Akitas are wonderful, but they are not for everyone.  If you are thinking of getting an Akita, we strongly urge you to research the breed thoroughly. Education and preparation are the foundations to a long, loving relationship. Finding a reputable rescue organization or breeder is the first step. For further information on the breed please read the literature under "Akita Information" at the top of this screen or visit the Akita Club of America website at http://www.akitaclub.org

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IT STARTED TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

No, we are talking about holiday parties, visits with families, tracking Santa's progress, or even the flu. What we are talking about are the non-stop requests to assist abandoned Akitas. There are always the seniors, who at the end of their life are left behind to die scared and alone. There are always the young adults who grew too big, or were purchased on impulse and their owners simply changed their minds when the puppy was no longer a puppy. There are always the middle-aged, like a pregnant female left chained up outside in a winter storm and no shelter. There are always puppies found under shrubs, abandoned in garages, picked up wandering the frozen streets, dumped at the shelter--guess they didn't fit in Santa's sleigh. Yes, we admit we have said most of this before. What is different this time is the overwhelming number of requests and the very high number of puppies in need. Our volunteers and supporters, for that matter all rescues, are struggling to keep up. Despite our best efforts, we are loosing. Our orphans are all equal in our eyes—young or old, show quality or not . We see them through the eyes of rescue—beyond the physical, beyond the age, beyond judgment. All equally deserving of love and compassion. We are working non-stop, we are struggling, we are close to burning out. There is no time for catchy tag lines or compelling stories, at least not right now. There are more calls and emails that need to be answered, there are more lives that need to be saved. We see their spirit and love them equally We kindly ask that you do the same. . .

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KRINGLE Chicago, IL
Young adult male - Very sweet and loves to smile - Might do best as an only pet.

SHINJU Chicago, IL
Beautiful young Female - Loves to kiss and snuggle - Well behaved.

CINDER Central, OH
Female puppy - Pics say it all!

MURPHY BROWN Chicago via Ohio

Female puppy - Adorable - Arrived at the shelter day after Christmas :(

Jersey (Boys) Chicago via St. Louis

Male puppy - 12 weeks old - Rockin' and Rollin' in Rescue

ZOEY Milwaukee, WI via Gary, IN

Active and beautiful adult female - wonderful house guest!

MORE TO FOLLOW

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Geronimo	Best Friends Forever!	Gracie

GERONIMO AND GRACIE Rescue Roomies at MARS "G2" Summit Adoption Pending!! Akita Rescue was contacted when four Akitas were left homeless when their owner died suddenly.  The dogs were sent to a small shelter in Friendship, WI.  The shelter was already overflowing, with little spare room especially for four large dogs.  MARS was contacted for help and fortunately our vounteers, Tracey and Mike had a free run in their kennel.  Tracey drove up to evaluate the dogs.  All four dogs were wonderful, with friendly and outgoing personalities that easily captured your heart.  Who to save—who to leave behind?  These decisions are never easy, and when the dogs are all sweet, it is impossible.  Tracey knew the kennel space was large enough for two Akitas, and Geronimo and Gracie were buddies, and maybe MARS could take two, and before long Tracey, Geronimo and Gracie were on their way home.  We’re not sure who had the bigger smiles, Geronimo and Gracie, or Tracey who just completed her first solo rescue by saving two!  The other dogs also found places with rescue, one going to our partner rescue, Western Great Lakes Akita Rescue and the other to an all breed rescue.  No one was left behind. G2 Roomies Geronimo is 4 to 5 and Gracie is about 2 to 2.5.  Both have been vetted and now await their forever home.  If at all possible we would love to place them together, and we hope someone will agree after seeing their pictures.  Over the years we have learned there are no better words to describe our orphans, then those of our volunteers who give their time, and a piece of their heart to help save these special souls— “These poor dogs are so wonderful.  They are extremely loving and Gracie loves to kiss.  I was feeding her out of my hand today and she would take a bite and then kiss my face.  Geronimo sat on my lap while I was sitting in his kennel this afternoon.  They are both recovering nicely from there spay/neuter surgeries except they do not like wearing their e-collars.  I know they want to go play in the snow but not until their stitches are removed.  I really look forward to letting them run and play. They are beautiful.  Oh, and they both sit politely for treats.” If you would like to know more about G & G or perhaps schedule a private “G2 Summit” with our roomies please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302.

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Shh! Stake Out at the Park	Agent 99	Shh! Cute Puppy Disguise

MYA Agent 99 St. Louis, MO Sponsor Me When a call came in from a kind and compassionate Animal Control Officer about a very sweet female Akita in need of rescue, our former orphan Maxwell Smart leapt into action and offered his assistance.  Before the wheels of rescue could start spinning, this girl was nicknamed “Agent 99” and Maxwell had a plan.  He engaged the services of his family who not only picked her up from the shelter, but made sure she was thoroughly vetted, and then set up a spot at home to foster a cute secret agent . . . Mya is a very young girl who is full of energy.  She is so young, we think still has some growing to do. Mya has been well-behaved in her foster home and is fully crate trained.  She is a young agent and learning how to be incognito, but very observant, on her frequent walks around the neighborhood.  FYI—we can’t share all our secrets, but incognito is secret agent code for walking nicely on a leash.  A report from Maxwell and his family says it all. . . "She is really a great foster—she is fine with being alone and sleeps quietly in her crate.  She likes to play—is very talented with catching the bouncing tennis ball and if she starts to nibble you can give her a chew toy and she will work on that instead of being destructive.  She has done really well about waiting for her regular walks—no accidents to speak of.  Mya still likes to nibble and lick, and is totally adorable.  She is a sweet girl and will be a great companion.  Caveat—Mya has been watching A LOT of HGTV (have a TV downstairs to keep her company at times) so she might insist on her own TV. " It sure sounds like MARS Agent 99 has been doing great in her foster home.  And, she is totally recovered from her spay surgery and starting to gain some weight.  Maxwell has helped Mya pass her first level of secret agent training and she is now ready for field work in a forever home.  Mya also knows where Maxwell hides his secret all-purpose Akita communication device (the phone in the shoe is long gone).  What we don’t know is what Mya has been watching on TV. Maybe reruns of Get Smart?  If you want to ask her please contact our “Chief”, Deanna O’Brien, at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302 to schedule a secret rendezvous.

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Ready For My Big Jump	The Sweet Roll of Success	Your Turn to Jump!

BUNGEE A leap of faith leads to a soaring rebound! Cleveland, OH Sponsor Me We are never totally certain how things will work out for an orphan. The unwanted are asked to put their faith in us, and there are times, when we hold our breath and take that leap with them. The miracle of rescue is not that we dare to leap, but that despite all the ills life can hold, these magnificent beings rebound and soar beyond our expectations while they gladly take us along on the ride, inspiring us to take that next leap . . . . . Bungee is well named. He's our literal bouncing boy, loaded with athletic energy and "joie de vivre", a comprehensive joy of living. Bungee is a year old, owner surrender.  His high energy became too much for his busy owner and he ended up spending his days bouncing at the end of a six foot tether and nights alone in a garage. While a bit uneducated— no fault of his own— it turns out he is quite smart, and he has spent the last couple months with us learning to pay attention to the games humans play. Now he can't wait to see his handlers and walkers and does his bungee jump for joy on their arrival. He loves long walks, likes rolling in tall grass, sniffing for woodland creatures, and  following anything that moves. Bungee is a big handsome ball of Akita fun who is eager for the love and life long attention from  a dog-savvy someone with a good heart on the lookout for a rambunctious youngster. Bungee walks well with his fellow Cleveland orphans, but he has little experience sharing a house with other animals, so he may do best as a solo canine companion. If you are looking for an Akita ready to take a big jump into adulthood, and eager to live life to it's fullest, please contact Deanna O'Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302.

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VIP Reunion	Waiting for the Limo	Touring the Windy City

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ANAHI It’s Never Too Late to Live Happily Ever After. . . Chicago, IL Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a female Akita named Anahi.  She lived with her family until the age of 10.5 at which time she found herself in a shelter.  She was so sweet and loved everyone she encountered  The shelter staff quickly fell under Anahi's spell and knew she deserved a special place to live out the rest of her life.  They believed she would be a great companion for Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah and Best Friends folks agreed. So Anahi traveled to Utah to live out the rest of her life. Fast Forward a bit and some of MARS' old and dear Golden Retriever Rescue friends were visiting the sanctuary.  They also fell under Anahi's spell and took her to their motel for the weekend.  Well she grabbed their hearts and they were not going to let go.  After a couple of phone calls and emails, MARS was offered one of their best Golden foster homes if we would agree to take Anahi under our wing.  The news got even better, Best Friends would fly this special Akita to Chicago.  On October 30, Anahi landed in Chicago with her tail wagging and ‘keeter kisses for all those who were waiting for her special arrival. Yes, Anahi is a senior girl but what an ambassador for our breed,  bringing together sister rescue breed groups for the love of one special girl and a great sanctuary that felt she deserved a home to live out the balance of her life.  Our sincere thanks to all those who helped save Anahi —to all those who did not see age as a detriment but as a celebration.  Please know you have many Akita tail wags and wooos coming from the MARS   grandstands. All stories, including Fairy Tales, have a beginning, middle and an end.  Anahi’s life story is already filled with many chapters and the most recent ones are truly the heart of fairy tales.  None of us ever knows how many chapters are left to be written in anyone’s book, including our own.  However, when we open our hearts and homes to the less fortunate, when we love for no other reason then love, we provide the paper and pen to ensure the full story of extraordinary souls is told.  And, if one is willing enough and we dare say brave enough, to help write those final chapters, the moral of the story will teach lessons beyond what one can simply imagine.  Lessons that will forever change you—lessons that will become chapters in your life's story. For more information on fostering or adopting Anahi, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302. Anahi is sending keeter kisses to Tabitha, Hachiko and Roger Petry for being her special sponsors!

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THE MANY FACES OF "POOCHINI "
Comedy	Audition for Rescue	Drama

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MICHI Bravo "Poochini" Cleveland, OH It can be a challenge coming up with a unique name for each orphan.  We need a name for legal and medical records but we usually don’t have much background information nor do we have the luxury of spending a great deal of time learning about the dog’s personality before assigning a moniker.  And, we've learned you can’t always trust what you read online.  Thanks to Peter, one of our “Cleveland Crew” volunteers, this lucky lad now has a nickname and a profile that suit his personality and expressive face . . . This year old pooch has been an all star performer while with MARS. He's a different sort of actor. Unlike many of his more staid, sometimes willful Akita comrades, on walks he constantly looks back to his handlers, eager to see what they might want him to do next.  Poochini is a super quick learner (he picked up "Target!" in about five minutes), very agile, eager, and yes, tireless. He sings and dances with excitement and anticipation at every opportunity to get out of kennel and into a walk. He's always eager to be in the lead, and will play at the drop of a hat (or glove, or treat, or gesture). We're thinking major agility dog potential here. Poochini may be a Monsieur Butterfly, but he does calm when he's able to spend some time with his human. During a long first ever car ride from Chicago to temporary quarters in Cleveland with an unfamiliar human , he spent more time curled up in the front seat with his head in the driver's lap than he did looking out the window, and was patient and quiet in the car at rest stops.  He bonds quickly. For his next act, our little bohemian wants a supporting role in a forever home. If you are looking for a companion who, under your care and direction, will earn bravos and standing ovations for a multitude of roles from dramas to comedies, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302 to schedule an audition.

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MARS’ WOODSTOCK MOMENT
Cleveland, OH and Wilmington, IL

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MELANIE Female - 2.5 Years Old - Wilmington, IL

“What means the most to me is the connection to one another felt by all of us who worked on the festival, all those who came to it, and the millions who couldn’t be there but were touched by it.” -  M. Lang, Festival Producer This year is the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock and the media spent of good deal of time revisiting the monumental event.  During the week that marked the actual festival, MARS was involved in a coming together event of its very own.  Despite an uncaring owner, and a breeder who refused to take their dogs back, many were saved through the cooperative efforts of strangers, a local com-munity, breeders, rescues, and our volunteers.  No we weren’t half a million strong , but on one day alone that week we were a half-a-dozen strong, taking in six dogs, including five from one shelter.  Nor did we go up to Yasgur’s farm, but the five did go over to Dr. Schroyer's clinic; not crammed in a VW bus, but in a van from the shelter.  No, we will never number in the millions, but on some magical days we seem to have the determination of millions and manage to set a few souls free…. Our rock and roll band members range in age from one to five.  All are heartworm negative, have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and we have their registration papers.  All were underweight, but good food is in plentiful supply and in no time they will be magnificent. Despite not having had the best of life, all are sweet and enjoy the company and attention of people.  They have been well behaved at the clinic and are thrilled with the mini-love fest of attention from the staff.  The girls look so much alike in their pictures that we need to look at the white frosting on their paws to tell them apart.  And, while the band hates breaking up, it is time for them to venture on to solo, or possibly duo careers.  They desperately need places to jam, either temporarily, or forever. “Woodstock came to symbolize their hopes and dreams for a better, more peaceful world” If you are ready to produce your own personal Woodstock moment, and you have either a temporary or forever stage to offer one or more (hey, we dream big around here) of our orphans, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302 for more information on how we can all work together to make the world a better and more peaceful place. UPDATE: Our band members are moving on and have put their hippie, mud-rolling days behind them. While their previous manager didn't emphasis manners, all five rock 'n rollers are eager to please and quick to respond. All are incredibly sweet and enthsusiastic Akitas, who are totally enjoying the love and attention of our volunteers. They don't even mind rehearsning new routine called basic obedience. SLY Male - 2 Years Old - Chicago, IL Woo-woos to Chris Schiavi and his Akitas Max & Bailey for helping the Woodstock Five!

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TATTOO Fantasy Island Cleveland, OH A well groomed male Akita was pushed out of a Hummer in front of shops near a wooded preserve in Ohio.  Young and frightened he fled into the woods--alone, scared and ill-prepared to live on his own.  One of the shops was a grooming parlor whose owner was very familiar with the breed.  Next door to the groomers was a tattoo parlor.  The owners and their son were major dog lovers who had aided and rescued dogs in the past.  Over the next few days people would catch glimpses of the young Akita as he ventured closer.  They could see he was losing weight and the young rescuer decided it was time to take action.  He befriended the young Akita and brought him home.  They had the dog scanned, put an ad in the paper and posted flyers but no one claimed Tattoo.  The groomer contacted a breeder, who contacted MARS and helped get Tattoo to rescue.  We wish there was a Fantasy Island where our dream of helping every Akita in need would magically come true--a place large enough to safely house them all, a place with sufficient funds to heal them all, a place that could tell us how to stop the ever increasing numbers of unwanted Akitas.  But until we can take that special plane ride to Fantasy Island, we will continue to help as many as we can, including Tattoo… Despite his ordeal, Tattoo is a very loving and happy boy.  His playful and easy going personality quickly emerged once he was safe.  Tattoo has been a wonderful guest, first at the home of the kind people who own the Tattoo Parlor and now at the kennel in Cleveland.  In addition, he was a gentleman at the Vet’s and on his transport through Ohio.  About a year old, he appears to have been cared for in the past.  He is housebroken, knows basic manners, how to shake “paws” and even walks nicely on a leash.  Tattoo is heartworm negative, current on vaccinations and is scheduled to be neutered once he gains a few pounds. De Squirrels, Deanna, De Squirrels! Unfortunately Fantasy Island is just that--a fantasy and our Tattoo doesn’t have a job announcing the arrival of fantasy guests, aboard a fantasy seaplane.  However, he would like a job in the real world, with a real forever family, so Tattoo has been practicing announcing the arrival of unwelcomed pests who inhabit trees.  If you are in need of an assistant to help manage your own fantasy island, please contact Deanna (aka 'de Boss of MARS who makes dreams come true for so many orphans) at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302, for additional information on Tattoo. Woo woos to Samurai and his mom Nancy Dresser for Paying It Forward and helping Tattoo and the Cleveland crew!

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POLAR Global Warming Greater Indianapolis Area We're not sure at what rate the polar 'bergs are melting but we are fairly certain this boy is likely to melt your heart in no time.  We're also certain that if brain power contributed to global warming, we'd all be swimming because, when it comes to smarts our Polar is definitely firing on all pistons…. A stray in Kansas, Polar was in desperate need of rescue.  Thanks to volunteers with the shelter we got Polar vaccinated and neutered, then transferred to a kennel while he awaited his trip east.  The kennel manager stated Polar was one of the nicest and smartest boys he had ever met--very agile and a bit of an escape artist.  We thought the kennel just hadn’t seen too many Akitas. After a few weeks, Polar made traveled to a foster home outside of Indianapolis.  Poor Polar had been moved around a lot, and that is tough on any dog, but especially on a young boy just leaving puppyhood behind.  After a bit of time, Polar started settling in and he quickly became attached to his foster parents, especially his foster Dad—maybe it had something to do with the long transport back home and Polar riding shotgun for the better part of the journey!  Polar loves to sit quietly by your side and rest his head in your lap.  He also enjoys watching his foster Dad work in the barn.  Polar really got excited when construction started on a new addition.  He is very content to lie outside for hours, under his favorite tree, and watch all the building that is going on. We didn’t think much of all this “observing” until the day Polar opened the door.  No, not the door to a crate or kennel.  No, not a door that was left ajar with enough room to fit a curious nose.  Seems our Polar was taking lots of notes—he turned the dead bolt with his mouth, then jump on the handle till it popped,, then wiggle in-between to push the door open.  We told you he was firing on all pistons! We have taken his instructions away and he is now learning that playing hide-n-seek or searching for treats is much more fun. Polar is a sweet and affectionate boy who has yet to meet a stranger.  In addition to being observant and intelligent, he is also very athletic and agile.  This is a boy who would probably enjoy and excel at agility or rally. You see, when Polar is good, he is very, very good, but when he is bad he is brilliant.  Polar will need a home willing to give him a job or one that is looking for a potential agility dog.  He would also probably do okay with a four-legged buddy to keep him company.  If you are interested in learning what other notes Polar has been making, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302.  And if you have an extra hard hat hanging around, Polar said bring it along. Polar is sending warm and fuzzy woo woos to Nancy Richards for being his sponsor!

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G-Man Has a Secret Santa	A Forever Buddy	G-Man Goes GQ

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GALLAGHER “Eager Helper” Cleveland, OH True to his name, Gallagher is eager to help—keep your lap warm, fetch a toy, explore the great outdoors, make new friends—the list goes on and on.  Most importantly, Gallagher is eager to join you in living life to its fullest.  When he arrived at a shelter in Cleveland he had a tumor on his back. Luckily this is a wonderful facility and the shelter staff sees beyond stereotypes.  Gallagher’s warm and outgoing personality won them over so they scheduled to have him neutered and have the growth removed.  It took time for a surgery slot to open, but Gallagher was a champ and spent some quality time hanging out with the staff.  The surgery was successful and the prognosis is very good.  The shelter contacted MARS for assistance and when we saw those expressive eyes and that beaming grin we knew we had to do something. Gallagher has a warm and easy going personality.  In addition, he is a fast learn and is already crate trained.  He loves being outdoors and exploring around the yard.  Gallagher also likes to spend time hanging out with people.  The shelter estimated him to be about 3-4 years old, but based on his energy and playfulness we think he is younger—probably no more than two.  In addition to being neutered, Gallagher is heartworm negative and current on vaccinations.  If dog’s had a dictionary you would surely see Gallagher’s picture next to the definition of buddy.  If you are someone looking for a special buddy eager to help you enjoy life please, contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302 for more information on our Gallagher. UPDATES: "I met "G-man" for the first time on Saturday. He is a very nice dog as everyone who has met him has said. Very easy to meet, really likes people. He appears very comfortable and calm, he walks excellent on the leash, especially at the end of the walk he did not pull at all, I wish my dogs walked like that. He seems comfortable in the kennel as well. " Rebbeca & Shawn Gallagher are G-Man's microcchip sponsor, in memory of Jersey. Gallagher is sending hi-fives to Sue, Dick and Bo Meseberg for sponsoring him! Gallagher is sending big woo-woos to Lynn and Brent for being his special sponsors. Jinging Bells to Bear and Zorro in Salt Lake City for being G-Man's Secrect Santa!

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Smile, and the whole rescue world smiles with you!

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MINK The Power of Unconditonal Love Works Wonders Battle Creek, MI Mink is a sweet adult female Akita who was adopted from a shelter by a family from Tennessee. When the family’s breadwinner had to leave the Country for work, rescue was approached to find a spot for Mink.  A kind foster family took her in temporarily while Akita Rescue jointly took Mink under our wings.  We found her to be one of the sweetest girls and sadly, we also found out her owner decided he would keep his other Akita and leave Mink to "others".  Upon Mink’s arrival, her foster family noticed there were some spots on her nose.  We had the Vet do a biopsy and she has Pemphigus Foliaceus, an autoimmune related disorder often found in the breed.  The good news is Mink is responding very well to treatment, and her nose is healing.  Only time will tell whether or not she needs to be on medication for life, but the medicine is inexpensive and given her quick response, Mink now has a wonderful future ahead of her.  The only thing she needs now is a more permanent foster spot or a forever home.  She adores kids and people.  Here are some excerpts from emails we have received from her temporary foster Mom.... “Those of us, who have been helping Mink, really feel for this girl.… she is a love.  Mink is a very low maintenance dog.  I have had her here with me for 3 weeks and she has been no problem.  Two of my Vets noted what an exceptional personality she possesses.  They were very impressed with her.  She is good with other dogs; however, she probably would not do well with another dog who is overly dominant.  My vet started her on prednisone a couple of days ago and her nose looks so much better.” UPDATE: As soon as Mink entered rescue her pemphigus started to improve and since Joyce has taken Mink under her wing for fostering, For more information on Mink, our sweet girl who deserves a loving and permanent home, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302. Keeter kisses to Marc and Britt Caras for sponsoring Mink!

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SHEBA “Walking On Sunshine” Kansas City, KS Sheba is a very sweet girl, who despite not having been cared for, has a very positive outlook on life. One of her most very favorite things to do is lie outside in the sunshine.  Put her blanket on the deck or out in the yard, and she is in heaven!  With good food, a little medicine and lots of warm sunshine Sheba’s coat is filling in, she is gaining weight and has a new bounce in her walk--Sheba is quickly becoming the beautiful brindle girl she was meant to be! All reports from her foster home have been very positive—a pleasant girl who is sweet tempered, very affectionate and playful.  So far, Sheba has been easy to train and like a typical Akita, she does best with clear and consistent ground rules.  As her house manners improve her foster family has given her more freedom and Sheba hasn’t disappointed them.   Sheba is a young five year old, who is spayed, heartworm negative, and current on vaccinations.  She has done well on her visit to the Vet and does not mind the resident male dog.  If you want to see just how good it feels to walk on sunshine, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita.org or 773-594-9302 for more information on Sheba.

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ZEN “This is the sweet boy that is haunting me” Minneapolis, MN Sometimes it is their picture, sometimes it is their story, but most times we don’t know exactly what it is that catches are attention; we just know that we need to make room.  In Zen’s case maybe it was his plaintiff look, or the fact that this was a gassing facility, or this brief posting on Petfinder that summed up Zen’s life and plight…. This dog was left in the drop box with no info on him. He has a blue nylon collar on. He will be held for 3 days for the owner to reclaim him. Zen is grateful for whatever it was that caught our director’s attention.  MARS made room, a volunteer went to get him—the rescue wheels had started turning for Zen.  However, there was a slight bump in his journey to rescue Nirvana—Zen tested positive for heartworms.  The Vet felt it was a light case and Zen was a good candidate for treatment.  His gentle nature had already impressed the clinic staff and he was an excellent patient during treatment.  Zen’s journey then continued to Detroit for fostering. He is now healed and awaiting his forever home. We have learned much about the dog left in the drop box—Zen loves to explore and is good at meeting new people.  He will check them out and then goes about his business.  In typical Akita fashion, if they call him he’ll go back for a quick recheck and then he’s off again.  He is also quiet and so far, not a big talker.  While Zen likes attention and affection, he is not clingy.  He is crate trained and quickly settles in to meditate until it is time to play and run in the backyard.  Zen is also smart, and he loves food.  We couldn’t help but smile and laugh a bit, when we got the following training report from Zen’s foster Mom— "Couple times when I took him out and praised him and gave him a treat, he was so funny, after he ate his treat he looked at me for another--when I didn't give him one, he walked away a bit, peed again and came back to me looking for a treat!  He's working on sit, come and stay. When I tried heel and sit, he did so good I wondered if he had training sometime in his past.” Zen is a handsome five year old boy who is neutered, current on vaccinations and ready to reach treat Nirvana in a forever home.  If your mantra is Akita and you would to meditate with our gentle giant, please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302. Former orphan Buster, and his mom Julie, are "paying it forward" and sponsoring Zen!

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MOLLY Grateful for the Little Things Kansas City, KS Area Molly hasn’t had an easy life so far and that makes her appreciate the little things more than most.  When we were notified about Molly she was heartworm positive and oh my, what was up with that coat, well what coat that is?  Despite her condition she became a favorite of the shelter staff and was so appreciative of even the limited comforts and care a shelter gives.  The Mastiff Rescue folks took such a liking to her that they scooped her out of the shelter determined to find her a good home.   She dearly loved the comforts of her foster home and had such a tough past that she enjoyed the safety and coziness of a crate.  Treats and good food were an unimaginable pleasure and the company of humans . . . pure heaven.  There was only one small, well big problem really – the mastiffs.  Turns out Miss Molly was not a fan of other dogs and preferred being the only dog in town.  MARS was contacted to see if they could help this most grateful girl.  She greeted our volunteer with wags of her scraggly tail and took treats nicely.   It took a bit of convincing to get her into the Akita hauler but then she still had staples in her belly from her spay surgery.  Molly rode nicely and happily went into her new kennel.  Here is what her new foster mom says about Molly and her recent visit to the Vet with one of our volunteers: “Molly did not want to leave with her, so I helped. Molly came running back to the kennel door when she brought her back. So I went into her pen with her and she immediately rolls on her back for me to scratch her for a while. She's ridiculously affectionate, a real hugger. Climbs up in my son's lap; she thinks she weighs 2#.  Eating great, which is I think one of her fave things to do.  She doesn’t care that much about being outside and running and playing. Would rather sleep on the couch with someone and be fed bon-bons. She's responding very eagerly to commands, not perfect on the leash, but you know me, not strict at all!! NO other dogs or cats, mine all stay away from her…but gigantic people dog. I love her, she'll be great!” Molly now has a gorgeous coat and she is well on the road to being healthy.  Molly is once again beautiful on the outside—which perfectly matches her heart.  You will never find a girl who would be more appreciative for a forever home then Molly.  So if it is in your heart to share your home with such a sweet and grateful girl please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302.  Molly is currently on treatment for heartworm which will need to be continued.

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