Turtle Gardens always takes our dogs back - no reason or explanation necessary. Hercules was adopted in January to North Vancouver and he really got along with the 9 year old boy. They spent hours playing in the water hose - Herc would jump and twist to catch the water! He chased balls and played soccer - he was a great pal. Then one day Herc snapped when the boy jumped on the bed. Herc came back. Dave noticed that he was limping. Not a lot but still a slight limp. Hercules settled in again but he was quieter - he was grieving his loss of family. When he went to our veterinarian for a check up - he still had a slight limp - he was diagnosed with a ruptured cruciate. Hercules had a blown knee! It had happened months ago they told us. Did he hurt himself jumping up at the water hose? Jumping and twisting are one of the ways a knee gets hurt. So is just running up and down stairs - Beau did just that 10 days after he was adopted. So what are we going to do about Hercules?

The surgery to repair his cruciate ligament is expensive. We were quoted $1800 or so. If and this is a big if; he just needs a repair. The repair will also need 6 weeks of complete crate rest and therapy for our big boy. Our big - active boy. He will need mind games and quiet toys to keep him occupied. He will need time spent with him. But that is all doable. If he needs a TPLO - a complete and complicated surgery he will have to travel to a specialist in Vancouver and the quote starts at $3200. Just to start. The repair can be done locally at Babine Pet Hospital. Dr Mike has done cruciate repairs when he worked in Prince George and he has offered us a discount for the surgery. Hercules is going in on October 2nd for his evaluation and assessment. Please send positive thoughts that he will be a good candidate for the repair. Please help us help Hercules play again. Donations can be sent directly to Babine Pet hospital - c/o Hercules, Box 3358, Smithers BC V0J 2N0 or thru Canadahelps (a registered tax receipt is issued immediately) or paypal. Turtle Gardens thanks you for your support.

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

I got up this morning and went into the kitchen to make my first pot of coffee (I know it can be programmed but…..) It was too quiet. Where was our little tyrant demanding his breakfast? He always greets me barking as soon as he sees I am up in the morning but all was quiet. I searched his favorite beds and there he was sound asleep - forever. He was curled up wearing his little blue sweater under his fleece but it was a empty shell - his spirit was gone. We will miss our little character. He wasn’t here very long (he arrived in May) but he was a happy, demanding little soul. Rest in peace little one - I hope your breakfasts are all tasty ones.

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

The problem with puppies is the amount of poop corresponds with the amount of food going in. These 5 pups can really eat!! They like the comfort they have discovered indoors - those comfy doggie beds, the big bed that they can actually climb up on and cushions everywhere! They love it! They will go to the door and peek around the door at the big world outside but so far they haven’t ventured outside. The black and white did go down the steps but skooted back up pretty quick. They will soon “get it” and will know that they can go outside and come back in again. That is one of the problems we encounter with outside only dogs - puppies included. They are afraid that if they go outside - they won’t be able to come back in. Remember poor Dillon? He learned that the door opens both ways and so will my babies. They are friendly good natured little souls. Their world is slowly expanding.

The two little outdoor shih tzus are fully indoors now and going outside to potty. How cool is that! last night I felt a warm body in my back and thought it was Grizzly but this morning I discovered it was Little panda! She has learned what a comfy place a warm bed is with a warm human! She and Shammy have a foster home to go to once they are spayed. Bev will find them warm beds with humans for them - they will be fully integrated as yuppie puppies.

Shammy in front and Panda behind on a comfy chair!

Suzie Q is a sweet sweet girl. She follows me from room to room and sleeps on my feet. Last night she was able to sneak into my room and sleep beside my bed. She will be an awesome companion.

Teddy is doing well (he looks like a bigger version of Free Willie!), Ben is playing with Isaac and Steve. Free Willie has really really improved since his neuter!! He is friendlier and jumps up with a happy little face on both Dave and I. Yay Free Willie!

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

I received a couple of calls today asking if I was alright. Oops I didn’t write a blog last night or today yet. Sorry but Dave got home at 5 pm yesterday and we talked and talked. Then he left to drive Bear home and I got the new arrival Teddy settled. Teddy is a return - family break-up. He is 2 years old a small border collie maybe american eskimo mix. He is timid, long haired, black with a bit of white intact male. That disappointed me as I was so sure he had a great home. I am guessing that life got in the way. Teddy has fairly decent manners, is a good rider in a vehicle, lets you know when he has to go “potty” and really really likes men! Turtle Gardens welcomes Teddy!

I also had to check out my new gifts! Thank you so much Carrie and Cheryl! The coffeemakers sure make our lives so much more enhanced and wonderful! Thank you.

And a big thank you to Mary Jane from Las Vegas, Nevada! The toys are just what my new litter of puppies need to help them adjust!! And the collars and leashes set - awesome!! Each new adoptee will look especially spiffy going home! Thank you.

New litter of puppies you say! Yes another litter of puppies. Linda arrived at 7.30 last night with 5 golden retriever/ border collie and maybe a lab dad too. At first I thought maramma cuz they are so big for 5.5 WEEK old puppies. Then I remembered that some goldens are pretty big too. i know for sure the lab looking pup is a female and the alll black is a male but I haven’t checked the others yet. They eat like there is no tomorrow and they are social, friendly well cared for pups. The owners just wanted them to have good homes away from that environment. Mom will be spayed with our low cost spay voucher. A win-win situration. Turtle Gardens welcomes a beautiful litter of puppies.

The little black lab looking female with the fluffy black male..

Linda also brought in Suzie - a shepherd mix that failed guard dog 101. She told me she will need rehab as they weren’t very nice to her! Suzie Q is just barely 7 months old. She is fearful but what a love! Turtle Gardens welcomes Suzie Q. No one will expect you to be a guard dog here - just be a dog!!

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

Thank you Jim - Misty’s dad. Misty is a “Sherriff dog!”
Shadow with a big smile!

Jim with Misty and Shadow

Maya our “Vancouver Courier Star” Maya was pictured before her adoption in an article about the “Sherriff dogs rescue” and again about the reunion! She is also a “Sherriff dog”

This is a Nala family picture - Teya, Gryphon, Sage (the pups) Nala, Nonie and Bailey who is Nala’s sister.

Nala and her pups.

A group Photo!! How cool is that!

Another group photo!!

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

Yesterday was another lost day for me - another migraine - a very bad, nauseous day with an asthma attack thrown in for good measure. Except for the dogs I was alone - Kelsey in school and Dave not home yet. It was scary - the asthma that is - I didn’t realize what it was right away - I thought i was having a heart attack. Silly me - once I knew what was wrong a couple of puffs from my inhaler, I calmed down and it was over. Imagination overtime/overdose. thank goodness that day is over. My dogs stayed close to me all day - sometimes too darn close. King slept on my bed, Squire did too and they argued about who was allowed to. Actually neither was supposed to be there. It was crowded with Sweetpea, Jillian, Grizzly and Lily too. Lucy, Aardvark and Kansas surrounded me as well. They never left all day long, if I got up and raced to the bathroom - so did they but stayed by the door instead of going out. They did not eat, drink or go outside. They suffered with me until it was over and I was up at the kitchen table - then they raced outside, played, ate and did doggie things. Thank you guys for hanging out with me!

There was a reason why Dave couldn’t drop off Dillon in Spences Bridge. Dillon went to the Island with Dave, he went to Burnaby to visit with Jude and Cynda. He was walked by volunteers at SAINTS. He had a great time. But the real reason he stayed behind? Shadiya killed a chicken in her new home - instead of looking after her charges she decided to eat one. We knew she had lived with chickens and ducks in her previous home before the fire destroyed their home. She lived almost a year in the church here in Topley. there was no poultry but lots of kids and a couple of cats. She was very ill when she was brought in to TG. She was anemic, had a serious infection and was emaciated. Shadiya was a very sick dog. Antibiotics, revolution and premium food turned her around. She was looking better. She was one of the first adoptees to go home. She bonded quickly with Maysah. It looked promising until the chicken. So Shadiya came back. When Dave stopped in Spences Bridge for Dillon to meet his new family they were thrilled to see Shadiya there too. They had wanted both dogs! so Fate really had a hand in this saga. Shadiya is staying with Dillon as a foster to adopt. She and Dillon ran down to the river and had a swim then they were fed homemade moose heart biscuits and each had a juicy bone to chew. Both were brushed and brushed - Shadiya is looking good Bev tells me. So far so good. Shadiya and Dillon are home.

And a new update - my little Georgie:
Hi, Yvette, Dave & Bear,
Georgie is doing very well, she has settled in with the cats just fine. Little Guy, my bad boy cat, tried real hard to start a squabble, but Georgie, was far too classy to fall for it. So Little Guy, just quit his ‘act’ and went to sleep on the back of the couch. No problems since. She went to the Doggy Spa today and came out all shiny and smelling just fine! She sleeps on her new bed beside my desk at work, and then on her bed on the couch at home. Georgie, has been having fun playing with a small stuffed dog, she washes it, tosses it around but doesn’t rip it apart. This morning she was running and jumping up on all fours before getting in the car, real cute. She is doing great at my buddies house with the two other dogs, I think she has a new boyfriend already, a Pom named Tebe, seems quite taken. At work she did display some aggression at one of the dogs because it came behind my desk, where her bed is, she was protecting me. She was bonded before we went to bed on the first nite!! I just love her. She sleeps beside my bed, like she did with U Yvette, very polite. No mistakes in the house, but has peed and pooped every day in the office, even tho, I take her out often. Not sure what to do about that… Thanks for Georgie, she is precious, she wins over everyone that I have introduced her too! More later, and I will send Pic. Cathy

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

Dear Yvette:
This is a very sad letter I have to write to you. Laddie passed away this morning. He had a very restless night and was panting very hard, I was getting ready to take him to the local vet as we had made our decision that he could not go on the way he was feeling, but in true collie fashion kept trying to come and check on me. I quickly checked on him and he was lying down, after a few minutes of drying my hair, I felt a sudden urge of panic and went to him, as I knelt down beside him and put my hand on the side of his head, and called his name, he exhaled his last breath. I believe, he too, had made his own decision, in not leaving the sanctuary of his bed and his home or me.
I cleaned my boy up, because I know he took pride in his appearance, got help to put him in the back of the jeep for his last ride. I took him to the crematorium, where he will have a private cremation, and I will pick him up tomorrow and bring him home where he belongs, with me.
He was truly one of the greatest dogs I have ever had the pleasure of sharing company with, from the beginning, I recognized him to be my heart dog. He deserved to enjoy more of the good life and pampering, he was my friend and my chum who will always live in my heart. We didn’t get to walk the strolling boulevard, or walk in the fields, but we got to the edge so he could see them, I would say to him ” see that’s where we will go when you’re walking better” he would just look at me in his wise way, and turn around because he wanted to go home.
You have given me one of the greatest gifts of my life in letting me have Laddie and I will always be grateful. He fought a brave battle in his old life and it took its toll in his new one. you gave him a chance, when no one else would. thank you. we are grateful.
Kate Dowling

Laddie
1997-2008

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

Today Dave and Bear are going across the ferry to Nanaimo to deliver the last TG dogs - Rufus, Angel, Jasmine and Peanut!! it is very quiet here. The shih tzus Panda and Shammy have come into the house finally and are sleeping on the couch. Their transition to inside dogs is beginning. Steve and Ben slept indoors last night too. Mind you the temperature dipped to -5 last night. The grass with competely white from the frost! It is the end of outdoor flowers! I have kept in the geraniums, begonias and fushias - we never did have frost free nights so I grew them in my windows instead. And I have been bringing in the tub of petunias - they are blooming on my table. I just can’t give up yet on flowers! I am hoping to have big south facing windows in the new adoption centre/storage/dog room. I plan on filling it with plants and I really really hope I can!

And now new updates from our newest TG alumni! First our fosters Lady and Lippy (in case you didn’t see it in the comments!)
Lady and Lippy are settling into Kitsilano. They are wide eyed but trusting. They certainly are bonded - I have actually never seen a more bonded pair! They have a nice wicker bed with a cozy blanket and slept all night without a peep. They were tired! They will need a bit of leash work but should pick that up quickly. They are not chronic pullers which is good. They just don’t understand why they can’t walk on the OTHER side of the tree than me! They are quite soft and will be into the groomer for a full ‘makeover’ this week. By the weekend they will be condo dogs and ready to take on the city. They play together, sleep together, eat together, groom each other…remarkable. I will send pics soon. Sharon

And little Bitsy:
Greetings Yvette!

Just wanted to pass along a special thank you to you and Dave for bringing Bitsy to us. All at our house are thrilled and looking forward to getting to know her. She came at a day where the flu was running thru house (3 of 4 down!) so we steered clear of pictures today but will be sure send some along.

Thanks again.

Richard

And last for today Prince Charles:

Hi Yvette:

It was great to meet Dave and see all the wonderful dogs who are finding new homes. Thank you for Prince Charles.

He seems very sweet and enjoyed our walk around the lake today. He is settling in okay. He is very affectionate.

There is one thing I am worried about. Is he, by any chance, a bird dog? He is very interested in my birds and has jumped up on their cages a couple of times? I am not sure how to handle this. Have you any suggestions? (I suggested a water spray bottle and then call him and give him a toy instead - redirect his interest. He will soon forget his interest in the birds - it is something new to him! he has very few positive life experiences as an outside dog)

Thanks so much. Dave says you enjoy updates and pictures so I will be sure to send you some asap.

Take care,

Joy

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