Stan worked until dark again building the sections of the support walls. He had two done. so this morning he was ready to put them in.  John arrived to give him a hand and the struggle began. The main problem is the teeny tiny rocks that somehow get between the sill and the plywood. The ground keeps sloughing down. The dogs walk across the forms and tiny rocks come off their feet. It has been a tough go.

One finished section - #1This is a corner.

Another corner section - well built, very heavy!

Dave sweeping the form.

The first section - heavy, backbreaking work.

The first section is in!!

Putting another corner section in.

The corner is in only 7 more sections to go!

My three puppers - Squire (9 years old), Sweetpea (3 years next month)and Grizzly Adams (8 years old)! Squire is my first male dog while tiny Grizzly is his best bud! Sweetpea is the leader of the group.

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

A wonderful smell woke me up this morning - the smell of bacon cooking!!! Dave was up ahead of me this morning and started cooking right away - bacon and coffee - no better way to start a day!! The good natured Dave is back! Mind you I don’t think he should be weight bearing yet but if it doesn’t hurt …………….  His next appointment is October 2nd for cast removal and x-rays again. We shall see.

We have had a breakthrough with little Fraggle. He now sleeps in bed with me and lets me pet him. All over his body and ear scrunches too. He will be neutered on Tuesday - Stan has to take time off to take him but he NEEDS it. Enough said!! Fraggle will be ready for adoption soon - I want him to be comfortable with petting all the time not just at bedtime. He is the last of the "woo" dogs to be adopted - the two boys are on the Island and his sister Brie is in Langley/Merritt. He is the smallest and leggiest of the group. Possibly the homeliest too?? But he really suits/likes his name Fraggle.

Fraggle checking out the hardened cement footing.

We have had an offer for donated dog food from Anipet Pet Supplies in Surrey  www.anipet.com. Bandstra www.bandstra.com/freightservices.asp will transport it at no charge for TG but we need transport from Surrey to Richmond for 25 large bags of premium dog food. Can anyone help? This will be Wednesday next week that it will have to be moved.

It is very windy and the lights have been flickering so I decided to do a fast blog before we lost power. Have a great day and weekend!!

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

This morning was warmer than all week - so much so that I had to open the door during the night!!  Then I slept well with my crew. Koda has discovered my bed and he really likes it. He is a funny character with his scars and baldness - I think he will be quite different once he grows hair and his neuter kicks in! He is affectionate, a follow me everywhere kinda guy. But he is a very tough little fellow too. He needs to learn that he is no longer boss-dog and relax so he can co-habit peacefully with this group of multi dogs. He and Jerry formely Optimus - he needs a softer name to tell people what a nice boy he is - Optimus just didn’t . And what a nice boy he is.  He has discovered petting and just loves ear scrunchies, muzzle rubs and even hugs. What a very nice dog - he needs a neuter pdq - before he discovers girls!!

Koda - what breed do you think he is??

Today I could actually do something to help with the renos - I stained 18- 2 by 6’s - 12 feet long. My back feels a tad stiff and my bad foot is ok bad - I realized why it was so very sore - It got wrapped by one of the dog’s tie out chains when she whirled around me when I went to get her to bring her in. Several of the dogs can jump the gates so they have to be tethered until we get a  new fence they can’t jump or are adopted. Chain wraps really hurt ankles - especially weak ones. But I feel like a contributed to the renovations today! Stan, Dave and Bear are working at leveling the sagging wall and it is starting to really look good.

The plumb line and new post with the hydraulic jack on the new very hard cement footings!! Fraggle is checking it all out.

The crew building a jig for the new walls.

Yesterday saw Shadow go to Smithers for a sleepover - a trial run or a foster to adopt!! she is a sweet, getle girl who is pretty good fit for her adoptive family. We just want to be certain so Shadow’s adoption will eb finalized in two weeks. Good luck Shadow.
Pretty Shadow.

and an update or two.

I just wanted to send a note to say how happy we are with Pixie or little miss Pix. She has been coming to work with me lately and is now the company mascot. She especially makes me happy when she sits on my desk in her bed and makes my job so much better!

Thank you so much for her she is truly wonderfull

Hi Yvette & Dave,

 It’s been 5 months since Tess joined our little family and we are so happy with her. She’s so sweet and smart and brings a lot of laughter to our home.  She’s a teenager now and sometimes drives her sister a little nuts with all her energy even though Asha is a border collie, she is almost 8 years old now. She didn’t get as big as we thought she might with the early growth spurts which is perfect.  She’s solid at 34lbs though.  She’s still adventuresome and boy can she jump. She is very friendly, not a mean bone in her body, loves all people and dogs. We feel lucky to have her.

We wanted to send a recent family picture and thank you both again for your help putting us together and for all the work you do.  Of course, we have to thank Auntie Wendy as well who turned me on to your website.    

Take care,

Gloria, Rob, Asha and Tess sends her love.

Tess is Ned sister and Nell’s daughter.

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

These have been very busy days.  I have been averaging 15 phone calls a day! And people coming to visit to see the renovations they are reading about on the blog! I have many local readers!! That pleases me no end. Yesterday Jane and Mark who adopted Tessa from the Telkwa Pound brought his parents who were visiting from Scotland. Little Pip rushed to the fence to meet them - he was sure they were his new family! His mom and dad were entranced as was Jane. Mark was cautious. Pip was so cute, and cuddly and mischievous and just the sweetest little puppy he could be! He tried everything he knew to convince Mark that "He" was the "one". Even puppies know when it is their turn.  It is very amazing to observe. The other dogs know this as well and seldom will they come up to the fence during this "take me" stage.
 They "know".  It really wasn’t that long before Pip was chosen. Papers were signed, health passport given and Pip was on his way home.
Mischievous, smart, beautiful Pip!

The cement was finally ordered last night and delivery was today. Stan had to finish the last forms late last night - he ate supper at 11 pm!!

The forms all hdd rocks on the bottom, rebar pounded in and long lengths wired to it with cement wire on top. Well done Stan!

71 feet long! - 3 sides are done - the front will be done once the supports for the rest are finished and the walls are up.

We were all up early to be ready for the truck to arrive. Richard and his brother Kevin, Dave’s sister Bear all came out to help. It was going to be intensive fast hard work! Two wheelbarrows, two on shovels and one to guage the amount of cement in each barrow. Teamwork required.

The truck backs into the yard.

The first wheelbarrow is filled.

And the race begins - Kevin pours the first load.

Stan right behind.

Bear and Dave spread the cement ad smooth it. Dave’s first attempt at weight bearing. Rags of course is watching Dave.

Stan smooths the form for the critical main support.

Richard has done many footings and was the experience that kept everything running smoothly.

The last wheelbarrow of cement! All told it was 30 minutes from start to finish - those guys can move!! Harley watches.

It is done!! Now to smooth it.

Footprints follow Stan as he smooths and polishes. Over and over. The dogs were banned after this  latest autograph!

Then I had a visitor from Smithers. Marissa and her mom and dad came to TG to meet Freya. It was love at first sight! Freya was very happy to see Marissa and was soon sitting on her feet as we watched the other dogs playing. Marissa knew every dog’s name - she follows my blog! I put a going home collar on her (thank you Kate and Lucy) took a farewell picture and waved goodbye to the last puppy. For now that is!!

Marissa and Freya. Good luck little one - be good!

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

It was very cold this morning - the dog waters outside were frozen and a heavy frost painted the green grass white . Holy cow - winter is coming and the house isn’t finished yet!! And the money is running out. The new chimney has ot be bought so all of us dogs and people can be warm in the upcoming weeks. Dave has to heal so he can go out and cut firewood -  - anyone wish to donate firewood?? The almanac stated snow by the 15th  of October -  that is two weeks earlier than last year and less than a month away. We need these renovations to be over and done –soon.

The forms are done for the foundation. Stan has been digging by hand - the backhoe money has been used up and we need to buy cement. We are waiting for the call to see how much it is going to be.

One side with Desi watching the work.

We may be running low on funds but we have the right equipment to make sure everything is level. Dave’s dogs Rags, Mia and Patches watch Dave.

Checking the level.

The form on the other side.

Bracing a double post so he can remove one of the first posts put in.

Penny asks "Is this my new bed?" The front corner form. Hopefully tomorrow the cement will be poured and the walls will go up to close in the crawl space.

And today Orphan Annie went home with her new mom in Vanderhoof. She came out with em to meet her mom and promptly sat on her feet!! Orphie approved. Papers were soon signed and Orphie was on her way.

Good luck little one - I will miss your warm body on my feet!

This article showed what one unselfish child can do! Except her $113 was matched by Terrace Petland and they also donated an extra bag of food!! Raven’s picture is on the blog wiht Layla as I am sure Layla is her mother! Thank you so very much Brook!!

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

What a couple of very busy days!!  Linda arrived early yesterday morning with the new arrivals - Koda, Shadow and her son Optimus. Poor little Koda was attacked by a group of dogs and bitten quite badly then because his people could not take him to a veterinarian his wounds soon festered. The smell told his owners he needed help so they called Hazelton Animal Care and Control. Linda picked him up and took him to Babine Pet Hospital where he was put under to clean his wounds and neutered too - a bonus! but his owners could not pay his bill so asked Linda to find him a home. Turtle Gardens welcomes Koda!!

Next out was Shadow - and she sure looks like her son Kernel Pupter! Lou her daughter is all black but slender like her. Optimus her son thta came in with her had a different dad - his looks are not at all like the rest of the litter! Shadow is a sweet, gentle dog with very good indoor manners. She is housebroken and very quiet. Optimus needs training in manners - he is an overgrown puppy. Turtle Gardens welcomes Shadow and Optimus!

Pretty Shadow.

Handsome Optimus.

Actually there were two dogs going home yesterday. Linda transported Dexter to Smithers and Lorna fostered him overnight and put him on his plane this morning at 7 am!
So Dexter has been adopted!
Good luck Dexter - be good!

His  family has already updated:

ps Jemma and Olivia say thank you for the dog!  They really love him.  (pics to follow soon)

And later that afternoon I received a visit from a young couple who heard from our veterinarian about handsome Spencer. Spencer did very well, sat when asked and walked very well on leash. Char - you did a good job with him!! Spencer has gone home!!

Good luck Spencer - kitties are buddies - be good!

And a very special update:
 
Just a short while ago I received a phone call from Anita asking If I knew any history on the fellow she has just adopted - SILAS has a home!!!

Here are some pics of our Silas and his new brother Tundra.
Silas with his mom and Tundra his new brother.

Our wonderful Silas has his own family to love!

And Anita says :Silas says he loves, and misses you all!!!
xoxo

We are so happy to see Silas so happy. Thank you Anita - you have made my month!!!

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

What a fantastic way to start my day. There was 7 comments this morning. So everyone got their names. And I got a huge smile! Thank you everyone!

First up this morning an update and holy doG!! Grey Ghost is Kitsa’s father alright - it is definitely a match of genetics. They look a lot alike!! Kitsa is here - myrescuedog.turtlegardens.org/

Grey Ghost’s family wrote this:

I hope you are well..we are following your renovation adventures (!?) on your blog - hope it all comes to a happy conclusion soon.  Although a very different project and set of circumstances, I well remember renovating the main floor of our house 10 years ago, all rooms ripped back to the studs, wires hanging from the ceiling, holes in the fireplace where it had to repaired - yikes, I would never want to do that again!  I also well remember that one thing led to another, and so it went on and on and on….. I really needed to hear this - we are not unique!! Thank doG

Anyhow, my apologies, I thought I had sent these photos to you a month ago, but I see no record of them in our "sent" box.  Hmmm, maybe they are floating out there in cyber space somewhere!  Well, here they are again, not the best, but at least you can see Grey.  You will see in the one photo my daughters had him modeling the latest in pink summer scarves (he didn’t mind!).  Grey continues to do well, he is such a sweet boy, so easy-going, friendly, and gentle with all.  He has developed a taste for digestive biscuits (which we have with our tea in the morning), so now he always gets his morning cookie - his waist line has grown a bit since you last saw him - however, I think he is happy and that’s what’s important!  He is still mad about squirrels, which is really our only problem when we are out for our walks - otherwise he walks very well on leash and listens when I ask him to "wait" or "lets go". I’m sure he would love to catch a squirrel - I don’t want to think about what the outcome of that would be!  Asides from the squirrels, Grey is very well mannered around other dogs, I never have to worry about him in that department.

Finally, we would like to donate $100 to your fund (you can put it in memory of Jasper). Jasper was our rescue greyhound who was our dear friend and companion, sometimes it is still odd to not have him around. Well, it’s not too much, but hope it helps.  Will send a cheque in the mail. 

Take care, and thank you again for all that you do!

Best Wishes,

ps - the photos are not great quality - glass on the scanner is scratched (hence the fuzziness in a couple of the pics).  Still working on getting that digital camera! They look great to me!!

Grey is great with children - he is such a good dog!

Beautiful flowers, handsome guys

And now our adoption: Daisy found her home this morning with a local family - Smithers!! I am so glad as she could have been a favorite so very quickly!! What a friendly, calm sweetheart of a pup and clean too!

Lovely Daisy! And her new family will keep her name - it suits her! They have 2 children, and are going camping this weekend - what a bonding experience for Daisy and her new family!

And now the new arrival:

Layla reminds me of a dog I know and I think it is Raven - could she be Raven’s mother? She is 2 and half years old and has had a couple of litters the young man told me. She comes from the same area. And she is calm, well behaved, has wonderful manners - very much like Raven has turned out to be. I don’t see beautiful Layla staying here very long - she is an ideal family companion. Just take her home and move her into your life. She is an awesome girl! And yes I really like this one too. She is sweet.

Introducing her to my crew, I tripped and knocked over  the big bowl of water! It made a mess but it was clean water. Layla has a name and we will keep it for her as she knows her name.

And finally the names of the new arrivals. Thank you for all the ideas. They  will be used with each new arrival.

Freya - the blue eyed pup running and playing.

Pip - a good solid border collie name.

Boots and Spencer - a good name to grow into. He is also well behaved, dog social, clean all night. He is super friendly and likes all people. He was very good meeting the children today as well. He must of had a home. He has pretty good indoor manners too.

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

Char arrived this afternoon with a very groggy teenager german shepherd - a beautiful, regal boy. Then she tells me she thought he would fit in better, groggy as he is a very active boy! He was neutered this morning and did not want to go into the extra large crate on the porch. He did anyways. He howled, barked and quite vocally let me know that he was not tired. He did not want to sleep. he wanted to play. He wanted to meet the other guys and gals that live here. He stayed there until the pups were unloaded and introduced. Pictures were taken of the very cute pups. Oh my - one looks like she has chesapeake eyes!! It may be wishful thinking ’cause my heart  dog was a chesapeake but they sure are lovely golden eyes. Do you agree?

She needs a name PLEASE!!

The sable puppy has a dark stripe down her back and a dark face. But she also has an astounding half blue eye!!

This stunning girl needs a name - PLEASE!!

And the last puppy is a smaller guy, my first impression was another karelian bear dog but he is too fluffy, too active and way too friendly. He is a border collie puppy thru and thru!

This handsome fellow needs a name - PLEASE!!

All three pups are thought to be 12 weeks old. They have been vet checked - twice - the first time for check ups and worming, yesterday they were vaccinated and checked again. And wormed again. They traveled well and are asleep under Dave’s chair!! They  have moved in as if this was home!

The three pups are good friends.

Finally as everything calmed down, I let the big guy come out of the crate for his photo shoot. He certainly likes people.
He is about 8 to 10 months old - a teenager. He has been vet checked twice as well and vaccinated, wormed and  neutered. He traveled very well. He has adapted well here as well. He is asleep on the porch. He just didn’t want to miss anything.

He knows sit! And needs a name - PLEASE. Something he can grow into. He is very good with the puppies. They really like him too. Tomorrow is another day and probably another arrival. Please comment with the names - I really enjoy comments. I feel then that someone is reading the blog!!

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