Have you been waiting for more sneak previews of some auction items? Well, here’s a little more of what you can expect to bid on in 10 more days!

Capilano Suspension Bridge
Enjoy the beauty of the west coast on the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 450 feet above Capilano Canyon and get a squirrel’s eye view of the thriving coastal rainforest.

Vancouver Aquarium Two admission passes for a day to discover a world of aquatic wonder just minutes from downtown Vancouver in beautiful Stanley Park.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Two vouchers each valid for one complimentary ticket, in the best available seating for a concert in the 2013/2014 seasons, until June 16, 2014. Please note single tickets for 2013/2104 season can be reserved after August 20, 2013.

Jackets only similar to actual ones up for bids

Two lucky winners will walk away with these two great auction items. A Men’s and a Womens GoLite Beartooth High Performance, size large jackets, 650 fill down, weight is 19 ounces, features: secure hand warmer, chest and interior pockets, concealed shock cord closure on bottom hem, and a stuff sack.

There are so many auction items I’d keep you busy reading for days. You’ll really just have to buy your tickets and have a look for yourself.

• Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts – Gift Certificate for four tickets (either matinee or evening performance) for Summer Concert of Dance of 2013 at the Kaymeek Centre, West Vancouver.
• White Spot Gift Card – Triple ‘O’s’ and more…
• Ruby Tuesday Accessories Adsa‘Twirl Handbag’ – Teal and black leather handbag.
• 4 passes to a Canadians Baseball game – Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club – Enjoy a game of baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium – 4 reserved Grandstand Tickets
• Gift Certificate from The Fermented Grape on Canada Way in Burnaby – $50.00 to spend at The Fermented Grape – making your wine making experience enjoyable!

You can see what I mean the list is endless. Let’s make this a night to remember.
25 years is an amazing accomplishment. Let’s help Dave and Yvette celebrate their success.
Pick up an auction paddle and get ready to bid!

As well as these great auction items there have been some lovely hand made pet blankets donated by Stephanie. She has sent in some pictures but says they may not be the actual ones she has sent in for the auction. You can get the idea of what is up for bids from them just fine though. Thank you so much Stephanie.

I am not sure what they are but had me thinking I found that magic blue poplar….

Hey Mom the flowers are out here too, not sure if you got this kind there!!!!!

I love a dog that will take the time to stop and smell the flowers…..

Hey remember that being that I said I loved but I couldn’t touch that’s him…. We went for a 20 km stroll and I never touched him once…. when I got home I opened the gate to his side of the yard and he just walked in and got a drink of water. And I am ok with that. I am not ok with him not having a name so maybe somebody can give him one so I can teach it to him.

The view from the top of the hill. When we say “valley” that’s what we mean we are at one end Houston is at the other….

and here you go I leave the gold pan at home and look at the spot I missed checking.Darn, I could have made MILLIONS. hahahahahah

My good buddy Sasito. He is the coolest being I have met in a long time -  a true survivor. And a real man’s man kinda dog. I spend a lot of time with the ones that aren’t good with other dogs and he is not good with other dogs at all and is very destructive when he is bored.

Hey Mom look who loves to go for a stroll when your’e not home…..

Just got to love 3Penny she is so cool.

Hey that’s three for one we stopped for a drink and a snack.

Another good buddy of mine Lucky Luciano… His soul is mortal wounded. I fear he might have to stay for life; still too soon to tell…. I will write about it if you want to hear his story. I only know the part after he got here. The rest is irrelevant to me….

Just a slice of heaven

Ancient food; they are finally sweet enough to eat, man they are so good this time of year. I had to fight Zuka for them. As soon as she figured out what I was eating she would beat me to them…

Zuka we need to stop and smell the flowers. AAAHHHH Zuka don’t step on them…

I hope you enjoyed our back yard as much as we did sharing it with you!!!!!

There’s now only 11 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

Taz has graduated from the Prince George Prison Program and into his new home in Prince George – how cool is that? He goes home tomorrow. Good luck Taz – be the best that you can be!

Taz, Louis’ brother

And tomorrow is also an adoption – Ryder has found his hooman! He will live in Chetwynd and go to work with Sean. Thank you Alyssa of On Our Way Home Society for doing the homevisit for us and for offering training to help Ryder be the best that he can be with Sean. Networking is awesome!

Ryder

It has been a busy week for Vancouver area adoptions as well!

First was Charlie: He will be sunning himself on the Sunshine Coast. Good luck little fellow – you have landed quite softly!

Charlie doesn’t have to beg for his family – he has his own.

Wally has been adopted and will live in Victoria with his very active family. Lots of hikes and activities for this good natured boy!

Wally adopted

And Smokey too found his family this week! He will have two kids to enjoy playtimes with – how cool is that! Smokey really loves kids.

Smokey face

There’s now only 13 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

As I was uploading Bear’s movie yesterday (takes about a hour a min to upload on dial up) I was relaxing in the morning sun cuddling my babies’ Brooklyn the one sole survivor of her litter that died alone and scared some where. A shiver of fear ran down my spine as I thought of letting her go to her new home on the dog run. I wanted to grab her and never let go; I loved her so much. Love, there you go now I said it !!! And I am going to talk about it too. Love has been one of the most destructive emotions in my life when it goes wrong there is no pain like it in the world…You see the truth is we love every dog that comes tho the place, just as you seen we all loved Running Bear. We love and cry when we lose them. The day I stop loving and crying is the day I get outta rescue because that’s what keeps us safe and reminds us that we are not “GOD” That job been taken. Sounds to me like this rescue thing is kinda a guaranteed one to get hurt!!! Why would you do it and how could you ever do it for 25 years.

Just as the migrating geese, I have been following the strong before me, I now realize that the one at the tip of the V is Mom and Dad and has been for the last 25 years guiding the way with strong steady loving strokes..teaching me just by doing, what love is and how to love and be safe…. So you’re never going to get a new never loved dog from T.G and the only way for us all to be safe is to keep loving. We never say goodbye, it’s always till we meet again old friend. That’s why the updates are so important to keep us safe and allowing us to keep loving…

Now don’t get me wrong I am not talking about all that sappy B.S that we see on T.V. Love is about action and doing not flowers and candy and jewels…. I have to stop and take the time to pet and talk to them even tho I got so much to do. Take them out for walks, feed them, pick up their poo. Then I let them go because they need their own family to really be fully loved in a way that we could never give them here. And I love them enough to know it. In return they love us back. I have never told a dog that I loved them and they just be silent and not say a word and leave me hanging, they have always loved me back to the best of their ability (you don’t have to touch a being to love them) So now you know if your furry friend wants to put their head on your shoulder and give you a hug it’s because they have been taught the practical action side of love…. Hug them back and think how much you love them. They will hear you and feel you thru the magic of loving fur.. I know My Mom and Dad taught me it’s got to be true!!!!!!

There’s now only 14 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

There’s now only 15 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

When I get up it’s huge rush of activity and excitement everyone is
excited to see me- they are jumping on me licking me and nibbling me (we
have sharpei puppies). I have morning routine. I always do the same thing
and yesterday I found out why!!! I am not much of a morning person at
all but for some reason that’s my cuddle time and all the dogs know it.
They all come over quiet and two at a time to get there hands on fur
time. Yes every dog here needs hands on fur time everyday, they need
to be checked for there health and mental well being as well…
The morning time is the time I pick up all the puppies as they come
over and make sure they like and know what cuddles are and they are
valuable beings. Seems a little out there but puppies are kind of like
kids… Then we have the lifers the ones that live here for life, they
need extra hands on fur time. So I hear what does it take to be a
lifer at T.G? I almost drowned once when I was younger in a river, I
remember giving up and accepting death and when I let go and put my
feet down they touched bottom, by giving up the river current pushed me
on to a sand bar. That near death experience had a profound affect on
my 16 year old mind. I still to this day can’t handle water it’s not
fun, don’t joke around and try and push me into the water because you
are going to get nailed. We all seem to understand that when it’s me
we are talking about but why can’t we understand when it happens to
our animals.

My good Buddy Running Bear (don’t’ let his name influence your
judgement over the years I have learned that West Van has as many
secrets as Hazelton) He came in as a older dog he was 10 or
something, his soul had been mortally wounded. Someone had grabbed him
by the neck and beat him within a inch of his life many times I think
but it’s just a guess. So consequently if you tried to grab him by the
collar he would just bite you; just about to the point of drawing
blood but not. But it still hurts very much, so I learned that one the
hard way, then about a year later he reminded me again. Then a few weeks
ago we shared a moment. I am a loud and excitable guy. I was just laughing
and having fun and for some reason I reached over fast to pet him and
he bit me. It was weird. We were all having fun then his reflex took
over and he bit me; kinda just grabbed my hand but a bite. When we
looked into each others eyes all I could see was “Man what you do that
for” then he was sad because he knew it was bad and that the big event
that got him sent here, I am sure…. So I did the right thing I told
him I was sorry. I forgot and not to worry I understand. I am still too
scared if the bath tub is too deep. Running Bear is on the way too long
list of lifers here at T.G that I give morning cuddles too, and love
them and accept them.

Yesterday I learned why. It was a nice quiet sunny spring afternoon
Running Bear loved to sun bathe. and that’s what it took for his rehab
to finally be complete, he stretched out in the sunshine and dreamed
he was running free (that’s how he got his name he was always dreaming) But
this time he never came home and he is still running free. As I picked
up his body with tears in my eyes I was thinking I just touched you
this morning and you were happy to see me and ok happy and loved just
like every other morning I have been here at T.G. We have to accept the
end because that is what rescue really is to me GIVING THEM THE CHOICE
OF LIFE AND DEATH BACK… not take the only choice they have away from
them because they trust. Please don’t be sad for Running Bear. With
your help we loved those demons right out of him for life… He is a
free spirit again and finally “RESCUED”

Running Bear arrival was October 29th 2009.

There’s now only 16 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

I am currently working with 6 death row dogs – if they weren’t here at
T.G they probably would be pushing up daisies some where in some unnamed
boot hill. You see I have been standing in that same place that poor soul
in Whistler was with his sled dog problem. I chose the path less
traveled many years ago tho and I still have my sled dogs here at T.G.
the ones that couldn’t be rehomed are still here at T.G and two still
sleep on my bed.

Pharaoh and I shared a moment together during the Sheriff dog rescue (link
to Sheriff dog recuse blog), the door to the bed room I found her in
had been nailed shut, the top cut off the door to allow feeding. Her
whole little life had been there since birth and never touched by human
hands. When I finally got the door open and tried to walk in the room
they all just tried to jump on me and bite me big time….There is a
dark side of dog rescue that never seems to be talked about; but slowly
over time people like Carol Hine of saints (link to saints) are just
telling like it is. We do too and we are going to share more so there is
a understanding of how fur seems so soft and comforting but it also
leaves the deepest darkest wounds on my heart and soul. I had to use a
noose pole on Pharaoh’s litter. I hate a noose pole. It’s one of the most
horrific things a man could do – use violence to scare a being to the
point it gives up it’s life. Pharaoh and I looked into each others eyes
and she trusted me with her life and I made a promise to her she would
get her very own yuppie puppie home. Well It’s been many years and I
am still working on that promise to Pharaoh..

As it turns out Pharaoh had an incurable and fatal habit; she bit people
when they cornered her or scared her. She was also so fearful her
anxiety if allowed to continue would cause her a seizure like fit.There
was this “Quality of life issue too”. It’s too mean to keep her alive when she is so
scared. I had many very legitimate reasons to get out of my promise to
Pharaoh and take the easy way out for her “Own good” too. I have seen
very very many wounded animals and seen that look of fear at dieing and
fight with all their might to live to buy that line of bullshit any
more. We kill them for “Our own good” because it’s easy; very rarely out
of real necessity. If you don’t believe me go to saints for your self
as I have and have a look. Call first tho and go when the timing
is good for accepting guests……
I am compelled to tell a few Pharaoh tails. First and for most if I tell
you not to do something because you are going to get bit you are GOING
TO GET BIT, AND IT”S A LIFE THREATENING INJURY FOR MY DOG….and I am
going to very very upset at you trying to KILL MY DOG there is no second chances for the dogs I love; they trust me because I love then and they know they are safe with
me… and there will be no mistaking that I am upset; I am loud because
I am 75% deaf in one ear and can barely hear out of the other. Too many years
of running a power saw flat out..I also usually haven’t had much sleep
and the 24/7 fight against death lifestyle we live is not the best, for
keeping our emotions to yourself just because tears are poison and when
our buckets are too full we have to let them flow to keep safe and not
get poised to death, So if you see and hear tears don’t be worried
it’s a very common place for all of us here at T.G with our hand on
fur day after day….. I didn’t compose this blog as a “excuse” or to
rationalize my behavior just to offer a explanation we all have the right
to chose our friends and costumers… Unless I share where we live and
how we live people will never know so I am going to just start telling it a
little more like it is…

You know that receptions that I spoke to that laughed at me for
not knowing how to spell Pharaoh. I have dyslexia very bad. I spell at
about grade three level and insulting a client that has been up way to
long isn’t a good place to start our interaction. Please don’t make and
assumptions about who they were I counted 8 different vet receptionist I spoke to over the misadventures. It seems petty but unless I tell you how much such a simple thing totally
destroyed our interaction…. and if you see any spelling mistakes in a blog it’s because I couldn’t get close enough for the spell checker to work, and I still want to say what I say.

Ya that guy that gave me the “what are you looking at me  like
that for” look as I drove down 4 ave in Kits. I was thinking how I could enrich the life of 600
families with unconditional love with what that *&#$@ car costs…. And how
I had so much more respect for the renaissance man that told me he don’t eat meat but he knew that if pushed till life or death he was human and would eat meat
to live. So he didn’t judge me for eating meat in full acceptance of his humanity. He was sitting a true king in his home with his queen surrounded with loyal friends in the
castle they built with their own hands and minds. AND YOU WERE ALONE
IN YOUR FANCY CAR hoping someone would notice you. Each to their own tho..

A very special thank you to wonderful warm soul that shared their home
with me and gave me a MOM I MET ANGEL(link) moment while you took the
time to brush 3Penny and soothe her broken soul. I was sitting with a
tear unloading the unbelievably stressful day and replacing it with
unconditional love…. JUST SO YOU KNOW loving my dogs is loving me…

Please don’t be offended if I want to sleep in my van instead of your
home unless all my dogs are allowed in; it’s the only way I can be sure
they are safe in the van you know too hot, too cold, not sharing the covers
and fighting. And I really don’t sleep well unless I have about six to
eight dogs on the bed anyhow……

We live in a little different place here at T.G and sometimes I need to be
reminded of that; so Please if I in any way overwhelm you in any way
just stop me and ask me “how the hands on fur is really going at T.G?” and
that will be code for (STAN STOP AND TAKE A BREATHE) and I will go to my happy place Here is a pic of it I will share it with you if you want to find what and where my happy place it you will have to come to the gala and get your tickets before they are all gone (You are just one click away from the the best night ever with the T.G family…). I will give you a hint I also think “it’s ok Stan you have FRIENDS in high places”… Stay tuned for for hands on fur blogs.

There’s now only 17 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!

Are you watching the green countdown button on the sidebar? Have you seen how many days are left? Are you ready to start bidding? There’s little more than two weeks to go! I hope you already have, Your tickets! Get them HERE if you don’t!
I’m certain the finishing touches are all being done. Steve and Jude are probably busy getting all the programs printed out and donation descriptions typed up. There is so much work to do.

Speaking of donations, take a look at the jewellery that Kathy has donated for the Gala. She makes one of a kind pieces from sterling silver, crystal and natural stone and pearls. Wow! Aren’t they lovely!
Thank you very much for the donation Kathy
Please click an item to enlarge it

Tickets Available at Friends Of Turtle Gardens,
c/o CongressWorld Conferences Inc. 220 – 445 Mountain Highway,
North Vancouver, V7J 2L1
Tel – 604 988 0450
email fotg.gala2013@gmail.com
Visit FOTG Website – HERE

An update from homebase. Two adoptions locally!! Yes we do adopt out locally to really great homes where the dogs are part of the family.

First Sequoia which mans beautiful yellow girl and she really is a beautiful dark tan/strawberry blonde. she went for a sleepover and has woven into their hearts. The had this to say about her:

Leanne H.

Sequoia

The second adoption was our very clam and gentle Ruby by Mr Beans family! Ruby was chosen to help fill the tremendous hole left by Mr Beans not to replace him but to help heal. They drove all the way to Prince George to visit Ruby at the Prison Program.It was a very good match so Ruby jumped into the car and went home. How cool is that!

Jessica said: we r home now and so far so good! She didn’t try to eat the cat I will send pics and an update soon to you to post on website …. Thanks again! She’s wonderful!! )

Ruby shake a paw

There’s now only 20 days to go before the gala! There are still tickets left so pass the word around!
Let’s make this 25th Anniversary for Turtle Gardens a SELL OUT!