March 20, 2008

Two rescued dogs on the road to recovery

Needed donations arrive in Ritzville Sunday via truck

Journal photo by Jennifer Larsen

Delivery. Pet Rescue volunteers Pat Stark (left) and Mark Shepherd help Loon Lake truck driver John Morrow (inside) unload a cab full of dog supplies Sunday afternoon at Jake's CafÈ in Ritzville. The supplies were gathered from Spokane area residents and businesses by volunteers.

By Jennifer Larsen

News editor

Efforts to aid the Ritzville Othello Pet Rescue group rehabilitate and foster six starving dogs that were rescued on March 6, near the Tokio Elevator on Danekas Road have spread as far as Spokane and the state of New York, according to rescue volunteers.

At last count, Pet Rescue volunteers know of three dogs still on the loose near Tokio Elevator. Once the animals are caught, foster homes will be needed. If interested in providing a home, contact Clyde Hiland at 659-4654 or Pet Rescue at (509) 855-1402.

Area residents may contribute to the effort through a food and fund-raiser sponsored by the Ritzville Girl Scout Troop 1310.

Donation boxes to collect any and all dog supplies are located at: Ritzville's Pretty Good Grocery at 115 W. Main Avenue; Connell Oil at 1302 W. First Avenue; Harvest Foods at 610 W. First Avenue; Ritzville Drug Company at 209 W. Main Avenue; Coast Hardware at 108 W. First Avenue; and Ritz Food Mart at 1507 S. Bauman Road.

An account is set up at the Bank of Whitman for monetary donations. Anyone interested in donating should inform the bank that it's for Ritzville Pet Rescue to ensure the funds are deposited in the right account.

For more information or to pose questions, contact Girl Scout leader Betty Rowcliffe at 347-6211 (local call).

For people living or shopping out-of-the-area who want to donate, Flo and Charlie Carrico, a Spokane-area couple, have agreed to collect items until volunteer John Morrow makes another trip through Ritzville. By contacting them at (509) 466-0474, arrangements can be made to have volunteers in the Spokane area pick up donations and store them at the Carrico home.

Pet Rescue volunteer Pat Stark, of Washtucna, received a load of much-needed supplies Sunday afternoon. Stark is fostering two dogs in the worst shape, Madsen and Eltan.

A truck owned by John and Cassy Joe Morrow of Loon Lake met Stark and two Pet Rescue volunteers at Jake's CafÈ in Ritzville around 12:30 p.m.

John frequently makes trips to the coast as part of his trucking route. This particular trip was to Grandview and Portland, Ore.

"I've hauled a lot of dogs back and forth from the Seattle area to Chicago," John said, noting that he's owned his own trucking business since 1984.

In a matter of minutes, the trunk and back seat of Stark's car were filled with dog supplies gathered from the Spokane area and transported to Ritzville at no charge.

Joining Stark were local volunteers Don Saunders and Washington State Patrol trooper Mark Shepherd, who helped John unload the donations from the cab of the semi.

According to an e-mail Stark received from Cassy Joe on Sunday, the load included rice, toys, six dog beds, blankets and large towels, leashes and collars, 10 pounds of Healthy Pet Treats, 190 pounds of dog food and 16 instant 'shrink' pet identification tags.

The e-mail indicated that donors included Mary Davenport and Baby Boo, Flo and Charlie Carrico, John and CJ Morrow, Dennis and Lena, Sandy and Lee, Jim and Mary Ann, Good Will in Spokane, PetSmart North and Valley stores and Big R Mead/Spokane.

Donations from PetCo, Northwest Seed and Pet and Aslin-Finch will be included in the next semi load.

Thirty custom leashes/collars are being made for donation to Pet Rescue. The leashes/collars are meant for volunteers to carry in their rigs and are bright orange for ease of finding.

Through the years, Cassy Joe has adopted out several Anatolian shepherd dogs, and Pat has fostered Anatolians for Cassy Joe.

"She's been sending doggie goodies to me for years," Pat said.

The Morrows are part of a 'network' of rescuers and pet volunteers who aid in fostering, gathering supplies, providing transportation, securing veterinary services, etc.

John said there are sometimes four or five people involved just to transport an animal across the country, noting that it's especially difficult to get them across Montana.

In one particular instance, he picked a dog up in Coeur d'Alene and drove it to Minnesota, where the new owner from Wisconsin met him.

At Pat's home, Eltan and Madsen finally started to chew some of the food instead of gulping it down on Sunday. Just days after being rescued, the duo was starting to play at Stark's home.

"I'm so proud of those two. They are doing so well," Stark said last week. She did admit that they have to be separated during feeding to prevent fighting.

"Instinct for survival is strong," she said. "But what I'm concerned with, will they always fight over food?"