Update: Â Sammy and Budha were adopted this past weekend (June 20th). Â Wishing them and their new owner many happy, healthy years together. Â And we are just thrilled that the new owner decided to take them both … dogs are pretty darned happy too!
Always a good time to interact with the dog community … Paws on the Promenade at the Shops at Centerra! Â Come on out and join the fun on Saturday, May 16th with a variety of events as noted below. Â We’ll be there with our foster Tzus, Sammy (l) and Budha (r), for a meet/greet. Â Hopefully, the weather will be better by Saturday … anything but pouring rain or blowing snow!
Sammy is a five-year old Tzu that would love to find a retired or semi-retired couple on which to work his charms. Â He’s a cuddle bug and gets along well with other small dogs.
Budha is a two-year old Tzu, originally from Wyoming. Â We think he looks like Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.” A sweet boy, he’d do well with with an active couple and gets along with other small dogs.
10th Annual Paws on the PromenadeSaturday, May 16, 2015
10 am to 3 pm at the Main Plaza, the Shops at CenterraIt’s a fun-filled day for you and your dog!  Enjoy giveaways, dog adoptions, live demonstrations by the Larimer County Sheriff K9 Unit and the Longmont Fire Arson Dog, Yappy Hour, dog contests for prizes & so much more!
Schedule of Events:
10:00am   4-H Agility Demonstration
11:00am   Dog Costume Contest
11:30am   Larimer County Sheriff K9 Demonstration
12:30pm   Longmont Fire Arson Dog Demonstration
1:00pm    Dog Trick Contest
2:00pm    Yappy Hour
Update:Â Gracie has found her new family and was adopted!!
Calling folks in the Midwest … or someone willing to travel/fly!  Gracie is a retired champion looking for a home to call her own.  Some things prospective adoptive families should know:
Is a heavy chewer and will need plenty of good chews;
Loves attention, to the point of pushing out other dogs for attention (this is a training issue, under resource guarding);
Needs a fenced yard to run and play (no invisible fencing allowed);
Is crate trained;
Needs a home with someone home most of the time or working less than 40 hours a week;
Needs to be an only dog or with only one other dog in the house; and
An experienced dog owner, someone with no young children.
Please see the flyer for contact more info; an application process is required. Â If interested, please contact: jen@sunriselhasaapsos.com.
… comes a warm and loving heart all wrapped up in a happy boy by the name of Toby!
Toby
So here’s the deal … Toby is located in Minnesota, around the Twin Cities area. The local specialty club up there — Twin Cities Lhasa Apso Club  (TCLAC) — was approached by a vet clinic to take him on when his family couldn’t cover treatment costs for a fractured leg. The club found a foster home, paid for his extensive treatment and now he’s ready to find a new family.
Toby is a three-year old neutered male, weighing 14-15 pounds. More information about Toby can be found at this link: http://www.twincitieslhasaapsoclub.org/#!adoption. I was told by one of the club members that he’s a great little dog with no negatives … and that if she didn’t have a houseful of dogs, she’d keep him. That’s saying quite a lot, folks!
If you have questions about Toby, the adoption process or anything else, TCLAC can be contacted at: TCLAC2@gmail.com. I suspect they’ll want to keep his adoption fairly “local” so keep that in mind if you’re not in the area by a 300-mile radius.
Let’s help Toby find his forever home to start out the New Year!
Our recent foster, Mia, went to her new home last weekend. And got a new name in the process … Abbey Roze. She’s already settled in like she’s lived there her whole life. I’m certain she’s enjoying the one-on-one attention with her new family. A very lucky dog, Abbey will get to go to work with her new mom (if it sounds like I’m jealous, I am!!!).
Mia/Abbey’s journey to rescue was a bit unusual. She was found wandering in Aurora, CO. The family who found her managed to locate her owners and she was returned with many comments on “what a nice dog and how well behaved.” Five days later, the original owners brought her back and asked the finding family if they’d like to keep her as the original family had little time for her. While with the new family, there was a change in circumstances with their daughter and grandson moving back home with their own pets. Simply put, it was too much for the family to absorb/manage and they contacted us.
Arrangements were made and Mia/Abbey was picked up by our foster family (Neil and John) and transported to Loveland to keep her from being placed with a puppy broker in a kennel facility. Big thanks going to Neil and John for making the trip when I couldn’t! That was September 11th … Colorado’s flood would start that evening with torrential downpours which stranded John and Neil in the Big Thompson Canyon. Talk about getting her in under the wire … or water as the case may be!
Mia/Abbey had an uneventful stay in rescue and a quick recovery from the spay. Well behaved, she got along with all the dogs in the house and perfected her house training and crate training while in foster care. Meet Abbey’s new family … congrats to Pat and James on the new addition to the household. We wish you “Lhasa” happy and healthy years together!
Mid October saw Teller and I at the American Lhasa Apso Club’s National Specialty in Sacramento, CA. A week of shows, activities, seminars, the annual Board Meeting and the annual General Meeting makes for a “working” vacation. While we didn’t get any points in the ring, our showmanship (and Teller’s behavior) improved each day … a “win” in and of itself. Some days/shows, it’s the little things that count the most.
… the holidays snuck up on us, ready or not. We seemed to be in the “not” category this year, although we actually have some outside decorations up thanks to a dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce near the front porch that’s perfect for stringing with white lights. Work has been nuts … last-minute guests for the long Thanksgiving weekend … and then a scramble to get errands/chores/shopping done before Christmas, i.e., meaning not much computer time in the evenings. The new year has brought a laundry list of projects to get done (forget about resolutions).
Added to the general chaos is the new addition to the family: Teller. Knee deep in potty training at soon-to-be 8-months old, it does appear he’s got the concept of it down (mostly).  I taught him to “speak” several weeks ago — with the help of Frankers a/k/a “Uncle Grumpy” — and he transferred that behavior to asking to go outside. All on his own. We about fell off the couch the first time he barked at the back door for a potty run. WTG puppy!!! It’s still rather novel for him so we’re encouraging him by making him “ask” to go out if he forgets an audible cue of some sort … bells, bark … something, anything! Just as long as I know your back teeth are floating. One byproduct of teaching him to speak is he’s vocal about asking for his food bowl … now we’re working on “quiet.”
A typical puppy, he delights in scattering toys from one end of the house to the other. When that’s done, he starts pulling pads out of crates, articles of clothing off the hampers (hey, I was going to wear that again), and whatever else he can find to deposit throughout the house. Then there’s always the cat to pester, keeping in mind that if one gets within two feet of him, he starts squeaking. Note to cat: if you don’t like the puppy that close, why do you insist on jumping the gates to be in the same area?!?!
It’s long been held that what you do today — on the first day of the year — will be repeated throughout the year. So, we’re going to start 2013 with the “awwwww” factor. Here’s an email I received regarding one of our former fosters, Kalsang. Now named “Biscuit,” it appears he’s greatly enjoying his golden years:
Hi Vickie, I got your lovely card and thought I better let you know we are doing fine. I decided not to send cards this year because my arthritis has made my handwriting a mess! We are still going strong and “Biscuit” is the darling of the neighborhood when we go walking. He spends most of his time close to my side when we are home. We are so predictable, it’s funny! He doesn’t wait for me to go up to bed these days and goes on his own. Some mornings he sleeps in. We anticipate each others needs like an old married couple. He knows when he can go in the car with me and when he must stay home. His eyes are bad but he is doing very well for an old boy and the Vet thinks he’s very limber and healthy. He gets exercise chasing the squirrels in the backyard and I put peanuts out there to make it interesting. They love to tease him. Anyway, I think of you often and thank you for the joy you have brought to both of us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year……..Mary
McKenzie
And then we have this update from McKenzie, the little one that came from a puppy mill … she’s made great progress!!
We stopped by the Lhasa website today because we saw a post about Teller. We decided that we should send you an e-mail. Kenzie is settled into a routine here. We have had 0 accidents in the house since those first couple when the home was new. Kenzie has graduated up to being able to go into the bedroom and living rooms when we are home. So she pretty much has free roam of the apartment. She’s eating well, and is not so freaked out to go outside. She has made huge strides.
We have a chair in the corner of the living room, and its back is to a window. Kenzie likes to sit on the arm of the chair and rest her head on the back of the chair and look out the window. It is adorable to see her there when I come home from school. She has a favorite toy which is an ornage dinosaur with pink felt hands and feet. She likes to chew the hands and feet. We bought her a spiky bouncy ball and she loves to play with that.
I’m currently growing out her coat, and she gets brushed about 3 times a week. I can’t stand to pet her and find a knot of hair that isn’t smooth. When I find them I have to give her a brushing. She is doing well with that. But she isn’t terribly fond of the comb that I use to work out some of the sneaky ones that get past me on first inspection.
She got to experience her first snow at Grandma Marnell’s house in Casper. We have decided that we need a blow dryer near the door because the snow just sticks like glue to her fur. We are considering booties for her feet.  She follows me to the door when I leave, but she still doesn’t come to greet us. My friend Ashley got a new puppy who we baby sit once in a while and Kenzie isn’t sure what to think of her.
Kenzie got to spend the weekend at Ashley’s house once when Tom and I had to fly out to a family wedding. She did wonderful! We are going to enroll Kenzie in an obedience class to hopefully help her gain some more self-esteem and confidence. She LOVES to go for a car ride with the window down. But she is never terribly excited to actually walk to the car. We are trying to get her out of the apartment more and more, but it is so cold here that we don’t like to be outside for very long. ><
I’ve included some of my favorite pictures of Kenzie that I’ve taken over the last month or so. We just love her to pieces. We leave her kennel door open at night and she migrates between the bed and the kennel. We’ve never had an accident or woken up to anything chewed! She likes to get on the bed in the morning and headbutt one of us for a belly rub. When she wants to play with us, she runs up to us and crouches with her tush in the air and her tail wagging and barks at us! She barks! It’s wonderful! So we play with her and chase her around the house or toss the ball for her.  We think that she is starting to feel at home.
I was watching the video of Teller and he was crying in the bath and Kenzie heard and jumped up on the couch to watch with me. I don’t think she knows why the box was making that noise but her face was adorable. Teller looks like quite a handsome little guy! We hope to see more of him in the future!
Best wishes, Liz, Tom and Kenzie!
P.s. the picture of her all wet was sent to me by Tom while I was in class. He was her outside to potty and they got caught in a downpour. I nearly laughed out loud during class. It’s such a cute photo.
Not to be left out in the snow and cold, here’s a greeting from Tori (f/k/a Lucy) …
Tori
Hi there, I haven’t talked to you in a while and thought I would say hi! Tori (Lucy as you knew her) is doing wonderful…..I just want you to know we love her very much and enjoy her every day! She is so spunky and full of enthusiasm it is adorable. She plays with toys all the time, usually by herself, and she has taken a liking to sleeping with me on my bed, which I love. She is a joy to have around and we couldn’t imagine our home without her. Brody and her are bonding more every day and he is becoming much more tolerant of Tori. Anyway, she is wonderful and I just love her dearly. What a beautiful sweet doggie she is. I’ve attached some pictures for you. Have a wonderful holiday season! ~ Abby & Jaidyn
Last, but certainly not least, we have this in about Dawa …
I wanted to update you on my baby boy Dawa. He is still as sweet as can be. We found a kitten in our basement window well and he is our new pet. Dawa has been really sweet with the kitten provided that he does not see me as his mama. He still has the attitude that I am his. Still a barker but working on it. Dawa and Lilly continue to be best of friends. Lilly was a challenge with the kitten.  Hope your little ones are doing well.   ~ Emma
I honestly have to say that these are probably my best Christmas presents (shhhhhh, don’t tell Hubby). What a grand way to start the New Year!
…. the sweet little Tzu went to his new home in Fort Collins in mid May. And what a lucky little dog he is!! Even as this post is being written, he is traveling southern and central Colorado in an RV. Would that the rest of us were living such a life of leisure (instead of doing laundry and getting ready for the upcoming work week)! As expected, I’ve gotten reports that he’s charmed the socks off everyone he’s met. Here’s the boy with his new family …
… is ready to go to her new home! Lucy — a 2.5-year old Lhasa Apso — arrived about five weeks ago, the product of a divorce in progress. The owner, now a single mom and working long hours, made the decision to do what was best for Lucy. And that did not include being crated for nine to twelve hours a day.
Lucy is a red/white parti-color Apso. On the small side, she weighs about 13.5 pounds.  A very smart dog, she needs an owner that can work on training with her. IOW, you need to be smarter than the dog! Lucy would do best in a home where the owner was either semi-retired, retired or worked from home a good portion of the day — no children under the age of 12, please! She gets along with other dogs and the resident feline.
She is crate trained, house trained, current on her vaccinations, tested negative for heartworms, recently had a dental, and has a micro-chip (lifetime registration of the ‘chip to the new owner is included in the adoption fee). Lucy is a loving dog who likes to chill on the couch with her pack … or a walk is just as good.
If interested in Lucy, please contact me directly at: ApsoRescue@aol.com. Please note we will require an e-application, vet/personal reference checks and, finally, a home visit.
… bringing with it the frigid temps of a Colorado winter. Fourteen inches of new snow have fallen since Thursday evening, blanketing the previously brown winter landscape. It is late Friday night and ice crystals still float in the air … whether wind-borne from the snow cornices drooping on the roof’s edge or falling from the low grey clouds, I cannot tell. The deepening silence and chill is fitting for contemplation and composition of tonight’s post …
Jackson ...
Jackson came to rescue in 2009, a casualty of the down turn in the economy. His owner now worked two jobs and no longer had the time or funding to take care of him. Giving him up was very difficult as the owner had planned to begin training to make him a therapy dog. Â
Fostered by Michelle in Wellington, Jackson’s stint in rescue was a relatively short one. Linda first met Jackson at the Fort Collins Fire Hydrant 5 where we had a rescue/breed booth set up … and where she was immediately smitten with this little dog. Shortly thereafter, in May of 2009, Linda and Troy added Jackson to their family. As Jackson was such a nice little dog and didn’t know the word “stranger,” Linda took on the owner’s goal and they became certified as a therapy team. Linda later fostered Jasper for us and we got to see her and Jackson on numerous occasions as time went by. Jackson was one of those dogs whose face exuded joy. No matter the circumstance or the activity, he was a happy dog, his eyes a sparkle.
Linda called me from the veterinary teaching hospital at CSU on January 19th, advising that Jackson had awoke that morning, unable to walk or use his back legs. After evaluation and diagnostics by the vets, they were of the opinion Jackson had suffered a fibrocartilaginous embolism. While not rare per se, it is more commonly found in large dogs.  Linda wrote later:
This was harder than I thought. Jackson was put to sleep on Thursday night. He had an autopsy at CSU and then cremated. He is still sitting on our counter and I’m not sure why? Anyway it was a FCE. An embolism. A piece of spinal cord broke off, traveled through a blood vessel and went back to the spine. By the time it lodged, much of the spinal cord had blown. Meaning, the paralysis would have eventually gone to the sternum and suffocated him. There was nothing to do. Pretty rare for a small dog, but the age group was right. He was filmed by CSU through all this is and will be immortalized by teaching vets about this. I’ve attached some photos of the boy. He was truly special and we are a little lost without him. We were honestly loved by Jackson.
As pet owners, we all know that life is transient with our beloved companions. We watch as the years tick off, collecting vignettes in time from which to draw upon for comfort when we have to let them go. However, I don’t think any of us can steel our hearts for the untimely loss of a healthy, young dog. Linda mentioned to me in a phone call how fitting it was that this therapy dog in life would — in death — go on to teach the healers among us.
Jackson cruisin' on the ATV
Jackson’s cremains will be interred in the family plot at some point. For now, and for as long as it takes until that happens … he’s home. And I know, without a doubt, that this would have been Jackson’s last Will.
Godspeed, little one. It was an honor to have been a part of your life.
"It's All About Attitude" (from the exceptionally talented artist at ArgoStar.com)
I used to say I’d live in a box before I’d give up my animals, years ago before my involvement with rescue as a coordinator. Over time, my rescue experiences have brought about a different perspective Honestly … would living in a box be fair to my animals? If life’s circumstances had deteriorated to the point that I’m living in a box, would I even be able to provide food or medical care for them? Would it be fair to ask them to live such a life? Am I truly thinking of them … or my own emotional needs?
These questions come roundabout as a result of one of the “ask” forums. Someone was asking if it would be “okay” for them to return a dog recently adopted from a shelter. The dog’s age and size were misrepresented or misunderstood at some point in the adoption process and the new owner thought he was getting dog that would grow to be much larger. The dog was small and was going to stay small … not what the new owner had expected or wanted.
The ensuing comments were vitriolic — to say the least — and expounded on what a bad person the poster was. My reaction, just the opposite: return the dog to the shelter so it could have a chance at a life with an owner who wanted a small dog and who could appreciate its many qualities. Why doom the dog to a lifetime with someone who wasn’t happy with it from the get go? Do we really think that shaming the owner into keeping the dog is going to change how they feel about the dog?
The flip side is that rescue would like to see every prospective owner carefully consider the impact of adding an animal to their household. Do they have the time needed for care, training, and socialization? Do they have the financial means to provide food and medical care? What breed of dog is most suitable to their lifestyle and home? Are there small children in the home? Anyone with allergies? Are they prepared to commit to the dog for its lifetime?
While it would be great if every dog lived out their life in one home — their forever home — I also understand that there are some circumstances beyond our control. Surrendering an animal to rescue takes forethought and having the animal’s best interest at heart. Yes, we still get the occasional lame excuses and, really, I don’t care when considering the big picture. It is not my place to judge … my responsibility as rescue is to see that the surrendered dog is placed in a home that meets the dog’s needs on every level. If someone comes up with a seriously lame excuse, then that dog really needs to be some place else!! If their reasons for surrender are valid or beyond one’s control, then we have to recognize their efforts to do what is best for the dog when they could just drop it off at a shelter and walk away (or worse, yet).
In the end, all that truly matters is the dog and what his or her life is going to be from that point forward.Â
And the little dog returned to the shelter? While the owner was standing in line for the return, she was adopted on the spot.
… photos as promised! Our latest foster, Sang-Po, has been in his new home since just before Thanksgiving. During a marathon of should-have-been-done-before-Christmas errands done in the New Year, I finally got the new family photos taken. Sang-Po joins BooBoo (a former foster), Kathy and Don in Loveland. Sang-Po is a good boy, a loving boy … but definitely still a puppy and is keeping them on their toes!
Murphy, our long-legged boy
During the holiday season, I so enjoy hearing from folks who have adopted one (or two) of our former fosters. Often times the greetings are accompanied by photos, which is of particular delight as many of our fosters came in and leave as young dogs so we get to see how they’ve matured. The blond boy Murphy is now red gold … Elwood has lots of freckles and a new name (Leonardo) … Bubba has a new name (Max), a new canine sibling (Abby) and sports a thick, healthy coat. The greatest gift is, however, knowing they are well loved and an integral part of the new family. To those who shared photos, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Lou, DaVinci (f/k/a Sterling), DeLores, Piccalo, Dean and Leonard (f/k/a Elwood)Cindy, Max (f/k/a Bubba) & Abby
It is also a time when we must reflect on these little lives, so much more temporary than our own. Word arrived that we lost Buddy to heart failure. He was our foster from Casper who was placed twice by the shelter in Casper … and returned twice … before landing in rescue in Loveland. He then went on to live in Aurora with Sonya in 2006.
Gone, too, is Ms. Frisky Boots at the grand age of 16-years old. Her elderly owner had died and the family surrendered her in 2004 when it became painfully obvious (literally) that Miss Frisky and the four-year boy in the house could not co-exist. Having met the child, I’d have bitten him as well. Miss Frisky had a long, full life with Roberta and Vincent in Wheat Ridge and I know they are sorely missing her.
So it is we start the New Year. Thankful for the families who share their hearts and homes with the rescues … and tucking away memories of those special dogs who have crossed my doorstep. Soon, very soon, I will welcome two others as they begin a new journey in rescue. Stay tuned!
On September 18, 2011, I attended the “Bark in the “Park” expo sponsored by the Arapaho Kennel Club at the beautiful Exposition Park in Aurora. Dante’s co-owner/breeder came down with two of her dogs who had the very important assignment of being breed ambassadors. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day in Colorado!
While there, we did an intake on a puppy being surrendered to rescue. Notable in the fact it was a puppy — we rarely get puppies in rescue — and this marked our 40th foster dog. Doesn’t seem like 40 fosters but it is when counting them down. Of those 40, 37 have gone on to new homes. Unfortunately, three of our fosters were euthanized while in foster care … two for unprovoked biting issues and one for medical issues. That’s probably the hardest part of rescue [euthanasia]  because “rescue” isn’t supposed to end that way.Â
Sang-Po ... a happy boy!
In any event, meet our newest foster … Sang-Po!! Given a Tibetan name in homage to his ancient origins, it means “kind and gentle.” That describes this boy to a “T”. He’s a very loving dog and would like nothing better than to sit in one’s lap. His ideal home would be one with a dog in residence — a dog that likes to play and is willing to put up some puppy antics. A home where the new owner will follow through on the crate training and finish up his house training (he’s working diligently on the house training but he’s still a puppy and will need an owner that can provide routine and consistency).Â
He’s still in the assessment/training phase of foster care and will not be placed in a home until the end of October. However, we are accepting applications at this time.
Make sure you get my good side ... and my pearlies
Tootsie had the good fortune to find her forever home in late June. Jane and Jerry from Cheyenne made a special trip down to meet Tootsie at our rescue booth at the Fort Collins Fire Hydrant 5k … it was love at first sight!! Ten days later, she was on her way to Cheyenne. I have no doubt that Tootsie is loving her new home and being a part of a family. Whether she’s ever had that in the past, we’ll never know … but it is certainly her life now. She’s settled in and is doing quite well … and probably getting a bit spoiled, if the truth be known lol.
You’ll note the background in the photo is a change up from our usual “family photos.” That’s because our house is down for the count for the time being. We’re in the midst of a home update which included taking out all the carpet and putting in hardwood throughout the house. Between the carpet’s age, all the dogs, and the pukin’ cat, it was either replace it or go to hard surface. We chose hard surface and haven’t looked back … most likely because there isn’t anything to look back on. To get to hardwood, we had to completely move everything off the main floor. With the exception of what’s in the kitchen cabinets, literally everything is either in a box in the basement or sitting in the garage, covered with a sheet. Even my “kitchen” is in the garage, making cooking a real challenge as it’s either microwave, grill or crockpot. Today, all the sinks in the house come out as the new counters will be installed on Monday. Alan keeps reminding me I should be thankful we at least have one functioning sink … in the garage.    :::sigh:::   Obviously, his morning routine to get ready for work doesn’t include a sink being handy!
… to be a dog in Colorado! That was the theme for our rescue booth at the Larimer Humane Society’s Fire Hydrant 5k in Fort Collins on June 11th. We had a beautiful Colorado day for the event — bright blue skies and light breeze. Our fosters, Tootsie and Leo, were in attendance putting their best paw forward.
Our thanks to the foster families who brought them up for the day! Deb and Elle brought Leo and then participated in the 5k which is a fund-raiser for the Larimer Humane Society. Kay and Dave were in attendance with Tootsie.
As it turns out, Tootsie met her soon-to-be family at this event … Jane and Jerry who made a special trip down from Cheyenne, WY just to meet Tootsie. We’ll be posting more on that later!
I received a special treat for the day … Jaime who came up from Denver just so we could visit with her and Mae-Mae! She’s done well in her new home and is, how shall we say … just a tad bit spoiled lol. Some more photos from the day …
Leo, Tootsie and KayDave, Kirby (f/k/a Ruffy) and AlanLeo ... lookin' for love!
Leo is a 3-year old neutered male who would do best in a home where he had no exposure to small children or grandchildren — older teenagers would be fine. He is current on vaccinations, tested negative for heartworms, is on a HW preventative, had a rear dewclaw removed, and a microchip implanted. Leo gets along with dogs and cats alike. His ideal home would be where he had a canine friend that likes to play. Leo is also crate trained and house trained.
… and trying to get everyone up to speed. Lots of things going on in the past month, including a trip to San Antonio to escort Pip to her new home and a major home renovation just getting underway. I have a feeling that “caught up” will be elusive at best and a return to “normal” will be greatly wished for about day three of the hardwood install. Never mind the paint and tile work afterwards.
Bella, Mazzi and PippyDo
I flew little Pip to her new home in Texas with Mazzi and Bella as well as meeting up with long-time Shuh Tzu cyberfriends. Seven of us have been corresponding for years (some for over a decade) and we meet up whenever the opportunity presents itself. This is the first time so many of us have gathered in one place and it was great to finally meet everyone. Bella was ecstatic to see her little friend again and a good romp was the first order of business.
Dave with Ruffy, Max and Maggie (l-r)
Just before I headed to Texas, Ruffy (n/k/a “Kirby”) went to his new home with David and Kay in Loveland. He joins two other Apsos — Maggie and Max — and settled in quite nicely. Long the queen of the house, Maggie decided Kirby is a little prince and allows him special privileges. Like sitting on the back of the couch and watching out the same window. And playing with her toys. Life is good!!
To top it all off, we have a new rescue coming in this afternoon … Leo … a 3-year old male that doesn’t appreciate  the 3-year old human in the house. More on him later as we get him vetted and settled into rescue.
Today’s submission comes from Sue Seaton, our long-time volunteer in Centennial, Colorado. If you’ve had a home visit done in the metro Denver area, you’ve most likely met Sue and her husband, Roy! We’re ever grateful to them for covering the Denver area all these years.Â
Roy and Carmen
Several years ago, my sister’s family put their family dog down at an old age. She had been a great dog. My sister Karen was very sad and quickly realized she needed another dog. She began searching on line, all over the country for the “right dog”, a dog that needed her as much as she needed her. Â
My sister lives in Michigan and found a dog in a rescue in Kentucky. She had been rescued from a breeding facility that was really just a dirty old barn. She spoke to the foster mom and was convinced this was the right dog, that they needed each other.  Two days later they made the long trip to Kentucky. When they met “Carmen”, it was love at first sight. They brought her home immediately and Carmen became a princess. She traveled everywhere with them. She never met a stranger and was a wonderful dog. She was loved at the seniors’ home where my mom resides. As much as the ladies loved her, she loved them.Â
On February 1st, she was diagnosed with cancer and within a few days it was confirmed as Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. There is little to no treatment for this horrible disease in dogs. Karen was devastated. Carmen was her pet and her friend. She was terrified at the thought of being without a dog for any length of time. She began searching on line for a dog.  She searched multiple times per day looking for a dog that needed her and would love to have a new home. She spoke with many rescue facilities but many of the dogs that seemed suitable would disappear before she could even investigate.   Carmen had no symptoms other than swollen glands. As luck and timing would have it, we have a cruise planned from 3/7 through 3/18. We were all worried that Carmen would become gravely ill while we were gone, possibly leaving my niece to euthanize her and spend a great deal of time alone as well. The family got her ice cream and burgers to eat, took her everywhere in the car and generally spoiled her all they could. Â
Carmen stayed relatively fine until two days ago. She developed a large ulcer in her mouth and stopped eating.  On Wednesday, Karen received a call from a rescue in Kentucky. They had a dog that they thought would be perfect for her. We didn’t know what to do. It seemed that Carmen might be waiting so her family would not be alone. On Thursday morning, Carmen stopped eating and declared that she was ready. Although the timing may seem strange to you, it didn’t to me. I knew that it was God. He had answered my prayers that Carmen would not suffer, that my sister could begin giving her love to a new dog and that my niece would not be left home alone, to experience solitary grief. Carmen is pictured above, having fun teasing her Uncle Roy.Â
Today, Karen and her family again made the long trip to Kentucky, filled with grief and sadness at the loss of their beloved dog, Carmen. When they got to Kentucky, they met Lily Bell, pictured below.  She immediately began bonding with the family. Within a short time, they packed up the car and made the 6 hour drive back home. Please meet Lily Bell, pictured below. She is not Carmen, but she just oozes a gentle confidence that could only come from receiving the baton from the one that passed before her. Have faith.Â
When a door closes, a window opens. Embrace it! Breathe deeply!        ~~ Sue  Â
This photo was sent to me by Emma’s adoptive family … awwwww, aren’t they sweet?!?
Emma (on the right) was surrendered to us as a one-year old. She had never been housetrained and was basically living her life as a yard dog during the day and crated from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  Adopted by Michelle, Emma now resides in Texas.
… hit the jackpot with a new home in Berthoud, Colorado. Recent transplants from Illinois, Debra and Mark are enjoying our typically mild winters. Contrary to popular belief, the foothills and plains of Colorado are not coated in snow the entire winter. The mountains, however, are a different story and we love to hear that our mountain snowpack is “above average.”
Elle is settling in to her new home with little fanfare. Their resident cat, however, may have a different opinion of her new “roomie.”Â
Here’s what Deb and Mark had to say about Elle’s first week …
Hi Vickie, Elle has been here a week. She has been a good dog. She and Debra have bonded and she follows her around like Debra wanted. She goes outside but is subtle about wanting out. We take her out often. We have found two bad habits of hers. One she would be a car chaser. When cars go by she runs across the back yard like she is chasing.  But she never goes out alone and can’t leave the yard so it is not a problem. She doesn’t do it while on a leash. The other bad habit is she is a beggar. She begs at the dinner table. We have not given her anything but she has to be scolded when she stands up. The crate is going much better. She still whimpers but for a very short time. She figures she is going to spend the night in there.  When we leave she will still howl. You can hear her in the garage.  Other than that she is a great companion for Debra. She and the cat are getting along great. Elle wants to play more but the cat ignores her when she is not interested so Elle just walks off. She is eating better now. She started off eating one time a day. But she eats twice. Loves her greenies. They are much cheaper onliine than at pet store. Everything is good. She is right at home now and is learning her boundaries. Debra & Mark H.
Besides Elle getting a new home, we’re excited to welcome Debra and Mark as new foster parents for our organization!! Thank you for stepping up to the plate and opening your hearts and home for a dog that needs a second chance at a new life. It is only through our foster homes that we are successful in this endeavor. Again, welcome!!
… and whatever it might bring! Always nice to get the trappings and rush of the holidays behind us and start with a new slate. Which generally puts us in the mood to start pitching and cleaning while stuck in the house with the cold and snow. Ever mindful of April and taxes, we sort into three piles … pitch, donate or keep. Hopefully most of it is designated pitch or donated!
Taking time for neither taxes or winter, rescue plugs along. Here’s an update on Bubba to start the New Year! Now known as “Max,” it sounds like he’s doing very well in his new home …
Wanted you to know that Max went to the ophthalmologist — Dr Nusbaum at VRCC — last week and checked out fine. She thinks he is about six from his eyes and believes that his condition was caused by his eyelashes turning inward and sweeping over his cornea. There is scar tissue there now so no discomfort. She changed his drops and he is a happy camper. Met Sadie’s doctors and staff and made some new friends! He was quite a hit! Dr Nusbaum was upset when she read the initial vets report, she noted that he was homey … I couldn’t tell what that word was so had skipped over it. She said he definitely is not homely and she wished that the vet could see him now. Told her we won’t go back to Kansas as he had a bad experience there!
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He is doing very well, seems like he has been with us forever. He and Sadie walk around out in the yard on patrol and he watches the cat with a great deal of interest. We are getting ready for Christmas so he will get some new toys! Hope to see Neil and Kip over the holidays.  ~~ Cindy
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The vet that made the “homely” comment was at my clinic. And, in her defense, Bubba was looking pretty bad that day. He’d just come off a two-day transport from eastern Kansas — dubbed “the transport from hell” because of vehicle and people problems. During his overnight stay in Kansas, he’d gotten a haircut with a pair of scissors. Poor boy had clumps of hair — sticking this way and that — and a totally bare spot on his butt and hindquarters. Thick, blackened and scaly, the bare skin looked like it belong to an elephant instead of a small dog. Added to the overall picture was his sad face. Yup, poor Bubba looked pretty homely. Just like the frog that turned into a handsome prince, Bubba bloomed with a little TLC, some hair growth, and a professional hair cut.
Elle
Next up is Elle (pronounced “El”) who arrived in rescue the day that Bubba headed home with Cindy. Found as a stray on the streets of Greeley, it soon became evident that she had some issues with separation anxiety. Not the destructive type, however. Elle’s anxiety manifests itself in … howling. Throw-the-head-back-and-howl-to-the-heavens howl. With a set routine and someone home a good portion of the day, her behavior has greatly improved while in foster care. We believe she will continue to improve once she settles into a home where she feels loved and secure.
Elle is a spayed four-year old female. She is house trained, crate trained and current on vaccinations. If interested in adoption of this *very* smart little dog, please visit our adoption page for information on our adoption procedures and the application form … Adoption Process.
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.Â
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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