A letter from Milo's new sanctuary manager-January 2009

 Greetings to you one and all

My name is Gregory Slugocki, and in November I took over management of the Milo Sanctuary. It has been a tough few months, racing against the weather and a few early snows, but we have taken the Sanctuary in a new direction, designed to have maximum benefit for all the animals that live here. It is a big job, because it is a big place.

How big is the Sanctuary? Well, the Milo Sanctuary is 1/3 the size of either Central Park in New York City, or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. For our Bay Area Friends, that would be from the end of Haight Street all the way to Stow Lake, and to either side of the Golden Gate Park, south to west, Fulton to Lincoln.

 

How big are the pens that the dogs live in? Most of the pens are bigger than the average house lot in San Francisco, or any city for that matter.  1/16th to 1/8th of an acre is the average.

The Sanctuary is a big place, and running it is an awesome amount of work….. This is what we have been up to so far this winter….

Older Dogs:
We have moved all of our older dogs into either the Barn, or the surrounding pens in the Main Yard.  Pens that are flat, with no inclines.

The highlight of this move has been Tashi and Uncha, both 13.  They now live in the huge backyard of the Main House; my house. They run around all day like kids. Tashi sometimes comes into the house when my dogs are outside. I don’t think he has ever been inside a house in his life. The dividers are down between the backyard of the Main House and the Cat Yard House, so Tashi & Uncha watch the cats all day, and beg Ginger, our Feline Supervisor, for cookies whenever she appears. If she doesn't, they start barking. Both have undergone a complete transformation! The level ground and sunshine are great for them.

We set up one of our Insulated Dog Houses, which are 4 foot by 8 foot wide, and made the back the front, as we could make a wide opening for them to enter and exit. We also removed the legs and put it on beams, so it is about 6 inches off the ground, easy to climb into. We put this house initially on the back deck of my house. Then, we built a ramp with a very gentle incline, so it was easy on their old bones, not having to climb the steps. Tashi loved it, but Uncha would not go anywhere near the ramp, let alone the deck.

I was a little sad, because my plan was for Tashi and Uncha to come onto the deck, use the dog house, and eventually come into the Main House where I live, to sleep in a toasty warm room off the kitchen. When it was clear the ramp and the deck were just too much for Uncha, we moved the house back down into the backyard, and mind you it was so big and heavy we had to roll it across the yard on logs. We set it up again, filled it with straw, and waited…. Tashi promptly went inside and went to sleep… Days passed, and Uncha would not go in. Finally, one day I was walking by, and did not see Uncha. I began to call her name, and guess who strolled out of the house? After years up on the “Hill” in the shade of the oaks and pines, it is a delight to see these two beautiful and majestic, and “huge” may I add, animals stretched out in a pool of sunlight, or sleeping side by side nestled down in a bed of thick straw.

***SADLY.... Uncha passed away this winter. Tashi has become friends with our "mom of ten" Ama.

 

TASHI                                      UNCHA

Also, the handsome boy Flame, and Corrina, (the oldest dog at Milo), are now in a main yard pen, getting tons of attention.  Corrina, a long time resident and totally feral dog, who is age 16, is now eating literally out of my hand. It took some time, and I had to go very easy with the old girl, but now she will take food from my hand while I am in the pen with her.  Next we will try that trick with other people. She is also undergoing an amazing transformation. Slowly Corrina is accepting our presence, whereas before she would run to a corner of her huge pen on the hill and hide, not even eating while she could hear our voices. Corrina now spends most of the day right next to the gate, watching all the action in the main yard. She will most likely never be tame, but my goal is that she should be “at ease”, and Flame…. Flame is in heaven, running round, and enjoying a tremendous amount of attention.

  Flame & Corinna

Doesha & Angel, our Staffordshire sisters, have a cozy stall in the Barn.  They show little interest in going outside, and insist on “more cookies”.

  Angel & Doesha

Chip and Molly have taken up residence in the huge pen at the base of the road up to the “Hill”, a massive pen, where they run and run and run… and have a prime seat for all the action.  UPDATE: Sadly, Molly passed away in May 2009 from cancer. :(

 

Chip & Molly (RIP Molly)

And, last but not least, Forrest, our 10+/- year old Husky, has installed himself in the office of the Barn. “Forrest”, who was once considered unadoptable, is turning into a Grade-A pussycat. He is also a skillful “borrower”, having clipped me for about two pounds of hamburger when my back was turned. I don’t know if “Forrest” had ever lived inside before, his name being “Forrest”, as he was found by a park ranger wandering in the middle of a remote forest.

“Forrest” is my personal project dog.  You can now touch his neck, head, and belly, and I groom him regularly… It is my dream to place him in a home someday, where he can spend his “golden years”. The thought of old “Forrest” curled up on the couch next to his owner, being petted... well, it brings a tear to my eye, but if not he will be looked after by me.  He is asleep at my feet as I write these words. For now, “Forrest” is warm and cozy, and it is wonderful to watch the “old man” play and explore.  He is learning many things for the first time, just like a new pup…

Forrest

All of our older dogs are now eating meals that have hot homemade chicken soup mixed in with their wet and dry food.

Kittens and Puppies:

Speaking of puppies, we took in two Heartworm-positive dogs over the holidays, both pregnant.
One of the mother’s, AMA,  gave birth at the sanctuary to ten puppies on Christmas Day.

Christmas puppies! ALL TEN have now found their forever homes! 

Aurora, Balto, Benlo, Blaze, Natasha, Sabrina, Scout, Searcher, Spara, Togo

The day before Mama AMA arrived, we had six Border Collie MIX (typical of the Willits area) puppies dumped in our lap, along with a beautiful Bull Mastiff puppy. All seven have since transferred down to Milo Marin and foster care (and found homes!). The Bull Mastiff was named Lulu Belle…she has found a great home!).

And kittens, don’t get me started… As the staff came to work one day, they found a cardboard box with a raggedy old broken umbrella stuck in it… in the pouring rain at the bottom of the lane leading to the Sanctuary.  Inside that box were seven cats of varying ages, four of them small kittens. The “Umbrella Kittens”, as they came to be known, were rushed into our infirmary, and under the careful hand of Ginger McGrew, our Feline Supervisor, they were all nursed back to health. All of those kittens and cats are now at Milo Marin, and after spending time with a Milo foster, the San Francisco SPCA took three of the small ones to WINDOWS at MACY’s in Downtown San Francisco, so they could quickly get adopted.

The Umbrella Kitties

Imagine that… from being abandoned on a lonely dirt road, left in a soaking wet cardboard box, covered by a broken umbrella, to Union Square in Downtown San Francisco, in just six weeks! But, that is Milo.

Leukemia cats:
We are also awaiting a new arrival to our Feline Leukemia House. Usually these cats that have these completely incurable diseases are euthanized outright. We are proud at the Milo Sanctuary to offer one of the only locations for these unfortunate cats. Every time you walk by, they are right at the fence, begging for a pet… Anytime you visit, you can sit with them in their cozy little heated house, or the sunshine of their yard…..

Sanctuary Adoptions:
I am especially proud to announce that we have also had a record number of animals from the Sanctuary adopted out in November/December of 2008.  The biggest success we could ever hope for. An animal leaving the Sanctuary to be re-homed is a joy for us.

Among those adopted was the world famous (or infamous depending on how you look at it) “Girl”, our “Party-eyed” (which means each of her eyes are 2 different colors) 12 year old Australian Shepherd/Husky. I regularly speak with “Girl’s” adoptive mom, as I have a soft spot for “Girl”. “Girl” is resting nicely on the family sofa, and is treated like a Queen. She is regularly groomed, and stuffed with treats.

GIRL

 

 

Last but not least, the beautiful “Copper”, our beloved 12+ year old Chow mix, is now in a foster home in the Bay Area. He follows a little four year old girl around all day, and is showered with hugs and kisses, and treated to daily tea service, seated between the doilies. “Copper” deserves the absolute best, and we are hoping for a permanent home, as he is an absolute “Prince” amongst Dogs.

COPPER

 

And HERBERT was just adopted!!!

 

   HERBERT  
        
        And Darwin!       

We have also taken in quite a few dogs at the Sanctuary. Everything from a Husky who was to be euthanized for, and I am not joking, “Looking suspiciously at a goat”, to a feral Catahoula pup. We have taken in a 13 year old Aussie Cattle Dog, who was a “Foreclosure Dog” facing euthanasia, and a beautiful feral fawn colored American Bulldog/Boxer mix, from a local Indian Reservation, again facing euthanasia, on and on…We have so many dogs coming in, we are scrambling to get our pens on the “Hill” ready.

Construction at the Sanctuary:
We have had frozen pipes, exploding pipes, a few days without water, lots of ice on the roads... and it has all been overcome with a smile. We are building new pens, reinforcing old ones. We have cleared out a large section of Manzanita adjacent to the Main Yard, to build a pen specifically for the purpose of obedience training, under the supervision of Marc Pipes, our Canine Supervisor.

We have created several “Day Pens” for our Barn Dogs, so they can be rotated outside every day in good weather, and enjoy some time in the trees… This Spring/Summer we hope to have a small “Dog Park” style pen built in the “Far Meadow.” This pen will enable large groups of our dogs to play, and test their social skills prior to adoption. We hope to also build a small cabin out there for visitors.

Gary Wills, our new Grounds Master, has been very busy with vehicle upkeep and fence building. New dog houses are being constructed and installed every week, with at least a half bale of rye straw in each house, which is about two feet deep of straw for the dogs to snuggle down in. 'Neat and Tidy' is the catch phrase around here.  'Spotless and Clean'. We are dedicated to making the Sanctuary the best it can be.

A New Day at the Sanctuary: Volunteers

For years, the Milo Sanctuary was a mythical place that few people visited, mostly due to its remote location.

I hereby cordially invite you one and all to come and see us. We are still open to the public by advance notification only, but we are indeed open. But know this, we will put you to work right away. The amount of animals we have to care for is huge, so you will be working when you are here, not wandering around. Hopefully you will meet a dog or cat that will be a life long addition to your family while doing so.

With all these changes in direction and attitude, we need your help.

We need volunteers, but volunteers of many different skills.

We need the following:

Carpenters-Plumbers-Tree Trimmers-Mechanics-Web Designers-Public Relations Specialists-Electricians-General Construction Personnel-Painters-Office Managers, on and on. You would be surprised what I can do with skills you think are not useful to an Animal Sanctuary…. When you call tell me what you do in your daily life, or what your significant other does, as they are invited as well.
 
I can always use very”dog savvy people, just to go into the pens and spend time with our “children”. To be kind to them, play with them, and walk them in the splendor of the Sanctuary’s surroundings.

We have the same opportunity, but much more “low key”, over at “Ginger’s Cat House”, where Ginger and her 70+ cats live in their own three bedroom home. Sit in the yard, or sit inside, and get and give some “Kitty Love.”

The Sanctuary is open to the public, with prior notification, and we can use your help. Definitely in the spring and summer! We have plenty of beautiful places to camp, and we are working on volunteer housing for 2009. Can you help us build some 10x10 Cabins?  Then please contact me….Spend a weekend (or a few weekdays) working with us in the mountains…. And yes, there is a shower and bathroom!!!

If you want to volunteer call me.

707-459-0930, or email me, milo.sanctuary@yahoo.com

We always need money, which is the long and short of it.

Money solves a lot of problems.

Remember we are basically a “farm”. With 283 acres to manage, we don’t sit around the office.  Out in the fields is where we are. We try to have someone answer the phone between 6-9am and 2-4pm. We will also answer every message that you leave as soon as possible.

The “Kid’s Naming Project”:
I am starting a “Kid’s Naming Project”, which is an opportunity to give school children, especially inner city children, an opportunity to name our incoming animals. After all these years, we have run out of names.  We need help! We want to give all children the opportunity to be involved in an animal’s life, particularly kids who could never have a dog or cat of their own, for a variety of reasons. When we get a new animal, which is about every day, we would contact a classroom, and each child would suggest a name.  Then we would pick one from suggestions. The class can follow the progress of their dog or cat on the Milo website, from in-take, perhaps visit them, and finally watch them find a proper forever home.

If you are a teacher, or work in a school, or can help in any way, please call me at 707-459-0930, or email me at milo.sanctuary@yahoo.com

Outro: The Milo Sanctuary is one of the largest Domestic Animal Sanctuaries in the United States. There is no agenda here except the preservation of life. It is just that simple.

I invite you to be a part of something special and important. I invite you, and offer you the chance to “give”, for I believe that in “giving” we walk down the path to becoming better women and men. In reaching, we learn to grow. I invite you to reach with us, as we grow to become the best we can be.

We are here, and the Dogs and Cats are waiting for you and your love…. and I give you my word as a gentleman, they will love you right back…..

I wish the Happiest of New Years to you and yours. Hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Gregory Slugocki
Sanctuary Manager
Milo Sanctuary

 milosanctuary.org

 

This dog house project is part of Project Animal House.  

See below for how to donate to this effort. 

  

Marin Independent Journal Article

The Marin Independent Journal recently ran a great article about the Milo Foundation and one of our fabulous rescue dogs, Ava.

http://www.marinij.com/ci_6440644

Milo Founder Gets a Jefferson Award!

Milo Founder Lynne Tingle has just received a Jefferson Award for Public Service! Learn all about it at the following links:

• Lynne Tingle: Finding Homes For California Pets
  
• JEFFERSON AWARD: Presented to Lynne Tingle - Creatures lap up the love

What a PARTY!!

THANKS TO ALL for making our final night on Solano a fun event!  

Our three photographers terrific photos - click on the links and see the many party goers and their very fine Milo pooches!

Here are Tracy's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tt2000s/  

And Rob's: http://www.flickr.com/gp/78055924@N00/5A8rgZ

And - Kirsten's!  http://www.flickr.com/photos/frizzleberg/

We have relocated our main rescue and adoption operation to a former vet clinic on outer Fourth Street in San Rafael.  2060 Fourth Street. If you live in Marin County and want to help, either by volunteering at our new space, becoming a foster home, or spreading the word, PLEASE LET US KNOW!  415-454-MILO. 

We will still hold mobile adoptions in front of George Store on Fourth and Hearst streets in Berkeley every other Sunday, as well as the Rockridge Pet food Express store on alternate Saturdays.

Our main animal location is still our 283-acre sanctuary in Mendocino County!  Milo will continue to have a presence in the East Bay (mobile adoptions, volunteers, foster homes), and eventually we will look for another space in the East Bay for pet adoptions, education and volunteerism.  

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING AN ANIMAL, OR FOSTERING, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL to info@milofoundation.org, AND AN APPLICATION.  

We will gladly set appointments to have you meet the animal of interest!

We read our emails DAILY info@milofoundation.org

THANKS TO ALL for your ongoing support and good wishes. 

We ALWAYS need and appreciate all of our donors, volunteers, foster homes and adopters!  And, the 3,000+ animals, whose lives we saved during our two years on Solano Ave, thank you too!!

If people spayed and neutered their pets, we wouldn't have so many cats and kittens flooding the shelters - so many being euthanized daily!  Mom dogs and their unweaned puppies or pregnant animals being killed because there are not enough homes. Milo is working to come up with as many qualified foster homes as we can! 

These families have little chance of getting out of municipal shelters alive, without the help of rescue groups and FOSTER FAMILIES!  This is where you can directly help save lives.

Last kitten season, we saved the lives of over 500 kittens and 40 mom cats, as well as many canines and other adult cats.
In 2006, we saved 666 felines!! We could not have done it without the many dozens of new foster families that came forward to help.  Every year we need new foster families to add to our core group of trusty, devoted foster homes who foster over and over!  Now is the time to help again!

And now with our move to Marin, we need new foster families even more! On BOTH sides of the Bay!
Sign up to foster by clicking on this link!

Volunteer

Now, more than ever, we need your help and support.  Please consider a donation today – or foster a dog, puppies, a cat, or a group of kittens!  

Donate

Photograph Your Mutt for Milo!

The "My Mutt" program is Pet Food Express’ and Virtual Pet Adoption’s effort to raise awareness of what some consider to be the best breed of all, the Mutt. For a substantial donation to your favorite animal rescue - and we hope that's Milo! - a professional photographer will create a striking, billboard-sized print of your Milo-adopted pooch, (or adopted cat!) for hanging in a Pet Food Express store. Once it's time to rotate your photo, the very large poster is yours to keep.

Find out more about the My Mutt program, or email Pet Food Express' petmaster directly for information on how to participate.

A Sheltered Life - San Francisco Chronicle Article

Lynne Tingle's Willits ranch offers abandoned animals a second chance - read the January 17th San Francisco Chronicle article here.