Peanut on Prednazone

A rare moment of Peanut being quiet

Peanut was diagnosed with Steroid Responsive Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome on October 4th. Since then she has been taking steroids (Prednazone - hence steroid responsive). While the steroids have helped with the shaking, and she is no longer having seizures, they are having some side effects.

Peanut has always loved food but was never over weight. The steroids have caused her to be hungry all the time. Besides gaining weight she is now table surfing for anything she can her her chubby little paws on. While she has always been the dominant dog she is now having aggression issues when it comes to food, treats, and bones. She is not only guarding her own food but me if I'm eating, or the garbage can if it has food in it. Now Peanut is on 6 pills a day. Along with eating a lot she is drinking a ton, causing her to have accidents in the night. We have an appointment at Cornell on Friday to see if we can start weaning her off the steroids.

Updated -Lollypop Farm Young Professionals Holiday Party

The event at Dog E. Woggy has been postponed. In its place we will be having a social at UNO's in Victor across from Eastview Mall. The networking event is still on Dec 12th now from 5:30pm - 7:30ish. Appetizers are free and there will be drink specials! I hope to see some new faces!


Canceled for now - The Lollypop Farm YP group is having a Holiday party on December 12th, 7pm at Dog E. Woggy's. Young professionals and their dogs are welcome to come! Dog E Woggy's K-9 Playtime has areas for the dogs to run around and play together inside and out. If you bring your dog we do ask that you keep an eye on him while you are there.

The Holiday party is to celebrate the YP group being together for 6 months and raising $3,800 for our Barktober Fest Team. If you haven't attended a Lollypop Farm YP networking event or meeting this would be a great opportunity to stop in and meet fellow animal lovers in Rochester. This is a free event and drinks and snacks will be provided.

For more information on the group send an email to youngprofessionals@lollypop.org

Follow us on Twitter! @LollypopFarmYP

Christmas Pictures by Blue Sock Photography

Me, Ben, Peanut, Bailey, & Mia

We had our Christmas pictures taken by Blue Sock Photography as a fundraiser for TRUEpit at See Spot Think Dog Training. Check out TRUEpit on Facebook for more information on the group.

Mia - 18 years old!

Lollypop Farm Young Professionals Meeting - Adoptions & The Farm

Ashley Coon & pot belly pig

This month's Lollypop Farm Young Professionals meeting featured Kerry from adoptions and admissions and Joanna the Farm Manager. It was really interesting to get an inside perspective of the day to day operations at Lollypop Farm. Even as a volunteer I still learn new things each time the young professionals group has a speaker.

Kerry described to us the adoption process and how adoption counselors try to connect families with the right pet. Dogs can be a little more obvious when choosing which one is a good fit for you. Do you have time for a very hyper puppy, or would an older dog fit into your life better? Cats also have different personalities and to help increase adoptions and matching cats with the right home, Lollypop Farm has started the Meet Your Match Feline-ality program. Volunteers evaluate the cats in a calm setting outside of their cages to get a feel for the cats personality. Some cats do require more attention than others. The ASPCA has a list of descriptions on their website here.

Joanna giving Lida Rose a snack

We are very fortunate to have such a great shelter in our backyard. Lollypop is one of the few animal shelters that also accepts farm animals. Lida Rose the farm pig shown above was found as a stray wandering around in Canandaguia. They think she may have escaped from a truck on its way to the slaughter. Lida Rose turned out to be a very friendly pig! Joanna has even taught her a few tricks.

There are several pot belly pigs on the farm up for adoption. Joanna says that people get them as pets expecting them to stay small and when they don't they bring them to Lollypop Farm. Pot belly pigs are very strong, and their natural instinct is to root around in the ground. If their owners are away at work all day and the piggy is inside they may start rooting through your cupboards, wood floors, or even flip your refrigerator over!

Joanna also told us that the emus at Lollypop Farm were found as strays. One of which was caught on 390! Police restrained the emu with caution tape until Lollypop Farm staff could come pick it up. 

There will be no meeting for November. Join us at our Holiday Party in December at Dog E Woggy! More info to come. To sign up for our email list send a message to youngprofessionals@lollypop.org.

Follow us on Twitter! @LollypopFarmYP

Barktober Fest Pictures

We had professional pictures taken at Barktober Fest! They just came in the mail. We had such a hard time because Peanut and Bailey were so excited they didn't want to sit still. We were still able to get some good shots tho.

The same photographer that took these does the Christmas with Santa pictures at Lollypop Farm. I can't wait for those! We have them done every year and they look fantastic. I send them out as my Christmas cards. The money for the Christmas pictures also helps the animals at the shelter so its a win win! 

Adopt a Dog Month at Lollypop Farm

October is adopt a dog month at Lollypop Farm. The goal is to find homes for 175 dogs! Each week different dogs will be selected as "Top Dogs". The Top Dogs will have a reduced adoption fee of $75. Anyone that adopts a dog in October will be entered in giveaways for dog beds, treats from a barkers dozen, and a photo session from images unveiled.

As always, each dog or puppy adoption includes:
• Spaying and neutering
• Vaccinations and deworming
• Heartworm test
• A certificate for a free health exam
• A 30-day gift of pet health insurance
• Microchipping
• Flea-control treatment
• Free behavior advice
• Discounted behavior and training classes

Why Adopt?

• Give an animal a second chance
• Saving an animal from being put to sleep and making room for another animal in the shelter
• You are not supporting puppymills or backyard breeders
• Save money $- Adopting is less expensive than purchasing an animal and providing the necessary vetting

More reasons why people have adopted from Lollypop Farm here.

Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome?!

Peanut my flyball all star has been incredibly sick lately. She started off a few weeks ago shaking just a tiny bit. Barely noticeable, I didn't think anything of it. Then she started walking strange. I took her to the vet right away thinking she pulled a muscle. They gave her medicine but she got worse. She could barely walk, she was falling over, wouldn't eat, vomited when she drank, and had two seizures. Being a panicked mom I called the vet constantly to update them on her situation, and brought her in a second time. They recommended I go see a neurologist at Cornell University in Ithaca. The neurologist there told me that Peanut has Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome or idiopathic steroid responsive shaker syndrome. What the heck does that mean? Peanut is only two, shes just a baby! Shes so healthy, shes a flyball super star! Well luckily for us it is a very treatable condition. It is most common in West Highland White Terriers, Poodles, and Malteses. With steroid treatment the condition will go away. I get her back from the vet tonight and I can't wait.

#1 Fundraising Team Again!

My fundraising team Kribbit's Kritters was the #1 fundraising team for the second year in a row. We raised a total of $14,649.43!! We didn't reach our goal of $20,000 but we did surpass our number from last year by $487. Besides winning overall fundraising team, our team captain Susie was the top individual fundraiser with $4,025.90, team member Jean was the #2 fundraiser this year with $3,405.63 and our team member Laurie Dobson was the #3 fundraiser with $1,774! Our team is already thinking about how we can do better next year.

#1 Fundraiser!! Susie & Rudy

Since we were the top fundraisers from last year our team kicked off the walk. There were 200 runners and 450 people signed up for the walk. There was an estimated 2,500 people that attended the event. Unfortunately Lollypop did not reach their fundrasing goal of $136,500 but they did raise $122,600.

Hot Dog Bobbing Contest

Peanut did not win the hotdog bobbing contest but she had so much fun eating hotdogs! She did participate in the flyball demonstration with her team 2 Fast Fur U.

Molley in the flyball demo

The costume contest was one of the highlights of the event! Susie's dog Rudy came as a Jedi. The competition was stiff and Rudy was not the winner but was a great sport about wearing the costume.





Costume Contest Winner!

Survivor Flyball Competition

We won 7 out of 10 races for a 3rd place finish! We were very close to a 3-way tie for first place.

Congratulations to all the handlers for a job well done! Thank you once again, Eleanor, for your
boxloading expertise! We couldn’t have done it without you!!

Official Results:

10 Races
37 Heats

Fastest Times:

Amber, Louie, Molly, BT 22.548

Amber, Morgan, Molly, BT 21.538

Lollypop Farm YP September Meeting

The September Lollypop Farm Young Professionals meeting focused on the humane law enforcement branch of Lollypop Farm. Rochester is very lucky to have three humane law enforcement officers that work at Lollypop Farm. Officer Reno DiDomenico spoke to the group about his position and cruelty issues going on in our area. We learned that Rochester has dog fighting and cock fighting but it is difficult to address because often times the fights are held on local Indian reservations where Officer DiDomenico and all other law enforcement has no authority.

We learned that a few years ago the officers featured on Animal Planet's precinct came to Lollypop Farm to learn how to deal with farm animals. The show is based in New York City and they were having problems with immigrants having goats in their apartments. The NYC officers unfamiliar with these animals did not know how to handle the situations.

Officer DiDomenico told us that his main goal is to educate people. It seems outrageous to animal lovers but some people don't know or don't think its a problem to shoot their dog to put it down, to leave their dog in a hot car, or hit their dog to teach them a lesson. Another common problem is that people leave their dogs tied up outside with out access to shelter. In these situations the goal isn't to hand out fines or jail time but rather to educate the owners on proper animal care.

The next Lollypop Farm Young Professional meeting will be October 24th at 6:30pm at Lollypop Farm in Fairport. This meeting will focus on adoptions and farm animals. If we are lucky we will have a special visitor from the farm!

Follow us on Twitter for more information @LollypopFarmYP



Barktober Fest Bake Sale!

Susie Schneider our amazing team captain of Kribbit's Kritters and Lollypop Farm Pet Peeves volunteer held a bake sale at her office complex. All of the funds from the bake sale went towards our Barktober Fest goal. The sale was a great success and raised $274! Way more than we could have anticipated. Michelle's Cafe was nice enough to help out and donate $100 towards that total!

Cat to School Special Today & Tomorrow!!

During the Cat-to-School Special on Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, all cats who are one year and older will be completely free of charge at all four of our adoption centers during regular hours. Cats and kittens younger than one year will be available to adopt for just $99. Cats over one year old are my favorite anyways. This way you already know their personality. Kittens are adorable but they grow up quick.

Lollypop Farm currently has almost 500 homeless cats and kittens in our care, so new homes are urgently needed. This is the perfect time to add a feline friend to your household!

As always, each cat or kitten adoption includes:

• Spaying and neutering
• Feline leukemia testing
• Vaccinations and deworming
• A certificate for a free health exam
• A 30-day gift of pet health insurance
• Microchipping 
• Advantage flea-control treatment
• Free behavior advice

Cats for Adoption

Bailey My Cone Head

Wearing my cone of shame

Bailey is a bit of a drama king. Something has him upset lately and hes been taking it out on his tail. He is an itchy dog to begin with so he gets special food (usually Blue Buffalo or EVO) and expensive shampoo, but this is more than just itchy. This is I'm upset and pulling all my hair out. So I had to cone him. He also got to come to work today. I was hoping that would keep him happy and so he wouldn't want to chew on his now raw tail.

I have to sleep on your lap I'm very sad

Nom Nom Nom!

Barktober Fest Donation Tables

Our team is very lucky that Pet Supplies Plus in Fairport allows us to have a donation table outside of their store a few nights a week. The employees there are all very accomodating to us! I buy most of my pet food here because of how much the store supports local shelters and rescue groups. The customers have been amazing. Every time we have a table we raise about $60-100 in donations! Every little bit helps and it all certainly adds up fast.







Donation Table at Hang Around Victor Days





The History - Kribbit's Kritters

I am proud to say this is my second year on Team Kribbit's Kritters for Lollypop Farm's Barktober Fest. I've been walking in Barktober Fest since about 1998. I can remember being in 6th grade with my best friend Emily and walking our dogs Abbey and Mia at Frontier Field. Back then we each raised about $150. We would go door to door asking for donations. Its amazing how 13 years later I'm still walking in Barktober Fest. Mia is a little too old to walk with me now but shes doing great for her age!

We need your help! Last year our donations broke records, can we do it again? Donate: http://lollypop.kintera.org/barktoberfest/ashley

Volleyball Tournament to Benefit Lollypop Farm

Sign up to participate in a 4's tournament to benefit Lollypop farm!! The Barktober Fest team Paychex is hosting this awesome event:

There will be recreation and intermediate levels; the cost is $100 per team (4-6 players). This includes your tourney fee, drink tickets, and a donation to Lollypop farm. We will also be having a 50/50 raffle, football squares, and prize giveaways.

Check in is at 9:30 am, you can register online  (https://secure.novaeventmanagement.com/Index/showTournaments) or stop on down to Hot Shots and sign up.

If you have any questions, please contact Abby Mastrella at abbyjennifer@yahoo.com.

We're still here - Riga case has not made much progress

Playing with my toys

Cuddling with Freinds

The Riga case is not making much progress but a court date has been set for November 2011. I wish the animals that were taken from her did not have to wait out these ridiculous court events. If she is proven not guilty she could have her animals back but would have to pay boarding fees for all 150 animals seized since December. Something there is no way she could afford. 

This case has put a huge financial burden on the shelter and I hope it is settled soon.

Kribbit's Kritters Garage Sale Success!

Our garage sale was a great success! We only had it one day and we made about $400. Next year we hope to be more organized and raise even more money. Thank you to all of the people that donated items to sell. All left over items were donated to great causes around Rochester including: Lollypop Farm, womens shelters, and GoodWill.

Barktober Fest Team Kribbits Kritters

Click Here to Donate
My goal this year for Barktober Fest is to raise $3,000! Last year was the first year I signed up with a team and I ended up raising $2,474.75 and was the #3 top fundraiser. This year I'm hoping to be the #2 top fundraiser. Our team is having a garage sale on August 20th but we are going to have to think of some creative ways to raise money if we are going to reach our goal. I think the competition from the other teams will be higher this year also.


Click Here to Donate

Feline Frenzy Free Cats at Lollypop Farm

On July 7th Lollypop Farm the Humane Society of Greater Rochester hosted a free cat adoption day that broke records. Tomorrow August 11th they are doing it again. Due to an extreeme need for cats to get adopted they are having another free day. Currently there are 500 cats at the shelter. Cats will be free at all 4 of their locations.

Free adoption includes:

Spaying and neutering

Feline leukemia testing

Vaccinations and deworming

A certificate for a free health exam

A 30-day gift of pet health insurance

Microchipping 

Advantage flea-control treatment

Free behavior advicehttp://lollypop.org/orgmain.asp?storyType=3&storyid=819

Rochester Cutest Dog Contest

Bailey and Peanut's modeling pictures came in! They came out amazing!! I entered Bailey's picture in a cutest dog contest for the Rochester radio station 106.7 Kiss FM. I have to find the perfect frames for the pictures now.

Canoeing at Boughton Park

My mom's dog Ollie loves to go out on the canoe! Even at 15 hes still young at heart. Ollie does pretty well off leash and is very friendly so he is the easiest to take out for a ride. His favorite part is when we get going fast he sticks a paw in to feel the water or grab a quick drink. He did attempt to tip us in more than once tho!