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Springer TailsSpringer Tails Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue

diet for your pet. Less food equals a longer life with you! 3. Play games with your pet. Keep their mind active. A good game of hide and seek is always fun. Take a differ-ent path on your next walk. Keep them excited over new surroundings. There are many food game puzzles that you both can enjoy. 4. If you suspect anything is wrong with your pet – see or talk to your vet right away. Listen to that little voice

telling you something is just not right. Re-member the 10/90 rule. 5. More exercise. Just because the weather turns cold get out for those walks. 6. Get a coat for that senior dog - keep them dry on those cold rainy days. 7. Also consider giv-ing daily supple-ments. I have seen a

huge difference especially using the SAM-e. I give daily the following: Multivitamin, Omega 3 fatty acids(fish oil), Glucosamine chondroitin for joints, probiotics good for digestion and SAM-e which helps with liver and brain function as well as some of the age related person-ality changes seen in older pets. We can help our seniors live longer and be healthy with just a few changes. Before giving your Canine Buddy any supplements, be sure to discuss the Supplements with your veterinarian.

4th Quarter

2010

Vice President View By Linda Johnston

Where has the year gone? It seems we were just doing the Home for Holidays campaign for our senior Springers and here we are again gearing up for the holiday season. Do you know MAESSR is waiving the adoption fee for all seniors until the end of the year? So why wait to bring that furry Seasoned Springer Home for the Holidays? By now I hope that you have visited the MAESSR web site and picked out your new friend. Once you have your new friend - what are some things you can do the keep them with us as long as possible? Did you know pets don't get old at least, they don't know it. Our pets cannot read a calendar so it is our job to make sure we do what we can to keep them feeling young. Here are some ideas you can do to help your dog: 1. Start testing at age 7. The best way to treat a disease is to detect it early. Have you heard of the 10/90 rule? If you diagnose a disease in the first 10% of develop-ment you have a 90% chance of treating it. 2. Food and Supplements - As our dogs get older the requirements change talk to your vet about the proper

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By Linda Johnston

MAESSR volunteers come from locations that we service all around the Mid-Atlantic region including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, District of Co-lumbia, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. We also have volunteers in South Carolina, North Caro-lina, Arizona, Minnesota, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and New York who, despite their remote locations, are able to help our organization accom-plish its mission. If you are interested in learning more about volun-teer opportunities, please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Linda Johnston at springer-love@comcast.net, or simply complete the online volunteer application on our website. Please join us in welcoming the following new vol-unteers who have recently joined MAESSR.

Carolyn Benz, West Lawn PA Kelly Fiala, Delmar MD

Joanne Shaw, Hummelstown PA Katie Jordan, Southampton PA Linda Shott, Womelsdor PA Tamara Robb, Plainfield NJ

Joe and Ann Brletich, West Chester PA Sarah Kraft, Holland PA Dale Sheafer, Denver PA Linda Lintz, Pittsford NY

James George, Richmond VA Paige Cranmer, Southhampton NJ

Liz’s love of springers began when one arrived at her sister’s home as a hunting prospect. Coach was good in the field and quickly proved to be an adaptable, loving indoor dog. He brought laughter to all around him, even the time he stole a whole blueberry pie! When one of his offspring, Normy, needed a new beginning as a young adult, Liz offered to take him home for a few weeks. In a sense he was her first “failed” foster. Normy became a “Watson” and a loyal companion for hiking and travel adventures for many wonderful years. Knowing her next Springer would be a rescue led to find-ing MAESSR’s website and volunteering to foster. Her home in southern West Virginia seemed far from the cen-ter of MAESSR’s activities and Liz wondered if she’d ever actually get a dog. So SILLY! Her first foster was in hand 2 weeks later and, since then, there have been a few “fosterless” stretches…...but not many. She’s “failed” fostering with MAESSR and now has 3 resident springers………each decidedly unique and special. A few months after that first MAESSR foster, the need for a volunteer to edit webpage material for foster fami-lies took shape. When asked about taking it on, Liz said “yes” and the start of what has become write-ups@maessr.org began. The chance to work with other foster families in this way offset the geographic dis-tances. To further contribute without leaving home has been great. To learn so much by closely following every-one else’s foster dogs has proven priceless. Like many volunteers in areas where they are spread thin, Liz has learned to wear many hats. She’s done home vis-its, shelter dog assessments, shelter pulls and acceptance of owner relinquishments. Travel into the heart of MAESSR country is easy from home, so doing multiple transport legs is common on weekends and, of course, another enjoyable if brief way to meet other volunteers. Liz falls in love with most every foster she works with. That’s how she knows a dog is ready to be listed as “available.” She knows then that someone else will fall in love with the dog and become its adopting family. Seeing a dog’s successful placement and knowing there will be another one that needs the same chance to suc-ceed keeps her saying “yes.”

WHO IS THAT VOLUNTEER?

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Igive.com – Register MAESSR as your charity and shop through the Igive.com website Employer Matching Gifts – Will you employer match donations to non-profit organizations? Ask at the Hu-man Resources Department. If so, your donation to MAESSR will be matched by your employer or doubled! Goodsearch.com - Search the Internet by using www.Goodsearch.com – designate MAESSR (spell out words to find us!) and we will get money every time you use this search engine. Donate to MAESSR to honor a friend’s birthday, wedding anniversary or special occasion. Don’t need any more “stuff”? Ask your friends to donate to MAESSR in your name. Their gift will be acknowledged and you will receive notification as well. Shop at www.Goodshop.com – designate Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue as your charity. Tar-get, Expedia, Nike are just a few of the stores at this site. Your shopping will help MAESSR. Buy merchandise from the MAESSR Marketplace – Need a gift for a friend? Lots of wonderful items that help the dogs when you buy! Shop MAESSR Affiliates found on the MAESSR website – MAESSR will get a percentage of your pur-chase Recycle Your Ink printing Cartridge with MAESSR – Contact Ilonka (raregirl@hotmail.com) or mail your cartridges to MAESSR, PO Box 15354, Richmond, VA 23227. MAESSR will receive money for every car-tridge recycled! Gift of stock- Similar to a cash donation…..please contact us further if interested in donating stock. Tell everyone about Rescue….many volunteers and adoptive families find us through word of mouth. Benevolink – Register MAESSR as your charity and shop Benevolink partners through the Benevolink web-site. www.Benevolink.com Redners Grocery Tapes – Shop at Redners, send your register receipts to MAESSR, PO Box 15354, Rich-mond, VA 23227. MAESSR will receive 1% of your tape value from Redners! Natural Balance – Save your receipt and UPC code from Natural Balance dog food and send to MAESSR, PO Box 15354, Richmond, VA 23227

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MAESSR announces the launch of our Marketplace Holiday White Glove Service,..... Shopping made easy! We all know that holiday shopping can be stressful. So we want to take some of the stress out of your holidays by making shopping easy and fun. As you know our Marketplace is conveniently opened 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and you can continue to shop using Paypal, however we are adding a white glove service this season at no extra cost to you! Here is how it works.

Visit our website store at www.maessr.org and make a list of things that interest you. Then write an email to maessrorders@gmail.com

Put in the subject line put your last name and the word order: Example: Phillips Order. In the body of the email include: Your Name AND a day time and/or evening phone number and good times frames to reach you. Then our team of elves will phone you to personally take your order and process your credit card for payment. We can even make a gift basket similar to our pre-made baskets in the Marketplace. We will customize the items in the basket to your specifications. Then we top the basket off with a hand painted bone shaped ornament with the dogs name. This service will start Nov. 19th and will continue thru December 15th. After the 15th we can not guaran-tee on time holiday delivery without increased postage for overnight delivery. Our elves are standing by waiting to call you! Remember shopping at the Marketplace helps all Spring-ers in foster care and in need.

The leaves have changed and are falling which signals the end of the 2010 Springerfest Season. It was another picnic season filled with many informative programs, Springer loving friends and of course Springers galore! A big thank you to Vicki Phillips and all of the picnic coordinators for all of their hard work and planning to make Springerfest 2010 such a huge success. During the 2010 picnics, attendees were treated to informa-tive programs including a presentation by a NAN Distribu-tion representative who provided information about choos-ing quality dog foods for the canine members of our fam-ily. Doug, Tanner and Kim represented Helping Hounds at the Little Buffalo picnic. They provided information on how Springers can help people and how we can help them to keep their minds and bodies engaged in tasks of every day living. The Ask the Vet and Nail Trimming Clinics were a big hit at the Richmond Picnic.

The Rescue Parades at all of the Picnics were a big hit. Seeing MAESSR Alumni and Current Fosters is always a picnic highlight. Debbie Radanovic provided clinics on Freestyle Dancing with our Canine Friends and Angie Epling pro-vided a clicker training clinic at the Richmond picnic. Of course, the raffles were also very com-petitive and had many wonderful items for atten-dees to try to win. The Mobile Marketplace was also open for business at all of the picnics and the 2011 MAESSR Calendar was unveiled at the Black Hills picnic in Maryland. This is a very brief snapshot of some of the picnic activities in 2010. I am sure that our Picnic Coor-dinators are already planning for the 2011 Springerfest Season and, as always, will not dis-appoint so if you were not able to join in the 2010 fun plan on joining us in 2011.

REVIEW OF

A New on Shopping

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On Christmas Morning…

I wish... for every dog searching trash cans for breakfast, a filled bowl with his name printed in bright letters. For every dog who slept fitfully last night, chained in a frozen yard, a soft, warm bed with a person snoring gently nearby. For every shelter dog, spending Christmas morning in a soiled run, a forever home, filled with sounds and smells of family. For every "Christmas" puppy given today, a tolerant, caring owner who won't abandon you as you grow into a real dog. For every ailing pet, enough money for your owner to pay the bills to make you well. For every lost dog, a clear, safe road, and well marked path, to lead you home. For every old and tired friend, a warm fire, and a soft bed, to ease your aches and pains. and For every Heart Dog at the Bridge, a moment when you know that you are remembered today, missed again, and loved forever.

Author unknown

The 2010 Gift Card Led by volunteer Renee Ayers, the 2010 Gift Card Raffle was a great success! A total of $5,085 was raised for the dogs. The two lucky win-ners were Vernon Stocker of Williamsburg, Virginia and Maggie Hagstrom of Wayne, Pennsylvania. Special thanks to all who do-nated cards and bought raffle tickets. We could not have raised the large amount of money with your support. Thanks to the following peo-ple who donated the gift cards for the raffle: Leslie Jacoby, Vicki Phillips, Glen and Sharon Slater, Jean Marie and Murray Tate, Vernon and Geraine Stocker, Kim Bolster, Margaret Stevenson, Deb Brookfield, Linda and Terry Johnston, Fran Fisher, Barb Bennett, Linda Lintz, Mary and Lee Beach, Candi Lynn, The Smith Family, Pat Car-penter, Bridget Thomas, War-ren Reeves, Fran and John Hrastar, and Jim and Kim Laidlaw. Special recognition to the Tates who donated a total of 8 cards to the raffle! Thanks to all for your support, and congratulations to the big-gest winners, the dogs!

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Have you ever found yourself frustrated because your Springer has suddenly started to exhibit different behavior patterns, possibly even signs of what you may describe as a bad attitude or even aggressive behavioral issues? You take your Springer to the Vet and are informed that there is no underlying medical cause for the change in be-havior.. As you search for answers, you begin to contemplate relinquishment of your beloved friend. Before deciding to relinquish your dog, take a good look at your home, yourself, and your lifestyle. It may not be your Springer that has changed; instead, it may be you and the environment that you now present to your Springer. Wow – that’s a hard concept to contemplate but you need to perform an honest evaluation. Here are a few questions to ask your-self that may impact changes in your Springer’s temperament and behaviors: • Have you have recently added another pet to the household? • Is there a new partner or household member that now gives commands? • Have you and/or the new spouse initiated different rules of conduct for your Springer within the household? • Does someone within your household not want to have a dog in the house? Is your Springer now not welcome

to be around you all the time and may be restricted to certain areas of the house? • Has there been a recent pregnancy which has caused a shift of focus from normal routines? • Is there a new baby at home? Must your Springer now adhere to different rules of conduct and occupation of

space within the household? • Have you recently moved and thus your Springer no longer has the run of the house? • Have you changed the rules with regard to furniture access? Sleeping location? Access to food? • Have you taken a new job that requires additional commute time, longer hours, or has added more stress to

your emotional state? • For a large percentage of the day, is your Springer now restricted to the basement or laundry room as a toddler

explores new territories? • How are you currently training your dog or correcting your dog’s mistakes? Ask yourself many questions to illicit information about what may have changed. When lifestyle changes prompt a change in household rules, a good guideline to follow is that of introducing your Springer to the new rules in a graduated fashion over a period of time prior to the actual transition. This enables your Springer to understand that there are now new rules to learn; this in turn facilitates acceptance of new conduct requirements. Avoid thrusting the Springer into a new game plan with the expectation that they will immediately ad-just to the “new lifestyle”. If you are stressed and wish to be alone, don’t push your dog away; when he/she refuses to leave you, don’t use a negative tactic to get them out of the area (such as dragging the dog out of the room by the collar). Instead, redirect their attention to a positive activity that does not require your participation. Your dog is a mirror into your world. Be aware of how your stress levels affect your dog(s). As stress deteriorates a human’s energy, emotional stability and patience, it also lowers the threshold for human negative response pat-terns. Your negative response patterns have the potential to generate a cycle of negative response patterns within the household, and your dog is a member of this unit. For example, we often see children act out in negative ways to what they perceive as hostile or aggressive disciplinary action; or they can lash out against unfair changes to ac-cepted rules and guidelines. Dogs are very similar to children in terms of sensitivity to what they perceive as nega-tive change within their environment. And, dogs are keen to sense human emotional dynamics. Dogs will indeed reflect negative change to normal, stable, and loving conditions that once prevailed. Thus, dogs can very well re-spond in a negative fashion to a handler’s negative correction. A handler’s aggressive behavior can evoke an ag-gressive canine response. In summary, if your dog acts out in a manner that has not been typical to his/her standard past behavior, take hold of your mirror and examine yourself. Examine what you may be doing differently within your environment. Examine the possibility that you may be handling your dog in a more negative fashion. Always take steps to ensure that you communicate all directives in a positive and loving manner.

THE TRAINING CORNER

“Is It Really the Dog?”“Is It Really the Dog?”“Is It Really the Dog?”“Is It Really the Dog?” By Nancy Lewis, Mom to Nash of Class 2009

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THANK YOU!

Gifts in Honor

Scottie Deyoe – Lucky XIV Marie Salesi – Patsy Ed and Tanja Klanke – Wiggles Lisa Joens – Katie VII Marilyn Wood – Anna IV Genevieve and Melvin Race – Pat Race Birthday Martha Troutman – Riley Robert and Maureen Berry – Zeke Tina and Frank Nelson – Baxter (2006) and Jas-per (2009) Linda Heitman – Griffin (2002) Kenneth Stewart - Penny Harry and Ruthie Shleifer – Lauren Fisher Bat Mitzvah Robert H and Monica M Cole Foundation – Meg Nash and Charlie XVIII ESSFTA (English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association) - Rescue efforts Steve and Deb Buchanan – Izzy II Carol Keeler – Divot Melanie Santanello – Vail Kathy Decker – Lyndsey Karen and Frank Lindell – Kobe IV John and Vicki Monroe – Zoe Glenn Richard – Lucy IV Jennifer Gillans – Brutis Leonard and Patricia Paquette – Rivers Carol de Froes and Chad Colby – Bonz

Gifts in Memory

Gail Draney – Leslie Jacoby’s mother, Dorothy Robinson Debbie and Bill Lipcsey – Chloe Young Gary and Elizabeth Russell – Duchess Mary and Lee Beach – Chloe Young Jim Lockwood – Therapy Dog Abby Linda Helt – Chelsea Linda and Terry Johnston – Chloe Young Vicki Phillips – Chloe Young Jane, David and Robb Piper – Mikey Gabrielski Family – Riley II Beth Higgins – Freckles Carol Vandeway – Max Phyllis Chan – Chloe Young Anne Ingram – Sophie Olson Kim Bolster – Chloe Young Angie and Larry Epling – Chloe Young Dave Sewter – Buster Lynne and Ty Young – Sam and Wheeler Rhonda Levy, Jessa Anger and Pater Lai – Chill and Chaka The many friends of Nigel – Nigel Jan Reid – William G Reid and “Bentley”

General Gifts

Steve St. Martin Peter and Debra Huebner Cynthia Posluszny Brooks Woodward Debra Brookfield Janet Howard Mark Wainwright Joseph Moran Joan Larney Daniel Wilson Doris Gray Barbara Breeden Genevieve Ryan David and Joyce Merkel Richard and Sharon Fox Timothy Freeh

Subscribers (Monthly gifts)

Melissa Campbell Lisa Nuzzaci Debra Johnson Sherry Rohn Clancy Cindy Grace Candace Clunan Kathleen Kittrick Richard Hoppe

Available with a Liver or Black Springer!

Order with form on back page or through the website.

www.maessr.org

P.O. Box 15354

Richmond, VA 23227

info@maessr.org

(301)362-0423 MAESSR President – president@maessr.org Vice President – vicepresident@maessr.org Adoptions Coordinator – adoptioncoordinator@maessr.org Senior Dogs Coordinator – seniors@maessr.org Fundraising Coordinator – fundraising@maessr.org Newsletter Editor – newsletter@maessr.org Dog Intake/Foster Home Coordinator – foster@maessr.org Transport Coordinator – transport@maessr.org Volunteer Coordinator - volunteers@maessr.org Shelter dog Coordinator -- shelterdog@maessr.org Owner relinquishment Coordinator -- relinquish@maessr.org

PRSRT FIRST CLASS MAIL

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

RICHMOND, VA PERMIT NO.1179

Please enclose this slip with your check made payable to MAESSR

Mail To: MAESSR, P.O. Box 15354, Richmond, VA 23227

QUANTITY OF ITEMS COST INCLUDES SHIPPING

_____ BOTTLE BUDDY TOY DOG PIG COW $9.00

_____ BLACK SPRINGER TOTE $28.00

_____ AIRPLANE DOG ORNAMENT LIVER DOG BLACK DOG $18.00

_____ SPRINGER EMERGENCY SQUARE FOR HOME $4.00

_____ 2011 MAESSR SPIRAL CALENDAR $17.00

_____ HOLIDAY GIFT BAG (PRICE DEPENDS ON SIZE) $ 17.00 / $21.00 / $30.00 / $35.00

_____ HOLIDAY ORNAMENT BALL LIVER DOG BLACK DOG $22.00

TOTAL: $

_________

SHIP TO: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MAESSR APPRECIATES AND NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED TO RESCUE AND CARE FOR ENG-

LISH SPRINGER SPANIELS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. PLEASE MAIL YOUR DONATION TO THE ADDRESS BELOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF:

$25___ $50___ $75___ $100___ $125___ OTHER: _________ MY DONATION IS:

IN HONOR OF: IN HONOR OF: IN MEMORY OF: IN MEMORY OF: SPECIAL WISH TO: SPECIAL WISH TO: NAME AND ADDRESS: NAME AND ADDRESS:

PLEASE ENCLOSE THIS SLIP WITH YOUR CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO MAESSR MAIL TO: MAESSR, P. O. BOX 15354, RICHMOND, VA 23227