D E C E M B E R __ 2 0 1 8
a season to remember those in need

Every year on the first weekend in December, one of our most dedicated volunteers, Elaine Hunter (see "thank you!") , books a double space at Sutter Creek's Holiday Crafts Fair. She stocks it with premium pet-related items she has accumulated throughout the year, adding them to hand-made crafts donated by other volunteers. Elaine rounds out the inventory with delicious candies and baked goods, including dog biscuits, all home made. It is a popular booth and sales are always brisk. 100% of the proceeds from the weekend event are donated to the Rusty Fund , and that money amounts to roughly half of the Fund’s annual intake. This year, with the Crafts Fair just weeks away, Elaine learned that her space had mistakenly been booked to someone else. There was no booth for the first time in many years. We encourage all of you who are able to give this season; consider making a donation to the Rusty Fund. No amount is too small. Contact Lisa Peterson ( [email protected] ) to mail a check, or drop in to the shelter and help us stuff our donation box. You won’t walk away with any wonderful goods this year, but you will walk away with a wonderful feeling that will last for months.
2018 N CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY  
adopt a workout partner

FEBRUARY
adopt "the one"
 
MARCH
spay & neuter awareness
 
APRIL
trap | neuter | release

MAY
find your missing pet

whiskers & wine  
Friday the 18th, Jackson Rancheria

JUNE   
feline frenzy
  
JULY  
adopt a senior pet

AUGUST
$9 for 9 lives for 9 days

SEPTEMBER  
adopt your MVP

paws & claws (TCWC)
Friday the 14th | American Legion Hall

bark in the park  
Saturday the 29th | Detert Park, Jackson

OCTOBER   
orange & black

NOVEMBER   
thanks  

DECEMBER   
bring joy to your world

santa paws
Saturday the 8th | the Feed Barn
pet-proofing your holiday

For decades, the animal enthusiast has pondered the question, "How much of this cheer should I share with Fido or Mouser?"

We love giving treats and dressing our animals in gay apparel, but...is it safe?


RAGS to RICHES _ Marge hits the jackpot
BEFORE: ACAC intake photo
from Margaret Blair

O ver the years, I have fostered heartworm positive dogs in treatment for both Amador County Animal Control and APAL Humane Society. These have all been medium to large dogs who can stay down at my barn during their treatment. On February 28, 2018, I picked up from the shelter a foster dog we had decided to call Winnie the Pooch. She looked like a mixture of Chihuahua, with maybe a little Jack Russell or Rat Terrier mixed in. Because of her tiny size (a slight 7 pounds) I did not have the heart to keep her down in the barn during a very long cold spell. So, into my cabin she came. She fit in instantly with my working dogs, Vito and Bugs.
Everybody who knows me will tell you, I am a BIG dog person. I enjoy working with my clients’ small dogs, but never had the desire to have one in my own pack. Well, it took less than 24 hours for this little pup to wiggle her way into my heart. Vito is a therapy dog, and about a year ago we got together with Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties to start a Hospice Therapy Dog program.  Unfortunately, Vito is a 70 pound German Shepherd; just too big to be a Hospice Therapy Dog. Reluctantly, we stopped doing hospice visits, and I have missed that. Within the first 24 hours of knowing Winnie, I realized she could be a perfect hospice therapy dog--she adores everyone she meets. She is very confident, social and playful. Once I decided to keep her, it was starting to look like a Rags to Riches story so now she is known as “Rags”.

I sent Rags' DNA off to Mars Wisdom Panel to see what breeds are really there. The results showed that one parent is half Toy Fox Terrier and a quarter Toy Poodle, and the other parent is half Chihuahua and half “mixed breed” with the highest probability being the "companion dog group". Yup…Rags is officially a Little Mutt!

Rags is a natural therapy dog! While still on light duty from her treatments, we visited one of our very best buddies who is going through chemo therapy. Little Miss Rags just snuggled her way into Char’s lap for some good ol’ puppy lovins!    
Rags is now the most amazing “big-dog-trapped-in-a-little-dog-body” dog! When we go on our evening pack walks, there she is, leading the way, often outrunning German Shepherds ...even a Belgian Malinois! She loves to climb on the log piles and walk the spines of the downed trees. She plays in the water with her big brother Vito, and shares his doggy bed while I am on the computer in the evenings. She even has a boyfriend—Howie—one of our Second Chance dogs from 2013. 

This Big Dog Person just welcomed into her pack an adorable little dog with a big heart .
AFTER: Rin Tin Rags!
ACAC & AC is always in need of items that can improve the lives of our animals while they are with us. If you can help, please feel free to donate any items from our Amazon wish list . 
Volunteers needed
If you can help walk dogs or socialize animals, we want you! The  Application for Volunteer Worker  is available for review here. Think you're game? Come on over and fill out an original pink copy, available from the shelter. 
Get on our mailing list by signing up at the animal shelter, the Feed Barn, or any Adoption Outreach.