Weekly Pupdate for 6-28-26

Featured 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$

We can earn money through WOOFTRAX just by walking our dogs – in fact you don’t even need a dog, just a smartphone & good walking shoes! Download the app on your phone & follow the directions. (If Wooftrax doesn’t come up, try Walk For A Dog.) When asked to pick a shelter/rescue (ask to change if it shows the closest to your home) pick VA as the site, scroll to the M’s & select MAESSR. You will then be asked to verify email address. Keep following directions & the app will appear on your phone. When you tap it, enter your dog’s info & start walking. It is a simple process each time you go for a walk. Currently we have 29 active walkers. Spread the word – make your walks count!

DOGWISE is another MAESSR affiliate whose mission is to bring humane, understandable and scientifically sound information to people who enrich their lives by working with, playing with and loving dogs. Many of the books, including the booklets, in the MAESSR library can be found at Dogwise.com. You can support MAESSR and get great training advice by shopping. They also sell some training products. Look for the $5 books on sale while you are there!

Training Library

The TRAINING LIBRARY has TWO Wish Lists. New or used titles can be purchased from the AMAZON list; DOGWISE has new books and DVDs.  Purchases can be shipped directly to the library.  Pretty quick and easy way to help out MAESSR as well as educate adopters!  

HELP FOR YOUR DOG-REACTIVE DOG – THE POSITIVE, GENTLE WAY TO CURB DOG-DOG REACTIVITY & AGGRESSION (212 pages) by Nichole Wilde.  Does your dog lunge at other dogs on walks? Does he bark at dogs who pass by your house or yard? Are vet visits a nightmare?  Your dog can learn to be calm around other dogs! It can be stressful, frustrating, and even embarrassing when your dog is reactive toward other dogs. As a canine behavior specialist who has helped hundreds of dog-reactive dogs and also rescued and rehabilitated my own dogs, I know how you feel. The good news is that these gentle, effective techniques, tips, and tricks will help to get you and your dog on the path to stress-free dog encounters quickly and safely. Topics include: How to read your dog’s body language and recognize subtle stress signals; Is your dog truly aggressive? Or is it fear-based reactivity?; Skills to teach your dog to make walks easier, including one newly adapted from a dog sport; Easy-to-follow behavior protocols to change your dog’s feelings toward other dog; How to curb barking at dogs who pass your house or yard, or when riding in the car; What to do if you encounter off-leash dogs; if the worst happens—how to break up a fight. Cool tools and therapies that can help, including a new, unique trick called The Invisible Friend that works like a charm! Written in a down-to-earth manner with empathy and humor, packed with plenty of photos and helpful illustrations, this step-by-step guide is chock full of step-by-step, immediately useful information. This book is appropriate for owners, dog trainers, rescue workers, and anyone who lives with, works with, or just plain loves and wants to help dogs. As Tia Torres, star of Pit Bulls & Parolees says, “If you want to turn your lunging, barking buddy into a cool canine around other dogs, get your paws on this book!”  Donated by Cathy Moyer.  

JUMPING FROM A TO Z: TEACH YOUR DOG TO SOAR (178 pages) by M. Justine Zink, DVM, PhD and Julie Daniels.  The most comprehensive guide to canine jump training, Jumping from A to Z provides a complete jump training program for dogs of all ages, specifics of jump training for obedience, agility and flyball, information on how structure affects jumping ability, and solutions to jumping problems. Donated by Beth Reid.

Rainbow Bridge Crossings

Sweet PICO (CALLIE 8, class of 2019) came to MAESSR from a VA breeding farm. She was fostered by DEBBIE LIPCSEY and adopted by ANGE KNUTSON‘s family. She had lived in a crate for six years delivering puppies – her belly dragging and her back concave when she arrived. Initially she was very skittish as noises like car doors closing scared her. Within a year of walking two times a day, she looked like a normal dog. She became a Velcro dog and loved the camper van, traveling across the US. She welcomed her sister Olive (Donna 3) and they could not be separated – everyone thought they came from the same litter.  Pico’s loss leaves a huge hole in the Knutsons’ hearts, and Olive is constantly looking for her. They will be forever grateful to MAESSR for giving them the opportunity to rescue this sweet angel. 

MULLIGAN (NOVA/CODY, class of 2016) was fostered by DEBBIE LIPCSEY and aopted by TAMARA AND GREG WARMBRODT.  Mully was an energetic Springer who loved nature walks with Greg as much as he loved curling up beside him afterward. He chased squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs with great enthusiasm, faithfully patrolling the perimeter of his yard each day. He adored wrestling with his  sister Fiona, sharing a pillow with his mum and dad, collecting treats from Grandma, and soaking up pets from anyone willing to give them. He was Greg’s soul pup. When Greg passed away unexpectedly in 2021, Mully and Tamara were left to weather that heartbreaking loss together. In the difficult months that followed, he became her constant companion and, in many ways, helped save her. His quiet presence, unwavering loyalty, and unconditional love carried her through some of life’s darkest days. When Mulligan crossed the Rainbow Bridge, he left a Springer-sized hole in Tamara’s heart. 

BRODY 3 (class of 2016) was very reluctantly turned over to MAESSR due to circumstances beyond the owner’s control. This MD boy, however, arrived well-groomed, well-trained, and was a perfect house guest from day one. He was fostered by KAREN STOFFAN and adopted by CLIFF, VAL, and ABBY MAJERCSIK who were blessed to have this quirky bundle of love for a decade and will miss him terribly. He brought such joy to their world, and they can’t thank MAESSR enough for all memories and laughs he provided: his passion for water not matter how dirty or how cold, his obsession with fetching, his unusual fears (sneezes, windshield wipers, bubble gum popping, dad in a suit), his taste for sweet peppers, his impressive dock diving skills, his strict daily schedule that all had to follow, his strong personality and his loyalty. Brody was 15.5 years old when he crossed.

ARTHUR  (class of 2013) was fostered by VICKY PHILLIPS and adopted by the WILLIAMS/HETRICK family. Arthur developed a close relationship with his Springer Buddy Brody. To say Artie LOVED swimming would be an understatement. The first week  he jumped a 3 foot high fence onto a flight of steps and dove right into the pool. The first opportunity he had to try dock diving, he made it to 10 feet. He maintained good health throughout his life, attributed to all his outdoor exercise! He was just so easy-going and mellow and gave so so much in return. In his older years, he was a mentor to new family pups. Despite Artie’s arthritis, cataracts and deafness, he enjoyed a healthy appetite and good quality of life to the very end shortly after his 15th birthday. Arthur is going to be missed like crazy. Thanks to MAESSR for the work that they do and support offered during times of loss.

Permanent foster CALLIE 9 (class of 2023) originally came to MAESSR as a PA rescue group mill dog and returned when her adoptive parents were no longer able to care for her. She was fostered by ANDY AUSTIN. Sadly, she lost her battle with Cushing’s Disease and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Callie had settled back into her foster home as if she had never left and enjoyed her last year with her MAESSR family. She snuggled with the resident dogs and had her foster grandparents wrapped around her paw. Run free, sweet girl!

Pup-ulation Report

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