Stan calls it - the trip from hell. Dez the border collie chewed through the plastic window after arrival and busted out of the van with Kingston - her sidekick. Luckily Stan spotted the two escapees and captured them - Dez was crated. The trip was too fast and several adopters are just not ready for their pups yet. Merlin was the first to go home  - Paula was in Surrey by 9.30 am!! Kingston was driven to Po Co by Stan to his mom - and a good match too. Lilianna’s mom arrived from Victoria at 1.30 to pick up her girl - another very good match. Chenille’s family weren’t prepared for her this weekend. Silken will stay with Kelsey until Tuesday when her new mom will be ready for her. And last - Faye is too tall at 18 inches!! There was a height restriction at her strata. Faye enjoyed a new life experience  - an enrichment for her resume. She is a good traveler. Not as good as we had hoped but  a few more dogs are with their families. That is the important thing. It’s all about the dogs.

A new arrival today! Her owner passed away yesterday. Molly is a very active, spayed (just two weeks ago) small little white jack russell mix girl. Her family called her a corgi mix but she is too small - more of a terrier with the terrier activity level. She is very soft to touch and friendly. She is a bit intimidated by the bigger dogs but she is adapting fine. She is under my chair and follows me closely. Turtle Gardens welcomes Milly Molly!

She reminds me of Angel!

And when the Sabo family stopped by to see who was here they discovered cuddly, smart little Baby girl - she had no name yet!! The children were smitten while Glen the black lab adored the kids especially the little boy (about 6 years old). He was so very gentle with them, never jumped or knocked them - he was such a sweet boy. but because of the cats the puppy won out! Glen has not been tested with cats and he isn’t neutered yet - Tuesday is his day! He will be an ideal family companion!!!

And some faces at TG today:

Coco Brindle - she is coming around and will be ready for adoption very soon. She is a one person dog and will need a patient, gentle person.

The new little fella - still no name!!

Jaime will be a wonderful companion for any family!!

Striking Shadow !

And handsome Glen (from Glen Vowell) is looking for his very own boy or girl!!

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

It was a quick decision. Stan and Dave are gone down to Surrey with the adopted dogs. They are hoping to be back by Monday - Tuesday is Speuter day after all.

This trip sees Merlin ready to go home!
Blue eyed Merlin is going to Deming, Wa!

Beautiful Chenille is going to Fanny Bay!

Her buddy Silken is going to Surrey!

The only little boy is cuddlebug - Kingston. He is going to Port Coquitlam.

Unique Lilianna is going to Victoria.

And pending the homevisit - Faye will be going to Vancouver.

Good luck everyone, drive safe and be good dogs!

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

7 am was too early and way too cold to get out of bed!! But it was Spay day so - no choice in the matter. It was -5 this morning - the water was a tiny trickle - almost frozen!! Where is our Indian Summer we were supposed to have? It didn’t help that the driver window in the TG Bus is broken - a big black pitbull mix (Dave’s Harley) thought that she could fit through a 4 inch gap!! No she wasn’t even scratched but the window needs to be replaced - as soon a extra money comes in!! The same goes for the final repairs - the last of the digging/cement and last wall may not be finished - $13,490 has been spent on the renovations - well done, professionally done to theb uilding code - more extensive than expected but oh so very necessary - no luxuries just safety. But I digress.
Spay day for Silken and Mushka!! Silken has a home in Surrey while Mushka will be going home to Terrace on the16th with her sister Tara.

Pretty Silken!

Soft, golden Mushka!

once Stan got back , we had a hot breakfast of ham and eggs - Dave cooked! Then we planned our day as best we could. The next wall panel is a difficult one - the sewer pipe comes though it!

Tracey holds another wall in place as it is jacked into position.

The tough wall! Measure, measure , and worry!

Then the arrival of the new guys from Glen Vowell Reserve - another northern isolated reserve with serious dog problems. Mike and his partner have been hired to clean them up! They are trying hard to find places for the adoptable dogs. So far so good!
  The first dog is unloaded - she is a corgi/collie mix! She will need to be spayed asap as she has just finished her heat and yes she has been bred - the male is here too!

She looks like a full size border collie type with short, very short legs. She needs a sponsor for her spay/vaccinations and a name - can you help this pretty little girl?

Then a lively, shiny, good natured black lab mix. He is about a year old - he already lifts his leg!

His tail wagging like a helicopter this fellow needs a name to reflect his personality. He needs a sponsor for his neuter/vaccinations too.

Next was the  two small dogs - ok one small; one very young!!

  This is the small one - he is supposed to be the daddy of the puppy! He weighs maybe 12 to 14 pounds, and has a very nice personality. He also needs a sponsor for his neuter/vaccinations and of course a "cool" name! (Kate - do you think he looks like a male version of your Lucy?)

Last but not least - the youngster of the group. She is approximately 8 weeks old and was whisked off to our vet with Merlin for her check up and vaccinations. Merlin is now fully ready to go across the border - his health passport is up to date!! The two girls were picked up and brought home from their spays. Silken is recovering in a warm crate while Mushka is asleep in her favorite spot next to my bed. Tara is keeping her company this time like Mushka did when she returned home.

She is a small dog puppy. Her dad is the gold little fellow. Her mom may be coming in as well. She needs a name too!

And a picture of the dogfood that arrived yesterday!! The dogs are enjoying the good food!

Thank you Anipet Animal Services Inc, Carrie from LAPS, Melissa and Theresa - for delivering to Bandstra, and a big THANK YOU to Bev and Bandstra for delivering the food so quickly!! Thank you - you are all the very best!!

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

We now know a lot more about our newest TG Alumni - the beagle!! His name is Hunter and he was 1 year old on August 21st. He was neutered on July 17th and had his dew claws removed at the same time.  He received his second vaccination on July 22nd. He has had 4 homes in his short life. How can that be? He is barely a year old!! His first home had 3 children and both parents worked - he was growing up undisciplined - they really didn’t have time for a dog. So he was sold to another family with children as he was so very good with kids. He was too active, would get out of the yard, his nose ruled, he was too noisy so he was "sold" again. This home neutered him and updated his vaccinations. They really hoped the neutering would calm him down. Hunter then ended up on the street. Was he sold again or was he just lost and his family hoped good riddance? We don’t really know for sure. But Hunter is safe at Turtle Gardens.

Not one of his homes researched the breed The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger! Sociable, brave and intelligent. Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young. Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. This breed doesn’t like being left alone. Consider buying two if you will be gone a lot. A Beagle has a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area.

Hunter is all of that plus he has never learned self-control!! He has had little formal training. He pulls on leash, He ignores the person with him if there are other dogs around - he is very reactive - he wants to play,play, play. He is quite noisy and he definitely has a hound voice which he uses a lot! On the plus side - he is happy, affectionate and has good indoor manners. He is housebroken. he has very good doggie social skills. He will learn the ropes here at TG. He will go for walks, learn sit, down, fetch and to play with humans. He will learn some self -control so he can co-exist with his family happily and safely. Hunter needs obedience. But then don’t all dogs?

Another Jerry update - he is doing well!!

Dear Yvette,

Well, today’s big accomplishment was Jerry’s first poop!  A nice healthy looking one on our 5:30 evening walk.  Jerry hung out with us all day. In the morning we worked at the computer while Jerry lay on the rug. In the afternoon we went to the dump and to town on errands and Jerry rode with us.  It was a cool day and we left the windows open a crack, so temperature was fine, and it seemed like he’d like it so much better than staying home by himself.  He seems to like riding in the car a lot and seemed very calm when we come back after leaving him in the car. Then our evening walk, dinner, and now he’s lying on the floor while I write this. When I had him out for potty breaks this morning and this afternoon, he showed considerable interest in chasing rodent-types.  He chased a squirrel up a tree and kept him there for a while.  Then later he did this sniff-track-stop-stare-boing! pounce that looked just like what a coyote does.  Came up empty though.  I’m keeping a close eye on him, hoping that this behavior doesn’t transfer over to the cat. For her part, the cat is being a little provocateur while Jerry is being reasonably good.  She walks up to him while he’s lying peacefully and puts her nose right on him till he notices her, then she walks away.I am limiting their exposure to each other somewhat, easing them into each other slowly. The only tense moment was this evening at dinner time, Sheba (that’s the cat) walked between Jerry and his bowl at the precise moment when I poured food into it.  Seemed downright deliberate.  Jerry growled.  The cat didn’t run away.  I picked up the food bowl, which Jerry let me do, no problem, and hand-fed him, just to be sure this was just a spat and not a food aggression issue.  He takes food from my hand totally nicely, and sits for a handful when I ask him to (although he "doesn’t know the *word* “sit” perfectly yet).He growled one other time today, although I have no idea at what.  We gone upstairs so I could change my clothes before going to town.  He spent much time upstairs yet. He was looking around, exploring then started to growl.  Something he saw through the window that I couldn’t see from my angle?  Something he could smell?  It looked for all the world like he was growling at the two teddy bears that live on the chair.Other than those two growls he hasn’t made a peep.  He continues to be very docile, cowering occasionally but less.  I think he was limping a little less on our walk this evening.That’s the news for today.  Tomorrow might be bath day. . .doesn’t know the *word* “sit” perfectly yet). He growled one other time today, although I have no idea at what.  We’d gone upstairs so I could change my clothes before going to town.  He hasn’t spent much time upstairs yet.  He was looking around, exploring, then started to growl.  Something he saw through the window that I couldn’t see from my angle?  Something he could smell?  It looked for all the world like he was growling at the two teddy bears that live on the chair. Other than those two growls he hasn’t made a peep.  He continues to be very docile, cowering occasionally but less.  I think he was limping a little less on our walk this evening. That’s the news for today.  Tomorrow might be bath day. . .

And today at 8.30 am I received a phone call from Rose at Bandstra - our dog food had arrived and was ready for pickup! This is networking at its finest. Anipet had dog food to donate. Carrie of Langley Animal Protection emailed TG to see if we needed any food. "yes - thank you for thinking of us" I emailed Leah at Anipet Animal Services and set up a time and place for pick up. The I posted here for transport help. Melissa and Theresa both offered to help so I emailed both of them so they could co-ordinate together. Then I contacted Bev at Bandstra www.bandstra.com/freighthistory.asp and sent all the phone numbers and addresses to Melissa and Theresa. They picked up the 25 bags Wednesday morning at 9am and drove it to Bandstra. By noon it was already on its way up here. By 10.30 am it was all in my greenhouse!! All really, really good food - Nutro, Pro Plan, all top of the line. My guys will be dining well for awhile. Thank you everyone!!

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

It was speuter day yesterday - for scared little Fragglerock and pretty little Tara (SPay and nEUTER). Both came home very groggy and tired - Fragglerock was very disoriented and bit Stan in fear! Neither knew who we were when they got back home. Until I picked him up - then Fraggle relaxed - he knew me once he could see and smell me. Poor little guy - and he really is little - 11 pounds!! I brought him in and he went to right to a corner/quiet bed and slept - until supper that is. He had missed a couple of meals after all!  Tara was picked up and carried in as well - she recognized the noise of greetings and then realized who was carrying her! She was home — well to the only home she has known anyhow - she will be going home to her family with Mushka on October 16th!! Tara is also a smallish girl - she weighs in at 36 pounds. She crawled up onto the couch and stayed there until this morning! Mushka cuddled beside her all night long - to keep her warm and company too. She is A-ok this morning!!

Fragglerock - he is ready for a patient home.

Pretty Tara.

And an update from Jerry’s new mom:

Hi Yvette,

Things have gone OK with Jerry for the 1st 24 hours.  He enjoyed the car
ride home, although he didn’t understand why he couldn’t ride in the
front seat with us.  Since arriving home, he’s been a bit nervous, but I
suppose that’s to be expected.  He ate for the first time at about noon
today.  He’s peed outside, but no poop yet.

He seems like a rather timid dog in some ways but not in others.  If Jay
or I walks straight toward him to straighten his collar or something
similar, he’ll start or cower or lay down in a very submissive posture.
But he’s not good at the people-through-the-door-first concept, and he
was rather pushy about trying to get in the front seat of the car.  And,
he was fine all day even though it was house-cleaning day.  So there
were brooms and mops and vacuum cleaners flying, and none of those
sights or sounds seemed to bother him.  We’re concentrating on
no-sudden-movements to deal with the cowering, plus people-first through
the door and people-eat-first.

He likes being petted.  He’s an extremely quiet dog.  When I’m sitting
in a chair, like right now, he just lies at my feet.  He hasn’t made a
peep since we drove away from Turtle Gardens, except an occasional sigh.
 Lip-licking and yawning, too, so he’s still nervous.

So far OK with the cat.  She complains bitterly, but walks up to Jerry
to check him out.  He acts interested, with head up and tail up and a
little tail-wag.  He’ll take his attention away from her if I call him,
which is good.  And if she hisses or really complains, he backs up.  The
jury’s still out, I think, because his confidence level is still pretty
low in his new surroundings, but the early signs are good.

Jerry has a cut across two of his toe pads of his left forepaw.  They
look like the result of just one cut.  Not brand new, not real old.
Mostly healed up, but on the side of one toe it still looks a little
red.  He limps on it when we go out for our evening walks, and he seems
to look for the smoothest part of the gravel road to walk on.  I know
there’s not much that can be done about toe pads, and it doesn’t really
seem to bother him.  Probably it will heal up soon.

That’s the news so far.  I’ll keep you posted.

And a courtesy post from Linda of Hazelton Animal Care and Protection;

Looking for a home…

Hi Yvette and Joanne,
Linda asked me to forward a picture and some info about Cami, who is
looking for an adoptive home.
Cami is a very sweet, playful, happy and loving puppy.  She is
approximately 8 weeks old and was rescued in the Hazelton area where
she is residing in a foster home.

Her foster mom is leaving in October so Cami needs to find a ‘forever
home’ where she can attach firmly to an adoptive family.  She is
currently being trained to respect cats (by the resident felines) and
loves dogs, kids, people and the world in general.

For information about Cami, call Sharron at 250 842-0020 or Linda at
250 842-5218 (days).

 Thanks,
Sharron

Cute little Cami!

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

The little fellow had followed his kids home last week. He had gone door to door looking for his owner put a notice on the radio, put up found flyers but no one responded. The little guy needed rescue.  The vet’s office recommended he call Turtle Gardens. The District of Houston also told him to call TG. So he did. Turtle Gardens welcomes our little lost soul - Oliver!

Oliver is a purebred beagle! He was recently neutered and his dew claws were removed as well. He still has the scars from his surgery! He appears to be in very good condition, is quite young - a teenager really. He is a pretty good boy and likes to sleep on the bed! We are hoping to find his family soon.

He expressed his loneliness with a true hound voice! The train had just gone by- tooting and tooting and tooting some more. The dogs always respond with a chorus of joy at the noise!

The dog room floor needs supports to ensure a non wobbly surface for our new tile. The new 2 by 6’s are positioned a close 12 inches apart to ensure a solid floor.

The old joists are a full 30 or more inches apart!!

The boards are manhandled into position - John is still helping out Stan.

Another support in place. There seems to be a never ending new problem with every new day. Is there no light at the end of the renovation tunnel? The work is done professionally and very well. The house will be solid for years to come and for many groups  of foster dogs to come. It will be worth the disruptions to my life for this period of time to have a safe, clean, open, airy home for the dogs here now and for the many that will be coming in to our safe haven.

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

I really like updates and Cap was one of my all time faves! He sounds like he is having a wonderful life! Thank you Taver!

Hi Yvette,

I’m not sure what happened to the e-mail I started to write.  You may end up with 2, or 1 is gone to the electronic void…

Cap and I just returned from another vacation, this time to the God’s Pocket area off the tip of northern Vancouver Island.  As such I have finally got around to downloading all of my pictures.  Please find attached a couple of pictures of Squirt from the Stuart Lake trip to pick him up, as well as some from our lates adventure.  Note the styling dog life jacket he now sports!

Squirt has settled in great down here.  He handles big city life with aplomb - crowds, cars and noise no longer phase him and neighbourhood walks give him a chance to patrol for cats, those alien life forms that confuse and intrigue him.  Having adjusted well to the city, Squirt, like me, lives for when we can escape it!  He loves hiking and mellows out quite happily in the boats.  He attracts a lot of attention wherever we go and I think a lot of people wish they could have a dog like him, too.  He’s the perfect blend of independence and stick-to-you-ness.

I hope things are well with you folks and that mid-September finds the renos complete.  I haven’t checked the website yet - I wanted to make sure I got the pictures off first, before getting distracted by anything else.

Take care,

Taver

 First time in a boat! Old pro now!

 Sleepy in a boat - new spiffy lifejacket!

 Whatcha doing?

Today Jerry went to a sleepover! He needs to pass Kitty 101! Then he will come back for his neuter/vaccinations and home again!I don’t see a problem as Jerry is so gentle and submissive. He dearly wants to please - a sharp word devastates him!

 Be good Jerry - good luck! 

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

I woke up this morning and reached for my glasses and found nothing!!! OH oh, my glasses got dogged I am blind without my glasses. I was banging around and woke up Dave with the panic in my voice. Worse I could not remember where my spare glasses are either. I stumbled through the yard to the red house and the bathroom, checking all the places I used to put stuff - but those places are all gone! The red house is empty!!! So I meandered back to the blue house and sat down to think. I checked under my bed - a rollaway cot and under the foot I saw a flash. Lo and behold my glasses sat there UNTOUCHED - not chewed as I envisioned. All is well in my world.

I enjoyed a great cup of coffee - Dave made coffee and started the bacon and eggs while I was stumbling around!! Isn’t he just  the coolest!! It will be a very busy day today so a hearty breakfast will hold us all until a late supper at 7 pm or dark.

The other corner wall coming down - John, Stan, Tess carry it. Stan has lots of help today!

Pounding in the wall level. Each section has to be pounded while the sill is jacked up so everything is level - first time ever!!

Dave and Bear are on saw detail - cutting the boards for the walls.

The corner is fitting together well. Three eight foot sections are done!

Kingston is "King of the Hill"

One corner done!

Lilianna is "Queen of the Hill"

The other corner - the back wall is nearly done! This is the fifth section of wall up!

Finally level! Tomorrow will see most of the walls done. Then the front will be dug out - it is holding up the house so it won’t tip over!! The last forms will be built, cement poured and the last wall put up. The crawl space will be complete - the house will be level and if anything needs to be done there will be room to stand up to repair it!! Finally the new floors will be put in. And TG will be new and improved. In October???

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