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It's May, a month full of flowers after April's showers!
This month we will be talking about plants and your pets, learn about two of Mexico's most famous breeds, the best way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your critters, Mothers Day, and honor the fallen among our brave Military animals. Meet the adoptable dog of the month up for adoption and also get to know a recently official Sanctuary Cat Blizzard, her story, how she got her status, and have a chance to follow her recovery back to health. Check out the new growing section of the website dedicated to information on Training, Pet Health, Safety, and more under our FAQ. Lastly, we congratulate Asuma Saratobi, a loyal Service Dog, a happy retirement. In his honor we've made the commitment to begin a page dedicated to Service Animals. Don't forget, if we don't have the type of pet that you want to shower with affection and causes your heart bloom with joy, there are thousands of pets in rescues and shelters just waiting for someone and that someone could be you! All our best to you and yours. Happy May! - ALPRAS Team Members |
* Please Pardon Our Dust - Site Under Construction *
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Plant Safety is an often overlooked part of pet care. When our pets get ill, one of the most important potentially life saving factors is knowing what your pet may have gotten into. Below we've put in what plants are safe and not for our pets. This includes plants animals love, some that also combat mosquitoes, and dangerous/poisonous types.
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Check back in as we will have more about safe plants and gardening later this month!
Pupdates!
Happy Hatching Day to Laika's Stars!!!
These pawsome Pups are turning 1 year old on May 11th!
Recent Adoptions!
Laika's Stars
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We are sending out big congratulations to Mobility and Psychiatric Assistance Service Dog, Titus Giovanni, on his official retirement this year!
This amazing boy has been working for 10 years with his handlers! He's been to many places, seen and experienced so many things during his time working. From the mundane of going to a restaurant or movie to the excitement of concerts and riding rides at theme parks, he's had a lot of fun while working too! He has also been a great pack leader of many dogs over the years and seen well over 100 pet adoptions. He's gone to adoption events to be a 'Donation Dog' and educated people about Service Dogs throughout his time working. Asuma has the patience of a saint. He's been Friend, Leader, Big Brother, and Dog Father to many rescues of various species, including humans! He's always done exemplary at his job and been a role model for aspiring future Service Dogs, Trainers, and Handlers. We wish our best to him and hope that he can enjoy his well deserved rest and relaxation! |
* Later this month we will be adding his full story to our Success Stories page *
Featured Dog of the Month
We thought we would highlight one of our ALPRAS adopted dogs from a long time ago.
So for this month, with the Cinco de Mayo holiday, we thought we would highlight Pickles!
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Pickles Drummer is a Deer Chihuahua who came into the rescue because he was deemed unadoptable by the shelter and was slated to be euthanized. We weren't sure if he would ever be able to find a home and be a Sanctuary Dog forever. When we took him in he was extremely aggressive to people and other dogs. It took a fair amount of time to get him to even remotely adoptable. He was always tolerant towards cats and he overcame his dog aggression. His people issue, however, was another matter. There was only one person who we knew we could trust his life to outside of the sanctuary and one of the very few people that Pickles liked. He was young himself, still a teenager, but unlike other people he knew what it would take as a strong pack leader and responsible owner. The only person we could trust through and through to handle him and one of the extremely few people who knew what Pickles really was under all that angry bravado. A sweet, energetic, fun little dog that needed strong boundaries, limitations, and time.
It was 15 years since then as of last year! Both of their worlds became much larger. Pickles became more open to new people and after he had some time to get to know them he was able to interact without a muzzle and show his sweet and silly side. Although Pickles passed away early 2023 at 17-18 years old, he is still so loved and dearly missed by his Dad and those who came to know his true self. |
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Some words from Pickles' Dad back in 2016:
It's been a long road since Pickles was adopted and he's come a long way from the angry little dog he used to be. He's always a dog who will require work and more boundaries than other dogs might. That said, Pickles is a ridiculous little dog and very affectionate once he gets to know you. We've learned some interesting things on the way like how his favorite music is Rap (mine is Industrial and Metal - completely opposite), the best toys are weird, inexpensive, and squeak. How he could jump 5 plus feet straight up into the air and that he, despite acting so tough, is afraid of thunder storms. |
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It's strange to think its been 8 years since he became my dog. He's been with me while I finished high school, went through college, and as I've started my career as an Electrical Engineer. We've grown up together from the time we were both teenagers. I joke that he has some strange white mold beginning to grow on him. The little patch of white he had on his neck is spreading down his back. He doesn't jump quite as high as he used to but at a mere 10ish year old small dog, he's still in his prime.
As you can see by the pictures I've sent, he has a little sister who quickly became much larger than him. Her playful antics as she's grown fits in perfectly with his energy. Pickles a very good and protective big brother. He's come a long way, become more chilled out, and accepting of people and situations. Pickles by no means will ever be perfect, but he's perfect for me and my family.
I said it before and I sill state it again: I wouldn't trade him for any other dog. - Aleksandar Weber
As you can see by the pictures I've sent, he has a little sister who quickly became much larger than him. Her playful antics as she's grown fits in perfectly with his energy. Pickles a very good and protective big brother. He's come a long way, become more chilled out, and accepting of people and situations. Pickles by no means will ever be perfect, but he's perfect for me and my family.
I said it before and I sill state it again: I wouldn't trade him for any other dog. - Aleksandar Weber
New 'Mews'
Every rescue has it happen from time to time.
You talk to an potential adopter, call their vet and personal references, do a home visit, go over all the information, and answer any questions. They sign a contract, a promise and commitment to you, the rescue, and most importantly the animal they are taking into their home. When you leave, you leave a piece of you behind. The work and love you put into an animal. The heartache you face every time they go but the hope and happiness you get from knowing they (hopefully) have their very own forever home and you once again can open your heart and home to another animal in need.
That's the way it is supposed to go. The way you pray it will.
A good rescue checks in every so often to see how things are going, troubleshoot any issues, and whenever possible share their progress and pictures. ALPRAS checks in several times in the beginning. After the first 3 days. Then 3-4 weeks, 6 months, the 1st 'Gotcha Day', and once a year thereafter. When you adopt from ALPRAS, you become part of the ALPRAS Family along with the animal we have entrusted to your care. We keep records of new numbers and addresses so we can still be in contact if we need you or you need us. That's what family does. For instance, if for some reason the pet gets lost we can help find them, put out the word, and most importantly, get in contact with the adopter if the animal is found. All it takes is a phone call, text, or email and we will do everything we can to help.
Sometimes it doesn't work out.
Things happen we don't expect. Perhaps the animals that are already in the house can't get along despite all efforts. A massive financial or medical situation arises. An owner passes away. No matter what happens with an owner/adopter, we ALWAYS take back our animals with or without explanation. So on those rare occasions when an animal doesn't work out or a situation changes, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be notified. Under no circumstance should the animal be abandoned.
Unfortunately, sometimes no matter what you do and say, bad things happen. In this case, it happened to Blizzard.
You talk to an potential adopter, call their vet and personal references, do a home visit, go over all the information, and answer any questions. They sign a contract, a promise and commitment to you, the rescue, and most importantly the animal they are taking into their home. When you leave, you leave a piece of you behind. The work and love you put into an animal. The heartache you face every time they go but the hope and happiness you get from knowing they (hopefully) have their very own forever home and you once again can open your heart and home to another animal in need.
That's the way it is supposed to go. The way you pray it will.
A good rescue checks in every so often to see how things are going, troubleshoot any issues, and whenever possible share their progress and pictures. ALPRAS checks in several times in the beginning. After the first 3 days. Then 3-4 weeks, 6 months, the 1st 'Gotcha Day', and once a year thereafter. When you adopt from ALPRAS, you become part of the ALPRAS Family along with the animal we have entrusted to your care. We keep records of new numbers and addresses so we can still be in contact if we need you or you need us. That's what family does. For instance, if for some reason the pet gets lost we can help find them, put out the word, and most importantly, get in contact with the adopter if the animal is found. All it takes is a phone call, text, or email and we will do everything we can to help.
Sometimes it doesn't work out.
Things happen we don't expect. Perhaps the animals that are already in the house can't get along despite all efforts. A massive financial or medical situation arises. An owner passes away. No matter what happens with an owner/adopter, we ALWAYS take back our animals with or without explanation. So on those rare occasions when an animal doesn't work out or a situation changes, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be notified. Under no circumstance should the animal be abandoned.
Unfortunately, sometimes no matter what you do and say, bad things happen. In this case, it happened to Blizzard.
Bringin' it back Blizzard
A million things go through your head and guilt, though it shouldn't be yours, weighs heavily. We failed her, and those who were supposed to be her family and guardians failed her.
Words can't express how grateful we are to her finder. The woman who took her in, fed her, helped get rid of the parasites that riddled her emaciated body, and sheltered her. She put her everywhere on lost/found websites and social media. As soon as she was able she took her in to get scanned. When we say microchips save lives, we mean it. |
It was shocking to get the message. Traced back from her microchip, Blizzard was registered at a shelter as lost/stray.
We were surprised and somehow we knew immediately that it wasn't going to be good. It had been radio silence for almost 2 years despite repeated attempts to contact the adopter. We had become increasingly worried over the last 4 months and had contemplated doing a direct home visit. Something we had never had to even consider in actuality to perform before - despite it being listed in the adoption contract. Immediately we contacted the shelter and found that, thankfully, the finder was caring for her. We were both relieved and horrified when we reached out to them. She was still safe, but was in terrible condition. Within roughly an hour we were on the road to travel across the state to go get her. 
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There are Angels in this world. People who give of themselves freely to help others.
The Good Samaritan who found Blizzard on her doorstep is absolutely one of these.
Blizzard has a long road to recovery.
When we arrived she had been there roughly a week and looked 100% better than when she arrived.
Putting this into perspective, Blizzard was emaciated, her fur was thin and rough for her. Her skin was an angry pink from parasites and probably sunburn. She had low energy and was shell of what we had adopted out. This was 100% better than when she was when she was taken in. Devastated but determined, we took her back home with us and decided immediately that she would be solidified as a Sanctuary Cat, a place she had already rightly earned before. We thanked the Angel who helped Blizzard in her greatest time of need. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude we have.
We have no doubt that she saved Blizzard's life.
' Bringin' it back Blizzard ' is going to be a page on the Website here (Under the Sanctuary Animals tab or link here.) so that people can learn why Blizzard was such an important cat to begin with, why she was a hero, and to follow her progress as she returns to health. We will be doing weekly updates and adding some pictures too. Blizzard has always been a hero for others, together we will work to be the heroes she needs us to be.
*** NOTE *** The new page for Blizzard began running on 4/8/19.
It will update weekly or if any important news arises on her progress prior to then.
Next update scheduled for 5/01/19. You can visit 'Bringin' it back Blizzard' here.
The Good Samaritan who found Blizzard on her doorstep is absolutely one of these.
Blizzard has a long road to recovery.
When we arrived she had been there roughly a week and looked 100% better than when she arrived.
Putting this into perspective, Blizzard was emaciated, her fur was thin and rough for her. Her skin was an angry pink from parasites and probably sunburn. She had low energy and was shell of what we had adopted out. This was 100% better than when she was when she was taken in. Devastated but determined, we took her back home with us and decided immediately that she would be solidified as a Sanctuary Cat, a place she had already rightly earned before. We thanked the Angel who helped Blizzard in her greatest time of need. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude we have.
We have no doubt that she saved Blizzard's life.
' Bringin' it back Blizzard ' is going to be a page on the Website here (Under the Sanctuary Animals tab or link here.) so that people can learn why Blizzard was such an important cat to begin with, why she was a hero, and to follow her progress as she returns to health. We will be doing weekly updates and adding some pictures too. Blizzard has always been a hero for others, together we will work to be the heroes she needs us to be.
*** NOTE *** The new page for Blizzard began running on 4/8/19.
It will update weekly or if any important news arises on her progress prior to then.
Next update scheduled for 5/01/19. You can visit 'Bringin' it back Blizzard' here.
Pets in Need
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Saying Goodbye,
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Recently Added Memorials
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Minaj, a cat adopted from us 6 years ago, passed away in early February due to full renal failure. She was humanly euthanized with family holding her and present.
Minaj was a sweet cat who would have been considered an F3 feral cat. This means that she would allow herself to be pet sometimes, on vary rare occasion jump on a lap, but remained mostly skittish cat who avoided general human contact. Like many semi-feral cats, Minaj was happier being a beautiful piece of artwork in a window or on a shelf than having full human interaction. She will be fondly remembered whenever the sun is just right for a kitty to sunbathe and show off silky, shiny black fur coating a purring beauty. |
Donations made in Minaj's name will go towards spay/neuter and vaccinations of ALPRAS animals
There are no new events currently scheduled, we hope to add one in soon!
Thank you so much to everyone who gifts a donation we appreciate it so much!
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