Did You Know: Where in the World is Labrador Life Line?

22. March 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know?
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Did you know… that Labrador Life Line is an entirely volunteer based organization? Based on… the Internet?

Scarlett - helped by LLL just this year.

When we first started the Did-You-Knows on the LaBLog, our main focus was to get people interested, and involved, in what it is we do here at LLL. Part of that is getting the word out about a breed that every volunteer at LLL has dedicated themselves to aiding, caring for, and in most cases, living with in their own homes.

Every week, I like to share with you interesting facts about Labradors and stories about amazing dogs with qualities fitting of the Lab moniker, but what I haven’t gotten to do a lot of yet, is share some of the facts I know about this fantastic non-profit I dedicate my extra time to.

For one, LLL is a completely web-based foundation. How does this work, you ask? Well, the internet has afforded us some amazing opportunities in the last few decades (if you haven’t already noticed). Each day, volunteers communicate with one another over online groups (like chat rooms, really) and email, where we brainstorm, plan and execute.

Labrador Life Line is comprised of committees of individuals – Publicity, Fundraising, Triage, etc. – all working together to raise the money needed to help the many labs and their families that apply for our assistance each year.

How do we decide who to help? It all starts in triage. Like any other non-profit, receiving help from LLL starts with a meeting. In this case, that meeting is the initial application. Interested owners fill out the application on our website, and the triage committee is first in line to receive the info. Triage caseworkers then commit to individual cases and begin the process of contacting and guiding applicants through the process. Have an emergency? Your case worker is on it.

And where does it go from there? After the basic questions are answered, veterinarians contacted and plan in place, LLL works like the best of any democratic organization – a voting process. Even though the volunteers of Labrador Life Line are miles apart, we come together every time a case comes through our door (well, proverbial door, I suppose) to do our best to help the labs and their families that need it most.

So, where is LLL located? Well, that’s easy… everywhere. Being online may not afford us the ability to meet the people and dogs we help in person, but what it does allow us is the flexibility to help A LOT of labs. No matter where in the U.S. your lab lives, we’ve got the potential to help in a crisis. And because we’re online, and with members across the time zones, LLL can help fast – and I think that’s one of our very best qualities as an organization.

I mean, who needs an actual building, when you’ve got a foundation as strong as the 16 fantastic members who devote their time?

Still jonesing for a little more LLL fact-finding? Please head to our website for a closer look!

Until next time,

 

-AL

LLL Intern, Web-based Volunteer and Lab Lover

Lab Tail: Wrigley

18. March 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Ginger Snaps, Lab Tails · Tags: ,
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Hi Everyone!

 For my first Lab Tail, I want to tell you about Wrigley. Wrigley is like most of us….he loves to go on walks and play. Most of all, he loves to play Frisbee with his owner. One day when he was playing, the three-year-old tore a ligament in his right knee. If that wasn’t painful enough, Wrigley’s left knee also hurt.

His owner took him to the vet. After the examination was over, the vet said both of Wrigley’s knees needed an operation in order to get better. He also said Wrigley should have the operation sooner, rather than later. He also said that after the operation, and with a few weeks of rest and rehab, Wrigley would be as good as new.

Not long after Labrador Life Line helped Wrigley his owner sent this update.

I am pleased to tell you that Wrigley is doing very well so far and his legs seem to be working great. His final evaluation and x-rays are due within the next two weeks or so.

The x-rays should tell us whether or not his bones have healed properly and hopefully I will be taking him on short walks very soon. I will keep you updated on what we find out from his x rays as soon as we get them done. I am so thankful for your help in getting Wrigley fixed!

I have no doubts that by the beginning of summer, Wrigley will be playing Frisbee with his owner at the local Dog Park.

Until the next time…keep wagging your tail, cause it keeps your owners wondering what you’ve been up to.

Luv and Sloppy Kisses,

Ginger

Did you know: Dogs and TV

15. March 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , , , ,
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Did you know that some dogs LOVE watching television? So much, in fact, that DOGTV is about to enter your living room – if you have cable, that is.

Relaxing Dog

Does your dog need some relaxing scenery? Could he get it from TV?

The cable network, premiering nationwide soon (and currently available in San Diego), is supposed to be geared toward the dog that spends his day alone. You know; to keep your otherwise lonely puppy company while he sleeps on the couch for most of the afternoon. Or at its best, maybe it will keep him from chewing up your favorite couch (table, rug, favorite sweater – I’m sure you’ve seen these casualties before). Check out the whole concept here on Dogster.

But I’ve gotta ask, does your dog watch TV? I’ve had several dogs, of all different breeds in my lifetime, and only one has ever even given the television set a second glance. Rooster, our current poodle mix (who also, consequently, is fascinated by his own reflection in the mirror – is that another dog in there?), is glued to the set whenever another dog makes an appearance. He’ll bark, whine, beg – like this other canine is right in the room with us. Not to mention what happens when a squirrel makes an entrance. Would watching this sort of programming really settle him down while I’m out of the house? I’m not so sure. But if some televised “relaxation” shows could keep his attention while I used the terrifying and evil vacuum cleaner in the next room? Well, I’d sign up for that!

What do you think? Is your lab a wannabe couch potato? Or is he apt to be riled up by the mere sight of a TV-star animal? Would you subscribe to DogTV?

I’ll be thinking about it… until next time,

 

-AL

LLL Intern, Dog Television skeptic, but a definite Dog Lover

 

Did You Know: Labrador vs. Nature!

07. March 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , ,
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Did you know… that a Lab could survive a tornado?

Greg Cook and his dog Coco, after a tornado destroyed his home in Alabama last week. (Photo courtesy AP Photo/The Decatur Daily, Gary Cosby Jr.)

 

After a tornado swept through Alabama last week Friday, Lab owner Greg Cook rushed home in hopes of saving his dog Coco (he’d been home alone… how scary!). What he found was a huge pile of debris where his house used to be, and amazingly… Coco was crawling out of a mangled window to greet him.

Alright, I know what you’re thinking – Labs are great, but surviving a natural disaster is certainly not a breed specific “attribute.” No, this story’s got a lot of luck behind it. But even I’ve gotta admit – this Lab really embodies that Labrador Retriever spirit I talk about so much – loyal, brave, courageous, and most importantly, loving. Seems like Coco’s exactly the kind of dog we like best here at LLL.

Check out the full scoop over at I Love Dogs and read about Coco, and also a Boxer named Storm (!) who’s also got a bit of that “Lab” spirit, if I do say so myself (I’m sure the Boxer loyalists out there won’t let me claim that… but I think most dogs share a bit of that loving Lab quality. Can we agree on that?).

Does your Lab have a death-defying story of survival? Has your dog beat the odds? Tell us your stories, we can’t wait to hear them!

And until next time,

 

-AL

LLL Intern, FACTotum, and Dog Lover

Coming Soon: Lab Tails

04. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Ginger Snaps
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Labrador Life Line gives so much more than financial
assistance to our parents or to the guardian angels that save us, it gives them
hope. For us fellow Labs, Labrador Life Line provides us, more times than not,
with a second chance, and/or a new beginning. While most stories have a happy
ending, the truth is, sadly, some do not.

Every Lab has a story or a “Lab Tail” (pardon my pun…but I kind of like it) to share.
Coming soon, I will be sharing some of those with you. Some may bring a tear to your
eyes, some will make you smile. But all their stories will inspire you and touch your
heart.

I look forward to sharing some of these stories with you.

Luv and sloppy kisses.

 

Ginger