Inside This Issue:            
THIRD ANNUAL DOG WALK
FOURTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
SWEETPEA SHELTER BUILDING FUND
LETTERS FROM OUR MEMBERS
NEW SWEETPEA TELEPHONE
SWEETPEA WEBSITE

The newsletter staff apologizes for the delay in producing this issue. We were plagued by computer failures and life events. We also were saddened by the recent death of Edgar Davey of Rutland Print Shop. Ed not only printed our newsletter but was a great resource in producing it. He will be greatly missed.

THIRD ANNUAL DOG WALK

SWEETPEA’s third annual dog walk will be held May 14, 2005, rain or shine, at Rutland State Park near the intersection of Route 122 and 122A in Rutland. All money raised by the dog walk will be dedicated to our building fund.

Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. for the 3 mile walk and at 10:30 am. for the 1 mile walk. Dress for comfort and for weather conditions. We will be walking on dirt park roads. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All dogs must be licensed with current tag and have proof of current rabies vaccination Dogs must be leashed. For everyone’s safety, please do not bring dogs that are aggressive with people or other dogs. 

Walkers with pledges of $75 or more receive a SWEETPEA T-shirt. Walkers with pledges of $100 or more also receive a homemade bandana for their dog.

Water and lunch will be provided.
Awards will be given to:
* Biggest Dog        * Smallest Dog        * Oldest Dog        * Youngest Dog
* Walker with the most sponsors        * Walker who came the furthest 

To receive a registration form, pledge sheet, and waiver of liability please call 508-886-6191, 
e-mail D20havedogs@AOL.com, or mail us an application form.

 Come join us for a fun day!
We had great fun at last year's dog walk, as you can see from our pictures ...

FOURTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Save the date! The Fourth Annual Golf Tournament will be held Sunday, August 14, 2005 at Quail Hollow Golf Club, Old Turnpike Road, Oakham, MA. Enjoy a day of golf or just join us for a buffet lunch and raffle. Details will follow in the next newsletter. This year's event is expected to be a really for a fun day -- we had immense fun at last year's Golf Tournament! Outline details are given here.

NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR SWEETPEA F.O.R. ANIMALS

SWEETPEA now has a new business phone. The number is 508-886-6191 or toll free 866-970-PETS. Voicemail will be checked daily. Please, do not leave urgent animal control messages for SWEETPEA. These are handled through the town dispatcher. SWEETPEA will gladly take calls concerning adoption or surrender or for information about our programs.

SWEETPEA SHELTER BUILDING FUND

In September members of SWEETPEA F.O.R. ANIMALS board of directors met with Bill Meade of Shelter Planners of America. After soliciting input from members of the board Mr. Meade developed preliminary plans for a SWEETPEA shelter. The board has been having ongoing discussions with Devereaux School and looking at other alternative building sites.

The cost to build a shelter that is aesthetically pleasing to the neighborhood, controls noise, and provides comfortable, sanitary housing for the animals entrusted to SWEETPEA’s care was estimated at $500,000 to $600,000. To date SWEETPEA has approximately $45,000 in a dedicated building fund. Money raised at the dog walk and at the upcoming golf tournament will go toward the building fund.

LETTERS FROM OUR MEMBERS 

WHAT ONE TEN YEAR OLD CAN ACCOMPLISH!

Dear Sweetpea,

 My name is Corie. I’m a ten year old girl who loves animals. I had my birthday party on Saturday and instead of preasants I asked the kids for donations to your shelter. I raised $190.00

                             Your friend,
                                                     Corie

Hello,

I have always wanted to write to you folks and always watch for your listing and e-mail so hopefully this will get to you.
Two years ago in October I adopted a sheltland sheepdog from you. His name was Sneakers. You may recall him as his owner had passed away and he was not in the best situation for him. My sheltie had died. And I just want to extend a deep sense of thanks and gratefulness to you all for Sneakers.

He did not know his name (after all, his owner was deaf) and his name became "Teddy Bear".......He has been such a tremendous blessing to me. We were indeed a perfect match. After all my sheltie died and his owner died and you folks....matched us up. He is so very sweet and gentle and affectionate.

We go for long walks together.  He sleeps on the foot of my bed. We go for car rides and trips together. He is known by the girls at the bank as we go through the drive-through and he has no patience waiting for his milk bone. He is known at Dunkin Do-nuts where they give him a Munchkin---and each time he keeps it in his mouth -thinking it is a ball until he starts to taste it...........and even McDonalds--which we rarely go to...knows Teddy and gives him a McNugget.

His health has been excellent. He gets vitamins and fish oil tablets--He just had his geriatric physical--he is now 11 and passed with flying colors. He is beautiful in every way and we love him so.

I sent a Valentine Card to the little girl who had him at a state home for the cognitively challenged.  She too loved him but apparently things did not work out as there was a two year old there and poor Teddy had never been exposed to children. 

I am so delighted and so happy with Teddy that I check listings for shelties and notify Sheltie Rescue in New Hampshire.  I have become very good friends with one of the foster moms there. Seems to be very fond of the female canines especially shelties...........so I wonder if they don't recognize their own breed.

God Bless,
                   Jean from Duxbury Mass.

And so ............. to all of you at Sweet Pea
-- A very special thank you from Teddy and I
........for all that you do...............  
And if you ever get another sheltie in
-----please let me know
............especially a female [fromTeddy].

SWEETPEA WEBSITE

http://www.sweetpeafora.org, our official website, has been completely updated by Susan Gasson who volunteered after seeking a dog for adoption. Although Susan and her husband, Jim,  did not end up adopting through SWEETPEA, they made a generous donation and Susan has done a terrific job with the website. Go check it out for dogs and cats for adoption and lots of other information.

“Two cats can live as cheaply as one and their owner has twice as much fun.” 
~~ Lloyd  Alexander

Previous newsletter

How to CONTACT US

You can meet our pets by contacting Dick Clark:

Sweetpea F.O.R. Animals
PO Box 897
Rutland, MA 01543
Phone: 508-886-6191 or toll free:  866-970-PETS (866-970-7387).
Email: D20havedogs@aol.com

Our animals are normally kept in the Animal Control Officer's premises or in a small shelter at the Devereaux School, whose staff and students care for the animals, take them for home visits to socialize them, them, and play with them.  Please contact Dick Clark to visit with them!

Find Rutland MA on MapQuest

Please report any problems with this website to Susan Gasson,
email: sgasson@ischool.drexel.edu
Last Updated: Friday, February 03, 2006