HELP PUT THE 'FUN' IN FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS! |
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Have you bid on auction items, visited our booth at Salmon Days, Petpalooza or Bark by the Bay, or submitted a picture of your pet to our Poorly Drawn Pets Fundraiser? Want to become part of the team that makes this all happen? WAMAL’s Fundraising/Event Coordinator has retired, so we need HELP! It’s a great time to STEP UP AND JUMP IN…Become a member of the Fundraising and Events Team!
We need people located in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area for local Events, but most of our Fundraising is virtual so members can be located anywhere that has internet access!! We are also hoping to expand our Events and Fundraisers to the Vancouver/Portland and Spokane areas in the near future, so we'll need volunteers to lead the charge in those locations as well.
NEEDED: Fundraising/Events team members who are self-motivated, creative thinkers.
TIME REQUIRED: This would be a great opportunity for volunteers who like to be involved in short duration projects with limited scope; you can choose to coordinate a specific event or take on a smaller/bigger role, depending on your time and availability.
TEAM SKILLS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Brainstorm ideas for fundraisers/events
- Ability to follow up for successful implementation of fundraisers/events
- Connecting with event hosts to ensure scope and guidelines are understood and followed
- Creative writing for PR and social media posts
- Contact volunteers and schedule booth sitters and Ambassadog teams
- Organize, transport, set-up/tear-down booths and items for events, including PR info and merchandise (when allowed)
Interested? We will be scheduling a virtual meeting in the next few weeks to answer questions and move forward! We have already been invited to participate in events and fundraisers this year and we need your help to make it happen! Please email Rickie Anderson at MalHappyTails@gmail.com to be added to the contact list for the meeting.
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Welcome to our new feature—Happy Tails! If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or check out our pups on the website, have you ever wondered what happens in the in-between time from arriving in rescue to finding their furever homes? We are pleased to be sharing some of these stories!
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AURORA, like her storybook counterpart Princess Aurora, was waiting for her perfect match to come rescue her. This 5 ½ year old 110-pound female was very friendly and loved her people but was unknown with other dogs and a definite no-no for any family with cats or other small furries—she had been surrendered after she got into trouble with her former livestock neighbors.
Aurora was lucky enough to find a place in one of our wonderful foster homes. Foster mom Brianna’s family had adopted another Mal, Niko, from WAMAL a few months previously and knew of the huge need for foster homes. “We had the room and thought we could help get a dog ready for adoption,” shared Brianna.
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There is a definite adjustment period for any pup entering a new home and especially where there is another dog. Aurora was a lot larger than Niko and initially exhibited some bullying behavior. It took a lot of time, patience, and consistent redirection for the pups to get along. Briana noted: “Although there were a few weeks we considered giving Aurora back, we are glad we stuck to it for the several months that it took. People shouldn’t call it quits right off the bat. It takes time for a pup to get comfortable in a new home or foster.”
Aurora presented another challenge too - and this one had nothing to do with her size or personality. A large lump was growing in her neck. It didn’t seem to cause any pain but did interfere with her breathing when she was in a prone position. A CT scan showed two fluid-filled submandibular masses. The larger mass was starting to put pressure on her larynx and hyoid bone. While testing did not show malignancy, the growth was clearly compressing her throat and needed to be treated in the near term to avoid breathing and swallowing issues. The surgery was complicated and very expensive—over $13,000 including all the scans and biopsies that preceded it—but a generous donor, Mary R., stepped up with a sizeable financial gift to offset the significant medical costs. WAMAL moved forward to get Aurora the help she needed!
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The surgery was successful, and Aurora continued to thrive after the cysts were removed. After caring for her through the long surgical recovery, her foster family realized that they would never be able to part with her. “We were determined she would just be a foster; but it became clear that she was happy and comfortable here. She and Niko were great together and Aurora was amazing with the kids, gentle and loving. It was a lot of work to get her to that point and the idea of having her go through that process all over again with another family made us realize she was already in her furever home.”
Asked what the best thing about fostering Aurora was, Brianna said, “Just seeing what an animal is capable of if you give them the tools to succeed. We really had to be patient and do a lot of research and ask for guidance from WAMAL trainers. It took time but watching her evolve into the terrific dog she is now was very rewarding. It’s easy to look at a dog that comes from a stressful kennel environment and just say it’s too much work but seeing it through to helping an animal get to a place to work through their issues and become a confident, happy and adoptable dog is so worth it!”
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Thanks to this wonderful foster-fail family and the generosity of Aurora’s “fairy godmother” Mary, Aurora’s story has a happy ending…a true happy tail! If you would like to make more dreams come true, contact WAMAL about fostering or adopting. If you’d like to be on the emergency donor list for opportunities to assist with future medical needs that may arise, please email Rickie at malhappytails@gmail.com.
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Have you ever wondered how the term "doggie breath" became synonymous with bad breath? It most likely has to do with the overwhelming prevalence of dental
So, since February is National Dental Pet Health Month, here are a few quick tips for keeping your dog's teeth and gums in good shape:
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Work with your vet! Ensure that a dental inspection is part of your dog's regular exam and schedule a cleaning if necessary. Your vet may advise additional tips, dental care products, or procedures specific to your dog.
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Brush your dog's teeth daily. This is the single most effective thing you can do to promote your dog's dental health! Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and an enzymatic toothpaste formulated for dogs. Never use human toothpastes on your dogs as many contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs if ingested. Daily brushing will greatly decrease the need for in-office cleanings.
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Monitor closely. Inspect your dog's teeth and gums while brushing. If you notice issues like fractured teeth, inflamed gums, or bad breath, bring it to the attention of your vet right away.
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Choose your chews carefully! Chews can be a great tool for dental health. But be cautious about giving chews like antlers that are too hard or long-lasting as these can fracture or erode your dog's teeth. Think about it: the pressure and grinding of the chewing process inevitably wears some surface down - and if it's not the chew, it's your dog's teeth taking that wear.
Pet Dental Health month may be halfway over, but pet dental hygiene is always in style. Here's to healthy smiles and fresh-smelling puppy kisses!
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LOOT 4 MOOTS 2023 AUCTION |
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The 5th Annual Loot for Moots Auction is mushing forward! We are collecting items already, hoping to get a jump start on uploading descriptions and photos so we’re not buried in a snow drift as it gets closer!! So, if you have any Malamute/Husky/Wolf themed items, outdoor and nature-centric treasures, please gather those up and get them to us! If you see any fun goodies when you’re shopping in person or online, get one for us too!! (psst….I have the most fun shopping for after holiday bargains—it’s like a treasure hunt!)
Also, if you work for, or have connections with, any business that may be interested in donating an item, service or experience, please reach out to Rickie Anderson at MalHappyTails@gmail.com!! Thank woooo!
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Want to become part of the MALLEY MUSE Newsletter team? Are you familiar with the Constant Contact email platform (or similar) and do you enjoy creative writing or creating graphics? The time involved is a few hours a month, on your own schedule.
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Boo! Did I scare you? Just kidding...I'm not *that* kind of Spirit...and honestly, I'm more afraid of you than you could possibly be of me! You see, I didn't get the best start to life and that has made me quite shy around new people. But with the help of all the nice people at WAMAL I'm ever so slooooowly coming out of my shell - and I'm looking forward to a much better future!
I am looking for a new family who will be gentle and patient with me to build my trust, allowing our relationship to grow at my pace. It would probably really benefit my confidence if there was a friendly male dog in the family, but I could be an only dog if needed. And what a gorgeous dog I am!
I promise that if you have the patience and commitment to work with me, you will see me blossom into the best and most spirited girl you can imagine! Can you lead me to that brighter future? If so please apply to adopt me or foster me today!
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Hi everyone - Mickey here, ready to prove to you why adopting a senior pup is absolutely the best!
Now, I don't mean to brag, but I've been told that I'm a total sweetheart. I've been friendly and loving to everyone I've met. I've been good with kids and other dogs. And I've even shown good manners with the cats in my foster home - at least in my limited, supervised interactions with them so far!
As you can see I'm an absolutely adorable boy! I have great house manners too - I'm quiet, crate-trained, and housetrained! I'm a wonderful snuggler too - if you'll let me, I'd love to cuddle up with you on the couch.
I wound up in WAMAL's care after being found as a stray. Some other dogs had attacked me and I did not fight back. So if you are looking for a lover, not a fighter, I'd be a perfect addition to your pack! Please apply to adopt me today!
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LAST CHANCE FOR A CALENDAR FEATURE! |
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If you want to purchase a grid space to feature your pet (any pet - it doesn't have to be a malamute!), the deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 28th at 9PM PST.
See our email from last week for more details. Also note that if you missed out on purchasing your 2023 Calendar, they are still available here.
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