Article from June 2008 edition of St. Louie Tails:
Stray Rescue wins
million-dollar makeover
By Renee Krejci
When Stray Rescue of St. Louis was announced the winner of Zootoo.com’s $1 million shelter makeover, founder Randy Grim had one thought: “Josephine doesn’t have to live in the bathroom anymore!” The Shepherd mix stays in the building’s only bathroom because the shelter is so overcrowded—but not for long.
Within a month or two, the group hopes to get started on its new state-of-the-art shelter, to be housed in a 16,500 square-foot building on Pine Street donated by A.G. Edwards.
“Nice guys and underdogs always finish last,” Grim says. “For once we finished first, and I’m trying to share that good fortune.” That is why Grim hopes to house four other animal-welfare groups in the building—the Cat Network, educational group Operation Spot, Metro Animal Resource Services, and Pound Pals, which performs free and low-cost spay and neuter.
The new shelter will likely be a $3—$4 million project, which Grim says will only be possible with the help of the community. Grim thinks one of the reasons Stray Rescue walked away with the big prize was because of the city’s support—nearly 1,000 people came out to cheer on the organization when Zootoo came to visit on May 1.
“It was the city itself that won it for us,” Grim says.
Grim has already raised $700,000 for the new shelter, not including the Zootoo prize. He thinks they will need an additional $2 million to complete the project. “I’m working on that fast and furious,” he says with a laugh.
Things weren’t always promising and cheerful for Grim during the course of the contest. Over the final month of the contest, two of his own dogs died within two weeks of each other. “I was so devastated. There was a period where I didn’t care about the competition,” he admits. “But I pulled it together.”
Grim traveled to Orlando with the other 20 semifinalists on May 15, where the three finalists were announced. “When we made the top three in Orlando, I said, ‘Wow, I can win this.’ But then I realized it didn’t matter who won; the other shelters needed it just as much,” he says.
Stray Rescue was awarded the $1 million prize live on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on FOX on May 21. “I was super happy but also really nervous,” Grim says of his big win. “There’s a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.”
The million-dollar makeover isn’t the only thing Stray Rescue has won recently—the shelter was awarded a $2,000 grant from the Humane Society of the United States to help save pets abandoned by home foreclosures. Grim started a program called Abandoned, Not Forgotten, in which any banker, real estate agent, police officer, or fireman who sees an abandoned pet can call a hotline and Stray Rescue will retrieve and house the animal. Grim says he has rescued more than 600 dogs from foreclosed homes. “I’ve never seen so many animals left behind,” he says.
For more information, visit StrayRescue.org and Zootoo.com. |
St. Louis Critter Sitters
Recipe Corner
BJ's Peanutty Pupcicles
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup wheat germ
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Dog Food Recipe Directions:
Mash banana's and peanut butter, stir in wheat germ. Chill 1 hour. With wet hands, solid. Place in container, store in refrigerator or freezer.
Source: www.i-love-dogs.com
Furry Forum from July 2008 edition
of St. Louie Tails:
 Q. My boyfriend recently moved in with me, and he and my 2-year-old Yorkie Romeo didn’t get off on the right foot. My boyfriend says the dog pees in his shoes and on his clothing when I’m gone. Romeo looks a little sad to me. How can I get these two to get along?
—Farrah Robinson
Glenside, PA
A. To bond with a dog is to walk with a dog, so have your boyfriend keep taking Romeo for some walks around the park or neighborhood —just the two of them. And have your boyfriend keep feeding Romeo. A relationship between dog and man is a two-way street. Starting with these two responsibilities will get the juices flowing. Finally, when you aren’t home, keep Romeo in an exercise pen in the kitchen or a common area where he feels safe. Don’t allow him the opportunity right now to pee in the house. Once he is fine in the pen for awhile, slowly give him more freedom by increasing the space.
—Jennifer McCarthy, Jennifer McCarthy World Class Dog Training, Longmont, Colorado
 Q. My 1-year-old indoor rabbit has a horrible problem with digging on the carpet. I have rearranged the furniture to make it harder for him to get to the edges of the carpet and have made several digging boxes for him with litter, hay, and shredded paper. He still finds ways to tear up the carpet, though. What else can I do?
—Angelica J.,Carmel, Indiana
A. If possible, give your bunny time in the yard that will permit him to exercise this natural digging behavior that comes with the species. Think about where rabbits often live—underground. If you do not have access to a yard of your own, perhaps a friend would allow you to “borrow” theirs, or you could take him on a leash, to a safe park or open space where nature and the laws would allow him to exercise his instincts.
Neutering might take some of the behavioral edge off, and aging might also diminish the energy with which he applies himself to this activity. The only other answer I can think of is better containment in the house. That would come down to caging him or establishing a carpet-free area for him to live in. A combination of these changes would probably lead to the happiest solution for you and your bunny.
—Dr. John N. Quick, small animal and wildlife veterinarian, Morgan Hill, California |
