The 4th of July is usually a fun day filled with lots of things. Things like:

Fireworks.

Food.

Friends.

And fear?

Out of place though fear might seem, many dogs and cats are extremely stressed with the lights, sounds, and smells of Independence Day. It's important for every pet owner to take precautions against injury, fear reactive biting, and the worst -- loss of a pet -- on holidays such as this.

First and foremost -- Leash, leash, leash your dog! Even if your dog has never broken out of a heel in his life, leash your dog. Even if your dog isn't usually frightened of noise, leash your dog. Even if you have a fenced yard, leash your dog! It only takes one stray firecracker to frighten your dog into bolting. It only takes one firecracker to badly burn your dog's mouth. It only takes 30 seconds for your dog to become lost or badly injured. Don't take that chance -- Leash your dog!

Very small dogs should be leashed as well. Don't rely on carrying your dog -- frightened dogs find a great deal of strength when trying to escape from what they perceive as danger.

Second, make sure your dog has a safe and quiet place, away from guests. Even the most well socialized of dogs will eventually get his fill of people. Especially when children are present, it's important for your dog to be able to retire to a quiet place when he needs to. Make sure your guests and their children are aware that the crate, or bedroom, or other location, is off limits to anyone but the dog. This will prevent your dog from becoming overly stressed.

Another concern is all that delicious food coming off the grill. A plate of hot dogs is like a neon sign, screaming "Eat At Joes!" to your dog. Make sure all uncooked foods are well out of your dog's reach to prevent bacterial illness or bloat. Inform your guests, especially children, that your dog should not be fed scraps. Lastly, make sure all used plates and cups make it into a secure garbage bin or sink. Remember to keep all alcoholic drinks well out of your dog's reach as well.

The last concern is, of course, heat and sun exposure. Dogs with long coats like the Eskie should be brushed out every day this week if outdoor activities will include your dog. The more undercoat you can eliminate, the cooler your dog will feel. Dogs with short coats need to spend more time inside or out of the shade because of the risk of sunburn. All dogs are at risk for heat exhaustion, so make sure that your dog has water to drink and ample time inside the house and in the shade. Remember, if you're hot - your dog is, too!

Use common sense when it comes to your dog this Independence Day. If you feel like a situation might be too much for your dog, remove him from that situation. It's always best to err on the side of caution, and even if you have to exclude your dog from certain activities, I'm sure he'll forgive you!

Happy Independence Day to you and yours from Madonna and Issabelle!

Nebraska Heart Bandits would like to congratulate Elka, a rescued Eskie from the recent puppy mill shut-down, as she welcomes three new puppies into the world!

We are just tickled pink, and Elka is a great little momma. Here she is, nursing her day old babies. We're so glad that Elka is gave birth in a clean home, on a soft blanket, while Jim watched over her for any problems. At 8 years old, we are so lucky that the birth went smoothly! An 8 year old dog giving birth to 3 puppies is about the equivalent of a 60 year old woman giving birth to twins! Not unheard of, but not very easy!

Since Elka is now out of the puppy mill, this will be her last litter. She will keep the puppies twice as long as at the mill, until they are 12 weeks old, and we will make sure they get the best start possible with good nutrition, proper vaccination, and extensive socialization!

Nebraska Heart Bandits is looking for donations for an auction we will hold in August.

Popular items to donate are:

Gift cards
Event Tickets
Zoo Passes
Dog Toys or Treats
Spa items
Household goods
Books
Art

We will have many handcrafted items for the house and the hounds! We would like to collect donations throughout July, and will hold our auction in August. If you have any items to donate, please contact Jim at [email protected]

As always, thank you for your support! If you have a few extra dollars this week,consider donating! We have many dogs who are in need of heart worm treatment and Elka's new puppies will need shots and neuters before they're ready for new homes!

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, Nebraska Heart Bandits rescued 41 dogs from the conditions you will see below. Each dog was covered in urine, feces, matted fur, and parasites. Due to the deplorable conditions, and total lack of hygiene or climate control, many of the rescued dogs have tested positive for heart worms. Heart worm is a life-threatening infestation of parasites in and around the heart.

Treatment for heart worm is very expensive, costing between $700 and $1000, but the dogs that are inflicted with these parasites have become so sweet and gentle after just a week of TLC. One such dog is Pip. Pip was very frightened when she came to Heart Bandits, very afraid to be touched or to leave her kennel. Now, after just one week of care, Pip loves to climb into open laps and soak up the love she had been denied for ten years.

Ten years, Pip lived in the conditions you'll see below. Ten years, Pip waited for someone to come for her, someone to care for her. For ten years, Pip waited to become a Heart Bandit. And now that she's with us, we need financial assistance to give her the treatment she needs to survive. Please, help us save Pip and the other dogs that were trapped in the puppy mill.

We are thankful to all the organizations and individual donors that are contributing to the rising cost of treatment for each of these dogs. With positive heart worm results happening more and more, we are facing thousands of dollars more in treatment costs. Please consider donating any amount of money either by visiting any Wells Fargo Bank branch and naming Nebraska Heart Bandits dog rescue as the beneficiary of your donation, or by calling Parkview Animal Hospital to donate via credit or bank card at (402) 423-6939. Or, you can donate through Paypal by visiting our Adopt/Sponsor an Eskie Page.

Nebraska Heart Bandits has recently been featured on many news and print media spotlights for our work in rescuing 41 dogs from a puppy mill in Eastern Nebraska. Each of these dogs are facing between $250 and $500 in medical care, in addition to the expense of boarding each dog during a quarantine period of 7 to 10 days. This quarantine period is to ensure that these dogs do not spread communicable viruses or disease to the family pets of potential foster or adoptive homes. The boarding costs will continue to rise, until foster or adoptive homes are found for these dogs. As of today, boarding costs for the 12 Eskies have reached $500.00 alone.

We are experiencing an unprecedented level of financial cost at the moment. Each dog needs to be spayed or neutered, given all vaccinations including that against Kennel Cough, and will have full blood panels done to test for disease. Additionally, each dog will be heartworm tested, and placed on preventative. Several dogs arrived pregnant, and will have to receive specialized care to ensure the health of their puppies. Other dogs have dental disorders requiring operation, eye disorders requiring medical treatment.

All American Eskimo Dogs are ready for potential adopters to meet the dogs. This will begin on Saturday morning, June 5th, from 8-11:30am. NE Heart Bandits will have 12 American Eskimo dogs for adoption, including two dogs who were NOT part of the rescue operation, but still need homes.

One of those dogs, Doji is a 11 year old senior male, who is a wonderful, wonderful dog! He has a few health issues that NE Heart Bandits will continue to cover the cost of, even after his adoption. Doji needs a foster home, but would love to be adopted into a forever home. His new owner or foster must live in the Lincoln area for occasional vet check-ups, at Heart Bandits' expense. Doji is neutered, house-broken, and knows basic commands. Doji's adoption fee is just $75!

The other dog, Jack is a 5 yr old male that is also not from the recent breeder rescue. He is a sweetheart and seems to love about everyone. He too is neutered, house-broken, and up to date on all shots. Jack's adoption fee is $250.00.

Most of the Puppy Mill rescue dogs will have adoption fees in the $250.00 area. All will be spayed or neutered, given a wellness check, heartworm tested and on preventative, will be treated for fleas/ticks with Frontline, up to date on all shots, and those with existing medical conditions will receive treatment before going to adoptive homes. Adopted dogs will come with a one month supply of a quality dog food. When you adopt a Heart Bandits dog, your new family member has received between $300 and $700 dollars of care, and the adoption fee that you pay goes right back into helping more dogs.

Judy is a female Papillion who recently had a litter of puppies, and a special adoption on our part. She is the only non-Eskie who Heart Bandits will personally adopt out. All other Papillions and Miniature Pincers will be adopted through Hearts United for Animals, based in Auburn, Nebraska. HUA is a wonderful rescue and shelter with far larger facilities and capacity, and we thank them for  helping take in these precious little dogs.

If you are interested in adopting one of the Papillions or Miniature Pincers, please visit the HUA web site here for more information. They will be updating their site in the next day or so with further adoption information. Those that have registered interest or applications at NE Heart Bandits will have their information forwarded to Hearts United. NE Heart Bandits will have no determination on whom the dogs are adopted to, as we trust Hearts United and the judgment of their staff. They have been informed that there is a long list of potential adopters for the Papillons. Their staff will contact existing applicants or interested persons in the order which their applications were received by Heart Bandits. Please note: all dogs will have an adoption fee. As stated above, these fees are used to help Heart Bandits and Hearts United for Animals continue to help more dogs. The fees charged are sometimes only 1/3 of what it cost the rescue to nurse that dog back to health.

Nebraska Heart Bandits is desperately asking for donations to pay for the care of these dogs. Even if you're not able to donate a great deal, every penny we receive will go directly to the medical bills generated by these dogs. Please visit our Adopt/Sponsor an Eskie page for more information on how to donate right from the comfort of your own home through Paypal. Donations are also being accepted at any Wells Fargo Bank location, just inform the teller that you are donating funds to Nebraska Heart Bandits Dog Rescue. Parkview Animal Hospital in Lincoln is also accepting cash or check donations in person or via telephone with your credit, debit, or bank card.

As always, thank you to our donors, fosters, community partners, and volunteers. Nebraska Heart Bandits could not perform its mission without your help!

UPDATE (6/2/2010)

The final head count is 41 dogs. Some dehydrated, some malnourished, some with infections of the eyes or gums, and some with systemic infections. At least 3 dogs are pregnant. All dogs are in Parkview Animal Hospital, receiving care. We are now in desperate need of financial assistance, as the medical bills continue to climb into the thousands.

Nebraska Heart Bandits can't complete its mission of saving homeless dogs without your support! Please, consider making a donation to support the care of these dogs. Financial donations are being accepted at all Wells Fargo locations, through Paypal on our Sponsor page, or by calling Parkview Animal Hospital at (402) 423-6939. Parkview can process donations via credit, debit, or bank card over the telephone, putting your donation to work immediately.



UPDATE (6/1/2010)

Nebraska Heart Bandits has completed the removal of 35 dogs from a puppy mill in eastern Nebraska.

All dogs will need vaccinations, spay/neuter procedures, blood panels, heart worm tests, dental cleaning or reconstructive work. Some dogs will need specific procedures for their eyes, digestive systems, and other issues that will not be diagnosed until the blood panels come back.

Although the pull is complete, we are far from finished with this endeavor. We will need numerous foster homes, and most of all, we need financial help to nurse each dog back to health.

We have new options available for those who wish to donate! In addition to the Paypal option at the top of the page, you can visit any Wells Fargo Bank location and ask to make a donation to "Heart Bandits Dog Rescue." Wells Fargo will transmit those funds to an account specifically created for the support of these dogs.

If you wish to contribute to the medical bills directly, please call Parkview Animal Hospital at (402) 423-6939. Parkview is able to take donations via bank or credit card, and all funds will go directly to the medical bills of these dogs. Parkview is also accepting donations of food, crates, blankets, towels, leashes and collars on our behalf.



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UPDATE (5/31/10 - 10:30AM)

Yesterday afternoon, Jim pulled 5 puppies and 5 adult dogs from the mill, with arrangements to return for the rest of the dogs on Tuesday morning. The rescue of these dogs will now continue as originally planned, transporting all dogs from their current location in eastern Nebraska to our veterinarian in Lincoln. All dogs are in need of medical care, including basic vaccines and sterilization.

At least two of the dogs we pulled yesterday are very sick, and the cost to treat each dog will be high. We are committed to nursing each dog to health and placing each in a loving home.

We have new options available for those who wish to donate! In addition to the Paypal option at the top of the page, you can visit any Wells Fargo Bank location and ask to make a donation to "Heart Bandits Dog Rescue." Wells Fargo will transmit those funds to an account specifically created for the support of these dogs.

If you wish to contribute to the medical bills directly, please call Parkview Animal Hospital at (402) 423-6939. Parkview is able to take donations via bank or credit card, and all funds will go directly to the medical bills of these dogs. Parkview is also accepting donations of food, crates, blankets, towels, leashes and collars on our behalf.

To mail a monetary donation, send your donation to:

NE Heart Bandits
PO Box 23183
Lincoln, NE 68542

Nebraska Heart Bandits is 100% donor funded and volunteer staffed.

We are also looking for corporate partners to sponsor these dogs. Anyone who donates to our rescue receives a big THANK-YOU on our page titled "Our Friends" with the option of linking to your business or personal website, where appropriate.

Whether it's a towel and a toy, an open home to foster, or a corporation that wants to partner with us, please consider helping these dogs as they transition from a life of commercial captivity to life as pets.

UPDATE (5/30/10 - 1:30PM)

The mill contacted our director this morning, who explained again that they were in violation of a court order. He explained that if the dogs are not surrendered, animal control officers WILL execute that order and confiscate the animals anyway. The owners of this operation agreed to allow the director to go to the facilities today to assess the scope of the situation. Tuesday's massive pull of 30-40 dogs may yet happen! Cross your fingers, and watch this spot for the latest news on this important undertaking.

The response to our need has so far been wonderful! Many people have offered food, bedding, and best of all: foster homes!  We are still looking for more supplies and foster homes, as the need continues to rise. We will have puppies, along with new and nursing mothers that will need IMMEDIATE foster homes to rest and recover in as soon as they receive veterinary clearance. Contact Jim at neheartbandits@windstream with questions, or to volunteer your assistance.

UPDATE (5/29/10 - 10:30PM)

The puppy mill has chosen to back out of our agreement, refusing to surrender an unknown number of puppies and their 7-10 mothers. The commercial mill offered to send us their "tired" dogs, but that's not good enough for us! We're not interested in allowing this place to downsize its sick dogs, only to place more in its kennels. We're looking for the total shut down and immediate release of all dogs on this premises.

The owners of this mill are under a court order to release all but three dogs, and are refusing to comply. It is now up to the authorities to enforce that court order. Our director is working as hard as possible to motivate immediate closure of this mill. As soon as the authorities are ready to go in and shut this mill down, we will be there to take in the dogs. Your help is still needed! Please, bear with us and continue to watch this location for updates on the situation. Email [email protected] for more information on how you can help.


May 29th, 2010    -   Commercial Breeder Closing, Dogs to be Released to Rescue!

Nebraska Heart Bandits is coordinating the release of 30 - 40 dogs from a commercial breeder in Nebraska this week. Each of these dogs will be pulled from the site and transported to Lincoln, where they will receive all necessary veterinary care, including vaccines and heartworm tests, in addition to individual care on an as needed basis. Depending on the severity of the situation, we could be receiving dogs with dental issues, surgical needs, and other issues. Each dog will then be boarded until a foster or forever home is found.

This undertaking is going to be extremely expensive, and Heart Bandits is desperate for your help!

First and foremost, we need foster homes to help these dogs transition from life in a commercial breeding facility to being regular pets. They will need a lot of love! Fostering a NE Heart Bandit rescue dog costs you NOTHING outside the cost of food and the time you will spend with the dogs. Please, consider fostering a rescue dog! If you are interested in fostering, please contact [email protected]

In addition to foster homes, we are in dire need of the usual supplies, such as towels, blankets, leashes, collars, and food. Most of all, we are in need of monetary donations that will help pay for the veterinary care of these dogs. To arrange a time for pick-up or drop-off of material or monetary donations, please call Jim Guilliatt at (402) 805-8120 or email [email protected] To mail a monetary donation, send your donation to:

NE Heart Bandits
PO Box 23183
Lincoln, NE 68542

Nebraska Heart Bandits is 100% donor funded and volunteer staffed.

We are also looking for corporate partners to sponsor these dogs. Anyone who donates to our rescue receives a big THANK-YOU on our page titled "Our Friends" with the option of linking to your business or personal website, where appropriate.

Whether it's a towel and a toy, an open home to foster, or a corporation that wants to partner with us, please consider helping these dogs as they transition from a life of commercial captivity to life as pets.