Goodbye 2009…Hello 2010!
Woof!

2009 Was Our Wake-Up Call

This year in remembrance has been a very powerful year with high emotions. In January 2009, we never imagined we would be shutting down a puppy miller and rescuing 27 dogs from horrific circumstances. January, February, and most of March was quite normal for rescue. As the end of March approached our lives changed for good with the first rescue of six adult dogs, then another rescue of two puppies, another rescue of twelve adult dogs, and lastly a rescue of three adult dogs and four puppies. Between major medical care and rehabilitation our nights were short and our days where very long. Our homes and routines may have suffered a small amount with lack of chores being done and tired bodies all around but everyone pulled together for the good of a bigger and better cause. We knew the end of our journey would mean a whole new start for dogs that had very little hope to live and survived freezing nights and fought for very little food in sight. We are ending the year with a sigh of relief and a new blessed feeling like no other felt before. We could not have accomplished any of this without the help of our Shiba communities, friends, and family. We all contributed in one way or another. Our 2010 calendar reflects these special Shibas and tells their story in a memorable way that people need to hear. Love and Forgiveness are the two greatest gifts that each rescue dog taught us day by day. Our only Christmas wish is less Shibas in need of rescue and more wonderful foster homes!

Happy Tails to You

Our special dogs adopted this year included Pierre, Casey, Rusty, Samson, Yuki, Reba, Koji, Kashi, Trudy, Phoenix, Zen, Tao, Rei, Grace, Joy, Hope, Tod, Faith, Journey, Sage, Ginger, Jasmine, Orchid, Lily, Poppy, Rose, and LoveBug. We still have four Shibas needing new homes that we classify as special need dogs, without small children and low-traffic homes. There is someone special out there that will heal these special dogs over time and because they suffered great trauma in their life require slower rehabilitation by someone who can accept them for who they are and know anything else will be rewarding on their own terms.

The Gifts That Kept On Giving

Our fundraising events were outstanding this year! We reached outside our comfort zone and sold 140 calendars, 100 Christmas cards, 16 t-shirts, our first successful Christmas tree event, and received a generous amount of donations! We would like to give a special yodel and thank SIRRA and ESC members for donations that sponsored the medical needs of our dogs!

And the Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone who participated in our iPod drawing by purchasing multiple calendars! Our winner drawn is Rochelle Thomas who lives in Spokane, WA and supported our rescue efforts after reading about it on one of our Yahoo groups and has one female Shiba of her own who has trained her well!

2010 NW Shibas4Life Rescue Family

We would like to introduce our new 2010 Board of Directors who will work together making the best informative decisions by policies. In addition we will form a new Advisory Board to build a stronger network to provide increased education to the public about the Shiba Inu breed, the needs for rescue, the importance of spaying/neutering, and solutions for rescue around the lessons learned in 2009.

Denise Roelke – President
Jean MacTarnahan – Treasurer
Chery Yoshioka – Secretary
Roberta Parsons – Marketing Coordinator

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Denise, Tony, Jean, Cheryl, and Roberta

A Dog's Prayer Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for, though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn. Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail, when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear. Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask for no greater glory than the priviledge of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Keep my pan filled with water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp, and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger. And my friend, when I am very old, and no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands. I will always be your best friend.     ~ author unknown