New Harnesses & Thanksgiving

I ordered a couple new harnesses for the girls, an open back design I've really been wanting to try as it offers more natural movement and range of motion through the dog's back. I ordered them from Sheri Weatherbie after seeing photos of them in a sled dog pictures group.

I took measurements and asked for a purple one for Kaytu, and a light blue for Denali. Both with gray padding. She told me she couldn't find her light blue, and I know any blue looks good on Miss Nali so we went with regular blue. The harnesses arrived and I had Denali's on before I even registered that it was light blue!! Sheri had found the webbing and thought it best to surprise me. I'm thrilled!

Kaytu had already put on her harness today for a test run and knew we weren't
going again, thus her mildly irritated expressions!

 

Kaytu's harness is a tiny bit too big but it will be easy for me to stitch the ends just in front of the ring to shorten it. She's only run once in it, it's been so hot here still! San Diego doesn't know what fall and winter are, and even now at the end of November it's been in the 80s during the day. I don't mush at night because I can't tolerate any more spiders whacking against my helmet and body. Gah!

The harnesses came over Thanksgiving week, during which my in-laws were in town. Sad to say I don't have any terrible stories, they're wonderful people whom I adore and have a lot of fun with! On Thanksgiving morning, the husband and his dad went snorkeling at La Jolla Cove. As snorkeling freaks me out I opted to go for a hike with a bunch of other people, an event hosted by a friend I know through dog rescue but hadn't met yet. The husband's mom went with me so their two dogs could have some fun too. I decided to only take Denali, as I didn't walk to be handling two dogs and long walks can be frustrating for Kaytu as she wants so badly to run.

Snickers and Harley with my mother-in-law

Denali with her bright Denver Broncos collar I made

Of course being a rescue group, we came across two lost dogs! They were
reunited with their irresponsible owner.

Sally (now Missy) was also in attendance. She was one of my favorites at the shelter
during her stay there, and now has a home!

After the hike we came home, showered, and started on the Thanksgiving meal. It was great, very tasty! Snickers and Harley got some cuddles and petting form the husband.

 

Snickers is not good with cats and to keep them safe they were kept in our bedroom all week. It gets chilly in there and Everest gets cold, so while out shopping Nate saw these "jammies" for dogs and they were too funny (and practical) to pass up. Everest has been conditioned to wear clothes, as last year I worked to get him used to his T-Rex costume for Halloween. With a shirt on he is more brave, confident, and bold. He moves around much more and plays more. Without the shirt he stays curled up tight and I've felt him shivering. He seems to appreciate wearing shirts. These jammies had weird foot things that were meant to wrap around a dog's back legs. They didn't fit cat anatomy, and would be uncomfortable so I cut them off.

Shelter puppies for Puppy Class

I thought that borrowing puppies from the shelter where I volunteer for my weekly puppy class would be beneficial to my students' puppies as well as the shelter puppies and got the OK to do so. I fell in love with a little black boxer-ish puppy and planned to take him. His name is Hogan.

Unfortunately on Saturday morning we noticed a runny nose and didn't want his cold to spread so I couldn't take him. Such a bummer! Instead I took siblings, two little brindle puppies of unknown breed. Possibly some kind of pit bull breed/mix in there, but they have little stubby legs. They were a little pushy with the other puppies at first as they were very excited, but over the course of the hour they really settled in and played great! Both have since been adopted.

Paws and belly!

The next Saturday, Hogan was still getting over his cold so I took a pretty little girl named Panda. Again possible some kind of pit bull breed/mix but it's so hard to tell with puppies. She played very well and is a total sweetheart! (It's been pointed out the the towel, her collar, my shirt, and the tug toy all matched.)

Have to wait and see who's available for the next class!

Adoption Event, and Cleopatra Adopted!

On Sunday the 16th I woke up at about 6am which is ridiculously early for me. I'm a night person, it's 2am as I type this. I got to the shelter at 7am to help load up the "minions" which were 9 little dogs, as well as Shamu our wonderful token big dog. The adoption event was at a church and we stayed until 2pm. In total, 4 cats were adopted along with one little dog!

Grady

Minions!

Lacey was our one dog who was adopted.

Shamu

Percy, in the cool down box for relentless humping (a sign of stress).

Vincent and Dillon

Shelly in the cool down box, she was stressed being in close quarters with so many dogs.

Foxy

I had my husband meet me at the event with Cleopatra, and I left straight from there to take her to meet her new adopters an hour and a half away. I met up with the adoption coordinator en route and he led me up the mountain where the adopters live, at the observatory- how cool!!

http://www.astropics.com/Palomar-Observatory-Pictures/

Cleo met them and instantly hit it off. A few of their neighbors stopped by with their dogs, as it's a close-knit community and they wanted to see how Cleo did with the other dogs. She did great! Once inside I talked with them about her training, habits, and so on, and then her meet the kitty. Kitty wasn't happy but Cleo did great, not obsessing or pushing into kitty's space. After about 2 hours we left, as the adopters wanted a couple days to think about it. Sure enough they wanted her!! I received the news Tuesday and the next day met up with another adoption coordinator to drop her off. From there, Cleo made another short trip to meet the adopters who then took her home up the mountain. Officially adopted!!!!!!! I am so excited for Cleo. I already received an update and happy tears filled my eyes.

She looks a little cold! May need a sweater.

Loving mountain life!

Overdue Update

I haven't updated in so long! It's been a very busy year for me. My training business has picked up, and I've continued going to the shelter 2x/week for about 3 hours each day. I've mentored a few new volunteers. I've continued fostering for the shelter and rescues too. Mushing season has picked up again. There has been so much, and this is going to be a long post with lots of pictures to catch up.

I see my last post was about Kaia at the end of March. As painful as it is, I'll follow up from there. Kaia was adopted on April 4th, 2014; I'd had her since March 27th so not very long at all. About a week and a half. Her new family could not have been more perfect. A young couple. Their first dog together. Dog had to be cat friendly. Kaia went to live with one of their parents until the couple got their own place in June. Kaia continued to heal, becoming more and more beautiful. They kept her name.

Her color changed so much!

On July 7th, a lump was discovered on the side of Kaia's neck. After testing and a biopsy it was discovered to be osteosarcoma. Cancer. A cancerous tumor going straight through her neck. Inoperable. They opted to offer her the best care they could until the end. Days? Weeks? We didn't know, they'd follow her lead. They graciously invited me up to say goodbye, on Tuesday. 7/15/14. I brought her an In-n-Out burger. We gave her ice cream. We took a walk. She had not eaten much of anything in days, barely able to swallow, and coughing frequently. She didn't even drink on Tuesday. They already had it scheduled, she was euthanized that Tuesday night as she had not eaten in 4 days other than goodies to spoil her like a can of tuna and the little nibble of burger she ate. My jaw was clenched and my stomach turning the entire drive up there to say goodbye. I expected to feel pain and sorrow upon seeing her and witnessing come of her final hours, but instead I was overwhelmed with how much love they gave to her and how good the final months of her life were. I didn't cry. I felt peaceful. Kaia had found the perfect home and was loved and given everything. I'm so grateful to have had a hand in helping Kaia get out of the shelter to spend her last few months loved, so loved, instead of alone at a shelter. Run free, Kaia.

After Kaia was adopted in April I continued fostering.

There was Shelly from the Humane Society, a fearful young chihuahua who we had about 2 weeks until she developed spots we feared could be ringworm as Humane had an outbreak so she was returned. I'm not sure what happened to her from there.

Then came Rascal, for two hours. Short story: Hit by a car, broken toes and bad road rash. Owner being deployed overseas and person who was to be taking care of Rascal backed out so the man had to sign over his dog to be euthanized- fortunately our shelter rocks and they were able to use the Spirit Fund to pay for surgery to save his life. Rascal was cat tested with my own cat at the shelter, after over a week of waiting for his surgery and initial recovery he came home with me, met the dogs, saw the cats through his crate, never any hint of aggression. No obvious signs. No growling, barking lunging, trying to nip, no freezing, no staring, no lip quivers, nothing. Once out of his crate I had him on leash and was kneeling down petting him. He lunged at Zebulon and grabbed his entire head and throat and locked on. I immediately had my hands around his jaws. I finally screamed after what seemed an eternity but must have only been a couple seconds, and he let go. I threw Rascal in the crate, checked Zeb who was fine but in shock, then took Rascal back. Zebulon clawed my hand badly while fighting for his life, I went to the ER hours later as the scratch had not closed. I have a lot of guilt that won't ever completely fade. Zeb is totally fine but he nearly had his skull crushed open. I have a nice scar. I'm so strict and careful in ensuring that foster dogs are ok with cats. Rascal gave me no indication whatsoever and had many, many chances to show that he wanted to eat cats.

After naughty Rascal came a longterm foster from Lionel's Legacy, named Merida. She was surrendered to a shelter by her owner who could not take care of her medical needs.

Feb 21st
SENIOR ESKIE WITH CANCER
SPAYED FEMALE - 16 YEARS OLD
INTAKE DATE 2-21-14
* AVAILABLE NOW *

Feb 23rd, Lionel's Legacy had already rescued her.
"Please welcome sweet Strong Heart the elderly (but not 16 yrs old) Eskie. My daughters have renamed her Merida after the Disney princess in the movie Brave. They said she's a strong and caring little survivor who won't let cancer beat her! We will get lab work and xrays done to confirm her mass hasn't spread and determine the best course of treatment for getting her better. She is a gentle little girl who has a lot more life to live."

Cancerous mass on her leg, not attached to bone so was easily and successfully removed!

After grooming and surgery

So Merida had already been with the rescue some time, as we didn't get her until June 7th. Despite being a senior, Merida had so much spunk! We really, really enjoyed having her around. She was adopted July 16th by someone who has had eskies her whole life, and is a member of the eskie club. Could not have asked for a better home for Meriderp! She was Denali's "mini me."

Orthopedic bed on top of an orthopedic bed. Not spoiled at all!

 

While we were working on getting Merbear connected with her adopter, there was a pup at the shelter that was breaking my heart. Mer was such an easy foster and with us being sure of her adoption (which is never for sure until it's done, but we were pretty sure), my husband allowed me to bring home the pup. Enter Molly, an ~8 month old American Bulldog. She was so frightened and shut down at the shelter that she wouldn't even stand up. For weeks. The muscles in her back legs were atrophied. I pulled her on a Sunday, July 1st, 2014.

At the shelter, I carried her out of the kennel and into the interaction yard area.
That gray spot on the top of her head turned out to be dirt, it washed off!

Home

Cuddling with the husband.

Molly went outside with me every day, often with Kaytu or Denali or Merida as having another dog there with her really helped her be brave and want to explore. She started exploring more and more and came out of her shell pretty quick.

Outside!

On a walk with Merida

Video speaks for itself.

She was adopted on July 11th; we had her only 10 days! I'm still in touch with her adopters, they met Molly when I took Molly to the car dealership with me (and Kaytu) for an oil change.

After Molly and Merida  I had a quick weekend foster, Ivan. A 3 month old puppy that someone threw away. Tossed into a dumpster. He was emaciated, by this photo he had already gained a couple pounds. He was found July 15th, and I took him July 17th (remember how Merida and Molly were officially adopted the 11th and 16th!)

I didn't even put Ivan down, he went straight to the bathroom for a bath and then here he is drying in the sun.

 

Ivan was returned to the shelter the morning of the 21st, and became available the 22nd. He was soon adopted!

Next was yet another puppy, Elsa. Found as a "stray" with two siblings (stray with siblings = probably dumped), we believe a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Picked up August 7th- we needed a break for a little bit after our string of fosters. She had distichia, which is when there are extra eyelashes growing inward toward the cornea. She had the eyelashes removed and had very puffy eyes that required twice daily goo medicine. I fell in love with her, hard. I even asked husband if we could keep her, she fit with us so perfectly. He vetoed. The plan was for me to only foster until she didn't need her meds anymore so she was returned to the shelter August 19th. In those 2 weeks she felt like she was ours, not a foster, and putting her back in a kennel was emotionally brutal. I bawled the entire way home. I felt like I'd abandoned one of my own dogs. I knew it was for the best, I knew she'd be out soon, but it still crushed me. She was picked up by a Rhodesian rescue the next day, August 20th!

I kind of really love how her scarring around her eye looks like a star.

 

I took a few days off to emotionally recover some from letting Elsa go. My parents were going to be in town the first week of September so I wanted a short term medical dog. Enter Odin, the evening of August 25th. We have no idea what happened to his eye. Found as a stray. He was violently aggressive toward the cats and barked all night in the crate. Exit Odin, the next morning. As fate would have it, a few weeks later his new adopters called me in to work on separation anxiety. He is a really wonderful dog and so happy now! I didn't even get a good pic of him, so here's his awful intake photo.

His eye was removed, and now he's very happy and well loved!

Two to go!

With a nice break and having my parents in town, once they'd gone back to Colorado I was ready for a longer foster since Ivan and Elsa (and Odin) were all intended as short term medical needs fosters. I had been thinking a lot about two chihuahuas at the shelter, Autumn and Summer. I had forced Summer out for a photo and it was not fun for anyone, I was afraid she would bite me and in having to drag her she dug her claws in and ground a couple down to the kwik. Completely unadoptable. They had both come in with 2 other chihuahuas that had both been adopted out quickly (there were 6 total running at large, 4 were caught- not bad!)

Summer and Autumn

Every time you pass the kennel they do that. They run to the back, as far from you as possible, and cower. And growl. Nobody had walked them or touched them in 3 months since they came in, apart from me forcing Summer out. I went into the kennel and tossed treats to help them warm up to me. We made progress. They ended up fighting over the treats so I stopped. I talked to staff. Autumn was the more outgoing, and I wanted to see what I could do. Apparently they had been fighting daily when fed. Twice a day, every day. I took her home on Sept 9th, planning to foster for 10-14 days to get to know her, help her relax, and make a flyer to market her. My initial notes:

-Submissive/fear urination when approached

-Great with cats, does not chase, bark at

-Great with dogs, submissive, freezes, rolls over, urinates sometimes, but learning to open up and play

-*Should go to home with another dog

Kaytu and Autumn immediately attached to each other. Typically my dogs will interact with the fosters and do seem to enjoy them, but they don't seem to get particularly bonded. These two bonded instantly and were inseparable the first couple days. Kaytu would find Autumn and lay by her. Autumn followed Kay everywhere.

First day home, already relaxing some!

Fear pose. "Please stay away, you're scary! I'm so scared I'm going to pee."

Whenever I approached Autumn, she would pee in fear. It was heartbreaking. Think of how scared you would be to pee like that. You'd be scared for your life, and she was. Over the weeks her confidence grew, she started playing, she started playing, she still refused to walk on leash so I didn't push it and just let her stay inside and in the backyard.

As we hit the 2 week mark Autumn was blossoming but still nervous.There were no other dogs I felt called to foster so we stuck with Autumn and started marketing her hard.

A fellow volunteer forwarded Autumn's info to a coworker, who met Autumn and their dog, a chihuahua who often doesn't like other dogs going near her people, was very accepting of Autumn. It was meant to be, she was adopted October 11th. I've been getting updates, and Autumn is doing really well! I was never fond of the name "Autumn" for her, and her new owners are still waiting for her to tell them her name. Currently she's being called Lucy but that could change.

And finally, my current foster is Cleopatra, a one year old pointer/pit bull(?) mix. We named her that, her first name at the shelter was Birdy to emphasize her pointer qualities over what is likely some kind of pit bull breed. But who knows! She was found as a stray on August 26th. We took her October 11th, immediately after Autumn was adopted!

First time I met her, at the shelter.

Gettin' loves!

At an adoption event, a candy corn witch.

 

This face kills me!

Enjoying the finer things in life.

 

She's been on the news, and had two potential adopters. First potential, their dog didn't like her. Second potential, the landlord's insurance would not cover any kind of pit bull looking breed. She is a blast, so sweet and so fun. She is learning basic cues easily, loves mushing, and all she wants in life is to be cuddled and sometimes to run around and play. Loves her food dispensing toys too!

Whew, so that's the foster situation! Meanwhile at the shelter, I've mainly been updating intake photos. I still have the main goal of helping dogs relax, connect to people, and learn polite skills and some basic cues like sit. I really enjoy volunteering and everything I do there to help. It's so rewarding. Here are a handful of good photo updates, and we'll end the update here with all these cute doggies. Click to enlarge.