The weather has dried up thank goodness - our big hole under the house looks like a swimming pool from all the rain!. Lorna has come over to help us with chores - the chimney has been knocked down as it cracked and dropped when the house was leveled!! The guys sure can move fast!! It wasn’t funny at the time  when the chimney dropped two feet down into the hole.  Another expense - we will need insulated pipes for the woodstove. Old house are full of surprises when you work on them!

Saturday was the TG Fleamarket. Although it rained - twice… once with hail - it was a moderate success.

Beautiful Steelhead Park in Houston, BC

We had plenty of volunteers to help, a lot of items were donated during the day, we sold lots and we have lots for another Fleamarket later!

We had a steady stream of people but no huge crowds like other years!

Sweetpea trying to follow me! She was a very good girl - she was free to roam and stayed close by me the entire day. She had manners and greeted everyone quietly. I was so proud of her!

Some of our volunteers -they made our event a success - Jenelle, Kath, Amy and Rayla the Professional Beggar!

Rayla met each and every person who came to the Fleamarket!! She raised $60 for the Challenge!! How cool is that.

Kath, Sweetpea and me.

Shawna had emailed me her application and then phoned me to talk to me about Elvis. She sent me references and came to meet Elvis at the Fleamarket. It was love at first sight, she took him for a walk then signed adoption papers to take him home. Good luck Elvis - be good!

To meet or beat the challenge up to $5000 - your donation is doubled:

From pop cans – challenge other recyclers to meet or beat – Donna - $37.50.

From the professional beggar – Rayla – at the TG Fleamarket - $60.00

In respect for the abandoned dog on Forestdale Canyon Road : $50.00

Sassy from Courtenay : $50
Canines North Dog Club : $100

Miss Maxine: $50
Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50

A dog proof fence with a double gate is our goal with the challenge. Please help us reach our objective!

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

 We have moved all our dogs - and it was the longest 50 feet for my old dogs. They sure don’t accept change well. They have finally chosen their new spots. I can’t believe that some people would give up their old dogs - it is so hard for them to adapt again. I put my computer in and the cords were just too much of a temptation for the teenagers - the monitor cord was chewed through. My guys were way too busy to repair it, too far to go for another so I was computer -less while the main work was underway. Besides the fleamarket was scheduled for Saturday.

I have been asked to explain Red House and Blue house. Our home is red so it is the Red  House while the cabin is blue hence Blue house. They are only 50 feet apart. And now are separated by a fence as well. We didn’t move far but for the old dogs it was hard!

The work is also much harder than anticipated. So much more is wrong - they didn’t have building codes back then - and it is a wonder it didn’t fall down while we were sleeping! All new supports. All new joists in the smaller dog room, down to the sub floor in the big dog room, and now a new chimney - this one is NOT up to code!! Here is a pictorial of the work during the past few days and my very tired crew!

Dave  in small dog room down to the joists!! The large dog room is down to the sub floor.

Dave replacing worn boards.

repaired floor over the new joists!!
Redman in the dog room - subfloor. He decided to move with us in the Blue house when the backhoe came in!

Harley and Ed watch the backhoe come in the big gate.

The digging begins!

It’s all river bed sand!

Stan guides the digging.

Danny in the big hole dug under the house!

Stan and Dave showing supports where there had been none before! Mia, Patches and Rags supervise!

Harley on the big pile of sand from under the house. Eventually this will all be lawn!

To meet or beat the challenge up to $5000 - your donation is doubled:

From pop cans – challenge other recyclers to meet or beat – Donna - $37.50.

From the professional beggar – Rayla – at the TG Fleamarket - $60.00

In respect for the abandoned dog on Forestdale Canyon Road : $50.00

Sassy from Courtenay : $50
Canines North Dog Club : $100

Miss Maxine: $50
Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50

A dog proof fence with a double gate is our goal with the challenge. Please help us reach our objective!

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

Dave and I and most of the dogs slept in the Blue House last night. It was very comfortable, as the computer has been set up and the satellite dish too!! All the comforts of home. Almost.  Dave is gone to town today to buy propane for the BBQ and a hotplate! Redman did not want to move and dug out under the fence to go back to the empty house. He will be crated this time. My crew discovered that my bed was here so they are ok!! This morning was a rush to the red house for the bathroom - next step install a toilet - or I ain’t moving!! It is too far to use the outhouse near the old kennel building. I guess I am not a good camper! Stress caused more deposits than normal this morning. It will get better as they adapt to their new living quarters. The old floors are almost removed to the subfloor and the old siding is coming off as well. Soon the backhoe will be called in and the foundation begun. Sure is a lot of work though. Thank goodness for grown kids! And for Somebody’s donation. It looks like without it there would have been a disaster - no home for us and no home for Turtle Gardens. We could find another home but TG would have been done/kaput/finished/closed. Thank you Somebody - your gift will save a lot of lives!!

To meet or beat the challenge up to $5000 - your donation is doubled:

Sassy from Courtenay : $50
Canines North Dog Club : $100

Miss Maxine: $50
Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50

A dog proof fence with a double gate is our goal with the challenge. Please help us reach our objective!

And updates both new from this TG Bus trip and old ones too.

Hello,Almost 4 years ago now, we adopted our wonderful dog from Turtle Gardens. Wethought we might send you a message updating you on her life and her recent tripto France. I attach her story as well as her photo beside a Roman Theatre inSouthern France. Best regards,Siwan Anderson

Sula and her mom in France!! How many dogs are lucky enough to go to Europe for a 4 month holiday!

Hi Yvette,

Taver

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

Dave and Stan arrived early this morning and everybody was up by 8 ‘oclock!! My computer has been moved into the "Blue House", my bed, the TV is next, half the dogs are here already. The semi ferals - Marty, Tessa, Redman and the oldsters Sophie and Lily will be coming as soon as I settle in more comfortably. Change is always hard on these guys.  I will make hiding places for them and they will adapt. Then I will have to do it all again in two more weeks or so.

The fence works - it is keeping all my guys in.  And will be very useful for separating dog groups. All the crates have been pressure washed and are good as new! Crates that are no longer flight worthy are still very useful as doggie beds! They sleep in the crate or on top of it. Doors are not necessary as they are just beds. So if you have a crate that you are no longer using then consider donating it. Crates are great beds. All the crates are lined up on the porch - the dogs are happier now that their familiar beds are back!

And now some Updates:

Thank you so much for Angel.  She has only been here for 12 hours and she has absolutely stolen our hearts, she is the greatest little gal!  The whole way home Riley couldn’t stop talking about how cute Angel was and how happy she was to have her!  When we got home this morning, Angel went jumping out of the car and instantly began to fly around the farm with my blue heeler, Mollie.  You’d think they were long lost friends!!!  So they get along very well.  She checked out the the cats and all was good there.  She is not quite sure of those big horses, sticks pretty close to me.  We bought her a new little pink bed today and she seems to be calling it home.  She has settled in so well it is amazing!  This evening my daughter took Angel’s bed into her bed and the two were very cute as they cuddled in for the night.  I have attatched some pics for you.  Angel even got a kiss good night and a whisper in the ear!

"Gimpy" suggested Libby as a name for the newest black and tan puppy! A much better than than Petunia which is what I was thinking of!!

Here she is doing "puppy" things - chewing!!

Now her little brother needs a name!!

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

This is the second blog today - the first went into cyberspace. It was just about done too. Technology frustrates me so. And there isn’t a darn thing you can do - once it is gone it is GONE.

So - The three travelers are with their families including my Teena! Dave says that she was cuddled on Warren’s shoulder when she left. I haven’t had an update yet tho - hint hint. For all 3!!!

Stan and Dave are on their way back. Dave and I and the kids are fixing up the Blue House while the Red house is undergoing renovations to the foundation and dog rooms. The new tile is commercial grade so has an epoxy finish that needs to set and dry. It will be impervious to liquids!! exactly like the floors in Wal-mart or grocery stores. It will be shiny and bright and easy to clean. OH JOY!!

The fence is up! The gate is in and it is tested by ED! Ed loves Calvin and Chance and follows them everywhere - he is also an escape artist so if it keeps Ed in the rest will stay in too!

It’s up - and so is the gate - next to the Blue House!

Checking for holes in the fence - Ed is behind Chance!

And now a Nautical Update::

Hi Yvette,
We hope all is well with you.
Rob, John and I met with Yuriko(Buccaneer, now Oro) and Lisa(Bonnie Lassie, now Rosie) today. They had so much fun. Even better, some other TG garden dogs met us and joined in…see photo. I don’t remember the names..one of them used to be called "brat" (the black one). (They are Duncan and Mouse and live with Greig!)

I think one of Emma’s puppies was adopted out to Vancouver Island. Do you know where and would we be able to meet them too? Bella is one of Emma’s pups - she is in Coquitlam! Rina is one the Island - Emma’s sister. Teena is Rosie’s daughter and she is in White Rock. Paris another daughter is in Langley.
Thanks, Leslie

Oro aka Buccaneer, Emma, and Rosie aka Bonnie Lassie

Duncan and Mouse with the nauticals

Rosie and Emma - they remember each other! Look at the happy faces.

More reunions are planned - if you want to participate let me know and I will put you in touch - so the whole family can see each other!

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

6 am sure is early! Dave was "up and at ‘em" at  that time this morning to head down to Surrey to pick up Stan. Only 3 dogs were going this trip. Holidays , a rabies shot needed to cross the border, all prevented a full bus. But Dave needed to go down anyway to pick up son #1 - Stan. Stan will drive back so they will be back in Topley by tomorrow evening - a fly-in trip!

Heather - she has a family in Port Moody.
 

Teena (yawn) says it’s too early!! Her family lives in South Surrey! Thank you Kate for her going home bandana and leash.

And this cutie is going to Port Coquitlam - he is Heather’s pup! And they are repeat adopters!!

Davey, Calvin and his friend Chance arrived as the pizza was delivered!! Great timing! Ok, Dave had to pick it up but it was bought at our local store - hot out of the oven. We have some amneties in our rural wilderness!

Dave drove up with another load of supplies - it was a wonderful sight. The new tile is totally awesome! I can’t wait to see it on the floors of the dog rooms. I will post pictures of our progress.
More supplies!!

The first job on our agenda is to build a cross fence to pen the dogs away from the renovations. The main fence will be opened for the backhoe to come in to dig the foundation. To keep the dogs safe we need to build a fence to separate the yard. Dave and the boys are hard at work. They are having a working holiday - donating fishing time to help animals - aren’t kids just the greatest!

The first panel is up!

The fence crew! Is Dave working hard enough yet?

To meet or beat the challenge up to $5000 - your donation is doubled:

Sassy from Courtenay : $50
Canines North Dog Club : $100

Miss Maxine: $50
Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50

In memory of Tawny - $500

A dog proof fence with a double gate is our goal with the challenge. Please help us reach our objective!

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

Turtle gardens has been around for a long time (since 1988) and a lot of the dogs adopted locally have passed on. I was just given 3 beautiful rugosa roses in memory of three of my deceased adoptees. I am thinking that the garden near my entrance would be the perfect place for a "Memorial Garden" I will  put  plaques for remembrance of each pet. We can hang wind chimes in memory and maybe a bench or two will be donated for a contemplation area. What do you think?

Three beautiful fragrant hardy roses! In memory of Shadow , Rever and Kiro. They are still in pots until AFTER our renovations - just in case things need to be moved because ideas change.

One is pink, one is red and one is white and they all smell divine!!

Davy will be arriving today!! I better enjoy a quiet cup of coffee - thank you Kate for the Tim Horton’s canned coffee that arrived with the large donation of collars and leashes and a homecoming gift pack for her sponsor Heidi!!.  Heidi will be going home on the 14th and will be sporting a new collar, bandana, leash, pooper scooper backs and treats!! Thank you so very much Kate and Lucy. Once Davy arrives it will be work work work. I can’t barely contain myself!! I will be taking lots of pictures to show our progress.

Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50

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

This big pile of plywood arrived today!! Delivered from Prince George by our benefactor. Thank you "Somebody" You really are the Somebody who is doing Something for all the unwanted dogs that Someone should help!!

Ready to go! The "Supervisor" is waiting to start work. Can you see Ed? Since no one came up with a name for the little guy - Dave has started calling him Ed.

Dave is arriving tomorrow - he is son #2 or second born son. Stan will be picked up by Dave (Dad) Tuesday morning after dropping off the TG Bus travelers. He is leaving here Sunday morning with just 4 travelers - most of our adopters are on holidays this weekend. Dave has to bring Stan back so another trip is scheduled in two weeks.

Why is this blog so late?
A storm came through with thunder and lightening. It was a grand display! But dangerous for a power surge so the computer was off and unplugged.

Sassy from Courtenay : $50
Canines North Dog Club : $100
Miss Maxine: $50
Molly : $50
Razz: $50
Mia : $50
In memory of Shadow: $50
in memory of Rever: $50.
in memory of Kiro: $50
in memory of Tawny:$500

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