How Olive Got Her Name

Olive is a very pregnant female red min pin/beagle mix that animal control called us about on Friday evening, Dec. 17. Animal control needed a foster for her, otherwise they would be forced to euthanize her due to the coming holiday and needed space. They told us she was already lactating and they might have another foster home for her, but would we stand by in case it fell through. We told them to call and let us know if the family that was planning on taking her backed out.

On 12/22, animal control called and said that they hadn't heard from the potential foster family and could not reach them by phone. Olive was on the euth. list and they asked if we could please take her. I told the rescue coordinator that we would have to fix her up a special area, as our regular maternity ward is occupied by another dog from another animal control - Allie, by the way, had 11 puppies last night - a Christmas Eve gift, and all doing well so far.

Nancy went after Olive while my husband and I fixed her up with a nice warm kennel in a safe place where the rest of the rescue dogs wouldn't bother her or be seen by her.

When she got to the farm, I asked what her name was, if, indeed, she had one. I was told that a child had named her Olive. The child had been singing "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" and decided on Olive. ?????????????? Where did that come from?

"All of the other reindeer" translates to a child as "Olive, the other reindeer".

Merry Christmas, and God bless.

Sophie's Story

Sophie is a beautiful 3 year old purebred golden retriever that was surrendered by her family when they had to move and couldn't keep her. Sophie is housebroken, knows sit, down, shake, and stay, and learned to properly walk on a leash in record time. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. We pulled her from animal control, along with a couple other dogs, in order to keep them from being euthanized for space. In spite of the efforts of all concerned, shelters are filling up faster than they can possibly be emptied out to home or rescue.

There was an on site adoption at the local Tractor Supply this past weekend, and a family came into the store and stopped by to see what was available. They had lost their beloved golden retriever one week before, and they had decided to start looking for a new dog. Because of a lack of available space, Sophie had stayed at the farm in her kennel. I got a call telling me that the family was coming to the farm to see what was available out here, and the rescue coordinator told me that the family had lost their golden a week before.

The family arrived, and as I always, I asked them what exactly they were looking for - big, small, long hair, short hair, specific breed, athletic, quiet couch potato, whatever. They told me they had lost their dog a week before, and missed her so much they felt compelled to start looking for a new family companion.

I brought out Sophie and saw tears well up in their eyes - all 6 of them. Sophie is lighter in color, but she was so much like the dog they lost, it was all they could do to keep from crying. I asked them if they would like to take her on a sleepover till the Monday after Christmas. They said they would and would give us a definite decision on that Monday.

Yesteray they called to say they were adopting Sophie - that she is a wonderful dog and we would not get her back!

By the way, the name of the golden retriever female that died was - - - Sophie!

Life Goes On

When a door closes, another opens, so the saying goes. We have opened the door for six new dogs in the last couple of days.

Sasha was surrendered by her owners when they moved into an apartment and her barking made the neighbors angry. Sasha is very timid and on the edge of becoming aggressive because of her fear. She hasn't said one word since she's been here, but is making good progress. It will be quite awhile before she is adoptable. She's a black lab/greyhound mix, very well housebroken, knows sit, and her tail wags happily when she sees me instead of being tucked up to her chin.

There's Fonzie, a llasa/shih tzu, pug (?) mix, black and white, full of himself and cute as can be. He was found as a stray and ended up in a local animal control several times.

There's an adorable fluffy puppy about 9 weeks old, maybe Aussie/collie mix, a male.

Max is a purebred rough coated Jack Russell of 6 years old. A very nice dog that needs to be neutered.

Sophie is a purebred golden retriever that was owner surrendered. She's a beautiful, friendly, well behaved dog that knows sit, but needs some better leash manners. She's been around kids and dogs and gets along very well. She has a small hard mass on her left hip area that will be evaluated by our vet tomorrow.

Then we have Allie. A very pregnant border collie. Allie is a real sweetheart. Animal control called and said they were desperate to find her a home or rescue. She's smart, house broken, and knows sit for sure. The puppies could arrive most any time, and we have guesses of from 5 to 10 puppies so far. We will keep you posted on the count and amount.

Life goes on - it sure does!

Out in the Cold - An Update

In a previous blog, I told you about two apricot cocker/lhasa/poodle ? mix females that had been chucked outside when the child got a new puppy. A neighbor and her son made sure they had food and water, and after a year of this life, they were rescued by the neighbor and brought to us. When I scissor clipped the mats off the girls, I found a huge mass on the buttock area of the female we named Buffy. It was non-tender, soft, dark, and we knew we had to get her to the vet ASAP.

Upon examintion, the mass was visibly the size of a softball, and like an iceberg, larger still internally. The veterinarian said that it enveloped intestine, bladder and reproductive organs. It had also metastasized to her lymph glands. She didn't appear to be in any pain at that moment, but would soon have horrendous pain as the tumor grew and cut off these vital areas. He asked if she had been spayed, and the neighbor who brought her to us told us that the girls were intact. The vet told us that massive major surgery would be required, but with the metastasis, there was little, if any, chance of saving her. Either way, it would be a painful death, and it would be soon.

Buffy was only 7 years old and a wonderful, happy girl. I held her, stroked her, massaged her, and told her to sleep peacefully as we euthanized her.

The veterinarian said that if she had been spayed, this probably would not have happened.

PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rib Nite

"Bones polished here." That was carved in wood and hung on a friend's dog house way back when I was a kid of about 10 years old. In the olden golden days, we gave dogs beef bones - the marrow was good for them, and it cleaned their teeth.

So, this past Friday night hubby and I got invited to the local Elks Club for ribs. We seldom go out to eat, but ribs are my absolute favorite, so we accepted. The ribs were some of the very best we have ever had - tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and very meaty! Our hostess is also a volunteer with this rescue - a cat person - and when I mentioned that we needed to save the rib bones for the rescue dogs, she immediately went around to the other tables and told them to save their bones as well. By the time we left, we not only had a whole bag ful of rib bones, but we managed to meet everyone in the place! Thanks Betty - we thoroughly enjoyed the evening and appreciated the rib collection!!!

It's been very cold, so the dogs haven't been out for nearly as much time as usual. Cabin fever is starting to set in, so I decided that yesterday a good rib bone would keep them entertained for a few minutes. What a happy bunch of dogs they were!!!! Rufus was so excited that he grabbed his bone and started back outside, whether to eat it or bury it, we aren't sure - but he was going to enjoy it.

Maybe I should get hubby to make me a wooden sign with "Bones polished here" on it!

Out in the Cold

"I have been feeding two female cocker/poodles all year. My neighbor's child got a new puppy early in 2010, and the older two dogs have been outside without shelter, food, and water since then. Someone told me to call you --- that you might be able to help."

The person who called went on to say that she and her son had jumped over the fence and fed and watered the two dogs. But now the weather is getting cold, and snow is forecast, and they cry outside her window at night. They want to be in the house - sure can't blame them for that!!
She couldn't stand it any longer and finally asked the owner of the dogs if she could have them. He was more than willing to give them up, and she wanted to get them out of there before he changed his mind.

The two girls are here. They haven't been groomed for a long, long time. They have some awesome mats on them, but they are very good natured and mighty glad to have shelter and food and water. One of them went right to the Kuranda bed and snuggled up in a blanket. The other went to the food and water and then to the Kuranda. They have obviously been housebroken and come when they are called.

We will get them vaccinated, tested for heartworms, and deworm and apply flea preventive, not to mention getting the mats off of them and getting them a good bath and clip.

We aren't sure how old they are or if they have been spayed. We'll know that soon enough. Right now they are safe and warm and well fed, and they like a good massage. We will have to take some pictures of before and after and post them - it will definitely be a huge makeover!!!