Shiba Inu named Max fell over 60ft cliff in West Van while hiking with dogsitter we hired.
She told us Max is probably dead.
But two weeks later we start to get calls from people who said they see him in North Van.
He was last sighted in Deep Cove in the afternoon on (Wed) May 9 2007.
Pls visit the website we set up for him:
http://www.findingmax.ca
A link to Max’s story in the North Shore News is in the website.
Please help bring him home…. We miss him terribly.

www.findingmax.ca/

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

It is a gorgeous morning today! The sun is shining, the air is clear and fresh. It is Tuesday so must be vet day! The day takes a downward turn - no coffee I make tea instead - at least it is hot and has caffeine to help me kickstart my day!!
The day gets worse though - Lilianna breaks free going through the gate and hides. No spay for her today. Buccaneer goes instead. He has a tentative home in Vancouver and he is happy to go for a ride. Peanut also love car rides so she is carried happily to the TG Bus. And Dave is on his way.

Buccaneer waiting while I do dishes!

Little Peanut - she will have full dentistry today.

The new momma dog is complaining to me - her food dish is empty!!! Next job;  bring in a bag of puppy chow and the bottle of wormer. It is time to worm the pups and mom too. Their little bellies are bloated. They can barely walk. It doesn’t help that they are water sick too. And have tummy aches from too much food. They were so dehydrated they were almost flat. I notice thye are rounded now. It was sad to watch them drink then throw up and drink some more. Eat and throw up that and re-eat it. They cried as they ate. They finally slept in a heap on the ground -  next to the food and water bins.  How sad is that?

This morning they were running around full of beans. I watched Momma dog feed  her pups - her milk is back with the free feed  food and water. The pups are about 4 to 5 weeks old - they need her milk. As I filled the food bins again, I reached down and started giving them their wormer. Each pup had a slash of wormer on their back to mark them so I didn’t do one twice. Tehn mom was given hers and i left the family to eat and drink in peace. Their new life begins.

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

It has been a very busy day today. I received a call from Hazelton about a dog who is starving to death with 10 puppies. The caller is helping community members renovate a house for an eldery person whose home has been taken over by mice. She has spent long weeks in hopital from a respiratory infection caused by the mice and droppings. Outside is a tied up dog who was left behind with no one to care for her while her owner was in hospital. Now the lady is in a motel while her house is cleaned/renovated so she can move back in.  he told me that the pups are very thin and pooping so many worms that it looks like spagetti. The mom won’t  or most likely can’t feed them anymore. She is very thin and losing her hair in patches from starvation. She also has bad worms. He has phoned everywhere he can think of to get help for this family. No one will help him help them. The story breaks my heart. How can any human being turn their back on an animal’s suffering? And how can anyone refuse to help?

We are trying to keep our numbers down for the flood crisis. It will be a flood crisis not if but when. But I can not turn my back on this dog family.  They will need sponsors to help them - they need good food, good wormers, more good food even before they can be vaccinated. Mom of course will need to be spayed once she is well enough. It will be a long road ot get this family ready for adoptions. And expensive. Please help us help this family too.

You can make a donation through Canada Helps  www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx
or you can mail a cheque or money order to
 Turtle Gardens
20978 Severson Road
Box 230
Topley BC V0J 2Y0

Please help us help dogs in need.

Mom looks very thin and depressed.

Mom and a pup in front of their dog house. Note - no food or water.

Mom and her babies.

Turtle Gardens welcomes another family - the Hazelton Fuzzy Family. They arrived at 4 pm. Thank you Linda and everyone who donated food - they need it!!
 

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

Why do the dogs cry  loudest in the very early morning? Brocade and Paisley are confined at night as they can scale the 6 foot fence. So are Elvis and Chuck - for the very same reason though Elvis rarely tries to - he would rather be underfoot. But the lure of the girls and the thought of fun lured him over - just once but he was busted!! For a while anyways. The girls are very clean and when they got to go - it is right now!! It doesn’t  matter to them if it is only 6.45 am - the sun is shining and they gotta go.  So I stumbled out of bed and took them out. The pups were hungry so I mixed their kibble, softened it and served them. Then I filled all the water dishes inside and out , the food dishes too. By then I was wide awake. The plus was no deposits - even the pups were clean well maybe not the babies but they are paper trained already!! The minus was the phone lines were so busy I couldn’t stay on line or call my mom in Ontario!!

By 8 am all the chores were done and all the dogs were sacked out sleeping. I sure wanted to wake them all up again!! Instead I poured myself another cup of coffee and enjoyed my book - peacefully and without interuption. What a grand way to sart the day!

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

It is a lovely day here at Turtle Gardens. The sun is shining, the air is clean and filled with birdsong. We saw a hummingbird yesterday so it must be spring!! We are still below zero at night and the pools in the front yard are shrinking. The river though is the highest it has ever been! We have a growing pool in the backyard at the low point of the river. Our neighbour’s pasture is a lake which is backfilling onto our property. We are waiting for the warmer weather to melt the snow at higher elevations. Floodwatch is a waiting game. Meanwhile our front yard is very green - all that moisture has helped the lawn really, really grow.  The greenhouse is still under water and my back garden - well the rhubarb is poking through water - swamp rhubarb?? A new version of water lily rhubarb?

The babies are growing like weeds, sturdy little legs giving them the strenght to walk all around their enclosure. It is almost time to expand their x-pen to give them more room.  And add toys and obstacles to climb on and play on - stimulate those little brains even further.  Another couple of weeks and they will be introduced to the general population. How time flies!!

The Karelian family is also doing very well. The newest addition still doesn’t have a name - she is called girly-girl for now. Her pup Survivor has doubled in size. His best friend is Silvern the little husky looking girl from Emma’s litter.All of them are friendly and are spending more time coming into the house for attention. They will be wonderful family companions - active jogging partners and beautiful foot warmers. They have stable temperaments and sweet personalities not ferocious hunters of the European strain of Karelians. These will be awesome, friendly pets.

And now some Happy endings:

Wonderful, I will send it to that address. (a donation from Jesse James!)  I was hoping seeing him enjoying himself would bring you delight; you deserve to see the fruits of your labor :)  He is doing really well so far.  He’s slimming down slowly.   I bought him a brush but it didn’t quite make it all the way through his coat so I found a grooming tool for double coated dogs that works really well for him.(too tired to recall what I’ve told you before, lol)  He is beginning to look really glossy.  He’s smart too; he’s figured out that the alarm means some action is supposed to happen so when it went off today he came in and gave me a wet nose nudge.  He will fetch a ball and bring it to me, so I get him to do it as many times as possible before he gets winded; when that happens he drops the ball away from me so I can’t throw it again for him.  Smart little stinker.  It’s hilarious watching him gallop off the deck into mid air and then go thundering across the lawn after the ball.  next time my step daughter is over I will get her to make a movie of that so you can have a good chuckle.  He really is the most delightful dog and I love him. 

Speaking of dogs, I love the little panda bear you’ve named Survivor, what a sweet little soul!  I tried to talk my husband into having two dogs so Jesse has someone to play with but at the moment Dave is firm that having one "horse" to feed is plenty.  Oh well, I will let you guys know if that ever changes, lol.  Well, I’ve been at a women’s conference all day and evening so its my bed time.  Hang in there.  Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out down here.

Hi Yvette,

Tess is doing really well and she’s a constant entertainer (good and bad)
and we love her dearly.  I’m so sorry to read about all the water issues you
are having and I hope that both you and Dave and all the little ones come
through this time well.

Rob and I have joked about getting another playmate for Tess but I have far
too much on my plate at this time.  Down the road could be another issue.

No worries about getting anything on the blog as you have a lot on your
plates as well. Take care of yourselves and thank you for all your devotion
to ones that cannot defend themselves.

Cheers,

Hi Yvette & Dave,

Update from the previous email below:

I understand that my emails have not been reaching you.  I’ll separate the
pics and send 2.  Tess is doing really well, we’ve had our house training
issues but seem to have gotten over the hurdle and she’s starting to come
tell me or call me to let me know she has to go. Before she was sitting by
the back door silently waiting until she could wait no more.  She also will
not go when we are on our walks , she generally waits until we get back to
the yard.

She went through her shots/medications and ear surgery well and now we
expect no further health issues or damaged ear flaps. We’ve been at the vets
every week but now she can just be a regular puppy.  She weighed in at 20lbs
last Tuesday and is healthy, happy and very active. We still are working on
digging, eating mail, bringing in "gifts" from the outdoors…you know all
the puppy things…but I wish she would finally figure out that big ants
bite and are not just another toy to play with.

Thank you again,

Gloria, Rob, Asha & a big Hello from Tess

 

Hi Aunt Yvette,

I thought that I would send a message and pictures of my new family, Sally is my favorite is was from Turtle Gardens as well….in case you didn’t remember.

I have 2 homes I found out this weekend I like the one in a place called Merritt the best more room to roam and play. I was sick on the way up in the car and my Mom didn’t even get mad she just scooped me up puppy barf and all and held me for the rest of the trip. I was sick coming home as well but Sally alerted her and I was snuggled instantly and slept the whole way home…guess I can’t ride in the back…how convenient. Sally rides in her Dad’s lap….he seems nice but he is so tall and those hands are huge!!! I get flash backs from that other mean man but I think this one is okay….everyone else likes him in the family…and I do accept treats from those hands…

Love Brie Marie Beharrell

How are my brothers?????

Brie and Sally - both TG Alumnii!

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

The cold weather has given us a reprieve of sorts. The yard ponds are smaller but the river is faster and carries more debris - the level hasn’t gone down tho! The danger is the snow yet to melt.

The snow yet to melt on the Granisle highway - the streams flow down to our Little Buckley River

The stream is just opening up - Findlay Falls stream just above Topley on the Granisle Highway.

The nearest mid range mountains to our home.

The bears are out! This momma had 2 cubs but she sent them into the bush when the TG Bus slowed down! All of these pictures were taken yesterday.

The lowland snow has pretty well melted. The medium to high elevations have not and because of the cooler weather the two snow packs are closer to melting all at once. The river is already as high as the flood waters of 2002. What will this additional water do and where will it go? That is our worry. The estimate for real concern is the end of May early June again depending on our weather. If we get hot rainy weather than we will have major flooding sooner rather than later.
The local newspapers say the same thing:

www.houston-today.com/portals-code/list.cgi

WEB EXTRA: WEEKLY RIVER LEVEL REPORT
www.interior-news.com/

www.ldnews.net/

Meanwhile day to day care of the dogs at TG continue.
What about me? Feeding little Peanut by hand!!  She is a very picky eater and will eat best if Dave holds the bowl or food in his hand. Obviously Peanut needs a special home. Around the chair, watching in case some falls is Sady the "nautical" puppy, my Squire and Mia - one of Dave’s non-adoptables.

The Karelian family is doing very well. This is blue eyed Paisley.

Brocade the larger of the traditional black and white girls.

Chenille - the smallest of the Karelians.

And the Oddball - Cashmere:

She looks like a racing husky - with one blue eye.

The nameless momma karelian is rapidly gaining  weight a is her pup - Survivor. Life is very busy at TG. The daily chores still need to be done as well as teaching the new family what comforts there can be living indoors even if only at night - so far. Cashmere and momma dog come in regularly to check on me, or just to laze around on a soft dog bed. Paisley is also coming in more often. Last night all of them came in when invited including shy Chenille - a breakthrough of sorts. A willingness to enter a buiding knowing the door will shut behind them. They are learning to trust. This is the first step  to Yuppieville.

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

It was doggone cold this morning when the song of hunger woke me up. -5 with no woodstove was a tad chilly. The good news is that it will slow down the melting. The bad news - I am cold. First job this morning is soaking the puppy food while the babies complain loudly that they want it now!! They already know my voice - they are bright puppies! While the food softens I opened the front door for the big rush and noticed the ponds in the yard are frozen and frost whitens the newly green grass. The sky is blue, the sun is shining but isn’t working yet - must still be asleep!
   The babies are fed, the older pups are also fed; they like the babies’ food so I give them some too. Especially little Survivor. I have been asked what happened to the other puppies. They starved to death. Little Suvivor is a true survivor - he got over some pretty big odds/obstacles. All the Karelian family have beaten some incredible odds to live. They have the courage of Disney’s 8 Below  dogs. But their story is reality.

Dave took more pictures yesterday of the river. He started at the  bridge this time. This is taken from the bridge.

The same view  further down the road - it has breached the bank.

The river is over the bank on the other side of the bridge.

The river is wide and fast.

The water is quite high.

The river is over the bank on the edge of our property - this is the old riverbed, This is where we will need sandbags to turn the water. This "road" ends at my greenhouse. The river is just behind the two pine trees - just a glimmer in this picture. If the river erodes the bank then our house will be in water. The last time our house had water was 1972. But this is not a normal flood year. There has never been a spring where the ground was not frozen - the snowstorm of October 27th insulated the ground so that it did not freeze. Then we got 8 feet of snow on top of the four original feet of snow. Therin lies the danger - 175% more snowpack than normal. The water is this high with lowland snowmelt. What will happen when the mountains start melting?

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

The sun was shining when the alarm went off this morning for Ann Bonny’s spay day.  I made coffee while th epuppy food soaked in hot water - th epups have progressed to eating their food instead of lapping a gruel. They are so advanced! They are growing well - what cuties they are too! One call and Dave was up and ready to roll. Only one small dog scheduled for today - my vets are very busy but always try to squeeze us in. Thank you Burns Lake Veterinary Clinic - you are the best!! Turtle Gardens would be nowhere without you. The dogs and I thank you very much.
Ann Bonny asleep on top of a crate. She is the original of the "nauticals" She is the mother of Emma, Rina, Buccaneer,Bonny Lassie and Nelson, Captain, Drake and Sailor. She is grandmother to the 10 new babies and Emma’s pups - a short legged adoptee, Shadow, Sady and Silvern. All these dogs because Ann Bonny wasn’t spyed as a youngster before she came into season. Please don’t litter - spay or neuter your critter!

Yesterday my dear friend John came by again. With the water rising I sure didn’t want to take in any dogs. But this was a true survivor. He was the only one of two litters of pups to live. How could I not take little Survivor?

Turtle Gardens welcomes Survivor!

And of course could I leave his mom behind? Send her to the vet for euthansia? No way Hose.

Turtle Gardens welcomes the last karelian! She and Survivor need their sponsor now. Can you help these courageous yet gentle dogs be the best they can be?

She is very skinny and oh so grateful to be here. They all are. What a nice group of dogs - they are very thankful to have so much food. They are friendly and gentle. Their rehab has begun - they will be wonderful companions soon.

A very big THANK YOU to Katherine and Sam for sponsoring the Karelian Family - Paisley, Cashmere ,Chenille , and Brocade !!

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