Florida Little Dog Rescue Group

Hurricane Milton!

Hey Friends….

First - PLEASE - if you are in an evacuation zone and told to evacuate - GO - and TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU. There are resources and shelters in every county, check with your local Emergency Management Offices for official guidance.

Ok, now, onto today’s pups and updates. Today we had pups that needed immediate rescue and evacuation from one of our partner shelters. Most of our partner shelters are in the direct path of Milton. Each shelter has different “escalation” levels as to storm protocols. Our team works closely with the shelter managers and rescue coordinators to assist as many as we can. Sadly, we now have multiple hurricane seasons experience with this:( We recognize we need to be prepared to help our shelters closer to the coasts first, as they usually escalate a day ahead of the inland counties. So, today was spent on the I4 parking lot bringing pups to safety. After getting the call early this morning to “come now”, our team jumped into action, filled the SUV with carriers and hit the road. Traffic was less than pleasant, obviously with everyone evacuating and gathering supplies, but everyone arrived back safely, which is what was most important. The pups have been settled in at one of our vet’s offices for now. They have all been given a preliminary exam, given capstars (they were all hosting some unwanted hitchhikers, aka fleas), dewormed and started on a preliminary course of meds for kennel cough exposure. As soon as we know who else needs our help tomorrow, we will have a final plan for where each pup will ride out the storm.

We have been in contact all day (and night tonight) with the rescue coordinators to see who needs help now ahead of the storm and to try and have preliminary plans in place for after the storm passes as well, as there are pups on legal holds that can not leave the shelter yet - but will be available to leave after. ALL of our partner shelters do amazing things to make sure the pups are safe (they have rideout crews).

We appreciate all of the support you have given the pups so far. We will need to do complete vetting on all of the pups - and we know several already have some medical issues - including our little black moppy boy who has some orthopedic issues with his right rear leg. All of the pups we pulled were ones that were not adoption candidates - either for medical or behavioral reasons. There are several more pups we are waiting for answers on tomorrow, from two other shelters as well. Please know don’t always see your comments right away (the app for page management can be wonky) as we are settling the pups, or driving the pups, or on the phone with the shelters - especially right now. We aren’t just “ignoring” you, I promise. Our team also has our own pups, families and homes to make sure are settled and prepped ahead of Milton as well, so your understanding is so appreciated.

Thank you all so much for answering the call and helping us get these (and more tomorrow!) pups to safety. If you can help, please use the donation button right here or any of the donate links here on our website. The pups (and humans) appreciate it so very much.

I know this was a lot of reading, so thank you for making it through with us! We appreciate all of you and all of your continued support for our rescue pups!!!

Want to Shop AND Help the Pups?

Check out our Amazon Smile Wishlist, which lets you send much needed products right to our pups and foster parents!

link directly to our wish list :)

https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32T2PWOYWK20J?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl

Willie, a Chihuahua mix

Meet Willie! Willie is a 1 year old male Chihuahua mix and he weighs about 10 pounds. He arrived in rescue after winding up at animal control because the home he was living in had too many dogs. Willie was scared and nervous, so he came to rescue. He has settled into foster care nicely and is ready to find a forever home to call his own. His foster mom says, "Willie is a very handsome boy with the most beautiful eyes! He was super nervous and shy when he first came into our home. Now that he has settled in, he is super loving and sweet. He loves to shower you with kisses and loves a good belly rub while hanging out on your lap. When meeting new people, it takes him about 10 -15 mins to warm up. Willie can be very playful at times. He likes to put your hand in his mouth and nibble on your fingers (totally playing/not being mean.) For this reason, I will not put him with small children as it may scare them. Willie came in with other dogs that he gets along great with but will need to do slow intros if you have another pup in the home.He would do best with pups his size or smaller as bigger ones make him nervous. Willie is not fully house trained yet but we are working on this. He is terrified of a leash and collar so a fenced in backyard is a must while he learns leash training. Update: He gets along with large dogs who can tolerate his “energy”. Recommend a home with a dog buddy to help him with his anxiety when left without his person. He walks very well on leash with his dog buddy. He is very treat motivated and needs redirection with happy nipping and a sturdy chew toy helps his chewing needs. He can now tolerate short stays in sturdy crate with decreased anxiety but would not do well for a full work day in crate. He attaches to his person and is slowly doing better letting other people pet him without immediately running away. Willie doesn't tolerate cates wouldn't do well in a home with younger children due to overstimulation/noise and chewing hazards with small toys. He will put any small found item in his mouth to chew including yard choking hazards so he needs to be watched when playing in a fenced yard." Willie is neutered, up to date on vaccines, heartworm negative, microchip and has had his teeth cleaned! He is fostered in the Orlando area and his adoption donation is $300.

How Many Have YOU Helped Save?

5270*

Jason has found his forever home!

In Our Birthday

Era!!

FLDR IS FIFTEEN!!!! FIFTEEN years ago we decided we wanted to save the unsaved, the leftovers, the ones passed by, overlooked ~ our founders wanted to save some puppers, and not change the world, per se, but change THEIR world~ show them that humans were kind, that they could be healthy and pain free ~ and the joys of belly rubs, warm beds, cuddles on couches. It was big dream, an ambitious goal. We were told it wouldn't work. We were told we would be done, broken, within a year. We were laughed at. We came from different rescue backgrounds, different family and work dynamics, but we all believed the dogs came first - their needs came first - we would find dogs their humans, not find a human a dog. It hasn't been easy. Enough tears to flood a river. Sleepless nights. Long days, longer nights. Interrupted vacations, cancelled date nights. Doubt beyond doubt, second guessing that became third guessing. Heartbreak. So much heartbreak ~ and yet 5,480 days, 5,175 wet noses, 15 years. All worth it. SO worth it. Worth every tear, every late night, every heartbreak ~ your kind words and support on some of our darkest days made it worth it. Every pup saved made it worth it. Fifteen years. It's still sinking in, but 15 years! There are not enough words to express our gratitude to all of you that have joined our rag-tag little pack along the way - that have cried with us, shaken your heads in disbelief with us, cheered with us, and loved our rescued pups with us as your own. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And the number will go up, as at least 8 more pups are headed to us!

FOSTERS

NEEDED!!

FLDR wants to save as many puppers as we possibly can and the only way to do this is by YOU joining our team!! We need fosters!! If you live in the Orlando area and would like to help save lives, we want you to join our pack! We are in need of foster homes willing to open their hearts and make a space on the couch for a rescued pup, usually just for a couple of weeks! We take care of the vetting, grooming, medications and you provide the love and snuggles! Please complete the "Adoption Application" and just put in the comments - "Want to Foster" and a Foster Coordinator will reach out to you right away!

We are also in need of people willing to do transports, usually from Winter Haven to St. Cloud or from north Orlando to St. Cloud a couple of times a month, during a weekday. Please email littledogrescue@gmail.com for more info on helping with Freedom Rides!

Welcome to Florida Little Dog Rescue Group!

Florida Little Dog Rescue rehabilitates unwanted, abused and abandoned little dogs and places them in loving and responsible homes to live out their lives as cherished family members. We would love for you to join us by adopting a dog, volunteering as a foster home or donating money to help save the dogs. We are a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization, and all donations to FLDRG are tax deductible!

Save a Dog on Death Row!
They need YOUR help right now!!

Please help us save dogs on Death Row at local Animal Controls. These are dogs that can't be adopted out directly from Animal Control, mainly for medical reasons. When they can't be adopted, they need a rescue to save them when their time runs out. These pups desperately need our help, we are their last hope!

Click the Picture to Save One More!

Florida Little Dog Rescue Group rescues dogs from all over the state of Florida, but our main focus is the Central Florida area. Our volunteers live anywhere from Tallahassee to Tampa, but all of our dogs are fostered in the Orlando area. We are 100% volunteer-based, which means no overhead or salary costs. Your donation is used directly for dog care. We do not receive government funds. We are entirely supported by charitable donations.

We ensure that each dog is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, tested for heartworms and other parasites, examined by a vet and treated for any known conditions prior to adoption. All known medical information is fully disclosed to new families. While awaiting adoption, the dogs live in foster homes that provide love, patience and TLC to the pups! A pup's stay in foster care could vary from several days to several weeks, depending upon the dog's conditions and needs. Unlike shelter or kennel living, fostering the pups in a home environment allows us to personally evaluate each dog for behavior and temperament issues. We are able to see how they interact and react to other animals and children, if they are house trained, like to go for walks, play ball, etc. and that makes it easier to know what type of home/family would be best suited for them!

Please note, we are not a shelter. We do not have a kennel or facility that you can visit and see all the dogs. Each dog is fostered in an individual home. We do rescue out of our private homes and in our spare time. So, you cannot come visit our dogs until you have gone through the application and interview process and we have contacted you about scheduling a visit. We do not have set "hours" and we answer all calls and emails as quickly as we can!

Florida Little Dog Rescue - The Official Fan Page on Facebook