GREETINGS, FRIENDS OF THE WASHINGTON ALASKAN MALAMUTE ADOPTION LEAGUE (WAMAL)!
In this edition of the Malley Muse, learn about a great resource to better understand Northern Breed behaviors, an upcoming event featuring Mal artcrafts by the talented artist Janet Lucking, and of course our Volunteer Spotlight and Adoptable Dog Showcase! But there's more...how will you answer the question "Can you Draw Poorly?"

Happy Spring...whoo...hooo...
Fundraising, Events, PR
Retired Board President
INTAKE TEAM NEEDS HELP!
As the intake requests from owners and shelters continue to pour in, we are still looking for new members for our Intake team! Please read the following job description and let me know you’d like to join the team or would like more information!
 
WAMAL is looking for a few good malamute lovers to join our Intake team. If you work from home (or part time), or are retired, please consider making an impact right where rescue starts, which is at the moment someone reaches out to us for help with their dog. This volunteer position best suits someone who is empathetic and flexible. Each situation is unique and fluid, but a comprehensive set of operating procedure documents will be provided. If you can volunteer for a few hours a day--sometimes more, sometimes less--by responding to emails from owners and shelters who need help, and helping to get the dog into our system, we would love to have you enjoy the rewards of seeing the dog that you advocated for so hard settle into his forever home. It’s SO worth it. Training and guidance will be provided. Click the button below to send me an email if you can help or if you'd like more details!
JOIN US FOR A DAY OF FUN ON 5/21!
Sat. May 21 10AM-5PM
(Near Fly Dogs and the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs - no relation to our Alaskan Malamutes!)
WAMAL is excited to participate in this year’s Petpalooza Event, Saturday, May 21, 10am – 5pm at Game Farm Park in Auburn, WA!! In addition to a 9:30am Dog Trot 3K/5K Fun Run, there’s loads to see and do including live entertainment, pig races and other animal attractions, a petting zoo, face painting and other children’s activities, a food court and beer garden, an agility area, over 100 vendors and more! Admission is FREE!

This year, we are thrilled to introduce our exclusive line of artcraft by Janet Lucking, the award-winning artist who has donated several of her amazing original paintings to our past auctions.
Come see the fun and affordable items she has created and take home a trinket or two of joy! We will also have a great selection of doggie accessories (leashes, harnesses, bowls, toys, etc.) and, of course, our fabulous AMBASSADOGS will be there for lots of lovin’! Come say hi, learn how you can donate, volunteer, foster, sponsor or adopt with WAMAL, and get covered with doggie glitter and kisses! We hope to see you there!!
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct 1&2 10AM-6PM
Downtown Issaquah, WA
More info coming soon!
ADOPTABLE DOG SHOWCASE
Hello, my name is Lucky and my age (7) is a lucky number! But I have so many wonderful qualities that you would be the lucky one if you let me join your family!

I am gorgeous, sweet, playful & wiggly. I walk well on leash, am a good hiking buddy, I ride well in a car, and have good house manners (although I do like to sneak in a zoomie or two in a fenced backyard!)

I'm such a good girl that I'm not really sure how I ended up in a shelter. I don't like it in here and I would be so much happier in a home with a family of my own to love.

Would you please consider adopting or fostering me so I can get out of the shelter? I would be more grateful than you could ever know!
Hi, I'm Zoey and I'm quite the bi-eyed beauty! My brother and I came into WAMAL a while back and while he has found his home I am still looking for mine!

I am 7 years old but don't let that fool you - I am an active pup who loves long walks and hiking. Exercise has helped me reach a healthy weight, and now it helps me burn off energy so I don't get too bored!

I don't like sharing my toys (who does, really) but otherwise I get along great with other dogs so I might fit into your pack! If you don't have other dogs that's OK too - we'll just be our own little pack!

I am looking for a foster home or better yet my furever home - if that might be you please apply for me today!
If neither of these pups seem like a good fit for you please make sure to check out all the other wonderful dogs WAMAL has up for adoption right now!

Also, as summer vacation season approaches, WAMAL is in need of backup foster homes to host our currently fostered dogs for short periods of time while foster families are away. This is a great way to help out (and to get some quick doggie cuddles in) if you are unable to adopt or foster for longer periods of time! If you would be able to be a backup foster for a week or two here or there please fill out the foster application by clicking the button below, or email fosters@wamal.com.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
In July 2020 Heather Joyner-Reichel first visited our Malley Valley (MV) kennel as part of the hands-on requirement for Animal Behavior College’s dog trainer certification program. She had been around dogs her whole life and grew up with Mals, Shepherds, and Dalmatians. A Mal, Natasha, was her best friend growing up and once Heather visited Malley Valley she asked “Can I just stay? I really love these dogs!”
 
Heather shares that it’s not always easy to bond quickly with our rescues. “The first dog I met and fell in love with was Sadie. Then, I met Kanga and well, he stole my heart. Kanga and I have an amazing bond. To get to the place we are now took a couple of months. Yes, you heard me right, it took time and lots of it! But I could just see in his eyes that he was afraid. He didn’t like feeling scared and he didn’t like that he couldn’t trust people. I could see he was tired of feeling so stressed so I sat with him every single time I came to MV. I would just sit in the grass or in his kennel and talk to him but not at him. I would toss treats away from me so he wouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable coming to me. And I waited. Patiently.
In September while I was doing my usual Kanga sitting, he came and sat next to me and put his foot on my lap. I handed him a treat and he took it then started licking my hand. From that moment on I knew he was ready…he was ready for me to help him get past his fear of hands coming at him. Sure, he’s not perfect but he has so much more happiness in him. All of these dogs want to be good, if you take the time, you too can have a part in changing these dogs lives.”
 
Heather has been coming to MV and volunteering with our rescues for a while now and this March we were able to answer her question. Yes, Heather, you CAN stay here! Heather is now our full-time MV Caretaker!! I asked her what advice she has for adopters, fosters and volunteers regarding our pups. “Patience and understanding, and lots of it! Realize the dogs are frightened and stressed and let them know it’s going to be ok.” 
 
Huge kudos to Heather who is doing an amazing job caring for all the MV pups and Kanga is thrilled to be able to see her every day! Yes, he is still available for adoption/fostering, so if you are interested, please check out our website for applications. Heather would be happy to share her Kanga knowledge with you!!
 
WAMAL always needs volunteers to help socialize and walk our rescues. We currently need volunteers in the Puyallup, Burlington and Spokane areas of Washington. Click below for more information or to sign up!
DO YOU OWN A NORTHERN BREED...OR DO THEY OWN YOU? CHECK OUT THIS GREAT RESOURCE!
Sometimes it takes a pack to get through some of the issues we may experience with our beloved Malamutes. Hal Negin (former WAMAL board member), Gina Day-Price, and Mimi Tello (both from AMAL sister rescues Moonsong and CHAAMP, respectively), got together to create The Northern Breed University Facebook page as a way to help.

“Seeing how bad it’s getting (uptick of surrenders) and the impact on rescues and shelters across the nation we wanted to help owners get the information and education that could help them keep their pups”, Hal shared with me. “We started this page to have a place for those having behavioral and training issues with their Northern Breeds to find a place to get help and make it possible to work through it and keep their pups.” 

“Our pinned post at the top of the page says it all: Let’s face it, Arctic breeds are different than most other dogs and that’s part of their charm as well as sometimes a source of frustration. NBU was formed to be a resource to help owners of Arctic breeds deal with some of the challenges they experience which sometimes makes owners consider rehoming their pups. Our mission is to help with resources to educate and understand the breed, behavioral issues, leads for financial assistance for medical issues, leads for dog friendly housing resources, and most importantly whatever it takes to help owners be able to keep their pups.”
 
Check out their link below and “like” the page. The more members of the ‘pack’ the more help they can give!! And for those of you not on social media but having challenges of your own, Hal extended the offer to contact him directly by email at AlaskanMalamutesRock@gmail.com. 
WILLING SKILLED AND UNSKILLED 'ARTISTS' NEEDED FOR FUNDRAISER!
Can you draw poorly? Are you a talented artist? We need BOTH of you! In mid-June, WAMAL will launch its Poorly Drawn Pets fundraiser. This idea was "borrowed with permission" from a few other rescues who had great success along with fantastic and fun feedback from participants!

So, here's the deal: People make a small donation, submit a photo of their pet(s), and YOU, our talented (and maybe not so talented) artists draw your best likenesses. We are looking for 10 people to join the drawing team. You can use pencil, paint, digital resources, or whatever you come up with! We'll send/text you the photo, you do your magic, and then send it back to us! You can scan or photograph your creation. We handle all the coordination with the donors...you just create!

The fundraiser will last 3-5 days depending on popularity, so your time commitment will be relatively short. Please reach out to me if you'd like to join in on the creative fun! More info on this great fundraiser will be in the next newsletter and on our social media pages, but we need to secure our "artists" before the fun can commence!