On April 19, A4419212, an eight-year-old (possibly older) Westie-Maltese mix, was brought into the shelter having been found as a stray. Knowing that senior pets often need extra networking to find a new home, we added him to our list for Glamour Shot Day that weekend.

As a result, A4419212 became “Tommy,” and our volunteers soon realized what an amazing personality he had. Sociable, sweet, gracious and calm, he quickly bonded with his handler during the shoot. We also discovered that his teeth had been very neglected (he cried when we tried to look) and he badly needed dental work – another strike against this senior’s chances of adoption.

Tommy's Glamour Shoot photo.

Once the shoot wrapped up, one volunteer couldn’t stop thinking about Tommy, and very generously offered to sponsor his dental work if a good adopter could be found. Incredibly, that is exactly what happened! Tommy was adopted just a few days later, thanks to the help of everyone who touched Tommy’s life once he was at the shelter: the photographers who captured his image, the volunteers who spent time getting to know him during the shoot, the posters who put his profile on Petfinder.com, where his new mom found him, the adoption coordinator who answered the potential adopter’s call and facilitated a meet and greet at the shelter, and, of course, the volunteer whose generous donation of dental work helped make this possible.

Here is Tommy (below, on the left) three days after his adoption, out for a walk with his new sister, Sasha. He has been groomed and had his dental work done, and while he is down to just two teeth, we think he’s looking great! Congratulations to Tommy and thanks to all those involved.

Tommy’s story is just one example of how our team of dedicated volunteers rallies round when needed. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to save nearly as many lives. We’re always on the lookout for more volunteers, in all kinds of roles, so if you’re interested in helping us continue our vital Shelter Support Program with Baldwin Park, please fill out an application on our website.

Tommy gained an instant sister, Sasha.

He was left at the Baldwin Park Shelter with a broken back leg and a fractured neck, and with no funds available to fix him, this little trooper sat in his cage in the medical ward, unseen by anyone who was looking for a new doggy to adopt, and destined to be put to sleep without anyone even noticing he was there. When we first discovered him, his sweet brown eyes told us a LOT.

He was very sick, in a lot of pain, and was giving up on life. It’s sad to think that a once wiggly and playful puppy no longer had the strength or the spirit to lift his little head.

We scooped him up and headed to Dr. Jones’ vet office in Santa Monica, where it was discovered that he had developed kennel cough that had progressed into severe pneumonia. Luckily, his neck healed on it’s own while he laid still in his shelter cage, and broken back leg isn’t in too bad of shape, so surgery will have him up and going for walks on all four legs in no time!! But unfortunately, little Tucker doesn’t have health insurance… That’s where YOU come in!

IT’S FUNDRAISER TIME!

Tucker’s foster dad, Matt, will be participating in the California 2012 70.3 mile Ironman Triathlon this Saturday, March 31 in honor of, and dedicated to Tucker and all of the amazing people at United Hope for Animals (UHA), who spend their days and nights saving those who cannot save themselves, and creating a world where the relationship between humankind and animals is guided by compassion, and not cruelty.

They actively participate in the struggle to end the needless suffering on innocent animals through spaying and neutering, rescue, and adoption. UHA is also working with the Humane Society of Tijuana to help their extreme need for spay/neuter clinics, medical care, and they are working to help end the horrible practice of euthanization by electrocution of dogs and cats in shelters.

Your tax-deductible donation toward his surgery will not only give Tucker the chance to run and play like a puppy again after his broken leg has been fixed, but any donations that go beyond the money needed for his surgery will be allocated to SO MANY other sweet doggies and kitties who are awaiting their fates in the shelters. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL—OR TOO BIG!

With your help, we can help to ensure that many more can be rescued from those cold, wet floors, and placed is the warm, loving, and responsible homes that they deserve. After all, who else do we human beings look to for the pure and absolute unconditional love that only a furry companion can provide…?

We have a lot to learn from these guys, and anyone who has ever welcomed an animal into their life knows the answer to the question: who rescued whom?

*** Special thanks to the team of people who made it possible for us to rescue sweet Tucker: the Baldwin Park Staff and Volunteers, Linda D, Laura & the tireless people at United Hope for animals, Suzann, Dr. Jones & his staff, Tucker’s Foster Family and their vet friend, and YOU, for reading his story and donating to help us help him! THANK YOU!

Click DONATE TO TUCKER’S MEDICAL FUND (Select “Special Angel Rescue” and type in Tucker underneath) to help Tucker!

UPDATE: A big, HUGE thank you to everyone who was rooting for Matt as he set out to tackle the 70.3 mile California Iron Man Triathlon with a determination to not only finish the race, but raise enough money so that little Tucker could have the surgery on his leg that he so desperately needs.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this worthwhile fundraiser, Matt was able to more than $3,500! The donations will be enough to cover Tucker’s costs for surgery, his post operation care, as well as give United Hope for Animals a little extra to help save the lives of a few more sweet and deserving pets like Tucker.

It’s not every day that we are able to raise as much as we did during this fundraiser, and we thank Matt for charging thru the difficulties and challenges of an Iron Man Triathlon. When asked what he thought about when he was reaching extremes of exhaustion along his race, out of breath he answered, “Well, a lot of things! Mostly I reminded myself that I was racing for Tucker and all of the homeless animals out there who need someone to fight for them.

“And I thought about all of my friends, family, and co-workers who donated so generously… it gave me a whole lot more strength to keep going even when I thought my legs were going to just give out. Thanks so everyone for their love and support!! WOOOOO TUCKER!! We did it, little buddy!!!”

That pretty much says it all. WOOOOOOOO MATT!!!

For those of you who are pinching pennies this year, but still want to help United Hope for Animals do our vital lifesaving work with dogs and cats, consider signing up with GoodSearch.com and choosing United Hope for Animals as your charity.

One person just doing regular web searches and making occasional online purchases will raise about $1 per month for UHA, but if we get enough people to participate then $1 will turn into $10 and that will turn into $40 per month and so on.

As an added incentive, once UHA has 10 people signed on to participate, we will start giving away a free UHA baseball cap to the person who earns the most money for us on GoodSearch.com. Our baseball caps are well made with a velcro closure to fit all head sizes. It’s a navy blue with our logo on the front and slogan on the back.

In addition, once you have started using Good Search, spread the word by adding a simple signature line to your emails:

Wouldn’t it be great if every one of our purchases could benefit animal rescue?

Each artist was hand-picked to represent a variety of styles. You may find something you like in oils, acrylic, pastels, pencil, mixed media or digital art.

Clawed Monet came about as a way to help UHA raise much needed funds, so if you or someone you know is both an art and a pet lover, please visit Clawed Monet online and order your portrait today: http://www.clawedmonet.com. 

As a result, those with severe medical issues often have a harder time of making it out alive. Not only is a crowded shelter a less-than-ideal location for an unhealthy animal to be, but potentially huge medical bills diminish their chances of being saved, and there’s a danger they will fall through the cracks of the system entirely.

Dottie arrives at the shelter.

That was the worry with Dottie, a five-year-old Dalmatian, who was confiscated by Animal Control and brought to the shelter in early October (criminal charges were subsequently filed against her owner.)

It was clear she hadn’t been properly fed: she weighed just 25 pounds – half what she should have – and her ribs were protruding through her sides. She was in need of immediate medical attention. The vet quickly determined that in addition to being severely malnourished, she had diabetes and was partially blind.

Says Anna Garrison, a volunteer at the shelter, “I didn’t know Dottie was emaciated from her kennel card photo, but when I saw her I was so shocked I was actually afraid to pick her up because I thought I would damage her fragile frame. It turned out that I didn’t need to pick her up at all because she insisted on walking herself. Her tail NEVER stopped wagging from the moment she was out of the kennel. She had such a great time sniffing around and meeting everyone. It was so amazing to see how loving and confident she was with herself despite how she had been treated.”

As part of the shelter’s regular networking efforts, Dottie was photographed and her video was taken for YouTube. Word of her plight soon started to spread, and her Facebook page began garnering a collective outpouring of love (not to mention numerous angry comments about her former owner).

However, she still needed someone to step in and save her.

Thankfully, the experienced people at Dalmatian Rescue Southern California in Newport Beach, California, did just that a couple of weeks later, and before long Dottie was on her way to safety with a loving foster mom, Stephanie.

We recently got an update from Margaret Maas, president of the non-profit organization, who told us, “Dottie seems happy and is doing great… She is incredibly affectionate and craves love and attention. We discovered she adores oatmeal, something rib-sticking to get some meat on her bones, so she’s gradually gaining weight.”

Dottie recovering with foster mom Steph.

“She dotes on Steph, who is very loving and gentle with her. She sleeps in bed with her and there are lots of cushy pillows all over the house to lie on… it’s really the perfect environment for her.”

Dottie’s story has a happy ending, and we’d like to ensure that the same is true for as many dogs as possible, in particular those with special needs, who may otherwise be forgotten.

In order for us to be able to continue our work, funds are vital, now more than ever. You can donate to our “Angel” Rescue Fund by clicking on the ChipIn to the left.

We also ask you to consider donating to Dottie’s care – her twice-daily insulin injections alone are very expensive – by going to www.dalrescuesocal.com or by sending a check to Dalmatian Rescue of Southern California, Inc., 20301 Riverside Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

Not surprisingly, staff at Baldwin Park shelter were incredulous when a gorgeous eight-month-old black-and-white chihuahua was surrendered at the shelter as his owner felt he clashed with his color scheme at home. Not only that, but the couple wanted to adopt another dog as a replacement. They were promptly banned from the shelter and asked to leave.

Benny enjoying some SoCal shade.

As part of Baldwin Park’s regular networking efforts, volunteers take photos and videos of dogs and cats desperately seeking adoption and share them on Facebook. But Benetton’s case was so unique that the shelter’s head volunteer Ric Browde sent out a special plea for him. His YouTube clip soon caught the attention of little Nate Armistead of rural Virginia, who for months had been badgering his mother, Esther, to get him a dog.

Benetton’s plight struck a chord with Esther because Nate, who suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, had been cast aside by others for being ‘different,’ just like the dog.

She vowed to try to get Benetton to Nate in time for his seventh birthday.

Nate, a country boy at heart, was used to being surrounded by animals, as his family’s 20 acres were already home to two mini donkeys, two horses, two chickens, one ‘very mean’ rooster and several cats and dogs, including Inky, who Esther rescued the same week as Benetton. (She even nicknames her house ‘Dogville,’ thanks to all the canine comings and goings!)

However, once Esther realized how far away Baldwin Park was and how expensive it would be to get Benetton to Virginia, she began to give up hope of adopting him. But not before calling the shelter, where she was put in touch with Ric.

Baldwin Park is normally unable to arrange out-of-state adoptions, but Esther assured Ric that Benetton would still be loved if anything should happen to Nate and that he would always be treasured by the family as he would be a monument to the love Nate has for the world. Once he heard this, Ric immediately set the wheels in motion, reaching out to friends and colleagues for help, including United Hope for Animals and Michelle Johnson, a flight attendant with American Airlines.

Within a few days, it looked like Benetton was on his way to Virginia! Unfortunately, Mother Nature intervened in the form of Hurricane Irene, so while flights to the east coast were suspended, Benetton was fostered by some UHA volunteers, who were glad to have him, regardless of his color. One of them described Benetton as ‘the happiest dog I ever met.’

Finally, one day in September, Esther took Nate on a trip to Richmond airport, keeping mum about who they were going to meet there. He grew restless and wanted to return home, and, typical of Nate with his mischievous sense of humor, he began sticking his tongue out at Esther while they waited. However, Esther insisted they stay.

Nate couldn’t believe his eyes when out came Benetton, wagging his tail and eager to get his paws on his new owners. We caught up with Esther a week or so after the arrival of Benetton, aka Benny. She told us he was settling in really well and making a wonderful companion for Nate, who talks to them like they were his brother and sister, telling them stories and bossing them around!

Nate, Benny and Michelle at the airport.

And, just like all the other critters, Benny has been a great source of comfort to the young boy. He’s even going on his first family vacation, a camping trip to northern Virginia, where he’ll run and play with Inky and Nate.

We also spoke with Laura Knighten, Director of UHA’s Shelter Support Program, who commented, ‘UHA’s volunteers were very moved by both Benny’s and Nate’s stories, and we are thrilled to have played a part in bringing them together. It’s inspiring to see so many people rally round to rescue a discarded puppy and help a little boy’s dream come true.’

But the last word goes to Esther, who is eternally grateful for the way people went out of their way in order to help find Benny a loving new home with Nate.

As she puts it, ‘So many people that I don’t know helped us get Benny to Nate. I’d love to hug and kiss each and every one of them.’

Smile, Izzy! The hardest part is over!

Some dogs come in to the Baldwin Park shelter with all of the odds against them. Luckily for them, the shelter has the sharp eyes of United Hope for Animals volunteers who reach out to the most unlucky ones and give them another chance.

Izzy is one of the lucky ones. At the fragile age of three months, she was on death row at the shelter because she had an unfortunate combination of symptoms: Demodex mange, a skin condition that is easily treatable and rarely fatal, and kennel cough, another easily treatable but highly contagious respiratory condition that is more dangerous in puppies. To top it off, Izzy’s breed – something between a Pit Bull and Mastiff – is in overabundance already at the shelter and is more difficult than most other breeds to adopt out.

Our own volunteer, Claudia Angel, saw Izzy and scooped her up immediately, saving her life. But Izzy wasn’t out of the woods just yet; at the Southern California Animal Hospital, Dr. Kumar began treating her for her mange and URI, but the kennel cough developed into pneumonia. The vet hospital staff wasn’t sure if she would make it – pneumonia is a difficult condition to predict.

But low and behold, Izzy has pulled through! After a month at SoCal, Izzy seems to have made nearly a full recovery. After another week at the vet, she will be able to go directly to a foster home, or even better, into an adopter’s arms!

Stay tuned for an update once Izzy is out of the hospital!

If you’re interested in adopting Izzy, please contact UHA Adoption Coordinator Claudia at 626-264-2614 or

Izzy is getting better and better every day. Please consider “chipping in” even a dollar or two for her vet bill. To help us help shelter dogs like Izzy in need of medical care, please donate to our Angel Rescue Fund in the middle of the left column of this page.

A face for the big screen!

The Baldwin Park shelter is so often bursting at the seams with unidentifiable breeds that we’ve come up with our own affectionate nametag: Baldwin-ese. Trevor is one of our favorites in this category!

Trevor is a six years young neutered Doxie-Chihuahua mix who was found in La Puente as a stray and brought to the Baldwin Park shelter on May 6^th. Trevor’s congenial disposition, adorable prance, and ridiculous underbite stood out to United Hope volunteers on the day of his photo shoot, and he quickly became a favorite. We also noticed his prominent cherry eye, a condition where the gland of a dog’s third eyelid prolapses and becomes visible, as seen in his Glamour Shot photo. When his time ran out at Baldwin Park, we simply couldn’t leave him behind. One of our dear volunteers took him into her home where he is currently being fostered and spoiled (like every dog should).

Once sprung from the shelter, Trevor was soon scheduled for surgery to remove his cherry eye. It turned out that he also had Keratitis – a condition where the cornea of an eye becomes enflamed and affects eyesight. Both conditions are common and usually mild, but Trevor had excess tissues attached to his cornea that needed to be removed in order to save his sight. Trevor’s vet expected that, after surgery, Trevor would be blind within a year. The surgery was very successful, and even though his sight is slightly impaired, it has not left him completely! After a visit to an ophthalmologist, it was determined that Trevor would most likely keep his vision for good!

Surgery has not downtrodden Trevor’s spirits one bit. “Trevor is wonderful,” praises Kristen. “He is almost always happy and enthusiastic. He has never acted like anything was a problem. His positive demeanor has remained steady even post surgery, when he had an ear infection, and when he had a hurt leg muscle.” (all conditions which he has recovered from!)

Melting the heart of everyone he meets, Trevor is well-behaved, well-mannered, and open-hearted when it comes to people and other dogs. “He has never met a person he didn’t like,” says Kristen. “He does attach quickly and strongly.” His favorite activity is getting a belly rub, and pretty soon after he meets you, he’ll roll over and ask for one. His favorite game is tug of war, and he’ll play it with humans and dogs alike! Trevor does think chasing his current cat companions is a fun game as well. He never hurts them – but we think he might do best in a home without cats. He loves to cuddle, be with people, and he comes when called. “I don’t need to leash him to take him out in the backyard,” Kristen says. “If he starts to leave, I call him and he comes running.” Trevor walks well on a leash (he enjoys the excursion just like any of his breed!), rides nicely in the car, and his foster mom says he is just a joy to have around.

Trevor chillin' on the grass.

Though Trevor is having a blast with his foster mom, he is currently looking for his forever home. He will be a great companion for an individual, a family, or a senior.

Trevor’s surgery was wonderfully successful, but please consider “chipping in” even a dollar or two for his vet bill. To donate towards Trevor’s vet bills, please visit http://uha.chipin.com/trevors-eye-surgery

Watch Trevor’s Glamour Shot Video!

If you’re interested in adopting Trevor, please contact UHA Adoption Coordinator Kristin at 626-393-6258 or .

Without a doubt, Chihuahuas give meaning to the term “purse dog,” but when one of UHA’s volunteers noticed Mia in her kennel at one of our bimonthly Glamour Shot days, it was alarmingly evident that she was just a little too tiny.

Mia's Glamour Shot Photo

Mia came in to the Baldwin Park shelter on July 16^th as a stray from Lancaster. Most stray dogs that come into the shelter are, in some shape or form, dirty and tussled from life on the streets, but Mia had clearly had it rough. She was labeled as a teacup Chihuahua, but just by looking at her it was clear that three pounds was too small for comfort. Clearly neglected, her nails were so long that she could barely walk when she tried. At five years old, she had already had many litters of puppies, and her body was so malnourished that you could see her ribs. When our volunteer found her, she was also coughing and shivering, leading many of us to believe that she may have had pneumonia; her condition was so bad that she couldn’t even stand or walk, preferring to lay wherever she was put.

Immediately after getting a photograph and video, another generous volunteer, Holly Browde, decided to take Mia under her own wing and rescue her from the Baldwin Park shelter. “It was clear she wouldn’t last another 24 hours at the shelter,” Holly said. With Holly on board to foster Mia, UHA volunteers left the shelter in the middle of the Glamour Shot Day to take Mia to Dr. Kumar at the Southern California Animal Hospital in La Puente for immediate medical treatment. Holly’s loving touch was probably the first affection little Mia had ever known.

Our suspicions were correct: Mia had pneumonia and was dangerously emaciated. Dr. Kumar immediately put her on oxygen, IV fluids, and antibiotics. During her stay at SoCal, Dr. Kumar fell in love with little Mia and even wanted to adopt her except that he had his own dog-aggressive Boxer at home. Mia spent two full weeks in the hospital getting out of the danger zone until Holly finally took her home for some much needed quiet, rest, and recovery.

Some much needed attention...

Here is where Mia’s story turns brighter. She is still on medication and isolation from Holly’s other pets, but Mia is quickly becoming the princess of her castle! “I’m working on making her as unbearably spoiled as possible,” says Holly. Mia’s appetite has returned in full force and she eagerly scarfs down huge quantities of poached chicken breasts and wet dog food. She has a companion in isolation – a six month old white terrier named Thompson – with whom she is now best friends. She is still sneezing and coughing, but she’s getting better every day. She’s even visibly gained some weight – by the time she is healthy, she should be at least four pounds. Mia can also walk now with no sign of discomfort or pain. It turns out that she has a luxating patella – a condition in which the kneecap is dislocated or moved out of its normal location – but this condition is common in small dogs and miniature breeds, and it certainly hasn’t slowed Mia down any. She looks a little bowlegged, but since when is a dog concerned about its looks?

Overall, Mia has made an astounding recovery in a short three weeks and her personality is beginning to shine. “Mia’s doing GREAT. She’s got the total classic, comical Chihuahua personality. She’s feisty, vocal when she isn’t getting as much attention as she wants (she has a big-ass Chihuahua voice and jumps up on my leg, begging to be held!), and has totally bonded with me,” Holly said. Mia will soon be ready for her forever home, and we think this fabulous little dog would be a perfect companion for a senior or an adult household in an apartment or condo.

We look forward to seeing Mia happy and healthy in her new home quite soon, but her story nearly had a different ending. Mia wasn’t originally included among the dogs United Hope planned to photograph that day at the shelter. It’s thanks to the volunteer eyes that spotted Mia in her kennel among several other dogs and the compassion and dedication of volunteers like Holly, who take action when they see a pressing need, that Mia has this second chance. To help us help shelter dogs like Mia in need of medical care, please donate to our Angel Rescue Fund at the top of the left column of this page.

To watch a video of Mia playing with her new best friend, click here.

If you are interested in adopting Mia, please contact Holly Browde at

I am attentive!

The number of calls and emails hits a peak in summer, when shelters are already rammed. Terrified dogs escape from their yards during the Fourth of July fireworks, people drop off their dogs when they go on vacation – either not knowing or not caring that their safety isn’t guaranteed – others move and make no provisions for their animals… the list is endless.

If you find yourself in the difficult position of having to look for a new home for your dog, the important thing is to be proactive. We’ve put together a plan of action you can follow.

1. Above all, be aware that leaving your dog at a shelter should be a last resort, not a first port of call. Not everyone knows this, partly because the word ‘shelter’ implies a refuge, a place of safety, where an animal will be secure for as long as necessary, until a new owner comes forward.

Some people even think shelters can house a limitless number of animals and that they actually make money from taking them in and adopting them out. This couldn’t be further from the truth: most shelters are severely underfunded, adoption rates vary wildly from shelter to shelter and even most of the so-called no-kill shelters are full and have to turn away animals.

I love cuddles!

2. Start early. You can give your dog a much better chance if you begin looking for a new home as soon as possible. You might not want to give up your pet, but allowing yourself enough time to take the necessary action can make a huge difference in keeping your dog out of the shelter.

3. Ask a rescue group for a “courtesy listing” on their website and/or Facebook page. Even if a rescue is full and can’t take your dog it may well agree do this, by posting an ad on Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet that includes a description and photos and/or video, as well as your contact details. In return, consider making a donation to the rescue group as a thank you.

4. Make some good-quality marketing materials. Do not underestimate the importance of this. Whether you’re creating a flier, soliciting the help of a rescue group, or posting an ad on Craigslist, the quality of the description – and, in particular, the photos – makes a huge difference. Videos, which can be taken with most mobile phones, are also really helpful and can be published for free on YouTube, Facebook and the like. 

For the description, people will want to know:

•    Profile: what’s the dog’s breed, sex, age, weight, general personality and temperament?
•    Is it good/not good with: dogs, cats, kids?
•    Is it housetrained? Leash trained?
•    Medical information: Does it have any health issues? Is it up-to-date on vaccinations? Altered? Microchipped?

Include information on the dog’s personality – does the dog have any endearing habits? What kind of home would he/she do well in? You know your dog best, so the more intimate the description, the better. While people will want to know why you are rehoming your pet, the majority of the description should focus on the dog. Keep it positive.

In addition, when compiling a description, it helps to visualize the perfect adopter for your pet, and to write the description to appeal to that person.

For photos, people will want to see:

•    Multiple images – a good face shot and shots that show the body/size of the dog.
•    A happy, relaxed expression and body language.
•    An outside setting, with natural light, preferably on green grass.
•    For small dogs – show them in someone’s arms to help give an idea of their size.
•    Photos that show all of the elements the dog works well with – especially children and other dogs.
•    Avoid: dark photos, the dog tied up (get someone to hold the leash – it looks friendlier anyway), the dog looking down (it distorts its face/expression).

For videos, people will want to see:

•    How the dog interacts with people, other dogs, etc.
•    How the dog walks on a leash.

Take as many of these steps as you can and your dog will stand a much better chance of finding a great new home.

I am great with kids!