Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2024

ADOPT ME!!

Meet Ruger… he’s a sweet and smart 2-3 year old lab mix who loves outdoor adventures… especially water activities! He’s a quick learner, is friendly with calm dogs, has great leash manners, and even performs well off-leash. Ruger has been looking for his furever family since last summer when he came to our shelter. Come meet this sweet athlete and give him a home with lots of blankets to snuggle in!

Meet Shea… she’s a sweet and playful 4-year-old mixed breed goofball. Shea loves people, but prefers to be the only dog in a home. Shea is always happy, doesn’t bark, has great house manners, and walks well on a leash. She listens to commands even though she just wants to have fun. Shea came to the shelter last summer and is still waiting to find a home where she can share her love and snuggles. Come meet Shea and you’ll fall in love!

We have adoption events every Saturday...

10am - 2pm at Tractor Supply in Lenoir

12-3pm at the Bunch Anderson Shelter

HAPPY TAILS ADOPTIONS

Jack– adoption January 2024                

He’s living the good life with his retired humans in their mountain home in Banner Elk. His adopters say, “Jack has been a joy.” “Warm and cozy! Gentle little guy."

HELPING SENIOR DOGS FIND HAPPY HOMES

Dogs get overlooked for adoption at shelters and rescues for many reasons. These reasons range from coat color or appearance to behavior or disposition to breed or pedigree, but perhaps the hardest dog to place in a home is the older or senior dog. Most adopters look at senior dogs and only see their age or inabilities, the cost of medical issues, or the short time they may have to be part of the family.

It takes special people to open their home and their hearts to a senior dog. Foothills Canine Rescue is fortunate to have two of these such people as volunteers in the Bunch Anderson Shelter. Beverly and Dennis Mecum have volunteered in the shelter for just about a year. They are retired and love animals, so they are a perfect fit for our rescue. Beverly says they “love that the shelter is giving dogs a home and a special place to live” while they await adoption.

Beverly and Dennis had not previously fostered dogs, but when they learned that a foster home was needed for two senior “hospice” dogs whose owner had died, they took them in with no hesitation. They soon declared, “they are here with us for the duration” and adopted the pair of 16-year-old pups.

Although Amber and Chestnut came to the Mecums as “hospice” dogs with significant health issues, they are thriving in their new home. Beverly reports that they both are very perky, are gaining weight, and have gained confidence in their new surroundings. Amber is blind, but she “runs like gazelle in the sunshine of the backyard” and is a great snuggler. Chestnut “smirks all the time” and always wants to play… “he has such a bubbly personality!”

Beverly says, “Seniors are too often passed over when considering adoption. In our case, Amber and Chestnut have taught us the worth of a life, and they will live the rest of their time with a family that loves them unconditionally. We couldn’t be happier with our experience.”

When you see older dogs in rescue or at the shelter, give them a fair chance at finding a new home. Senior dogs have as much love to give as younger dogs. They can be as active and fun as younger dogs… with more naps perhaps. Adult and senior dogs are generally housebroken, crate trained, walk on a leash, know some commands, and are ready to please and be loved. Even if older dogs have known some hard times in their former life or have lost their owner, they are usually grateful for everything… food, security, beds, blankets, squeaky toys, and people to love them. They just need someone to give them a better ‘rest of their life’… no matter how long or short that life may be.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT – ZAC DUNCAN

They say that “volunteers are the heart of rescue” and that is definitely true at Foothills Canine Rescue. We rely on volunteers to foster dogs, clean the shelter, care for the dogs, hold adoption events, stock and staff our retail store, and so much more. For some, the time and energy spent as a volunteer is very much like a full-time job, but with greater flexibility and greater rewards. For others, volunteering leads to new experiences and new challenges.

Zac Duncan and his fiancé Hannah have followed this path over the past few years with Foothills Canine Rescue. They first became acquainted with the rescue in 2021 while looking to rehome a dog they had rescued. When the Bunch Anderson Shelter first opened in early 2022, Zac and Hannah spent time hanging out with the shelter dogs on Saturdays. This evolved into a permanent shift as shelter volunteers on Sundays. Finally, after spending time with the dogs at the shelter, they tried their hand at fostering a few of them. Their biggest success in fostering resulted from their ‘foster fail’ with a big lovable and rambunctious pup named Bass… who is now best buds with their other dog, Kiwi.

Zac has always been fascinated with animal behavior and, after spending time with his dogs as well as others, he’s been able to share his insights and offer advice to people when needed. In 2022, he and Hannah started making short videos for social media that featured the shelter dogs and their day-to-day lives in the shelter. They also enjoy taking shelter pups on day trips and adventures to get them away from the kennel environment. Zac’s videos have become very popular, so he and Hannah created a dedicated account for Foothills Canine Rescue in the hope of reaching a different and broader audience. The videos are great introductions to the rescue’s adoptable dogs, as well as offering a look into shelter life. Zac says, “We have had so much fun watching these dogs that didn’t have much hope find their forever homes.”

In January of this year, Zac was asked to join the Board of Directors of Foothill Canine Rescue as its Social Media Director. He was both excited and nervous to accept the position, but he has risen to the task and helps the rescue stay active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and any other social media. Zac says that he has “the best team to work with” in his fellow directors and “I am thrilled to be part of an organization that strives to do better and (work for) change when change is needed to better support the community and the animals that desperately need a voice.” Thank you for your continued and evolving volunteerism, Zac and Hannah!

SPRING SALES EVENTS

MAY -  Mother's Day Sale - ALL jewelry - 50% off

JUNE -  ALL kids toys and baby items - 50% off

-   ALL wall art/pictures - 50% off

RAFFLE         RAFFLE         RAFFLE

Thanks to a generous donation from Schwinn Bikes and Arner Adventures, Foothills Canine Rescue has received some Schwinn Rascal animal carriers that will be raffled as fundraisers for the rescue.

Tickets are available for purchase at Waggin’ Tail Resale and Marketplace (open Wed.-Fri. 10-5 and Sat. 10-4)

$5 for single ticket          Drawing to be held in May

$20 for five tickets

Contributions directly benefit the rescue and care of dogs in need.

Every ticket purchase brings us one step closer to giving these precious animals a second chance at a loving home.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to win a fantastic prize while supporting a great cause.