Just thought I would send you a few pics I took tonight after a 1/2 hour brushing and feeling very content with my Grandson.

Thank you so very much, I am sure we are all going to be very happy together.

 

 Chaska and I just got home. Customs (other than an hour wait) was smooth - I don’t think they even looked at her vaccination certificate.   She was a perfect puppy on the ride back to Seattle, alternately napping and nibbling on kibble.  The Kong toy stuffed with canned dog food was a great idea; she loves it.

Right now she’s being shy, sitting in her crate - she came out to nibble, drink water, and get the Kong toy, which she promptly brought back to her crate. I don’t think there is anything left in it, but she is happily gnawing away at it.  I think she’s getting a little braver - her front paws and head are out of the crate.  I’m letting her explore at her own pace.

Thanks for sending me such a wonderful puppy.
–
Rondi

Lisa

I just wanted to give you an update on our little bugger Kuma who is an absolute doll!

we love him! he has such a happy demeanor and has brought so much joy into our little household - he loves being outside and has us out in the trails or beach or dog park any chance we get.  We took him camping as well recently and he really enjoyed that.  Hes so good on road trips/ferry rides and definitely enjoys his daily walks (from which he NEVER tires)

In April we drove to Prince Rupert and almost stopped in to say hi - but unfortunately with timing and having to be at certain places by certain times we couldnt fit it in, however I do have some bowls/towels/toys/treats I wanted to dontate to the shelter - am i able to d/o at your sons place where we picked him up? or somewhere else? please let me know

He has turned out to be quite active- so different from the first week we had him  - he is a very very happy dog and loves all people - esp children and all dogs of any size! his fav playmate is a 7 month old lab pup in our building

He is quite well behaved off leash at the dog park - his on leash skills we are still working on! haha

Our spoiling him could have something to do with it as well?! He truly is like a kid to us and he goes almost everywhere with us like a kid would - and to top it all of his ‘grandpa’ (my father who is a HUGE dog lover)  treats him like a grandchild and makes special trips down here to see him b/c he is bored! not to mention the dog gets almost daily emails from my father

Best part of my day is when he pokes his nose in my face at 5am for the start to his day and then cuddles into me to get me up! although wishing it was slightly later! but then we have couch cuddling/sleeping time which makes up for the early wake up call

He is currently in obedience classes on Saturdays.Last week we think he ate somethin that didnt agree with him and got sick and he is on antibiotics now.

  l attached a couple of pics - everyone asks what he is - and alot of people think he may have border collie (which would count for his endless energy) in him b/c of his white tipped tail - but they laugh when I say he is pom/shitzu - he def has a look and personality all on his own!

sorry to be babbling on but thanks for all you do - i think its wonderful! and if i had the space and the $ and energy i would take a home full of dogs for myself

 

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

I started my day with a quick shower and then put a pot of coffee on. As it brewed filling the room with the enticing aroma of coming coffee I fed the inside dogs and watered inside and out. There were a few puppy deposits but nothing major - after all 14 big pups are gone, some to new homes some to the prison program. I just finished  my first cup of delicious morning starting brew when Char arrived with the pound pups. It was 9:15 am!

I told her she was awfully early and she agreed but she had been up early to drive her daughter to meet her friends for their trip back to Alberta and decided to pick up the pound pups instead of going back home. Ahh but I was ready for them!

First out was another nautical!!! He looks just like the first nauticals - Nelson, Drake, Sailor (who emailed an update and picture!!)

   Lorna and I call him Cap Kuma formerly known as Sailor

Don’t they look alike? I will post his update tomorrow.Cap weighs15 pounds so is quite small. He is very confident, very agile and quite active - anyone looking for an agility prospect??

Next was Riga which is a star in the skies! She will be a star here at Turtle Gardens - she is quiet, friendly and very well behaved. She was spayed yesterday and she was pregnant - she is only 8 months old!! She is a chow/golden retriever - bigger than a chow but smaller than a golden! Very nice dog.

Finally it was Heather’s turn. She was a surprise. She is no shih tzu!!!!!! She looks like a bearded collie with very short legs……., possibly a Skye terrier? Think Greyfriars Bobby! She has 6 round little puppies, 5 are black and one is cream - 3 girls and 3 boys. They are about 5 weeks old and have been vaccinated and wormed. Heather was very thin and is still could use a few more pounds. But what a nice dog - again!! This sure is a nice bunch of pound pups why are they thrown out like yesterday’s garbage? I just don’t understand some people’s rationale.

The TG Bus arrived late today - the traffic was horrendous. Everyday is the same here - I forgot  that a long weekend in the city sees a major exodus on the roads. Sorry Dave I will do better next time! But all the dogs reached their families on time. THANK YOU PACIFIC COASTAL - you rock!!

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

Dave left with a full TG Bus at 7.20 pm. I will update as soon as Lorna and I catch our breath and eat supper!! Jaxon is gone but he did try to escape and come back to me. Sorry I spoilt him

On this trip - Chewie, Paisley, Bonnie Lassie, Chaska, Coon, Orion, Sady, Survivor, Ned and Jaxon is going home again! Four of Bonnie’s pups and four of Serene’s pups are going to Langley Animal Society Shelter and the Maple Ridge Prison program.

And a local adoption! Tinkerbell found her family!! A very large family!!! She will live with 5 children which she took in her stride - she lived with 4 kids before. They seemed like very nice, well behaved kids too. Tinkerbelle thought so too. They took Tinker up to Sunset Lake for a hour to see how she was away from TG. Once they came back papers were signed, and Tinkerbelle jumped into the car and was going home! A very busy day and boy is it quiet now! - 20 dogs gone in two days!!

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

Elvis went home last night - they couln’t wait to bring him home. He had a new collar with matching leash and his crate was waiting for him in the truck. Elvis was very glad to see them and jumped right into his crate - he has slept in the same size and colour crate here! Be a good boy El - you deserve a great home like this.

This morning I received a call from Gerry as he was looking for a puppy. Well he called the right place! He arrived quickly and was soon looking over our selection. Once I brought out the little black and tan smooth Serene pup it was love at first sight! He squatted down and she ran to him. Then he moved off and called her. She ran right to him - every time. Then she sat at his feet. That was it - Halo had a home - She is his little angel hence her new name. Halo will travel with Gerry in his worktruck and go camping, fishing and long walks. He have have to wait until she is grown to jog with her but that is in the future. For now he will continue to jog his 5 kilometers alone!!

Just before Gerry’s arrival we had a ouple we have known for 20 years drive up. Dave went out to meet them and was soon handed a small dog. Ellie is looking for another home because she won’t stay home. She runs to the neighbours who let her inside to have treats and cuddles.  But she won’t go back home - it is a neighbor feud! Ellie is caught in the middle and was facing death due to anger and frustration. Dave of course carried Ellie into our safe haven.  She is a one year old pomeranian mix about 10 pounds of long black and cream hair. She has a longer back than a pom but the foxy face of one. She sure is cute. As soon as Stan sends my new camera I will take pictures. My athritic fingers let go and in dropping my camera once too often - the lens has cracked. Stan has a new one for me but he hasn’t mailed it yet. Maybe he can give it to Dad when he comes down. And we can be pictureless for a week or so.

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

Today and tomorrow will be extra busy getting all the dogs and puppies ready for their trip down to their new families. Coon has been clipped - he is now a silver poodle mix just like Possum! The pups had their 2nd vaccinations yesterday and vet checks. Serene’s pups average 20 pounds or more!! They are skookum pups! Bonnie’s pups average 6 to 9 pounds - they will be small dogs when grown. Teeny Teena weighs a whole 2.5 pounds! I have decided to keep her here with me rather than send her to the prison program. I will find her the perfect home eventually. There is a home for every pet.  Bonnie will be going with the pups so there will be less stress for them this trip. They can cuddle with her all the way down to Surrey. Chewy will need a bath as will Paisley and Chuck. They are the biggest dogs this trip. The rest will be small and medium or pups including little Jaxon - he will need his collar back on with his id.  Paper work has to be ready, the picture id done up and everyone will be contacted with the address and phone number when Dave leaves.  The house won’t have time to be empty though. There are newbies waiting to arrive Thursday afternoon.

And now Happy Endings : Good morning. I just wanted to let you know that Peter is a happy, happy boy. We are very smitten with him. The ride home was great, he just curled up and slept with his head on my lap. We stopped in Vanderhoof to introduce him to my brothers family (and dog Joey), and he played with Joey and the kids. Then we took him to grandmas in PG where he had a bath (which he was wonderful about), and played with her dog Dixie for awhile. Then we came home and he met his new "dad", who by the way, is MUSH with him, lol.Dad did rename him Freckles, and they have become quite fond of each other. In the mornings, I can’t get him to leave the bed, it’s their time together (he sleeps with us).The kids are overjoyed, and play with him all day, they fancied up his dog house, and spend lots of time in there with him (it’s really big). We didn’t hear a peep out of him the first few days, but yesterday he found his voice. He barks at anyone coming in or by the yard, so I guess it’s home now!!The cat and him play and wrestle a lot, and the cat cuddles him at night (really cute). I thank you again, what a wonderful addition he is for our family. I have been talking to people about the wonderful work you do, and have a few looking at your website. I hope more animals will find their "furever" home like Peter has. When I can figure out how, I’ll email you some pictures. I hope you have a wonderful day! love, the St. Germain family

And from the last trip:

hello! our bella is just as sweet as ever, i cant take her out for a walk without being stopped by everyone just adoring her….we take her to my parents place on a regular basis where she runs around the yard and trys to eat moms plants and dig up her yard haha. of course my mother appreciates it….she seems to be scared of big dogs for some strange reason though. we took her to my aunts where she could play with her 2 dogs, a pom and a retriever and bella was scared of the gentle giant..i suppose we will make more visits so she can become friendlier with large dogs as well. she comes just about everywhere with us. we’ve checked out all the places she can come with us to, the restaurants with patios, running into the hardware store etc. she used to love car rides until the dreaded vet visit! now shes a little more cautious when we take her in the car…we went and explored the river the other afternoon…she is as spoiled as could be, she has couch rights and it trying to sleep on the beds! she has toys GALORE! we went to the dollar store and picked up a bunch since she chews throught them so fast..shes also started to sleep on the top of the couch like cat…im not sure where she got that idea from but thats ok, she looks so cute! ive attached some pictures for you. thank you for much for our princess..shes very adored

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

It was a very busy weekend for local adoptions!!  Both families that took dogs home sent completed applications so I would know what they were looking for in a pet.  Surprisingly or maybe not both were looking at Destiny my little  scared border collie. Until long distance homevisits are done,  locals have first option on the dogs. Heather arrived right at 10 am, and I was ready. It helped that Karie-anne had arrived at 8 am. So I had my couple of cups of coffee and had done the clean up, watering and feeding. I found Desi asleep on my bed and put collar and leash on her - Heather had bought new collar and leash for her; she was sure even before meeting Desi! Desi went through the gate with me and we met Heather while Dave guarded the gate from my crew. They follow me everywhere and were most upset that I had gone out without them.

Desi did her submissive "I am scared" lying down but Heather was very soft spoken and gentle with her. Desi was soon sitting up and then walking with her on leash. She watched her face and took the treats. Heather was smitten with the pretty little girl. She is hoping to do rally O and agility with her new girl. Lorna has been asked to give a seminar in Burns Lake as several people are eager to start training for rally and agility. A new dog club is starting up in Burns Lake. Heather will be one of the first ones to help in the start up. Since Desi wasn’t spayed yet she went home with Heather as a foster to adopt. She will be spayed next week and then the adoption will be finalized.

At noon Beth and Mark arrived to look at young dogs but not a puppy - too much work! Elvis was over the fence to meet and greet. But it wasn’t his turn. I brought out Flare as I thought she would be a good match for them. She is sweet, and gentle, very attentive and loving, eager to please and willing to learn - a good candidate for a great companion. Mark wants to take a dog to work with him - he works in forestry as does Beth. They both can take their dog to work when they are in the field. They need a dog that stays close by and is obedient as there are bears in the woods. And though they want the dog to alert and bark they don’t want the dog to chase the bear or bring it back to them. A warning is the best deterrent for bears - bears don’t like to be surprised; they prefer avoiding people if they have enough warning. Well behaved dogs do the warning and bears move away.

Beth and Mark took Flare up to Sunset Lake for an hour to see how she reacted to them. Once they came back, they did look at a couple of other dogs - Bryan, Lillianna, Tinkerbelle but the dogs knew it wasn’t their turn and paid little attention.  Dogs know when the right dog for the right family are here. The people just have to agree. And Beth and Mark did agree. Flare went home happily as she is already spayed, vaccinated and vet checked five weeks before.

Five to six weeks is the usual stay for dogs to find their families. Some take longer like Chuck he has been here 6 months. Other take less like Desi who was here 8 days!  On Sunday it was Elvis’ turn - finally.H has been here 5 months. His new family is moving next week and was looking for a family companion to make their home complete. Elvis fit the criteria. He is very dog social - their neighbou has an old dog, and he liked the 9 year old boy. He can play fetch and sleep in his room as he has exemplary house manners. The perfect match. Papers were signed and a deposit left so Elvis will be picked up on Friday. Elvis will have his family soon!

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

It is a real shame that pit bulls are so maligned! Porter is an awesome dog - a great companion, and has really good doggie social skills. He has been to obedience school, works at rally o obedience, goes to work with Tara when she works in the field and is an all around wonderful dog. He has lived with Tara for nearly 18 months and still her neighbours are terified of him. Why? Because he is a pitbull/boxer mix and looks pittie. His big grin scares the bejesus out of them. And they refuse to meet him - he is THE SCARY PITBULL who will eat their kids! Dogs are not tied in her area and rush out at her when she is jogging with Porter on leash. Yet it is him they blame if Porter defends himself from the attackers.  If the loose troublemakers were pitties you can be sure that the bylaw would be enforced but all Tara was told by the enforcement officer is "that the dogs were friendly to humans so  no problem" - Isn’t that discrimination?

So to blow off steam; Porter comes to Turtle Gardens for a sleepover and playtime! Here he can run and play to his hearts content with other dogs. He can run in and out at his pleasure and the joy of running keeps a big grin on his beautiful face. He and Dave’s pittie mix Harley play hard. By evening he is tired out and sleeps well. Then another day of hard play. Tara will pick him up on Tuesday after work. And Porter will be content and quiet for a week or so. Then he will be welcome again to run and play at Turtle Gardens - we LOVE pities here! And so do the other dogs.

Run Porter run!
Happy Porter!

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

Karie-anne was adopted over a year ago from Turtle Gardens. She and her siblings were my first introduction to demodex! She and her brother Kaleb taught me all I needed to know and lots I wish I didn’t about demodex, entropion and wonderful good natured hard to adopt dogs. Both Karie-anne and Kaleb needed entropion surgery when they were speutered. Entropion is when the eye lid is turned in so that the eyelashes rub against the eyeball causing irritation, infection, scarring and if left blindness. It can be quite an expensive surgery but thanks to our wonderful vets in Burns Lake - an affordable surgery for our dogs. It is a very common surgery for shar-peis and mixes. Kaleb and Karie-anne are sharpei mixes. Karie-anne looks like a dane sharpei mix while Kaleb looked husky sharpei. Karie-anne is tall, very slender with a wrinkled face. She is very unique looking with an awesome temperament. She finally found her family when she was nearly two years old. Her demodex was clear by then and has never returned. Dogs with demodex can and do recover fully!

Yesterday I received a phone call from Karie-anne’s dad - "would I take care  of Karie-anne overnight - their regular caregiver was not available?" Of course I said yes. My guys are always welcome for a sleepover. Especially a long timer like Karie-anne who has excellent doggie social skills. They arrived at 8 am this morning and though a bit nervous Karie-anne is adapting well. She has met all the family of dogs that live here now and is sitting at her usual spot - in my back while I work at the computer! Karie-anne will have a holiday with fun games with her doggie friends and time with an old friend from her past - me! Welcome Karie-anne - you sure are a great dog!

Sitting at my desk in my chair.

Saying "Hello" again

Meeting Brocade and Chenille.

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