Welcome to Blue Moon Akita Rescue
WHAT DO WE DO?
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS ... at Blue Moon our mission is to adopt the right dog to the right home with people who will love and care for him the rest of his life. Here's what that looks like.
IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME VISITOR TO BLUE MOON ...
Thank you for visiting us here at Blue Moon Akita Rescue. Whether you are looking for an Akita or just want to learn more about these fascinating dogs, I hope we'll have some information to help you.
If you are one of our regular visitors, you'll notice we've made some changes in the format of the site -- behind the scenes, Kibo's dad (Don) has moved us over to a different hosting group and another server, so hopefully you'll see some faster loading on the site. It may take you a little bit to find your way around, but just keep digging ... everything's still here; it just may have shuffled a little bit.
If you are new to the Blue Moon site, you'll notice we are a little different in that we're kinda homey and just talking about our Akitas. We hope you enjoy your visit with us and will check back periodically. Because situations change, you'll see that our site is always a work in progress and will continue to change, adding new orphans to join our Adoptable Akitas pages, new Success Stories as Blue Moon orphans find homes and respectfully honoring new additions to the Rainbow Bridge.
If you see something you really like, (or don't like) ... please do give us the gift of feedback by writing karena@bluemoonakitarescue.com
IF YOU LIKE HAPPY ENDINGS ... please also look at our Dogs Placed tab (on your left) and also the Success Stories page (and I'm always behind in getting things updated so I apologize for that). Also you can see more of our Blue Moon Akitas with happy endings at http://caretransport.org/stories/akitas.html
IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE ORPHANS ... please look at our SUPPORT section for the various ways you can assist us with your time or support. One of our volunteers will be running in the Chicago Marathon in October to raise donations for Blue Moon. Scroll on down to read more about how you can support Nicole in her run. We so appreciate those of you who give of your time and talents to help us. Every one of you makes such a difference; you are all so incredible.
Learn About the Akita
Are you the perfect family for one of our current Akita orphans? Maybe, and maybe not. Would you get a Mini Cooper when you really need an F350 crew cab? The Mini Cooper might be cute as heck but if you need a crew cab, doubtful you're going to get the Mini. Inversely, who doesn't love a big truck? Well, if you never haul anything and live in a tiny apartment or have zero parking available and gas is expensive ... the Mini looks really good doesn't it. OK, selecting a dog works the same way. You need the right tool for the right job and you need the right dog to fit your lifestyle and needs. The difference between dogs and tools is if you buy the wrong tool for the job, you either exchange it or give it to someone and go get anoither ... a responsible dog owner doesn't do that and if you are now saying "why not" ... save yourself the pain of dealing with me please and just go to a different website. I love my dogs and the people who adopt them and I'm happy to teach anyone everything I can about the Akita, but I really need somebody I can work with, so ... .
I'm going to take a leap of faith here and say you are still reading because you recognize that dogs have feelings and tools don't. Now that we're in agreement on that basic truth, you're ready to learn more about the Akita. That's great. As you start considering whether you want an Akita in your life, I need you to remember not not everyone wants/needs/likes ice cream. Not a thing wrong with that, and not everyone wants/needs/likes Akitas and there is nothing wrong with that either.
The same thing applies to breeds of dogs; one breed/one size does not fit all owners and it does the dog an injustice to think otherwise. Just because I can't envision not having at least one Akita, that does NOT make them the ideal breed for everyone visiting this site. We love all of our guests and understand that probably 90% of you aren't going to adopt an Akita. That's ok .. stay awhile and come back to visit often.
Before you get a dog, please think about your lifestyle and whether a dog fits into you and your family's lifestyle. It's great to watch folks in the park play frisbee on Sunday. But remember -- they go home and the frisbee goes into the closet until next Sunday. The dog who was catching that frisbee in the park also goes home but he does not go into the closet until next week. For the other six days of the week, that dog is looking to his family to meet his daily needs for love, food, , sleeping, peeing and pooping, He isn't there to judge you but if you have had a bad day at the office and are looking for someone to take it out on -- go to the gym and work out -- don't get a dog. Every dog needs a responsible owner to ensure that those basic needs are met. Every day of the year. He needs someone to take him to the vet when he's sick and someone to teach him appropriate behaviors and to love him when he messes up. If that's not you, go to the garden store and get a nice fern. Then you've got something living at home and you're not messing with a pet's head.
No companion animal should be an impulse purchase. This is particularly true if the cute puppy you are looking at is going to grow into a powerful dog who by instinct bonds with his family and will guard them with his life. The cute puppy is going to grow into a highly intelligent dog who not only NEEDS a job and training, he wants them. Akitas are a little like water -- if there is a void water flows into the empty space and fills it: if there is a void in leadership in a home, the Akita is going to think that means he should be in charge. So if you are not willing and able to give your Akita the leadership he needs, please consider starting a lifetime of pet ownership with something a little less demanding. Goldfish are a nice place to start.
Please take some time to learn about the Akita and certainly we would love to answer any questions you may have.
Akita Rescue Western New York (ARWNY) has some wonderful breed specific information on their site at http://akitarescuewny.com/ARWNY/information.htm also feel free to contact us -- you can e-mail karena@bluemoonakitarescue.com with any questions you may have.
Chicago Marathon &
Blue Moon Akita Rescue
Running to raise money for the Akitas at the Colorado based
Blue Moon Akita Rescue
Date of Marathon: October 10, 2010 @ 7:30 am
Goal: $1,000
Goal Deadline: October 1, 2010
Donate: Specific amount or pledge per mile
Checks made payable to Blue Moon Akita Rescue
All donations are tax deductible
Contact: Nicole Geraci @ (773) 934-0050 or nickigeraci@comcast.net
Marathon runner Nicole Geraci was born in Chicago, IL and raised in Avon, CO. She moved back to Chicago for college where she met her “partner and soul mate, August. In 2008 Nicole and August moved back to Avon, and she currently works for her family’s financial planning and wealth management firm. . Her love for running started when she was a kid, some of her family members are runners as well. “I have found that running keeps me sane but there were times that life got in the way and running took the backseat. However, every time I come back to it I fall in love with it all over again.” Long term running goal for Nicole is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Nicole has “always loved dogs and all animals....” Her love for Akitas began when she returned to Colorado and met an Akita named Kuma . Soon she and August were researching the breed, intent on becoming informed owners. She and August got their first Akita in January 2009. Hachi was 8 weeks old when he joined the family and became their first dog. Nicole says that “Hachi has brought so much joy into our lives and has taught us more than we could have imagined.”
Nicole says the biggest thing the Akita has taught her is patience. She believes that “everything and everyone comes into our lives for a reason.” She tells us she feels blessed every single day she gets to spend with August and Hachi. We feel so very fortunate that Nicole selected Blue Moon as a way to give back to the Akita breed -- she said she lives too far away to be a "hands on" volunteer and so she asked if she could run a marathon to help support Blue Moon.
Each day we are grateful for our volunteers and sponsors for everything they do to keep us moving forward. Truly each of you are a vital part of Blue Moon Akita Rescue.