The cold weather plays havoc with my arthritic hands making it very hard to do anything outside. Or in cold rooms. It has warmed up a bit – it is only -11 today and just dipped down to -20 overnight instead of -30. It is surprising how much warmer that 10 degrees is. It was comfortable sleeping for a change.  Although it was a bit cool to get up, it warmed up quickly. It was quite nice by the time my coffee had brewed.  

By 9 am I answered two phone calls; both for dogs in need. I had agreed to take in the great pyrenees mix puppies whose owner couldn’t care for them – he is 73 years old. His son had called and he would take them in to Bulkley Valley Veterinary Clinic for their vet checks, vaccinations and worming. He would leave a donations and TG would pay the rest. He took them in and they arrived this morning. He also picked up the low cost spay forms for th efeamle - no more puppies! They are older than 3 months – closer to 5 months and not socialized. They are pretty though and only one black one. They look more like retriever crosses than pyrs. Several have amber eyes which make me think of a Chesapeake. The biggest male is friendly as is the sweet little black female. They will come around quickly I am sure. They have potential. TG welcomes the puppies! What they are and what their names will be is the next step.

  The biggest female - she has amber eyes.
The biggest male - he is very friendly.
The sweet littlest female - she is friendly too.
A shy amber eyed female.
Am amber eyed male - he is shy too.
The sable female -  they found some of my pocketbooks.

The next phone call was from Quick – a rural community near Smithers. When I asked if there was animal control there he said “animal control was a bullet” He was calling about an abandoned momma dog and her puppy. He said she was one of those poodle -y thingees – less than knee high. I could just picture this scared little dog with a puppy following her cold and lost. No contest. TG welcomes two more lost souls looking for a home. No bullet for these guys – instead a warm and safe sanctuary.

Momma is friendly but cautious - she is sweet.

Her puppy - what a beautiful baby dog!

And to top it all off – a call from Tachet – where all the Nauticals came from. It seems the new generation of unwanted dogs has begun. Our spay neuter blitz worked somewhat but not completely. Sigh. There are 10 dogs in need.  Again. I ask what kind this time. There are 5 puppies, 6 weeks old with their mother – outside because their owner has left. The mother is a fluffy knee high little dog and her pups are fluffy too. There is a Scooby doo looking smaller dog, a malamute and two other big dogs. Is that 10? The ones most in need are the mom and pups – they are homeless. I sometimes really hate answering the phone. There are just too many homeless, unwanted dogs looking for a safe place. I mentioned spay and neuter solving the puppy problem but so will taking the mom and puppies. The other unwanted dogs are another kind of problem – irresponsible people leaving dogs behind when they move. Responsible pet care is still the #1 priority. The bigger dogs will have to wait until TG has room. The small dogs will fit in an x-pen. They will also be easier to keep inside the fence and integrate into the general population. And the clincher – the big dogs are all intact males. Segregation until their neuters is just not possible. We have to keep the safety and well being of the dogs already here in mind. We just can’t save them all.

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

It must have been the coldest night yet – I had to get up early and turn up the propane heater! I sure miss Dave – he gets up first to warm up the cabin and make the coffee. I have been spoiled. Once finances get a bit better again, we will finish the last of the rooms and move back into our house with the big wood stove (it needs a Selkirk chimney first) It has been a very long and expensive road. My biggest wish on my wish list is for new fencing. It is so needed especially with dogs that can scale a 6 foot fence with ease.

Stan and Dave left last night to go down to Surrey with a few adoptions but mainly to pick up the first of our donated vans. This one is a Ford Econoline with low mileage and complete mechanical including aircare. Thank you Deb and Chris! They also filled her up with dogfood and supplies – thank you Vancouver Animal Shelter. This TG Bus will be our work horse for larger dogs going to their new homes and bringing back supplies for the dogs and us too.  The smaller van will be the TG Bus for veterinary trips, pound trips where only one or two dogs go and for smaller adoption trips when fewer dogs are ready for their families. One van will be home to cover emergencies here when they happen like last night when Kelsey needed a ride home from the Houston Health Clinic – she fell at school and sprained her ankle. Luckily her friend’s mother was able to drive her home. She will be on crutches for a week and again a friend’s mom will drive her to the bus for school – we are .9 of a kilometer from the school bus – not doable at -30 on crutches!! 

The adopted dogs this trip were Sage, Sally and Gene. Margo – the last of Nala’s pups and Sage’s sister and I really miss the little busybody. What a difference one tiny little pup can make! She was a big presence. Good luck little one – enjoy the city life.

8 lb Sage - a big dog inside a tiny body - big big personality!!

Elegant Gene!

Pretty Sally who looks a lot like Gene!

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

The temperature dropped during the night from -1 all the way down to -30!! The dogs started climbed into our beds and under the covers ‘cause the propane heater had been shut off for the mild evening. Small puppies aren’t too bad but big old Dexter climbing up and stretching out along my back woke me up but not for long – he was downright warm so quickly – he could stay there gladly! What a warm fuzzy heating pad! Dave was up early lighting the heater, making coffee, putting on the light – but I didn’t get up until the air had warmed up and the coffee was brewed. Thank you Dave!

Here are a couple of cute pictures of longtimer Jaime who has been here for almost two years – first her demodex turned applicants away and now – she isn’t the prettiest pup! Jaime is a sharpei mix and a dwarf – she has very short legs, small eyes, she is brown though not black. She is very loving and devoted, likes to see what is going on around the yard, likes kids and walks well on leash. She travels well in a vehicle and is a stay at home kind of girl. She is a medium size, short easy clean coat but unusual looking. Somewhere her family is waiting for her.

  Jaime trying so hard to be cute!

Kerri is also a demodex pup. She is a rottie/shepherd mix with a gentle nature. She is just so sweet. She is treated with advantage multi and it seems to be clearing up her demodex around her eyes. She likes to play with Isaac and Sage and Margo. She is ready for a family who is willing to work with her demodex – it is cureable and non contagious.

  Kerri and Margo!

Hello Yvette,
 
I figured it was time to send you an update
 
Shadow is doing fantastic! He has come so far. He is the best with other dogs, perfect doggy decorum!! He has learned so many new things and gained so much confidence it’s like he is a different dog then the one we picked-up. Shadow has bonded to me so much that he rarely leaves my side and will go anywhere and come to me in pretty much every situation I call him in…. in fact he has bonded to me so well, and I to him that I am doing the unthinkable….keeping him!  I know I could not let this fantastic dog go. This is my shameful case of foster failure…but I love bragging about him! Every where I take him everyone asks questions and comments on how sleek and graceful looking he is (pretty boy). I have attached some pictures. The first one is after his first groomers appointment a few weeks after we took him in, and the other one is of him hanging out with the brat pack when we went skating on the lake a few weeks ago. 
 
For the record this is my first foster failure, its has never been easy seeing a dog go but when it came to Shadow I just knew I could not bear… it was something  different with him… I have found my 2nd heart dog.
 
Alicia

Good looking Shadow.

Does he ever look like Poncho! Poncho is Stanley’s brother!

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

There were a couple of comments yesterday asking about dogs I mentioned in earlier blogs. To Marion who asked about Stanley - here are a couple of pictures of him lounging around.
Stanley going for a ride - learning new lifeskills.

Watching TV - a very important lifeskill!

And for Sue’s question about the pitbull and pups - as far as I know she hasn’t been turned into any pounds so is still with her owners. Unfortunately we couldn’t take her in as we have reached our limit for incoming dogs. There are in no immediate danger - they do have a home.

And some pictures of other dogs that haven’t been mentioned lately.
Chunky Munky, Dexter and Harley lounging on top of a crate.

Crayola cuddling next to Stan.

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

The morning started with the wonderful smell of good coffee brewing. I can smell again! I still have a chest cold and I am coughing like crazy but my nose is much better. I am on the mend again thank doG.

Mike arrived after dark yesterday with the three pound dogs from Hazelton. Someone had filled his truck with gasoline instead of diesel. He had to siphon it all out and clean it and start over. He was very upset and very late on his day off yet. Kelsey and I organized the big cage into the new dog room and set up Buck – a gentle, black golden retriever mix. He has had a rough life with not enough food and neglect but his gentle nature got him by. Everybody liked him so everybody fed him. But he needed a real home so he found himself impounded. Thus started his journey to a better life. Turtle Gardens welcomes Buck!

  Buck meets Tanis!

With Buck was two australian shepherd mixes a mother and daughter team. Their owner just didn’t have time for them – they worked too many hours. So they asked Mike to please find a safe place for them. And he did. Turtle Gardens welcomes Cheeka and Crackers.

  Pretty little 3 year old Cheeka!
Crackers has a white face thus sensitive eyes as well. She is 1.5 years old.

The two girls came into the cabin with us and settled for the night in an x-large crate. They are such nice dogs. Cheeka is a tad shy but is such a sweet gentle lovely girl. She really looks like an aussie but has brindle coloring patches on snowy white. She is very pretty. Crackers is friendly and good natured. She likes everything and everybody – people and dogs. She looks like an extra tall springer spaniel! She is a follow you kind of girl – interested in everything going around her. She will be an awesome family companion. It would be very nice if they could find a home together but it is highly unlikely. But we can hope can’t we?

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

From early December to the second week of January there is no  sun shining at Turtle Gardens. The hill across the road from the house blocks it completely. Well a glimmer shone through yesterday afternoon but today….. we have had sun all day. The sun has broken and everything looks so much brighter today! Even if I do have the flu - thank you kids!! We are planning a trip south as soon as all our ducks are in a row.

And another adoption locally:

Dear Yvette,

I’ve had Aspen on sleep-over for the last 3 weeks, and I’d like to adopt her permanently.  I did fill out an application some months ago (I’m the person who had Jerry on sleep-over but couldn’t keep him because he didn’t get along with my cat.  BTW, I heard he was adopted by some folks I’ve been canoeing with and was doing well, which made me very happy).

Can you please let me know what I need to do to complete Aspen’s adoption?

Thanks,

Diane

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

What a year you’ve had! I’m so happy you are nearing completion of the reno with the possibility of having a little more comfort added to your daily routine. You deserve it.

I just thought I’d share a little natural remedy I came across when Truman woke up one morning shaking his head furiously and scratching at his ears. He does this often when he first wakes, but this was far more serious and driving him (and us) nuts! I was very concerned and planning on taking him to the vet, but I’ve had experiences with both Truman and my last dog where the solution was simple or they just recommended drugs for something minor. So anyways, I checked online as to the causes and found a solution from a vet that is good for bacteria with a wax build up (I could see it was not ear mites by the way).

One (1) part vinegar to two (2) parts water. They recommended a turkey baster to deposit the fluid and suck it out, but all I had was a wash cloth which I soaked and squeezed a small amount into his ear and wiped the wax away. This worked like magic! After shaking the water out (he didn’t particularly like the treatment so I wasn’t sure if I’d done enough), he stopped shaking and hasn’t done it again for several days. (I have used this formula since 1982 when Cleo (choclate lab/chessie mix) had frequent ear infections - the surgeon who operated on her hips (she had hip dysplasia and had both hips repaired in 1983 (same Dr did my Sweetpea’s surgery too) recommended this formula for dogs with pendulous ears especially if they like to swim - Sara my chessie used it too - all her life!)

Of course, if a simple home remedy doesn’t work I’d have to take him somewhere, but for a floppy eared dog that may occasionally have this problem I was quite happy to have a solution that eased his suffering so quickly.

Anyhow, you may have already come across this, but I was so happy with it I wanted to share!

PS. I’ve included a cute picture of Truman napping with his ‘buddy’. Hope you enjoy

 

NALA

Hi Yvette,

We just wanted to let you know that last night went really well.. She found
a place to sleep…on my nicest couch…and was much more relaxed! So
hopefully this starts a new pattern! We will give it a few more days…
thank you for all your tips. we appreciate it.

~Janet and Beau and Nala

She is already very attached and has some separation anxiety but we are
trying small steps at a time. She has been left in the car or in my office
for a few minutes at a time and is getting better at it. So far she is not
very interested in treats yesterday was the first time i saw her actually
chew on her rawhide.
She is so funny and very smart. we are enjoying her very much. We will work
on making her more independent.

~Janet

Happy New Year!  As you know we adopted Dozer in November/06 and I must say, I had no idea how much our beautiful and gentle boy would impact our lives!  When Dozer came into our lives, we were living in a townhouse at the bottom of Burnaby Mountain.  We struggled with the limited space in our home especially since our cats lived on the top floor and Dozer on the main floor, and city life just didn’t agree with Dozer- his skills were more in tune with nature than roadways!  Since our favourite boy had lived his life in the mountains, we decided to take the bold move of moving away from the city to meet his needs.  In April/07, our little furry family moved to Squamish to a our new home (the cats and Dozer are finally friends in our 2 level house!) and we haven’t looked back!  Carl also got a job in town so at least one of us is closer to Dozer!  We noticed such a huge change in our boy-happy and able to run free in his own big backyard (you could hold a tennis match!) and trails all around our neighbourhood…and of course, Whistler just 30 min away!  I’ve attached a few pics of Dozer in his new town! 

Thanks to you and your fabulous crew for rescuing Dozer, as we are so fortunate to have this wonderful creature in our lives!     

Mary-Ann, Carl, Dozer, Bo & Luke

Christmas with Dozer

Dozer at Levette Lake

Dozer on his deck!

  Adoni and Guy before surgery
Adoni recovering from surgery

Adoni and Santa

Adoni and his Christmas toy.

Hi Yvette,
Ella came for a visit this afternoon, look at how much the pups have grown since
they left TG!
Gryphon discovered the dishwasher this morning.
They start puppy classes tomorrow night, should be interesting.  After close to 150 tries,
Gryphon can shake a paw now, he’ll lift it about an inch off the ground.
He’s also got selective hearing - must be a husky trait!
 
Looks like you’re just about ready to move in!
Take care,
Cynda

  How did you get them to sit still for such a cute pic?

Teya and Gryphon - his forehead mark is very distinctly a bird!

Gryphon discovers the dishwasher!

Warmest Greetings, Yvette and All!
Just a quick update to let you know how little Shadow is doing.  She is an absolute joy……there are just no words to explain what happiness she has brought to our family.  We are So enjoying her (and I’m sure the feeling is mutual)!  She is feeling right at home with all of us now, loves to play (she is hilarious when we get home from work as she is so excited, bounces all over, likes to pounce at our feet and race around……of course, we all take great pleasure in getting down on the floor with her and joining in on the play!!!)  We go for several walks a day (one very early in the morning, one as soon as I get home from school, and 3 later in the evening……she loves to walk, as do I, so we are the perfect walking partners.  She is such good company!!!  She had a steak dinner last night (Mike felt she should be treated to a steak dinner with the rest of the family), gets cooked beef bones to gnaw on when we are at work or school, and has had several new chew toys and a deluxe new lambswool bed bought for her.  I guess we are spoiling her but she deserves it.  She is just a sweet little girl, and we love her so very much.  Again, we thank you for making it possible for her to become such an important part of our lives.  I hope all is well with you, your family, and all the lucky animals that have you to care for them.  Have a great day!!
Warmly,
Louise McLennan

Shadow at Christmas.

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

Yesterday was too cold for the epoxy to dry!! So the vinyl couldn’t be laid. They came back this morning and Mother Nature had played a huge joke on us - instead of the proposed -1 we had -31!! It was downright cold!! The propane heaters were lit, including the one from the blue house. I was left with a tiny micro heater that couldn’t cut through the cold. The dogs and I hunkered down under feather duvets and napped while we waited for the floor to be laid and  the propane heater returned to warm us all up again.  But the main dog room is finished. And we can make plans to move back into the Red House. Oh glorious joy!!

Checking the screws are all in.
painting the epoxy along the seams.
Our two guests Kansas and Tanis getting in the way.

Almost ready.

The epoxy should have dried in two hours but it was too cold here.

Weather outside was -18;  the electric heaters couldn’t keep up.

So they came back today to finish the job.

One room at a time.

It is so shiny!!

Seamless seams.

Lots of glue - it won’t lift!

All done!

What a beautiful surface! Thank you Total Floors - Smithers.

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