Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue

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.

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

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

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

       The antiseptic Baby and the prophylactic pup

       Were playing in the garden when the Bunny gamboled up;

        They looked upon the Creature with loathing undisguised –

        It wasn’t Disinfected and it wasn’t Sterilized.

                                                            Strictly Germ proof

                                                          By Arthur Guiterman

           Although our pets are not disinfected and sterilized they can be kept clean by regular grooming. Begin brushing your pet when he first arrives. Make the sessions short – five minutes. Give a “good” treat when you are done. This will make it a fun session as well as making it easier to continue detailed grooming as his hair matures. If you follow a regular routine, problems such as matting and tangles will be minimized. With long-haired dogs, fifteen minutes a day; possibly while watching a favorite television show would be necessary to keep the coat shiny and tangle free. Short-haired dogs benefit from a vigorous daily rub down with a hound glove or rough cloth to keep hair shiny and flat.

         Dogs should be bathed only when excessively dirty. Too often a shampoo causes dry, flaky skin or minor irritations, and always use a pet product. Pet shampoos have a different ph and neutral scent. Regular brushing will remove dirt and keep the coat shiny and clean. There are dry shampoos that are sprinkled on and brushed out leaving hair smelling and looking fresh. Corn starch can also be sprinkled on and brushed out leaving white dogs in particular as pure as new snow.

        There are many books on grooming available, especially for poodles and long-haired dogs requiring extra trimming and detailed care. Sometimes a professional grooming every eight weeks is a wise investment for the non-shedding type of dogs.

        Cats should be groomed daily with a soft brush and they quickly learn to love the extra attention. Long-haired cats especially can become matted without the daily ritual. Even cage birds benefit from daily grooming either in a special bath or sprayed with a fine mist of warm water.

       We all feel better when we are clean and our furry friends are no exception. To look and feel their best depends on us to ensure a regular grooming routine. The shiny, healthy coat is reward enough.

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