Lookout! Flea & Tick Season is Among Us!

Fleas are external parasites, living off the blood of mammals. Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about 5 or 6 weeks after the weather starts to warm up.



Warning Signs that you dog or cat may have fleas!!
*Sratching/biting at their skin. Fleas bite-they hurt-your pet wants them off!

*If infested with fleas, your pet can become very nervous and annoyed.

*Black Specks on your pet's skin or in your dog's or cat's bed may be "flea dirt"--the fecal matter from adult fleas. This can be usually seen more easily on a pets back or belly area.


Ticks are blood feeding external parasites of mammals, birds, and reptiles throughout the world. Ticks prefer to live in woods, tall grass, weeds and brush. They climb onto low vegetation and attach to suitable hosts which pass by, including pets and people. When they detect vibrations and chemical cues such as host odors or exhaled carbon dioxide, ticks will fall from their perch or stretch out (holding on to their perch with only 2 or 4 of their rear legs) and hope to snag or attach onto a passing host. Ticks are also capable of detecting shadows cast by a passing host.


Be careful! Ticks can be dangerous to both pets and humans. Many ticks carry bacteria and disease such as: Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and/or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Prevention:
Help prevent your pet from having problems with fleas & ticks by using preventative products which can be pruchased from your vet, or local pet stores, such as: Frontline, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Bio-Spot. Ask your vet which is right for your pet.

If your pet already has fleas/ticks: Many of these same products are also used to treat flea infestations. You also need to treat your home, pet's bedding and living area, along with your car (esp. if you transport your pet with fleas).

For a more natural remedy, Shear Paradise offers ALL-NATURAL, NON-TOXIC flea and tick baths too. (no dips or pesticides)
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Cash

Cash is 18 months old and he was rescued from a pound in Indiana. After a little digging we determined Cash was hit by a car and dumped by his owner. He has permanent damage to the left side of his body but he is not letting this put him down. Cash has a beautiful spirit and is planning on enjoying life. Cash was recently neutered and in June he will have surgery on his leg. Midwest Mastiff Rescue received a donation to help offset a lot of the medical expenses for Cash.

There are so many wonderful people out there willing to donate money to help with medical and living expenses. We are so grateful for all the help we receive. If you would like more information regarding volunteer opportunities please check out our website and complete a volunteer application.

A Forever Family for Addyson

Here is a special note from Addyson's new family.

After much soul searching, and even more researching, we decided an English Mastiff would certainly fit the bill, as an addition to our family. We began looking, all the time our beloved German Shepherd Dog Zues, was slipping away to DM (spinal paralysis). Zues took to a wheelchair very well, and even though at 12 ½ years old, and knowing he had had a good long life, it was still a devastating shock when he passed away in our arms – that boy had such heart!



I began looking in earnest. Even though my husband said he just wasn’t ready – I wrote breeders, went to dog shows – then after much talking, we decided to look to someone who REALLY needed a home – a rescue dog. This, was going to be hard, we both knew, with our somewhat unusual lifestyle – a 9 year old cat, 2 horses, 2 miniature donkeys, and 15 chickens. Although we wanted to share our life and give a home to someone who needed it, we both knew an older dog would be a HUGE challenge, and potentially a dangerous situation.



Then who did I see but Little Miss Addyson. A PUPPY Mastiff! Holy Smokes, we couldn’t believe it! Against all odds, but with all our heart, we applied to be considered, and with God at our back, and Addyson’s foster Mom Jean at our front, we finally went to pick her up.



We’ll never be able to thank Mid-West Mastiff Rescue enough for such a joyful addition to our family. From the first moment we saw her online, we knew she was our baby – and thankfully she now is. Jean, the foster Mom, did such a wonderful job, that made Addyson’s transition to yet another home not all THAT scary. She was such a good girl, and adjusted surprisingly quickly. One thing that was so nice, is that Jean let us know up front all about her, and questioned us extensively to make sure that a good fit was being made.



For all of you who may have also seen Little Miss Addyson and surely wanted her, I can tell you that this little girl is SO loved – not only by her forever Mommy and Daddy, but also by her little 9 year old rescue cat that adores her (and after thoroughly cleaning her face every night sleeps with her) – two Andalusian Stallions that are amused at her puppy antics and gently put up with her puppy play time, 2 miniature donkey brothers that calmly watch as she wants to play SO badly with them, and 15 chickens that have decided they’ve now got an exercise coach that will keep them in shape.



This little girl is already loved by all the storekeepers in our small town, and has adapted so well, it’s like she was born here. Kudo’s to Shirley and all of the people at Mid-West Mastiff Rescue – and especially Jean, our little girls foster mom. You can be assured that these wonderful people truly care about the charges and responsibilities they accept, and want only the best for these little souls that deserve a forever home.



Thanks guys, for giving us our little girl. She is a joy and light to our lives – and reminds us to find joy in everything – even when you get an unexpected snowstorm after you’ve already plowed your garden (grin) – (if you’d like to see a silly video of Addyson, go to www.proshowgold.com , and click on the tab called ‘sharing’, then click on ‘member name’ and type in LatitudeAndalusians – Addyson’s video is the first one)

Thanks so much to our wonderful foster and adoptive families.

Happy Tails for Sunshine

Sunshine was adopted by a great family here in Indiana. She now has four human brothers and sisters as you can see above. The kids have a very special relationship with her since she was the first dog they were able to pick out. Sunshine watches cartoons with the kids, plays ball in the backyard, plays tag and chase. "She is everything you could want in a dog and everything a kid could want in a companion" says Kelly.

I asked the family why adopt. After losing one of their beloved mastiffs Maddie to bone cancer, their male Manstein, became very depressed. This was the main reason they started looking for another mastiff. They were very saddened to see all the dogs in rescue. The families’ pet sitter often told them stories about dogs, and other animals for that matter, that she would rescue or foster. Because of this, they looked harder into rescue and found us.

As you can see Sunshine has more love and attention she could ever ask for.

These mastiffs are a treasure for wonderful families like Sunshine's. We appreciate the great families who open their hearts and homes to foster or adopt.

If you would like to see more of our available mastiffs please go to our website or click on the Adopt a Mastiff link.

Happy Hendricks

Location: Indiana

Hendricks is a 1 1/2 year old, reverse brindle mastiff. He was surrendered to a local pound.

Hendricks is adjusting nicely to his foster home and is extremely loving to the teenager in the foster family. He is getting along really well with the family pets and we're on clear about his attitude towards cats but he doesn't seem to have a prey drive.

Hendricks is getting settled into his foster home and receiving a nice warm bath and clean bed to sleep in. Hendricks is happy go lucky and is just looking for a loving family to take care of him.

Hendricks will be going to the vet very soon for his check up and neutered.

If you are interested in Hendricks please complete an adoption application.

Update on Addyson- PENDING ADOPTION

Here are a few things Addyson's foster mom had to say about her.

Addyson is working on house breaking, and it's going great. Her foster mom is working on leash walking and she is very good on a leash unless another dog comes around and then she is a little skittish and tries to hide.

Addyson loves playing with her foster brothers, Eddie a 4 year old mastiff and Brooksie a 4 1/2 year old lab. She is especially fond of Eddie and they are always romping around. Addyson does stop (at least briefly) when commanded. She has also become very fond of the neighbor mastiff that she goes on walks with. The neighbor mastiff comes over and Addyson and her foster brothers all play in the yard together.

Addyson is crate trained and willingly goes to her crate when it is time for bed with a small treat. She does not whine at night nor does she have accidents in her crate. Her foster mom takes her out one time during the night and usually has to wake Addyson up to go.

Addyson doesn't mind bath time either. She sits very calmly until bath time is over. She is such a joy and has a great disposition. Addyson is very loving, trusting of people and kids, and once she knows the dog she is their new best friend.

Addyson's new family will be required to have a physical fence no invisible fencing will be accepted. She will need obedience training to build her confidence and bond with her owner. There will be a $ 50 refundable deposit that will be returned upon proof of obedience training.

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ADDYSON. Please visit our website for other available mastiffs. Thank you!

Addyson from Indiana- PENDING ADOPTION

Addyson is a five month old surrendered to MMR due to finanical hardship. The economy is affecting the lives of pets as well as humans.

Addyson isn't available just yet because she needs to be vetted and spayed. There will be a $ 50.00 non-refundable deposit for obedience training in addition to her adoption fee.

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ADDYSON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR INTEREST.