Country Club Kennels

Video of rescued puppies Will and Winston

 

We had a special surprise Sunday when the Kutyna family (Annie, Doug and Sandy) came to the kennel to give us a very nice donation for The Chance Foundation after Annie (with the help of her parents) held a very successful bake sale with all proceeds being donated to help us help the many, needy dogs we take in. Annie is featured in the video with Cassie and pups (we have since selected the names Will and Winston from the "name that puppy" contest).
 
Please share this video so that their chances of finding wonderful, forever homes will be increased!

February Newsletter - Stopping Dog/Animal Abuse

Our February newsletter is focused on dog abuse, how you can help dogs and other animals who are being neglected, abused and/or forced to live in inhumane conditions.  Click here to view the newsletter online.  It has important information to equip all of us in this critically important battle. 

If you aren't currently subscribed to our CCK&T/Chance Foundation newsletter, there's a 'subscribe' link at the bottom of the online version.  You can also go to the upper right portion of our homepage, where you'll see the Newsletter box.  Clicking there will take you to a sign-up and archive page.

Many of you have been following the story of Cassie and her puppies ... how they were left in a delapitated dog house in freezing weather, leading to the freezing deaths of two pups. We were able to step in and save Cassie and her two remaining pups by purchasing them from their abuseful owner. All in all, it was a frustrating and painful lesson in how little teeth our laws have, so we wanted to equip you with enough information so you know what to do - and what not to do - in situations like these. Please read the newsletter and be equipped in the ongoing battle to stop dog abuse. 

When we published the newsletter a few days ago, we hadn't yet picked names for the two pups. Thanks to all the wonderful suggestions, we settled on Will(iam) and Winston.  And we'll be awarding some free boarding days to those who suggested those names.  Also, look for a follow-up post with a heartwarming video taken with a family who, moved by this story, raised money for The Chance Foundation.  It's the first 'live footage' of Cassie and her pups, and you won't want to miss it!

Name These Puppies!

You may have read about a mama dog, Cassie, and two of her pups we recently rescued - their story an extremely frustrating and sad case that's repeated far too often ... one of abuse, neglect, and lack of teeth in enforcement laws that ultimately led to the death of three of Cassie's pupppies.  For more on that story, click here to read the previous blog post.  We also have some messages and discussion threads on our Facebook Page about Cassie and her pups getting lots of attention.  Everyone's passion about this particular situation is heartfelt and greatly appreciated.

Now, with several weeks at The Chance Foundation under their belts, Cassie, an American Staffordshire Terrier, and her two remaining pups are doing well, getting lots of love and attention ... and of course looking for forever homes (the pups will be available for adoption as of March 1).  Now, the puppies need names, so we thought we'd ask YOU for help naming them!  Nothing more fun and smile inducing than puppies.  And these two are as adorable as they come.

 

So here's the deal:  give us your best ideas for names for each - both boys, call it a black one and brown one.   Leave your name suggestions in this thread on Facebook, on our Facebook wall as a message ... or in the comment section of this blog post.  If left on Facebook, hopefully we can contact you by Direct Message if your suggestions are chosen.   If left here, make sure you 'sign in' with an email address.  Better yet, email carlacck@aol.com with your suggestions - in addition to leaving them here and on Facebook - so you're assured we can contact you.  The person who suggests the best names (we'll pick through and choose) will receive two free boarding days at Country Club Kennels.  Ultimately, the goal is to spread the word about Cassie's story ...  make sure this doesn't happen again ... and turn this horrible situation into a much better one, celebrating the precious lives of these puppies and their mama.

So please help us 'name the puppies', and please share their story with others. One simple way is to 'Like' this post so it's shared with your Facebook Friends.  You can also 'Tweet' it on Twitter, or click the G+ button if you're on Google Plus.  Complete contest rules below this cute as a button picture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contest rules:  This is meant to be a fun, creative and easy on the rules contest.  CCK&T staff will choose from all puppy name suggestions posted here and anywhere on our Facebook Page.  We'll take suggestions until Saturday Feb 11th at midnight, and then pick Sunday/Monday.  Winner receives two free boarding days at CCK&T.  Any questions, contact us via contact tab info on this website.  * This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.

Mom and two puppies saved after three other puppies froze to death

This is a story of hope ... and one of extreme frustration and anger as well.  Cassie was recently rescued by The Chance Foundation after several attempts had been made to get animal control to address a deplorable situation.

Cassie, an American Staffordshire Terrier, had lived her two young years tied to the end of a short chain.  The fact that she had a dilapidated dog house as shelter, apparently by Virginia law, is enough to be considered humane.  We strongly disagree, and were sickened to learn that three of Cassie's five puppies had literally frozen to death, the last of the three during the night after animal control had stopped by to assess the situation.

We had to do something to prevent Cassie and her two remaining puppies from encountering the same, horrific fate.  We were able to purchase them from their previous owner, and Cassie and pups are now - finally - enjoying knowing what it is like to be loved, cared for and warm.

 

Cassie's puppies were born on approximately 1/1/2012, and will be available for adoption on 3/1/2012.  We are hoping to find Cassie a wonderful new home as well.  She is very sweet and so appreciative of the people who are caring for her and her pups. 

It's mind boggling to try and comprehend how some people think that it is OK to treat Cassie and pups the way there were being treated.  We pray that something can be done to keep this from happening to other unfortunate, innocent dogs. Please stand with us in this effort.  Like and Share this story with others.  Spread the word about Cassie and her pups ... the ones who now have a chance ... and the ones who froze to death while their owners and authorities looked on. 

Beautiful (dog) Photo Crystals - Purchase Helps The Chance Foundation

A friend of Country Club Kennels & Training and The Chance Foundation has graciously offered to give my friends and customers a discount on beautiful 'laser photo crystals' that his business, Looxis, offers.  In addition to special savings on having pictures of your furry family members transformed into custom 3-D images that are laser-etched into crystal glass ... by using the code chance, 10% of each purchase will be donated to The Chance Foundation, our all-breed rescue arm.

If you stop in our offices in Catlett, VA to drop off or pick up your dog, you'll see these crystals on display (we love them!).  Go to LooxisofVirginia.com to find out more and to order.  They're based in Woodbridge, VA ... you might've seen them in area malls (Potomac Mills, Fair Oaks, Arundel Mills) ... and they're happy to take your call at (703) 494-5060 or (888) 453-3878.  Thank you Mike Foglio of Looxis ... and special thanks to all of you who support our rescue/adoption efforts at The Chance Foundation. 

Have you subscribed to our newsletter?

Our Christmas / Holiday newsletter is hot off the presses ... you can view it online here if you haven't received it via e-mail yet.  All of our newsletters are archived on this page on our website, accessible via the Newsletter Widget in the right sidebar.  It's a great way to keep 'in the know' about happenings at CCK&T  and The Chance Foundation.  You can sign up via the the page linked above as well.  We don't want to spam anyone, we just want to keep our customers and Chance family informed. If you receive a newsletter and don't want to be subscribed, simply click the 'unsubscribe' option at the bottom.  We only send out email newsletters or special alerts about once per month.  Our newsletter does seem to be quite popular, judging by the response we get after sending each one. We hope you'll sign up, enjoy the updates and stories - about adoptions especially - and help spread the word by clicking on the 'share' options at the top of each newsletter.   

Chance Rescue in the Spotlight: Gailen

We are starting a regular series of blog posts to spotlight one or two special rescues that currently call The Chance Foundation home, but are in need of a 'forever home' with a loving family in our area.  In the spotlight to kick things off is Gailen.

"I am a very handsome gentleman in search of a special home.  It is believed that I am probably a German Shepherd/Husky mix.  I do have a beautiful, striking blue eye what will just melt your heart!  I would love to find a home before Christmas so I can spend Christmas as part of a loving family.  I am approximately 4 years old, very laid back in a home environment, but I also like to romp and play when outside.  I get a long with most dogs as long as they are not too dominant with me.

Please consider opening up your heart and home to me!  I am a very special boy and will make a great family dog."

For more information about The Chance Foundation and to access our adoption application, go here.  If you can't adopt a dog at this time, please help us spread the word about Gailen by clicking the Facebook 'Like' button beneath this post, or the Tweet (Twitter) or G+ (Google Plus) options if you're active in any of these social networks.  Thank you for helping us find forever homes for these wonderful dogs!!

Chance Foundaton Adoption Event and Reunion, Saturday Oct 22

The Chance Foundation is hosting its first “open to the public” adoption event this Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  If you or someone you know is looking to adopt a wonderful dog, please come and join us!  We have several dogs available for adoption and hope to make some perfect matches.  If you are looking to adopt a dog and currently have a dog … feel free to bring your dog with you so we can make sure they are a suitable match, as well.

 

 

 

 

These are just a few of the available dogs!

Also, for those of you who have adopted a Chance Foundation dog in the past, feel free to bring them with you for a Chance Foundation “reunion”!  We always love to see our wonderful dogs with their new families!

The weather should be nice and for those of you whose dogs enjoy a good swim in the pond … it’s always open!  We will also be opening up one of our very large, fenced, exercise paddocks for dogs who want to run and play with other friendly dogs!  We do ask that all dogs who come visit are current on their vaccinations to include rabies, distemper and bordatella.

We are hoping for those of you who aren’t interested in adopting a dog right now, maybe you would be willing to come and support our effort.  We will be in need of volunteers to help hold and show off our dogs to prospective adopters.

And, for those of you who can’t make it out at all … you can still show your support by making a monetary donation (our goal is $5,000 by end of October, which is Nat'l Adopt a Dog Month, click here to donate ... with donations helping cover medical, food and other costs) , by donating doggie supplies such as bedding, leashes, canned and dry food, treats, etc ... or simply by spreading the word by sharing this message via Facebook, e-mail, etc. Clicking 'Like' at the bottom of the blog post shares it with your Facebook friends.  Clicking 'Tweet' can share it with Twitter friends and so on.  Any way you can help spread the word is so appreaciated.   You can also volunteer to help us either during future adoption events or by coming out and spending some quality time with our Chance Foundation dogs.  They always enjoy one-on-one time with a new friend!

Please spread the word to your friends and families. We hope to make this a very special day for our VERY SPECIAL DOGS!!!

New Chance Arrivals Looking For Forever Homes!

For those of you who think we are in the "country", we just took in several new Chance Foundation dogs who came from a place that could be described as "country as country can be"! We rescued the following, beautiful dogs after receiving a plea that they would be put to sleep the next day if a rescue group didn't take them in.  This is a shelter in rural, southern Virginia where the vast majority of dogs who enter their doors are euthanized.  Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for people in that area to let their dogs roam free and for the dogs not to be neutered and spayed. The result is, as you can imagine, numerous, unwanted dogs with no where to go and no one to love and care for them.  Please consider welcoming one of these wonderful dogs into your heart and home. You will gain a grateful, loving and devoted companion!

 

Billy is a sweet, gentle natured boy who weighs in at about 40 lbs. He's a Beagle boy, lemon and white and just loves to be with people. He's well mannered on a leash, great with other dogs and just an all around, wonderful family companion.

  

Toby is a very handsome, black labrador retriever mix whose eyes tell a story. He loves to run and play and roll around in the grass. He loves belly rubs, ear massages and treats! He knows some of his basic commands and is a quick learner. He is approximately 2-3 yrs. old. 

 

Gailen is a incredibly gorgeous boy who is more than likely a mix between Husky and German Shepherd. He has a tall build, however, he's not a heavy boy. He has a gentle, quiet nature and has been a perfect gentleman since arriving to The Chance Foundation. Odds are he has lived out on a chain his entire life as he came in filthy, dirty and covered in fleas. He cleans up nicely and feels so much better now. Won't you give Gailen an opportunity to know what it feels like to be loved?

 

 

Mynx is a very sweet, good natured, female, lab mix. She is probably about 2 yrs old and is just a love! She is on the petite side, weighing approx. 45 lbs. She is gentle, loves to be touched and is a well mannered, little lady! She would make a wonderful family addition!

Visit our Chance Foundation page for more information on the adoption process, and you can view all of our wonderful Chance friends on the Available Dogs page.

 

 

King Travis Gone But Not Forgotten

I'm so sorry to have to inform everyone that our most special boy, Travis, has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.  Most of you know him well, as he greeted you each time you entered the office with a big smile, wagging tail ... or a woeful bay if you didn't give him a treat or dared stop petting him.

Travis has been a very special part of Country Club Kennels and The Chance Foundation as he has honored us as our official office greeter for well over ten years.  He was at least six when I took him out of the local shelter.  At the time, he was emaciated and weak.  He had bad joints and always walked with limp.  During the time that Travis shared with us I only had one rule for him:  that no one ever tell him what to do, no one ever ask him to sit, down or stay and that he was allowed (and supposed) to do what he wanted, when he wanted and however he wanted!   Travis was a very special boy and for those of you who knew and loved him you could clearly see that he was "talking" to you with those wonderful eyes of his. It was as though he always knew that he was special and he knew that he was the "King".
 
Thank you to all of you who shared your love with our boy, Travis.  He was a huge presence at CCK&T and melted many hearts.  He is deeply missed but his spirit will always be with us!  And next time you stop in, make sure to meet our new office greeter, Huckleberry.  If you'd like to do something tangible in memory of Travis and all the other Chance dogs that've passed through our doors and lives - some have asked about this - consider making a tax-deductible donation (one-time or regular) to The Chance Foundation, a Non-Profit 501(3)(c) Foundation. Your generosity helps us with the cost of caring for up to two dozen rescues at a time, some with hefty medical expenses (we dedicate up to 25% of our kennel space to Chance dogs).  If you want to make a donation in honor of Travis, go to our website and look for the Donate Button on the right side. We also have a 'Would You Like to Help?' page.  From donating supplies to spending one-on-one time with Chance dogs - all are extremely kind things that help us care for these wonderful dogs.

~ Carla