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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Sep 5 2007, 12:41 AM EDT (current) | Anonymous | 1 word added, 1 word deleted |
| Sep 4 2007, 3:11 PM EDT | DoggyGal | 1 word added, 577 words deleted |
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Doing Good Deeds for Dogs
There are so many dedicated rescuers around the country devoting their time, effort, and money to save dogs in need that wikiFido wanted to create a place to honor them. Each month there will be a new dog rescuer profiled--right now we're taking nominations for November'sSeptember's rescuer!
To nominate someone from your community that you'd like to see profiled on these pages, click EasyEdit and put their name here, and please tell us why they should be Rescuer of the Month. We'd love to hear all the details about your nominee, so don't be shy and tell us all about your nominee. September Nominees
Littleton, CO
Demelza founded and runs a non-profit coonhound rescue and placement program. She spends her evenings and weekends driving around Colorado or nearby states when necessary to pick up dogs in need of rescue, no questions asked. Saving these dogs is her only objective. She provides the veterinary care along with a safe, nurturing home until the dogs are ready to be placed in a proper, well-screened home. This mission is from Demelza's generous heart for this beloved breed and her family is dedicated to it. Her sincerity and success fortunately inspire greatly appreciated donations. Demelza has educated and demonstrated how worthwhile these dogs are to the community and has recruited many new fans to adopt this very worthwhile breed.
Having previously served her country in the armed forces, Demelza continues to serve her community by participating with her own coon hounds in the Scent Trackers of Rocky Mountains' rescue missions to find missing children and hikers. These once abandoned dogs she rescued are now helping to rescue people in life-threatening situations. She will help connect anyone interested in training any breed of scent hound with a scent-tracking trainer.
Demelza educates people on all aspects of the breed to match the right owners with the dogs. Through her championship for these dogs, she inspires others to see that these dogs as worthwhile for saving and to view dog ownership as a responsibilty. Her website provides a community among breed-owners and in people interested in following the lives of the dogs that have been rescued, rehabilitated and placed. She is also accessble to assist people after the adoption and she organizes events for the dogs and owners to socialize to ensure the placements are successful for life.
Demelza rescues dogs and trains them to rescue people rebuilding the mutually beneficial relationship that respects the historical bonding.
She started working with High Country Bassett Hound Rescue group in 1999. She was put on the board in 2004. She has fostered 200 dogs in her home to new good homes. Number 200 is a current one. Number 200 is a Bassett named Daisy. (There are many stories in that list of 200 dogs but this is the story of #200) Daisy was left locked in a back yard just like a cast off unwanted chair when someone moved. The neighbors realized it and threw scraps and food over the fence until someone could rescue her. Demelza received her. Daisy was so dirty it was appalling. Demelza immediately bathed her thoroughly and rubbed her down good. Daisy is a very pleasant friendly dog. Daisy was dehydrated and mal-nourished as well as being near term pregnant. (Pregnancy is a time when you need the best of nutrition no matter if you are an animal or person.) Demelza checked with the vet and kept in close contact with him. When the puppies came (8 of them) things were obviously not good. It was quite apparent that there were at least 2 fathers and maybe 3. They also had an infection that usually kills new born pups immediately. Demelza immediately went to the vet. She has had to tube feed them and give them water under their skin every 2 hours night and day. She also has a full time job and 2 kids of her own. Her husband, Jeremy was a big help. The malnutrition and infection took their toll and 3 died in spite of everything they tried. Now the other 5 are healthy and growing. Daisy also had a rough time of it and Demelza saw to it that she got the help she needed. So actually Daisy (#200) provided #’s 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205. . One of the puppies came down with Pneumonia. He almost died but today he is healthy and happy. None of these dogs would be alive today if it weren’t for Demelza. They would have all died at birth, Daisy included. Daisy already is spoken for and the puppies are spoken for. Demelza plans to keep one of the puppies because her old Bassett, Annie died just before the puppies were born. Demelza has 2 cats (Tip-Daddy and Critter-Pie) that she rescued from poor situations. She has a Bloodhound named Jack.. Her own personal dog is Charleston, a coon hound. She trains dogs for scent tracking. Her group has worked with the Police. She feels strongly about neutering your pets. If the dogs that were around Daisy had been neutered and/or Daisy had been spayed Demelza would not have had to deal with the deaths of 3 darling little puppies and the danger to the rest of them. She also keeps track of shelters and rescues hounds out of them (sometimes just before they are to die) and finds them good homes. As far as the animals go she has to be a hero. They need heroes too. Thanks.
Featured Dog Rescuers
October 2006 -- Lisa Haynes, Save Our Strays, Vermont August 2006 -- Ginger Luke, Ginger's Pet Rescue, Seattle, Washington
