Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue

This is it – Going away day! I leave at 5:05 tonight on the Greyhound just down the road – how convenient is that? I arrive in Vancouver at 11:05 tomorrow morning and my friends have a fun filled day planned for me – actually fun filled weekend!! How cool is that!! it includes a massage, haircut, special dinners, a visit to SAINTS, the TG Reunion, a very special dinner with my friends in Burnaby, a brunch – very very good cooks I have heard too!! Her blueberry cheesecake is to die for – and I am having one!!! It will be awesome and the best part – seeing my TG Alumni again!! Thank you Cynda and Jude for my bus tickets. Thank you Daphne for my traveling money!! Things have been a bit tough around here – your generosity humbles me – thank you and makes this trip possible for me.

The new black girl Libby has a sleepover on Saturday already! She is about 12 months old, is 36 pounds and had her hanging dew claws removed as well as her spay. She is a sweetheart of a girl. How could someone abandon her like yesterday’s garbage?

Birch is home and sleeping. She is much quieter today. She weighs 52 pounds. We expect her demodex to get worse for a bit but we are prepared – antibiotics, herbal supplements, vitamins and immune boosters. This should be her last bout – hopefully her immune system will mature soon.

Paws the border collie is not interested in cats or kittens – she prefers humans. She ignored the kitten trying to rub himself on her leg – she will a great companion – she has a prospective home with Linda who rescues cats!

Tolkien the little lab mix – poodle!!!!!!! Yes we all think he is a labradoodle. He is 26 pounds and has a wonderful disposition/temperament. He is such a sweetie! He is smart. good natured – an awesome agility prospect – he is very active!

And now to keep you busy just in case I cant find a computer this weekend – Faces of Turtle Gardens.

Augusta – Gussie for short

Josie

Sophie the momma dog

Willow and Queenie

Tolkien – he really moves like a poodle – the gait is quite distinctive

Yeta and her holsteins

Kabuki

Entropy and Fell

Gandalf and my flowers

And Zena with a full smile!!

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

Spay days are early days for Dave and today he had to be earlier than usual for the vets. Balsam is a semi-feral sharpei mix who came in with her daughters Willow and Birch (my demodex girls) She has come a long way since her arrival – she is bouncy, housebroken, and fairly friendly with us especially if food is involved. So I figured she was ready for her spay. I put a harness on her and a collar last night. This morning Birch was first to load up into the TG Bus. She has learned to walk on leash so she was relatively easy to walk and load up. Then it was Balsam’s turn. She bucked like a wild bronco as she approached the door to outside. She was NOT a willing participant. Dave got her up to the van and into the back but she twisted and jumped over his head and out of the van – she was not leaving her safe haven. She was gone!

Dave came back in and told me what happened. We needed another victim –fast. The new little girl was at his feet so he turned, lifted her up and walked to the van. He was soon on his way.

As the sound of the van faded away Balsam crept out of her hiding spot. And sat by the door waiting to be let in. She is very home bound.

Balsam

Birch

When Dave came back he told me that the staff has named the lovely lost girl – Libby!

Libby with Squire and Kabuki – she is slightly taller than 26 pound Kabuki

Last night was the arrival of Daisy. Daisy is a bearded collie/border collie mix – a high energy but sweet little girl. She pulls terribly on leash and her owner has developed severe arthritis – she cannot walk Daisy. With no outlet for her energy Daisy barked in her small pen. Daisy does not travel well either – she bounces from window to window barking. So taking her for runs was out of the question as well. Daisy needed a new home but with her issues the options were limited even in a larger city such as Terrace. Until the vet in Smithers suggested Turtle Gardens. As we talked I heard her despair and frustration. Daisy is only 5 years old, is very housebroken and well mannered indoors. She is a sweet companion. She has potential so I said Ok. Daisy had been heavily sedated for her adventure so I crated her until she was awake. She was released to meet and greet the general population late evening and she is very dog social. Turtle Gardens welcomes Daisy:

Since my batteries died in the camera – this is the best I can do for now. One more sleep until I leave for the TG Reunion!! I really really hope to see you on Saturday!! Please

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

Cali

On Saturday afternoon while walking my dog on a popular trail, I came across two walkers who had a kitten following them. They said this kitten was very friendly, would rub around their legs when they stopped to pet her and had followed them for quite a ways. They said they couldn’t keep her as they were from out of town. Knowing there were stray dogs in the area and the kitten was obviously hungry, I brought her home with me.

The brief car ride home consisted of the kitten cringing in the back of the car while my Jack Russell X strained to check out the new passenger. Once home, my young, 16 lb Himalayan cat was thrilled to have a new playmate and pursued the kitten, now named Cali, all evening. The dog, still curious about the new addition to the house, also followed Cali and barked at her when ever she ventured from her hiding place under the bed and hissed at the dog. It was a ruckus night.

However, by the next morning, Cali was settled in and making herself right at home, even taking over the best spot on the couch. She now plays with my cat and it’s quite entertaining to see the two of them thundering up and down the house in mock chases. Cali and the dog are making slow progress as the dog has a healthy respect for those lightning fast paws. Unfortunately, I can not keep this sweetie much longer.

Cali is a friendly, 4-5 month old female who is looking for a loving, permanent home. She is very healthy, well socialized to people and becoming use to dogs. She is content in the house or out, uses the litter box and knows very well what a food dish is. She has amber eyes, a long, lean build, a very long tail and unique calico colouring. If you can offer little Cali a good home, please contact Turtle Gardens.

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

One of the good things about living in the middle of nowhere (our nearest neighbor is a mile away) that when we do have an escape the dogs are easy to round up – most of the time. Dave took his apple dumplings with him when he went on an errand – as he was coming back in, a friend drove up. Harley stayed outside while he talked/gossiped (men really do gossip as much as a lot of women) When he came back in – Harley didn’t. Harley is a pittie/sharpei mix so a good size. As we were finishing supper – Bear got up to get a cup of tea and noticed the porch/adoption center door wide open and the tail end of a bunch of dogs. It was a mad scramble to see how many had gotten out! And to slam the door on the slower dogs. I manned the door, Bear, Cal and Dave grabbed leashes and went out. I called and Noah, Birch, Willow and Wilson came running back in. Then Bear came back with Oz. Dave had Tao. Cal rounded up Gandalf. Then Dave sent Issiah up the stairs to me. We spotted Zena in the next yard and she was soon back in – all escapees accounted for. The grand escape was over! A rush of adrenalin and now a hot cup of refreshing tea to relax. Such is the way of dogs.

I received a call from a lady who had found a dog in the middle of nowhere – 10 kilometers from the nearest isolated ranch. The little dog was very friendly, was quite thin, had very sore feet and they could not leave her there. As they turned the corner a short distance down the road they encountered two large wolves in the middle of the road – were they tracking the little dog for a snack?

When they got home they called Turtle Gardens and of course I said yes bring her in. I know that Regional District has no animal control so no options. Turtle Gardens welcomes our nameless very fortunate to be alive little girl.

Zoom is having a good time at TG but he finds it a tad chilly here. So he is wearing a t-shirt to help him keep warm. He is very much like a cat – he likes to sit high especially if I am sitting nearby at my computer. He really really likes it under the covers at night usually next to Willow who also sleeps under the covers – she is very warm to the touch. With Sweetpea and Jillian and Grizzly also under the covers – I don’t move much!! But I am very toasty at night.

Zoom next to me at the computer.

And some updates: First Abby formerly known as Roxy:

Hello Turtle Gardens Crew.

I figured it was about time I sent you a update on Roxy the bullie I rescued. We had to rename her since there was a few other friends and there dogs with the same name, so now she is Abby. Abby has been a wonderful dog, she is very cuddly, quiet, a great digger >_^, LOVES to play with children and other dogs. She has such great patients playing with puppies too.

pretty much everywhere we go abby comes with along with us too. I thought Abby would have some issues with separation anxiety, when left home alone while I was up town doing earrings during the summer heat or at work ect. which was mild at first but she has gotten alot better now, she She is also kennel trained now she sleeps in the cool basement right beside my door.

We recently discovered that she loves to swim at the lake, and pretty much what ever water she can find. It only took Abby a week or so to become house broken, we only have the issue of peeing on the concrete garage once in a while. Abby is a very intelligent dog and loves to show it to us with sit, stay, shake a paw, Lay down and learning how to roll over. Once Abby gets introduced to more people with out jumping up on them (which isn’t that bad but I just want to make sure) I will be bringing her into my work place to meet some of the co-workers. Also she enjoys riding on my 4wheeler with me, she rides right in my lap and is not scared ! she is 50 pounds too. I will hopefully tomorrow morning send you some pictures also.

Cheers !!!

Janice C

And little Possum:
Just wanted you to know we were thinking about you all and to send you yet another picture of handsome and happy Possum. (How could ANYONE resist that adorable little face?)

xo Katherine and Possum

And Sunny!!
Hi Yvette,

I can’t believe that 6 months have passed already since we first met our little Sunny! I have been meaning to let you know how she is doing and I am sorry for the delay. As you said, she is the sweetest, cuddliest little girl and we are so happy to have been able to give her a forever home. She loves to dance on her hind legs, so I think she must have been destined for the circus! Her favourite spot is anywhere near us (preferably on our lap or under the covers).

She is a big part of our family now and I thank you for letting us give her a home. I have attached a picture of her and I together. I had taken her to obedience classes when I first got her and she did very well. I plan to continue with that in the fall since I think it is great socialization for her and a bonding time for us as well.

Thanks again for all you do,
Take care,

Sue and Sunny in Westbank
r

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

I have 3 stray wild kittens there were 4 but 1 did not make it. I have tamed them somewhat but cannot keep them as I have 2 stray cats already that I have had fixed. I live in a trailer park and cannot keep them, I will have to have them put down if you can’t help me. I have attached photos. Please help as I really do not want to have them put down. You can reach me at 250-847-4359 ask for Yvonne. Please reply.

Have a great day Yvonne

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

The family has arrived and they look familiar – as in, I have seen this kind before – the Nauticals!!! The momma dog looks very much like the Matriarch Ann Bonny now known as Cookie who lives in Seattle. There was 27 all told in that group of dogs. We must have missed a female puppy She has had 3 litters we were told. They were owned dogs so the pound could not/would not take them. So no funding to vaccinate/vet check/spay the two adults and the pups’ 2 vaccinations. One is an older pup – a female – hopefully she can be spayed before she has pups if she is pregnant – I hope not. Momma is still nursing – the pups are about 6 weeks old. One was drooling excessively so Dave rushed back into the vet clinic to have him checked. His temperature was normal so he was vaccinated. The rest go in this afternoon for their check ups/vaccination and worming. I quickly set up the wire crate outside, put food and water for the pups and unloaded them from their holding crate. Three pups rushed to the dishes and starting eating and drinking. As I watched, the littlest one got up, sniffed the water – had a drink then tasted a kibble. And was soon chowing down. Phew he is ok!

Then Dave brought the mommy. She is so thin. And she started eating and drinking too. I went to the van with a leash to make friends with the older pup – she was a fear biter so slow and easy. I noosed the leash, and sat on the seat above her. I put my hand down and as she watched the leash I scrunched her ears. She looked at me and I slowly patted her little head, then her ears and slipped the noose over her head. We sat for a while and I slipped my hand under her body and lifted her up onto my lap then into my arms. Safe and Sound. She went into the crate with her family. They all ate and drank, peed and pooped, so we moved the crate to clean grass so they could sleep. They will be loaded up for their trip back to the vet. Poor little guys but there was no time this morning. When they come home again, they will go into the x-pen Yeta and her pups have vacated. And their new life begins.

The Family

Mom and 4 pups

The older pup

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