Shayna is a great little dog. Snickers and I having fallen completely in love with her. Every time I watch them nuzzle and snuggle or play with each other, I think I want to KEEP HER. The only problem with that is that there is one of me and two of them. They are both fiercely loyal and loving dogs and I can’t give both of them the interaction and affection that they need. So… someone, please adopt Shayna quickly. She’s going to the vet for her checkup tomorrow and should be available for adoption forthwith.

Shayna gets along with other dogs and should definitely be in a home where she will have neighbor pals for playdates and fun time. She would also do really well in a home with other dogs as long as there are at least as many people as dogs… she loves her one-on-one play and affection time! She tried to bully Snickers when she first arrived, because she wanted more of my time and attention, but as soon as she learned the “pack order” she settled right in and they get along great. She also gets along fine with small children when she is on leash and they are calm. (No idea how she would react to children off leash.)

She is well trained - sit, down, stay, come, go to bed - but pulls on the leash in situations where she needs to “walk nice” (like in crowds). I’ve remedied this temporarily with a Gentle Leader No Pull Harness (the harness, not the halter), but she learns VERY quickly and could mostly likely be easily taught not to pull if someone spent the time with her individually. She actually really enjoys learning and is “praise driven” rather than “food driven.” Whoever adopts her should continue training in classes and at home.

Shayna barks quiet warning barks when she hears neighbors in the hall, but responds very quickly when I tell her it’s alright and she doesn’t need to bark. She has a high prey drive and will chase anything small and fast moving if given the chance. Don’t be surprised if she kills small animals, birds, mice, etc!

She is very physically affectionate and needs a home with someone that (1) doesn’t mind doggy kisses (she loves to lick you) and (2) will let her sleep UNDER the covers at night. She likes to burrow under the sheets and curl up right next to me for the first few hours each night. Shayna would also very much like a home where she has a special spot to sit and watch the world outside the window.

Posted on October 31st, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Shayna | 2 Comments »

From Ella’s New Foster Mom, Molly:

Ella is a love bug. I can say that I know no other shiba who loves tummy rubs as much as she does. Ella loves talk. She grunts and grumbles while playing with toys and chasing her buddy Haiku.

Her training is going extremely well. Ella is a very smart dog and knows very well that with hard work comes great rewards. Her sits are amazing, her downs are getting there, and most important her attention is amazing. She is definitely a food driven dog.

Ella is getting better and better on her toy and food possession issues. She has now learned that if I want something that means a lot to her, I will trade it for something as good or better. Food works really well for this. She is learning that the world is not trying to take everything that matters away from her.

Ella is a very confident dog who we now know thrives on structure. She knows when it is her turn to be let out to play, and she is almost always ready to go in when play time is over. She is happy to go in her crate as well as content to be by herself with a toy or just a mat to lay on.

Sadly we have stopped allowing Ella to have tennis balls. They create too much emotion in her and all she does is tear them apart. This event usually leaves her agitated and stressed. Instead, kongs have replaced previously favorite toy. Plushies come in a close second.

Ella’s energy is up and she loves to play and chase. She is learning to retrieve as we speak. Her weight is perfect now and her winter coat is filling in a little. She is such an huggable plush right now.

I am so grateful to be working with this smart and loving dog. She really will make an amazing companion for someone.

Posted on October 28th, 2007 by zennia
Filed under: Ella | No Comments »

Kato has been vet checked and neutered and is doing great. Foster mom Anna says “Kato is generally happy and playful. He loves to be petted and to sit with me while I am reading/watching TV. He gets very happy when I come home from work. He rarely barks. He also enjoys looking out the window at the activity outside.”

Anna also told us that Kato loves being around people and is GREAT with children and other animals.

Posted on October 25th, 2007 by jenna
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We’re happy to welcome Akio into NYCSR’s foster program. Akio was found as a stray in Monroe County, Upstate New York. He is a very handsome red boy with a beautiful coat and weighs in at about 25 lbs. He is up to date on his vaccinations, neutered and about 4 years old.

Akio has been enjoying living in Manhattan and did not have a difficult transition from being upstate. He’s very affectionate with humans, nice with other dogs on walks, and loves children. Foster dad Joseph describes him as ‘…a gentleman, easy on the leash, social and loving…’ Joseph also observed that while he’s been great in the city, he really shined on a weekend visit to the suburbs. He really is a suburban/country dog at heart!

He is leash trained, house broken and crate trained. He’s smart and doing very well with new commands. He’s also affectionate and shows no food or toy aggression. He’s just an all around beautiful, intelligent, and loving Shiba!

Posted on October 25th, 2007 by zennia
Filed under: Akio | 3 Comments »

Wow. The latest status report on Ella is SO encouraging. Foster mom Molly says Ella is happy, fun-loving, outgoing and loves to learn. She is improving all the time on dropping on command. She will happily trade one toy for another. Her obedience training and general manners are also coming along well. Although her toy and food aggression have diminished greatly with people, she can still be pretty aggressive with other dogs when resources are in question. When she is available for adoption, she should go to a home with no other dogs.

Posted on October 23rd, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Ella | No Comments »

NYCSR participated in our first Adoption Festival today! It was draining for us and for Molly (the only foster dog we took with us), but it was well worth it. We talked to a LOT of people about homeless dogs, breed-specific rescue, Shiba Inu rescue, fostering, adopting, volunteering, etc. We got several new adoption applications and volunteer applications also. We hope attend a lot more of these events in the future.

We had to buy a tent, which we hope will last us for many events to come. Stay tuned for pictures of future events as we add more “pizazz” to our little rescue tent.

This is the description of the event from the Mayor’s Alliance website:

Mayor’s Alliance/Maddie’s Pet Adoption Festivals are held on a regular basis on weekends in New York City parks throughout the five boroughs. These events are designed to raise public awareness of the problem of unwanted pets and to encourage those who can adopt to make a homeless pet part of their household.

In addition to adoptable animals, each event features a steel drum band, low-cost microchipping ($25) for dogs and cats, and Ask the Veterinarian, Ask the Trainer, Ask the Groomer, and Ask The TTouch Practitioner booths.

If you’re in NYC and interested in attending an event, you can get more information on the Mayor’s Alliance website.

Posted on October 21st, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: News and Events | 1 Comment »

Foster Mom Alicia writes:

Coia is a very spirited, good natured and straightforward. She has an independent way about her and can sometimes be aloof toward strangers. This is actually great in NYC because we encounter many people everyday and if I stop to talk I know she is not going to jump all over them or bark. Conversely, she is very polite and happy to greet anyone she knows! She is incredibly smart and is learning the rules of the house everyday. She is also very clean! She meticulously grooms herself like a cat and does not like when he food falls out of the bowl when eating.

Many people in my building have pets [and she interacts] with them in passing everyday and during her walks outside. When she really likes another dog and wants to play, she will lay flat on the ground and wait for them to approach us. She has grown really fond of Pomeranian, Kai, who lives in my building and she is great friends with a Yorkie who lives across the street.

It looks like Alicia will be failing Fostering 101 as she has grown very attached to Coia and will be adopting her.

Posted on October 21st, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Coia | No Comments »

Shayna was surrendered by her owner because she didn’t like sharing her home with puppies. (Her owner had other dogs that had puppies recently.) Shayna was apparently very unhappy and needed a place to live where she felt more comfortable. She’s definitely comfortable living with me! Snickers and I are enjoying having our first NYCSR foster dog at home. We’re taking Shayna for her vet check soon and promise to let you know as soon as she’s available for adoption.

Shayna is very friendly. She actually LOVES people and the attention she gets from them. She gets along fine with other dogs also (but not puppies).

Posted on October 21st, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Shayna | 11 Comments »

Maria fell in love with Fuji from the very beginning. As of tonight, she’s no longer her FOSTER mom. Now she’s her FOREVER mom.

Congratulations Maria and Fuji.

Posted on October 20th, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Fuji | 1 Comment »

I am very happy and excited to announce our new quarterly newsletter, The Shiba Scream. The Shiba Scream is a quarterly newsletter relaying all things Shiba (and a few things not Shiba) going on in and around New York City. It is the official newsletter for both NYC Shiba Inus (and their Human Companions) and NYC Shiba Rescue, Inc.

Here is the table of contents for our first issue. Click the picture of the cover image to read the whole newsletter.

Shiba Meetup News
  - Announcing The Shiba Scream
  - Don’t Live in Manhattan? We’re Starting Local Chapters!

Shiba Meetup Member Happenings

NYC Shiba Rescue News
  - What is NYC Shiba Rescue Anyway?
  - How You Can Help NYCSR

Enjoying Life with your Shiba
  - Being a Good Canine Neighbor: Getting Around the City
  - Upcoming Canine Events In and Around NYC

Guest Article
  - The Canine Code by Pete Campione

Future issues and archived issues will always be available online.

Posted on October 16th, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: News and Events | No Comments »

  

We’re happy to welcome Kato into NYCSR’s foster program! Kato is an extremely sweet 8 year old male. He is about 25 pounds and is 17″ tall. He is also up to date on all his vaccinations, and is being neutered this week. He is heartworm negative and his bloodwork has come back looking great.

Kato’s family was not able to keep him as he was not getting along with the resident feline. While Kato cannot live in a home with cats, he is however, excellent with children and gets along very well with other dogs. He is crate trained, walks well on the leash and is housebroken. Even though he is from Upstate NY, he has adjusted very nicely to life in Manhattan. He is very friendly to strangers, both human and canine, on walks.

Kato is very smart; he knows basic commands and is learning new ones. He also loves to play fetch, adores his Moosie (stuffed toy), enjoys belly rubs and spending time with his humans. He’s very well behaved during bath time and enjoys being brushed.

We’ll have more info on Kato shortly, so check back with us soon!

Posted on October 14th, 2007 by zennia
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Coia (pronounced Koi-a) is a very cute red sesame girl who is only about a year old. On Sept 21st she was found wandering around Elysian Park in Hoboken, NJ without any tags or microchip. Thankfully, a Good Samaritan picked her up and we quickly listed her on NYCSR’s Lost & Found Page.

Unfortunately, it’s been over two weeks and no one has come forward to claim her. We have now placed her in foster care with NYCSR. She will be spayed next week and has received her first set of shots. She is already housebroken, crate-trained and is learning commands. She’s also very dog and child friendly. She loves people and getting both lots of attention and playtime.

Foster mom Alicia says,”…she has been wonderful!!! She is so sweet and loving…She is just precious!” We agree. Check back for updates on Coia as we learn more about her!

Posted on October 11th, 2007 by zennia
Filed under: Coia | 3 Comments »

Lightening has been adopted and is enjoying a HUGE backyard upstate.

Posted on October 8th, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Lightening | No Comments »

Molly is one of those sweet, petite female Shibas that you just can’t help but love. When I first met her at a meetup a few weeks ago, I was surprised by how tiny and adorable she is! Her pictures on our site just do NOT do her justice. Her foster mom, Lydia, sent these new photos this week. She also said that Molly played with other dogs at the dog run recently instead of sticking nervously next to Lydia. That’s great!

Posted on October 6th, 2007 by jenna
Filed under: Molly | 1 Comment »