Woof to all of our Hillcrest Hound Fans!!

Hey, the Hounds heard about this amazing place called Peace River Refuge and Ranch, after hearing about all the good things they do for critters the Hounds decided that I should go check it out and feature them in our section for this newsletter and I did just that!!

Peace River Refuge and Ranch, Inc.  provides lifetime care for unwanted and abused exotic animals.  The exotic animals that come to them are never bred or sold, all their medical needs are met and they live out their life in a safe sanctuary..

Peace River Ranch is a private, non-profit wild animal sanctuary and is accredited by  the American Sanctuary Association, a WSPA Member Society and are fully licensed by Federal and State agencies.

 Many of the animals have been abused, malnourished and neglected.  Some come as "ex pets" some come from zoo's or circus attractions. 

 Take for instance, Dolly, she and her sister came to Peace River at the age of 16 yrs old after living in a tourist attraction in New York City that had closed.  She is an American Black Bear and was left to starve with her sister, Peace River rescued her just before she was to be destroyed.  How about B Bear, the little black bear that was purchased as a pet , declawed, and spent his life in a little pen in someone's backyard.  He is now happy at Peace River being a bear and living with others of his own kind.

While there I saw lots of exotics, Bengal Tigers, a black Leopard, Cougars, Monkeys, Bats, Patagonian Cavies....all of them with sad stories....all of them the victim of irresponsible, neglectful people....without Peace River they would have nowhere to go and have to be destroyed.

Peace River runs on donations....they have many animals counting on them, animals that need our help!

Please consider joining their organization and donating to a worthy cause!

For more info check out their website at

Lisa Stoner - VP and our tour guide

www.PeaceRiverRefuge.org

If you wish to make and mail a donation send it to-

Peace River Refuge and Ranch, Inc.

P.O. Box 1127

2545 Stoner Lane

Zolfo Springs, Fl 33890

863-735-0804

The day ended all to quickly, and it was time to go before I knew it. 

Thank You Peace River for all you do and for spending a few minutes to share your story.

We have created a separate page for Customer Pets--

Click here to see some of the excellent photos we have received--Keep them coming!

Customer Pets

This Editions article

This month the Hounds and I want to introduce you to our newest family member!!  This is a new one for us....we have a puppy!

We are not at all used to having a pup around.  Most of our hounds come to us

as adults or seniors from the dog pound.  While we have a heart for rescue dogs,

we have lost a lot of our senior dogs this past year and decided it was time for a puppy!!

Meet Able.

He came from a wonderful breeder in Altamonte Springs. He was the runt of the litter and was only 2 ounces at birth!!  I knew from the minute I saw his picture I had to have him. 

We had been on the waiting list for months and picked him at birth.  He got a bottle supplement every 3 hours till he was out of the woods.  We knew he needed a strong name and Able just fit the bill.

Wow, a puppy in the house is a full time job!!  The Hounds think I have lost my mind at times and I think Kevin agrees!!

He is 4 months old now and just makes me smile daily!  He can often be found accompanying me to the office....

so stop by and say hello.!-Jodie

Merry Christmas Everybody!!

This edition of our Hounds of Hillcrest segment is a bit different.

 With the holiday's fast approaching, this is a time of family and friends, good food, laughter and song.  It’s a time of being thankful for what you have and a time for sweet memories of those that have gone on.

I have shared my heart and home with many dogs over the years, some that have been here just a little while before going to a great new home, some have lived out the rest of their lives with me and went on to the bridge.  For this, I am so thankful.

So in the midst of the business and the hustle and bustle, I challenge you to take a few minutes to love and cherish those two legged and four legged creatures of yours. If you have room in your heart and your home for another, consider adopting a homeless dog or cat this season.  If you have a little extra room in the budget, donate some food, blankets or beds.  If you just have a few extra minutes at the end of the week, go and walk or groom a dog or cat at the shelter.  We can all do something to make this world a little brighter for a four legged critter in need!

From the Hillcrest Hounds and I we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Woof!

DAISY

Hi Everybody!!

This month we want to introduce you to Daisy.

Daisy is a English Toy Spaniel, cousins to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

This breed is from England and was owned and loved by King Henry the 8th.  He was never seen without two or three of these little spaniels by his side, in fact, he mandated that they be allowed in Parliament and in any and all  common areas in all of England, and they still are today!

Poor little Daisy spent the first 3 years of her life as a breeder in a puppy mill farm in Minnesota.  She  never got out of the rabbit size cage and was bred over and over again.  She is such a tiny girl., all of 8 pounds, and had trouble having her last few litters.

Her "owner" took her to Ohio, to be sold at an live dog auction.  These are illegal here in Florida , dogs are auctioned off to the highest bidder like a piece of furniture.

Anyway, Daisy got lucky because some very dedicated people I know bid on her and rescued her out of there.

She had to be spayed, have her shots and be shaved as her coat was so matted.  She went from Ohio, to Tennessee to Georgia and then on to Florida and joined our family.

What a doll she is!!  She has taken to us right away and is the perfect little house dog.  Nobody would believe what she came from.

If you are looking to add a little love in your life....consider a dog that needs someone to love....You will not be disappointed!!

Previous Months Articles

Meet Charlie!

He is our newest rescue turned family member!!

Poor Charlie belonged to people that kept him chained outside

in a dog run for his first 2 years of life!

When the call came that his owners were wanting to give him up, friends

of mine responded.  He was in such bad shape he did not look like a cocker spaniel.

After a good bath and grooming and 3 flea dips he looked much better!

I was only suppose to look at him and help place him but....wow what a charmer he is!

I left there with him that day.  Off to the vet we went, he had never even had shots,,ever!!

We got him shots and neutered and then found out he was anemic and had heartworms , not

a big surprise to us.  He had only been fed raw hot dogs from the time he was a pup till I got him

a month ago. 

Well he thanks us everyday!!   He is getting healthier every day and loves his dog food.

He is a great ball player and likes to swim too!

But most of all he is a total love bug.  He constantly wants to cuddle and will never be living

outside again.

It breaks my heart to think of him chained up all alone for so long but, as Kevin says  "He has hit the jack pot now"!

If a pet is in your future, consider one that needs a second chance at love, you be so glad you did!!

Hi folks!

In this issue of our newsletter, we want to introduce you to our newest

addition, Isabealle.

Isabealle is a 1 1/2 yr old Boykin Spaniel.  Boykins are more of a rare breed, mainly found in

the Carolinas, they are actually the state dog of South Carolina.

They have always been on my "I want one of those" bucket list of dog breeds to own one day.

(My bucket list of dog breeds are breeds that I want to own before I kick the bucket. )

So anyway, Isabealle was surrendered to animal control and put on death row.  There are just

not enough homes for all the homeless dogs out there.  A friend of mine that happened to be there saw Isabealle and

knew right away she was a Boykin.  She adopted her , brought her home and called me!!  Did I know of anyone

looking for a Boykin???  You bettcha I did !!  Me!!  After a bit of convincing Kevin that he wanted one to, Isabealle came to live

with us.

She is a doll, very playful and loving and a total ham!

Consider a dog in need if you are looking to add to your family, you won't be sorry!!

Well folks, the Hounds of Hillcrest have been yapping about making sure you all know that we are all owned by a Hillcrest Kitty Cat!!

So for this issue, the hounds want to feature our kitty CAbi!!

 We met Cabi last June on a very rainy evening.

We are what you call "dog" people however, we are animal lovers and this kitty needed our help.

She was abandoned, in really bad condition and she had 5 ,3 day old babies!!  How could we say no????

 I brought CAbi and her little family home and made them a nice bed in my office downstairs.  I wanted her to have her privacy to take care of her babies and to tell you the truth, I did not know what the "Hounds" and the husband would think of our newest boarders!!

 Well CAbi was a great mom and her babies were not only adorable but so much fun to watch.  They grew healthy and fast and before we knew it it was time to go to their new homes.  Each one was adopted to a home where they would be spoiled and loved!!

Now around this time the discussion started about finding a home for mommy!  I wanted to make sure she was spayed and recovered from her mommy days first.....

 Well to make a long story short, she found a great home right here!  The Hounds love her and she loves them.  She is a very spoiled house cat and will never again be on the streets alone.   We are still dog people but we are all owned by One Crazy Cat!!

Here at Hillcrest we love our hounds!!

Hi Everybody!

This newsletter we are featuring some of your pets that you have sent us pix's for as well as one of the Hillcrest Hounds!!  Keep those pix and stories coming, we love them!

 --In Memory of Elvis--We lost Elvis this past month.  We are so grateful for the opportunity to love him and show him what a spoiled Pooch's life is like

This is Elvis. 

We got Elvis the first day of September.  My pastor found him roaming around his neighborhood and called me to see who he should call.   I told him I would take him  and find him  a home.  I have never seen a dog in worse shape.

He was emaciated, full of tumors, nails so long he could not walk and well into his teenage years.

Driving away with him , I just asked him to live long enough that I could spoil him for a while!!  And right then and there I knew he already had a home!  Now we just had to tell Kevin the news!

We went to the vet to get the nails done and get shots and wormed.  We think he is at least 12 or 13 years old.  He has gained 15 pounds in 6 weeks and is a joy to live with!

He lets you know with a deep Woof if he is hungry or needs to go out.

I feel blessed just having the chance to get to know this wonderful creature and I cherish everyday we have him .

If you are considering a pet in your future, consider an older dog, You won't be disappointed!!