We hear about so many good things people from all over happily do to help the Labatte family maintain Turtle Gardens as the safe haven it continues to be for so many creatures in need. Everyone’s efforts generate warm feelings and a bit of relief in my heart, so I can only imagine how your efforts must impact Yvette directly. All the selfless work and energy she dedicates to others surely marks her as a worthy recipient of support in her efforts.
I have had the pleasure of being involved with TG supporters over the past several months through a series of small gestures helping toward the fundraising raffle and alumni walk slated for Saturday, August 30th. Cynda and Jude (aka the pitbull sisters) are gifted coordinators and have skillfully collected a group of donors and supporters from around the province to help make this raffle a hit. So far the tickets are going like hotcakes and I have even had to send some back to the mainland (I’m on the island) to match the demand! Please email Cynda at cyndasgot3@gmail.com to purchase your tickets before August 22nd. Please see the “List of Donated Raffle Prizes” in the right hand side bar of this blog. (BC Gaming Licence # 8775, must be over 19 to play, chances are 1 in 185 to win, Know your limit play within it).
I am very excited about the raffle draw date and the following TG dog walk reunion at Everett Crowley Park in Vancouver! We’ll get to meet the Dog Lady Herself! Yvette will be there! What a tribute in itself to a woman who does so much for so many. Please come to join the celebration and to honour the ongoing efforts of this generous woman. You can even scratch that benevolent itch while at the event: There are fun yellow umbrellas with the TG logo available as a gift to those who donate $20 or more, and fun yellow bandanas with the TG logo available as a gift to those who donate $5 or more. Today it’s raining on the island and 3 more umbrellas have walked out the door! They have lovely foam handles that I tested on our dog walks… The foam handles are soft under hand and warm in the cool rainy weather. A colleague’s wife bought one and chased her husband around with the pointy part laughing that she’d pay $50 for the umbrella… I didn’t ask any questions! Feel free to email Cynda with your requests for bandanas, tshirts, and umbrellas, and please do come to the raffle reunion on August 30th. Rosemary (our diligent bandana sewer) and her small dog, my daughter and I and our two TG alumni, are all piling into a camper van to make a weekend of it! We’ll be camping out in front of a friend’s home in Vancouver. Then we four people and four dogs will make the pilgrimage to the TG draw and reunion to honor a very special woman. I’ll be the one with a bouncy, happy Siggy Sue and a lot of yellow umbrellas! Please relieve me of a few umbrellas and at least take the time to introduce yourself! Keep spreading the news about TG and I look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks!
Sara
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
It was quite hot today all the way up to +27C and no cooling breeze either. The dogs all lay in the shade or in the cooler house. Mostly in the house. there were people all day to look at dogs, to take our guest Tao home and to seriously look at dogs. It seems that good weather send a lot of people out for a drive and they stop to see what is at Turtle Gardens - these we call “lookeeloos”. Sometimes there is a dog of interest but most often it is just to see. But today I had two groups to really look. Dave took one couple and I took the other. They looked but kept going back to Gabriel. Finally they asked to see him up close and I went in found a leash and took him out of the gate. Gabriel went for a walk. She was smitten - now she has to talk to her husband and see if he likes Gabriel too.
Gabriel has really gained weight and muscle - surprising what good food and deworming does for a dog and freedom to move - unchained!
Dave had brought out Troy who was a “hit”. And a keeper. King was brought out and though they really liked him they felt he would do better with Kaz’s mother who would be arriving in November. so if King is still here then he will have a home - otherwise he is still looking for an older person to take him for walks around the block and let him supervise while they do chores and lay at their feet when they sit down. King is an honest to doG follow you wherever you go kind of dog. What a super companion! And tho slightly disappointed I am glad to that I can still enjoy him for awhile longer.
King moving!!
Dave took Beau in for his check up and his rabies vaccination today - he is going home this weekend! And Rufus was seen as well - he has a skin condition either food allergies or from the terribly matted coat he had. So he is on antibiotics. They think Rufus is 5 or so years old so really just middle aged! He wears a sweater her at night and early mornings - he was cold with his shave - he must have been matted a very long time. While Dave was there he met Troy and his family (they were going to Prince George then back to Prince Rupert - across the ferry to home in Massett - Queen Charlotte Island!)- they were looking for a groomer so he could be more comfortable. Our vets phoned and got him an appointment right away - how cool is that!
Troy last week before the brushing that removed a garbage bag of hair but still lots left of old hair. Another brushing, a hot bath and a blow dryer will “blow” most of that old hair away! He will look gorgeous and they promised pictures soon!!
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Spring has been on a sleepover right here in Topley with a family including toddlers. He was very good with them BUT he really really liked the smallest little girl. He would jump up on her and scratched her. He would not stop so Spring has come back to TG. Spring needs training especially in greetings. He was named Spring by his rescuers because of his “springing up”. He has learned that jumping up on me is not kosher - he won’t get any attention until he sits but I am an adult. A child cannot. Adults have to train him. He needs treats when he sits in front of the child - the child can give him him the treats so she is “small leader” She could give him his food when he sits - he learns that good things come from this “small leader”. It is a bit more work and in a busy household sometimes it is too much to train a dog and child how to interact. For them an older dog with good manners was a better choice - and a dumped off stray was perfect. The dog was an older neutered male - a gentle soul who really wanted a home and family - he chose them. And fit in so very well. Spring will find his own family too.
We have two guests on sleepovers this week. I will accept our own TG Alumni for sleepovers - I know they are dog social and will fit in well. Tao formerly Wiser has been here for a couple of days and what a nice pup he has turned out to be! He is very dog social - he was raised by Auntie Sophie (her last litter to raise) and was adopted when he was 10 weeks old so he had learned good doggie social skills. He has a 4 year old little girl that he adores and he is very gentle - he “knows” she is physically challenged and adjusts to her. He is a perfect companion for her, yet is a rambunctious playful puppy outside with the bigger dog. He already knows proper etiquette around “his” small leader.
Tao at my feet!
And 3Penny has come for a sleepover while her new mom is away for the weekend. Because 3Penny has separation anxiety she is staying here instead of her mother’s farm - until 3Penny is assured there as well as her new home. 3Penny is doing very well - she is admired and enjoyed by all her coworkers. She is very people and dog social even with toddlers - thank you Chantelle for instilling such excellent “toddler” skills during your foster of our girl. She is very obedient again thanks to Chantelle - she is such a joy and pleasure is what Leah said!! And beautiful too. A very good match - Leah is also a runner so 3Penny is well exercised too.
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Another beautiful day - not too warm with a nice breeze! And no phone calls about dogs in need! I have been asked for pictures of Georgia’s puppies so I took my trusty camera (Thank you Pedigree - it takes good pictures!) and thank you Dave for finally buying batteries!! Here are sleeping babies:
They are now just over 3 weeks old - the blonde is a boy while the black plain jane is a girl.
The big boy!!
And last the classic colored boy!
Now an update from Possum’s sister - Brie Marie!
Hi Yvette,
Here is an update picture of Brie Marie I saw the picture of Possum on the website so this is her a couple of weeks after grooming. She is still not great with other people rather than me but does warm up to them eventually but no one but no one picks up Brie other than me they will be bitten. I can place her in laps of people that she knows but she looks uncomfortable. We keep trying!
Love Wen
I also sent an updated picture of Logan, our little puppy that was found at the side of a road in a box is growing up!!!
Brie and Logan.
Logan.
And Brie Marie.
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Today is much quieter! Still sunny and breezy (keeps the bugs away!) makes you want to be outside. We have a prospective adopter coming on Friday all the way from Queen Charlotte Island! And they are interested in seniors - Troy and King. How cool is that!
Our new arrivals are doing well. The Moricetown Specials are much friendlier. Dillon is a quiet well behaved boy who likes to play with Nonie and Tuxedo. Dudley now goes in and out and does his business outside 90% of the time! That’s a big improvement - he is almost ready for his family. Tuxedo is also much friendlier - he lies at m feet and puts his head on my knee - he is much closer to being ready for adoption with a gentle family who will continue to boost his confidence. Ripley - Poncho’s brother has come back - he has reverted due to changes in his home. He doesn’t do change well at all - they are renovating to sell and he is not happy. He started destroying newly done work - not good. TG re-welcomes Ripley!
And an update from Possum!
Hi Yvette - hope all is well with you. You certainly have been busy. Just wanted to send you a new picture of Poss. I took it at a local park last night after a well loved game of fetch. He gets so excited when I bring out the ‘Chuck-it’.
He recently had his annual vet visit and vaccinations updated . She said he is in perfect health, good weight, good teeth, etc. He is such a sweetie pie (ok I admit it - he may be a little spoiled)
We are hoping to be attending the reunion next month. I would love to meet you in person and for you to see him, happy and cute and very much loved. I am so looking forward to meeting all my TG alumni!! I rarely leave home - it has to be something special for me to “want” to go anywhere. The TG Take a Hike Reunion is very special so I will be there to meet you all! Thank you for coming!!
Hope this picture brightens your day.
Katherine and Possum
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
It was a gorgeous day when I got up this morning - the sun was shining, there was few deposits and the coffee was excellent. Dave and i sat and discussed our day - today is Smithers day as the cremains needed to be picked up from the veterinarians. Dave and Bear who had arrived to go with Dave were soon on their way while i did up the rest of the chores that needed to be done. My greenhouse needed watering - it isn’t growing as well as other years - too cool and not enough sun! But the marigolds are blooming their sunny little heads off.
Then I received a visit from Leah who had emailed and then phoned about adopting 3Penny! We discussed her quirks - she jumps 5 foot fences with ease, likes leather shoes and has separation anxiety. Not a problem once Leah met 3Penny - it was love at first sight. For both of them. Leah takes her dog to work with her so she can work on her confidence issues and separation at her leisure - slowly and surely she will learn that she is safe and Leah will come back to her. Leah is also a runner so 3Penny will have lots of exercise to channel her energy. Leah’s roommate has a dog so she came to visit with 3Penny who is very dog social - so that hurdle was taken too. Soon papers were signed and 3Penny jumped into the car for her new home.
Beautiful, sleek 3Penny! Be good little girl.
Then it was a visit from Roger who stopped by to see how “his” dogs were doing - the “Sherriff dogs” that is. He was pleased to see that only 8 of the 50 are left waiting for families. Poncho of course greeted him over the fence then calmly walked in the gate when he left. Poncho feels it is his duty to “check out” all visitors. He must think we are Wal-marts!!
Just as I sat down to enjoy a cup of tea (yea I drink tea!) I heard another visitor. This time it was a family from Terrace who were looking for a family dog that was good with children. They have 5. I have several young dogs that are wonderful with children. As the dogs quieted they started to look at the choices and there are a lot of choices here. Then Marlowe came out and sat quietly by the door looking his cutest. They asked his age - 18 months, neutered, vet checked, smart, loves kids. Could they see him closer. I went to get him and discovered he didn’t have a collar on so I went in and got him a set - a matching red collar and leash - very spiffy (thank you Mary Ann from Las Vegas) We walked to the gate and he went through and sat! Well that impressed them. Then he walked quietly on leash to the van to meet Mom and the rest of the kids. His tail wagged, he sat, he wiggled, he was gentle. He was soooo goood! they walked back to me and said they would come back tomorrow as they didn’t have enough room for him. So I brought him back in. But the van stayed put. I watched and watched and watched as the door opened then they were rearranging stuff from the back. I came back out. They were trying to make room for Marlowe to come home now. Soon paperwork was signed and Marlowe jumped eagerly into his spot in the back - he was going home!
Marlowe begging for his own home - you did very good today!
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Lady and Lippy are going home! I have done interviews with our local papers, radio and it seems that public opinion has swayed Town of Telkwa to reconsider their stand on grandfathering the new by-law. A compromise has been reached. Lady and Lippy can go home - safely. John will fix holes in his fence to ensure no more walkabouts. And once Lady and Lippy pass on he cannot get more dogs. He has two other younger dogs as well. So how cool is that!!
Lady and Lippy - going home!
Porter our favorite pittie has come to TG for a sleepover while his family travels to a wedding in Prince George. Porter really like sit here. He plays and plays and plays some more. He is very dog social! It is a crying shame that people are afraid of this loveable goof! He has excellent doggie social skills and enjoys his stay. Tara opens the door of the car and he runs to the gate waiting to be let in. He doesn’t even stop to say “goodbye” He is looking for his old friends - Sweetpea and Harley!! He is ready though when they come back - he sees the red car and he waits by the gate to go home. He will sleep well when he gets home. He has a holiday too!
Porter our bumblebullie!
King and Dillon waiting for me to finish taking pictures.
Georgia, Sweetpea and Angel.
The two momma dogs and Nonie relaxing on the fence
King’s leg has healed very well - he can use it to scratch! He has gained muscle and weight - he is looking good!
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
It was downright chilly this morning - I was very glad to have my fleecy robe on while I brewed my coffee. First job clean the floors and fill the food and water bins. Then head to my desk and check emails while I drink my first cuppa of joy. What’s this - no blog? All morning I couldn’t access it so I emailed Dave at noon then got busy again with chores. When I checked a few minutes ago - Dave said it was fine 4 hours ago - it was that long since I sat here? Guess so.
The Georgie puppies are walking around - they are nearly 3 weeks old already. They sure are small and cute too. I have to be very careful when I walk in here - they are underfoot already! It appears that they will be bright and active - more trouble coming and no Sophie to help me.
Isaac meets the adventurer!
The two smallest pups are also the most adventurous! This little one is even trying out Mom’s food. Which is why I always feed the moms puppy food so the babes can sample as soon as they feel the urge to.
Turtle Gardens introduces another senior! Angel was bought as a puppy 8 years ago (in September) and went everywhere with her guardian. Then she got married and followed with a first child who appears to be allergic. Angel had to go. She advertised in the paper and put up flyers but no one wanted an older dog. She called TG and I find seniors are very likely to find a great home especially with an older family who understands the value of a well trained older companion. She is a wonderful little girl, clean, quiet and very well behaved. She likes to go for rides in a vehicle, or boat, she is crate trained and loves to cuddle on a lap! What a perfect little companion! TG welcomes Angel:
Look at her happy face!!
Beau is doing well - no more seizure with his medication. He is more alert and has started following Dave again. Next week he will have his rabies vaccination so he can travel across the border to his new family.
The Moricetown Specials are doing well. One has gone to a foster home with children to learn special lifeskills to help her be the best she can be. The others are following me. Mom is a sweetheart!
The two youngsters: the female
The male:
The grey fellow from the pound is wearing a collar with a tag - a name tag!! i feel like an idiot - his name is Rufus and he knows it too!!
Last but not least beautiful Georgia!! She is such a nice little girl. She tries hard to be a good mom but she is so young herself!
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
