STRMN Shih Tzu Rescue of Minnesota
Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome
Upcoming
Events
Events
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For More Event info,
visit our Events Page
visit our Events Page
Meet and Greet
Minnetonka Petco
10am to 2pm
Last Saturday
of the Month
Store Address and
Directions
Click HERE
Minnetonka Petco
10am to 2pm
Last Saturday
of the Month
Store Address and
Directions
Click HERE
At all Petco events we will have an experienced member of STRMN available to discuss the ins and outs of being a Foster Home.
Look for the special “Ask Me About Fostering” name badge!
Please ask for an information packet, linger to discuss the details of being a foster home, and get any questions answered.
There will also be foster families available to give their insight and experiences with fostering.
We have a wonderful dog waiting just for you!
Look for the special “Ask Me About Fostering” name badge!
Please ask for an information packet, linger to discuss the details of being a foster home, and get any questions answered.
There will also be foster families available to give their insight and experiences with fostering.
We have a wonderful dog waiting just for you!
Visit us at the Pet Expo
Minneapolis Convention Center
March 6-7, 2010
Minneapolis Convention Center
March 6-7, 2010
"Happy Tails"
Successful Adoptions
Successful Adoptions
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The “Magnificent 7”
In June of 2007 a contact one of our members had with a reputable breeder called to say they had 7 male dogs all about 1 year old that they were interested in “donating” to a rescue that they could trust. These dogs were just too old to be sold out of a breeding facility, as their customers were only interested in puppies. The breeder did not have the time to look for owners themselves through Petfinder, do the reference calling, and home visits they felt were required to find the best homes for them. This is why STRMN interested them! We are known for our excellent vetting practices, our genuine love, care, and basic training in personal foster homes where a limited number of dogs reside. Our Foster homes do all their own reference calling and home visits with the foster dogs, and select only the most perfect match for a new home in Minnesota-with follow up visits to make sure the dog has adapted well!
As you can see from the picture above, all 7 boys came into our rescue! All were healthy, happy boys who were brought up to date with vaccines and Heartworm and of course, neutered! One of the boys had a hip deformity that required major surgery to correct, and one was so shy and scared that he stayed in foster care a bit longer to receive better socialization. These boys brought joy to each and every foster home, and within weeks found forever homes of their own full of love where they continue to be spoiled!
As you can see from the picture above, all 7 boys came into our rescue! All were healthy, happy boys who were brought up to date with vaccines and Heartworm and of course, neutered! One of the boys had a hip deformity that required major surgery to correct, and one was so shy and scared that he stayed in foster care a bit longer to receive better socialization. These boys brought joy to each and every foster home, and within weeks found forever homes of their own full of love where they continue to be spoiled!
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The “Sensational 6”
The Sensational 6 are true Puppy Mill dogs! With no use for them anymore, either because of poor health, age, problems giving birth to puppies, not having enough puppies in a litter, or just the “wrong color”, these dogs are discarded by breeders. This type of Puppy Mill is often found in southern states where climates are warmer all year round and laws for animal rights are lax. They rarely are given vaccinations, heartworm tests, care for eye or ear infections, warm, soft beds, good quality food, or clean water. A bath and grooming are simply a high powered hose spraying them over and over. The puppies are sold to Pet Stores where they are re-sold to unsuspecting homes.
All 6 of these dogs had little socialization, so their level of fear and shyness were extremely high. Over their weeks in foster care the foster parents slowly introduced them to new sounds, people, and places. They were given soft fleece blankets and beds, with wonderful food and lots of wholesome treats. They learned how to go up and down stairs and what going potty outside meant. They learned to walk on leashes, and to cuddle in someone’s arms. They received medical treatment for eyes that were scared from scratches and infections. Two of the girls, Daphne and Millie, were almost totally blind. Charlie had scarring and loss of some vision as well. Buster had major jaw surgery and all of his teeth but 1 were rotten and had to be pulled. Tasha had a cesarean incision popping open and slightly infected.
Most of all, these dogs received pampering and love beyond what they could ever have imagined in the cage they came from! We are happy to report that all 6 have been adopted and are continuing in their quest to become princesses and princes!
All 6 of these dogs had little socialization, so their level of fear and shyness were extremely high. Over their weeks in foster care the foster parents slowly introduced them to new sounds, people, and places. They were given soft fleece blankets and beds, with wonderful food and lots of wholesome treats. They learned how to go up and down stairs and what going potty outside meant. They learned to walk on leashes, and to cuddle in someone’s arms. They received medical treatment for eyes that were scared from scratches and infections. Two of the girls, Daphne and Millie, were almost totally blind. Charlie had scarring and loss of some vision as well. Buster had major jaw surgery and all of his teeth but 1 were rotten and had to be pulled. Tasha had a cesarean incision popping open and slightly infected.
Most of all, these dogs received pampering and love beyond what they could ever have imagined in the cage they came from! We are happy to report that all 6 have been adopted and are continuing in their quest to become princesses and princes!
The following are four stories, examples, of how Shih Tzu Rescue of Minnesota hears about and brings dogs into rescue.
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Belle
A young man in outstate Minnesota emailed our website one cold day in January 2009 to enlist our help. A stray female Shih Tzu had shown up at his doorstep and although friendly, was badly in need of care—particularly “personal grooming”! He gave her a beautiful name: Belle. He also tried to find her owner, placing ads in many locations, to no avail. Now he had to surrender her to rescue because he worked longer than normal hours, and could not give her the best care.
Our transport coordinator drove to meet him and here is how Belle looked when she arrived in STRMN:
Our transport coordinator drove to meet him and here is how Belle looked when she arrived in STRMN:
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Her hair was matted to the skin, and although clean, had never been cut. The mats were so thick and firm between her legs she could barely walk! The long fur around her nose and mouth was securely matted down into her chin, so even her mouth could not open entirely! Belle was not able to even carry her tail in the typical upward fashion of a Shih Tzu because it was soiled with fecal matter and cemented down to her legs and bottom.
The poor girl was miserable and her eyes cried out to us for help.
She also needed all her vaccinations brought up to date, and she needed to be spayed and Heartworm tested.
Fortunately we have a valuable member of our rescue who is a professional groomer. After 3 hours of meticulous and cautious work, Belle lived up to her name and emerged as a beautiful, happy Shih Tzu!
Her tail began wagging non-stop and her eyes lit up with delight. She discovered a new found freedom!
The poor girl was miserable and her eyes cried out to us for help.
She also needed all her vaccinations brought up to date, and she needed to be spayed and Heartworm tested.
Fortunately we have a valuable member of our rescue who is a professional groomer. After 3 hours of meticulous and cautious work, Belle lived up to her name and emerged as a beautiful, happy Shih Tzu!
Her tail began wagging non-stop and her eyes lit up with delight. She discovered a new found freedom!
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Today she is ready for a new forever home, and currently being cared for by a wonderful foster family in the Twin Cities. She is a playful and bouncy 2 year old. A bit pudgy from being fed table scraps, she is a joy to see and cuddle!
STRMN is determined to continue bringing “new life” to all dogs like Belle needing love and care.
Thank you for your donations to STRMN in order to make this happen! We appreciate your monetary contribution and would like you to also consider being a Foster Home for a dog, so we can rescue and help even more……the need is so great!
(Visit our Volunteer page to read more about fostering!)
STRMN is determined to continue bringing “new life” to all dogs like Belle needing love and care.
Thank you for your donations to STRMN in order to make this happen! We appreciate your monetary contribution and would like you to also consider being a Foster Home for a dog, so we can rescue and help even more……the need is so great!
(Visit our Volunteer page to read more about fostering!)
Dolly Faith came to us from a puppy mill on Wednesday, January 21st. The photos above are what she looked like when she arrived. The marks on her skin are bruises underneath her skin caused by the razor when she was shaved prior to her arrival. Her entire body was covered with these red, raw marks.
At first we thought she had been physically abused, but when we took her for her vet appointment Friday the 23rd, she was diagnosed with immune mediated thrombocytopenia, which means in plain language that her immune system had destroyed her blood platelets, which she needed for her blood to clot. She was weak and listless. The vet told us she was in critical condition and sent us immediately that day to a specialist, who stayed open until we could arrive there. Her platelet count was at 4,500 (normal is 140,000 to 540,000) and she could have bled out internally at any time. Well, we were NOT going to give up on her, so we authorized treatment, which was some chemotherapy – the same that is given to humans - and Prednisone. At that time the vet said her chances were about 50/50. I took her home wrapped in her own fleece blanket, and made sure she was eating and gave her the meds as prescribed. I cuddled her, and prayed for her.
When I took her back to the specialist on Sunday for another platelet check the count had gone down to 2,900! The vet talked about whole blood transfusions from another dog, but could not arrange it that day. He mentioned another medication we could try but it wouldn’t start working for two weeks. He also thought that possibly the original meds hadn’t had enough time to work. It was obvious that he didn’t think she would make it through the night and he asked if I wanted to leave her overnight. But I said no, whatever was going to happen would happen while she was with me!
So home we went, with a prayer call out to our entire group and anyone else that we knew. Dolly seemed too sick to eat anything I gave her that night, but I cooked an egg for her and she ate it right down! I sat with her through the night, and took her to work with me on Monday and Tuesday. She seemed MUCH better to me then, she was walking around and showing interest in her world.
Tuesday afternoon she went in for another blood count, and a miracle had occurred – her platelets were up to 300,000!! They continued to rise, and Friday that week they were up to 1,500,000!! This was a little high, but the vet seemed to think that the meds had blasted all the platelets out of her bone marrow. As of Friday, March 20th the platelet count was 677,000, and holding steady. She is now healthy and will be spayed. Even though Dolly is fully recovered, she will need periodic blood tests to make sure her platelets remain within the normal range.
Below is how Dolly Faith looks now – so different from when she was first rescued. She has also discovered how to be a dog – something she was deprived of while living in the puppy mill. She is developing a delightful personality, her hair is growing out, and she is absolutely gorgeous! She loves to cuddle, and is very vocal when she wants attention! Dolly is such a precious little girl and after all we have been through it will be so difficult for me to give her up to a forever adoptive home.
At first we thought she had been physically abused, but when we took her for her vet appointment Friday the 23rd, she was diagnosed with immune mediated thrombocytopenia, which means in plain language that her immune system had destroyed her blood platelets, which she needed for her blood to clot. She was weak and listless. The vet told us she was in critical condition and sent us immediately that day to a specialist, who stayed open until we could arrive there. Her platelet count was at 4,500 (normal is 140,000 to 540,000) and she could have bled out internally at any time. Well, we were NOT going to give up on her, so we authorized treatment, which was some chemotherapy – the same that is given to humans - and Prednisone. At that time the vet said her chances were about 50/50. I took her home wrapped in her own fleece blanket, and made sure she was eating and gave her the meds as prescribed. I cuddled her, and prayed for her.
When I took her back to the specialist on Sunday for another platelet check the count had gone down to 2,900! The vet talked about whole blood transfusions from another dog, but could not arrange it that day. He mentioned another medication we could try but it wouldn’t start working for two weeks. He also thought that possibly the original meds hadn’t had enough time to work. It was obvious that he didn’t think she would make it through the night and he asked if I wanted to leave her overnight. But I said no, whatever was going to happen would happen while she was with me!
So home we went, with a prayer call out to our entire group and anyone else that we knew. Dolly seemed too sick to eat anything I gave her that night, but I cooked an egg for her and she ate it right down! I sat with her through the night, and took her to work with me on Monday and Tuesday. She seemed MUCH better to me then, she was walking around and showing interest in her world.
Tuesday afternoon she went in for another blood count, and a miracle had occurred – her platelets were up to 300,000!! They continued to rise, and Friday that week they were up to 1,500,000!! This was a little high, but the vet seemed to think that the meds had blasted all the platelets out of her bone marrow. As of Friday, March 20th the platelet count was 677,000, and holding steady. She is now healthy and will be spayed. Even though Dolly is fully recovered, she will need periodic blood tests to make sure her platelets remain within the normal range.
Below is how Dolly Faith looks now – so different from when she was first rescued. She has also discovered how to be a dog – something she was deprived of while living in the puppy mill. She is developing a delightful personality, her hair is growing out, and she is absolutely gorgeous! She loves to cuddle, and is very vocal when she wants attention! Dolly is such a precious little girl and after all we have been through it will be so difficult for me to give her up to a forever adoptive home.
Dolly Faith
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