It is with deep sadness that I tell you about the passing of Serene.
Serene is the starving mother of 11 pups recently rescued after days and days
without food or water. She died today, quite suddenly.  She showed no
symptoms of distress, she simply lay down and died in the yard.  She was
surrounded by her puppies and our love.  I know many of the blog readers
were following her story with hope of her finding the good life, she has
found it now with a higher power.  It is remarkable how she managed to hold
on to her family through such adversity, she gave it everything she had,
literally.  The puppies WILL find the good life that we all wanted for
Serene.  Rest in peace, your pups are in my care now and I will see them
through.

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

the sun was shining so I thought i had slept in - nope it was 6.30am. What had woken me up? As I passed the puppies in the x-pen (Bonnie Lassie"s babes) I noticed they has eaten all their food. So I turned and moistened a bowl full and mixed it with their canned food. man oh man were they starvin marvins!! They were busy chowing down as I went back to bed for a few minutes more of zzzz’s.

The alarm sang its wake up song and I busied myself making coffee while Dave came out of the bdroom - all on his own. Soon Linnie and Coon who had a bath the night before - he was not impressed - had collars and leashes on and ready to go for their big adventure. Peanut was tucked under Dave’s arm  - she was eager to go for a ride. Silence reigned as all the dogs went back to sleep - too early for them to be up yet!! Not me - I have too many chores to do!

Cooney - he looks a lot like Possum in the face, is slightly bigger and is a snuggler too. He has a prospective home in Victoria.

Linnie has a prospective home in Surrey - she is such a calm, placid girl.

And little peanut has her dentistry today - she was bumped last time when a cow needed a caesarean.

It is also training day today. Lorna is busy putting the dogs through their paces. She has named the blue eyed boy - Tundra. Actually he is quite good on leash. And he sits. Nice dog in the wrong place at the wrong time. He will need a secure yard to keep him safe. More later when Lorna gives me her notes.

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

Another beautiful sunny day - it is actually hot today. The water is coming up again behind the greenhouse as the river levels come up. It didn’t freeze last night and it was warm by 9 am. Riverwatch is saying it all depends on the weather so prepare for the worst and pray for the best. No suprises.

Serene and her pups are doing very well.  Since I found a couple of batteries that will still recharge (the others are totally dead and wont take a charge anymore - batteries do that?) ; I took new pictures. The puppies are very cute and are very friendly. Have a look!!  And enjoy.

Beautiful Serene!

Serene feeding her babies.

Pups relaxing in the fresh air!                     The oddball coloured pup.

Meeting Elvis!                                                       Meeting Sweetpea too.

Little Orion! He most looks like Serene!

Possum and puppy

And my Sweetpea - the little QueenBee!!

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

It is a beautiful morning after yesterday’s cleansing rain. The river has risen and there are small ponds in the yard again but the grass is green!! There still isn’t any leaves on the trees. Dave went to check out our favorite camping spot for the May long wekend "before Turtle Gardens that is" and there was 5 feet of snow on the road to Paul Lake!! Stan and Dave will remember camping trips with a tad of snow hanging around but never have NOT been able to get into the lake! It has been a snow packed winter and a very long spring to boot.

Thursday saw our first arrivals from The Houston pound. No longer will they be euthanised - they have a chance at a great home at Turtle Gardens. Thank you District of Houston for giving unwanted pets - the gift of life.

There was 3 inmates  - a small female in heat and two males following her. Both males have been neutered and all have been vet checked and vaccinated.

  The no longer NAMELESS border collie/boxer mix  is now BRYAN - a friendly fellow who’s only fault was not being neutered.  That problem has been solved and he is now looking for his own caring family.

Little Tigger - a 4.5 year old cairn mix whose owner passed away three weeks ago.  He was Lenny’s ears  and would alert him to the door, telephone, alarms etc.  He would like another senior to follow around.

And Missy - the little shih tzu mix allowed to roam while in heat. She will be spayed on June 2nd and is a sweet companion for a lucky family.

Burns Lake Pound also sent neutered guys to TG.

Chewbaca was wearing a tag but his owners did not redeem him from the pound. He has been neutered and vaccinated. He is a friendly, good natured boy - are you his family?

This beautiful NAMELESS blue eyed boy was caught chasing a cat - a definate no-no. Fot that crime he went to jail and was not redeemed. H eis very good natured, dog social, friendly with people. But he was looking for fun in the wrong place and doing the wrong thing - chasing in NOT a fun thing to do! He should have been at home - safe and secure.  Keep them safe - don’t let them roam.

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

Porter was adopted almost two years ago by Tara in Telkwa. He is a very energetic boxer/pitbull mix - a beautiful shiny black and white. He is missing one of his hind legs - it was crushed in an accident when he slammed into a fence post at full speed. Dr Lancaster in Smithers left him with a small stump and it is amazing how he uses it. He Will use it as leverage to climb up on a chair instead of jumping. He scratches his ear with it. It acts as a rudder when he turns. Most people don’t notice he is a three-legged dog - he runs like the wind in a smooth even gait. Porter is amazing.

When Tara and her partner go away Porter comes to Turtle Gardens for a sleepover. He loves it here. He is very dog social and my Sweetpea just adores him.  They run and play and run and play some more. He always loses a bit of weight here with his increased activity. This time I was surprised to see he was chunky!! Tara has been tied to her desk more and has not done much field work - she work in forestry. So Porter hasn’t had a lot of exercise. With all the snow we had this winter,  Tara hasn’t been jogging much  either. Poor Porter - he is out of shape. But not for long. He is running and playing with Sweetpea,  with Harley - Dave’s pittie, with Jaxon - our other guest, with Elvis the kelpie mix who can keep up with Porter - similar activity level!! He lies down and plays with the puppies - Mooshka, Tara, Sady and short-legged Sandy. He is so gentle with the little guys. He sleeps well at night and is raring to go early morning. He has a holiday too.
Porter at Xmas wearing his handknit sweater!!

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

April, 2007

Susan H – Seattle Washington

May 2007

 Porter here! I wanted to thank Dave and Yvette for being such great parents for so long. It took my parents a long time to find me and I wouldn’t have gotten that chance anywhere else. I want to help other dogs have that chance! I’ll see you Thursday night, and try to think of a good name for the little sweetie.  Mom always says she should change my name to Pansy so people won’t be scared of me (but then she made me that stupid sweater).  But this girl has too much grit to be a Pansy or Petunia.  How about Harmony or Serene (maybe the things she’s looking for?… Full Plate doesn’t make a really good name.. haha)Luv always, Porter  - Smithers, BC

Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing what you do.  I check your website regularly, I find it extremely uplifting.  I love your quote about being just one person, doing what you can do.  If we all helped a little, just what we are capable of …..

That poor momma from Hazelton - how can a community stand by and do nothing?  A sack of cheap dog food is only about $20 - and how much effort is it to put down a bucket of water everyday?  Yes, I know that that is not optimum nutrition for a momma and pups - but better than starving!  Congratulations to the man who called you. 

I still don’t have my yard fenced to adopt another dog, but am working on it!  Got sidetracked with another little starving furperson - a little mare.  That makes three rescued horses in my yard!  This is not her forever home, just a place to get her health and nutrition up and then we’ll find her a home.  The two old geldings are home forever - thanks to Nicola from the PG Equine Rescue.  One of them was my horse from many years ago - I had to sell him - found him again after 13 years last summer - and now he’s home to stay. 

Anyway, will put a check in the mail tomorrow for the Gardens.  Use it in whatever way is needed most. 

Thank you again,

Linda G

I will send a check for  will that do - hopefully they can sleep in
Indi and Kato’s rehomed beds - little munchkins - thanks for taking them in !
I can’t believe someone else would not help! Argh the poor things - and all
mine so spoiled and fed!
In the mail to you - name one of them Orion for me (The little one most like mom is Orion!)
Cheers
Debra H

My family is in search of a new dog. We prefer an adult female preferably comfortable with cats and toddlers. I love the face of this poor mom. I’m in Kaslo, in the Kootenays. is it possible to have her shipped down here?

Donation  For the Animals -

Thank you very much for your online donation posted today on CanadaHelps.

Katherine and Sam - Vancouver, BC

 Turtle Gardens recently took in a family of Karelian Bear Dog mixes (they are not true Karelians but it best describes their size and look).  It is made up of a mother and her three daughters.  We have been searching for a sponsor for their spays and vet care.  Along with the sponsorship the donor gets to name them….so I am asking you to choose names for your benefactors.

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

One week after having our 13 year old sweetheart, Belle, put to sleep, we were missing that presence in our family.  I searched the internet & felt drawn back to one dog in particular, her name was Joelly at that time.  After emails to Yvette at Turtle Gardens, we decided to meet Joelly.  She had been a stray puppy in Burns Lake & was taken to Turtle Gardens in December of 2005.  She was very timid & was semi-feral, she crawled out of the yard on a leash & laid down in front of us looking very frightened.  I kneeled down in front of her, lifted her chin in my hands & looked into a pair of gentle sweet eyes-she kissed me.  That was it!  My husband & I fell in love with her.  We brought her home that day.  Our outdoor cat, Sammy was the first to welcome her to the family & for the first few days I couldn’t get near her without Sammy’s presence.  We have had Roxy for almost a year now & she is making great strides.  I couldn’t walk her on the leash for 8 months, now she loves to go for walks.  I take her to play with other dogs a couple times a week.  I have a home based hairdressing salon where she is near me all the time.  She is still unsure of all the people coming & going, but has let the odd person pet her.  I took her to watch soccer practice recently & kids were coming up & petting her-she was unsure, but did accept the offers of love.  We have a ways to go with Roxy yet, but she is worth it-to see that sweet smiling face & wagging tail.  We have an 11 year old Siamese that Roxy is great buddies with-they have a blast playing chase all over the house.  I thank God for leading me to this wonderful pet!

She was only coming to look. Her Rosemary had passed away last month and she was lonely for a companion. She wanted a brown dog like Rosemary but the little short legged pup already had a home in Port Coquitlam. Then she saw her and asked to hold her. I placed the soft warm body in her arms. It was love at  first cuddle! Ten minutes later the tearful decision was made and the papers were signed. Soon little Silvern sporting her new collar and bandana and reflective leash was on her way home. You did good baby girl!! You knew it was your turn.

Your sponsors always get homes quickly - Jean. Thank you for naming and sponsoring her.

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

I set my alarm so I would get up early to give Ann Bonny a bath. Her new mom drove all the way from Seattle Washington to Topley to pick up her baby!! Talk about dedication! She arrived in Prince George last night and was here by 10 am. Ann Bonny was ready!! Newly bathed and brushed, sporting a red collar and red bandana she was pretty spiffy. Susan had called from the Topley Store so I met her in the driveway - outside the fence. Little Ann walked right up to her and sat down on her feet. She knew her turn  had come!! The dogs KNOW when it is their turn for a family. It was love at first sight for both of them. Of course I had wet cheeks but as a fellow rescuer Deb has so aptly put it - " the gift is in the goodbye" Thank you Susan for driving all this way to pick up Ann Bonny and for the very generous donation. All of us at Turtle Gardens appreciate it.

Ann Bonny when she first arrived - she is quite a blonde now!

And the new Burns Lake Pound pup: Namelessof course! She is 19 weeks old, has been spayed and vaccinated and is a very big girl!! She weighs 47 pounds and she is thin - she will be near to 80 pounds as an adult or more. I am not sure what breed she is - any guesses?

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