Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue

Delaney was found by RCMP lying in a ditch. He had been hit by a car and left. No one had helped for at least a full day. Thank you to the kind officer who picked him up and took him to the Burns Lake Veterinary Clinic. Then he went door to door in the area and actually found the pups’s owner who then refused to pick him up (read refused to pay his vet bill). Dave was in the office that day bringing in speuters and he said we would take the little guy. He was stabilized (he has chest injuries so could not be sedated or x-rayed) and Dave brought him home. He was quite snarky with the staff – so scared and in pain. Dave of course just picked him up and put him in a crate for the ride home. Delaney (thank you Deb for his name) recovered to everyone’s surprise and joy. He sleeps in bed with me. He was neutered and x-rayed a couple of weeks ago where it was discovered that he has a crushed hip joint. His x-rays were sent to Dr. Mike at Babine Pet Hospital and Dr Mike will repair his hip and remove the head of the femur so he will have a workable hip joint again. My own Cleo had this surgery when she was a pup for severe hip dyplasia – she lived for 16 years and ran/swam pain free. So I am very optimistic for Delaney. I actually thought he would be a tripod but Dr Mike says that he will be a normal little guy again. Thank you so very much Dr Mike and a very big thank you to the Kensington Foundation for Animals in Crisis – they sent a donation to Babine Pet hospital for Turtle Gardens surgeries – just in time for Delaney. How cool is that!!

Delaney is scheduled for January 8th. He will be kept overnight then he will be on the road for recovery to a pain free and glorious life.

Delaney before his haircut! he has been shaved right down in preparation for his surgery. He is a tiny little guy – just 11 pounds.

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

These have been very busy days. The 4 wheel drive van went into the shop for diagnostics and it was discovered that two sensors need to be replaced. The parts have to be ordered of course so Thursday – Dave will drive the 7 newest pups to Burns Lake in the morning for their vet checks and vaccinations then drive to Houston to drop off the van. If all goes well he will then load up the adopted dogs for the TG Bus Run on Friday morning. he is hoping to find a drop location central enough for the families to pick up their furry friends. Then he will drive across to Nanaimo an drop off the last 5 dogs to their families. Ideally we will find a location as well in Cache Creek, Spences Bridge or close by these locations as an overnight spot for Dave and the dogs to rest. It just needs to have a bathroom, and an area he can unload the dogs and set up a bed to sleep. Nothing fancy – a garage/shop/shed with an area he can fence so the dogs can be safe. Does anyone have any ideas? Then he would be rested enough to deliver the dogs to their families’ homes.

Yesterday I had two families arrive at the same time to view the dogs. One has phoned first so I went out with Lily-B who was a hit! She will be spayed next week (Thursday) and then we will deliver her to Smithers to her new mom Nina! The other family came to see puppies but none of my puppies are large dog pups! They will be 50 pounds max – so basically medium sized dogs. Then I let some dogs out when I went looking for the biggest of the retriever pups and Cawston went out. Now he was exactly what they wanted and he is a teenager – just barely a year old. He is goofy, good natured – just a really nice guy. So he went for a sleepover. Good luck big guy!

Lewis is doing much better now that he is neutered/dewormed and living indoors. He gets along well with most of the other male dogs and all of the females and pups. he and White Spot still don’t like each other but it is manageable. Lewis is very obedient and will turn away and come to me every time. He will be an awesome companion with a bit more reassurance and boundaries.

The rest of the dogs are doing well also. The dynamics are good. The group has adjusted well to each other and all is calm and peaceful until people arrive at the fence. Then it is organized chaos! They act like unruly children vying for attention. It is noisy and discordant. But back away from the fence and silence reigns. It is uncanny – most of the time you would not even know there was so many dogs here. Visitors rarely see the calmness we see with our group of dogs. Unless they stay here long enough to see them relax and move away from the fence. Then they are amazed at the silence and how the dogs get along so well. That is why group foster works so well with our dogs. They learn from each other. They are friends. They are family.

The Faces of Turtle Gardens

Earl – shaved!

A relaxed Running Bear – he still stresses easily – he does not like change. H ewill be very difficult to place – he is quite sketchy.

handsome Bengal

And last Ruthie who would do best with an active single lady or two!

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

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone!

Christmas is ALWAYS a crazy time of year, everyone is busy, family you never see comes around, it’s exciting and thrilling, but it’s also heartrending…….Dogs and Cats are given as presents to families not expecting them. Out of consideration for the person who gave them the pet they hold on to it, but a few months down the road it becomes too much and eventually that pet needs to find a new home. It’s tragic and not fair to the pet. Obtaining a pet should be considered along the same lines as deciding to have children. They are a LIFE commitment and the family needs to be prepared. Pets that are left outside or tied to chains 24/7 are the result of not understanding or considering the commitment needed before obtaining a pet. Pets should not pay the ultimate price for our irresponsibility.

Here is Goofus, a dog now in rescue who lived his life on that exact chain for 14 years! It’s horrible and merciless. I would use the word inhumane, but now days I am wondering if people really think it is? It is all too common an occurrence.

On a happier note we have an adoption pending for Mac, hopefully he will be going to his new home in the new year. And yes he’s wearing a pink collar; have to get him used to something

We also have two adoptions pending on two of the kittens also should be completed in the New Year! It’s going to be a good year!

Here are some other lucky dogs that have been pulled from horrible home situations that are residing with our Dogs Deserve Better Hazelton Rep.

There are also 2 Male Cats, Solomon and Jigs located in Hazelton that are in need of foster homes or forever homes. Please email TerraceDDB@hotmail.com if you can help or are interested.

Also an article I wanted to share, it’s is from the Association of Pet Behavior Counsellors where they promote not just training but behavior modification which is getting to the behavioral root of the dogs problems, not just fixing the symptoms. It’s deeper then training and requires much more understanding. The article I want to share is called “THE SHOCKING TRUTH” and I found it very interesting and important to post as shock collars are being used more and more these days and I think it pays to be informed. The trainer does not always tell you the adverse effects and I think where our dogs are concerned we should be aware: http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/shockcollars

Now to leave you with parting words of Wisdom to pass along…………..
Don’t litter, Spay and Neuter.

You can find us on facebook @

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

We Have Something To Celebrate

The Christmas Bandana Fundraising Campaign Tally Has Finally Arrived Just In Time To Help Turtle Gardens Celebrate The New Year! Each And Every TG Supporter Should Pat Themself On The Back We Sold Over 435 Bandanas! Combined With MANY Donations For Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue We Raised $3,065. THREE CHEERS TO TG SUPPORTERS! In Yvette’s Words, HOW COOL IS THAT This money will be used for things like VET Bills and to help pay for de-worming meds. etc. The list really goes on and on! Remember, TG didn’t get a $30,000 Government Grant this year so this money is REALLY Appreciated by the Labattes. Special THANK-YOU to all the ladies that helped make this a possibility. Each and everyone of these Bandanas had to be hand cut. The vast majority was cut by Cynda. 435 triangles is ALOT! We also could not have done it without Del & Lynda’s sewing (hemming expertise) and also Thank-you to Susan T. for helping us ease the workload. The TG Logos and Personalized Names were printed and transfered by Del. Susan F. (Bailey’s mom) said this Fundraiser has been a FUN-Raiser. We AGREE! It has been a very worthwhile cause. We gabbed on the phone for hours and pulled our hair out when the orders flooded in. Then we laughed some more. It was truely worth while! From The Bottom Of Our Paws THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US! I have been told that not everyone knows about the pets pictures posted on the Fashion Model Wall You can find that page at the right hand side of the blog. Turtle Gardens Fashion Models. If you can’t find it, Please Click on the lady sewing at the bottom of this post. Reminder that the Solids and Personalized Bandana sales will continue on in the New Year. We’ll post a link when we start up again.

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

Hi Yvette,
Sorry it’s been so long since my last update but now that Christmas is
over things are back to “normal”. Hope you had a great Christmas.

Rusty and Pax (changed their names again, but these are for good) are
doing fantastic! They are just the best dogs anyone could ask for. We
can’t believe we got so lucky. Thank you so much again.

They absolutely love our ranch and have a ball rolling and playing in
the snow. Their long legs come in handy up there. Although Rusty tore
a nail down to the quik on his first day but he is well mended now.
Pax loves to roll in anything, grass or snow, just as long as he gets
to roll. I’m attaching some photos, one of them play fighting at the
ranch, don’t they look so serious, but they were just playing. They
sure love each other. It’s so cute how when they sleep side by side
they will often use each other as a pillow.

They love their daily exercise. We have taken them for walks
practically every day since we got them, even in minus 15 weather at
the ranch. The only time we can’t is when we’re travelling up or down
to/from the ranch. When I’m in Chilliwack my son-in-law Bruce comes
with me and brings their dog Dexter. They love to chase each other
around the park. They haven’t quite got the hang of chasing a ball yet
but they love to catch the frizbee and then fight over who gets it.

They don’t like to be separated. I came down from the ranch by myself
a few days ago to get ready for Christmas and brought Rusty with me,
Pax stayed with Art at the ranch. Well they both seemed depressed.
Very quiet and didn’t move much off their beds. When Pax came home the
reunion was so cute, they kissed and hugged each other.

They sure are smart puppies. They catch on very fast and listen so
well. I taught them to wait at a door until I call them to go out or
in. It helps not to be bowled over by two big excited leggy guys. They
also sit and come on command. Stay is almost perfected, and down is a
work in progress. They also know to go to the back of our yard in
Chilliwack to do their “business”. People we talk to on our walks
always say they are beautiful dogs and we certainly agree.

Our cats have finally decided they aren’t going to kill them and will
walk by them now with (almost) no fuss. Our fluffy girl Purrdy still
likes to let them know who’s boss every once in a while. I didn’t know
cats could spit so loud. Pax and Rusty know to give her a wide berth.

So they have settled in very well. They have very nice manners indoors
and are a joy to have. They are also great with the grandchildren. We
love them a lot and look forward to our future together with them. We
can’t thank you enough.

Wishing you and all your charges a very Happy New Year.

Take care,
Rita

And an update from Scooby formerly Gandalf!

dear yvette

they changed gandolfs name to scooby
he is so happy they love him so much!!
they took the back seats out of their golf so both dogs would fit, thats love!!!
merry christmas.

love julie xo

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

Buddy was cold and desperate for a warm place to land. Lucky for him Amanda noticed him. Buddy first got lots of good premium cat food, a little cat house with warm wool blankets then he had his ride for “tutoring”. While at the clinic it was noticed that he had a heart murmmur. He needed a home so it was decided to take a chance and neuter him. Buddy survived surgery just fine. He has been wormed, vaccinated and was brought inside to recover from surgery. Buddy is a sweet, affectionate, happy cat well actually still a kitten at about 8 months of age. He has the loudest purr ever!! He is clean and very well behaved indoors. He does enjoy going outside for a couple of hours during the day but really prefers the comfort of a lap indoors. Buddy would be an ideal companion for any lucky home. Email me for more particulars or for an application. He can be transported anywhere!

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