Today is the last day of 2007 – a time for reflections of the past year.  Dogs arrived to TG in groups this year. The “Nauticals” started with a litter of puppies born under a boat in January and ended with 27 at final count!! All the dogs were related – the mother a tiny pom/sheltie type to a larger sheltie litter of teenagers. One of the teens was an early mother of 10 puppies!! The other two were spayed in time. The next group was the Karelian Bear dogs – 9 of them. And of course the largest group was the “Sheriff” dogs – all 45 of them. The most serious dog in need was dear Silas who needed antibiotics first for an infection then an amputation of his front leg – shattered in a leg hold trap – then left for months until finally he was weak enough to capture. Silas recovered completely and was our poster boy during the summer. He visited schools and really brought home the saying “Keep your dog safe at home – Don’t let him roam” of the dangers of dogs running loose in the country. Our “Nauticals” are still the poster dogs for our Spay Neuter Program. Twenty –seven faces drum home pet over-population more effectively than numbers on a page.  

There were snow storms in the winter, flooding in the spring and early summer, renovations that kept multiplying, broken limbs. There was disaster after disaster both man made and weather made as well as animals in need. It was a very difficult year.

On the plus side – 225 adoptions in 2007.  New friends and many new supporters. Our son moved in to help us with our expanded population. Without Stan and Kelsey we could not have taken in the “Sheriff” dogs, rehabbed them and adopted/or sent to other rescues the majority of the younger and best tempered dogs. The remaining ones are starting their introduction into our foster group home program. The red house is almost ready for occupancy. 2007 was a challenge. But together, we rose up and conquered the obstacles. Without our wonderful veterinarians Dr. Lois Martin and Dr Caroline Kye and all the encouraging staff at the Burns Lake Veterinary Clinic, we could not have succeeded at Turtle Gardens. We wish to thank all of our donators throughout the year – large or small – your donations helped us help the animals extremely well. Every dog of age was spayed or neutered, all were vet checked, vaccinated and wormed. If any dog needed extra medical care – they got it. Every dog left for their home wearing a new collar and leash. Here’s hoping 2008 is an easier sweeter year with fewer animals needing help. And a new motto for a new year – this one I like!

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

Morning has broken and it is another cold day -20 overnight!  Thank goodness for good coffee. We received many gift packages this Christmas with my favorite brand of coffee and treats for my guys. Thank you so very much. Christmas hampers give us treats we normally wouldn’t enjoy - again we thank you. Life at the zoo is very good.  One of our packages held fuzzy pink piggy toys for puppies and of course the puppies were all around me watching me open the  gift - there might be treats for them in it - others have!! They grabbed toys and ran around playing with them - tug, chase and squeaks. Then I read the note inside. Wendi mentioned that the little teddy bear has money inside his back where the replaceable squeakers go. Now it was a scramble to find the puppy with the teddy bear!! All the puppies were found but no teddy bear. Then I heard a squeak squeak and looked over to the corner under the chair and there was Sweetpea playing with the teddy bear - she loves to squeak toys and doesn’t chew them. Luckily for us the teddy gave up his treasure of cash and Sweetpea was given back her new favorite toy. Thank you Wendi!!

It is now Duggie’s in-house rotation.  He certainly has calmed down after his neuter. His health has improved tremendously with the worming as well. What a nice dog he is. He is very dog social and enjoys playing with Crayola!! Today on his walk with Dave Duggie was trying to play with the puppies - they were so small and quick that they would dart under his legs and he would spin trying to keep up. Dave and I laughed until we cried. Of course I didn’t have my camera handy! These pups average 7 to 8 pounds - the smallest is just over 5 pounds while the male is almost 9 pounds. They are now 11 weeks old and will be getting their second vaccinations and going to their new families. Although small dogs they are dogs and run and play in the snow. They are not frou frou types but solid well rounded puppies.

And now pictures of some of the dogs. This time of year we don’t see any sunlight as the hill in front of us block the sun until January 10th or so. so it looks colder and drearier than it really is.

Chunky Munky aka Nicky is such a serious little guy. He is slowly losing weight and is feeling so much better! He follows Dave everywhere he goes so he would prefer a home with someone who putters around a garden or workshop. He is always where the action is.

Good natured Duggie - he is a non roamer so can be loose during his in house rotation. What an incredibly nice dog! The TG Bus is plugged in for cold weather!

Little Nala - with Margo. Nala is slowing gaining her new colours - she was malnourished white!! She will be a lovely golden girl with sharp white markings. She has learned that inside comforts are great especially beds!!

I thought Tiguak looked a tad crowed - notice the dogs behind her in the small crate with the soft cushion!! 18 year old Sophie thought she would sneak in a nap in Tiguak’s spot! Tiguak too is slowing changing colours. She too will be a soft gold.

And finally Dave the pied piper on his daily walk around the property. Crayola, Duggie, Spirit and a corner of Chunky Munky!

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

It snowed during the night so Stan decided not to go to the veterinarian. There was six inches of new snow. But I didn’t hear him say that - I thought he was sick. Dave got up and drove Nala to the Burns Lake Clinic instead! He was back by 9.30 and cooked breakfast - Stan wasn’t sick - he thought there was too much snow to drive the highway!
It is winter - cold (-12) and snowy here in the north!

Nala has finally weaned her puppies!! They are 10 weeks old and will have their second vaccinations on Wednesday and will go to their families on the 5th or so. Nala’s family lives in North Vancouver.

Once breakfast was done Dave bathed Tanis our little guest and then I helped him bath Kansas the bigger girl. They were going to visit their mom today at the hospital! Thank you to the nursing staff for calling us for regular updates and for arranging the visit. They have been very good dogs, well mannered and dog social. They follow Dave while he does chores and sleep on the floor next to his bed. They travelled very well in the TG Bus and walked happily into the hospital, down the corridor and into her room. What a happy reunion it was.

Tanis and Kansas were good as gold.

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

Brrr it is very cold again - most of the dogs that find my bed are under the covers too! I sure hope the families adopting my puppies will understand that they are spoiled a bit. It can get downright chilly in here during the night and they naturally gravitate to the warmest place. And I do have a a thick, comfy feather duvet!! They are not dumb puppies. The lucky dogs in the kennel have a woodstove chugging away keeping them warm. I often think about moving my bed into the recovery room but it wouldn’t be big enough for all of my followers. The duvet will just have to do.

The only pup without an application for a family is Margo - you guessed it - the black pup. Black is traditional a difficult colour to place even in very cute smart small dog puppies. Margo has very little white - just on the tip of her toes - she looks like she is wearing toe shoes so I named her Margo after Dame Fonteyn - a wonderful ballet performer. Little Margo is smart, gentle and cuddly. But no one wants her ……….yet.  Soon little one it will be your turn.

And now pictures of our newest adoptees:

And Shadow:

And little Finn - He had never had a home before - he was a long time stray in a northern very tough reserve but he soon found out how wonderful a life he had come into!!

Dear Yvette:

Kate , Lucy, and Finn

And a confirmation of why our Group Foster Program works!

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

This last TG Bus run has certainly proved once again that our anon donor whose donation was geared to TG expenses anywhere it was needed and no strings attached - and what was so desperately needed was 4 good snowtires for the TG Bus. The TG Bus is owned by TG. This trip was a marathon of endurance with bad roads, snow/slush and multiple accidents.

This is the road after 10 hours of driving! Then six hours of waiting for the bus accident to clear.

Thank you so much for keeping my guys and 8 dogs plus Dez safe this horrendous trip!

Christmas was a wonderful day with family - Dave’s sister and her daughter, partner and grandson all visited  to show us Christmas through the eyes of a child! I had forgotten the awe and wonder of Christmas. i am hoping the spirit of goodwill stays with me for a long while. It was a most relaxing and beautiful day! The dogs were all very well behaved - the puppies and Paddy had a great time playing together and Paddy followed Stan all the while he did his chores with all the kennel dogs. Thanks to a special person every dog received a large can of dogfood - hand fed to each and every one - to teach them how to have a soft mouth for treats and to eliminate food aggression - a whole can each - thank you!!

Then we all ate a superbly cooked meal - thank you Dave! Our day ended quietly and renewed!

Trip is learning all about treats inside the house. Although still a bit shy she has come a long way in her rehab.

Today saw Lorna arrive with Christmas Hampers and dogfood from herself and Jean and Bruce and Margaret. Thank you so very much. Your support and kindness means so much to all of us at TG. There was a turkey and a ham and all kinds of goodies and all the trimmings to go with the turkey. There was homemade jams and cookies. Thank you so very much. We appreciate it all!! Thank you for thinking of us.

We also received a hamper from the Smithers Town Office, and Jane Hetherington and Jan and Heather Mckye. As you can see in the picture with Trip - Stan really likes his new touque!  Warm feet and warm heads - the cold can’t touch us now! Thank you so very much. Included in the parcels was a hand drawn picture of one of my pups by Heather. Thank you Heather - I will treasure it and frame it. Kelsey says the puppy was Casey.

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

Hello Yvette,
I hope you and the dogs had a very merry christmas, and santa paws brought
lots of presents. Santa paws spoiled Frayja this year, because she was being
such a good puppy and so brave too, getting over her virus.
We went for a christmas walk today with my nephews that are up for christmas,
and of course Cracker came.
When we were just about in the door Frayja spotted a dog across the road,
and being a puppy, immediatly started to run to greet it.
Sadly, my baby did not see the car comming….and got hit, very hard.
Tears immetiadtly started to stream from my eyes, as I screamed and dashed
to my little girls aid. When I reached her she looked pretty bad, she was pewking up
blood, and couldn’t move very much despite her efforts to reasure me she was o.k., being
the good girl she was.
 
On the way to the vets, after giving an emergency call to our very good vet, Cally, Frayja
wasn’t looking good. I pet her, kissed her, even though it wasn’t a pleasant thing to do, cuz of
her condition. She lifted her head to my face to give me a kiss, I taught her to kiss my lips with only
her lips, no licks. Though I still loved her slobbery kisses to. Taking very spaced out, last breathes….
…my puppy died…..on christmas day. I really loved Frayja, we had such a close bond, as I spent every
waking moment with her, because I home school for the time being. She even came babysitting with me
to play with the lady’s dogs. I just thought that I should let you know, because of course i’m sure
you like to be informed of the dogs well being. Thank-you for everything. Merry Christmas.

Marrisa Ford.

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

Our guys made it home from the TG Bus run at 7.30 this morning. They did Christmas shopping before turning around to come home - how sweet is that!  Dave needed help to unload the van before he could crash and have a nap. A quick cup of coffee - thank you everyone who sent me coffee and biscuits - my days always have that first good cuppa to look forward to - what a grand way to start my days! It is totally quiet now so I can answer emails and do my computer work. Emails this morning were more updates - no better way to enjoy my day. I LOVE Happy Endings!!

First from the little Pound Puppy now in Vancouver in her foster home. Thank you Sheila:

We named the puppy Bree which she is still learning. Above is picture of her meeting a couple of our animals.  Carlton, the cat, must think she is a cat because with all the other “big” dogs he tries to take a swipe at them. Boomer the dog also thinks she is a cat because he kept saying to Leila “can I have her, can I have her”.  On Monday I am going to take her with me to my vets because I have an appointment for two of my own and  I will arrange for her spay.  She was very comfortable putting on a collar and walking on a leash and when taken outside she pees but doesn’t go poo poo outside.  She is very well adjusted for a puppy that has had quite a few changes in 5 days.  She is good with the cats and other dogs although she shows no interest in playing with them.  She follows me around quite a bit and doesn’t fuss unless she is in her crate (she slept in it and she is crated in the car).  I told Leila she is going to get her way because boy that crying is hard to take.  Bree is our very first “small” dog foster.  She is so cute I know she will find a home quickly.

Sheila

Hi Yvette,
   Well Mya finally arrived.  As you probably know the boys had a long and arduous trip to the coast.  Mya came home with us and is in the process of settling in.  She is a little anxious as I’m sure she misses Stan and all her pack pals.  No problem with Maxine however.  They both seem to be able to share the same space but are both in their own little worlds.  The first meal was no problem.  They both politely ate their dinners and then checked out each other’s bowls. 

Stan, Dave and Mya meet Jude and Maxine

Hi Again…that was last night.
   Just after I typed that last night Mya jumped over the fence and was gone into the night.  We live on a creek, actually in a gully, and we didn’t know if she went up or down the creek or across it even.  Panic city!  First thing we do is phone Stan.  Just what Stan needs at 10:00 PM after driving all night the night before.  Without a second hesitation Stan asked how do I find your house - I’ll be right over.  We’re almost an hour from Dave’s place.  I jumped into my van, a GMC Safari just like Stan’s and as I got to the top of the first hill Mya appeared out of the bushes and ran up to the car.  She must have thought it was Stan.  Just managed to catch Stan before he left for our place.  Much relief all round!!
   Mya settled in and slept all night.  She and Max got up at 7:45 and like a couple of old pals had breakfast together.  Of course they had to check out each other’s bowls again when they were both empty. Car ride, walk in Capilano Canyon, waiting in the car at the mall,  back home, and another walk later in the day - in Lighthouse Park and home for dinner.  The dogs seem to be getting along fine and Mya seems much more at ease in just 24 hours.  We’ll keep you posted.  Thanks again Yvette to you and your boys.  We tend to measure your success in terms of the positive and often life saving experiences of the dogs and tend not to mention as much the contributions you make to the many appreciative adopting homes.  We’ll keep in touch.  Cheers…Steve

  Mya and Max settle for the night! Home at last.

An update from Little Shadow!

Hi Yvette. Just a quick note from the McLennan family and their newest member Shadow.
 
First of all we wanted to thank you for bringing Shadow into our lives. We truly feel that she was meant to be part of our family. WE LOVE HER!! She has settled in very nicely. Since she’s been her she’s had a bath, gone for 2 long walks (she prances!), and had lots of attention. She loves to have her tummy rubbed, and makes us all laugh when she stretches out like a bunny in the sun. She likes sleeping on her new beds, enjoyed a welcome breakfast of a scrambled egg, and even taught herself how to go up and down our stairs.
She’s the best Christmas present ever, and we will send you some pictures and another update soon!
Merry Christmas and all the best to you at Turtle Gardens. Thank you for all that you do.
The McLennan family.

Today (Dec. 23) marks the 5th anniversary of arrival of Annie (aka Deidre,

Aussie X). Who could have guessed five years ago that the little frightened

ugly duckling would turn into a striking-looking swan that attracts

everybody’s attention!! This daddy’s little girl is very playful and has a

great sense of humour, often teasing Dad. Even last Friday at our agility

practice, when Dad was trying to figure out how to execute a bit tricky

"Out" command, she just ran through the correct path with her chin and tail

up high as if saying, "Dad, you can stay there until you figure it out. I

know where to go by watching other dogs!" Needless to say that Annie

received big applause for her performance.

 

She started agility for her confidence building. At first she literally

quivered on the dog-walk which was only two-feet off the ground, let alone

teeter, she simply froze. By the time Merlin the Rascal (Aussie adopted form

the Aussie Rescue in 05) took on agility earlier this year, she showed him

how to attack each and every obstacle. 

 

Annie likes to go jogging with our son and can accompany him off-leash even

on busy streets without bothering any passers-by. On the intellectual side,

she has refined her language skills and is fully bilingual (English and

Japanese). 

 

Thank you, TG, for letting us adopt her 5 years ago. We still cannot forget

the excitement on the day she flew to Vancouver. She is the best Christmas

gift we’ve ever had. I attach a couple of photos. (1) Canada Day photo opp.

Annie (right) and Merlin (left) (2) Lynn Mouth Park in North Van, summer 07

(Annie standing next to Dad)

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

 

Masako Sharpe



And a timely Holiday reminder from the ASPCA Newsletter:

A Poison Safe Home

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

Cold Weather Hazards
- Antifreeze
- Liquid potpourri
- Ice melting products
- Rat and mouse bait

Holiday Hazards
- Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
- Electrical cords
- Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction-most often occurs with kittens!)
- Batteries
- Glass ornaments

-Pointsettia Plants

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

it was a worrisome day yesterday as my guys were seriously delayed behind the bus accident at Bridal Falls - they were the third vehicle in the line up on TV at noon!! But I didn’t see the news until 15 minutes into it and missed the story - so did Davy our second son.  So we worried and called each other every hour.  Thank goodness I had my good coffee. It really helped.  We figured if the TG Bus had been in an accident we would have been called so we waited for news. Santa will be bringing TG a cell phone for Christmas!! It is a necessity not a luxury - it hurts to worry like that!!

The TG Bus arrived at 4.30 pm -  6 hours late. The first adoption to go was little Shadow - her family live in Cloverdale so weren’t too far away. Shadow was a bit shy but went to her Mom right away. She was very happy to walk away.

Then it was Mya’s turn. Friendly Mya liked both her new guardians - and treated the resident old girl with the respect due her. Mya of course was very eager to go for another ride - she loves to travel!!

Soon all the adopters were called and the rest were ready to go too. Robbie’s family arrived at 8pm. Sheela’s family at 6 pm -  hopefully she will pass kitty 101 - she is a foster to adopt  pending kittie introduction. She was acting out her frustration at the long drive but soon settled after a walk around the block. Makenna was the lady she always is - she greeted her new family with gentleness and grace. Jim  and Craig were very pleased with our little girl. Finn met his new mom and she has sent an update!!  Thank you Kate and Lucy for letting me know how his first evening and day are going:

and last but not least Stan was up at 6 am this morning to meet the ferry and hand over Muskwa! Kim and John were impressed at their perfect match - he was exactly what they expected. He went happily up the ramp to his new life!

Sheila picked up the pretty pound pup and we will have updates soon. Happy Endings are the rhyme and reason for Turtle Gardens.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Muskwa!!

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