Tripawd Dog Mandela Deserves a Forever Home

When you read Mandela's story, I think you'll agree:  this dog deserves a loving forever home.  Mandela is a male Terrier mixed breed dog who is approximately 5 years old.  He's currently calling Stray Rescue's Pine Street Animal Shelter home, where everyone loves him.

He's a tripawd (3 legged) with an ear missing

 and he has a story to tell.

Photo: Stray Rescue of St Louis

 From Stray Rescue:

There are cases when we say to ourselves: 'If this were a human, he or she would not have survived.'  What many of these dogs endure on the streets is baffling, and this fact is rarely more apparent than during days like today - when Mandela was rescued. [warning: link will take you to a graphic video of Mandela's rescue.]


We received a call about a stray in a field who was in obviously terrible shape.  When the rescue team arrived on the scene, they immediately knew how dire the situation truly was.  On a frigid day, an emaciated, severely injured dog was fighting to stand up.  His name is Mandela.

As our founder, Randy Grim, approached, Mandela looked like a zombie.  He was in shock.  He was extremely malnourished and dehydrated.  Randy quickly found the primary concern - a portion of one of Mandela's back legs was completely cold, black and lifeless.  To Randy's shock, on the inside of Mandela's leg, the bone was completely exposed.  He had been "living" this way for a while.

The rescue team rushed hin back to the Stray Rescue trauma center, where the veterinary team got to work stabilizing him.  His temperature was low and his body was desperately trying to fight off infection.  In all likelihood, his dead leg would have fallen off it not for the bone being there.  And yet Mandela, with his resilient spirit, never surrendered.

Obviously, Mandela has lived the kind of life that is hard to imagine.  Even his lip on the right side of his face was split at one point in his life, having healed into a bifurcated one.  He has had a very, very rough life.  We will never knew what happened to Mandela that brought hin to this point in his life...  

In the rush to get him to the shelter, and with the severity of his other injuries, it was hard to notice that Mandela only had one ear as well.

Photo: Stray Rescue of St. Louis

After fighting for his life in intensive care and the successful amputation of one of his back legs, Mandela has made a big three-legged step on the road to a happy life.

Now, Mandela needs a forever home. 

For more information about Mandela, 

please contact Stray Rescue at 314-771-6121

Stray Rescue of St Louis began as founder, Randy Grim's one man crusade to save stray dogs.  Officially organized in 1998 as a non-profit, Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes.  Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected.  They've been dumped on highways or remote country roads.  Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys.  They currently operate two no-kill animal shelter in St Louis, MO

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Urban Wanderers Art Exhibition Benefits Stray Rescue

The Plight of the Street Dog is the theme of this year's Urban Wanderers Art Exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri.

A partnership between Stray Rescue and Saint Louis University Museum of Art, Urban Wanderers highlights homeless companion animals each year in a unique way.

Artists paint, photograph, or sculpt a Stray Rescue dog or cat that has been abandoned, abused, or neglected.  Shelter dogs create works of art using their paws, tails, and noses.  Not only unique and unusual, Urban Wanderers attracts well- respected artists exhibiting on regional, national, and international levels.

According to Randy Grim, author, radio host and founder of Stray Rescue:

"All those we rescue have important stories to tell, and telling these stories through art has proven to be a captivating way to show the reality of what homeless companion animals face on a daily basis.  The event also draws attention to how shelter animals enrich people's lives and made the greatest companions - it's truly one-of-a-kind"

The exhibition provides Stray Rescue with the opportunity to share facts about pet homelessness with the public, as well as their accomplishments in making St. Louis a more compassionate city for companion animals and people. 

This year's Urban Wanderers Spokesdog is OP.  In late September of this past year, this dog was shot at least 12 tmes and then tossed in a dumpster and left to die with an electrical cord tightly wrapped around his neck.  

Found and rescued by Randy Grim, OP received intensive medical treatment at Stray Rescue's trauma center and Veterinary Specialty Services for weeks.  Unfortunately, due to a bullet lodged near his spine, he lost the use of the lower half of his body.  These days, aided with a custom built cart, OP enjoys a loving home with Grim.  

OP's story is exactly the kind of important story told through the Urban Wanderers Art Exhibition.

The exhibition will open on Friday, March 22, with a reception beginning at 6pm and will run through Sunday, May 5, at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art.  The closing reception, at noon on May 5, includes a special presentation with Dr. Michael W. Fox, former Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States.

All art displayed in the exhibition will be available through an online auction beginning on Friday, March 22.  100% of the funds raised will go directly to helping homeless dogs and cats.



Part 2 with some of the art work:


About Stray Rescue: A non-profit organization founded by Randy Grim in 1998, Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes.

Adoptable Dog Boogie Pilgrim Has Personality to Spare

You really do need a fun loving, car riding, grass rolling guy in your life, right?

Boogie Pilgrim is all that and more!

For starters, he is one handsome dude of a dog.  A beautiful white with some black beauty marks, Boogie Pilgrim is a 45 pound, one year old, Pitbull Terrier mix.  He is working on his house manners and is learning basic training commands.

He may look like a distinguished gentleman in his photo, but you should see him lolling on a comfy bed or couch.  Boogie Pilgrim loves car rides and knows that his place is in the back seat, checking on the world outside the window.  He's an outdoor boy and loves to roll in the grass.  Fetch is his favorite game.

Boogie Pilgrim is a young guy just finding his way in the world.  All he needs is someone to love him and help him be the best dog he can be.

If you think that someone might be you, contact Stray Rescue of Saint Louis at 314-771-6121.  Boogie Pilgrim is calling their Pine Street animal shelter home for now. 


Founded by Randy Grim, Stray Rescue of St. Louis's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes. Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected. They've been dumped on highways, or remote country roads. Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. They've even saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Adopt a Big Beautiful Black Dog from Stray Rescue St Louis

Igneous is a 2 year old male terrier mixed breed dog.  In person he's as solid and handsome as the photo to the left.  He has an amazing head that he loves to have rubbed.  And who could ignore that ear-to-ear grin.

Igneous wants to be a lap dog, even though it would take a big lap to hold his 64 pounds.  He loves people and craves human attention.  He would do best as the only dog in the home.  

A playful guy, he like to release some of that energy through exercise.  If you need a physical fitness buddy, someone who is guaranteed to get you off the couch and into the outdoors, Igneous is your dog.

Igneous is currently living at Stray Rescue of St Louis's Pine Street animal shelter:  2320 Pine Street, St Louis, Missouri.  Call them for more information about Igneous at 314-771-6121.   

Founded by Randy Grim, Stray Rescue's sold purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, to restore them to health, and then place them in loving adoptive homes.

View the video below to learn more about Randy Grim and Stray Rescue.  As Randy notes, East St Louis is probably second only to Detroit in being very mean streets for homeless dogs.  50% of the animals rescued have been victims of gunshots.

Adopt a Dog: Say Yes to The Ears

This beautiful girl has a set of ears hard to resist!  Canada is a female mixed breed dog about 1 1/2 years old.  She's about 40 pounds - a great size!  Right now she's at Stray Rescue of St Louis foster home where they snapped this photo of Canada playing with her Kong.

We agree with Stray Rescue, Canada has a face that just makes you smile.  She's eager to please, loves everyone, and is very free with kisses.  A good car rider and an avid hiker, Canada is ready for a new leash on life in a forever home.

Find out more about Canada, this adorable Pit Bull Terrier mix dog, at Stray Rescue    314-771-6121

Live near St Louis?  Plan to find your perfect new companion at the Stray Rescue Summer of Love Adoptathon on Saturday, June 30!

The 2012 Summer of Love Adoptathon includes:

• Adoption fee reduced to $50 (includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchip)
• Chip-a-thon - Microchip your pet for only $5
• Adopt for a chance to win a rescue ride along with Stray Rescue founder, Randy Grim
• Randy Grimm book signing from 1-2 pm with Quentin the Miracle Dog
• Raffles with great prizes, including a custom built Triumph motorcycle
• 10% off all Stray Rescue merchandise
• Beer tasting with local micro brews
• Food, drinks, music, and vendors
• Pet cooling stations

All well-behaved pet are welcome!

Adopt a Dog from Stray Rescue of St Louis

Wabada  Photo:Stray Rescue 

At one time Randy Grim was a one man dog rescue operation with a mission of saving the homeless pets roaming the streets of St Louis, Missouri.  

After spending years prevailing upon his family and friends to place dogs he'd saved, in 1998 he founded Stray Rescue of St Louis.  Since then thousands of pets have been saved from abuse and starvation.  Since 1991, Grim has been credited with saving 5,000 feral dogs, all of which went onto to live in forever homes.  You can read more about Grim and the founding of Stray Rescue here.

Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health and place them in loving adoptive home.  Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected.  They've been dumped on highways or remote country roads.  They've been abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys.  They've also saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Wabada is just one of the dogs available for adoption at Stray Rescue. On average, Stray Rescue has over 200 dogs and 100 cats on any given day that are looking for a forever home.  

Wabada is a female Pit Bull Terrier mixed breed dog who is about two years old.  She weighs 50 pounds and, as you can see, Wabada is a real beauty.  She originally arrived at Stray Rescue with an injured paw, but she's the picture of good health now.  

Right now she's in a foster home with other dogs, cats and a young girl.  She gets along with all of them and loves to run and play.  Wabada is house trained, as well as crate trained.  According to her foster mom, Wabada is a really good girl.  If you're interested in adopting Wabada, you can fill out a Stray Rescue dog adoption form here and her foster mom will be in touch asap.

Or.... check out this handsome boy who goes by the name of Hot Dog.

Hot Dog  Photo courtesy Stray Rescue

Hot Dog is an 8 month old male Pit bull Terrier mix who weighs about 40 pounds.  He loves to play, especially ball.  Hot Dog is housebroken, already neutered and has lots of training.  He sits even without a treat, lays down with a hand signal or the word, sits before his food dish is set down.  He loves going for car rides and would really like a ride to a forever home.  

For more information about Hot Dog, fetch his information page at Stray Rescue.  He's currently at the Stray Rescue Pine Street Shelter and sure would like a loving family for Christmas.

Pit Bull Dog Art Exhibit: Stray Rescue's Urban Wanderers

The Urban Wanderers art exhibit at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art puts a new spin on the image of Pit Bulls.  According to Randy Grim, the organizer of the event, this art show is about dispelling the myth of the Pit Bull.  "Everybody has these preconceived notions.  Actually at the turn of the century they were used for nanny dogs," he said.

The artwork in the exhibit depicts dogs that Grim and his team have saved, or attempted to, through Stray Rescue of St Louis organization.  Dogs are not only the subject of the paintings, photographs and sculptures, in some cases they are the artists.

Admission to the exhibit is free.  The Saint Louis University Museum of Art is located at 3633 Lindell Blvd in St Louis.

Bids are being taken online for the artwork until the end of August.  Head on over to Stray Rescue and bid.  Proceeds will go to Stray Rescue and help them continue to rescue abandoned and abused dogs.  You can also read more about Randy Grim and his efforts to rescue the homeless dogs of St Louis in our Talking Dogs blog post.

Stray Rescue Spring Benefit May 1 in St Louis Missouri

6th Annual Spring for Strays Benefit

Sunday, May 1, 2011

2 - 6 PM

Harry's Restaurant and Bar, 2144 Market St, St Louis, MO

Celebrate the end of a long winter at one of Stray Rescue's most exciting events.

Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes. Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected. They've been dumped on highways, or remote country roads. Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. They've even saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Rescued animals often make the best pets. As a no-kill organization, pets from Stray Rescue seem to understand that they have a second lease on life. In return for a little affection and attention, these remarkable animals reward their new owners with a love and loyalty unmatched anywhere.

Stray Rescue: Reduced Adoption Fee for Dogs Until June 20

In an effort to put more dogs in loving home, Stray Rescue of St Louis, Missouri, has announced Spring to Adopt!

From now through the last day of Spring, June 20, 2011, all adoption fees for dogs will be reduced by half.  Only dogs at the Companion Animal Center are eligible for this reduced adoption fee of $75.  However, puppies are not eligible.

Adopt during this time and receive a signed book by Stray Rescue founder, Randy Grim.

The Companion Animal Center is located at 2320 Pine Street, St Louis, MO.

Stray Rescue's sole purpose is to rescue stray animals in need of medical attention, restore them to health, and place them in loving adoptive homes. Virtually all of the pets they save have been abused and neglected. They've been dumped on highways, or remote country roads. Abandoned in public parks, empty houses and dark alleys. They've even saved dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away.

Rescued animals often make the best pets. As a no-kill organization, pets from Stray Rescue seem to understand that they have a second lease on life. In return for a little affection and attention, these remarkable animals reward their new owners with a love and loyalty unmatched anywhere.

Randy Grimm and the Homeless Dogs of St Louis Missouri

IAt one time Randy Grim was a one man dog rescue operation with a mission of saving the homeless pets roaming the streets of St Louis MO.  After spending years prevailing on his family and friends to place dogs he'd saved, in 1998 he founded Stray Rescue of St Louis.  Since then thousands of animals have been saved from abuse and starvation. Since starting in 1991, Grim has been credited with saving 5,000 feral dogs, all of which - through months of gentle, loving care - have been turned into house pets and adopted by new families. Some have even gone on to become therapy animals, bringing joy to people in hospitals and nursing homes.

Obviously, Randy Grim loves dogs, especially the dogs he saves.  Called the Dog Man, or as a homeless man calls him, Coyote Man, he founded Stray Rescue so fewer homeless dogs suffer and die.  His passionate crusade has evolved into two no-kill shelters with a legion of 200 volunteers.

The sole purpose of Stray Rescue is to rescue stray animals, get them the veterinary attention they need, then place them in loving adoptive homes.  Virtually all of the animals they have saved were abused and neglected.  Dumped on highways or remote country roads;  abandoned in public parks, empty houses and alleyways.  They've even rescued dogs left chained behind buildings after their owners had moved away. 

 Stray Rescue has received numerous accolades from the American Red Cross and also has received national media attention from Animal Planet, National Geographic, the Weather Channel and Forbes Magazine.  

In the National Geographic feature, Mary Ann Mott wrote: "In St. Louis, Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue, is out on the streets every day feeding 50 or more mutts. If these wild dogs don't die of sheer starvation, he said, diseases such as parvovirus, heartworm, or intestinal parasites usually kill them. Their average life span is one to two years. Many of the animals he sees were once "bait dogs" - smaller, passive animals used to train fighting dogs. Great Dane puppies are commonly used, he said, and wire is twisted around their legs to hold them down, so they can't run while being mauled during training sessions. "If they live, they are just discarded onto the streets," said Grim. The animals are recognizable by their missing limbs, and scars from the brutal attacks.

Grim's humor comes out in his book, Don't Dump the Dog, which tells all the reasons why an animal is turned into a shelter. He offers his own practical solutions, as well as that of an animal behaviorist, for reasons commonly offered by people including:  not having time for the dogs, having a baby, too big, too old, destructive, too playful, going on vacation, the holiday season, doesn't like my boy/girl friend, barking, unable to be housebroken, sheds too much, eats poop, digs holes, doesn't like the kitty and more. Not one to give up on a dog, Grim tells everyone why they shouldn't either.