She Deserves It. Will You Help?

Help Us Pay for Angel's Surgery

Please help our sweet Angel.  She’s had it rough, but she’s not letting it get her down.  Angel was rescued from the streets of Ventura, California.  While living the life of a stray, Angel was hit by a car.  Her rescuers took her to the vet, but the prognosis wasn’t good: a crushed pelvis that that had already begun to heal and two broken femurs.  With funding low, and facing the prospect of having to re-break Angel’s bones to reconstruct them, the shelter was unable to do much for her.  That’s when she found her way to CWAC.  

Angel’s healing has been remarkable, and she can still get around like a pup, despite losing the use of her right hind leg.  She’s strong and determined, but still in a lot of pain.  Angel has seen some of the best orthopedic veterinarians in Utah, and the good news is, despite the improper healing of her left hip joint and leg and the bone atrophy in her right, it’s not too late to help her.  Angel will need to undergo a tricky surgery to restore use to her right leg.  She will have to have a special steel plate installed, as well as a bone graft to help regenerate growth.  The doctors have told us that the surgery will allow her to bear weight on her right leg again and vastly improve her quality of life.  

Angel is also looking for a loving, gentle foster home to await surgery and to help her heal for her forever home afterwards.  Since she is in so much pain, she would prefer a home without other dogs or children, where life moves at a slower pace and where she can relax.

We need $3000 to get Angel the surgery she needs, and so desperately deserves.  Please consider donating anything you can. 

This Week's Featured Adoptable: Canella

All she wants for Christmas is you!

Canella is a beautiful two-year-old Shepard mix -- and if her striking widow's peak doesn't draw you in, her adorable, fun-loving personality will.  She is an active girl who loves to run and play, but is eager to curl up on your lap for a good belly rub.  She loves to play in the water during the summer and would be perfect for a family who likes to hike and would take her for walks in the park -- she'd even be willing to teach you how to play fetch!  Canella would love a backyard of her own, but likes to snuggle up inside where it's soft and warm.

Canella is house trained and has basic manners.  She loves children -- she was fostered by a family with two- and four-year-old boys -- but she can be selective with cats and other dogs.

Come meet this amazing girl today -- her warm eyes are sure to melt your heart. 

Featured Adoptable: Toby

Toby is an adorable little ball of energy that would be perfect for an active home.  Toby loves to run and play outside, and his fetch skills rival those of dogs six times his size!  He'll sprint to the door and for a quick lap around the yard, then skid to a halt at your feet and flop on his back for a belly rub.  He also loves to be held and will curl up for a nice long cuddle. 

Toby is great with other dogs and would love to have a friend or two to play with.  He's also great with kids, so he'd fit in perfectly with a family.  Toby is very friendly and is house- and crate-trained.  If you're interested in meeting Toby, give us a call at 801-359-9959 or email Cathy at credking@gmail.com.

Confessions of a reformed pit bull hater

Okay, "hater" is not exactly the right word.  I've never hated any dog, nor have I never supported breed specific legislation or the mandatory euthanasia of any breed, and I've always held a very big grudge against those who give pits a bad name.  I was always just a little, let's say, overly cautious around pits.  I said I've never bring one into my home because in the past they have been bred to be vicious, and I believed part of that likely lingered deep in their DNA. 

Miss Molly

But all of that changed when I came to work for CWAC.  The pit that changed everything for me was Molly.  This adorable little girl was a compact, muscular bundle of joy.  I remember being a little nervous the first time she jumped up to lick my face.  I was even more nervous when I took her out to play with one of our other dogs, Cody.  Molly and Cody took opposite ends of the yard, stared one another down for a few minutes then took off at full speed toward each other, collapsing into a big ball of wrestling fur.  It took just a split second to realize they were playing, not fighting, and having a great time.  Molly always greeted me with slobbery kisses and hugs, and climbed up onto my lap for loves whenever she could.  Molly changed my perception of pit bull type dogs.

During my time at CWAC, we've been blessed to have several pitties come through our kennels.  From Mama and Tina to Gus -- a dog with cropped ears, the broadest head I've ever seen, a seriously bad-ass mean-streets look, and the biggest heart imaginable. 



Gus



Gus killing me with kisses.

I loved talking him for walks, because people would clear the sidewalks when they saw us coming.  I couldn't blame them, if I saw a dog looking like that coming toward me, I would be scared, too.  Gus could have been the poster child for BSL -- he definitely had the right look -- but he was a much better representative to fight against it.  Gus was a perfect example of exceptional behavior.  He seldom barked, never jumped up, and always answered when called.  He also loved to get attention and wouldn't hesitate to plop his heavy paws on your lap and tilt his head just enough to tell you he was open for some ear scratches. 

Molly, Gus, Rocky, Chubby, Bella, Billy, Katy, Tina and Mama have all had an impact on me that is nearly impossible to put into words.  They changed me.  There's nothing inside them that makes them prone to snap, not a violent bone in their stocky bodies.   Every time I see them, I saw the love and appreciation in their eyes, and the undeniable truth that there is nothing that separates them from Labs, or Collies, or even Poodles.  Okay, maybe one thing -- their fierce loyalty and ability to love.  I've never seen a type of dog so willing to please and so desperate to bond.  Despite the popular stories in the media, they are not vicious or unsafe.  Of course, all dogs should be properly socialized and introduced to new people and children.  But pit bull types should not be excluded simply because of the way they look. 

We now have several pits at the CWAC facility, all waiting for a home of their own.  It's Love Your Pit this month at the kennels, and we invite you to come down and meet them for yourself.  I promise you'll never be the same.


Amber is a caretaker with Canines With A Cause and runs public relations and marketing campaigns.

How You Can Help

The holiday season is upon us, and how better to celebrate than giving to those in need?  We have 14 adorable dogs looking for new homes, but we realize adoption isn't an option for everyone.  But you can still help, and make a big difference in their lives.

It's getting colder outside and we have several kennels without warm beds.  The kennel floors are cold and a new bed would give the dogs a warm, comfortable place to spend the nights dreaming of their forever homes.  Some of our dogs already have beds, but there isn't enough for everyone.  Please help us provide beds for each of them by donating a bed in your name, or as a gift for a friend or family member.  Simply click on the link below and select our shelter from the list.

If a full donation is a little out of your budget, you can still help us reach our goal by chipping in toward the cost of a bed.  You can donate by clicking here.  It's something that the dogs will appreciate every day.

We are also always in need of gently used blankets, toys, and towels.  If you can help, please contact us at canineswithacause@gmail.com.

Any donations are appreciated!