This has been an incredible year for The Dog Spot Rescue, Rehabilitation & Re-Homing Center with over 700 dogs and puppies saved from euthanasia lists all over California. One of these dogs may have been yours. Look into your dog’s eyes and imagine what he or she went through to find his way to you. Know many more are at shelters right now, running out of time for someone to find them. Imagine if there was not a group of dedicated volunteers helping these dogs find their way into forever homes. And the vast majority of our dogs are the ones who wouldn't have otherwise had a chance. We open our hearts and facility to older, ill, neglected and abused dogs passed over by everyone else. We do this because they all deserve a family, a good life, and TIME to make the connection. When one speaks for those who have no voice, nothing short of excellence will do.

A dog in our program is given care, including not only the basics of food, shelter and medical treatment but also loving support for their wounded souls. Imagine the transition from a life of neglect and mistreatment to that of a valued family member. It’s our job and our passion to give this to each of our dogs. And perhaps our greatest challenge is a financial one. Between adoption proceeds, a few donations, and our personal savings we made it through 2009. It hasn't been easy-- for example, our medical costs for the year were over $67,000 because we never leave a dog behind for reasons of economy. Please consider helping us help them. The Dog Spot Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will help the dogs that pass through our gates return to their communities as solid dog citizens through careful evaluation, basic training, nutrition and love.

We recently moved to Penryn, California in hopes of providing the best services possible to our California community. We found a beautiful retreat where dogs can come to rest, heal in body and soul, and find loving permanent homes. We are working hard with our county to get all necessary permits needed to provide a permanent place for our future charges to start their road to recovery. And while the new year is filled with promise, there are also challenges.

Especially in this tough economy, the number of dogs and puppies needing our services is daunting. By conservative estimates, the shelters are seeing over a 50 percent rise in owner surrenders, strays, and night box drop offs. Foreclosures have left many dogs abandoned in backyards to slowly starve to death if not found in time. These dogs, frightened and confused, will emotionally shut down, fail a quick behavior test and die lonely and afraid. More and more dogs and young puppies are pulled from fields, forests, parks, living off what they can steal as they fend for themselves and their young. The Dog Spot Rescue had more than 60 of such moms and pups this year. Many more need us and with your help their lives will be saved.

The Dog Spot Rescue works with other rescue groups such as Pets Unlimited, S.F. SPCA, Animal Friends Rescue Project and Big Dogs Rescue. We help these organizations with their most challenging dogs, whether from a need for training,  or undoing a lifetime of abuse. We give them time and training and a place to recover at their own pace. These dogs go on to be successfully adopted and be an asset to their new families. All dogs at The Dog Spot are adopted. As an all-volunteer organization, we are here for our community of people and dogs. But we can't do it alone and ask that you join our team.

Continuing our work and growing into the new facility will require a 2010 expenditure of at least $350,000. All monies go directly into the program. While some of this will come from adoption donations, we're also depending on kindred spirits like you. Please give as generously as you can, so more dogs and puppies can get their last chance to live. For us and for the innocents in our care, our deepest thanks.

Lindsey - Coordinator Adoptions/Volunteers (925)212-1795	Ashley- Office Manger Post Adoption Information (707)342-4042

FEATURED DOG      Amazing Grace

A volunteer was at a local shelter to pick up a dog, when Gracie caught her eye. Think beyond belief, she stood , filthy, huddled on a cold concrete floor body trembling, eyes empty and sad. She had been starved to a boney frame and left abandoned in the shelter night drop. She joined the ranks of many pit bulls, but there was something extra urgent about this dog. Staff arrived with gloves and a catch pole, Gracie's time was up. The staff was sad for her, but the fact is that no rescue wanted her and in her condition she was not adoptable, afterall she was just another pit bull. As hard as she tried the volunteer could not leave her behind and intervention happened, Gracie was saved for now. She has hope in her eyes, a spring in her step and a wag to her tail. Gracie is fabulous with other dogs and cats. Remarkably she has no food issues. Gracie loves to give kisses and tell us all about how happy she is. Please consider adopting Gracie today.