Dear Supporters of Shih Tzu Rescue:

As we approach the end of our 23rd year of rescuing, rehabbing and finding quality homes for abused, unwanted and homeless dogs, we wish to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our wonderful volunteers and donors. Without your tireless effort and generous support we would not have been able to help the many desperately needy dogs that came our way this year.

Our biggest challenge this year came in the form of Hurricane Irma, which brought great damage to our campus. It is hard to put into words the way one feels when a Hurricane the magnitude of Irma could potentially hit the place that holds your heart. We are beyond blessed that nobody – two legged or four legged – was injured during the storm. However, Irma left us with considerable damage. After staff and volunteers spent days cleaning up the huge branches and debris that littered our campus as a majority of our beautiful trees were uprooted. At this time, we are also in need of a new roof. Insurance will cover some of these repairs, but with a $10,000 wind deductible, we desperately need your help. After the storm, so many of our supporters came through with much needed donations - “THANK YOU, THANK YOU!” The magnitude of the expenses to repair what was damaged due to Irma has strapped us financially in ways we could not have prepared for so your end of year donations are critical to us!

If anything good came out of Irma it was being able to save Princess Rose. She came to us the night of the hurricane as the winds were picking up around us. This beautiful girl was surrendered by a person who lived in a mobile home in an evacuation area, who was leaving for a shelter that didn’t allow dogs. Had we not taken her she would have been left alone in the trailer for the duration of the storm. A few days after her arrival and Irma’s departure, we noticed that she had blood in her urine. We took her to our Vet who discovered and removed six golf ball sized bladder stones. She would have died in a short time without the surgery. We never would have been able to save her precious life if it wasn’t for Irma. Princess Rose has completely recovered and we can’t wait until we find her the perfect family. (Costs for her emergency veterinary care: $1,300 + ongoing special diet and rechecks)

Our Bubba’s story is another heartbreaker. We received a call from a kind owner of a Junk Removal company who was emptying a townhouse to ask if we would take an old, blind Shih Tzu that was abandoned in the property. He said he called numerous rescues but no one returned his call. Needless to say, we immediately went to pick up this sweet boy who was left to die without any food or water in the filthy, abandoned home. We bathed him and took him the vet, and made an appointment for the eye specialist so that this helpless, sweet boy can get the care that he’s gone without for far too long. We pray that some kind hearted person will adopt him. (Cost for his veterinary care: $250 plus approx $1,700 per year for long term care as one of our less adoptable sweethearts due to age and health)

Finnian, a handsome Shih Tzu/Havanese mix, came to us from a rescue friend who couldn’t care for him because he was born with a rare internal abnormality – he was born without a penis. The veterinary specialist explained that this most likely happened to due hormone usage during breeding. Can you imagine? He has already had one reconstructive surgery and remains hospitalized as he needs around the clock care while he recovers. He will need more diagnostics before he can be neutered and we are working with the veterinary specialist to identify the best way to help him so that he can lead a normal, happy life like he certainly deserves. Although his medical treatment will be costly and take us into unchartered territory we will not give up on helping Finnian. (Cost for his veterinary care: $4,300 plus ongoing follow up care)

Daisy Rae, seven years old, gentle and sweet, was born with cataracts and limited vision. She is paper trained and never went outside until the day she entered the car that brought her to us. She lost her mother, sister and her human who could no longer care for three dogs on that day, an awful ordeal for such a kind and trusting little dog. Our veterinary ophthalmologist said surgery is necessary to prevent glaucoma and she has a 90% chance of having her vision restored. We are moving forward with the surgery as we know we are her last and best chance for a happy life with a new family and the gift of sight. (Cost for her veterinary care: $2,900 plus follow up care)

2017 Holiday Letter

The stones removed in surgeryBeautiful Princess Rose

Damage sustained after Hurricane Irma

Our Sweet Daisy Rae!Our Sweet Bubba!

Ashley Rose came into our lives after her owner contacted us because she could no longer afford to feed or groom her. At the time she was 16 and Harriet felt it was best to keep her in her home, so we provided food for her and groomed her free of charge. After supporting Ashley Rose for a year, her human unfortunately lost her home and had to bring her to us despite our efforts. Ashley Rose, now 17½, is enjoying her remaining years at Shih Tzu Rescue with all the love and care that she deserves. We know there aren’t many rescues that would take in a dog at her age, but we have fallen in love with her. (Regular vet check $100 plus approx $1,700 per year for long term care as one of our less adoptable sweethearts due to age and health)

Liliana was extremely pregnant, terribly neglected and hungry when she came into our care. She was left tied to a post in a horrible neighborhood without concern for her health or that of her unborn babies. We picked her up and the very next morning, 5 beautiful, healthy puppies were born. We cannot fathom the fate of Liliana or her pups had the call to help her come a mere 12 hours later. We are happy to report that the beautiful Liliana and all 5 of her adorable Shih-Who puppies have found loving, forever homes. (Cost for their veterinary care: $1,900 plus extra puppy care and food)

While every rescue has their story, part of running a compassionate rescue is taking in dogs that many other rescues won’t. Old ones, pregnant ones, those in need of medical treatment (some on an emergency basis), bonded pairs that we never split up and those “unadoptables” (due to health or behavioral issues) who will remain with us and be cared for with love for the remainder of their lives. These are the many we say yes to! 2017 will stand out as a special year due to the fact that we adopted to wonderful homes a significant number of our older dogs and bonded pairs. During the week that this letter was being written three bonded pairs found their forever homes, a wonderful occurrence, leaving us with twelve bonded pairs…but, of course, newcomers Magda Rose & Eva Rose, a bonded mother & daughter, unapproachable, matted and terrified, who must be sedated to be groomed, arrived today. A revolving door of rescue.

Our phone never stops ringing. We are the NUMBER ONE search result for Shih Tzu Rescue on Google which brings endless calls from people needing guidance. Many are out of state and some even from other countries. In each case we make every effort to offer advice on how to resolve their problem or at the very least point them in the right direction. This, along with the 100’s of applications we receive for adoption each month, is extremely time consuming. We do the best we can to help people when and where we can so that less dogs end up suffering due to their humans being unaware of what to do.

The expenses listed in this letter total $13,700. This is just the total cost for these 6 featured rescue stories and are more the norm and not the exception. At any given time we have approximately 90 dogs we are financially responsible for. You can imagine what our monthly expenses look like when you figure in all the dogs and all that has to be done. This is why we desperately need your support each and every year. In our 23 years of rescuing we have never taken a salary. We give our time and efforts to the rescue so we can achieve the mission we whole heartedly believe in - rescuing, rehabbing and finding quality, lifetime homes for each and every dog in our care. Every penny that we have goes towards our dogs.

WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP...SPONSOR A DOG OR SET UP RECURRING DONATIONS: All dogs in our care require love, shelter, food, vaccinations, spay/neuter, medical evaluation and treatment, and in many cases, “time” to become whole again before they are ready for adoption. In some cases, because of age or health, they will become permanent residents. Being a NO-KILL shelter, we are committed to giving the love and care needed to make each life as happy as can be for as long as they live with us. If you can’t adopt but want to sponsor a dog, your generous year end or recurring yearly, quarterly or monthly donations will become a life-changing gift. To set this up simply visit www.shihtzurescue.org and click DONATE.

SUPPORT OUR eBAY STORE: Our ebay store can be accessed through the homepage of our website. Susan has been steadily growing the store year over year! She is averaging approximately $500 a month from November to May while she is in FL and the store is active. Help us grow the store by regularly sharing and checking out the store for great finds. www.ebay.com/usr/shihtzurescuedavie

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT OF THE LAW AND ARE USED 100% FOR THE CARE OF OUR DOGS.

Stay connected with the latest happenings at the rescue by visiting us on our website www.shihtzurescue.org, following us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM and invite your friends as well. We would be grateful if you would share this letter with people you know who are dog lovers, would believe in what we do and would want to make a donation to our rescue.

Thank you again for your much needed support. We wish you the happiest of Holidays and New Year full of all things wonderful.

Warmest Wishes Always,

Harriet & EricHarriet, Eric & the Wonderful Dogs at Shih Tzu Rescue Harriet & Eric Rickenback, Founders Shih Tzu Rescue, Inc. 4474 Weston Road # 175 Davie, Florida 33331 (954) 680-6456 ladrando@aol.com www.shihtzurescue.org

Sasha Lynn RajLucas & Fortuno

Precious 17½ yr old Ashley Rose

Mommy Extraordinaire Liliana

SOmE Of OUr AdOPTAbLES