Movie.” http://www.ehow.com/how_2308291_calm-pet-during-move.html.

$$ Saving Money on Your Pets! $$

By Mariah Forster Olson
Financial hardships are common today, and just about everyone is looking for ways to save money. For people that
are facing financial hardships, it is important to find ways to reduce pet care costs so that they are able to keep their furry
friends a part of the family! With some help from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), here are some tips to save
some money on pet care:
• Your pet does not need expensive toys or accessories!! Homemade toys and common, everyday items that are already in
your home will amuse and occupy your pet. You could wad up a piece of paper, and watch your cat bat it around, or use a golf
ball or ping pong ball and watch a round of “kitty soccer”. Tennis balls are fun toys for dogs, as well as old socks or an old
shoe. Also, paper bags and boxes can occupy both cats and dogs for hours. Common, everyday items can be far more interest-
ing to our animals than an expensive toy, and I can personally attest to this! If you are looking for more ideas, the HSUS has
other ideas on their website (www.hsus.org).
• Keeping your pets inside your home, or on a leash when walking outside, is important because it helps keep your pet safer
and healthier. When pets are allowed to roam free, they are more prone to accidents, which can result in massive veterinary
bills!
• Talk to your veterinarian and let them know that finances are tight because there may be ways to lower your pet’s veteri-
nary costs. For example, I asked my veterinarian about vaccinations for my cat, who was strictly an indoor animal. It turns out
that she did not need certain vaccinations because she never went outdoors, so this resulted in a savings for me on my vet bills!
• Many people are turning to pet health insurance to help with veterinary costs, such as PetPlan Pet Insurance, VPI Pet In-
surance, or ASPCA Pet Insurance. Consider researching some of these companies to compare the costs and determine which
coverage is best suited to you and your pet.
• Finally, I use CareCredit, which is a credit card that I use strictly for veterinary bills, and many veterinarians accept this
coverage. The best feature of this card is that charges are interest-free to anywhere from 3 months, 6 months, and sometimes
even a full year! It allows me to slowly pay off an unexpected veterinary bill without dealing with the damaging interest rates!
Owning a pet can be expensive, but if you implement some or all of these tips, it can help you manage pet care costs more
effectively and efficiently. More important, however, is that saving money on your pet during these economically challenging
times will ensure that your furry companion can remain a member of the family!

Reference:
“Moving On: Remember Your Pets When Relocating.” Retrieved from:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/remember_pets_when_relocating_11808.html Page 5
 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 6: Monthly Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Library

September 24, 25, 26: Oktoberfest Fundraiser – La Crosse Tribune Parking Lot
October 4: Monthly Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Library
October 24: Scrambled Egg Breakfast at the Community Building, “Butter Braids” Sale Begins
Early November: Sales Begin for Holiday Gift Baskets and “‘Tis the Season for
Paws” Holiday Ornaments (see page 9 for details)
November 1: Monthly Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Library
November 18: Tastefully Simple Open House Fundraiser at the Community Building from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

**This year, we will be selling calendars and holiday cards, so please look for that sale coming soon!!**

**Please mark your calendars in advance for the Chili Supper on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at the La Crescent Snowmobile Club!!**

WISH LIST
La Crescent Animal Rescue is solely operated through fundraisers, donations, and volunteers. Below is a list of
items that the organization needs, and any donations from this list would be greatly appreciated! If you have any
questions, please feel free to call us at 507-895-2066, or e-mail us at: info@lacrescentanimalrescue.org. Please
send or drop off donations to: La Crescent Animal Rescue, 523 South Chestnut Street, La Crescent, MN 55947.
In addition, please include your name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number with your donation, so that
we can send you a receipt and thank you for your kind donation!

Monetary donations (check or money order) Hand sanitizer

Gift cards to Petcock, Pet Smart, Woodman’s, and Dish soap
Farm & Fleet Laundry detergent & fabric softener sheets
“Yesterday’s News” cat litter & scoopable cat litter Bleach
Stainless steel litter pans Mops
“Science Diet” cat & dog food (dry and canned) Rubber gloves
Stainless steel bowls (all sizes) Paper towels
KRM - Kitten Replacement Milk Disinfectant Wipes
Cat treats/catnip Plastic trash bags
Dog Treats-knuckle beef bones, Printer paper
nyla bones, pigs ears, Kongs (large & extra large)
Kong Fillers Pens, paper clips & file folders
Cat toys & dog toys (no stuffing for dog) HP printer ink 74 and 75
Dog leashes (regular only) & dog collars (small to Lock box for important documents
extra-large) Donations for Frontline, heartworm tablets, and
Cat beds & large dog beds vaccinations for both dogs and cats
Blankets & rugs Donations for surgical supplies

Page 6
Dog of the Season by Heather Sayers

**Chico**
Chico is a very handsome 10-year-old male Chihuahua, with white, tan, and black markings.
He is almost completely blind in both of his eyes, but his senses of smell and hearing are extremely heightened. He is a very low-key little
dog, and could live very happily in a small home or apartment. Since he is an older dog, Chico would prefer a quiet home with lots of soft
blankets and beds for him to rest on. Since his sense of sight is lessened, it is important to approach him slowly and make some sort of noise
so that he knows someone is near. Once he does know that you are there, his tail will start wagging like crazy and he will roll over so that his
belly can be rubbed!! Please consider Chico as an addition to your home. He is very well deserving of a warm, loving place where he can
retire and happily live in his forever home! Anyone would be extremely lucky to own this remarkable little dog that has captured many
hearts, as well as the title of La Crescent Animal Rescue’s Dog of the Season!
NOTE: Chico is no longer our Dog of the Season because his previous owner found him at LAR using Petfinder! His real name is
Skippy, he is nine years old, and he suffers from Cushing’s Disease. His owner was so happy to finally find him, though, and he will
re-join his family and brother, who is another Chihuahua! It is wonderful that Chico/Skippy has a
happy ending to his story!

Cat of the Season by Heather Sayers & Mariah Forster Olson

**Candy**
My name is Candy, and I arrived at the shelter very pregnant on April 25, 2010 because a farmer threatened to “shoot me” and my
babies if he “could not get rid of me!” The Shelter took me in, and very shortly after, I gave birth to three kittens – Kit, Kat, and Bar. Sadly,
Bar had to be put down due to difficulty breathing from a cleft palate, but Kit and Kat were healthy and have already been adopted! How-
ever, I remain here at the Shelter and I am looking for my forever home.
You should come and visit me at the Shelter – I am the short-haired Calico that is mostly white, with orange and black markings,
and I hang out in the lobby with Toolbox and Masala. I am only about one to two years old, so I lost part of my kittenhood being a mama.
However, I am making up for the time that I missed as a kitten because I am very playful! I LOVE to play with toys, and I even carry my
little ball around like a dog! I can sometimes be a little sassy when it comes to other cats, but I am very lovable and will jump onto your lap
and lay down when asked.
I also really enjoy talking to anyone that will listen, and if you “meow” and talk back to me, I always politely respond and will
continue the conversation until you are finished talking to me! In fact, I have had many meaningful conversations with some of the volun-
teers at the Shelter. I am also very sweet because I will follow you around, rub up against your legs, and give you so much love. Many vol-
unteers have said that they just adore me because I am sweet, lovable, and huggable with a slightly sassy, talkative side. I have one of the
most distinct personalities, and I am just waiting for a loving owner that will give me my forever home. Please come see me soon!!

CATS: Meghan Tripod DOGS: Stella

Callie Norman Tucker Aspen Woody
Cha Cha Pichachew Denali Zen
Charlie Pierre Diamond
Curly Portia Emmie
Dexter Priscilla Ethan
Dora Ralphie Lucas
Thank you to those who adopted the
following animals - Ellie Romeo Lucy

We wish you the best of luck!! Gabby Rusty Mudge

Gloria Sheba Peanut
Isaac Shilo Rascal (now Sammy)
Kat Sparrow Rusty
Maple Sylvester Sampson
Maxwell Tequila Shilo (now Willy

Page 7
 HAPPY TAILS—GARFIELD By Heather Sayers and Mariah Forster Olson
My name is Garfield, and I have an amazing story to tell you with a fairytale ending! As you can tell
from my picture, I am a very handsome, orange and white male cat who will smile for a picture! Due
to the economy, my family unfortunately lost their home when it went into foreclosure. We had to
leave our house and with no where else to go, my family and I moved to a sandbar. I am used to a
much smaller litter box and the sandbar was just not a good place for a cat, so on May 7, 2010, my
owners felt that they should bring me to La Crescent Animal Rescue. The people at the Shelter took
very good care of me and I made many cat friends, but I really missed my family! The volunteers
noticed that I was a bit depressed, and that I had lost weight. I would also just sit and stare into space,
and my eyes held so much sadness. However, whenever someone gave me attention and pet me, I
would start to purr and a bit of the sadness would lift from my eyes. I continued to miss my family,
though, and I hoped that they would somehow come back for me. Amazingly, my family called the
shelter in August and asked if I was still around, and if so, they were wondering if they could have me
back. The volunteers told my owners that I was still there, and since my family loved and missed me
so much, the Shelter said that they could absolutely have me back! So, our new house was renovated,
and I was picked up and brought to my new home with my old family. I cannot believe that I got my
wish and was returned to my family - this is the wonderful type of situation that the people at the Shel-
ter love! I do miss the volunteers who took care of me, but I am so glad to be home with my family.
Now, I hope that all of my friends at the Shelter can either go back to their old families, or get adopted
by wonderful new families!!

HAPPY TAILS—GRACIE By Heather Sayers

Hello! My name is Gracie and I am between 10 to 15 years old. Originally, I was supposed to be Autumn newsletter’s “Dog of the
Season,” but I will tell you why I am not after I tell you my story. Please, do not be sad because my story does have a happy ending! I
was found on South 12th street in La Crescent on a Saturday morning, lying on someone’s lawn. He was going to tie me up in his yard
and leave me there so that if someone was looking for me, they could easily see me. However, it was hot and humid and since I am
black and very furry, he decided against that and brought me to the shelter. (The Shelter actually determined that I was a Schipperke,
which is a breed that is double-coated with a fluffy undercoat, so I would have been very hot!) When I was first brought into the Shel-
ter, I could not walk - my back legs would not carry me and I was unable to feel them. Heather, a volunteer at the Shelter, called Hill-
side Animal Hospital immediately and they were able to see me! They found a bulging disk in my spine, so they gave me medication
and a shot. Almost magically, I went from being carried by volunteers because I was unable to walk, to being able to walk myself!
And boy did I walk - I walked into the hearts of everyone that I met. So do you want to know about my happy ending? I was adopted,
and I am in my forever home with my new parents. I am extremely happy and can now live a life of luxury!

VOLUNTEER OF THE SEASON—MARY GARRETT

By Mariah Forster Olson

In the future, our Volunteer of the Season hopes that La Crescent Animal Rescue will be able to
pursue and protect cases of abuse and negligence toward animals. Furthermore, she sincerely
hopes that the Rescue can “entice” additional volunteers, who will discover how rewarding work-
ing at the Shelter can be for both themselves and the animals. Due to these sentiments, as well as
her tireless efforts volunteering with the dogs at the Shelter, Mary Garrett is the Volunteer of the
Season.
According to Heather Sayers and many others, Mary is a “wonderful volunteer…who always has a
smile on her face and is willing to work hard for the shelter.” She is the afternoon dog walker on Monday through Friday, and when necessary,
Mary will take dogs to the veterinarian. Furthermore, she assists with cleaning and laundry. Heather further states that when the Shelter needs
assistance with the dogs, Mary is willing to drop everything and help immediately. Mary joined La Crescent Animal Rescue about 4 years ago
when she answered an advertisement that Karla Ronnenberg, LAR’s Dog Director, placed in the weekly newspaper. Mary has enjoyed herself
so much that she has been volunteering ever since!
Mary Garrett has been married for 39 years to Keith, and they have two children: Jon, who is 38; and Jill, who is 30. She also has two
“adorable” grandchildren named Makayla, who is 4 ½ years old, and Sam, who is 3 ½ years old. Their family is completed by 9 birds!! Mary
enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, and she babysits them twice a week. She also cleans houses 3 days a week, but for fun she enjoys
shopping, reading, and walking.
Mary Garrett feels that each dog entering the Shelter has a different personality, which makes the job interesting, fun, and always different.
Mary states that the shelter’s dogs have taught her about the importance of compassion and patience, which has made her job very rewarding!

Page 8
 La Crescent Animal Rescue - General Information
Address: 523 South Chestnut Street La Crescent Animal Rescue
President
(Across the Highway from Leidel’s Apple Stand)
David Fanning dandlfanning@charter.net
Telephone Number: (507) 895-2066
E-Mail: info@lacrescentanimalrescue.org Board of Directors
Lina Fanning: dandlfanning@charter.net
Website: www.lacrescentanimalrescue.blogspot.com Robin Miller: rockinrobin@acegroup.cc
Shelter Hours: Karla Ronnenberg: ronnenberg@acegroup.cc
Terry Schleifer: catstls@aol.com
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Jeff Wrobel: jawrobel@charter.net
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
**All other days and times by appointment only.**

Over the Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially
close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge… and when you and your special friend fi-
nally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again...Then you cross the Rainbow
Bridge together.
We Fondly Remember...

Agatha Corey Lucinda Rose Spike

Avery Dusty Mackenzie Stormy
Baby Esme Macy Sugar Plum
Banjo Frankie Morgan Trixie
Beatrix Hunter Norbert
Boots Jazzy Paris
Cinnamon Libby Sleepy Fluffy Tail

HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS

As you start to purchase holiday gifts
for everyone on your list, do not forget to buy
something for your family pet(s) this year!
La Crescent Animal Rescue has your
solution with our cat and dog Holiday Gift Bas-
kets. The baskets are available at the shelter for
only $20, and they will consist of yummy treats,
toys, and many surprises.
If you can believe it, the baskets will be
even better this year than they were last year!!
The Holiday Gift Basket event runs from early
November until the holiday season is complete,
and all proceeds will benefit the shelter.
So for this holiday season, make sure
you remember to have something for the family
pet(s) under the tree this year and purchase one
of our Holiday Gift Baskets!
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR PAWS
Similar to last year, the shelter will be having a very special
Holiday Tree. From early November until the holiday season is
complete, you can purchase a red or white paw ornament to place on
our tree in the La Crescent Animal Rescue Shelter for only $5.00!
The program is called ‘Tis the Season for Paws, and all pro-
ceeds will benefit the shelter. The red and white colors symbolize a
different type of ornament. In memory of a pet) that you would like
to remember, you would purchase a red paw ornament.
On the other hand, a white paw ornament would represent a
living pet that you would like to honor. You also have the option of
giving us a picture of your pet to place on the ornament, which fur-
ther personalize the ornament and lets everyone see your adorable
furry family member This is a great way to remember and honor our
beloved pets this season!

Page 9
 A Fantastic Deal
By Mariah Forster Olson

With the increase in foreclosures, economic hardships, and people having to move, our Shelter is becoming very full, and
we are always looking for loving potential adopters. The adoption fee for a cat is $50, and the adoption fee for a kitten is $85.
However, each adoption fee for a cat or kitten is BOGO, or Buy 1, Get 1 FREE, so La Crescent Animal Rescue is helping you fur-
ther your dollar even more! This special is even more amazing because every animal that comes through La Crescent Animal Res-
cue is either neutered or spayed, has been tested for a variety of illnesses, and are current on all vaccinations. The Coulee Region
Humane Society contacted several local veterinary offices and compiled a list of the average costs for the many different proce-
dures that our Shelter provides. The following table depicts the costs of surgeries, tests, procedures, and vaccinations that LAR
gives to EACH cat or kitten that enters our facility:

Rabies Vaccination $16-$24

Distemper Vaccination $14-$49
Leukemia Vaccination $15-$31
FELV/FIV Test $46-$64
Spay $227-$491
Neuter $168-$200
TOTAL $486-$859

The adoption fee for a dog or puppy is $140, but the following table depicts the average veterinary costs of surgeries,
tests, procedures, and vaccinations.

Rabies Vaccination $21-$25

Distemper Vaccination $18-$43
Heartworm/Lyme’s Test $43-$97
De-Worming $15-$32
Advantix $17/month
Spay (varies on age and size) $187-$400
Neuter (varies on age and size) $173-$345
TOTAL $474-$959
So, as you can see, La Crescent Animal’s pet adoption fee is a phenomenal deal compared to the expenses that you
would have to pay for yourself at a veterinary clinic! At LAR, cats are $50 and kittens are $85, but personal veterinary fees would
cost you between $486 and $859! Furthermore, dogs are $140 from LAR, but personal veterinary costs for a dog fwould cost you
between $474 and $959!
The financial savings by themselves are absolutely amazing, but another really important aspect to think about is the emo-
tional one. In addition to saving a lot of money, you will also be rescuing an animal that has come from a difficult situation, that
has probably been through a LOT in its life so far, and that would give anything to have a safe and loving forever home! It has
been said that rescued animals can be more loving and appreciative because they know what you did for them!

NOTE: A special THANK YOU goes to the Coulee Region Humane Society for sharing their studies on “Average Cat Expenses” and “Average Dog Expenses”
with us – we really appreciate the information!

Find Your New Family Member: Petfinder.com or AdoptaPet.com

By Heather Sayers

There are many ways to search for your newest, four-legged family members. You can even find a new pet before you visit a shelter
or rescue group! There are two options that you should consider - www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com. These are two
websites where you can view animals in need of forever homes from a specific shelter or area of your choice.

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What is Petfinder? Petfinder is an online database of animals that are in need of homes, and they have about 10,000 organiza-
tions within the United States, Canada, and even beyond. During the first 10 years of operation, Petfinder has facilitated at least
ten million adoptions, and possibly even more!
What is AdoptaPet? Formally known as 1-800-SAVE-A-PET, AdoptaPet is also a non-profit group that helps shelters, humane
societies, and rescue groups advertise their adoptable animals.
What types of animals are shown? Some 200,000 pets are listed through Petfinder, including: cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies;
rabbits, birds, and small furry animals, such as hamsters and guinea pigs; and even farm animals, such as horses and pigs.
How can people search using Petfinder or AdoptaPet? People can go to www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com and search
for shelters in your area using a zip code or surrounding zip codes. You can also search by breed, animal type, size, gender, or
age.
What can you see on Petfinder or AdoptaPet? People can see pictures of the adoptable animals, as well as a written profile de-
scribing the animal.
Interesting Facts? Many rescues groups and humane societies credit www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com for their in-
crease in animal adoptions. Also, many people who meet the cat, dog, or other animal that they saw on these sites are generally
more prepared to adopt the animal that day.
How do you start? Go to www.lacrescentanimalrescue.blogspot.com and click on “Adoptions”. Next, scroll down to “Adopt
Me”. Here, you will find all the animals that are available for adoption from La Crescent Animal Rescue. Or, you can go to
www.petfinder.com or www.adoptapet.com and put in the zip code for La Crescent, which is 55947. For Petfinder, there is a link
on the LAR website that will bring you directly to the available animals at our Shelter, but for AdoptaPet, you must go to the site
itself and enter in the zip code. The websites, www.adoptapet and www.petfinder.com, are kept updated by volunteers for the
Rescue, so check daily for new additions. You may possibly find the next furry member of your family!

References:
i
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/petfinder.org
ii
http://www.adoptapet.com/public/about_us/index.html

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————--

La Crescent Animal Rescue (LAR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The group consists of a small number of volunteers,
who take in and care for stray and abandoned animals. The organization pays for all the veterinary care, food, and supplies for
these animals. To date, LAR has rescued and placed over 500 dogs and cats into permanent homes. Now that the organization
has a physical shelter, they have received even more animals needing medical attention. Therefore, La Crescent Animal Rescue
is in need of financial support to help pay for the cost of caring for its animals. If you are able to help with a monetary donation,
you can choose the desired amount, or fill in your own.
DONATION: (Circle) $10 $20 $50 $75 $100 $250 $500 $____________
Name: ______________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City: _____________________________
State: _____________________________ Zip Code: ______________
Phone: _____________________________
E-Mail: _____________________________
Would you like a receipt sent to you? Yes No (circle)
Would you like our seasonal newsletter e-mailed to you? Yes No (circle)
Thank you for your support! Page 11