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The mailing address for WHLR has changed. Mail to WHLR should be sent to

Wild Heir Labrador Rescue
PO Box 22042
Charleston, SC 29413-2042

Good Samaritan Anita Silvers of Whitmire, SC found this bleeding, emaciated chocolate Lab after leaving the grocery store on Thursday evening, Dec. 8. Being the kind of woman she is, she picked her up, and took her home. She made a warm bed for her on the porch that night, fed her well and woke up to 9 babies and mom the next morning! Anita does this for any neglected animal she finds in her small, rural town although she can't really afford to and is also disabled by fibromyalgia.

On Friday, she took mom and pups to Triangle Vet Care in Union, SC - 30 minutes away -
where pups were given a check up, and mom was started on antibiotics and had her wound cleaned. The vet, Dr. Grantham, thought that "Patty", as Anita had begun calling the wounded mom in honor of the Patrick Miracle, had been shot at and grazed at close range by a small caliber pistol, most likely by her neglectful owner in order to escape the added responsibility of unplanned puppies. Anita postdated a check for the amount of the bill and asked the vet to hold it til she could come up with enough money to cover it. She sent out a plea for rescue assistance to internet acqaintances, which Jenni Horne saw and crossposted to Lab Rescue groups.

Wild Heir Lab Rescue got that email plea Friday night and immediately responded. Jenni
and Anita were contacted and a plan for volunteer transport was made for Sunday, Dec. 11. Anita drove down to Columbia and was met by Wild Heir foster mom, Alicia Matthews, who then picked up another WH volunteer, Denise Flowers, to head straight to a local vet.

Dr. Addy Fogel-Owens of Kingstree Animal Hospital met them and proceeded to anesthetize and suture up the gaping gash in Patty's neck, as well as making the gruesome discovery that Patty's throat had been slashed with a knife rather that shot with a gun. Denise assisted Dr. Fogel-Owens, while Alicia was in charge of keeping rubber gloves filled with warm water to keep the puppies warm. Patty submitted to the entire ordeal with a wag and a continued trust in people both heartbreaking and heartwarming to see.

We posted this unfolding saga on our Wild Heir Lab Rescue Facebook page and people have stepped up to help in so many ways! 8 of the newborn puppies have survived and are nursing strongly, SCNow.com/WBTW Channel 13 out of Florence, SC videoed Patty & pups during an interview on their plight, we now have 3 drop off locations set up for much needed dog supplies, and Anita filed a police report about Patty's attack/abuse.

Wild Heir paid Anita's vet bill today and asked them to tear up her check and three people have requested Anita's home address to help her recover from her unexpected puppy supplies and gas expenses...Our Christmas miracle is still unfolding!

Donations for Patty & Pups' vetting expenses incurred while in our care may be sent directly to Kingstree Animal Clinic/Dr. Fogel - 201 N. Williamsburg County Hwy, Kingstree, SC 29556 and note Wild Heir Lab Rescue - Patty & Pups, or you can donate directly through our website via Click & Pledge and specify Patty & Pups.

Drop off locations for dog supplies are:
Shaffer Insurance Agency - 3617 E. Palmetto St., Florence, SC
Renaissance Signworks - 1218 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, SC
Palmetto Paws - 976-D Houston Northcutt Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC

Happy, yappy 2011 from Wild Heir! Although 2010 was a "ruff" one for many of us, we are thrilled to report that we had 98 Wild Heir adoptions last year - from puppies to seniors - including Callie, Sadie and Roman, who had all been waiting on a family for 2+ years! We "High 5" all of our generous supporters and volunteers that helped us save Labby lives. We simply could not do it without you!

February is a busy one for us with Valentine's Day coming up, and the Southeastern Wildlife Expo just around the corner, not to mention puppy season has started early and the shelters are overflowing with Labs in need of rescue.

To start things off, everyone's favorite doggie daycare, Camp Bow Wow, is hosting Cupids & Canines Doggie Adopt-A-Thon. Join us on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 11:30 - 3:30 pm for some tail waggin' fun with raffle prizes, games and treats for people and pooches! Camp Bow Wow, located at 1745 Clements Ferry Road between Mount Pleasant and Charleston, is a staunch supporter of rescue and has helped us place many Wild Heir Labs into wonderful, fur-ever homes.

The Southeastern Wildlife Expo will be in full swing daily Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18th-20th. Come on out and support rescue, get your Lab fix, volunteer to walk a dog, watch the Dock Dogs diving contests or just enjoy all the artful offerings of SEWE. We hope to see YOU at SEWE!

2011 Adoptions
Abby, Dooby, Beck, Lucy, Duke, Hank, Barkley, Molly, Evie, Senior Buddy, Princess, Crystal, Charlie, Senior Sadie, Brandon, Maggie

Foster homes needed
It's raining Labs! In order to help our Labradorable friends, we need foster homes. Any amount of time is a lifesaver for many of these wonderful dogs. We provide vetting and monthly flea and heartworm prevention and YOU provide the love!

If you can help out one of our furry friends, please call (843) 340-6765 or fill out our online application to foster or adopt.

WHLR needs foster families for our dogs!

If you're interested in becoming a foster for WHLR and giving a temporary home to a lovable lab, please contact us or fill out a foster application form.

Requirement is to be the "Social Networker" for the rescue. Get us in front as many people as often as possible. Will be responsible for coordinating volunteers for the events that are arranged. Will be responsible for coordinating volunteers for the set-up/tear-down of booths and merchandise.

In payment you will have the Title of "HERO" for those labs who would never have had a chance without YOU!

If you want to be involved in animal rescue and are not able to bring a rescued animal into your home then THIS is your chance to make a difference! WHLR is a 501(3c) Labrador Retriever rescue in the Low Country. Our Rescue is made up 100% of volunteers and foster homes. Our Foster Coordinator position is about 1-3 hours a week (sometimes less-sometimes more). Your duties will include:

• Being the point of contact for foster parents coordination and questions. (You don't have to know all of the answers, we will give you resource people for that. You just have to be available to disseminate the information)
• Coordinate when the animals being fostered need their vaccinations  or vetting and call and schedule the appointments for vetting (you will work with our Accounting Specialist so that it can be done around our budget)
• Administer micro-chip, vaccinations and disperse meds to foster parents. This is done "as needed". You will receive training and the list of which animals need which meds.
• Coordinate foster homes and dogs based on the family and dogs personality and needs.

If you are interested, contact us!

Long overdue update on Junior...

The end of the summer we took Junior in for a 2nd opinion to a specialist in Mt. Pleasant. Dr. Henri Bianucci of Veterinary Surgical Care recommended doing FHO's (Femoral Head Ostectomy) on both hips at once and gave us a generous rescue discount. He suggested doing the surgery right away, even though we had only raised just over half of the money so far for Junior's treatment. VSC kept Junior and did his surgery the very next day.

The surgery went really well and Junior did great! Junior improved so quickly in recovery, that he was able to come home a day earlier than expected. He came home wobbly, like a newborn deer, but really started enjoying his new pain free hips. He had specific instructions to get up and start exercising not that long after surgery. We've been working with him on his physical therapy and his hyperactive sister, Dakota, is doing her part to speed his recovery! Junior's sister used to have to go easy on him while playing. Lately Junior has given her a run for her money.

We are all so happy this has had such a great result for Junior. Before surgery, he would push up on his front legs to get on his couch, then tilt towards his head and lower his back end down carefully. Now he leaps onto the couch. Junior used to wrestle and play very carefully, not using or moving his back legs much at all. Yesterday I saw him leap sideways to attack his sister in play. He landed purposely on his side and continued his roll onto his back. It looked like a movie stunt! Junior is finally able to be the puppy he could never be before his surgery!

This was an expensive treatment for a young Lab mix, but no dog could have been more deserving of it than he was. Junior lives in a foster home where dozens of other foster dogs come through and then get adopted. He was always treated like a king and started acting like one, but a kind gentle ruler. He helps care for many of the young pups and plays with or licks them. He has disciplined some over active young dogs with a look or a little growl and done a better job at calming a new pack member than a lot of people could do. He is the best caretaker I have ever seen.

We couldn't have done it without all the wonderful donations sent in for Junior. We are still raising money to finish covering the cost, and are so thankful to everyone that has helped so far. Junior would like to thank all the wonderful people that have helped and cared for him. He is one happy pup!

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month and Wild Heir is celebrating our one year anniversary of Daisy's Place - a special program dedicated to saving and finding loving homes for Labs and Lab mixes six years and older. Daisy's Place was officially founded on November 5th of last year in honor of Daisy who brought so much love to my life and taught me the joy of adopting an older dog. When the shelter called just six days after she went to the rainbow bridge and told me that there was a senior Lab mix scheduled to be euthanized (because of her age - approximately 9 years old), Daisy's Place was born. Magnolia was our first Daisy dog, and she is happy and thriving and continues to remind me each and every day of all the joys of adopting an older dog! Since then, we have found loving homes for nearly 30 Daisy dogs.

As Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, wrote, "I can't think of a better way to honor a dog's life than to give it a balanced and loving home in its twilight years. I've spoken before about the benefits of adopting a senior dog: they have a much calmer energy, require less strenuous exercise and less often, and are most often already housebroken. They can also be invaluable tools for attempting to balance other dogs in your pack. Nothing beats a senior dog when it comes to showing younger dogs how it's done! Daddy has filled that role for me for many years, and I hope that I can expect many more."

We currently have 12 Daisy dogs in foster homes hoping to find their forever home for the holidays. Opening your heart and home to an older experienced Lab is one of the greatest gifts you'll ever give yourself!

Many blessings,
Melissa
Founder of Daisy's Place
WHLR Acting President

To help Wild Heir continue to save and find loving homes for older Labs and Lab mixes, click here to make a donation to Daisy's Place. Thank you!

The Bow Wow Luau on July 17th was a huge success for Wild Heir Labrador Rescue. Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers and all of the people that came out and attended our event. We are already planning for next year!

Year to date we have placed over 120 Labrador retrievers into new homes.

The economy has taken a large hit on rescue. We are receiving requests for help every day to save Labs that are in shelters who have been surrendered due to inability to afford expenses...so many people are trying to rehome their animals! Wild Heir currently has 60+ Labs in rescue from 6 weeks old to 12 years old - every size, shape and color. If you are looking to add a furry friend to your life - adopt from us!

As always, we are looking for foster homes. The more foster homes we have the more labs we can save. If you know anyone interested in fostering, please send them to our website to meet our dogs and to fill out the foster form. Fostering can be a very rewarding experience for both you and the dog. The dog learns to live with a family and in the house. You get to make a great new friend and support a fantastic rescue organization without a financial or long term obligation.

We are always raising funds, as the vet bills, heartworm treatments, feeding, etc. that come with saving these labs never stops. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Wild Heir. Donations can be made directly on our website.

We will have a new calendar of events coming soon as we are planning lots of fun lab events for the fall. Stay tuned! And as always, THANK YOU for your support.

Update: Zoie has been returned! Yay!

Debbie and Chad that adopted Juliet- now Zoie- are missing her. She was taken from the IOP marina on May 31. We have been looking for her since
then and no luck. We really believe that she wandered off and got spooked or
that someone snatched her. Zoie is a 10 weeks old, black female puppy with white
markings on chin, chest and back feet.

Congratulations to Bryan Mims from Isle of Palms! Bryan is the lucky winner of the NASCAR VIP Experience! This incredible package, generously donated by Sprint, includes four tickets to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 16th. Bryan and his guests will also enjoy Sprint Hospitality at the track including Pit Tours and Goody Bags. Thank you Sprint and Bryan Mims, and everyone else who generously donated to support Wild Heir Labrador Rescue!

Adrienne is one of our valued Wild Heir volunteers. Her employer, Robert Half International celebrated their 60th anniversary by promoting community outreach worldwide. The company encouraged its employees to volunteer their time, setting an ambitious goal of 60,000 outreach hours. With Adrienne's help, the local office in Charleston logged more than 100 hours per employee and came in third worldwide. They were given two $1,000 grants to donate to the non-profit of their choice, and thanks to Adrienne, Wild Heir is one of the lucky recipients of that grant money! Company-wide, the big hearted people at Robert Half International logged more than 70,000 hours! Way to go!

So THANK YOU Adrienne! The hard work you do at our events and the funds you raised helps Wild Heir bring many more precious Labs into rescue. Thank you also to all the Robert Half International employees who participated - you are shining examples of how we can all work together to make a difference!

PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.

Although PetSmart is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has removed these products from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure.

The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:

• Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900
• Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601
• Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605
• Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755
• Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638
• Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779
• Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766

Customers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

From the Sun News Myrtle Beach Online:

Roman a Labrador retriever available for adoption from the Wild Heir Labrador Rescue of Georgetown gets a belly rub from volunteer, Jack Holthaus at East Bay Park, Saturday during the 3rd annual Winyah Bay Heritage Festival in Georgetown.

Hello and Happy New Year- Wild Heir is off and running at full speed starting 2009. It is raining labs on us- as usual- I think we all thought we might slide into January- but that is not going to happen- we are sprinting. As always we are looking for foster homes- we have a constant stream of labs coming each day- quite a few older labs right now. So if you have not fostered in a while, or know someone else that might be interested please contact me.

Jenny Angelino is our new Volunteer and Events Coordinator. She is busy contacting all volunteers for our many upcoming events and needs volunteers as well as foster labs to attend all of these events. The events that are happening very soon are as follows:

Jan 31- Grand Opening of Camp Bow Wow in Mt. Pleasant

Feb 7th- meet and greet at Planet Bark

Feb 13-15th- Wild Life Expo- this is a big one- we need LOTS of volunteers

Feb 28th- IOP Doggie Days

Wild Heir continues to grow at a rapid rate and there are all sorts of volunteer needs on a regular basis. In addition to events such as transport, phone calls, data entry, letter writing, fund raising, we need help and Jenny would love to talk with you about your interests and strengths and how you might be able to help Wild Heir.

What is new for 2009???? We are working on a new and improved foster program with a handbook, a new volunteer program, a monthly newsletter, and much more....

I just wanted to touch base, wish you all a happy new year and thank you for your continued support of Wild Heir. To grow as fast as we are we could not do it without a strong group of volunteers- so thank you and we look forward to seeing more of you in 2009.

Mary Zapatka

Barkley would like to wish everybody a happy and safe holiday!

This is from a segment that aired recently on WMBF in Myrtle Beach.

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Things move quickly in rescue and are always changing. As of late last night we found out that a female we took into rescue recently is pregnant and is to deliver in 5 days!!! We are doing the massive scramble to get Suzanne's house empty so the mom can go there and birth. NEED foster homes ASAP!

Summer 10mo old yellow
Joey 3-4 yr black male
Sadie 3-4 yr black male
Drew 6yr yellow male
Mattie 6 yr female- may have someone for her
Trip 2 yr yellow male

If you can foster any of these dogs, contact us or fill out a foster application (or even an adoption application).

With the migration to the new website, a few issues popped up with submitting adoption, volunteer and foster forms online that caused them to disappear into the big bit bucket instead of being emailed to the people they were supposed to go to.

If you filled out one of the forms online in the last couple of days, please go back and resubmit the form again so that your request can be properly processed.

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. The webmonkeys responsible have been appropriately punished.

We are in great need of about 10-15 foster homes immediately!! We have dogs in boarding facilities that need to be moved asap- the boarding facilities need their space. PLEASE brainstorm- think of anyone that might consider becoming a foster parent.

The following are dogs that need a foster home NOW:

Skye- 2 year chocolate female
Cassidy- 2 year chocolate female
Ebony- 2 yr black female
Molly- 2 yr yellow female
Mattie- 6 year yellow female
Joey- 3 yr black male
Sadie 3yr black female
Summer- 10 mo yellow female
Trip- 2yr yellow male

These are the ones that are urgent AND we have a few labs in kill shelters that we are trying to get out- but need a place to put them- let's beat the bushes- beg if you have to- please forward to anyone you can think of that might be willing to help for a few weeks. Thank you!!!!