Their Lives, Our Voices Rescue - Inc.

01/01/2025

Made a comment about dog chow and thought I would elaborate. I believe in the healing power of good nutrition:

Dog Chow and similar low-cost commercial dog foods are often considered nutritionally inadequate for dogs due to their ingredient composition and processing methods. Here’s why:

1. Low-Quality Protein Sources

Dogs are primarily carnivorous and thrive on high-quality protein. Many inexpensive dog foods like Dog Chow rely heavily on by-products and low-quality meat meals instead of whole, named animal proteins (e.g., “chicken” or “beef”). These by-products can include parts of the animal not suitable for human consumption, offering poor digestibility and limited nutritional value.

2. Excessive Carbohydrates

Dog Chow often contains a high proportion of fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, which serve as cheap calorie sources. Dogs don’t need large amounts of carbohydrates and may struggle to process them. Excess carbs can contribute to obesity, inflammation, and digestive issues.

3. Artificial Additives

These foods are typically packed with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which serve no purpose for your dog’s health. These additives can contribute to allergies, intolerances, and long-term health problems.

4. Lack of Nutritional Density

While Dog Chow may meet the minimum standards set by regulatory bodies like the AAFCO, it often lacks the high-quality, bioavailable nutrients dogs need for optimal health. Feeding such foods can lead to deficiencies over time, especially for active, aging, or special-needs dogs.

5. Potential Toxins

Cheaper dog foods are more likely to include ingredients contaminated with toxins like mycotoxins (from poorly stored grains) or even dangerous additives from poor manufacturing processes.

Healthier Alternatives

To ensure your dog gets proper nutrition:
• Choose whole, named proteins as the first ingredient (e.g., “chicken,” “turkey,” or “beef”).
• Look for foods with limited fillers like sweet potatoes or oats instead of corn or wheat.
• Opt for brands that avoid artificial preservatives and colors, using natural antioxidants like vitamin E or rosemary extract.
• Consider adding fresh, nutrient-dense foods like cooked lean meats, vegetables, or high-quality supplements to enhance their diet.

Switching to a higher-quality diet may improve your dog’s coat, energy levels, digestion, and overall health, often saving you money in vet bills over time!

I don’t claim to be a professional dog nutritionist. I just love dogs and feel most issues can be resolved by good nutrition.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”~Hippocrates

31/12/2024

‼️URGENT: HELP NEEDED FOR TWO BEAUTIFUL DOGS IN CRISIS‼️

🐾 UPDATE 01/01/2025
A current photo in the comments.

I’m reaching out with an urgent plea for help. A family in Jacksonville, FL, has just suffered a heartbreaking tragedy: their son passed away in a car accident, and his girlfriend is on life support with little hope of recovery. Amid this devastating situation, their beloved pets—a named Kilo possibly a low content hybrid and a husky mix named Emma—are in desperate need of placement.

Currently, Kilo and Emma are crated in the home, with a friend stopping by to let them out. However, this is not sustainable, and these magnificent animals deserve a chance to thrive in the right environment.

Seeking:
• A rescue or experienced handler familiar with their unique needs.
• Foster homes or adopters with the space, knowledge, and resources to care for them.
• Anyone with connections to rescues or sanctuaries that might have room for Kilo and Emma.

Time is of the essence. If you can help or know someone who can, please contact Sheena Wingo immediately. Let’s work together to ensure these animals find safe placement and care.

🙏 Please SHARE far and wide—Kilo and Emma need help

23/12/2024

Current mood

Band Aid 40, November 25, 2024Order here: https://bandaid.lnk.to/BA40On November 25th 1984, ‘the song that changed the world’ was recorded at SARM Studios in...

22/12/2024

We are so grateful to this wonderful organization Tail Waggers Charitable Foundation for their continued support of our rescue mission! This week, we received a generous grant, which will make a difference in the lives of the animals in our care.

A heartfelt thank you to Stefanie, the incredible founder of Tail Waggers, for her belief in our work, and to the entire team for the kindness they show us and so many others.

We are reminded every day how much good can come from people with big hearts, and Tail Waggers is a shining example of that! Thank you from all of us at TLOV—and from the animals who now have comfortable and brighter future because of your care and support. ❤️

The snacks for the humans didn’t last long.
Dogs gobbled up homemade treats made with love.
Thank you! 🐾

Special thank you to a little 🐣🐾❤️

22/12/2024

Wonder how Beckham is doing. Hope all is well and happy.

We are so thrilled to see Beckham was adopted!!!

We pulled Beckham from rural county animal control.
We did all we could trying to find a loving home and family but showing Beckham every weekend at Petco wasn't working to Beckham's benefit.
No one was interested in a bigger dog.
No one.
Frustrated that I couldn't get anyone to see through my eyes to see what a great dog Beckham was, and trying to figure out how we could find a family who would love and appreciate all of him.
Explaining the situation to Kelsey E. Martin she had suggested k9 for warriors.
Why didn’t I think of that!?
We were so excited and I scheduled an appointment to have an assessment done. Beckham did great and was told that all who met him loved him. 🥰 Beckham was accepted in the program, we were so proud and honored!
He continued making progress and several weeks later we found out Beckham job transitioned due to hips.
We were still proud of him.
✨Thank you K9s For Warriors for believing in him and all you’ve done to set him up for success. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=k9s%20for%20warriors
✨Thank you to the young woman, at the procurement team (I can’t recall your name at the moment) who was so very kind through the whole process and went out of her way to sincerely apologize for the slight mishap with paperwork.
The whole experience was heartwarming.
✨Thank you Kelsey Martin for the suggestion that allowed Beckham the wonderful opportunity. Keep up the good work!
✨Thank you to the adopters, may you all have a lifetime of beautiful memories together.
Thank you, for giving a bigger dog a chance at a loving forever home!
Peace. Love, and light,

Josie 🥰🙏
Photo credit:
https://www.facebook.com/K9FWAdoptableDogs

21/12/2024

🌟 Pupdate: Oreo🐾

Hey there, wonderful friends!

Just popping in.

Peace and love from your furry pal, Oreo! ✨

20/12/2024

I meant to attach this to the last post.
Beth with some house guest.

20/12/2024

Here’s the recent Beth update.

Beth was adopted and transported to Massachusetts. Thank goodness for that fur coat. You know it’s cold up there.

Beth is living a wonderful life. Her best life.

There is much love in that household. ❤️❤️

The bed Beth sleeps on was Jellybeans “Princess Bed” now Beth’s Princess Bed.

🐾 Back story: Jellybean and her 10 unborn babies were saved from a high kill animal control in 2013 she was set to be euthanized.

Lynn adopted Jelly when we showcased adoption events at Pet Supermarket.

When Jelly passed Lynn absolutely heartbroken. I suggested Beth as Beth reminded me so much of Jellybean and felt it would be an excellent match.
❤️

20/12/2024

An End of an Era and Hope for the Future

In 2013, our rescue efforts were vastly different. Back then, we relied on a red Avalanche as our adoption event vehicle. It could only hold two medium dogs or several small ones, and it was Berry’s daily driver. Every weekend, we loaded dogs, crates, and supplies into the truck, drove to Petco, unloaded everything, set up, then did it all over again—four times in a single day. With adoption events happening every Saturday and Sunday, it was exhausting, but we did what we had to do for the dogs.

I dreamed of something better, and one day, that dream came true. Lucy’s (Jellybeans baby)Lucy’s pet-parent , who worked at a dealership in St. Augustine, heard me venting about the Avalanche and said, “I have the vehicle for you.” He sent me a link, and when I saw it, my heart leapt. Berry and I went to see it that evening. Even in the dark, the van gleamed. Sitting in the driver’s seat, it was clean, fresh, and full of possibilities. I knew this van would change everything.

And it did. For years, the van became the heart of our rescue operations. It carried dogs to adoption events, transported animals from animal control, brought rescues to vet visits, and even handled emergency hospital runs. It was dependable, never stranding us, even when it needed repairs like new tires, AC fixes, or fuel line work. This van wasn’t just a vehicle—it was our lifeline.

But a couple of months ago, that chapter came to a close when someone plowed into the van’s right side in a Costco parking lot. Watching the tow truck take her away was heartbreaking. I know it’s just a van, but it represented so much hard work, sacrifice, and love. It made a tough job a little easier and gave us countless memories.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dawn and Mike Batten, who sponsored the van’s much-needed AC repair, and to Jennifer McCormick for sponsoring the beautiful tires. Knowing we were transporting the dogs safely and comfortably gave us peace of mind.

Now, as we say goodbye to the van, I look forward with hope. While nothing is set in stone yet, we have ideas for something even better for the rescues. If it comes to fruition, it will be spectacular—a new chapter for Their Lives, Our Voices.

The van may be gone, but its legacy lives on in the lives it saved and the memories it gave us. Thank you for being part of this journey, and stay tuned as we work toward an even brighter future for our rescues. ✨🙏🐾❤️🤞

04/12/2024

December 2, 2013, at Petco in St. Augustine. I remember he was such a gentle and sweet puppy. 🐾

Congrats to Oliver and the Cramer family! My heart goes out to Olivia (the little brown colored puppy sulking in her crate) she was devastated. Olivia has never been separated from Oliver. She didn't handle it well. :( Have a great life little buddy! Your sweet preciousness will be missed.

02/12/2024

It is with a heavy heart that I share the difficult decision we all dread making for our beloved companions. Sammy, our sweet boy, has reached the point in his journey where it is time to say goodbye. At 14 years old, his body is tired, and he has been quietly telling us it’s time.

Sammy came into this world in February 2010 in Jacksonville, part of a litter born to a mama we rescued from a high-kill shelter. While some of his siblings found homes, Sammy stayed here with us, where he lived his life full of love and care. He had his quirks—he wasn’t a fan of other dogs, but that didn’t make him any less special. He was fiercely loyal, unique, and undeniably a good boy.

In his final days, Sammy has shown little interest in eating, except for the food I cook up for the dogs. It breaks my heart to see him like this, knowing how much life he had in him, but I know in my heart that letting him go peacefully is the most loving gift we can give him now.

Sammy, you’ve been with us through so much. You’ve taught us patience, resilience, and unconditional love. Your legacy will live on in our hearts forever.

Please keep Sammy in your thoughts as we help him cross the rainbow bridge tomorrow. To everyone who has loved and cared for senior dogs, thank you for understanding the depth of this pain and the courage it takes to let go.

Rest easy, sweet boy. You were so deeply loved. 🌈🐾

01/12/2024

Help Us Give Them the Life They Deserve

As you may know, we’ve been working tirelessly to care for rescue dogs—many of them seniors, special needs, and those who need a little extra love to thrive. It’s been a rollercoaster recently: just as one dog finds their forever home, another one is returned. 💔

Caring for these incredible animals is a labor of love, but it’s also a tremendous responsibility. In our rural community, resources are scarce, yet the needs are immense. Here's what it takes to keep things running:

🐾 Food: Every week, we go through 150-200 lbs of dry food, plus wet food and homemade toppers to ensure everyone eats well.

🐾 Veterinary Care: From check-ups to medications, many of our dogs need ongoing medical attention to keep them happy and healthy.

🐾 Daily Care: Washing blankets, cleaning supplies, maintaining heating and cooling for their comfort—it all adds up.

🐾 Networking: The software and tools we use to find loving homes also come with costs.

We do this because we believe every dog deserves a chance—a warm bed, a full belly, and love. But we can’t do it without you. Every dollar helps provide meals, medical care, and comfort for our rescues.

If you can, please consider donating. Here’s how you can help:

📢 Share this post to spread the word

Thank you for being part of their story. Together, we can make a difference for these beautiful souls. ❤️

Donate below by clicking on the donate button.

PayPal: [email protected]

21/11/2024