It was so very quiet here with the 10 gone to their families aound Vancouver, Annie going to foster and Moxie going to a sleepover. This morning was Nipper’s turn. His new family came to Canada from Switzerland with a dog and 3 cats!! There was no way they were leaving family members behind. Their old border collie passed away three months ago from cancer and they were finally ready for a new member or two.  The only border collie mix here was Nipper - Moxie had already gone for her sleepover. Little Nipper was a keeper as soon as thye saw him! So # 13 is gone in two days.  Enroute from Terrace is Sampson’s family - he will be going home today! He is #14!! So I guess I have a tiny bit of room.

While I was finalizing Nipper’s adoption, Linda ( a rescuer from Hazelton) drove up with two of the saddest little souls imagineable. Lilianna is so very skinny - how she can stand up is a mystery. She is about 8 months old, a gold colour, short coated so I can see every rib and her backbone. She has no reason to trust but her eyes are deep pools of confidence that we will care for her. Her body is scarred from dog bites as she tried to scrounge food. She is pitiful! As soon as my camera batteries are charged I will take her picture - she has to be seen!
Can you see her ribs? The tufts are dog bites.

 Anyone want  to sponsor her? She needs premium food, vaccinations and a spay as soon as she is healthy enough.  Donations for her care will give you satisfaction of a need taken care of and she will send you her picture and regular updates.

Linnet is a 5 month old, black lab mix puppy. She is thin but not skinny. She has the typical rounded belly of worm infestation, ribs showing but no sucked in flanks of starvation. She is a happy, goofy puppy. She is such a sweet girl that she will soon find a family to love her.

Linnet is a sweet little girl.

And then dear Pullman. He is NOT a 6 year old black,  labrador retriever. He is a 10 year old, black labrador retriever!! He has lived with one family all his life. His boy grew up and left home. His mom has to move to another town for work. Pullman needed someplace to land. He found Turtle Gardens. Pullman bounced out of the car and into the yard. He is a big, playful goodnatured goof. What a nice dog!!! It is so obvious that he has never been abused or hurt, or missed a meal. He moved into my house with ease - he is lying by my feet on his blanket - it fell off the half door and he found it. He will be an awesome companion for someone who enjoys long walks especially near water - he is a lab after all! He has excellent doggie social skills - everyone is his friend. Welcome Pullman!

I wonder why his owner thought to lie about his age? Did she think I wouldn’t help if I knew ahead that he was a senior? She handed me his health passport as she was leaving. I glanced at it but didn’t really clue in that 1997 is not 6 years but 10 years for Pullman on July 17th. Pullman sure doesn’t act like a senior - he has no stiffness at all. He sailed over the fence with athletic grace and came right back when I called him. So the only lie she told me was his age - Pullman is a great dog just not a young one. And yes I would have taken him anyhow - age doesn’t matter. He is just a lost soul needing a home.

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

Dave has arrived in Surrey with all the dogs safe and sound.  All the four legged passengers were quiet and well behaved. Emily was a bit of a suck and had to sleep under the blanket with T - my grandaughter Kelsey’s best buddy! Emmie was cold! Will update as the Happy Ending emails arrive!

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers!

Nipper, Possum and Danny smell the flowers Lorna gave me yesterday. Spring is in my kitchen! Thank you Lorna. Lorna also took Annie home with her to foster! Updates to follow as Lorna gets to know Annie.

The first Happy endings:
Jenny is playing with a ball as I send this.  She is a dear little thing and
likes her squeaky toy!  The view has Bowyer Island on the left, Bowen Island
in the middle and Gambier Island on the right.  We live on Howe Sound, just
north of Horseshoe Bay.

We’ll work on the house training, and I think we’ll get her over to "doing
her business" outside.

Thanks again Yvette, and we’ll keep you posted.

Jim and Pam
The view!

A tired pup!
 
  Still tired.

Finally alert and ready to play!

Number 2:

Number 3:

just picked up Emily and she is beautiful. I rescued another little Terrier from a puppy mill, she had puppies and they all died so they were going to put her down so I had to get her. They are getting to know each other so I think they will be life long friends. Thank you again for letting me adopt her. I sure am glad that there are people like you who shares the love of animals as I do.

               Again thanks, Larry

Number 5 and 6"
 
I received a phone call from Wendy and Gloria who brought home Brie and Nan. Nan waltzed in as if sh eowned  th eplace! She is confident, happy and super friendly. What a joy. While Brie was scared - she soon stopped shaking while in Wendy’s coat - she was at th estable when Gloria arrived with her new baby. Brie is doing well and was sleeping in her bed with her new homemade blankie and he rtoys. Little Sally Ann is entralled - she has a  playmate smaller than herself! Two mor every happy adopters!

Number 7:

Hugs and Kisses from Holly, Melinda & Keith.

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

The weather is decent. The paperwork is all done. Some of t  edogs won’t be going - the adoptions are not final yet but 5 adults and 4 puppies are going! We are waiting for our passenger to be ready now and Dave is on his way. Updates soon as we finalize the trip.

The TG Bus has left Topley with the 10 adoptees going to their expectant families. They are:

Holly the black lab mix

Zorra the shepherd/husky mix who looks sort of wolfish!! The homecheck was just completed at 1 pm today - now that is cutting it close.

Jetta the little black setter mix who almost missed the trip.

Jade the little daschund mix who really need sher own family to follow around.

Little Emily who is such a loving tlittle soul especially with her very own man!

Nell the slender  leggy collie mix will have two of her pups with her for the trip.

Nan is the little baby girl - she will live with another border collie.

Little Ned the dark boy!! He will be going home later as his family is moving this weekend. My grandaughter Kelsey will be fostering/spoiling him.

Wendy is anxiously waiting for Brie Marie - who woll be mothered by Sally Ann - another TG alumni.

And finally my little Nelson is going home!! Dexter-Yen will be a very happy camper!

I will miss him so very much - run happy Nelson!

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

It is another sad day today. Old Willow was helped to his eternal rest this morning.  Willow arrived in early May of last year - a 15 year old, blind fellow who was discarded when his family moved to a new home. Willow was a Turtle Gardens adoptee and we always take our dogs back - no matter how long an interval and of course no questions asked. Only the dogs matter.
   Because Willow had always been tied up, his owners did not realize that Willow was totally blind. He wandered aimlessly around the yard, smelling everything in his path. Soon I noticed him using the same pathway with more confidence. He enjoyed lying in the soft grass in the sun. He did not want to come indoors - he had never been inside in all his life. With the fall rains I decided Willow would come into the house. He was tethered at first and I walked him over and over around the dog room and kitchen. He adapted. He enjoyed the warmth of the woodstove. He always found the food and water dishes.  He settled indoors and was free to wander where he wanted. He was happy, warm and safe.The winter was good for him.

He started failing a month ago. He needed help last week to stand up. Once up he was able to move around but I knew the end was near. Yesterday he was able to get up alone, wandered everywhere even into the kitchen. He seemed to be saying goodbye. This morning he couldn’t get up - it was time to help him be at peace. Willow passed away peacefully at 11am  - his old tail wagging - he was ready. Rest in peace old fellow. You will be missed.

.

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

Another Tuesday and another spay day! Although I found it hard to leave my nice warm bed Tuesday is spay at Turtle Gardens.  It was -14 when I got up and turned up the wood stove to warm up the  kitchen and dog room.  Coffee was made in qucktime and I was soon enjoying my first cup of the day. Curley Sue was located and leashed as was  beautiful Raven/Gittan. Dave was up in one yell  so it was a very good morning. Dave walked Raven to the TG Bus while I took Curley Sue. She walks quite well on leash now. Both girls have prospective homes so it was imperative that they be spayed before the next trip! It will be very soon! Days away!

    Big old Sampson went to the veterinarian this afternoon for his first round of vaccinations. Because he is a demodex boy he hadn’t been given any vaccinations. He chose his own family this weekend! They came to see Chuck but fell in love with the wrinkled face looking at them from the back fence. As we talked Sampson strolled over the low side of the fence and came around the outside to visit. He sat in front of the dad and won his heart. Dave put a leash on him so he wouldn’t wander away as the kids came to meet him. Sampson sat quietly. It was decided that they would come back this weekend for him giving me time to start leash work with him and take him for his check up. Way to go Sampson!!

Little Brie Marie is also on her way to our vet for her check up and vaccinations. She has a home with Wendy and Charlie so will be going this week!! She is so soft, and does like to cuddle although still scared of being grabbed. Once caught she cuddles. It will take some work but Wendy is up to the challenge and Brie will blossom! All good news today!

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

I am late today. Why you ask? Well, the pups had a heyday with my keyboard cord and the phone cord. Thank goodness for fix-it husbands. At least it is working for a while!! Why would anybody in their right minds want a puppy in lieu of an adult is beyond me. Good luck my puppy adopters! These are curious, mischevious, smart, confident and happy puppies. You will be very busy turning these youngsters into good canine citizens.
And some Happy Endings!

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

Jaime is another of my demodex dogs - a dwarf actually. She is a short legged, funny faced little girl with attitude.
Jaime is a tad nervous getting her picture taken!

Today I discovered that Jaime really likes kids. A family from Terrace arrived to see what we have for labs. They had four kids with them the youngest a toddler, the oldest about 9 years old. Jaime liked them all! She was visiting with them, licking their hands - though she jumped on mom - trying to reach the youngest - she didn’t jump on the other kids! Good girl. She bounced, she bowed, she tried to play with them. They laughed - and Dad thought she was pretty cute until I mentioned her breed. You see Jaime is Harley’s daughter. Harley is a pitbull/sharpei. They were shocked that that good natured, happy dog was a pittie mix. She was so good with the kids too. Score one for educating people about pitbulls. About their good nature, about how well they get along with people and if socialized well - with other dogs. Jaime and Harley live with many dogs and get along with them. Whereas our newest arrival has to learn how to get along - she is a two year old pitbull - a beautiful brindle and white girl who has not so good doggie social skills.

Here she is with little Brie! They are sitting by the woodstove.

It is the other dogs that try to hurt her when she gives the wrong signals. She has yet to draw blood - she just makes a lot of noise. And of course has to go to time out (her crate and refuge) - she will learn how to interact with the flow. It is just her second day here - already she is learning protocol. She was outside when the people arrived and they knew right away from her looks what she is. The prejudice against pitties was there and Jaime did a lot to dispel the myths surrounding pitties and mixes. Did they find a lab for their family? Yes they did. Raven had just come in and was exactly what they had hoped to find - a young (6 months old) big lab mix who had some training. Raven is a beauty, well behaved, quiet (especially for a puppy!!), walked well on leash, travels well in a vehicle and housebroken. They have to wait a week for her to be spayed and vet checked but Raven will be going home to Terrace - the second young lab to find her home in Terrace. It was a good day for Turtle Gardens.

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

I received a sad phone call today from a train engineer. He told me that 11 dogs have been killed by trains in Topley this month. Three were killed last night and two possibly this morning - a poodle and a yellow lab. The snow is so high that moose are being killed in record numbers then the dogs are enticed by the smell to go to the tracks. As they gnaw on bones they are killed too. Not only ar efamilies losing trusted friends but the engineers are suffering too. They don’t like to see family pets killed either. They are killed all along the tracks from town to town. The solution is simple. Keep country dogs at home safe in their yards. I see ads often for dog to give away to a country home - needs rooom to run. Loose dogs in the country are very often dead dogs. Ranchers will shoot dogs in their fields even if they are not chasing cattle. They have to protect their livelihood. Fields are full of baby calves so very vulnerable to dogs and coyotes. Loose dogs are chased by coyotes or food for cougars. Loose dogs chase wildlife and are killed by conservation officers. Loose dogs are killed by traffic  on highways, logging roads and rural roads.  It is very dangerous for loose dogs in the country more so than in the city and towns. Let’s keep our friends safe at home. Do you know where your dog is?

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