Halloween 2023 | Volume 3, No. 4 | |
Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue | |
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"Homeward Bound," is a newsletter from Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue (SOLR).
In each issue, we bring you stories about our rescue work and the wonderful people who make our mission possible.
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"On the Frontlines" is a regular feature about the many jobs we all do to carry out our rescue mission. | |
Elizabeth Mastro and Tom McCreery pass out candy at Pima Air and Space Museum. | |
Night of Fright
by Nancy Schuessler
Halloween brings out goblins, ghosts, witches, bats – and Labrador Retrievers! That’s right, Labrador Retrievers! On Saturday, October 26, hundreds of families celebrated a spooky night at the Pima Air and Space Museum. What a fright!
The museum is dedicated to preserving historic military and other amazing aircraft, including many from WWII and the 1950s era. It is adjacent to the "The Boneyard," where the US Military stores its surplus aircraft. (The Boneyard's official name is the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, or AMARG.)
Around Halloween, the Pima Air and Space Museum sponsors a “Night of Fright," where entire families can “Trick or Treat” under the “Hallo-wings” of over 360 historic aircraft and exhibits. Children come in costumes, play games, and win prizes. Organizations like ours have tables, chairs, and oodles of candy to hand out throughout the night. “It’s basically a ‘Trunk and Treat,” says Elizabeth Mastro, who organized this event for SOLR.
A “Trunk or Treat” is an alternative to going house-by-house in costume. Instead, families meet in parking lots or other outdoor spaces, while participants hand out candy. It’s a popular alternative, and the museum’s “Night of Fright” attracts plenty of children and adults in costume. “One year, they had so many cars trying to pull in and park, they backed up on I-10,” says Elizabeth. In addition to candy, the kids get to explore helicopters, fighter jets, and more. This year, they had 1,500 guests!
Everyone had a great time. Caino the Labrador came dressed as a bat and received lots of pets and attention. Tom McCreery and Elizabeth Mastro handed out candy -- can you guess what they dressed up as?
Next year, put it on your calendar and don’t expect to be scared unless you’re afraid of a good time.
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Caino the Labrador came dressed as a bat. | |
Tom McCreery poses with Caino. | |
Caino had many admirers -- including a skeleton. | |
At the 16th Annual Ahwatukee Dog Show
Plenty of spooky doggies celebrated Halloween with their humans in Phoenix at the Ahwatukee Community Center, which sponsored its 16th Annual Dog Show.
There were games, prizes, and doggie treats. Awards were given out for dogs with the Best High-Five/Shake, Best Tail Wag, Most Talkative, Best Costume, Cutest Rescue Dog, and much more. Our SOLR volunteers were there to join the fun. Some photos of dogs in costume were taken by our photographers, Becky Dawson and Ann DeGarmo. (Okay, they aren't our dogs in costume here, but it's still fun to look, right?) A special SOLR congrats goes to Ann DeGarmo, who organized the event.
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Greeting the public are Ivette Breto, Lisette Breto, Ann DeGarmo, and Marcia Barry. | |
Barbara Majringer, Sarah Holmgren, and Becky Dawes. | |
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St. Bernard ready for Rescue | |
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SOLR Fosters and Alumni in Costume | |
And now... Our SOLR Labradors know how to celebrate Halloween, too. Here, a few of our foster pups and alumni show off. (Or maybe their human's thought a costume was more fun than the doggies did?) Boo! | |
"I'm the Cat in the Hat," says Molly (9) | |
"I'm a skeleton," says Freyja. | |
"Let's roar for Halloween," says Rocky the Lion. | |
"Boo!" says Caino the bat. | |
"Time for treats?" asks Honey (3) | |
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"Where's my horse and posse?" says Caino the Sheriff.
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"Are you okay?" asks Willow, while walking in the neighborhood. | |
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"Trick or treat!" says the gang at Ann DeGarmo's. | |
"Are we in trouble?" asks Rogue and his buddy, Oliver. | |
"I think I'm a rainbow," says Mia 2. "Should I smile for the camera?" | |
"Ugh. My foster Mommy made me wear this scarf," says Calvin. | |
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We had several emergency rescues this month involving puppies. They ranged in age from eight-weeks to ten months old. Our transport team rushed into action and drove hundreds of miles to help get all twelve puppies safely to Arizona. We had purebred puppies from a breeder in Arizona; one from a shelter in Nogales; one from a breeder in New Mexico; and four that were abandoned in the California desert.
A special thanks to our foster coordinator (Stacy LaFrance), our transporters (Jim and Kathy McClendon, Jeannette Wahl, Bev Underwood, Joan Nickum, and several others), and to all the fosters who opened their hearts and homes at a moment's notice -- you're great!
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Apollo, Arlo (3), Ava (2), and Amelia in transport to SOLR. | | |
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Here's Shasta (3) again!
(In her PJs.)
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Say Hello to Goldie
“I picked Goldie up on Monday, and she soon realized the pool is where she wants to be," says Tim Mouser. Goldie is a five-year old purebred Golden Retriever who has lived in a 10x10 chain-link kennel all her life – until now. Today, she is in foster care with Tim, and loving it.
Tim says she goes in and out of the pool a dozen times a day and does nothing other than sit on the top step. ”Goldie knows she’s not supposed to be in the pool," says Tim. Why not? “She doesn’t like to be dried off and runs away from me. If she’d let me dry her off, she could get in the pool anytime."
Welcome to SOLR, Goldie!
Click to Watch the Video
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Rosie and Luke (7)
Rosie and Luke are having fun with the water hose! The two happy Labradoodles were adopted in October, 2023.
Click to Watch the Video
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Shelby | Rescued September 2023 | |
Shelby says, "Sign Me Up!"
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Prescott | Rescued April 2023 | |
SOLR has rescued hundreds of grateful Labradors -- and it's all thanks to our generous donors and wonderful volunteers. We can't save dogs without you.
You're great! You give hope, love, and life itself to dogs that would otherwise be homeless and hungry.
We thank you. The dogs thank you. Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! It wouldn't be possible without you.
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About Us
We are an independent 501(c)(3) organization made up of experienced volunteers who are dedicated to the rescue and adoption of homeless Labrador Retrievers and their offspring that are in need of safe and loving homes.
Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue
7739 E Broadway Blvd #212, Tucson, AZ 85710
520-554-0911
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Nancy Schuessler, Editor
Send comments or story ideas to:
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Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue | www.solraz.org | | | | |
