Hi everyone.
Sad news today- the multi species animal rescue I've worked at for years and years is closing our doors. The 8 acre farm on Bainbridge Island (in NW Washington) has been in financially unstable ground for YEARS, but we've always been able to scrape along and feed the 4 legged (sometimes only 3 legged!) kids. Not anymore. The farm has been foreclosed. The bank has been gracious enough to let us stay for sometime now, as trying to sell a 'farm' property without animals is not easy. We are out of money.

Furrytale Farms is home to 13 potbelly pigs, 4 horses (ok, one is a draft mule), around 10 mostly senior dogs, and 2 senior kittys. The horses are all over 25 years old... up to 30+ (we think she's around 34) No one is sound, all are reasonably healthy (considering the age factor) The dogs range from a couple young dogs we hope to get adopted out, to our senior residents. As a no-kill shelter, we've ended up with lots of seniors over the years. (Ex: 14 yr old Dal, 15 yr old chow mix, just lost our 17 yr old golden)

Does anyone live in the northwest that can give one of our wonderful seniors a home? Or, do you know of any rescues that may be willing to help? We REALLY do not want to have to euthanize these kids, or send them to the local humane society (where they will be PTS)

http://www.furrytalefarm.org

PM me if you'd like specific info about any of the animals.

Thanks guys.
I'm loosing a lot of sleep thinking about the horses. I don't know anyone who's willing to take on lame seniors, coming into winter.... these horses are so full of life still.

Not sure if I stuck this in the right place.... rescue dogs, not for sale, but also has horses, pigs, and cats... humm. Mod's- feel free to move it! Thanks.


Edited by Kelly Byrd (09/28/2010 05:36 PM)
Edit reason: placement?

Well, that frickin' sucks. I wish I could help!! These animals all deserve a nice, safe place to live out their remaining years.

You probably already have this, but here is a list of "horse rescues" in WA. http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/WA-HorseRescues.html maybe there is someone there that can help the horses.. or give you other options for them.

Have you been able to talk to area vets to see if they know of anyone that can take the older dogs and cats?

Here is a rescue that is pretty close to me that takes in the unadoptable dogs and cats and keeps them for the rest of their life http://www.homeforlife.org/ They may be an option for you as well. I do know that they have taken animals from out of state before.

Good luck to you all, and I hope the animals find good and loving homes.

--Kel

Thanks Kelly. I had MOST of the rescues from that link, but there were a few others! One of the problems I'm running into is the abundance of TB rescues around here. We don't currently have any TB's @ the farm! lol.

Our local vets just send us to the other rescues.... who won't take in any more 'permanent residents'. It's not just Furrytale that is in $$ trouble. This economy sucks!

I'll shoot an email to homeforlife.org, thank you!

We could use all the luck, and good thoughts sent our way! My apartment is jammed with 2 rescues and a cat, and 2 kids. Trying to persuade my parents to take on a senior. Most of the oldies just want a soft bed, and to be let outside a couple times a day. They are not high maintenance dogs for the most part.

Have you put out the word on FaceBook and other forums? I am a member of another GSD forum, and I could ask to cross post if you want.

Yes, please feel free to cross post!
If someone wants more info, please feel free to contact me at turnnburn52984@hotmail.com

We're on FB... I'm changing our status right now. (look us up The FurryTale Farm)

What kind of extra care do the various senior animals need? Prescriptions, exercise limitations, etc...?

The seniors all limit themselves on exercise. Although they have the house to live in all day and night, during the day they do have 2 acres to play on if they'd like to (this is NOT a normal rescue that kennels animals- the dogs and cats live in the owners home. Serious pack structure in this place! )

The old Dalmatian has bladder stones, so is on a veggie diet, thyroid, allopurinol... he gets 7 pills, 2x a day!) An old Husky/Mal has bladder incontinence issues, so is on Proin, several are on thyroid pills. Many of the old guys are on Rimadyl, Derramax, or tramadol for pain. Other seniors are only on a joint supplement, and fish oil. Really varies from animal to animal.

The horses are healthy, and get normal supplements in addition to senior feed/hay- with the exception of one mare who has some neurological issues and requires lots of Vit E. Oh, and the oldest (35ish) has cushings (Go figure, she's 35!!), but it's very controlled with 1x daily meds.

Edited by Kelly Byrd (09/28/2010 11:23 PM)
Edit reason: spelling!

Complete list of the animals that need homes, if anyone lives in the NorthWest.

We need to find homes for 17 dogs.
7 are seniors, and we considered permanent residents. The other 10 we consider adoptable, but all rescues are rescues... some have issues we're working on.
Jake- 14 yr old Dal. Health Issues (bladder stones, thyroid, going deaf, arthritis), happy loving dog
Saki- 15 yr old chow mix. (arthritis)
Sadie- 13 yr old chow mix. Healthy. Would like a quiet home.
Nanook- 11? yr old Malamute. On Proin for bladder control, and thyroid meds. Loosing his hearing, silly old man.
KC- 12? yr old ACD/Heeler mix. Needs Thyroid meds, happy, easy going. Not needy.
Smokey- 11? yr old black lab. Silly, goofy, dumb, happy typicall lab! On arthritis meds, he sometimes forgets he's old.
Moses- 6 yr old Collie/Husky mix. Silly. No cats please.
Lady- 10 month old Aussie mix.
Tyler- 1 yr old Dobe/????mix. Sweet, SHY, needs rehab, been badly abused. Terrified of everything. Special home.... (ADOPTION PENDING!)
Josie- 14 month Beagle/Shep mix.
Ella- apx 4 yr old Beagle/Shep mix. Sweet, loves kids!
Whoopie- 3 yr old Akita mix.
Riley- 7 month old GSD mix.
Rufus- 1 yr old Min Pin/Chi mix. Not neutered.
Bullwinkle- 6 yr old B&T hound mix. Sweet, but has separation anxiety
Patrick- 10 yr old West Highland Terrier, has demodectic mange. Not contagious
Glynnie- 10 yr old West Highland Terrier, has demodectic mange. Not contagious

2 cats
Ricky- 11 yr old black DSH
Charlie- 14 yr old orange tabby DSH
5 kittens
4 months old
Male DSH B&W, some manx, some polydactal!

4 horses currently call Furrytale home.
No one is sound for riding, 3 are sound for light lunging/hand walking (W/O riders!)
Misty- 27ish yr old Appendix QH. Healthy, with the exception of a Neurological issue. She's on Vit E, and is a bit 'crooked' at times. Stocky, and safe, my 6 yr old can set her up square for a halter show! She'd be nice for a family with kids to groom.
Juliet- 30+ yr old Warmblood mare. X Dressage schoolmaster, she's old, somewhat stiff, beautiful, sassy, and smart! She has cushings, but is easily managed on pergolide. Bad teeth, need to be wiped off daily, but holds her weight well with senior feed & hay. She is getting to be a hard keeper, just requiring more feed as the years pass.
Rick- 25 yr old Tovero paint gelding. Cute, shy, safe, sweet. He's got an old stifle injury that was never properly treated, but is healthy other then arthritis. Fairly easy keeper.
Roscoe- 25 yr old Draft Mule. Lived with Rick since he was 2. Big, silly, and loving, this guy is SAFE with anyone. I let my 6 & 2 yr olds groom him. He's just a doll. No health issues, blown/arthritic knees. Easy keeper for a guy his size.

13 pot belly pigs- Peaches is about 13, and is... well, OLD. The rest of the herd are about 6 I believe. All black. Semi-tame.

This thread just breaks my heart. All these seniors.

May I cross post your list?

My heart is broken as well. I've got a special place in my heart for a couple of those dogs, the mule, and wb mare. Sigh.
Please feel free to crosspost Betty!! Anywhere and everywhere you'd like. The seniors are breaking my heart. My apartment is stuffed full as it is. (and already over the 2 pet limit- haha. I can't bring anyone home.)

Pictures of everyone can be viewed here, except the Westies. I hope to have a picture of them tonight.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=242390&id=93176559157&ref=mf