Weekly Pupdate 1-28-24

Weekly Pupdate: 1-28-24

Featured Dogs

Check out our senior/special needs dogs!  Our program, SENIORS FOR SENIORS, charges a $75 adoption fee for adopters aged 60 and over who adopt dogs nine years old and older or special needs dogs.  If interested in one of our senior/special needs dogs, contact Candi Lynn here.

Fund$ for Foster$

Feed your pets NATURAL BALANCE?   Please save the store receipt and proof of purchase labels, staple them together, and mail to MAESSR at P.O. Box 807 – Goochland, VA 23063.   Once we collect 50 labels, we can apply for a refund. 

Go to GOODSHOP.COM to get Gumdrop for free!  Goodshop is the world’s first-ever shopfunding site. When you shop at thousands of stores, a percentage of what you spend will be donated to MAESSR.  Gumdrop finds the best coupon codes wherever you shop.  Auto Apply Savings – just one click automatically applies the best coupons for you. Never search for a coupon again and watch the savings pour in while donating to MAESSR!  To choose MAESSR as your cause, type in Mid Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue.  (Note that there is no hyphen, just a space between Mid and Atlantic.)  Highlight and click on MAESSR to adopt it as your cause.  Start shopping, MAESSRland!

From the Marketplace

The MAESSR MARKETPLACE is open 24/7 for purchases. We’ve also got cool toys for man’s best friend and companion. The MAESSR store and website are in transition – thanks so much for your understanding while we make improvements to the store and website.

Check out this women’s MAESSR.org Long-Sleeved Puppy Tee! – Two puppies grace the front of this copper-colored Gildan-brand long-sleeved tee. 

Be sure to check out our vast collection of garden flags, holiday ornaments, clothing, and much more. We are adding more ornaments and magnets/stickers daily like this Simply the Best magnet.

We have various Sarah England prints in the Marketplace, including man’s best friends – a springer and a beer, in case you weren’t sure.  

Training Library

LIFE LESSONS FROM THE DOG: 101 TALES OF FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, AND FUN (341 pages) from Chicken Soup For the Soul – Amy Newmark.  We learn so much from our canine companions, and along the way they keep us company, provide unconditional love, and share in the ups and downs of our lives. What do we learn from our dogs? Everything. Our dogs make us better people. If we rescued them, they rescue us back. If we’re sad, they comfort us. If we need to have more fun, they show us how. They are our protectors, our role models, and our best friends. You’ll laugh a lot, tear up at times, and nod your head in recognition as you read these tales about the wonderful experience of sharing life with a dog. Life lessons from our dogs come in many forms, from the hilarious to the heroic. You’ll enjoy a wide variety in these 101 entertaining stories. Donated by Pam Nealer.

REACHING THE ANIMAL MIND: CLICKER TRAINING AND WHAT IT TEACHES US ABOUT ALL ANIMALS (288 pages) by Karen Pryor who is recognized by modern dog trainers as the guru of the clicker/marker training movement which is now widely accepted to be the best way to train dogs, not to mention other animals. In this wonderful new book, Karen recounts her lifetime of experiences working with animals ranging from dolphins to dogs, what she has learned about training, and what animals have taught her.  Donated by Phyllis Chan.

HOLLY 10 (class of 2015) came to MAESSR after being abandoned and was fostered by LIZ WATSON.   KEITH AND KATHY SHOFF fell in love with Holly’s videos and adopted her at the Richmond Picnic. She was a delight right from the start, fit right in, and loved to travel and meet people. Holly went on many family vacations, especially to Ocean City, MD and Assateague Island. She loved to chase sea birds and run in and out of the waves. When Kathy’s cancer returned and she became housebound except for doctor and hospital visits, Holly was a loyal, caring companion, never leaving Kathy’s sight. When Kathy passed away in July 2023, Holly was obviously heartbroken and confused and didn’t know what to do, now being alone during the daytime. On a late December morning, it was obvious that “something” had occurred during the night, and she was rushed for medical care. The vet found a ruptured mass with little chance of survival. Holly returned home to be released from her suffering the next morning. Keith would personally like to thank the entire MAESSR family for the wonderful opportunity they were given to live and love a special young girl that easily became a huge part of their family and will never be forgotten. 

ALLY (class of 2021), now known as ALLIE, came to MAESSR when she was relinquished by her breeder.  She had been living in a kennel situation but quickly adapted to living in a home.  She was fostered by DEBBIE LIPCSEY and adopted by the WILLIAMS family – SUZANNE, JIM, and ROSIE. She was their first non-springer spaniel, a golden retriever. They were very lucky to be part of her life even if it was for only a short time.  It took quite a while for her to trust her family and to learn about receiving and giving love.  Ally crossed Rainbow Bridge on January 12th due to cancer.  She will be so missed by her family. 

BELLE 4 (class of 2011) was 15.5 y.o. miracle in everyone’s eyes. She came to MAESSR with a skin condition and was lovingly fostered by JUDY SUTTER who nursed her back to health before she joined PATRICIA MATTEO’s family. Belle was a happy little girl with a non-stop tail wag who loved to chase anything that moved. She was low key for a Springer, was infinitely good-natured and sweet, and loved nothing more than to cuddle with any warm body. At the dog park, she ignored the dogs and walked up to each human individually. She had a challenging 13 years, marked by a chronic pulmonary condition that had her on constant medication and therapy. In her final years she slowed down to live gracefully as an elder. She went totally blind in her final six months but was so well adapted to her environment Patricia didn’t even realize it until she took her to the vet for what she thought were cataracts. Belle oriented herself by sound, memory, and touch – she knew where she was in the very large heavily landscaped yard, for example, by the surface under her feet. Smart girl! Belle is now happily reunited with her brother Brady (Trooper – 2012). She’s left a big hole in Patricia’s heart and is missed every day.

MOLLY 52 (class of 2020) now known as Mollie, came to MAESSR when her PA owner faced a move and was not allowed to have dogs in a new residence. Molly and her companion Maddie were taken to a local shelter which contacted MAESSR so the girls were on her way to a foster home with GARY REDMORE. She was adopted as a senior dog of 10 years old in December 2020 by RICH AND ANNETTE MORRISON. Mollie enjoyed neighborhood walks and chasing birds, squirrels, and bunnies in the backyard. She would watch TV and would jump up and bark if she saw a dog on the screen. In the 3 years the Morrisons had her, Mollie turned into a real cuddle bug on the couch or bed. They had hoped she would make it to age 14 in April, but instead she left them during snowstorm.  Run free, sweet Mollie!

KATHY DRAHEIM who lived in Warrenton, VA, passed after a short illness on January 4th and is survived by her brother, sister-in-law, nieces, and grandnieces. For her obituary, go to link. Kathy was a huge fan of her hometown Detroit Red Wings, her office enshrining her love of the team.  Kathy was active in her community and a dedicated member of the MAESSR family and a cherished friend. Kathy helped out on transports and was a big help to Tiffaney Willams in setting up the Marketplace and planning the new website launch party. She fostered and adopted ROSE 6, class of 2021. If you’d like to make a donation in her memory, please go to link.

Did You Know?

Pup-ulation Report

Submitted by volunteer Cathy Moyer with thanks to those who contributed submissions/ info.