Hootie's Rescue Haven

04/22/2025

Early giving begins at midnight tonight! Thank you to everyone who gives what they can to help us care for all these abandoned kiddos. Every dollar counts!

Hello!  Hootie's is a 40 acre rescue ranch that specializes in abandoned and abused domestic animals.  We rehabilitate and rehome rescued animals, but also provide sanctuary for those who cannot be rehomed for either physical or emotional reasons.  At this writing, we are...

04/19/2025

On a cold night in January of 2024, a pittie mix found himself at Hootie’s Rescue Haven. He was scared and behaved in a somewhat aggressive way. Hoping to find his owner, the rescue posted about him on Facebook that night, and a neighbor immediately replied, saying that he felt he could work with this dog and provide him with a home.

In order to make the best judgment about the pup’s temperament, the rescue called in a trainer who has worked with many rescue dogs. The potential owner was also present with the trainer, and the dog responded very well to both of them.

The pittie, now named Drako, has fit in beautifully with his forever family, getting along perfectly with his fur brothers, a dachshund and a cattle dog, and bonding completely with his small, human brother.

Because he was given a chance by the rescue and by someone who recognized a potentially great companion, Drako’s life wasn’t just saved, it was fulfilled. This is our wish for every single animal that crosses our doorstep at Hootie’s Rescue Haven.

04/18/2025

Hi, Everyone! Hope you have been enjoying the little stories of past and current rescue kiddos. More to come. Just a reminder that early giving begins next week. A portion of all donations will be matched, so your donation can go a little further. Thanks to everyone that includes Hootie's in your yearly giving. We couldn't do this without you.

Hello! Hootie's is a 40 acre rescue ranch that specializes in abandoned and abused domestic animals. We rehabilitate and rehome rescued animals, but also provide sanctuary for those who cannot be rehomed for either physical or emotional reasons. At this writing, we are...

04/15/2025

https://fox2now.com/video/tail-waggin-tuesday-adopt-this-adorable-furry-friend/10629607

ST. LOUIS – It’s Tail Waggin’ Tuesday, and Hooties Rescue Haven brings an adorable furry friend in available for adoption.

04/13/2025

The Story of Red

Sometime during the night in late November, 2019, a dog was abandoned on the road near Hootie’s Rescue Haven. Fortunately for him, Hootie’s found him, took him in, and named him Red.

He was a big red, older hound mix and he was sick. Although they had no space, they were able to find a foster to care for him and even take him to his ultrasound appointment the following week where it was discovered that he had untreatable cancer. Hootie’s and the foster parent decided to keep him comfortable and take care of him for the rest of his life.

Red spent the last 6 months of his life being loved and cared for by the foster, who loved him as if he’d been with her his entire life.

04/12/2025

In the weeks leading up to GiveSTL, we have invited volunteers and adopters to write stories about those furry and feathery friends at the rescue that have touched their lives and hearts. Renee wanted to share her story of Bonnie.

Bonnie is a beautiful Australian shepherd mix girl who is about four years old. She’s housebroken and knows many commands. She loves people, and to her nothing is better than a belly rub.

Bonnie came from Hootie’s Rescue Haven to live with us as a foster, and we gradually introduced her to her Anatolian/Great Pyrenees foster sister. They loved to wrestle and take walks together, and there was never any concern about leaving them home alone. Bonnie is a perfect lady and does not chew or destroy anything even when not supervised.

We took her to Good Dog Training to help socialize her to other dogs and ready her to find her forever home. The trainers there loved her so much; she was a favorite, and she loved going there to see her trainer friends.

Then a call came in looking for placement for three ten-week-old puppies. The shelter was full, so we happily brought them into our home. We kept the puppies in their own space so that Bonnie wouldn’t be forced to deal with them all three right away. Gradually she adjusted to the puppies, and we did allow them to have some supervised time together. She played with them and napped with them. She was just like a puppy herself, and it was so sweet to see.

One day as my husband watched them all together in the yard, too much puppy energy was going on, and Bonnie went after one of the puppies, who by this time was nearly Bonnie’s size and was not hurt, but had no idea of what was happening.

Facing an impossible choice, we took Bonnie back to the shelter where there was room for her, knowing that the puppies needed more care and attention than Bonnie would as an adult dog, but it was so hard to let her go. She is a sweet, loving girl who just needs the right fit in her forever home with fewer or no other animals and a sense of calm.

As much as I love seeing her each week at the rescue to walk her and give her all the belly rubs, nothing would be better than to see her settled into a home of her own. She deserves it, and her new family will be so lucky to have her.

The official GiveSTL day is May 8th. Early giving begins April 23rd.

04/10/2025

https://vimeo.com/1074107414

This is "Come see our beautiful adoptable pups!" by Julie Srouji Gantner on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

04/09/2025

Thank you to everyone who kept Miss B in their thoughts today. Her surgery went well and she is home and resting comfortably. Wally was inconsolable today without her. Didn't know they had formed such a bond. She will have her sutures rechecked next week and will start her antibiotics tomorrow.

04/07/2025

Science Sundays will be paused this month in order to bring you stories from the farm. Give STL is May 8th, and we wanted everyone to know about our efforts to rescue and rehabilitate all our foundlings so that you get a feeling for how donations are used on a day-to-day basis. Today, I want to cover Larry, Barbara, Wally and emus in general.

So, a client called the rescue last year. He had two emu chicks that he had purchased, but they just weren’t fitting into his hobby farm. Since this client had adopted 2 goats, a Great Pyrenees and a cat from our rescue over the years, I agreed to take the emus, Barbara & Larry. A new enclosure was fenced in and a barn erected just for them. Things were going well until Barbara was spooked by fireworks from the neighbors and she hurt herself. This injury proved to be lethal for Barbara even though we consulted bird specialists and took her to Mizzou for x-rays.

Larry was devastated. It took him weeks to begin eating normally and to settle into his new solitary life. Knowing that emus can live 20-35 years in captivity, we decided to get Larry another emu companion. We decided to get a male chick since males are much calmer and sweeter. Females tend to want two males to every female to be happy, so we decided we really didn’t want to have 3 emus, so we decided on getting a male. Male emus usually reach maturity at 2-3 years of age and normally accept another male buddy if introduced before that time. Larry’s first birthday was in March.

We finally tracked down a standard male emu chick at a breeder in Joplin, MO. Renee drove 9 hours round trip on Saturday to bring little Wally home. He is about 2 weeks old and simply adorable. He has an adventurous personality and likes to have his head and neck stroked. He is currently in a room in the basement with Miss B who is anxiously awaiting her foot surgery tomorrow. The breeder had suggested getting someone his own age for a playmate, so I picked up two Isa Brown chicks.

I truly believe there are no coincidences, just things we don’t yet understand. Tractor Supply was one of the few places open on Sunday who sold chicks. Their minimum purchase was 4 chicks, but I really only wanted two. While I stood looking at the chicks trying to decide what to do, a young boy excitedly pulled his mom over to the chicks and was pleading for her to buy 2 bantam chicks. Mom told him they could probably convince their dad to get two, but that the minimum purchase was 4. Needless to say, we ordered together, and the boy happily took his little chicks to the car, and I had 2 friends for Wally. It is those little things that happen that let you know you are on the right path.

I introduced the girls to Wally, and he tentatively pecked at each of them. He then picked one up by the tip of the wing and dangled her. I swooped in and rescued her and told Larry that we do not eat our friends. Emus are omnivorous foragers and eat plants, insects, arthropods and small animals. The chicks will be separated until they are bigger. Until then, Wally will have to be happy with the company of his dowager Aunt, Miss B.

With a fence between them, we will slowly introduce Wally to his big brother, Larry. We will not let them interact without a fence until Wally has reached full size at about 6 months of age. Hopefully, they will become buddies. We are also adding enrichment to Larry’s enclosure in the form of a planter with Missouri Cane to provide a ‘hide’, adding a mirror as emus feel better if they can see another emu and logs that we can put food in to elicit a foraging response instead of just feeding from a bowl.

I will keep you updated on Wally as he grows and hopefully bonds with his brother. Will also keep you updated on Miss B and her surgery tomorrow.

04/04/2025

Soooo very excited! Renee is driving to Joplin tomorrow to pick up a brother for Larry. We are naming him Wally. Will post pics soon!

03/30/2025

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and—in rare instances—humans.

The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible.

Heartworm disease in cats is very different from heartworm disease in dogs. The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage. Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adult worms. While this means heartworm disease often goes undiagnosed in cats, it’s important to understand that even immature worms cause real damage in the form of a condition known as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Moreover, the medication used to treat heartworm infections in dogs cannot be used in cats, so prevention is the only means of protecting cats from the effects of heartworm disease.

The mosquito plays an essential role in the heartworm life cycle. Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog, fox, coyote, or wolf produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites and takes a blood meal from an infected animal, it picks up these baby worms, which develop and mature into “infective stage” larvae over a period of 10 to 14 days. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another dog, cat, or susceptible wild animal, the infective larvae are deposited onto the surface of the animal's skin and enter the new host through the mosquito’s bite wound. Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.

Many factors must be considered, even if heartworms do not seem to be a problem in your local area. Your community may have a greater incidence of heartworm disease than you realize—or you may unknowingly travel with your pet to an area where heartworms are more common. Heartworm disease is also spreading to new regions of the country each year. Stray and neglected dogs and certain wildlife such as coyotes, wolves, and foxes can be carriers of heartworms. Mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind and the relocation of infected pets to previously uninfected areas also contribute to the spread of heartworm disease (this happened following Hurricane Katrina when 250,000 pets, many of them infected with heartworms, were “adopted” and shipped throughout the country).

Because infected mosquitoes can come inside, both outdoor and indoor pets are at risk. For that reason, the American Heartworm Society recommends that you “think 12:” (1) get your pet tested every 12 months for heartworm and (2) give your pet heartworm preventive 12 months a year.

Heartworm disease is a serious, progressive disease. The earlier it is detected, the better the chances the pet will recover. There are few, if any, early signs of disease when a dog or cat is infected with heartworms, so detecting their presence with a heartworm test administered by a veterinarian is important. The test requires just a small blood sample from your pet, and it works by detecting the presence of heartworm proteins.

Annual testing is necessary, even when dogs are on heartworm prevention year-round, to ensure that the prevention program is working. Heartworm medications are highly effective, but dogs can still become infected. If you miss just one dose of a monthly medication—or give it late—it can leave your dog unprotected. Even if you give the medication as recommended, your dog may spit out or vomit a heartworm pill—or rub off a topical medication. Heartworm preventives are highly effective, but not 100 percent effective. If you don’t get your dog tested, you won’t know your dog needs treatment.

There are many heartworm preventatives on the market, but the industry leaders are Simparica and Heartgard. It is important that these preventatives be purchased from your veterinarian so that your manufacturers guarantee remains intact. The guarantee stipulates that if your dog contracts heartworms and your veterinarian can show that you bought the preventative from them and that your dog was tested yearly, the manufacturer will pay for heartworm treatment for your dog.

The cost for heartworm treatment for dogs can range from $400 to $1000 or more depending on the severity of the infection and the dog’s weight. Treatment typically involves a month’s course of doxycycline, followed by a series of 3 injections, hospitalization, blood tests, x-rays, sedatives and pain medications.

Plus, a bird flu update and what it is doing to our cats.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/it-s-time-to-worry-about-bird-flu-in-cats/ar-AA1BVYpS?ocid=socialshare

03/24/2025

Sorry! On vaca and got distracted by all the beautiful birds so I am a day late in posting. Bird watching made me think of bird flu, so I thought I would catch everyone up on the current outbreak.

Avian influenza, also known as avian flu or bird flu, is a disease caused by the influenza A virus, which primarily affects birds but can sometimes affect mammals including humans. Wild aquatic birds are the primary host of the influenza A virus, which is enzootic (continually present) in many bird populations.

Symptoms of avian influenza vary according to both the strain of virus underlying the infection, and on the species of bird or mammal affected. Classification of a virus strain as either low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is based on the severity of symptoms in domestic chickens and does not predict severity of symptoms in other species. Chickens infected with LPAI display mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, whereas HPAI causes serious breathing difficulties, significant drop in egg production, and sudden death. Domestic poultry may potentially be protected from specific strains of the virus by vaccination.

Avian influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus:

• Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16).
• Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9).

Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible, for example H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, and H7N8. H5 and H7 LPAI viruses have the potential to change into HPAI viruses and are closely monitored by animal and public health officials.

For the first time since 2017, the United States has reported an outbreak of the deadly H7N9 bird flu on a poultry farm. Its spread to mammals, including dairy cows in the U.S., has raised concerns among governments about a risk of a new pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the lead federal agency for avian influenza in animals.

The H7N9 bird flu virus has proved to have a high death rate for humans worldwide killing 616 people, or 39%, of the 1,568 people infected worldwide since it was first detected in 2013 in China. The latest outbreak of H7N9 was detected on a farm of 47,654 commercial broiler breeder chickens in Noxubee, Mississippi. Depopulation of the affected flock is in progress.

The strain that has caused most damage to poultry in recent years and the death of one person in the U.S. is the H5N1. It causes severe illness and death in all types of birds, particularly wild birds, ducks, geese, and chickens. Since it was discovered in 1996, the virus has spread to some mammals as well, such as rodents, squirrels, rabbits, and cattle.

Unfortunately, the H5N1 virus can affect cats. They are quite susceptible to catching the virus, and there is a high death rate – up to 70%. There is no vaccine for cats to prevent bird flu and there’s no treatment, other than keeping your cat hydrated and comfortable. Cats who wander outside have a higher risk of bird flu because they can come in contact with other animals that have it. Indoor cats who eat commercially prepared food or fully cooked foods are unlikely to get the virus.

“We don’t know why cats are so susceptible yet,” says Jane Sykes, PhD, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of California, Davis and a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine with a special interest in infectious diseases of dogs and cats with public health significance.

“At this time, the best way to prevent infections in cats is to keep cats indoors (or use an enclosed catio [an outdoor, enclosed patio for cats]) and feed them commercial processed (not raw or freeze-dried) food,” Sykes says. Some tips include:

• Don’t feed your cat unpasteurized dairy products.
• If you prepare your own cat food, even treats, thoroughly cook it.
• Avoid contact with sick birds, dead birds, or other wildlife so you don’t bring the virus to your cat.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after touching any poultry, livestock, wild birds, or other animals.
• Disinfect or change your shoes when entering your home if you’ve walked around or near bird feeders or other areas where birds may gather.
• If you might have been exposed to the virus, change your clothes and shoes, and wash any exposed skin before coming in contact with your cat.

Though you may bring the virus to your cat, it is extremely unlikely that your cat will pass the virus to you.

03/16/2025

Good Morning! Hope everyone is recovered from those storms. Today we tackle vaccine titers.

A titer test involves measuring the level of antibodies against a particular disease in a sample of blood. Antibodies are produced by the body in response to an antigen or stimulus. Your dog’s body can produce antigens after vaccination or after being infected with bacteria or viruses. Titers can provide evidence whether an animal has antibodies against a disease, which MAY correspond to protection.

A positive or high value MAY suggest that your dog has many antibodies to fight the potential infection, while a negative or low value COULD indicate your dog does not have protection and may require a booster.

However, the immune system is constantly learning, changing, and attempting to protect the body from all sorts of invaders. Because of this, a high titer DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE IMMUNITY.

Titers are, effectively, a snapshot of your dog’s antibody level at a single moment in time. Antibody levels can change or be influenced by numerous factors such as stress, medications, health status, genetics and, in the young, levels of maternal antibodies.

Most state laws do not accept antibody titers as proof of protection for fatal and zoonotic diseases, such as rabies.

If your pet has high antibody levels against a disease, this can tell us one of three things:

Your pet is currently infected with the disease,

Your pet was vaccinated for or exposed to the disease, OR

Your pet is protected against the disease.

How do you know which statement is true? For some diseases, high antibody levels do not mean that your pet is protected. Therefore, your pet should be revaccinated as scheduled against these diseases, regardless of titer results.

For a few diseases, however, high antibody levels do SEEM to predict protection from illness. These diseases are canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus and feline panleukopenia.

Conversely, a low antibody titer does not necessarily mean that your pet is not protected against a disease. Vaccines tell the body to make both antibodies and immune cells. The antibody levels decline faster than the level of immune cells do so, even if your pet has very few antibodies, they still MAY have enough immune cells to defend against disease. Unfortunately, it is difficult to measure the level of immune cells so a low titer may or may not be a reason for revaccination.

Is your head swimming yet? Until words like, SEEM and MAY can be eradicated from the discussion about vaccine titers, I suggest revaccination at appropriate intervals for that individual. Although rare, if marked vaccine reactions are noted, titers can be an important tool in the battle to balance your pet’s health.

Important ‘take home’ messages here:

A higher titer DOES NOT promise 100% protection against disease.

As with any lab test, there is always the potential for error, meaning the titer may say that your pet has enough antibodies when actually they don’t.

Vaccine titers only give a snapshot of your pet’s antibody levels at a single moment in time, telling us nothing about future immunity. This means that antibodies may decline to insufficient levels before your pet’s next vaccine titer is scheduled.

03/15/2025

I hope everyone rode that storm out last night with minimal damage. Haven't seen weather that scary in St. Louis for quite a while!

We sustained some damage at the farm, but I am grateful that there was no loss of life. Will get a closer p*ek at the horses, Tom and Larry in the light this morning. If anyone has time today, Russ will be coming out to repair some enclosures and could use some help. Tom's house had the coverings on one wall ripped off and his roof needs to be stabilized. Had to bring Loosey Goosey, Leonard and Loretta in the basement last night because the back wall of their house became unstable. Will need to reattach and reinforce that today. The only injury seems to be Larry's right wing. Looks like he caught it on something in his panic, but don't think it is a serious wound.

On a better note, Larry's breeder has hatched 3 standard emus! We are waiting on DNA results to see whether one is a brother for Larry! Will keep you posted.

Thanks for any time you can give us today!

03/09/2025

Finishing up vaccines with the Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Infectious Peritonitis Vaccines.

FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS (FeLV) is one of the most important infectious diseases of cats worldwide. Affected cats can develop anemia (a low red blood cell level), cancers, and/or suppression of the immune system. The disease worsens over time and can be fatal. The virus can infect domestic and wild cats (such as lions). Widespread testing and vaccination efforts have helped to reduce the prevalence of the disease over the past 30 years, and in 2010 approximately 3% of the cats in the United States were infected. There is increased risk for the disease among outdoor cats, unneutered males, and cats with other diseases (especially respiratory disease, mouth diseases, and abscesses).

Feline leukemia virus is transmitted between cats via infected saliva and urine. Direct contact with these body fluids, mutual grooming, shared litter boxes and food dishes, and fighting (bite wounds) all expose uninfected cats to the virus. To become infected, cats typically require prolonged, repeated exposure to the virus. Mother cats can also transmit the virus to their kittens while they are in the womb and through milk. It is likely that the transmission from a mother to her kittens is the greatest source of infection. Young kittens have the highest risk of catching the virus, whereas adults may have some inherent protection. However, cats of all ages can catch the virus and develop the disease.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline leukemia virus. Some positive cats can live without major complications for years with routine veterinary care, proper feeding and care, minimal stress, and avoidance of secondary infections. Infected cats should be kept strictly indoors to reduce the risk of other infections and to prevent the spread of the virus to other cats. Your cat should visit the veterinarian at least every 6 months to monitor for disease-related disorders and secondary infections. Your veterinarian will make a recommendation for appropriate vaccinations against other feline viruses (vaccination for FeLV will not help once a cat is infected with the virus). All infected cats should be neutered.

If you cat is strictly an indoor cat and you do not take in or intend to take in another cat, this vaccine is not necessary. If your cat goes outside, if you take in strays or you foster kittens/cats for any rescue groups, I consider this vaccine mandatory for your cat.

FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP) is a viral disease caused by a feline coronavirus that affects wild and domestic cats. This type of coronavirus is different from the one that causes COVID-19 in people. FIP includes two forms: feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which is common and usually mild, and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), which is much more dangerous.

Feline coronavirus is very common and usually doesn't cause any serious issues aside from mild diarrhea. But when the feline coronavirus mutates to a specific strain of the coronavirus, it can cause FIP. The virus will multiply and mutate in about 10% of infected cats. FIP can be spread transplacentally, via the litterbox, by saliva and by sneezing. Purebred kittens tend to be more susceptible to this virus.

FIP has a "dry" and a "wet" form. Infected cats can have symptoms of only one form or a mix of both.

The dry form of FIP causes infections and inflammation. This can affect your cat's brain, eyes, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Cats with this form often have seizures and may move in strange or uncoordinated ways. They might also drink and p*e a lot, throw up, lose weight, and get jaundice.

The wet form of the disease causes fluid to collect in the belly, giving the cat a pot-bellied look. Fluid can also gather in the chest, making it hard for the cat to breathe. Wet FIP harms the blood vessels, leading to inflammation and fluid leaking from the blood into the abdomen and chest.

FIP is difficult to diagnose. Many of its symptoms could also be symptoms of other health issues in your cat. No single blood test is available to confirm FIP.

FIP was long considered an untreatable disease until recently when the FDA approved drugs to help treat it. GS-441524 is a tablet or liquid oral antiviral drug that may cure FIP. The standard treatment lasts 84 days, but research shows a shorter 42-day treatment might work just as well.

While a FIP vaccine is available, researchers aren't sure if it works, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel doesn't suggest it.

This wraps up my talks about specific vaccines for dogs and cats. There was some interest in titers at the beginning of this series, so next week I will write about what we think we know about titers. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!

03/08/2025

Thank you to everyone who came out to support us tonight! We are grateful for YOU!

03/03/2025

Good Morning! Hope everyone is having a great start to your week. Just a reminder about our delicious fundraiser on Friday. Visit the Hanley Lion's Choice on Friday between 4pm & 8pm, mention Hootie's or bring in this flyer and a portion of your purchase price will be donated to Hootie's. Friday dinner covered! Thanks for helping us in all the ways you do.