GCCR
Board of Directors
Helen Cordell
President & Rescue Coordinator
cordell@
gccavalierrescue.org
Jackie Spielman
Vice President
Treasurer
Treasurer@
gccavalierrescue.org
Anne Copeland
Secretary
Secretary@
gccavalierrescue.org
Public Relations Director/Newsletter Editor
Board2@
gccavalierrescue.org
GCCR
Founding Advisors
Sue Coffee
Bob Tomaszewski
GCCR
Mission Statement
Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue (GCCR) is a
501 © (3), not-for-profit corporation
based in the Chicago IL area. GCCR's mission is to help ensure
the health and security of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels by
rehabilitating and placing in new homes Cavaliers received from
individuals, animal shelters, puppy mills and other sources.
GCCR also provides the public with educational materials and
seminars on Cavalier health and care.
GCCR was established in 2005 by experienced Cavalier
rescuers. Following are some of the ways that it carries out its
mission:
Provides Cavalier rehoming and rescue resources for Northern IL, Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin.
When called upon, assists other Cavalier rescue organizations when in need
Provides current and prospective Cavalier owners with information about the health and care of these wonderful animals
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Even when the work is immense and overwhelming and painful, know that purposeful action is the only true antidote to despair.
www.sunbearsquad.org
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Message From Our President
Greater
Chicago Cavalier Rescue is perhaps unique among breed rescue
organizations in that we provide foster homes and seek adoptive homes
within a relatively small geographic area - for GCCR that's Chicago and
its suburbs, plus parts of northern Indiana and Wisconsin. Let me
explain the several reasons for restricting foster care and adoptions
to that limited area, and how I think that policy has paid off in the
first three years of GCCR's existence.
One reason for focusing our efforts in the
greater Chicago area is that WE CAN. The area has a very large
population of Cavalier owners, including some who have known and loved
the breed through several generations. Many of these owners are
very happy to lend their experience and knowledge on behalf of Cavalier
rescues. The numbers grow daily - GCCR now has over 50 registered
foster homes and over 80 volunteers.
A second reason is that we feel keeping our foster homes and adoptive
placements within a relatively small area is better for the rescued
dogs. About two thirds of our 95 rescued Cavaliers came from
situations of neglect and abuse. For most foster families the
first task in bringing out each Cavalier's loving spirit is to reduce
the stress in the rescued Cavalier's life. Long transports would
be just another stress factor -- one that we happily are able to avoid.
The third reason for the policy is that many volunteers living close to
one another are able to join their efforts to help rescued Cavaliers,
without great individual expense for items like gas (now "cheap" at
under $2 a gallon!!), or taking huge chunks of time away from their
families and work. Late November and early December there was a
flood of Cavaliers coming into GCCR rescue, including Cavaliers
released by owners, many seized by animal control officers, and some
discarded by puppy millers. At one point GCCR had 26 Cavaliers in
foster homes; most of those Cavaliers are now adopted and with new
arrivals GCCR now has 8 Cavaliers in foster homes. Many
volunteers touched those Cavaliers' lives in their paths from rescue to
placement with loving families, by caring for them in foster homes, by
consulting with veterinarians and veterinary specialists, by completing
and reporting on home visits, and of course by spreading the word that
there are Cavaliers available to adopt. "Each does a little;
together we do a lot" and doing a lot is made much easier because we're
all right here, in our limited area.
The last reason is that up-close and personal communication serves the
second part of our mission, to assist Cavalier owners in the care of
these wonderful animals. GCCR owners work together manning booths
at dog events, they organize clinics, they put together creative
fundraisers, and they play with their Cavaliers at fun parties.
At some of these events experts are asked to give insights into
important Cavalier concerns, such as genetic diseases, grooming, and
diet, and we all learn together. Most important when we get
together to work or to play GCCR volunteers, fosters and adopters and
our Cavalier owning guests talk to each other, exchange email addresses
and share knowledge. What better topic for conversation than our
beloved Cavaliers??
GCCR is a close knit community of Cavalier lovers, made strong by our
willingness to work together. "It's all about the dogs!"
Helen Cordell
GCCR President and Rescue Coordinator
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Upcoming Events
Nutrition Education Series: Healing Foods For Endocrine Diseases
Teleclass w/Optional Online Presentation
Dr. Julie Mayer, DVM
Monday, February 23, 2009 8:00PM to 9:30PM CST
Registration page:
http://tinyurl.com/aqt2ct
Pet Expo March 20, 21 & 22, 2009
Arlington Park Racecourse, Arlington Heights IL
For further details, visit www.PetChicago.com
Stop by the GCCR booth. We would love to see you!
Prevention and Treatment of Cancer in Canines and Felines
Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, NMD
Saturday, March 21, 2009 9AM to 1PM
Highland Ave. Church of the Brethren Fellowship Hall Elgin, IL
For more information, please visit www.naturalpetproductions.net
OFA Cardiology and CERF Eye Clinics
Saturday, April 4, 2009 10:00AM to 3:00PM
Northern IL Univ. Convocation Center, DeKalb, IL
Please see www.gccavalierrescue.org for further information.
Nutrition Education Series: Feeding for Different Life Stages
Teleclass w/Optional Online Presentation
Dr. Julie Mayer, DVM
Monday, April 6, 2009 8:00PM - 9:30PM CST
Registration page:
http://tinyurl.com/clgjrd
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LETTER FROM A GCCR FOSTER MOM
(Portions reprinted with her permission)
"...I
could not say that doing anything with the dogs has been an ordeal,
even when I'm sick and it is cold outside. Sometimes not the
easiest, but it is like one of the messages you've sent out
on the board recently where a woman is thanking you for the
opportunity to care for one of the dogs. It all takes you
outside of yourself and allows you the opportunity to love
and be loved. I can't think of a greater gift that rescue
gives to me. In a very small way it is kind of like all of
the talk since Obama's election and inauguration that people want
to be part of something bigger than themselves. Being a part of
rescue is being a part of something bigger than ourselves -
not on the scale of world peace - but it takes us to
the bigger world. It shows that all around us must be treated
with kindness, love and respect...thanks for the opportunity to be
of service!"
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OUR GCCR RESCUE FAMILY
HOW ARE THEY DOING NOW?
Miki
Taylor fostered Charlie (above) from November 2007 to
March 2008. Then he was adopted by another
family. He was then returned to GCCR and was put in a
different foster home because Miki was traveling a lot for her
job. Then, on Mother's Day 2008, Miki adopted Charlie. As
Miki says, "What a WONDERFUL Mother's day gift!!'
Charlie
came from a puppy mill. He was approximately 6 years
old at the time he came to GCCR. He is deaf, possibly due to
chronic ear infections, although he does hear some things like Miki's
other Cavalier, Raegan barking! He had to have 11 teeth
extracted and was so weak that he could barely stand up from a
lying down position. He also had his vocal cords cut by the puppy
mill so he has a muted bark.
Miki tells us that Charlie was pretty easy to train. He was
eager to follow Raegan's actions and he still does! He had a
small issue with going potty inside, but constant reinforcement and
praise for going outside quickly remedied that!
Charlie loves treats! Right now, Miki is focusing on
teaching Charlie how to play with toys. Coming from a puppy
mill, Charlie did not know what toys were. Charlie
(and Raegan) both go to doggy daycare and Charlie won the costume
contest (see above picture) last year!
Everyone that has met Charlie loves him! He is very laid back and
easy going. He loves kids and no matter where he is, he wants
everyone to pet him! Miki tells us that he has really found
his personality in the last 3 months. Both dogs sleep in bed with
Miki by her feet. In the morning, Charlie army crawls up
to her head and nuzzles into her neck and goes back to
sleep. It's become their morning ritual.
Charlie
gets along great with Raegan. Raegan cleans his face and
Charlie sits patiently for the routine.. Charlie also gets along
very well with all the dogs at daycare. He's part of the daycare
greeting committee!
Miki
lives in Carpentersville, designs mattresses for Serta
Mattress and also sells Tastefully Simple on the side. Miki says,
"Charlie is my little helper when it comes time to organize
my things for a Tastefully Simple party. He's always there
by my side just waiting for a job to do." She tells us that she
wants to add another Cavalier to her family, but that that will have to
wait until her work schedule lightens up a bit.
--Editor
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RESULTS OF DECEMBER'S PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST!
Winning caption: "Can I honk the horn again?" Submitted by Mandi Brooks. Congratulations Mandi!
The following are the runners-up:
2. "I was hoping for a Ferrari"
Submitted by Jan Rhein.
3. "Nice, but I really wanted a six speed!"
Submitted by Mark Klimkowski.
4. "I was hoping for a bone"
Submitted by Jan Rhein.
5. "I'm Mini, too!"
Submitted by Sandra Friedman.
Congratulations
to all the winners. Thank you to everyone who submitted a
caption! If you want to get in on the action, there is a new
photo caption contest included below.
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NEW PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST
(Above photo submitted by Connie Dennison. Thanks Connie!)
Can
you come up with a witty caption for this picture? Send your
caption ideas to to our newsletter editor (see Contact section below
for email address) by March 31, 2009. The top 5 captions, as
chosen by the GCCR Board, will be published in our next newsletter
along with a new challenge. Be creative and most of all, have fun!
Also please send to the editor funny, mysterious or unusual photo's,
(via email in jpeg form only, please), of your Cavaliers for future
"Photo Caption Contest's".
Thank you!
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CAVALIER GAGS + BRAGS
Anne Copeland
tells us that Lucy (above) qualified in her first two Rally trials for
her first two legs toward the required three legs of an AKC Rally
Novice title. Anne says, "hopefully we can get the third leg
early next year when the trials start up again. A terrific job
for a little girl who two years ago when she came to live with Gypsy
and I was scared to death of any dog that wasn't a Cavalier.
Now she takes all other dogs of any size in stride and continues to
work with me."
Congratulations Anne and Lucy!
Has
your Cavalier done something funny or accomplished something you are
proud of? If so, we would love to hear about it! Please
send your story along with a jpeg photo of your Cavalier to our
newsletter editor (see Contact section below for email address).
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WANT TO HELP GCCR?
GCCR recently signed up for two programs to help raise funds for our Cavalier rescues:
1. Jewel food store's "Shop & Share" program.
On
designated Shop & Share days, participants
with Shop & Share identification slips shop at
Jewel-Osco. After completing their shopping, participants present
the identification slip with their signature to the cashier who will
enter the amount of purchase on the slip and place it in the register
for return to Jewel's corporate office.
GCCR
will receive 5% of all the purchases recorded using the above
steps. We can participate in the Shop & Share program a
maximum of three times each year. Each program runs three days -
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only. GCCR's 2009 Shop & Share
days are:
March 30, 31 and April 1
April 20, 21 and 22
June 15, 16 and 17
There is a different Shop & Share identification slip for each
of the above dates. If you would like to participate in one or
all of GCCR's Shop & Share days, please visit the GCCR
website (www.gccavalierrescue.org) to download the identification slips.
2. GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com.
What if GCCR earned a penny every
time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every
purchase you made online went to support GCCR? Well now it can!
GoodSearch.com
is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising
revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users
designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality
search results from Yahoo, and support GCCR at the same time!
GoodShop.com
is a new online shopping mall which will donate up to 37 percent of
each purchase to GCCR! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon,
Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed
up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be
supporting GCCR.
Just
go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Greater Chicago
Cavalier Rescue as the charity you want to support. And please
spread the word!
Thank you for your continued support of GCCR!
--Editor
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GETTING TO KNOW THE GCCR BOARD
THIS MONTH MEET JAN JESERNIK GCCR TREASURER
GCCR: How many dogs do you have?
Jan: 1 Cavalier (Mia) and 1 cat (Midnight)
GCCR: What are their ages?
Jan: Mia is 4 1/2 years old. Midnight is 9.
GCCR: Is Mia a rescue?
Jan: No. I began volunteering with GCCR after we got Mia.
GCCR: You are on the Board and Treasurer of GCCR. How would you describe your role?
Jan:
I'm responsible for the accurate reporting of the GCCR
financials, issuing payments for rescue care, the analysis of
GCCR's financial position including ensuring we maintain appropriate
funds to care for all the rescues we take in.
GCCR: You devote alot of time to GCCR.? Why do you do it?
Jan:
We love Mia so much. She has been a wonderful addition to our
family and such a joy. I felt so fortunate to have her and wanted
to give back. So I decided that volunteering with the
rescue would be the best way. Also, I could be part of a great group of people who help Cavaliers find loving homes. It has been
a very rewarding experience.
GCCR: Could you describe your career a bit?
Jan:
I have been in finance for 23 years. I have always worked in
manufacturing and really enjoy it. I am the Director of Finance,
Operations. I have 8 domestic facilities and a plant in
Shanghai. It keeps me busy (out of trouble) and keeps Mia in the
latest collars.
GCCR: How many kids do you have?
Jan: I have two children. A son
who is 25, who is an accountant. I also have a daughter who is
17. She is a senior in HS and wants to be a HS math teacher.
GCCR: Other interests?
Jan: I enjoy traveling. I have
been to Europe a number of times visiting France, Italy, Spain, and
Holland. Also many places here in the US. My daughter
and I enjoy going to NY to see a show and do a little shopping.
Julie (daughter) and I see most of the musicals that come around.
She is a huge fan of musicals and has made me a big fan too. I
also enjoy doing things that include Mia. We head into the city
many weekends, go out to lunch, do a little shopping, or go to a
fest. Mia and I both have our favorite boutiques that we
visit.
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AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION
MEDIA ALERT
American Kennel Club and AKC Canine Health Foundation Release Podcast about Canine Eye Disease.
The American Kennel Club and the AKC Canine Health Foundation are pleased to debut the next podcast in the Genome Barks series.
On Genome Barks, Dr. Gillian McClellan talks about canine eye disease.
Dr. McClellan, an ophthalmologist for the Department of Veterinary
Clinical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Madison College of
Veterinary Medicine, discusses some of the differences between human
and canine eyes, as well as things to watch out for that could threaten
a dog's vision. Finally, Dr. McClellan speaks to the various inherited
canine ophthalmic diseases that breeders should be aware of and test
for.
The Genome Barks podcast series features lectures from the highly
successful AKC-CHF Breeders Symposia and provides responsible breeders
and pet owners an inside look at the work being done by the AKC and the
AKC Canine Health Foundation.
New podcasts are released every two weeks and can be accessed from
either the American Kennel Club website at ww w.akc.org or the AKC
Canine Health Foundation website at www.akcchf.org - click on
"Podcasts." They are also available on Apple's iTunes or
directly at www.genomebarks.com.
Click here to listen to the podcasts. www.akc-akcchf.libsyn.com
Click here to support important research at the AKC Canine Health Foundation and please consider a recurring gift.
Contact:
Erica Kitchen
Acting Director of Development
AKC Canine Health Foundation
www.akcchf.org
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A BITING DOG STORY
by Darcie Krueger
Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Member
More online (www.sitstay.com)
(Reprinted with permission from the author)
"Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place, but I'm needing something to
spray at aggressive dogs to help with unleashed dogs that aggressively
charge my dogs when walking. Do you carry these items? The dogs
on our rural road run out into the road barking aggressively at me and
my dogs. One almost bit me today.
Thanks, Frances"
First, a biting dog story.
A 15
month old girl and a 5 year old boy. The girl was in her own yard.
Mother saw the stranger dog attack, fought for her daughter and the dog
attacked both of them, badly injuring the little girl, biting the
mother on the back of her neck. The dog has been euthanized. The boy
was playing with his puppy when the stranger dog approached. The dog
reportedly went for the puppy, the little boy tried to save the pup and
he was badly bitten. Both children have had surgery. These are the the
worst type of dog bite stories, both people and dogs were injured. In
both of these cases, the dog seems to have attacked with little or no
provocation. Both dogs were pit bulls...but pit bulls as a breed are
not the story I see.
The story for me is that we can help prevent this. The only solution to
these types of incidents are management of dogs. Manage our dogs. Watch
our neighborhoods. Know our neighbors. Know our neighbor's dogs. Dogs
on the loose cause harm. Whether it's a dog attacking other dogs or
just a sweet dog who got out of his yard coming over to say hi. Unless
you're prepared to stay calm, it can chill your heart. You don't know
what's going to happen and it happens so fast, you usually react
without thinking. It leaves you with a fear of that it might happen
again.
Sprays and other offensive weapons can backfire and you or your dog can
get hurt. If you spray a dog who is truly aggressive, you've just made
him mad or heightened his sense of fear or aggression. He may have
thought you were a threat, now he knows you are one. Now you have real
trouble. And stranger dog might attack the next passerby before they
can spray him, a little pain is a good teacher when you're dealing with
fear. Dogs learn to react more quickly the next time so they don't get
hurt, that means no warning.
A slight breeze or badly aimed spray can come back to you and your dog.
When that happens, now your dog is afraid or hurt and you can't see
through the tears. If it all goes badly, your dog may not recover from
the fear. In my opinion, it's just not worth using these types of
tactics.
If you're carrying spray, chances are that you're feeling tense or
upset already before you even see stranger dog. That feeling travels
right down the leash to your dog. You're potential victims in this
state of mind. You dog is tense and all other dogs seem to be a threat
even if they aren't. A tense dog is more likely to increase to fight
and fear mode or escalate the conflict simply by being tense. People
and dogs who are relaxed, happy, and minding their own business aren't
usually included in a dog fight.
There are many kinds of off leash dogs, they can all cause concern for
a dog walker. Today we're talking about dogs on an adventure and those
who are protecting the public property in front of their home.
If your dog gets out of the yard and runs loose, she will cause concern
and fear for dog walkers and children. Even if she's a good, happy dog
with you, her approach can make even the most solid soul tense. Your
dog might be the next victim of the spray or shocking products
available on the market even when she was just going to say hi. The
effects can be long lasting.
A good dog who has never shown aggression gets out of the yard and
runs. He's a concern for dog walkers and children. They don't know he's
a good dog, they don't know him at all. All they see is speed and teeth
showing, happy teeth maybe, but teeth can all look the same if you're
on the receiving end of a dog running at you. A child runs or start
screaming, dog chases, biting in fun, tearing skin. Dog approaches
child, people scare dog and try to intervene, people scare dog, dog
bites everybody. Or dog chases dog, person intervenes, scares dog, dog
bites everybody. Dog is taken into custody.
Lots of dogs on the loose aren't aggressive dogs and don't intend harm.
More than likely they wouldn't hurt your dog, they're just curious and
want to say hi to your dog, they may not have good manners so they run
right up without first asking if it's okay. Dogs rarely fight to the
death and most of the time they don't even put a tooth mark in. If
there is a scuffle, one of the dogs is going to "say uncle", the other
will quit, everyone calls it a day and we all go home. Dogs get tooth
marks in rough play all the time without lasting damage.
Dogs who "protect" public property adjacent to their own home are a
problem which should be addressed immediately with the owner of the
home. It's your best protection. Talk to the authorities if those
people won't listen and promise to remedy the problem. I've never
turned anyone in for an aggressive dog, I prefer to talk. Talking to
people is always the first and the best start to end a problem.
If you want something physical to carry on your walks, consider
carrying an umbrella which opens quickly with a button, it's best if it
will make some sound like a whoosh. Open it toward the dog who is
charging. Stay calm. If the dog keeps coming, hold the dog back with
the umbrella while you and your dog slowly back away. Practice opening
the umbrella with your dog in a safe spot so she's not scared if you
have to use it. An opened umbrella to your dog will mean fun, to a
stranger dog not so much.
Truly the very best thing I know to keep a stranger dog from approaching you and your dog is to yell "Come!".
Step
toward the dog like you're going to catch him and in a very loud and
authoritative voice say, "Come" and then "Come here!" and then "Come
here!" in an even more harsh voice. Dogs who are on the loose are
usually on the loose because they don't come to their master. Usually
that's because the dog gets punished when it finally does come. This
has worked every single time I've used it. That does not guarantee it
will work for you.
Now for the dog who thinks he owns the road. Dogs in their own yards
are a different story entirely, they are defending their territory
which includes a bit of the road adjacent as well. Please don't use
anything forceful like a spray against them, you will only escalate
their fear, you're asking for a bite. So far they are only barking and
being a nuisance to you and your dog. They may be doing it out of fear
and territory. If they were truly aggressive and intended harm, they
wouldn't stop at barking. If you do something to scare them, they may
intensify their need to have you be on your way.
Please go to the door and talk. Go without your dog and talk to the
owners. Maybe even take some cupcakes or a little basket of fruit (it
will cost a lot less than stitches for you and your dog). They may not
know that their dogs are going into the road to harass passers by. They
may not know that their dogs are scaring anybody. My guess is that if
you go to them with a love for dogs and explain what the dogs are doing
and they are frightening you on a public road, they'll help you by
controlling the dogs. Usually it's best to work things out peaceably
with neighbors. The best way to start is, "Your dogs are beautiful and
I know you don't know this but they are coming into the road after me
and my dog as we walk by. Today your bigger dog tried to bite me. I
know that you don't want anyone and especially a passing child to get
hurt or bitten. Is there anything we can do so I can walk by without
worrying about the dogs?" Most people don't want to be sued for a dog
bite or have to pay for someone else's hospital bills, it's an
incentive to change the situation.
When you're walking by, stay calm so your dog stays calm. Your emotions
will be read easily by the other dogs. Befriend the dogs if you
possibly can. A dog who knows you may not bite as quickly. After a
while, they may not even approach the road when they know it's you.
Hopefully the owners will work with you. You might even find a new best
friend in your neighbor.
If they don't do something to make it better for the public, talk to your authorities.
Get to know your neighbors and their dogs for miles around. Set up play
dates so the dogs get to know each other. I can't remember when I last
saw a dog around here who didn't belong to the community I live in. If
your dog gets out for a run, more than likely the neighbor will call
instead of trying to hurt your dog.
Be a good neighbor, work with your local animal rescue to get dangerous
dogs off of your streets. Take a deep breath and really know if the dog
is dangerous or just a family dog out for an adventure. There is a huge
difference, no matter the breed. You wouldn't want someone calling in
your dog because he wanted to say hi and play.
Never ever try to break up a dog fight by reaching your hands into the fray. You will get hurt.
Train your dogs to disregard other dogs no matter what the other dogs
do. Watch "It's Me or the Dog" on TV, she does a lot of that and she's
very good at it.
Recognizing what the dog intends as it's coming toward you is the key
to keeping you and your dog safe. Take a look at Canine Body Language
(BACB) , Language of Dogs (BDLOD) , and Calming Signals (VRCB) at
SitStay.com. You can search on the name or the item code to see them.
I wish you and your dogs the safest and best walks ever!
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