Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue

Rescue is not pretty and is not an easy job. Dave and I live and breathe dogs. We are committed to caring for, in all aspects – dogs. With it comes heartache, back breaking work, hard times financially and lack of vacation time together. I am an optimistic soul – my cup is half full kind of optimism. It will always be better tomorrow. And it usually is. I try to portray some of the life here at Turtle Gardens as honestly as I can. I don’t show you the downright and dirty stuff – like the many deposits on the floor, or the mess from chewed up stuffies/paperback novels/shoes and socks etc. I haven’t written about the panic in the mornings when I can’t find my glasses – and I have been lucky, Dave has always found them intact, well maybe slightly chewed but wearable.

We are “in the trenches” rescue. We rescue all ages of dogs, all sizes, all breeds, all dogs. It can be chaos sometimes when we bring in a new adult dog especially an intact male teenager! It can alter the dynamics until they learn to fit in – and fit in they inevitably do. And puppies! Well you all know I wish I didn’t do puppies. Not because of all the labour and cost involved with raising healthy, emotionally stable, friendly puppies. It is the paperwork involved in finding the perfect match for each and every one and making sure they are speutered when the time comes. And just when I can see the light at the end of this puppy tunnel we are in – more puppies!! Linda got a call about 11 puppies with a semi feral mom in Gittanmaxx. So a quick call here – and Dave said yes bring them in – I was outside talking to prospective adopters. They couldn’t catch mom but they could touch her. So Linda left the 3 smallest pups with her and got a commitment from the people living in the house she had her pups under to feed her and put a collar and rope on her her by next weekend and she would transport mom, pups and dad too. The people say they don’t own her but…… Anyways we don’t judge – we help dogs and these pups need help. Turtle Gardens welcomes 8 (3 more to come with mom) border collie/rottie or husky or who really knows????? puppies;

There are 2 rottie looking pups – one with dark eyes and one with blue eyes. There is a bernese looking one – also has blue eyes. There are several plain black ones. One white with black patches. They are about 6 or 7 weeks old. They look pretty healthy but they do need socializing. They are scared little guys. They will go in hopefully on Monday for their vaccinations and then they will be integrated into the puppy group. My other pups are super social – friendly happy little guys so they will help these ones become the same. So life continues at Turtle Gardens! I still love my life!

The shelter challenge – We are # 2 in Canada which means we are in line for a $1000 grant. But we could aim higher – We have dropped to #27 in overall ranking. #1 gets $20,000, #2 gets $5000 and #3 gets $3000. We can do it!! Email schools and ask the kids to support Turtle Gardens, emails family and friends. The animals are counting on us!
VOTE EVERYDAY!!

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

Our vocal Tommy cat was featured in our local paper this week and we promptly received a call from Tommy’s original owners who had been away on holidays. Now that Tommy(Spirit) has gone back home, little mama Saugwa is terribly lonely. She cries and cries for company. I opened the little door that separates Saugwa and Maude hoping they would enjoy each other’s company. Maude is being graciously friendly but would rather have her space as her own.

Saugwa’s young kitten Spookie is being fostered with Oprah. The family was lonely as 4 of 5 kittens went to new homes this week, and Spookie really needed some socializing time.

Our little black boy kitten was adopted by a very excited and responsible young lady who was very attentive and proud when she picked him up. Oprah’s last kitten has a new home in Houston anxiously waiting for her to be ready to leave Mom.

Our young single mother is still trying to capture 3 kittens from an abandoned basement. The kittens mother, Lacey was spayed yesterday and is off to a foster home for a few weeks.

Moxie Bella was a young kitten we placed who was returned to the clinic when she was unhappy that her family went back to work and her kids went back to school. She was adopted by another very loving family who can allow her outside and she will never be without company on the farm.

We had a new arrival today of a mature spayed grey girl that was found abandoned by Noralee. She is very sweet and after a through health check and vaccinations she will make her way up to the shelter. Hopefully Nora Lee and Saugwa will become instant friends.

Our most exciting news for the day is a new home for Lucky! Please everyone keep your fingers crossed that this is the home our precious Lucky has been waiting for!
For more information on cats needing new homes you can go to facebook and type “The Burns Lake Veterinary Clinic” in the “search” box or call the clinic at 250-692-7476.

The shelter challenge – We are # 2 in Canada which means we are in line for a $1000 grant. But we could aim higher – We have dropped to #27 in overall ranking. #1 gets $20,000, #2 gets $5000 and #3 gets $3000. We can do it!! Email schools and ask the kids to support Turtle Gardens, emails family and friends. The animals are counting on us!
VOTE EVERYDAY!!

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

I have been slow blogging cuz I have another lung infection which is slowing me down some. I spent most of Tuesday in Houston – the clinic closed early so we had lunch at the A and W. This was a treat as I rarely leave my yard. Then we went back (Bear and I – Dave was dog sitting) to the clinic where the doctor sent me for a nebulizer treatment which really improved my breathing. Armed with new prescriptions I have been recovering well at home. Thank doG!!!

I really love my home with all the dogs. There are islands of my special things – windows with my plants and shelves with my collections of bric-a-brac (mostly angel figurines and crystals) When I am stressed I work with my plants – they look fantastic! Or go out into the greenhouse. I love soft clothes and blankets and I have them too. My bed has heavy fleece blankets (usually purple), soft as velvet and they wash so well. I and my chair/bed are covered with furry bodies at night! My computer keeps me in touch with all my friends and the telephone rings all day – friends and dogs in need, updates etc. My days are full and never boring. I am so fortunate to really love what I do! So don’t feel sorry for me that I rarely leave home. I love it here. But I also enjoy meeting my TG Alumni which is why you see me at Fundraisers!

Poncho with some smalls!

And some updates: First – A boy and his buddy:

Just wanted to introduce you to our newest family member and Possum’s new bestest friend. We rescued “Oliver Anubis Catmandu” (I couldnt decide on just one name) a few weeks ago. He is 10 weeks old and Possum absolutely adores him!

He and Oliver wrestle and chase each other, they are great buddies. It is hilarious to watch them together, Possum acts like a little puppy around him. Oliver likes to cuddle up to Poss when its nap time. So cute. I have a grown cat (Misha) as well which Possum has never taken much interest in so I am very pleased that Oliver has integrated so well into our household.

I have included a couple of pics at the park the other day, an action shot and also one of the best pictures ( I think ) of Possum ever. Hope you are all as healthy and happy as we are.

xo Katherine, Possum, Misha and Oliver

Next – A mini reunion!

Hi Yvette,

There was an impromptu little mini-reunion at the park today! As soon as we arrived we saw
Kona, a former TG alumni with her 2 doggy siblings and her human mom Yvonne. Several minutes
later, we bumped into Gryphon and Teya’s sister, Sage, and her best buddy, Blondie – another TG
alumni and her mom Bronwyn. So how cool was that?

here are a few pics for you to enjoy!

If you’d like to post them on the blog, here are the descriptions

1) Teya, Sage & Blondie

2) We are trying to get a group photo, no such luck. Kona is the only one who’s sitting.

3) Oops, someone has treats, Sage and Teya go running off. Kona still sits – what a good girl!

4) Where did everybody go?

5) Sage reaching for a treat

6) Teya begging for a treat.

kabuki is a failed adoption He has separation anxiety – he actually jumped out a window when left alone! Luckily I found a foster home for Kabuki in Duncan! So if you know someone who would like a needy little dog – Kabuki is the one! Here is his update from his foster home (Amie is a TG Alumni – 5 years ago):

Hi Yvette. Kabuki is safely at Karen’s and doing VERY well. Alan brought his bed and toys and treats, and I put the bed in the back of my pathfinder, fastened his leash to the safety bar, and he pretty much slept the whole ride to Karen’s – occasionally popping up for a look out the window or to scrounge a treat from us. Very good traveler – no whining or barking at all, no pacing around or bouncing.

We stayed an hour or so at Karen’s while he was gradually introduced to her crew. Everything went very smoothly, and he has lovely manners with the other dogs. When we left, Karen put him in a back room with a couple of other dogs and closed the door, then entered the house through a different door and peeked in to see how he was coping and if he was trying to eat his way out. Nope- he’d just settled right down. Since then he has had outdoor play time with one of the more active dogs, checked out the house, had a short nap, woke up and played some more, and is fully integrated into the crew.

He appears in very good shape, and I haven’t heard him bark or whine at all. He is very active when he isn’t getting a treat or having a nap – I was trying to get some pictures of him standing up, but he was never still long enough!! I suspect he will do well in a home with at least one other dog, preferably with an active family. In Kabuki’s case, it may be the old adage of “a tired dog is a good dog” that helps conquer any separation anxiety – that and a doggy playmate or two or three.

With your permission, I’ll post some pics and a story about him on my blog – a lot of local people here read it who may know someone who is looking for a dog just like him. Karen will continue to check out the separation anxiety so we have a better idea of what he needs.

I’ve attached some pictures of him, and of him and Amie.

Jean

And another update – Raven!!
Hi Yvette,

just thought I’d drop you a quick note about Raven. She’s mellowed dramatically in the past year and stays pretty close to us. During the recent Hockeyville Celebrations she decided to enjoy herself and although we leashed her there really was no need. She stayed at our feet the entire time and became our family foot warmer. To date she has never met a stranger and the only people who haven’t liked her either don’t like dogs or big dogs. She still has a toung that doesn’t stop.

Lynn

And last – little Fritzi!

Hi Yvette,

Fritzi is turning out to be the sweet dog you knew he already was. He doesn’t even resemble the little confused scaredy-dog hes was when he arrived here. I am blown away by his progress. He is self assured, playful, obedient (to a point), a typical little boy puppy. Chases bugs, digs holes, plays with any dog he meets, loves to run and chase birds or the shells I throw like frisbees. He rarely barks, nothing really freaks him out. He doesn’t destroy things, he teases you with shoes, gingerly picks them up and tries to sneak away, or shreds paper from the waste basket when he wants attention. Mind you, he does hate his chest halter, with which he walks very nicely on the leash; that I have to take off him after an outing, because he chews it apart in seconds if I forget. I bought him the third one yesterday. He sleeps late and does nearly anything for a liver cookie. After I attached a grounding strip to the car he doesn’t throw up in it anymore. When he arrived here he was 14 pounds, he is just under 20 now. At the moment he is asleep at my feet under the desk. He gets lots of walks and chances to run off leash. He is happier for it, and I’ve lost weight. I haven’t take a picture of him in a month, what I have is on my blog. I’ve met another TG alumnus at the beach, Webster (Shaggy Dude). That was a few weeks ago… it’s a small world and TG figures big in it. Thank you, I know that the time Fritzi (Gabriel) spent with you started him off on being the great dog he has become.

Marianne

The shelter challenge – We are # 2 in Canada which means we are in line for a $1000 grant. But we could aim higher – We are #25 in North America #1 gets $20,000, #2 gets $5000 and #3 gets $3000. We can do it!! Email schools and ask the kids to support Turtle Gardens, emails family and friends. The animals are counting on us!
VOTE EVERYDAY!! I hope this one works!

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