Better Lives & BFFs

At any given time, we will have 7-8 permanent residents, 2-3 boarders and 1-2 foster dogs.  We do this because we can, we have the space and the time and because I have wanted to help dogs since I can remember.

I know I can't save them all...and I know I am making but a small difference in the overall scheme of things - but you know, that drop in the bucket most definitely ripples out to other things.

We help these dogs have a better life, learn new skills that keep them out of shelters and in homes and they in turn they help their owners have a better life...and sometimes they go on to help other people have a better life by doing therapy or assistance work. 

Anytime I think - why am I doing this again - I remember dogs that just need a second chance like Luka and those that are tossed aside like Paige.  Not all rescues are horror stories but all the dogs rescued need a better life...and I love being a part of that.

Paige is doing beautifully.  She and Phoenix have paired up like long lost siblings even though at Paige is at least a month older.  They are most often seen by each others sides - very cute.  

Paige is taking a note from Phe and is becoming more confident and steady every day.  We just took all the guys out to the lake - even though the water was freezing cold and Paige had a blast!

New foster pup - Paige

Tonight a family came in asking if they could leave their new pup at the store - they didn't want it anymore?!?!?

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE?!?!?

So apparently they were given the dog 4 days earlier and just decided they didn't want her.  She is the sweetest, calmest little thing ever...I believe she is about 10-12 weeks old and probably a Lemon Beagle x Dachshund.  She was filthy, scared and badly in need of some worming, flea meds and a hot meal...all of which she has now gotten.

The first thing she did when we got her home was collapse with relief and go to sleep on Tracy's lap...



Night night sweet girl - we've gotcha all taken care of now!

Kai goes to Jordan Lake

We loaded up the van today and took the furkids to the lake.  With Charlie & Coco having both gone home - it is sort of quiet around here.  I don't know if Kai has even seen moving water before but he took to it really well after some initial skepticism.

Kai found a mussel the size of his head and that kept him entertained for a while...

And just as the sun was setting he decided that he would try taking a toe dip.  He may never be a big swimmer, but he had fun!

 

The Plot Thickens...

Last week I am showing a friend McKenna's teeth and I notice something - THEY ARE FALLING OUT AND HER ADULT TEETH ARE COMING IN!

This means she has to be at least 4.5 - 5 months old??

She even has her premolar 1....oh boy....

I couldn't believe it - but have been watching for the last week and yep - she is that old.

She has been with me for almost 3 weeks and has put on 4 lbs so I am guessing she will be 25lbs or so as an adult...

Jinx's New Favorite Toy

It was Jinx's day at work today and while I was working up front she entertained herself with a tasty rawhide treat!  Gosh they are growing like weeds!

McKenna Update - Meet Minnie?

So Ariel just said she found a pup on Craigslist that looks alot like McKenna - and that would be because it is her sister!!  I immediately called her owner and had a very interesting conversation.  

She says she saw an ad for Irish Wolfhound pups recently and was told by a lady, using the same name as was given to Peter, that she rescued 4 Wolfhound pups when the mom and 4 other pups were killed...that she made a midnight run to save them - real heartstring puller. The new owner takes one for $150 as a rescue.  She says based on what the lady said her pup should be 12 weeks old.

So we have McKenna sold for $1000 as purebred whose Mom was sold - Minnie [her sister] sold for $150 as a rescued/abandoned pup whose Mom was dead and no match up in age??

The story just keeps getting stranger and more convoluted.  This is Minnie:

McKenna Goes to Work

McKenna came to work with me today so I could gauge her social ability and give her a chance to meet some people in a positive manner.  She rides beautifully in the car - we live about 45 minutes from work so she caught some beauty rest before her big debut.

A few hours and several exciting people meetings later - she is tuckered out and curls up with Ayla to take a well deserved nap.  She was a little angel for the most part - we did have one growl at a dog who came behind the counter but a quick interruption and she was over it.

Later in the day I had her sit in on one of my Puppy Preschool classes.  She thought this was great - and even showed her potential therapy dog skills by imitating Ayla!

Very cute indeed!

She is neither aggressive or unmanageable   She is just being a pup - she jumps up, she gets the zoomies, she had NO manners at all, she isn't housebroken and she plays hard...but I can see how an inexperienced dog owner could have freaked out. She crates beautifully now but I think she was ripping his house to shreds...LOL

And boy does she love Ayla - they are BFF's!

Meet Mckenna - Our Newest Foster!

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a friend of mine (Peter) in Maryland that his friend [who I have never met] had just purchased an Irish Wolfhound pup for $1000 from a lady in NC but he had concerns.

(His friend knows nothing about dogs and when I heard he had bought a Wolfhound, I was really worried)

Below is my understanding of what happened:

Friend finds puppy on eBay. (I know, I know)

Lady says pups are 8 weeks old.

Wires $500 deposit via Western Union.

Makes arrangements to meet her a week and half later.

The lady met them in a parking lot of Petsmart.

She said he couldn't see the mother as she had already sold her.

Said this was the last pup and she was the runt.

She was accompanied by a large, intimidating man with tattoos that made Peter and friend uncomfortable to walk away from the sale and she said deposit was non refundable.

They take puppy and return to Maryland.

Peter comments puppy is very small and has a very small bark. They send me some really bad pictures and I said I couldn't really tell anything but that she looked like a  very small Wolfhound pup...maybe the lady got the age wrong.

Contacts lady - she tells them pups are now 8 weeks old - friend says but you said that 2 weeks ago?

Back and forth with me via texts - not happy, not convinced is Wolfhound.

Tries contacting "breeder" again - this time number is disconnected and email bounces.

After 2 1/2 weeks - Peter's friend says puppy is aggressive and unmanageable and he is going to have it put down!

Peter takes puppy and contacts me very unhappy and unsure what to do with her.

So yesterday we drive to meet them almost in Maryland and I pick her up. She should by this first account between 8-10 weeks old depending on which date you believe. She does look like a mini Wolfhound.

We stopped at Petsmart on the way home and weighed her - 13lbs.  I also noticed that her teeth are TINY...they are there but teeny squeeny incisors - I am thinking she is really young maybe? 

So now I have no idea what she is - obviously some type of schnauzer / terrier mix - Parsons Jack Russel maybe? 

Hmmmmmmm - strange but true....LOL...some Wolfhound!

Either way she is a sweetie and if you know of anyone wanting to adopt a truly adorable little girl - let me know!

Attempted Rescue

As we were leaving Raven Rock when Tracy noticed 2 dogs wandering beside the road.  We pulled the van over and Tracy went to see if she could befriend and catch them.  They were young, probably 5-6 months old Chow mixes.  They were seemingly healthy, in good physical condition but one was limping a bit. We didn't have any slip leads or even a crate in the van but we didn't want to see them get hurt.

Armed with yummy treats, she patiently tried to coax them to her.  They were very skittish, grabbing a treat and then backing off.  She did get the bolder of the two to take a treat from her hand a few times though but as soon as she moved even so much as a toe, they were gone.

30min and many treats later, we decided we were just going to have to leave them.  We moved the van and then attempted one last effort by bringing out one of our dogs to see if they wanted to play.  They decided enough was enough and ran back into the woods - away from the road.
We can only hope they are okay.

Pawtential Profile: Anjou [previously Diamond]

Late tonight, a lady came in asking if I knew where she could relinquish a dog as the shelters were closed.  I discovered she had taken in this dog from a friend who had gotten ill.  After taking the dog in, her living situation changed and she was now living with people who would not allow her to keep the dog.  It was storming and she said she didn't want to just leave her in a parking lot somewhere.


I called one of my friend that helps with foster/rescue situations and got her on her way.  The lady brought in the dog and what a sight she was.

  
Name: Diamond
Breed: Shih Tzu
Sex:  Female
Age: Approx 5-8 year old


She was matted to the skin and had hair loss because of it, especially on her tail and belly.

We took her and immediately went about shaving her down.  Now I am no groomer so it was a choppy job at best but at least we could relieve the discomfort of the matting.


On the top she didn't look that bad but once you got the trimmers under the coat - it was like lambs wool, very dense and connected.

She was a real trooper about the entire process.  We stopped after a few hours to give her a break and contemplated giving her a lion cut for a few seconds.

4 hours later, a much relieved, though now naked girl was seen.  She was amazingly tolerant of the entire process.  She was quick to lick and didn't struggle as we moved her one awkward position to another in an attempt to get the matts off with as little discomfort to her as possible.  


To christen her new look and the promise of a new life, Taylor renamed her Anjou.

She is an amazing dog who, though a little shy around larger dogs, doesn't appear to be fearful or reactive in any way to anything.  She will make someone a very nice companion.