The smell of brewing coffee woke me up this morning but it was so warm and comfy under the blankets with my furry hot water bottles!! Sweetpea was in my back and little Grizzly Adams was on my feet. I snuggled in bed while dreams of grilling bacon filled my head!! Bacon??? I had to get up because my stomach was growling from the tantalizing aroma wafting into the bedroom. Dave was up and busy this morning!! Normally I don’t do breakfast until much later - but bacon cooking in the oven is irresistable and made up as a BLT - well how cool is that? Thank you Dave what a glorious way to wake up!! ok

   There were very few nightly deposits this morning - Dave had gotten up during the night to keep the woodstove going and all the culprits went out with him.  The old dogs (and there are quite a few of our non-adoptables that are between 13 years and 18 years old) can’t “hold” it as well as the youngsters and are not as regular either.  It doesn’t help matters that the food dish is always full - no routine - they eat when they are hungry. A couple of them eat only at night - they are used to scrounging and have never gotten out of the habit of looking for food at night. They were second or third generation strays; already older adults - they trust Dave and I but no one else. They are the ones who taught us how to work with shy, fearful dogs. thye taught us patience an dunderstanding, respect and sent us looking everywhere for help. Because of them we studied Ttouch - Lorna is a qualified paractionner. We studied clicker training/positive reinforcement as tradional methods just didn’t work. We learned what methods of sheltering them worked and cages definetely wasn’t the answer - the group foster idea was born. And it does work. We don’t have many non-adoptables coming in now - 99% have been turned around. Contessa - a tiny terrier mix is just too old to change - she was already a senior when she is arrived last November from a collector who passed away. She has been vet checked/vaccinated/spayed/her teeth cleaned/removed etc ad is  relatively happy living in the front room near the wood stove. She will take smelly treats from my fingers, knows her name - she sometimes barks/moans/growls until she hears her name!! Redman - the resident male from the same collector is slowly coming around to where he is sleeping in our bedroom and following me from room to room. He will come to his name and take treats from my fingers though he is still deathly afraid of hands.  I think he will be ready for his own senior home this year. And dear Walter the young male who was shot and abandoned last summer is coming around very well. He knows his name and will actually come to me but he is also deathly afraid to be touched. He has a very gentle mouth and takes food very gently. somewhere there is a special person who will accept this lost soul as he is.

We hope you are having a wonderful family day today and tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all of you.

©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.