island-dog-daze

Facebook

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:39:12 +0100

This blog has definitely been neglected. To simplify things, please follow us on:

Island Dogz Facebook

Another Cruel Canadian Winter

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:52:54 +0100

Today we braved the bitter wind and harsh Canadian climate for a early Feb hike around Spectacle Lake. I guess I should mention that it was sunny with a few clouds, and about 10 degrees celcius ;) I had just a sweatshirt, and Tasha was only in a T-shirt. Only on the Island...God's Country!!
The dogs had a blast and everyone was great off leash. Blizz the MalxSibexAkita that I thought could never be trained to stay with us and turn his back on his genetic urge to just GO; Dane our fearful Taiwanese dog that we recovered from a less than ethical "rescue"; and Peaches, our newest dog, a wee PomxChi that was a puppy mill breed bitch; and of course Echo, the crazy lil Eskie that is like a teenaged boy with ADHD
.

More Abbotsford Pound Pups

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:17:34 +0100

Our first Abby Pound dog was adopted today! Well, to be precise, her caregiver family failed Fostering 101 and are keeping her! She has the best home now, with fenced acreage with cats and horses. She even gets to go to work with her new Dad. "Abby girl" is one lucky pup and is now dubbed an appropriate URSI (meaning little bear)

Our second freedom trip from Abby brought Clyde and Scrabble to the Island.

They are both silly adolescent boys learning how to behave in a house. Read more about them on the avail dogz page.

New Year Homes and New Year Rescues

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:04:38 +0100

Happy news at Island Dogz; Vixen and Heidi have both been placed in wonderful furever homes in Victoria! Happy New Year and Happy New Lives girls...we miss you!!

We have brought two new dogs into rescue:

Abby was saved just days from euthanization from a mainland shelter (YES, dogs are euthanized here in BC too) and Dane (originally from TUAPA in Taiwan) was transfered from another group not able to deal with his fear. Abby is having so much fun in her new foster home learning about horses and cats. Dane is staying with me for rehabilitation.
You can read more about these two on our RESCUZE page.

Media Whirlwind

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:42:58 +0100

Dec 31/2009

My goodness, life has turned topsy turvy since that article appeared in the l paper. My husband Tim says, "Be careful what you pray for... it just may happen" and WOW did it happen. A week ago, I was trying to figure out the best way to find foster homes so I could help another dog or two, and hoping someone would apply for these great dogs.

Now I'm buried in email offers to adopt, to donate, to foster, and a ton of good wishes. The article was picked up by many papers and websites; all the way to the National Post! I've done a TV interview, two radio spots and have another booked on the 4th. It all so overwhelming ... wonderful ... but overwhelming. I'm pretty good at writing and creating and coming up with ideas, but not so good at organization. Ok lets be honest, I'm dreadful at organization. So now a new plea goes out to my friends...bring file folders and envelopes and plans to organize my emails . In other words HELLLLLPPPPPPPP :)

Island Dogz Rescue has indeed been blessed! Now I just need to get really good, really fast, at dealing with everything!

Keep sending good thoughts and prayers our way, and lets get saving alot more dogs!!!

Vixen is Famous

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:03:05 +0100

Tuesday, December 29th.

Vixen in Cow Bay

Dogs rescued from illegal meat factory, being fattened up to be eaten, brought to Vancouver Island.

By Judith Lavoie, Times ColonistDecember 29, 2009 6:39 AM

In her four years of life, Vixen has seen a lifetime of horror.

The chubby Siberian husky, now in foster care in Duncan, was being fattened up as a Taiwanese dinner delicacy when she was rescued from an illegal meat factory by an extreme group of Taiwan-based animal rescuers known as the Compassionate Mamas.

"It's hard to look at her and think they were going to eat her," said Gem Zolciak founder of Island Dogz Rescue, who is fostering Vixen.

The dog already has lost almost three kilograms and is now a relatively svelte 25 kg (55 pounds). Her hips and back are slowly recovering strength after being kept in a small cage.

Vixen is among three dogs brought to Vancouver Island from Taiwan by Island Dogz Rescue this month. They represent the first shipment from Taichung Universal Animal Protection Association, a no-kill shelter that takes in stray and abandoned dogs, including those rescued from meat factories.

At the shelter, six volunteers care for more than 1,000 dogs.

Eating dogs and cats has been discouraged in Taiwan for two decades. A 2001 law banned the killing of dogs for skin or meat. Legal loopholes were then closed by a 2004 law banning the sale of dogs as food, but underground markets still exist.

The laws are rarely enforced, said a spokeswoman for the Taichung group.

Some dogs are "farmed." Others are snatched off the street and stuffed into tiny cages until they are killed.

"Some people feel the adrenaline coursing through the body makes the meat taste better and the dogs are tortured before they are killed," Zolciak said.

Taichung group volunteer Johanna Quinn, who arranges dog shipments to rescue organizations in Canada, the U.S and Germany, said the Compassionate Mamas go on random, night-time raids when they hear of a factory and then turn the dogs over to rescue organizations.

Others go in undercover and buy the dogs, Quinn said.

In addition to Vixen, Mooch, a nine-year-old malamute cross, and Heidi, a nine-month-old mixed- breed puppy, are in foster care in the Cowichan Valley.

"I could bring 100 dogs here if I had the foster homes. We foster them before we adopt them out so we can assess their personalities," Zolciak said.

Dogs brought to Vancouver Island are checked by veterinarians and fully immunized. They are shipped from Taiwan in crates with canine amenities, usually accompanied by a human caregiver.

jlavoie@tc.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Just a note of clarification: "Compassionate mamas" is a term used to describe individuals that rescue dogs secretly. It is not the name of an organized group. The place that Vixen was rescued from was in fact a private residence and not a large factory.

Since this article was posted, the Taiwan Government is running a full scale investigation into the illegal consumption of dog meat in Taiwan!!

G. Zolciak

Full House Again

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:16:17 +0100

Well, after a few days foster free, our home is full and busy once more.

Three great dogs flew into Canada from TUAPA shelter in Taiwan. In addition to local dogs in need, we have chosen to help to help these Taiwanese "doggies" for a couple of reasons. The first is the environment these dogs have known. In Taiwan, dogs are looked at by most people as a scourge on their streets. They are teased and abused, as well as frequently hit by cars that do little if anything to avoid them. The 'lucky' ones that have owners, are kept in cages or short chains by the doors to serve as gaurds. Of course there are also loving dog owners in Taiwan, but they are definitly a minority.

The second is the wanting to pair up with and offer hope to the inspiring team at TUAPA shelter in Taipei, Taiwan. TUAPA is a huge crowded shelter that is home to approximately 1000 dogs that are looked after by 6 incredibly dedicated workers. They also help to control the large stray dog population by doing large scale Trap-Neuter-Release program. This team personally tends to the dogs right from the busy streets to the shelter and then loaded safely onto a plane bound for North America. Every care is taken for the trip; absorbent pads lining the crate, water bottles and chewies, ID tags, sweaters, harnesses etc. They arrive ready to take on their new happily-ever-after lives. I am honoured to be working with TUAPA to help these deserving dogs fin furever homes.

under construction

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:54:05 +0100