Sometimes the daily chores seem to be just too much. Puppies, new dogs that have no clue about housetraining, old dogs who forget they were ever housebroken can certainly make a huge mess of living places. It seems like the work never ends. And the thanklessness of the job is overwhelming.
The dogs do prefer a clean area to hang around in but they have no qualms about dirtying it either. Their idea of clean and my idea are not quite the same. As long as they have a clean corner to lie down in is all they ask for.
I think the foam pieces are messy – they think the foam and stuffie parts are great toys. They need toys to stimulate their little brains – to learn to think and reason out problems such as how to get their toy from under the bed?
that was a decoration from my garden! I didn’t think they could reach it.
But do they have to tear them apart to see how they work?
The problem is the number of puppies. And in the back of my mind is the cost of raising these puppies. To vaccinate all 21 puppies was over $500 and our new policy is NOT to transport or even adopt out puppies unless they have 2 vaccinations so the 2nd vaccinations will be another $500. There isn’t any parvo up here but Parvo is very prevalent in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Vancouver. Pups can get sick within 3 days of exposure to parvo. And pups are not protected until 10 days after their 2nd vaccinations. If your new pup comes in contact with a dog carrying parvo that isn’t sick yet or has recovered but can still shed the virus then your pup can and will get sick. If she has only her first vaccination she may recover but the expense of that recovery is very high. All because she is walked outside her safe yard instead of confined to home until 10 days after her second shots. People like to show off their new family members but there is danger if the dog is not fully protected. And because people don’t follow advice we have to ensure puppies are safe when they leave Turtle Gardens. So we will incur the expense of the second vaccination and adopters will have to wait until they are safe to leave this sanctuary. And I have to clean up after them just that much longer. Turtle Gardens does the best we can to ensure only healthy puppies leave TG to go to loving families. So they can live long and happy lives even when their families do their own thing in their own way.
Silas, Elvis and Jaxon enjoying good weather.
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Silas looks so happy. That sucks about all the shots. It is so devastating though to loose a pup to Parvo something that can be controled. I hope that the little girl who came down to Poco is doing o-kay. I read on Brindle that it has been heard 3 pups now have it in the area…why is that? Is there a breeder who is not innoculating?
A dear rescue friend of mine lost a pup last year to it and she was horrified. She was out of town for the week-end and her husband did not realize the pup was gravely ill. She really beat herself up over it but when she looked into it the shelter who she rescued it from told her yes he was vaccinated but he had only been done the day before she got him after he had been at the shelter for 3 weeks. She said it was quite the eye opener. If she had been at home she would have most likely been able to save him but a little life was lost and she really took a long time to realize it was not her fault. Bless you for trying to ensure the safety but that is alot of money and you get so many puppies:sad:
Comment by cheryl — June 16, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
That’s my Jaxon, alright!!! I don’t think that he’s in much danger of ever growing up, either. Oy. I remember how destructive he was when he first joined the family, last fall, to the tune of about $1000-worth of my shoes. My fault, of course, because I left them where he had easy access. At least he had good taste in leather.
I can’t even imagine, though, how taxing it is dealing with what must look like a million babies.
You truly are a saint, Yvette. I will make sure that there are lots of safe rubber chew toys to go home with Grandpa Dave when the bus comes to town.
Comment by Susan — June 17, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Next week looks like the next trip. Jaxon will be ready to go home!!
Comment by yvette — June 17, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Not only are young puppies a lot of work, older ones are too. After being on holiday with Kitsa for 2 weeks I was surprised how much she still chews. At home she has toys, bones etc., travelling in the van I wasn’t thinking about it so much, but after losing Rayla’s halter, a loaf of bread, several pieces of wood and the rubber cover off the end of the stick shift I realized she is very much a puppy as far as chewing goes! Bring on the chew toys!
Comment by Lorna — June 17, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
My baby’s coming home!! I hope thet Elvis doesn’t miss him too much but we’ll surely be glad to have him back with us!
Comment by Susan — June 18, 2007 @ 4:28 am
I was surprised to read on your website that Parvo can be caught within 3 days. Everything I have read on Parvo indicates it takes 7 to 10 days. See the website: http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm (this is only one of many sites that I have read). Are you sure of your facts? My vet says it takes longer than 3 days for symptoms to show up in puppies after exposure.
Comment by Darlene — June 18, 2007 @ 7:06 am
Unfortunately I have seen a lot of parvo in my 20 years with Turtle Gardens. Reserves rarely vaccinate dogs. and a lot of my rescues are from reserves and pounds. I have seen a pup come from the pound where he was in the pound for only 2 days with another dog that did show symptoms and arrive here to be showing signs the next day. Stress will accelerate the incubation. It is a horrible disease and I am so glad to say I haven’t seen any here for 2 years. Vaccination is the solution. Now every pound dog is vaccinated before arrival at Turtle Gardens. And isloated for at least a week. Because he will shed the virus in his stool to any unvaccinated pups. Breeders will often vaccinate one puppy and the rest will pick up antibodies from the vaccinated pup’s stool. Diseases and their prevention is a very fascinating subject.
Comment by yvette — June 18, 2007 @ 9:12 am