This handsome fellow arrived on Friday afternoon, brought to us by Gale Lang's TLC Pet Transport. We had originally been asked to take him back in early March when he was in Louisville, Kentucky. He had been dumped in a lady's yard, and though she liked him, her own dogs were aggressive towards him, and so she was going to take him to a local shelter. As the rescue group told us at the time, "shelters in KY offer little hope for a Beagle, let alone a blind senior." Unfortunately, we had to decline at the time because of space constraints -- we hadn't had any adoptions since last fall and were holding the line on numbers, one of the most painful but necessary things we have to do. As luck would have it, Morgan at Atlanta Beagle Rescue -- who has sent us numerous blind Beagles over the years -- was able to take him in the interim. She named him Louie, for ... yes, Louisville. It fits him!
So when space opened up here, thanks to our recent adoptions, we said, "Go ahead and send that boy up north!"
Morgan took him to an ophthalmologist in Atlanta, who determined Louie was blind from a combination of PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and cataracts. Though completely blind, his eyes are comfortable and need no further medical attention.
Louie is adorably sweet, personable, loves attention, and gets along great with everyone. (Did I mention handsome?) It's funny, when I get the camera out, it's almost as if he knows because he starts posing like in that shot above ... and in this next one:
But wait ... it seems there was another dog in Gale's van who also arrived on Friday. Hmm. Well, I guess that one will have to wait until the next blog post!
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$1,000 Weekly Winner in the Shelter Challenge!
Somehow we entirely missed this, but we were the weekly winner for week 3 in the current round of the Shelter Challenge -- and got the $1,000 prize! I picked up the mail at the post office yesterday and there was the check from the PetFinder Foundation (which is who actually makes the grants for the Shelter Challenge). Now that was a nice surprise! Then when I got home I looked at the local paper that was in our Post Office box, the Great Northwoods Journal, and there on the front page was a story headlined, "Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary wins $1,000 prize." Well, at least they knew! (The Animal Rescue Site sends out press releases to the local papers for shelters that win prizes.)
Anyway, a big "Thank You!" to everyone who's been so dedicated in voting for us every day in the contest! It really pays off for the animals here!
Our friends at the New Hampshire SPCA are no doubt happy we won the weekly prize again, because that means they'll be able to win the $1,000 state prize since we're no longer eligible for it. We are still in the running for the Grand Prize, though it looks like we are currently well behind the No. 1 and No. 2 groups.
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The current Shelter Challenge started on Monday, April 4th, and ends at midnight on Sunday, June 19th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
Because of your votes, we just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in this current Shelter Challenge. Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
I'm so happy that Lou made it safely. I pulled him from the shelter in Louisville amd drove him to Atlanta and fell madly in love with him. He is so sweet and gentle and handsome!
Posted by: April Coffman | May 16, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Louie...you are just adorable! It would be great if you bonded with the "surprise" travelling companion we will soon hear about...but in any case, you will soon have lots of wonderful friends and adventures at the RD farm.
Posted by: Chloe | May 10, 2011 at 05:26 PM
Woo Woo Woo! Welcome Louie!
Louie is quite the handsome lad, I'm certain he fit right in with the "beagle brigade"
Posted by: Doe George | May 10, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Louie, now you know it's true, all good things come to those who wait. Welcome home cutie pie.
Posted by: Mircat | May 10, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Wow, he is a handsome guy. Isn't it funny how they pose when they know they're being photographed. Must be some instinct that tells them to "smile!" Can't wait to see Louie's travelling companion.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | May 10, 2011 at 09:53 AM
YAY! More Beagles! Emmett approves, and so do I. Welcome, sweet Louie! You're safe now, honeybun.
And yes, happy belated Mother's Day to you, Alayne, four-legged children count too! (Did they get you anything???)
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | May 09, 2011 at 09:53 PM
Louie is one handsome beagle boy! Can hardly wait to see who else came north with him!
Congratulations on the prize....will keep on voting for the animals!
Posted by: Nina | May 09, 2011 at 06:58 PM
I love him! He's SOOO cute! Although I'd like to know who the other new arrival is...
Posted by: Jane | May 09, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Louie is very sweet and handsome! Thanks so much for taking in this awesome boy!
Posted by: Wendy | May 09, 2011 at 01:07 PM
AAWWWW, Louie, what a great-lookin' little dude you are - congratulations on landing in the best doggie spot ever! - can't wait to see that "other/another" new guy/girl. Hooray for your winning that $1000!!
Posted by: Angela | May 09, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Steve the tease! We have to wait to see who else came along? Wonderful news! And welcome to Louie. And my goodness, he IS handsome!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | May 09, 2011 at 12:03 PM
So happy that Louie and his traveling companion made it safely. (Can't wait to see the post about the other dog in the van!) I went over to Morgan's house to take pictures and Louie was right there every time, as if saying, "Did you get one of me? Are you sure? How about this angle?" Louie's traveling companion was not so much interested ... as he seems to still be adjusting to his blindness. But every time my camera clicked, he looked at me! Needless to say, I put my camera mode on the multiple shots!
Steve and Alaine -- thank you SO much for taking in these sweet boys. You guys mean so much to Atlanta Beagle Rescue ... we are among your biggest fans! Give them hugs from us!
Posted by: Michele | May 09, 2011 at 11:36 AM
WELCOME HOME LOUIE WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | May 09, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Louie. . . is . . . adorable!!!
Posted by: Dawn | May 09, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Louie is adorable! Welcome to RDR- Louie- you are one lucky dog!
Posted by: Barbara Techel | May 09, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Congratulations!!! Nice to hear that the voting really does count, and we all know that $ will put to the most WONDERFUL use to care for Louie, and all the RD"F" gang (that will take me some time to get used to your new name).
Belated Happy Mother's Day Alayne. You're the best!
Posted by: Margaret | May 09, 2011 at 11:09 AM
I have found that all dogs know what a camera is.!!!
Posted by: Glen Johnson | May 09, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Welcome, Louie. I'm glad your eyes don't hurt you.
Briggs' spirit is certainly showing.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | May 09, 2011 at 08:17 AM
What an adorable face. He looks like such a little gentleman. So glad you were able to take him in. It does look like he's enjoying his photo shoot. Looks like Widget will have "another beagle in training." And to Alayne, a big Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | May 09, 2011 at 05:19 AM
Welcome home, handsome Louie! You're one lucky guy, that I can tell you!;-)
I can't wait to read about the other "new kid in town"...
Congratulations, Alayne & Steve, on your latest (and well deserved, of course) prize!
Thank you for letting Louie join the Rolling Dog Farm family.:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | May 09, 2011 at 03:04 AM
Steve, I think everyone but you and Alayne knew that you won the $1,000 LOL. Congrats!
Sweet Louie you sure are a handsome boy and I can see that you're going to be quite the ham like some of your other new fur-friends :) Your life will be so wonderful from now on, with all the love and care you'll ever need and want! Welcome to RDF!
Posted by: Ann | May 09, 2011 at 01:33 AM
Is Louie handsome or what....so photogenic too! GREAT news about the shelter challenge! Can't wait until the next blog to see the other new arrival--torture!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | May 09, 2011 at 01:00 AM
I'll be singing, "Louie, Louie" all week now that I've seen this handsome ol' dog. Welcome, Louie! I can't wait to see who else turned up to accompany him.
Posted by: Moon Rani | May 08, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Louie is an absolute darling! Of course I'm biased, as I love beagles, but he looks like a real beauty. So glad he made it to the ranch, er, farm!
Posted by: JC | May 08, 2011 at 10:37 PM