Category: Lhasa Apso

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2011 Rocky Mountain Cluster …

This is unabashedly a repeat of last year’s post (and the year before, et al )  … the same information holds true for 2011!

Once again, we’re gearing up for the largest dog show in Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Cluster held February 18-21 at the National Western Complex (Expo Hall), 4655 Humboldt in Denver. The Premium List, which contains information on the show, parking, maps and entry, can be found here … Premium List.  The actual times for judging and the ring numbers are not disseminated until just a week before the show; we’ll post a link to the judging program when available.

Update:   As promised, the Judging Program is available and here’s the line up for the Apsos:  Friday, Ring 9 at 12:15; Saturday, Ring 4 at 10:35; Sunday, Ring 6 at 12:25; and Monday, Ring 6 at 9:40.  Please note that Ring 6 is in the basement.

If you’re thinking of attending, please be sure to give yourself plenty of time for parking, getting into the facility, and then finding the right ring and some chairs (rings are marked by numbers on tall poles).  Parking, depending on where one finds an open lot, can run anywhere from $5 to $10 — and it may also be a very long walk!  Entry fee to the Expo Hall is $5.  Please note that dogs not entered in the show are not allowed on the site.  If considering crowds/parking, Friday or Monday would probably be the better of the four days to attend.   As the largest show in the region, the selection of vendors and their wares is pretty amazing … if it’s dog related, you’ll find it at this show!  From art prints, to clothing, to grooming supplies, to dog beds, to K9-related jewelry, to crates and tables, it will be at this show.  Might want to bring the plastic along (and keep in mind that the vendors start packing up on Monday for the return home).

Besides the conformation competition, one can also find other venues such as Rally, Obedience, and Agility. These are generally held in the Events Center which fronts 47th Street; Rally is held on the 3rd floor of the main building.  Hope to see you there … it’s a great reason to come out and support the breed!  If you need more information, please feel free to contact me at:  ApsoRescue@aol.com.

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It’s okay … you don’t have to share!

If your house is anything like mine at the holidays, part of the tradition is having chocolate around … cookies, cakes, candy … chocolate!  Unfortunately, it isn’t a good idea to share that sweet treat with our canine friends, intentional or not.  My first Apso was known to, on the sly, open any package she could get to that contained chocolate.

National Geographic has put together a great interactive presentation to calculate your dog’s weight and how little chocolate it takes to make him or her very ill.  The slide in the presentation allows one to calculate the risk by the dog’s weight.  While I knew chocolate was dangerous, I was surprised at how little it takes to be toxic for a 15-pound dog!

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/10/pets/chocolate-chart-interactive

 

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Elvis has left the building …

I was advised yesterday in a Christmas card that Elvis lost his battle with immune mediated hemolytic anemia on November 28th.  Yes, rescue allows me to have all the dogs I ever wanted … they just  go  live with someone else.  Which also means that, eventually, I will lose all of them as well.  While our fosters go on to new lives with new families, they never really leave our thoughts.  They may have been with us for only a short time but the details of their stay are vivid in the mind’s eye. 

Elvis is fondly remembered for his enthusiasm … didn’t matter what was going on, he was a happy, bouncy boy.  He was closely connected, always coming back to check-in with me and offer himself up for a good rub down … then off he’d go.  One of those dogs that exuded joy through his facial expressions.  You just knew he was happy.  He’s also the dog that taught 18-month old Frankers how to hike his leg for every pee stop around the yard.  At that time, I did not know it could be a learned behavior!

Rainbow BridgeHe had the dubious honor of being the first severely matted dog to endure my grooming skills (which wasn’t saying much at that time).  I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and definitely lacking in appropriate grooming equipment.  Of particular note was his patience with me over a 4-hour grooming session.  He could have easily been the “dog from hell”  given his coat condition and his undeniably inexperienced groomer.  Instead, he willing did everything I asked of him, i.e., stand, sit, move this way, etc., etc.

Godspeed, Elvis … I know your family will greatly miss your gentle heart.

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Head high …

… and nose to the wind, little one.  Prayer flags whip in the crisp air, the lofty peaks of the Himalayas gleam in the distance … and the ancestral home beckons.  Godspeed, Lanni.

I got word this week that we lost one of our fosters.  A 14-year old, she recently developed canine cognitive dysfuction (CCD) and was clearly unhappy and uncomfortable in her surroundings.  Never easy to let them go even when we know we are doing the right thing by taking their pain and making it our own.  A milestone for us as this is the first placement (that we’re aware of) that’s aged out.

Lanni arrived in rescue as a shaggy 7-year old.  Her elderly owner had passed away and the family was unable to keep her.  I recall how badly infected her ears were.  During the intake exam, I flipped her ear leathers over and was appalled at what I found … ears full of black, gunky debris.  Literally full.  I started cleaning them out, getting black chunks as large as my thumbnail.  A review of the medical records provided noted she had an allergy to corn.  The food and treats dropped off with the dog all contained … corn.  No telling how long her ears had been chronically infected.  A larger Apso, it was a wrestling match every time we dosed her ears with the Panalog.  Applying topical medication is normally not a problem for me; however, I couldn’t do it myself and had to enlist hubby’s assistance in restraining her.  Very much like holding a greased pig.

Lanni had not been socialized around other dogs and was a bit, ummm how shall I say …  lacking in canine manners.  My crew did not appreciate her shouldering her way through any situation like a bull in a china closet.  Gentle as they come, just not able to read the other dogs’ body language. 

After a short time in rescue, Lanni hit the jackpot and went to live with Elaine and her mom, Anne, where she was well cared for and deeply loved.  I know the days ahead will be a bit less bright without gentle Lanni to grace their home.  My thanks to Elaine and Anne for taking such good care of her all these years.

‘Til we meet at the Bridge, little one …

Lanni

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The Rhythm of Rescue …

There’s a certain rhythm to rescue, one that’s difficult to put into words.  Like waves on a beach, it ebbs and flows from day to day, month to month and dog to dog.  Long-standing protocols are put into place with each arrival, offering the new foster a sense of balance and structure.  Given that my dogs are already “with the program,” the foster is generally assimilated into the pack with little fanfare.  Fosters just fall into line and cue off the resident canines, making my job much easier.

Yesterday was a double tide day … after four months in foster care and extensive medical treatment, Bubba went to his new home.  A handsome boy with his new haircut, he amped up the charm for his new owner, Cindy.  Left in his wake are the foster parents — John and Neil — who lovingly nursed him back to health, and then had the fortitude to send him on to a new home.  Not always an easy thing and especially so when fostering for the first time (thanks, guys!).  No matter how many times we manage to let go, there will always be those fosters that we keep close to our heart.  But, as Neil put it, “Bubba’s journey isn’t finished yet.”   With Bubba’s new home, including canine and feline siblings, his travels are now complete.  Quite the road for a dog abandoned and left tied to a fence in rural Kansas.  As have all the others who have gone before, I look forward to hearing how he’s blooming in his new home. 

Late yesterday afternoon, four-year old Elle arrived from Greeley.  A stray found wandering the streets, she was taken in by a college student who attempted to find her owners.  Despite having a microchip, the effort failed as the previous owners neglected to change their contact information after a move.  Our thanks to Grace and Mike for getting Elle into rescue when it would have been easier  to just give her away or turn her over to a shelter!  And thanks again to John and Neil for agreeing to take on another foster so quickly!!

Having six dogs in the house this morning was very much like herding cats.  While everyone knows their place for the individual food bowls, they still have to mill around.  Remembering names becomes more problematic the more dogs that are underfoot and especially when two of them have the same coloring.  No wonder hubby calls them all “Larry.”  Elle was more interested in seeing what the others had in their bowls instead of eating her breakfast.  Pip finished her breakfast quickly and was quite willing to scarf down Elle’s abandoned bowl.  These three need to go outside immediately after breakfast … these two have to leave the kitchen … this one comes out of his crate where he’s just finished his breakfast.  One of the three that went outside is now standing at the back door, barking to be let back in.  Added to the ordered chaos is some sort of gastric bug that’s making  the rounds … four of the six dogs have thrown up in the past 24 hours.  So goes the rhythm of rescue …

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New Use for a Onesie …

Emmy came through her spay with flying colors … no problems, no issues.  Whew!!  Always worry when the little ones undergo surgery.  Doc Sherry is great  but, I still worry and am always relieved when I get the call letting me know surgery is over and they’re doing well in recovery.

Given that we’ve had lots of experience over the years with dogs and surgery, we’ve added a few tricks to our bag when it comes to keeping them from licking or scratching their incisions.  First up is the Elizabethan collar (e-collar) which is used only in worst-case scenarios.  Looking like an evil cousin to an ugly lampshade, it is cumbersome, uncomfortable, and inhibits mobility, eating and drinking.  Forget the dog sleeping in a crate with one of these as you’ll both end up losing sleep.

A humane alternative to the e-collar is the Bite-Not Collar.  Looking like a short stovepipe, it keeps the dog (or cat) from accessing wound areas on the body.  It is much more “user friendly” and allows full mobility.  On occasion, we’ve had a long-bodied dog that was way too limber and could bend enough to access the incision site.  That’s usually when we do one of two things:  employ the use of a “onesie” or revert back to the e-collar, with the onsie being the preferred method.

Since Emmy didn’t seem to be too interested in irritating her incision, I opted to go for comfort.  She definitely didn’t like the Bite-Not and wasn’t the least bit cooperative when I put it on.  And then couldn’t get comfortable with it in place.  The onsie, however, was perfect.  I put it on “backwards” so the crotch snaps up on the rear and not underneath the belly.  With the right size, one doesn’t even have to make a hole for the tail, just snap it to one side.   This also makes for a quick adjustment with a clothespin to hold the flap up for potty trips outside.

Emmy in her onesie

Thankfully, there are other alternatives to e-collars on the market now, including a soft cone collar, an inflatable collar (the one we purchased leaked from first inflation and was returned), as well as the soft donut-type collars.

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2010 Loveland Pet Expo …

A little change up from last year’s Expo, which was held in February and in town.

What:    2010 Loveland Pet Expo
When:   Saturday, September 18, 2010
                   9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where:  Loveland Outlets (west side of I-25)
                   The old Liz Claiborne building (west of the Cracker Barrel)
 
Unlike past expos, well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome at this venue!
Come out and visit our two fosters, Bubba and Emmy.
Hope to see you there!
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Misery from Kansas … Part II

C.A.R.E. transport
C.A.R.E. transport

As we pull out of the Petco parking lot with Emmy in the back in a crate, she starts to whine, cry and dig.  Alan and I just look at each other with the silent thought, “I hope that doesn’t continue the entire way home.”  One can only imagine what it must have been like for the transport vans with 20 dogs (+/-) in each one coming across Kansas.  My guess is once the initial miles are laid and the vehicle settles into the hum of the road, the dogs all quiet down.  Sure enough, that’s exactly what Emmy does within ten minutes of our departure.                   

Upon arrival at home, our dogs are run outside, given potty treats and allowed to calm.  Because we have prepared for Emmy’s arrival before we left, getting her into the house and comfortable is a matter of long-established routine.  She’s taken outside on a leash and walked in the yard until I know she’s fully toileted.  I bring her in the house and she goes into a wire crate in the front room that’s covered on three sides with heavy towels.  While I’m getting food and water set up in the crate, the other dogs slowly check her out.  Ali and Frankers are old hands when it comes to integrating fosters into the pack.  As long as the new dog is well socialized with other dogs, there are few problems.  The house turns in for the evening around 10:30 p.m. and Emmy is moved to a crate in our bedroom.  She goes in with no fuss and — to our surprise — sleeps the night through.  That certainly can’t be said of all new fosters!                     

The next morning Emmy is fed along with the rest of the dogs in the kitchen … she’s ravenous and quickly cleans her bowl up.  Not knowing what she’s been fed, how much or what her digestive status is, I start her out slowly.  What I don’t want is to overload her system with quality food, causing a bout of diarrhea.  A call is made and she’s lined up for her rescue exam in two days … exam, heartworm test and dewormed at a very minimum.  I take photos to document her condition.             

Because I was advised Emmy appeared to be housetrained, she is allowed to be off leash (tether) in the house the next couple of days.  Also making the freedom possible is the fact she sticks to me like glue so monitoring her toileting habits is easy.  She’s plumb wore-to-the-bone tired and spends much of her time sleeping.  Between running the streets for who knows how long in Kansas, the malnutrition and a stressful trip across two states, there isn’t much energy left in this little dog.  The second night she disappears from the office where I’m working.  Ever mindful of the ongoing toilet training, I go looking for her and this is what I find … she’s found the best spot in the house.  Imagine the long sigh that surely had to come from her as she settled into the down comforter and slipped into a peaceful sleep.                    

                     

During the rescue exam on Friday, it’s found that both eyes are infected.  Not a surprise given the redness present or the fact she’d not been groomed regularly (if ever at all).  She’s a good girl and patiently endures the poking, prodding and blood draw for a heartworm test.  Our biggest surprise, however, was finding out she’s in heat!!  Alrighty then … will have to let hubby know that under no circumstances are Dante and Emmy to run together.  And if it does happen, then he’d best be getting his hands on one of them pretty damn quick!  Will be interesting to see how Dante — as an intact male — handles himself while she’s in heat.   Because of Emmy’s severely emaciated condition, she can’t be spayed any time soon.  Better that she’s in heat now while we’re fattening her up than in three to four weeks when we go to spay her.                    

All lined up at the cookie bar …

Over the next three weeks, Emmy settles into the household routine.  Within a week, I start seeing sparks of what her personality is … she loves to play with toys, will race around the yard just for the joy of it, and gets along with the rest of the pack.  She really is house trained as well as crate trained so the transition is pretty uneventful.  Since she’s not gaining weight as quickly as I’d like, I end up at the local feed store in search of a high-fat/calorie puppy food.  I hit the jackpot … they’re very generous with their samples packs when I explain what I’m looking for and why.  I begin to see a “softening” of her bones as she starts to fill out and is further substantiated when I pick her up … she’s definitely gaining weight!  I keep telling her she’d better hurry up and grow some hair, too, as winter is on its way.         

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Misery from Kansas …

In early August, I was contacted about a stray in Wichita, Kansas.  A three-year old female in bad shape, to be exact.  “Emmy” had wandered up to an office building where one of the workers (Marilyn) took pity on her and attempted to find her home.  Her “owner” — and I use that in the lightest of terms — was located whereupon she promptly advised that she didn’t want the dog, didn’t want it to begin with (it was given to her), and she wasn’t taking the dog back.  She did, however, keep her long enough to sell the litter of puppies Emmy had recently whelped … and then went on to state she didn’t have money to take care of the dog.    

Matted coatMarilyn took poor Emmy to a groomer to see what could be done with the horribly matted coat.  A complete shave was in order, taking the coat off in a pelt.  Based on her condition, it was  highly doubtful she had been ever groomed.  Pretty bad when one realizes that Emmy is three-years old.  Amazingly, she had few skin issues and no fleas.  Oftentimes, severe matting will actually pull chunks of skin out as well as setting the dog up for bacterial skin infections by holding moisture to the skin.   Once the coat came off, it was painfully apparent that Emmy had been on low rations for some time … her bones jutting out from all angles.  Nursing her pups had taken every bit of reserve she had and then some without sufficient or proper nutrition.    

Marilyn contacted me and we began the mad scramble to get Emmy to Colorado on the next C.A.R.E. transport, just days away.  She had to have current vaccinations and a health certificate to be accepted onto the transport.  Arrangements were made to get her vetted, a health certificate issued, and then to the pick-up place and on the van.  Thankfully, Marilyn was quite close and able to accomplish it all with a minimum of trouble.     

Via phone calls and email, we were advised the C.A.R.E. transport vans would be pulling into the Petco in east Aurora around 7:30 p.m.  Unlike the late evening when when we picked Bubba up, the north parking lot was full of people and vehicles, awaiting their new charges.  Some are rescue organizations, others are adoptive families there to pick up dogs coming from other rescues.  I later find out that, on this particular evening, 41 dogs are coming in on two vans … 41 chances for a new life in the West.  Grayhounds, Cockers, Weinie Boogers, Mastiff, Catahoula, assorted Terriers, Labs, Pyrs … it’s like a rainbow of dogdom.    

Emmy
Emmy …

One of the biggest surprises of the evening was pulling up and finding my vet, Doc Sherry, waiting there as well to pull four dogs off the transport … two adults and two puppies.  I’ve used her as my vet for going on a decade now and we have a great working relationship.  Sherry and I stand chatting until the vans arrive; she says she wants to look at Emmy before we head back to Loveland.  Once I get Emmy off the van, gather her paperwork and have a chance to really go over her, I’m appalled at what I find.  She is, literally, starving to death.  With a grassy area close by, we make a potty run as I’m sure it had been quite a while since the last relief stop.  Sherry, who has her dogs watered, pottied and loaded, swings by our vehicle.  She, too, is disturbed by Emmy’s emaciated condition.  Her eyes are infected and we’re hoping that she hasn’t developed dry eye as well.  During the exam, Sherry bends down and whispers in Emmy’s ear, “I’m so glad you are going home with Vickie.”  

Stay tuned for Part II …

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Unsung heros …

… come in many forms.  And our rescue organization couldn’t function as efficiently nor as effectively without their generous help.  This post is to gratefully recognize the contributions of those who make rescue possible in all ways.

Michelle, who adopted Emma and then became a foster home in Northern Colorado.  She is also our Webmistress, taking good care of our website.  We’ll forgive her for moving to Texas.  Sue Seaton in Centennial, covering our home visits in the metro Denver area.   Jackson’s Mom (another of our foster dogs), Linda Gattis, who stepped up and answered a desperate plea to foster an 8-month old puppy (neither house trained or crate trained).  John and Neil who wanted to honor the memory of their Stoli by becoming a foster home.  They’ve worked wonders with their first foster, Bubba, and we’re thankful to have a foster home in the area again.  To those who have opened up your hearts and homes when needed … thank you!

Then there are the folks who have gone above and beyond to get a dog to us … Tom the Trucker, picking Mae-Mae up in Missouri … the wonderful ladies, Linda and Lisa, at C.A.R.E., bringing us Bubba and, just this past Tuesday night, Emmy, from Kansas … Marilyn Whisman from Wichita who cared for and got Emmy to the pick-up place … Pat from Pueblo who made sure little blind Magoo was safe and made his way to Castle Rock for the pick-up … the ladies from Denver who delivered Elvis to us after he’d been wandering a Capitol Hill neighborhood for weeks, a matted mess … Rachel from Sterling who made the trip to Fort Collins with Sterling (hey, it seemed like a good name for a stray!) … Odean, watching over the breed from cyberspace, scouring online shelter listings for Apsos in need and getting the word out to various rescue groups.  Those of you living in the West know that “local” is a relative term.  “Local” meaning 10 miles or 200 miles and it is no small feat to arrange or coordinate some of these transports.  For those who have journeyed on behalf of a dog in need of rescue … thank you!

As a non-profit rescue, we operate solely on adoption fees and donations … funds which are used only for medical treatment on incoming dogs.  To the foster homes who have provided — out of their own pockets — food, toys, treats, bedding, crates and whatever else it takes to successfully integrate a dog into a home … thank you for making sure the needs of your fosters are met in all areas.

Last, but certainly not least, the folks who have so generously made monetary donations or given discounts or goods so we can continue our work … Dr. Sherry, our fabulous vet at NorthShore Animal Hospital … Kathy, who knows our heart, sending donations and words of encouragement … Michelle’s Mom and Uncle Skip, watching our work from Pennsylvania … Trudi, who remembers us on Ka Tu’s “Gotcha” anniversary date … Connie Spears … Vickie Gallagher … our friends at Schering-Plough who donated the folders we use for our adoption packets … Jan Bloomenrader (who also adopted Kersey) and Judy Wendt (who adopted Magoo).  Thank you for remembering this ancient breed in your charitable giving.

Look in the mirror folks and gazing back you’ll see the face of rescue in each and every one of you … thank you!

In closing, this post would not be complete without a humble thank you to the “DogDaddy” … my husband, Alan.  It is with his assistance and blessing that we’ve been able to care for the many fosters over the past decade — and we simply couldn’t do it as well without him.  He’s the self-appointed poop picker … rides along with us on dog runs … cleans up messes — and messy bottoms … scootches over in the recliner, making room for yet another dog … and no longer rolls his eyes when I tell him we have another foster coming in.

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News on Bubba …

This past Friday, August 6th, was Bubba’s third vet visit since his arrival on July 1st.  He’s looking fabulous … the hair has grown back in on his rear, legs and tail.  His ears are no longer infected and he’s down to 19.2 pounds.  A complete turn-around from when he first arrived.  A big thank-you to John and Neil who have gotten him to this point!!  Our foster homes are really what makes this national rescue organization work and we certainly couldn’t do it without their help. 

Given the good report on Friday, Bubba is ready to find his forever home … and someone who can appreciate his finer qualities.  He’s crate trained, housetrained (yes, that is correct, housetrained), sleeps quietly through the night, gets along with other dogs and is just an all-around nice dog. 

Bubba does have “KCS” or dry eye and will require daily drops for the rest of his life.  However, he’s a good boy and sits patiently while he’s being tended.  The cost of the ointment is fairly nominal and can be found online. 

Here’s a good before/after collage … he’s the white dog, sharing the buggy with housemate, Ollie …

Bubba -- before & after

If interested in adopting Bubba, please contact me directly at:  ApsoRescue@aol.com

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I Follow the Lhasa Road …

This hauntingly beautiful reflection was sent to me by a very dear friend who is a talented writer and an Apso owner.  She has graciously allowed me to share the following with our readers …

Please note both the photo and the sentiment are under copyright and your respect of same is appreciated.

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Hair of the Dog …

After what’s been termed the “transport from hell” due to problems with vehicles and people, Bubba from rural Kansas finally arrived Thursday at 10:30 p.m.   We met him at I-70 and Tower Road (affectionately known as “Saudi Aurora”) …  waaay east of Denver proper and at least an hour from our place in north Loveland.  Suffice it to say it was well after 1:00 a.m. by the time we got home, pottied dogs, played musical crates, and had the dogs settled in for the night with the thunderstorms rolling low in the distance.  Note to self:  order a Thundershirt for Frankers.

While waiting for the vet to come in and do the rescue exam the following morning, I finally got a really good look at Bubba.  Both eyes are badly infected and with hyperpigmentation of the eyes and the skin around the eyes.  I first suspected something amiss while watching him around the yard that morning … he moved like my Dad’s blind Tzu, cueing on sounds.  Flip the ear leathers back and it’s obvious he’s got yeast and/or bacteria going on with abundant ear hair … hot, red, tender to the touch and inflamed.

Bubba’s lower back, rear and upper hind legs are almost devoid of hair and covered in what ‘s termed “elephant skin” … black, wrinkled, hairless and with edema present.  While I’m familiar with the term, this is the first time I’ve actually seen it on one of my dogs.  The tail is the worst with raw, scaly skin and I surmise he’s been gnawing at it.  During the transport, he received a haircut with a pair of scissors and his new ‘do is the embodiment of pitiful.  As a friend would say, “He’s got a whole lot of ugly going on.”

During exam of his mouth, I note the front lower incisors cannot be seen.  Probing reveals a wad of hair completely covering the teeth.  I manage  to pull it off and up pop five very white incisors, indicative of a young dog.  My guess, less than two years of age.  I’m betting the chewing at his tail/rear is where he picked up the hair in his teeth and it’s been there a while based on the odor.  More surprising, however, is his bite — or lack thereof.  His jaws are mismatched and he has an underbite of at least 1-1/4 inch.  So much so that the top incisors rest on the lower jaw instead of meeting up with the upper incisors.  While Apso are supposed to have an underbite, this is utterly obscene — and especially so knowing that someone is breeding these malformed dogs for a profit.

The vet walks in and immediately starts laughing, all the while apologizing.  Po’ Bubba … he’s a damn pitiful sight with a story and a haircut to match.  I have to wonder if there wasn’t some message with the tying him to a fence post.  Unlike many of the breed, Bubba is exceptional during the exam, sitting or standing quietly while he’s poked and prodded.  Final diagnosis:  eyes and ears are infected, a bit of demodex (causing the skin issues), and dermatitis.  We’re loaded up with antibiotics, eye drops, ear ointment, and Advantage Multi to get the demodex in check.  While there, he’s wormed and a microchip implanted.  Instructions are given to return in three weeks for follow-up; the eyes are a bit worrisome as it could be KCS or “dry eye,” requiring a life time of daily eye drops.  The vet is hopeful that once the eye infection is cleared up along with the skin issues, the eyes will start producing tears normally again. He’s not contagious as his problems stem from a compromised immune system so he’s fine to interact with the other dogs in the home.  Ongoing treatment, high-quality food and lots of rest should get him back on his feet.  A good haircut with a pair of clippers should help with the “ugly.”  But, then again, maybe not.  This after he got a good bath and we took him down to less than a quarter inch to even his haircut up.  Awwww, Bubba … you need some hair!

What Bubba lacks in beauty, he more than makes up for with his sweet temperament and ability to get along with the other dogs in the house.  Surprisingly, he arrived crate trained, sleeps through the night quietly, and is house trained.  Innately adaptable, he’s doing quite well after being moved to his foster home and is enjoying his walks around Lake Estes every morning.  When he tires out, he gets to share the stroller with little Ollie, who has bad hips.

Here’s to a new life in the West!

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This isn’t Kansas anymore, Toto …

 … that’s what “Bubba” from Columbus, Kansas will be saying late this afternoon when his transport crosses over into Colorado!!  This is the not-so-little guy that was abandoned and tied to a fence in rural Kansas. He was taken to a vet, who contacted us for a possible transfer. We found a transport and he’s headed to a new life in the Rockies!

And what’s *really* sweet is this transport makes regular runs from MO, KS, AR, NM, NE and OK to Colorado, moving pets from rural areas to rescues and already-approved adopters for a small donation.

Now all we need are some more foster homes in the northern Colorado area …

Update:   Poor Bubba … like the wicked witch of the East, he got waylaid in Kansas.  Luckily it wasn’t a falling house, however.  Seems the air-conditioned van he was traveling in was pulling a trailer of household goods (the drivers were in the midst of a move) and the trailer had a flat tire.  In Kansas.  In 100 degree temps.  They ran through a half a tank of gas keeping the dogs cool while the tire was being changed.  Given the late hour and the distances involved, the decision was made to stay the night and bunk up, giving everyone a much needed rest.  Hopefully, we’ll get to meet Bubba tomorrow.

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Tales from the camp side …

Water dawg

Ahhhh, summertime and the camp sites are calling!  We returned home Sunday evening from a four-day camping trip which included two days on the river in a canoe.  This year’s trip was taken with my adult niece and her family, as well as one of Alan’s co-worker’s and his family for a total of six adults, four children and one dog … Dante.  Our outdoor activities generally include the dogs whether it be camping, hiking, bicycling or canoeing (where *everyone* wears a life jacket).

So we’re sitting fireside the third morning in north central Nebraska on the Niobrara River at Smith Falls State Park.  So “north” that we’re literally ten miles from the South Dakota border.  The river is the highest it’s been in years due to recent rains … rains that have caused lush growth in this already verdant river valley.  Having lived in Texas for 10+ years, I’m phobic about fleas, ticks and chiggers.  Dante was dosed with Frontline days before we left town and there are at least three cans of bug spray along.

It’s a cold morning and all the adults are up, imbibing on the first pot of French-pressed coffee.  Dante is fussing in his ex-pen so “Dad” decides he needs a lap to sit on. A warm lap.  A warm lap and a belly rub … what more could a dog ask for on a cold morning??  Ever aware that we’re in tick country, Alan starts checking Dante for bugs as he’s belly up.  The ensuing conversation …

Alan:  Honey, I think you’d better come check this out.

Adult Niece:  :::walking over:::   What’s that?

Alan:   I think he’s got ticks!

Niece:   His belly is covered in them!

Alan:   How are we going to remove them?

Me  ::::walking up for belly inspection::::    We’re not going to remove them …

Alan (indignantly):   Well, you can’t just leave them on him!!

Me:   Ummm, yes I can … those are his nipples!!!  And he’s got eight of them, by the way.       :::::dissolving into laughter:::::

That’s what I get for taking cat people camping in bug country …

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Elwood …

It’s very rare that we get a quick placement in rescue as our fosters usually arrive with more “baggage” than just their food, toys and bedding.  This generally necessitates at least a month in foster care to address medical issues and work on behavioral problems with training.  Most of our fosters stay 6 to 16 weeks, depending on our assessment and how they are progressing.  Even rarer is a home waiting to take on a ‘Poo mix, sight unseen. The stars are evidently aligned just right because this sweet boy went to an experienced Apso home … long nose/legs and all … within days of his arrival in rescue.      

His new family is just delighted with the addition to the family.  Here’s the email I received three days into his new home (as a side note, DaVinci, f/k/a Sterling, was adopted from us three years ago — we just love repeat adoptions!) …          

__________    

He is an absolute little sweetheart and has fit into the family just fine.  It’s as if he has always had us for his family – he has shown no anxiety at all.  I found out on the way home from Longmont that he loves to be hugged and cuddled.           

When we got home, our dogs were naturally curious about Elwood and did their sniffing thing. Ha!  We took all three of them for a walk and when we got back all three dogs played in the back yard together.            

Elwood learned the doggie door in about five minutes and goes in and out like a pro.  He has not had a potty accident in the house as of yet and he sleeps all through the night.  The only problem we have had was when Piccolo and DaVinci had a few minor territorial disputes with Elwood.  That seems to now be over, and things are going very smoothly.           

DaVinci and Elwood have been playing well together and that is what DaVinci has needed.  He and Piccolo have played together some too, but Piccolo tires out quickly.  Elwood discovered a tennis ball in our dog’s toy box which he promptly brought to me to throw.  He has apparently been taught to fetch because he is very good at it.  In fact he loves it so much, he could do it 24 hours a day – Ha!          

Elwood is still such a puppy and he is so exuberant!  He is doing great here, and we are so happy to have him.   I will definitely give you updates on how he is doing, and when his hair grows a bit longer, will send you a picture of Elwood with his brothers.   DeLores and Lou          

And a week in to the new home …          

We want you to know that Elwood is doing great and we just love him!  He has the cutest personality and such cute puppy ways.  He has adapted to a routine that he enjoys which includes sitting with me in the recliner while I read the newspaper first thing in the morning, then when his dad gets up, he sits with him while Lou reads the newspaper, and then it’s off for the morning walk.   He loves his daily walks with his brothers, and afterwards he still has energy left and wants to play fetch with the tennis ball.  We do that several times a day with him because he has such high energy.   All three dogs get along great and love playing together.           

Elwood’s previous family can rest assured that he is a very happy dog in his new home and that his new family is so happy to have him.          

  ________________________          

My new family ... am I a lucky dog or what!!!!
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Evanescent …

For some reason my custom screensaver works or doesn’t, depending on the day (or the phase of the moon or whatever, who knows!).  Most of the time it doesn’t and I give little thought to the photos, graphics and artwork that I’ve dumped in that particular file over the years.  Every now and again, it catches me by surprise … and pops up out of the hinterlands with a forgotten image.  Like tonight.   Which managed to bring a tear, unbidden and unwelcome. 

The photo is of my first Apso, Brittany and our current resident marble-brained feline, Boogins.  Bless her pointy little head, Brittany took this spastic, out-of-control, almost-feral kitten and taught him how to be a good dog … for a cat, that is.  Her lessons have served him well as he’s educated every foster in the interim on how to live with a cat.  Still don’t know how I managed to get this photo of the two of them as Boogins was akin to a fart in a whirlwind most moments, rarely still unless it was to eat or sleep.

We lost Brittany in 1999 to IMHA — immune mediated hemolytic anemia — just months shy of 14-years old.   Boogins, now at 13, is beginning to show his age with the thinning of body fat and hair.  His vocalizations are beginning to “thin” as well, becoming more of a squeak instead of the full-bodied meow so familiar.  Ever aware that I have four senior animals in the house, the next four to five years will be difficult at best.  Living in the moment,  I’m able to sweep that ache to a corner where it can reside quietly, all too mindful of the transient nature of their being.  Yet, at odd times … I’m reminded of just how deeply my old friends are missed.  Evanescent spirits just out of touch, but ever present.

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Under a Wolf Moon …

Wolf Moon

… the boys arrived on one of the last days of January.  January 30th to be exact.  “The boys” being Dawa and Jasper, 8-month old Apso pups from Morrison, Colorado and surrendered to rescue.  Because an immediate name change was in order — they were originally named “Barack” and “Obama” — I chose a Tibetan name for the foster who was to stay at our house.  During one of the first night potty runs, a brilliant Wolf Moon bathed the yard in a soft white glow.  Dawa, meaning “moon.”  It also described his little moon-pie face.  Dawa.  It fit.  And he quickly picked up the new moniker.  Much quicker than the housetraining, actually.  Like his brother, Jasper followed the same path … quick with the name but a bit slow on the housetraining.

A challenge from the minute they arrived, they tested our mettle as rescuers, dog owners and amateur groomers.  The first hurdle was getting them bathed and clipped despite their urine-soaked and feces-matted coats.  Next was integrating them into our household with other animals, family members and a set routine which included crating as part of the housetraining process.  Having never been crated before, each dog voiced his displeasure at being confined.  Loud voices … loud barking voices … loud barking voices that went on for what seemed an eternity to everyone else in the household.  Even Dante chimed in a time or two as if to say, “Knock it off … it’s my nappy time!!”  After several weeks, they both figured out that barking didn’t bring the desired results — release from the crate — and would quiet down after just a few minutes.  Finally!  Conversely, they both took to the crate at night and slept the whole night through (much to everyone’s relief).

Comparing notes on the brothers we found that Dawa was the more social of the two, easily meeting strangers.  A gentle pup, he was very content just to hang out with a toy or chew bone or roll around one of the many beds in the house.  The exception was if Frankers was up for a good morning romp, then there was a low level of chaos rumbling through.  Even I had to laugh when Dawa managed to coax the old grand dame, Ali, into playing with him.  In spite of my best efforts, I was not able to get a photo of Dawa and Frankers when they were in the recliner.  I’d come around the corner and up would pop Frankers’ head, quickly followed by Dawa’s, just to the side.  Yin and yang, ebony and ivory … and not a photo one.

Dawa was fascinated with the cat and would follow him around until the cat (Boogins) got tired of it and removed himself from the immediate area.  Boogins is pretty dog-savvy, having been raised with the breed from the time he arrived as an 8-week old kitten.  His reaction to the various fosters … or lack thereof … pretty much guarantees he’s only an object of simple curiosity.  Can’t chase a cat that won’t run, which makes him a very boring playmate.  The boys’ interaction with the cat was pretty typical of all the fosters.  Despite never having seen or been around a cat before, they all manage to get along fine.  Or at least with little concern on our part … if the cat’s not squeakin’, it’s not a problem!

Jasper was more reserved with strangers.  He especially didn’t like young, quick-moving children or loud teenagers.  He was, however, much more sharp with the training than Dawa.  Jasper and the other dogs in his household (Anne, a beautiful Border Collie, and Jackson, an Apso adopted from us) finally figured out how to play together without a brawl breaking out.  Jasper has been staying with us the past five days and the first thing I noticed was he’s much more energetic than Dawa.  Hubby calls him “spastic” but he (hubby) isn’t exactly a puppy person.  Give him an old, sedate dog and he’s perfectly happy.

Surprising to everyone was the fact we had few applications on them despite a PetFinder listing and local exposure through the newspaper.  Puppies are generally a rarity in rescue and even more so in this breed … which usually means they’re a hot commodity and are placed quickly.  That was not the case with these two which is probably just as well since it allowed us more time to work on their training issues (explaining this to our spouses after 10 weeks was a bit of a hard sell).  Not 100% reliable with housetraining but getting pretty darn close.  Not bad for two pups who had never been housetrained when they arrived in rescue.

The house is quiet tonight, having settled into its old routine.  It never ceases to amaze me how the dynamics change during the time a foster is present … be it the dogs or hubby.  Dawa was placed with a family in Longmont the end of March, giving us a couple weeks off.  Late this afternoon, I saw Jasper off to Littleton with his new family.  Gems in the rough, I have no doubt these boys will shine with a little polish in their new homes.

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Ready and Waiting …

This piece, authored by Karen Filippi of Somerset Cairns, Tunkhannock, PA, speaks to each of us who have watched the years tick off with a beloved companion (reprinted with permission, as appearing  in the November 2008 AKC Gazette).

The AKC Gazette … the Official Journal of the Sport of Purebred Dogs Since 1889,  is available as a paper subscription or through a free online digital edition.  The Gazette is a treasure trove of information on the individual breeds which make up each “group” of dogs as well as being of interest in general to those sharing their heart and home with the canine species.

Ready and Waiting …

Summer, this year, seemed to come and go with my barely marking the days or weeks.  Instead, it’s the months that have become the season’s mile-marker, and the year the milestone of time’s passage.  This is, I think, also the measure of my progress through the seasons of my own life.  And so, with summer gone and year’s end approaching, I find myself facing the prospect of other passings, other endings.  Somehow, without my really noticing, two of my Cairns have grown quite old.

True to their reputation, Cairn Terriers are hardy, active dogs with relative few genetic health issues.  Should they fall ill or be injured, they will often suffer in silence.  This is another facet of the native courage that sends them headlong and heart-first into dark, narrow holes in the ground, seeking fierce quarry armed with tooth and claw.

The lifespan of a Cairn Terrier can, and more often does, exceed 15, 16, 17 years  and more.  Measured against human years, it is not very long.  Yet it is long enough to encompass a childhood, a marriage, to span one or more of the significant passages that mark our own lives.

Time passes, and, as it is the nature of things, the irresistable puppy become the irrepressible adolescent.  The adolescent becomes the mature, comfortable companion and faithful friend who, suddenly, a senior, slows but remains steadfast.  And then …

How to consider, cope with, the prospect of such a loss?

It is a testament to the lives of these incredible creatures that their passing has such a profound effect that we are compelled to search for ways to express our grief and afford it the dignity it is due.  While convention may still deny dogs a soul, for many the idea of the “Rainbow Bridge” speaks to our need to have them wait for us, somewhere, safe from harm.  In so many canine lives, there are too few such places; it seems fitting there should be such a place afterward.  Who can know?

What we can know, beyond doubt and, even absent faith, it the value of what they give to us.  We are, quite literally, their individual gods and they love us without condition or judgment.  They remind us to accept the world as it comes each day, to meet each moment with anticipation and awe.  To hear the poetry in our shared silences and the harmony in our different songs.  To fling our heart ahead in the sheer joy of living, and to run, full-out and free, to catch it up … again, and again.

When, all too soon, it is time for them to go, our memories of them will hold all this and keep it safe, ready and waiting, against the time when it will be our turn to follow.  … For Tinker and Indi, in their twilight.