Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance

Connie P., aka Camp Connie is not on FB but we celebrate her and are grateful for all she does for NARA Akitas. She has been fostering for us for many years and there are far too many to list but Misa, Mojo, Aja, Aria, Mia, Tomoko, Akoya, Shaka, Laura, Jazzy and Bella are just a few of the long list of Akitas who have been in Connie’s care. Our dogs are given the chance to experience trust, love and joy in a place they can call home until their forever home comes along. After the first few days at Camp Connie, the transformation begins! Here, they are given the confidence and life skills they need until they find their forever home. Connie is often the first NARA member to discover what makes our orphans tick and in time they acclimate and blossom. We are forever grateful to have you as part of our team.

Ann and Martin Kirchner came into our lives many years ago. They have been adopters, fosters and dear friends for over a decade, providing a safe haven for some of our toughest cases such as Doc and Ninja. Doc came to us from the Castaic shelter in Southern CA. He suffered from Sebaceous Adenitis. We saw Doc’s shelter photo and acted quickly to get him out. Doc knew he’d hit the jackpot when he found himself in the home of Marty and Ann and new canine buddies Carly and B...ear. He was on a brief stay there, with his final destination being the home of Laticia Sahs who gave Doc a forever home until he passed. Not long ago, we had seen Ninja circulating on social media. We rescued him from the Baldwin Animal Shelter in Southern CA. He had huge mass on his rear and he was in tremendous pain from hip dysplasia and arthritis. There were desperate pleas about how much he needed help and needed out of the harsh shelter environment, but time was not on his side and no one came forward. His photos and his story left us heartbroken. We felt compelled to get him the care he needed. We called on Martin and Ann and with the help of others, Ninja made his way to Casa Kirchner. He enjoyed his newfound canine pack and the love of incredible people. In time due to old age and years of neglect, he experienced tremendous pain and a host of health issues. Sadly, he crossed the Bridge recently but his spirit is never far. Thank you Marty and Ann for your endless dedication to this magnificent breed.

Update on Rui: Linda Martin, our dear friend who we owe a debt of gratitude has been opening her home to NARA fosters for the past 16 years. Linda has been rescuing Akitas for decades and has fostered many of the seniors and special needs Akitas we take in. Some of the Akitas Linda has fostered for us are an Akita survivor from Hurricane Katrina, dogs with massive tumors, blind dogs, dogs with neurological issues, dogs with birth defects, dogs diagnosed with cancer and simp...ly older Akitas nobody wanted because they were old. Rui, Buster, Karou, Buki, Tagi and Elly are just a short list of some of our Akitas Linda has cared for, for us. Currently Linda is fostering Rui, a 9-10 year old male Akita that was found by a good Samaritan who contacted us for assistance. The woman who found Rui was in the process of helping us find a permanent home for him, when she was tragically killed in an auto accident. We remained committed to her rescue endeavor and were determined to find a place for Rui in our care. We are grateful to Linda for agreeing to foster him. She’s given him the best life he’s ever known. He has shown his typical Akita will and determination and continues to enjoy his daily walks and always makes sure Linda shares her meals! He has a smile and glint in his eye that indicate to us he is going to be around awhile longer!

Kokomi update: We were heartbroken and outraged when we were notified of the horrific account of a young Akita from Washington state, who had been attacked by his owner with a machete. The Akita had been confiscated by local authorities while they built an animal cruelty case. The photos were graphic and difficult to look at as this boy suffered the ultimate betrayal. Our good friend Laura Olson offered to foster him while providing a place for him to rehabilitate and hea...l from his wounds. Kokomi was just over a year old and we hoped his age would enable him to recover emotionally and physically and forgive humans for inflicting such horrendous abuse on him. Thankfully with years of Akita experience, Laura and her family provided the respite he needed to make a full recovery. When Laura expressed her desire to officially adopt him, we were thrilled! We were secretly hoping Laura and her family would fall madly in love with Kokomi! He is doing incredibly well and has become the fun loving, happy boy he was meant to be. Thank you Laura for being there for us and for Kokomi!

Check out the fundraiser to benefit Akita rescue organizations. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Drawing to be held on Valentine's Day.

Kobi and his companion, Bella, were found exploring the neighborhood after their fencing fell down. When their owner was contacted, they stated they couldn’t afford to pay the fees to get them out of the shelter, so they abandoned them there. Both were underweight and in rough shape though Kobi seems to have fared better physically. Despite the neglect they endured, both of them are overflowing with love and affection, which they seemed to have been deprived of. Bella has an ...adoption pending. Kobi is just a youngster at approximately 1-year old with a whole lot of growing to do! He’s already a big, strong boy with an unbridled sense of adventure. He fires on all cylinders and is eager to get out and see the world. We can’t blame him for his enthusiasm if he’s been isolated in a yard his whole life. He could be mixed with German Shepherd or a combination of other breeds, but nonetheless, he’s friendly, outgoing, and a lover. He enjoys meeting new people and doesn’t know the meaning of aloof! On the contrary, he can be a bit overzealous when greeting people so will need to learn proper etiquette. Kobi will be enrolled in a basic obedience and manners class before he’s available, so he can be the best he can be. His new owner will need to continue implementing his training and socialization as part of his daily routine as he matures and grows. His ideal guardian is someone who is active and maybe even likes to run and hike. You should be an experienced large breed individual who is familiar with setting boundaries and maintaining rules. Kobi will require a home with a large fenced yard. No apartments or townhouses will be considered. No children in his future home as he is much too big and energetic for little humans. It might be the mix in him, as Kobi is not a typical Akita and seems to be quite social with many other well-mannered dogs his size. He may do well with an appropriately matched female of equal activity level. If you are interested in adopting, please complete our adoption application found on our website: https://www.namasteakitarescue.com/how-do-i-adopt There you will find helpful information about the adoption process, FAQ's, etc. #Akita #AkitaRescue

Posting on behalf of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation: Shadow, 2 years, 3 months old male Akita is available for adoption. (631) 728-7387 [email protected] Shadow is a handsome Akita that was rescued from a local municipal shelter recently. He is a social dog who enjoys long walks or playing in a fenced-in yard. He can be a bit selective with other dogs and likes to rough-house. He would do best with large female dogs, if any. Shadow would prefer a home without children. We’d love to find someone who has experience with Akitas or similar breeds to ensure he has the best life he possibly can!

We have extended our fundraiser until Thursday, January 14. Please share! The "Inquire Within" graphic was designed for Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance by Brandt Fuse of Sumofish. Brandt is well known for his bold, creative, Japanese inspired apparel designs. Our exclusive Inquire Within design depicts an Akita in an introspective meditative state of mind. We always remind ourselves to look within, when faced with the many challenges and life-changing decisions for the dogs i...n our care. Also available are t-shirts with our logo. We are grateful for your support! https://namaste-akita-rescue.square.site/

Remember Misa, the young female Akita who came from a domestic abuse situation (see the post from July 4)? We have great news... Misa has found a completely loving home with Karen and Mike and is soaking up all of their adoration! Misa came out of her shell and transitioned quickly to her new home due to all the love and kindness she received from her foster mom, Connie. Our hearts are full!

Thank you, Marty and Ann, and Bob and Aria for giving Ninja his best life. We are so grateful that you always open your hearts and home to help a pup in need. RIP, Ninja.

Did you know that you can make a difference to our non-profit while you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on October 13 & 14? Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4607288 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping mobile app and AmazonSmile donates to Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance Inc. Thank you!

Thank you, Carolyn, for sending us this recent photo of Koji! He has matured into a handsome, regal soul. Koji came to us in 2014 from the San Francisco animal shelter. He’d been dumped there by people who assumed their Shiba would accept him. She never did, resulting in many serious attacks on him. The rest is history. Before his first birthday, he was already on his 3rd home. We took him in, and one of our incredible former adopters offered to foster him. He was a typical, ...wild-child puppy with boundless energy with a mischievous glint in his eye, and infinite love and affection for his humans! He was quite the handful and we recognized right away he would require dedicated adopters who would commit to him and his ongoing training and socialization. Low and behold Carolyn and Dave found us and here’s Koji today! Koji has a human baby sister that he is extremely gentle and loving with. Soon after her arrival, he took it upon himself to be her personal alarm system. If she cried he would immediately appear crib-side to check on her, then quickly alert mom and dad. He often would lay down next to her crib until late into the night. A devoted big brother! Thank you again, Carolyn, for the wonderful photo and update. We love to hear from our long time adopters!

We recently received the donations from Melody's Facebook Fundraiser - thank you so much!

Check out the "Winter Holiday in July" fundraiser for the Akita Club Of America Rescue @AkitaClubRescue. These beautiful ornaments are flat and shatterproof. They are $25 per ornament with proceeds to benefit Akita Club of America Rescues which Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance is proud to be a part of. Below is the link to place your order. Shipping within the continental US is included. Last year they ran out so please place your order soon. We appreciate your support! https://checkout.square.site/buy/JZYLZNIAVVWYBDU6EENZTCTE

Tragically, domestic violence not only affects people, but often the animals who live with them. Darling Misa just turned one last month. I wish I could say she celebrated her birthday, but sadly this milestone will be marred with abuse of the worst kind. The violence and suffering she endured in the first 12 months of her life was vicious. From an anonymous email sent to the shelter, details emerged stating Misa and her mom were living in an abusive situation. In her wo...rds, Misa was being beaten and she could not stop the abuser. Often victims of abuse face further violence if they protect animals or children from their abuser. They also are unable to leave the home for fear the animals will be killed. Sadly, Misa’s trust in men has been crushed. She suffered some sort of head trauma this time, and her mom knew she had to find a way to get Misa out immediately. Soon, Misa found herself at the shelter. The email was heart wrenching as it detailed Misa’s personality in happier times when she loved her toys, enjoyed doggy play dates and was loving and affectionate. When we evaluated Misa, she was shut down, flinched at every quick movement, loud noise or a raised voice. On leash, she darted from side to side, front to back, attempting to run. Her tail was clamped tightly against her body, and she would crouch, duck and tremble. But when she gave a few quick kisses, she was signaling to us that she had not given up on humans. Upon arriving at our foster home, she ran looking for the furthest, darkest, confined area to hide in. She found the corner storage unit and curled up on the bottom shelf. She made herself as small as possible hoping we couldn’t see her. We let her stay there as long as she wanted, and made it as comfortable as possible. Misa would venture out to grab a quick few bites and a drink of water when no one was around, then quickly duck back into her cave. It’s been 5 days and it's heartwarming to see her making great strides. We are seeing her puppy behaviors, her intelligence and her trust. She explores and plays with toys, and follows her foster mom everywhere. No doubt we have a very long road ahead but we’ll take it one day at a time. Her name means beautiful bud or blossom. We felt It epitomized her beautiful spirit. Cultivating a thing of beauty takes nurturing and care before it can blossom. We hope and pray Misa’s guardian has been able to flee the abuse and has found refuge, support and care for herself. We can't thank her enough for getting Misa to safety, most likely a life saving feat.

Happy Father's Day to all the fur dads and human dads! In honor of Father's Day, we'd like to share that Shaka has a new family to call her own. Shaka loves to "bake" in the sunshine on the grass. On walks, she loves it when people stop to pet her. Thank you to Sigal and Doron for giving Shaka so much love and welcoming her to their family!

Here’s an update on Kokomi, our miraculous boy from Washington whose owner brutally attacked him with a machete. We don’t know the status of his case with the DA’s office, but we can only hope this loser faces jail time for the atrocities he inflicted on this amazing Akita. It has been nearly a month since Kokomi has been in our care. Huge, huge thank you to Laura Olson for caring for him through his rehab. After arriving at Laura’s, he was operating on pure adrenaline. F...or hours, he explored every shrub and tree, chased toys, and ran like the wind across the lush green grass that went on for what seemed like days! Then for the next two days he slept like a rock, emotionally exhausted from his ordeal. It didn’t take long for him to understand, life as he knew it was in the distant past. In spite of what he’s been through he has been loving and trusting and has emerged as a happy, goofy adolescent. He’s getting structure, socialization, learning house rules and seems relieved someone trustworthy is paving the way. Kokomi still has a ways to go, and we still are getting acquainted with his nuances, and he’ll need some medical follow up still. But with an Akita savvy person, his future is bright! Laura says it best: Hard to believe this boy has been here almost a month! Kokomi was a solid rescue and worth the effort everyone put in. Loves his head being scratched so no fear or pain presenting from that area. He is a smart boy with an infectious joy about him. He now sits- does short stays- taking a bit longer on the downs but is slowly getting it. Extremely high energy, loves to fetch and run full bore around the yard. He is curious with a high prey drive (lizards and sage rats so far) chases the birds around for hrs and pounces on bushes to hope that something pops out. He has settled well into his routine. Appetite is great and although he loves to chew on every plant and stick in our garden our outdoor cushions so far have survived:) He loves the water- BOY does he love the water!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you again to all who donated towards Kokomi's rehabilitation. We apologize if you haven't received a personal thank you from us. Often times we are unable to see the names of all the individuals who contribute, due to privacy settings or the way some charities process the payment. Please know we are grateful to all of you for your support.

He is so lovablejust melts our hearts My heart is beyond happy! Very curious, but just so happy to please. Our minds are literally blown!... These are the kinds of comments we live for, and our hearts are so full! Those are a few of the texts we received just a couple of days after Genji’s adoption. Genji swept Michael and Bobbi off their feet from the moment they met, and they continue to be amazed at how he has exceeded their every expectation. After a week in his new home, he has logged many miles exploring, socializing, learning the lay of the land, and meeting neighbors and friends. We are so excited for Genji to be living the life he was meant to have. And we could not have asked for more perfect adopters for him. Genji will start training soon for his CGC! In the meantime, he is pouring his heart into his new lifestyle and soaking it all in. He has been introduced to so many new things and sensory experiences, and to quote Michael, He has handled it all like a friggin’ champ! Great things come to those who waitfor both humans and canines alike. *Shown is Bobbi and Michael with Genji who is sporting his handsome bandana, made for Namaste by Melody Panis Lawrence

Happy Mother’s Day to all the fur moms, human moms, friends and relatives who are just like moms, and moms-to-be! On this Mother’s Day, we wanted to share Aja’s happy story When Aja was brought into the shelter, she was underweight and barely 50 pounds. The Shelter staff suspected her owner was likely homeless based on where she was found. We are thrilled that Aja now has a family to call her own with Amanda, Garret, and Timber! She continues to be very affectionate and generous with kisses. The Veterinarian office staff said that Aja is the nicest Akita they have ever met. She is now at a healthy weight of 65 pounds. As you can see, Aja is living her best life with her new family!

We are so overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support for Kokomi and Ninja. There are so often moments of despair and incredible heartache in rescue. It feels like a never ending cycle that truly tests our resolve. But all of you who support and love this breed never fail to come together to transform despair into hope. No doubt, all of you donate and support many other causes and rescues. And yet you find it in your hearts to continue sharing that compassion fo...r yet one more deserving Akita, whose life matters just as much as the one that came before. Thank you for proving once again, that kindness and compassion will always overcome the abuses and cruelty of others. Kokomi and Ninja are living proof of that because of the generosity of all of you. We are humbled by your devotion. -Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance