It was dark when Stan and I heard a car  horn honking outside – not one dog barked!! Not until Stan went outside to see who it was; did the dogs sound an alert. I don’t do dark. It is one of my most terrible phobias. Thank doG Stan was inside the cabin with me or I would have HAD to go out of my comfort zone.

It was Linda who stopped in on her way to Prince George. She had a skinny, little, abused terrier mix in need from Kitwanga.  Turtle Gardens welcomes little Lizzie!

  She is a bit shy but very cuddly.

Stan and I were up very early ‘cause today is SPEUTER day for 3 of  the boys and 1 girl – one of the few who is NOT in heat or post heat – maybe she is spayed but we need to know that too.  He needed his coffee and then loaded up the boys. It was a difficult task as they are not exactly friendly with each other.  But he was soon on his way – 1.5 hours one way to Smithers then 1.5 hours back home again to work to care for “his” Sheriff dogs. At 3 pm he will go 1.5 hours to pick them up again. There goes one tank of gas for our old TG Bus! There are many hidden expenses that TG has to cover. It is easy to say “today is speuter day” but the logistics of the actual “doing it” can be complicated.

It just got a whole lot easier though with a large donation for Turtle Gardens – not the “Sheriff dogs” but for the day to day needs of TG. Like the fencing to build an exercise yard for the dogs to run around in – off the chains. Like the maternity/medical building that Stan is so excited about. He is moving his bed inside there today so the newly spayed and newly neutered dogs can sleep on the bed to start their rehabilitation to family pets.  The atco will continue as the maternity for the little girl and her single puppy – it’s a boy!!

The beautiful, healthy baby

Proud Stan shows off a plump puppy in good condition.

Life continues for Turtle Gardens’ regular dogs too. Nala has whelped 4 days after her arrival from Kincolith Reserve. She has 7 beautiful babies. She is very protective of her babies so I don’t know what each gender each is but four are larger then the 3 small ones. They could look like Robbie the mini-malamute and her 7 month old daughter. The small ones will most likely be smaller like Nala. Only time will tell though. It really is a guessing game on size – sometimes what is supposed to be small ends up quite large – right Lorna!! Other times I am right on and the dog is exactly the weight I predicted. You just never know!! Dogs are like that – we can’t really second guess the canine species though we try!

Little Nala is very protective of her family.

Nala pushes her soft red fleecy blanket from under the pups to bury her food! I have tried blankets, pads, shredded paper to keep the pups comfy. Nala removes all of it to cover her food. She finally leaves some food in her dish but buries it every time. She is in an x-pen for her privacy inside the cabin with Dave and I.

AN update from our little Sherrif dog who went to DOGS DESERVE BETTER - TERRACE:
Thank you for the update, Alicia. We always like to hear how our dogs are doing!!

Hi Yvette,

Shadow went in and got neutered yesterday. He was pretty out of it when I picked him up, so out of it he actually peed on his bed while he was sleeping and I had to move him out of it. He is doing really good today, no more pee accidents in his sleep. He seems a bit sore, but os ok. The vet gave him a tattoo on the inside of his thigh as well at no cost.

Shadow is alot more comfortable with me now, and we are working on his separation anxiety. He does not like it when I am out of his sight and will start to howl. He is getting better. He is also learning to accept the crate and does not seem to mind having to go inside.
He is finally showing his personality more and will come up and paw me to play with him. He is starting to trust me too, as when he gets scared of new things he will run and hide behind me. He is very good with food and has no aggression when I am near him when he’s eating.

Once I put him up on petfinder I think he should be getting snatched very quickly. He is just an all around wonderful dog and companion to have around. Very nicely mannered and quiet. He doesn’t chew much as long as he has toys and a bone, and the only thing you have to watch is your shoes.

You did a very good job on the radio the other day, I did not think you were talking to fast I think it was great of you to do the interview, it has brought alot of awareness about the situation and it seems to stir them to look more towards adoption and helping dogs out of such predicaments. Very well done.

Sounds like things are also looking up for you guys out there at TG, good to hear. The dogs are incredibly lucky that there is someone like you out there to care for them so much, without you I don’t even want to think about what would of happened to most of those dogs. You and your family are incredible people. Thank you!

Alicia
Dogs Deserve Better; Terrace
Here he is with his sister before leaving TG for Terrace.

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