2016: YORKSHIRE TERRIER NATIONAL RESCUE MOVES FORWARD TO AN EXCITING NEW YEAR by MARY ELIZABETH DUGMORE, PATRICIA KUSHNIR & JULIE GEDRO
Y orkshire Terrier National Rescue (YTNR) is a non- profit 501 (c) 3 organiza- tion that is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of YTNR is to rescue abandoned, lost abused or unwanted Yorkshire Terriers. This includes getting appropriate medi- cal evaluations and treatment, providing foster care and placement evaluations of all Yorkies taken into our rescue and finding suitable screened and evaluated homes for our rescued Yorkies. YTNR also works to provide public education about its rescue work and to raise funds to pay for care of rescued Yorkshire Ter- riers taken in by YTNR. Because YTNR is a national organi- zation, our volunteer database is nation- wide. Our leadership team is an accom- plished and multi-faceted diverse group of committed people from many dif- ferent walks of life that range in fields from education to technology to health- care. There are several distinctive quali- ties about the organization. We are well established and sustainable. We were founded in 1997 by Mary Elizabeth Dug- more who has lead the organization for 20 years. Under her auspicious leader- ship, we have rescued and rehomed over 4,000 dogs since our founding. Last year, two of our Board Mem- bers, Corrine Ellison and Linda Connor, worked on developing a draft acuity program that would provide framework of health conditions, type of treatment and level of severity of a condition. This year, 2016, we were able to implement this program and it is now part of our operational workings. This in turn allows YTNR to operate more efficient- ly and quantify the impact of the work we do. This year we hosted our Fam- ily and Friends weekend gathering in conjunction with our Annual Board of Directors’ Meeting in September at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in
special award for the Yorkie Rescue of the Year. It seemed logical to name the award after Bill Wynne’s world famous Yorkie rescue. After nomina- tions came in, it quickly became clear that each story was special and touch- ing. Each rescue is a great rescue, just as Smoky was. She started a movement in rescue, therapy and obedience that showed people what a four pound dynamo could do. Announcing the year’s Smoky Awards each year at the Award Din- ner is something we look forward to, through laughter and tears. It reminds us of why we do what we do, and how much it is so worthwhile. 2016 YORKIE RESCUE OF THE YEAR “SHELAGH” by Shelagh, on behalf of my wonder- ful mommy Eva Ortiz My Name is Shelagh. I had a different name at one time. I was Lady Athena, but it was not the life of a lady. It was a life of misery and neglect. I don’t remember a lot when I was a puppy, but I know I was given to a wom- an who just wanted me to have puppies. This woman believed it was acceptable to have my babies outside on a cement patio floor; I was scared and cold. The next door neighbor noticed this bad behavior and, along with a friend, made a deal with the woman to take me away. I was saved. But not for long, I was given to anoth- er family who again kept me outside in the yard and again I was forced to have more babies. I was getting so depressed and sick; I thought, ‘Who will love me?’ Since my health was being neglected, I started to lose all my hair and my skin became black and rough as shoe leather. I had never been taken for a walk and my nails had painfully grown inward toward my paw pads. It was obvious my body was riddled with infection.
Nashville, Tennessee. We also had the privilege of having Dean Miller, Dog Counselor, giving a small workshop to our group about dog behavior. We always look forward to these gatherings as it gives YTNR a chance to thank all of our loyal supporters and enjoy each other’s company. The highlight of our gathering is our banquet dinner where we give an award to the “Yorkie Rescue of the Year”. THE SMOKY AWARDS Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue also honors our rescue by giving out the Smoky Award to the Rescue of the Year. Smoky was a four-pound Yorkie that was found in an abandoned jun- gle foxhole in New Guinea in early 1944 by a soldier whose jeep had stalled in the jungle. The next day the Yorkie was sold for two Australian pounds ($6.44) to a 20-year-old PFC, Bill Wynne. Bill and Smoky flew com- bat missions and went through many air raids together. She lived on rugged army tropical food including at times C and K rations, while they served 18 months straight in combat. They trav- eled 40,000 miles overseas. When YTNR was planning its very first rescue Ball in 1999, the first thing that came to mind was creating a
100 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2017
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