The question : “what is the value of a life?”  has been debated, pondered and romanticized since the dawn of time. What is the the value of a life’s work? Still more intriguing is what is the vaule of a life’s work saving lives? I think the answers to these questions are deeply personal and based largely on philosify, and a strong belief in the values of our society.

Rudyard Kipling composed a wonderful poem “If” : Click here to read it. It seems to me too; a goal for a life’s work. IF at one time was taught in schools as a guide to the beliefs and values of our society. But, like most of the thought leaders of our society, some of his works were too soon for his time, their full value not understood till many years later. I think,The Power of the Dog. Click here to read is just one of those poems. One of Kiplings greats works, a work so great people could spend a life time leading by example to show society – The power of the dog. People like my Mom that know, and see the value of the love that a dog gives. Understand that there is no other being in the world that loves the same as a dog. she admires them for their great courage to risk their love to whom ever will accept it. She cherishes their abilty to love again. She also knows the great value this love is to our seciety. She has spent a life time protecting that love and sharing it with all. All the while being misunderstood, made fun of and ridiculed. Our society values power, money and material things; all things mom doesn’t have, she has spent her life’s work doing something our society doesn’t value. Sad but true…

I think of one of the greatest days of my life, there has been many. The most recent being the day my Mom carried the torch. This picture is my favorite pic of my Mom and Dad. When the phone rang and my mom was asked to carry the torch I think it’s the first time my parents felt that there life’s work was valued by society. It was like all society was saying thank you for the last 20 or so years of no days off; no vacations and all the struggle for the basics – food, warmth, and shelter. And even if for just a moment that there life’s work was of value to society.

I was so excited to call her after the torch run, I was caught a little off guard to hear quiet and solemn almost melancholy. In a cruel twist of faith mom was having her own quiet reflection by torch light. With all the excitement, the pace, the cold air; she had a very very hard time carrying the torch. There comes a time in life when we look back at our lifes work, there comes a time in life when we truly see our imortality and our lifes work can’t go on forever. This was that moment. This was the moment that I had to acccept that Mom was mortal and she couldln’t go on foever. I had thought it before but she was mom, I didn’t believe it. Now in our Quiet moment of reflection by touch light we looked at the truth and solemnly accepted it.

Well that was a while ago, lots of time to reflect on a life time of work. Yes, there was many many lives saved, there were some lives lost as well. I think the most important accomplishment of my parent’s life time has been. They have learned to turn someones throw away trash into some of the most valuable companions. Most would never be traded for all the gold or diamonds in the world. I have been there to see the mistakes, the steep learning curves, the trials and tribulations. I know the massive amount of experience it takes, to take a dog thats never been in a house, never been touched my human hands except to hurt them, to heal the hurts that those hands have caused, and turn them into a yuppie puppie. I know the massive amount of effort that it takes to find 250 – 300 GOOD homes for dogs a year. All with a very small shoestring budget. Just as the hype and excitement of the Olympics slow fades away so will the life’s work.The torch has been lit not today not tomorrow but one day the fire that is TG will slowly begin to flicker then fade slowly into a whisp of smoke.

I think what stands out for me the most in Kiplings The power of the Dog, is that the more we take something for granted the more we will never see just how valuable it is till it’s gone forever. There has never been any wages paid at TG, just my parents I help when ever I can but this has been less and less as familes change as familes do. My mom and dad have taken their bodies for granted as many of us do, we all stand there watching, realizing they are slowly begining to flicker and fade. They need help feeding the fire that is TG, Things need to change they need to prepare to pass the torch. They need a new building and to pay wages to help, with the brute labor. Things are ok now but if we contine to take them for granted all that will be left of TG is a wisp of smoke.

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

Yesterday was neuter day but in Houston! It was Amigo and Ricky’s turn to go in.

Amigo is a very nice little guy.

Ricky is the fellow with the ingrown collar – his neck needed debriding, cleaning and stitching. He was also neutered! He is also a very nice bigger fellow.

When Dave dropped them off he picked up Ewok! Ewok is not exactly housebroken. He is doing ok at TG – he is terribly scared of big dogs and rolls on his back screaming like an injured rabbit! He has done this three times – once with people looking on horrified that he was being killed. Not a mark on him but freaked out people! He is slowly getting used ot the big dogs – they don’t hurt him and he slowly starting to relax.

Ewok with Ursa the pup

When Dave went back to pick up the boys – a supposed stray dog was there for him to pick up. He was no stray but well known by the vet tech – he lived near her mother – small towns. The thing is that I received 3 phone calls about dogs wanting to come in. All were owner surrenders so I told all three that we don’t have room right now but I would help them find a new home. So far no one sent me pictures or taken me up on my offer. But one stray ended up at the vet and a husky pup was found up a mining road with a similar description of one of the callers. He is supposed to come in – they may make good on the threat of dumping him. Added to add – they did.

He needs a name!

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

We have MORE dogs!
I will first start with Vixen and her pup’s Sparkles and Silva.
We were asked to take Vixen’s pup’s, Sparkles and Silva but we were not about to take the pup’s without the mother and have to come back in a few months for more pup’s. Vixen came in emaciated. She was given to us upon the condition that we spay her and return her to the owners, but once we received her it was clear she was living outside on a chain and not being feed or watered. Long story short, the owners have legally signed her over and released her to us. Vixen is now available for adoption. She came in at 37 lbs and within a short week was 46 lbs and now she is a healthy 52 lbs. That is Sparkles lying with her. Sparkles is growing like a weed. She is also available for adoption.
And here is Silva. She is slightly smaller then Sparkles, but for what she lacks in size she makes up for in personality.

Last Thursday we were brought in a few dogs. It was quite the bunch of dogs. We have in a large young girl now named Calla. She is about 7 months of age and has a wonderful disposition and personality. At best guess she is probably a Newfie/Border Collie/Shepherd cross of some kind . She is beautiful and her coat will look much better once she gets some good food into her grooming is kept up. Calla is available for adoption.

We also had brought in a young male Cockerspaniel. Bruce is about 2 years of age. He had his legs and belly full of mats as well as his ears. He stunk something awful when he came in. I trimmed down his legs, belly and ears so he is now mat free and good smelling. He is a very good natured dog. He has not been worked with as he does not know your basic sit and he does not even look at you when you call him but he’s coming along. Here is Bruce before his haircut. You can’t see the mats but they were pulling tight against the skin. He looks much better now. Next week I will do an updated picture.

And last we have Zoe. Zoe is a Yorkie cross. She was in horrible condition. The poor dog is approx 3 years of age, and for at least 2 of those years I do not think she has had her hair cut at all……I would be amazed if she ever had it cut with how she reacted to being groomed. Her entire body was one large mat, her face had mat spikes and her skin was being pulled incredibly tight that after she was cut and freed it took her a while to realize she could walk without scrunching up her behind. This dog was severely neglected. We do not know the exact circumstances she came from but we can only guess with what we saw. She was likely locked up in a pen or kennel for most of her existence as she was covered in her own feces and urine a along her back-end. The pee stains would not fully wash out after she was cut. Despite it all Zoe is very good natured and she walks up and greets large dogs like they are nothing. When she first met my Shadow who is a Greyhound/husky (very tall) she did not blink an eye and went right up to smell his back paw. She is a very confident dog. She does slightly run when you bend down to pick her up but all you have to do is sit down and she will then go to you. Zoe is in a foster home who is currently working on her housebreaking issues. Zoe is only 3.8 lbs. She was also slightly under weight so we believe she can make it to be a healthy 4 lbs. Zoe is available for adoption to a home willing to work with her on her issues.

I feel this all needs to be tied in. Just because you have a beautiful purebred and feel it needs to be breed, or just a beautiful mixed dog that you think would make great pups and that you are doing no harm by breeding it………think again. Where do you think the pups will end up? Do you plan on keeping in touch with the new families for the life of the pup? What if those people breed the pup you gave them and that pup has pup’s and now there are many more dogs running around, being placed in homes in which they are abused or killed in or severely neglected for years and years? It does not matter what type, breed or size the dog. They can and are all abused, killed, neglected and abandoned. Leave breeding to the responsible breeders to make it less easy for these people to obtain dogs. It’s a sick world and we need to educated those that do not realize the harm they are doing by breeding their family pet or not spaying and neutering to allow accidental liters into the world. Here is a great comparison I found on the internet between responsible breeders and backyard breeders, please pass it on: http://www.bonafido.org/backyardbreeder.htm

You can contact us at TerraceDDB@hotmail.com

And we are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=181718668808#!/group.php?gid=181718668808

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

The trip down was uneventful! The bus trip from Topley was short and comfortable. I had an quiet enjoyable evening with Dix. She was there to pick me up and to drop me off on time in the early morning. The trip to Vancouver was very long – it was daylight so I didn’t sleep! It was raining when I arrived in Abbotsford so I walked to the lobby to wait for Deb – we were early! I phoned Chris and she phoned Deb’s cell who was at the front entrance – I was at the back! A wonderful meal awaited me! And a quiet most pleasant evening to rest up.
Deb took me to my appointment at VGH but we had lunch with Wendy first! How cool was that! My appointment went well – I have started a new regimen of meds and will need oxygen therapy but all in all it was positive.

It was Lyn who drove me to Abbotsford to catch my bus but there my misadventures begin. Even though I had called to verify my reservation after my doctor appointment – they forgot me! so…. they asked if I had the funds for a greyhound bus ticket, that they would reimburse me and pick me up at the greyhound to connect with the medical bus in the morning. The greyhound was a night bus – I slept well and the medical bus leaves at 8 am – the greyhound arrives at 7:15 – close but doable. Well – so be it! Problem solved.

Back with Chris and Deb and there was time for my favorite luxury – a therapeutic massage -and what a treat! I was relaxed and stress free for my bus trip home!

The dogs were ecstatic! What a welcome! And waiting for me – my new camera! Thank you Kim L. It took a while to read the manual and set her up but here they are – clear pictures!!!

Dagmer

The bigger Perry Como look-a-like – he is very quiet though!

O’Malley!

The chunky rottie guy and Lily

Trudy the shep mix pup and the shepherd/sheltie mix male pup

And Ruthie!

And “Fraud Prevention Quiz For Turtle Gardens – Topley”.
One quiz per email address, each one gives TG the chance to win weekly grant prizes of $1000 and a grand prize grant of $20,000!!!

This is a Canadian grant co-operative by CanadaHelps.org, RCMP and Gov’t of Canada. Please help by filling out the quiz and then sending the link to all your friends (FB and non-FB) and asking them to do the same. We have a much better chance at this than the daily vote challenge as it’s 100% Canadian.

And hey, if at the end you feel like donating…

http://www.canadahelps.org/FraudSurvey/FraudSurveyLanding.aspx

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

Today is my leave home for Vancouver day. I have a specialist appointment at the Lung Center in Vancouver. We will start a new treatment program so I can be the best that I can be. I may be sporadic but I will have access to computers -just not pictures. I will be taking the Northern Connections Bus – it travels during the day and I will be gone a total of 5 days. How cool is that! It takes 3 days to connect for a PG doctor appointment and just 5 for an extended trip with me catching the bus right at the highway in Topley!! I leave today at 3 pm and will be home at 11.45 am on Wednesday. Short and sweet! Thank you Chris and Deb for having me stay with you and taking me to my doctor. I so appreciate it.

Yesterday was new arrival day and oh boy was there newbies!! Dave and I forgot about the Burns Lake Pound guys during the two pup vet days! so he drove in yesterday to pick them up. The pound thought they were both pups but the rottie mix boy is about 3 years old – he just looks like a puppy! Thank you Dr Caroline for staying after hours to neuter him! He is such a happy good natured chunky fellow. He looks like maybe a smaller dog/rottie mix – short and stocky and definitely overweight! He is so very friendly and needs some manners – he loves to jump up!! He craves attention. He is a very nice boy. I will post pictures when my new camera arrives. Kim has donated a camera and has mailed it but it has not arrived yet. Good things are worth waiting for! Thank you Kim.

The other pound pup is a pup – a lovely sheltie/shepherd mix. He is about 14 weeks old, looks like a shepherd with a fine collie face. He is so very cute! He only weighs 14 pounds. So a small guy. He is affectionate, and playful and just a really nice little fellow.

Then a phone call about a soon to be 4 year old shih tzu. The neighbours are complaining about her. She has had 3 litters. But she is a nice dog. She is friendly, likes kids and knows tricks. She is the mother of the shaggy dogs that have come in recently! Like Buddy, Shaggy Dude, Harvey, Murphy and o’Malley! All with superb temperaments. Yasmin (it is a pretty name too) is a sweet little girl but not a purebred shih tzu as they were told. She most likely has poodle in her as well. She is all black, curly with a bright eyed face. She too is a very nice dog.

And last a phone call from Stuart the Hazelton/Kispiox animal control. He had a small dog about 15 pounds – a nice guy. Would we take him? Pound dogs are a priority here – they have little options. So I said yes when are coming by? He said he was already in Smithers and would be here in an hour or so. He knew I would take the little guy!

The little guy looks like a bigger version of Perry Como! He is cream colored but that may darken with good food. He is in good body condition and is neutered – bonus! Perry Como knows him. He is so happy to see him. After his introduction stint in the wire crate I released him into the general population. He went outside had a pee and strolled into the kitchen where he sat under the table. Perry sits beside him. He really is a nice boy. Everyone like shim including us humans. He is friendly, quiet and well behaved. Turtle gardens welcomes our new arrivals – all wonderful prospective family pets.

And “Fraud Prevention Quiz For Turtle Gardens – Topley”.
One quiz per email address, each one gives TG the chance to win weekly grant prizes of $1000 and a grand prize grant of $20,000!!!

This is a Canadian grant co-operative by CanadaHelps.org, RCMP and Gov’t of Canada. Please help by filling out the quiz and then sending the link to all your friends (FB and non-FB) and asking them to do the same. We have a much better chance at this than the daily vote challenge as it’s 100% Canadian.

And hey, if at the end you feel like donating…

http://www.canadahelps.org/FraudSurvey/FraudSurveyLanding.aspx

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

The weather is spring like – I wonder how long it will last! The yard is melting. The air is balmy and the sun is shining. It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.

all is well at Turtle Gardens – all of the puppies that are old enough have been vetted and vaccinated. Some have their two vaccinations and are ready for new homes. The first two adoptions of the siberian husky/karelian bear dog pups are both the karelian looking ones and both local! How cool is that! yesterday was the female and she will live in Smithers. Today was the little male and he will live in Houston. Tundra and Glacier both have inquiries as does little Ursa and her mom Sus. Bette Davis the blue eyed husky mom has an application too. It looks like another TG Bus transport will be full by the end of the month. Why so long? I have a doctor’s appointment in Vancouver next week so I will be away for 5 days. Then we have to finish our spays and neuters of the recent arrivals. The month will be gone by the time all of them are speutered!

This puppy vet day saw 7 puppies go in. The 5 little jack russel pups were very good at the vet clinic. The 4 girls and one boy did very well for their check ups and first set of vaccinations. Then it was Ursa and Frankie for their second set of shots and vet checks.
Frankie needs to be dewormed with drontal plus – he has tapeworms. His mother was feral and scrounged for her food. She transferred tapeworm to her litter with the meat she brought them. He is old enough to be handle the dewormer. He will soon catch up to the other husky pups. Ursa is doing well. Her frozen tail is healed and her ear tips are also healed up. She is such a sweetie – she loves to cuddle in bed too. She is a “talker” – she has personality plus!

I forgot to mention that Amigo came in with Ricky the fellow with the ingrown collar (he is healing nicely). Amigo was found running ahead of a pack of large dogs intent on doing him grave harm! Linda opened her truck door and he jumped right in! Amigo is a small guy – possibly a shiba mix – he has that kind of face, is black and tan and has a curled tail. He is really a nice little guy. Turtle Gardens welcomes Amigo!

This is a cute picture of Mandy and her daughter Mindy!

And handsome Dagmer

An Update from Jade – the pretty gray sheltie/border collie

Jade is wonderful. she has settled in very quickly and I would say definitely considers us family already. My daughter and her run through the house playing.. she is learning that chickens aren’t for chasing… has made friends with the three legged cat and doesn’t bark at my parents sheep anymore and loves to run around at the barn. She is a smart girl and we are glad to have her. I will send pictures and a followup in awhile. But she couldn’t be more loved or better cared for.

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

It was a beautiful sunny day today – +5. I sat on the step and enjoyed the sunshine – it even had warmth in it! I got up this morning to let all my guys out. Then I cleaned the deposits and washed the floors. As I ground the coffee I realized that my shadow was missing from my feet. I put the coffee on to brew then went to check my bed. There under the covers still curled up in her sleeping ball was Cuddlebug. She had died during the night curled up to my waist – her usual sleeping spot. I never noticed when I got up. sleep well little Cuddles – you were my shadow – always next to my feet. Always begging loudly for that tidbit when I ate – and you ate everything! Especially potato chips! You were a junk food junkie! My vets figured she was 16 to 17 years old, had mammary cancer, a heart murmur so she was on borrowed time. She was brought in last spring from the highway in Topley. she glomed unto me and my gang – she “dogged” my footsteps every step of the day then crawled under the covers ot sleep at my waist. We were buddies. I will miss tiny Cuddlebug.

Today was vet day for the puppies. The two orphans went in for their first vaccinations. They are 8 weeks old, and weigh 1.5 pounds and 2 pounds respectively. The female is a black curly fluff ball and looks like a poodle. The male is blonde and white with a clear face – he looks cocker-ish but very small. They both have curled tails. The staff think they are very cute! Even if they both needed baths cuz they had pooped in the kennel!! Thank you for cleaning them up! they stayed clean all th eway home too.

Then it was the 5 karelian bar dog/siberian huskly pups. They have doubled in size in 3 weeks! They eat very well! Thank you Jerry for sending up the premium puppy food! What a difference, worminmg an dgood food make in growing puppies! The two black and white karelian looking pups have new homes locally! The female will go tomorrow now that they have 2 vaccinations the male on Friday. How cool is that!

Rufus the red shepherd/chessie mix has his first vaccination and check up. He will be available after his second set. As will the shepherd/rottie female pup! Both were very well behaved at the clinic. Both are gentle, quiet well behaved youngsters. What awesome companions they will be for lucky families.

The last dog for today’s visit was Rickiy – he needed his neck attended – from an ingrown collar – another horrific wound that could have been prevented with just looking at the dog once in awhile. How can you have a dog for months and never notice that the collar is too tight? Ricky was very stoic during treatment. He is such a good boy. He is barely 10 months old – just a puppy really. He has adapted very well to group foster living. He is such a nice boy!

And last an update from Ewok – who had his surgery on Friday and is in foster with Tracy.

Tracy writes:Hi Yvette

If you’re wondering about Ewok, he’s doing fine and he’s healing up well. The stitches from the neuter were making him crazy, so crazy that I don’t think he’s noticed the stitched up eye socket. But tonight he’s finally fairly relaxed and able to chill out.

He walks well on a leash and loves to get out for a walk. He seems to be house-trained – no accidents yet. He’s a good character and easy going temperament. And I’m sure he’s enjoying the quiet to rest up from the double surgeries. He takes all his medications easily, plus homeopathy such as Arnica to reduce the swelling and inflammation.

Tracy

And “Fraud Prevention Quiz For Turtle Gardens”.
One quiz per email address, each one gives TG the chance to win weekly grant prizes of $1000 and a grand prize grant of $20,000!!!

This is a Canadian grant co-operative by CanadaHelps.org, RCMP and Gov’t of Canada. Please help by filling out the quiz and then sending the link to all your friends (FB and non-FB) and asking them to do the same. We have a much better chance at this than the daily vote challenge as it’s 100% Canadian.

And hey, if at the end you feel like donating…

http://www.canadahelps.org/FraudSurvey/FraudSurveyLanding.aspx

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

Sharon is one of Turtle Gardens Board of Directors, see her message below…

Hello Yvette,

I just attended the webinar on Fraud Prevention and it was informative. CanadaHelps.org is VERY up to date on the latest technology to ensure donor safety. The presentation by the RCMP officer was the most enlightening – watch out for those unsolicited phone calls! We have been using CanadaHelps.org because it offers secure CANADIAN service and generated donor receipts immediately but they also have an new program for Fraud Awareness Month (March).

We need to send as many people as possible (separate email for each) to do the QUIZ and enter Turtle Gardens as their charity of choice at the end of it. There is a weekly prize of $1000 and a grand prize of $20,000. I just did the quiz and it provides valuable information and takes just a few minutes. I entered Turtle Gardens – Topley BC when asked for the charity name.

Please ask everyone to complete the quiz AND tell everyone they know to do it as well. Because this is Canadian and only requires ONE entry per person it is a much better option than the daily vote one where we never seem to get past 3rd place.

http://www.canadahelps.org/FraudSurvey/FraudSurveyLanding.aspx

And if at the end, people choose to donate a bit, that never hurts either. Hope all is well with you as you prepare for spring ‘puppy’ season. Sharon

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

Stan and company has been working at setting up a blog for Simond’s Sanctuary. It is still a work in progress. But we can read it here: Simonds Sanctuary

Please leave comments so Brandie will know we are reading her blog. I know I wondered during the first months if anyone was reading this blog! Good luck Brandie and Simonds Sanctuary!! Woohoo – your own Blog! The link will soon be on the sidebar!!

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

Keeley is such a good representative for her breed. She is a very nice looking min pin. She was hesitant on the first day to accept affection but she settled in quickly and is now excited to see both of us. She’s funny and entertaining. She can walk on her front legs for a few feet (she doesn’t like the cold wet grass on her back feet) and she can also walk and balance pretty well on her hind legs. I think she would be a good candidate for teaching tricks. She prances when she walks and she loves to play with her toys or play a game of chase and be chased around the house. She has a lot of energy but she settles down in the house really well, especially if she can burrow under a blanket with you on the couch.

She is nervous/protective when someone new comes into the house but she is friendly with people and other dogs when she is on a walk or goes to their house (where she doesn’t feel territorial). She needs someone to work with her to know how to be comfortable greeting someone in her own home because she will warm up to someone new once she’s sure they’re OK.

She walks pretty well on the leash but will pull at the end of the leash if she’s allowed. Some training on heeling and recall would be great as she is distracted by her surrounding when she’s on a walk. She will need to be on-leash until you’re sure that she is bonded to you and shows good recall. She’s been fine being crated for a few hours, without crying or whining. Also, she rides well in the car.

All in all she’s adorable, funny and affectionate. She is okay to bond with more than one person so she doesn’t require a single person home (although a single person home would be good too). I would recommend that the person adopting her be familiar with the min pin breed — you should like the nature of the min pin not just the looks alone.

Sorry for the quality of the pics….she’s not too fond of the flash.

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