We tried getting Helix to play with a few of his toys, but his absolute favorite was a good ol’ stick.

I do love funny faces.

Not only do they take in a ton of animals, they also post listings for families or strays that need homes as well. Homeward Bound was started in 1991, is all foster-based, and is proud to be a no-kill organization. They are more than happy to take in senior and special-needs dogs, whom other organizations may have deemed “unadoptable.” Their fosters take great care to learn about each animal and give an accurate description of their personalities and needs for potential adopters. There’s great information on their site about dog care, cat care, and how to be a responsible owner.

Here’s just a couple sweet Homeward Bound faces that I had the pleasure to meet at my Style Hounds opening last weekend!

Click here for more information on how you can help this great organization! They always need fosters, sponsors, volunteers and supplies. Be sure to check out their upcoming events on the home page, or email Katie at kadams4545@hotmail.com

And, of course, a great way to help out is to get your pet(s) photographed by ME during July, because 10% of your Session fee will go direction to the rescue of the month! And if you’ve adopted your pet from Homeward Bound, get 50% off your session during July. AND, if you’ve adopted your pet from any rescue anywhere…. you’ll always get 20% off your session, no matter what time of year  :)

So I’m a little behind in posting about the June Rescue of the Month, but I’m very excited to do it now! I’ve had a good handful of clients who rescued their dogs (or cats!) from Midwest Animal Rescue and Services, {MARS} and I’m happy to feature them in my Giving Back program! Remember, if you’ve adopted from MARS, you can get 50% off your session during June!

MARS is a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers who rescue homeless and at-risk animals. They originally formed to reach out and help with “emergency” type situations as well as puppy mill rescues. MARS is totally foster-based, meaning they don’t have a facility where the animals are housed. All of them go to foster homes until they find their forever homes. Like most foster-based rescues, they’re always looking for new people who are willing to take an animal into their home. There are a number of “urgent” cases that need fosters asap, and you can view those animals on their website here.

A couple of available sweethearts came to the studio last week. It’s good that Dustin {boyfriend} keeps me in check, otherwise I might just keep all the dogs that come through here!

This first big boy is Garth, a one-and-a-half year old, handsome Doberman. He was lucky enough to never have his ears or tail docked, and I love the natural look. He’s in a wonderful foster home now, but was in a bad situation previously where his fosters kept him locked in a closet. He’s a big mushy lovebug, and has actually had a lot of interest from potential adopters. Unfortunately, they fall in love with him, but once they learn his breed, they’re afraid to adopt. I won’t get on my soapbox about that today. But it is ridiculous.

This little cutie-pants is Meggan. She’s a 7 month German Shepherd / Red Bone Coonhound mix. She came into MARS at 3 months with deformed front legs. Through therapy, she no longer has any handicap in her legs, and has become a beautiful girl with a great personality! She loves everyone, knows basic commands and is eager to please.

It’s super easy to help Midwest Animal Rescue! They have a Sponsor program where every dollar truly counts…. you can donate $1 if you like, and that will help pay for treats. You can check out what your money can sponsor here.

If you’re not in a position to send a monetary donation, they’re always in need of physical items like food, collars, beds, medicine, even gas cards to offset transport costs. To see a list of items needed, click here.

For any questions you may have, please email them at adopt@midwestanimalrescue.org

If you’re interesting in becoming a foster, please contact foster@midwestanimalrescue.org

You can kind of see the black spots on her tongue in this one….

And, of course, the frog-leg bum-shot….

In addition to lifetime care, Home For Life gives their animals a chance to give back to the community through a series of innovative outreach programs in their Pet Peace Corps. “Peace Creatures” uses volunteers, staff and animals from the sanctuary to teach peaceful conflict resolution to families impacted by domestic violence. The “Renaissance Project” has been up and running for over 8 years. This program pairs at-risk teens with some of the younger dogs at the shelter. The teens train the dogs and bring them on visits for therapy work with the elderly. The program has become a model for other area shelters and rescue groups that have started their own outreach efforts. Their “Senior Outreach Program” works with nursing homes throughout the Twin Cities for therapy work with the elderly. “Sit*Stay*Heal” works with Fairview University Hospitals to bring comfort and joy to children and adults with cancer and mental health conditions, as well as degenerative diseases like Huntington’s, MS, and Alzheimer’s.

I really really love this first image…

Peaches had been shot while out exploring one day, and HFL took her in after her dedicated family simply could not care for her anymore. She’s doing great with the help of the volunteers, and Peaches thinks that Home For Life is the cat’s pajamas. (heehee!)

This is Home For Life’s mascot, Candy. He’s a talker! Here he is showing off for me…. “Hi Candy!”

This is Crema, the resident goat. She has malformed front legs, and can only use her back ones. She was out munching on some grass when I arrived.

Nike, on the right, moves so fast on her 2 good legs, that it’s tough to get a photo of her! You can read about her touching story (and her awesome sponsor) here.

Just look at these sweet faces!

Digging to China.

Anook, on the left, is a well-known Chow at Home For Life. He came from the Red Lake Reservation, abandoned, matted, nearly blind with Lyme’s disease and Heartworm. He’s a fluffy love bug, and you can read Anook’s story (and many other HFL dogs’ stories) by clicking here.

If I remember correctly, the Great Dane on the left suffers from Epilepsy. I’ve seen Beauty (on the right) at a couple events in the Twin Cities. She’s become a bit of a mascot herself!

Moppet is one of the dogs outfitted with his very own wheels!

Pure. Joy.

While most of the animals at Home For Life have had a sad beginning, their forever home is anything but sad. They really have a fabulous life here, and I’m proud to help them out when I can! Since Home For Life is not a rescue organization that adopts out animals, I’ll be donating 15% of all Pet Session fees to them in May, rather than the standard 10%. If you would like to donate as well, know that 100% of your contribution goes directly to the care and feeding of sanctuary residents. Starting June 5th, donors and sponsors are invited to tour the facility on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Click here for their online donation form and faq’s.

If a particular animal touches your heart, you can become that animal’s sponsor. Please click here for the sponsorship form.

To contact Home For Life, call 1-800-252-5918, or email info@homeforlife.org

I know the one on the right isn’t in focus, but I just couldn’t help myself  :)

You can donate any amount you like, and joining Team HART doesn’t mean you need to walk with us or come to the event, just that you support the cause. Looks like donations are credit card only {sorry, no Paypal} And if you can’t help us out this year, we promise to make a super awesome, super dedicated effort next year  :)

For more info on what this is all about, click here!

MN SNAP provides 100% of the funding and support for the first fully equipped clinic on wheels to deliver low-cost, high-quality spay and neuter services for animals belonging to shelters, rescues AND income qualifying individuals in Minnesota.

I had no idea there was such a thing as a bird rescue until a friend suggested MAARS as a potential Rescue of the Month. I was very excited to learn about them and be able to promote and help this wonderful group. I grew up with a parakeet named Zak. He was yellow and green and lived to be about 7 years old. He was great….. he’d sit on my shoulder while I played piano, he’d fly around the house, sit on his stuffed rabbit at the mirror and talk to himself. And every morning he’d be sure to let me know the sun was out and it was time to get up  :)

Like most people, I didn’t know much about keeping birds as pets, but I did my research and I like to think I gave Zak a pretty good life. In retrospect, and with more education and knowledge, I now know that Zak would probably have been much happier with a companion bird, and possibly even happier still having not been domesticated at all.

Far too many people purchase birds as a novelty pet, with very little knowledge about their health, both mentally and physically. I know I, for one, never knew that birds need veterinary care just as any other animal. Birds are *very* intelligent, social creatures, and many people are not prepared for the noise, mess, expense, and time commitment it involves.

Many birds — even hand-fed babies — lose their homes when their adolescent hormones kick in, and their caretakers are frightened and frustrated by their birds’ new aggressive behaviors. In the wild, these adult social behaviors make sense, but in our homes, they present a challenge. Many people are not prepared to lovingly nurture their parrot through these changes, but opt, instead, to get rid of their first bird and buy another cuddly, hand-fed baby. Parrot breeders are happy to provide the (often) expensive replacements, and the cycle continues. Adding further to the problem, parrots are potentially very long-lived. This means that even a well-cared-for, well-adapted captive parrot could require several homes throughout its lifetime if it outlives its caretakers or their ability to care for it.

MAARS was created in response to all of the throw-away birds whose needs are not being met: Those who will lose their homes because their loving human caretakers become ill, start a human family, move, or experience another life change. Those who are bought to serve only as living room decorations, status symbols, or business mascots. Those who will be “replaced” by a more handleable baby when their adult instincts start showing. Those who are born with or develop physical or mental health problems in captivity. Those who will overwhelm a bird breeder or collector with their numbers. Those who will be sentenced to languishing in small filthy cages, never again to feel the sun polish their feathers, or know the exhilaration of flight, or hear a loving voice. Those whose hearts will ache with loneliness and whose minds will be tormented by boredom and confinement. Those who are merely waiting to die.

MAARS is home to hundreds of birds, who are cared for by over 60 volunteers. My visit to the sanctuary was emotional and eye-opening. I was surprised at the number of birds who had self-mutilated (plucked out their own feathers) and learned that they do it for the same reasons humans hurt themselves…. mental anguish, depression, stress.

The  MAARS birds are separated into rooms that are breed- or behavior-specific. They’re beautiful, strange, and the way they look into your eyes is so intense and personal, it’s not hard to see why people are drawn to them. There was one small parrot that followed us around as I was taking photos, and I later learned that he generally doesn’t like new people, but seemed very interested in me. In fact, in all the rooms we visited, the birds didn’t make much of a fuss at all. I’ve got good bird vibes, I guess  :)

This first Moluccan is named Carly, and his story is very sad. He’s missing an eye and has brain damage after being hit with a bat. I can’t even fathom how someone could bring themselves to do that.

Some examples of the feather plucking….

This Ringneck (on the left) has been desperately trying to find a companion in the Cockatiel and Parakeet room. He has yet to find a suitor to return his affection. But he looks cute trying  :)

The “loud bird” room was definitely LOUD. Home to Lovebirds, Sun Conures and Lorikeets, amongst others, you could barely hear each other talk in here.

I had a nice chat with this guy when I arrived and when I left. He’s very good at saying “hello,” and was intrigued by my camera.

I encourage you to check out the MAARS website here to learn more about the reality of pet birds.

If you’d like to donate and become a member, click here.

Like all rescues, they are continually in need of more volunteers, as well as supplies. View their wish list here and see what you might have to donate.

For a list of all contact emails and phone numbers, please click here.

I hope some of you will find it in your hearts to help our feathered friends as well as the furry.

Deer.