The Dogs of the Blog

I'm still limited on the amount of time I can spend on the computer (or doing other tasks) because of my arm, so I've been choosing things I can work on a little at a time. I have a Rogues Wall in my home with photos of many of the animals who have shared their lives with me, but it was missing some of the most recent ones so I surfed through my digital photos today for suitable images. Then I became sidetracked using some of those images to create a new header for my facebook page, using a photo from a recent hike, a rainbow, and my dogs who are now at the rainbow bridge.

As you may notice, it includes just those dogs I've lived with since beginning this blog, which was shortly after I moved to acreage and took on adopting senior and special needs dogs. The picture does not include the pigs or alpaca from my farm days, nor my numerous short and long term foster dogs, nor does it include dogs who went to the bridge before I started the blog or lived at the farm (Brandy, Shamrock, McDuff, and Muffin). And it doesn't include Emma, who is still alive and thriving at her Dad's place. Allie would like to point out that it also doesn't include any cats, past or present.

I'm not sure I could make up a photo that includes all the animals that have been part of my life. But I do know that they each stole a piece of my heart - and gave me part of theirs. I miss them all.

(If you want to refresh your memory on their life stories, try clicking on the labels below. I won't guarantee it will work - it doesn't always - but worth a try). 

Caleb's Ashes

When my precious Caleb died of cancer, I had him cremated individually and the ashes returned to me – something I had never done before. The beautiful urn in which they came has been sitting on a shelf in my office, a constant reminder of a wonderful dog – not that I need ashes in an urn to remember my Caleb.

I have been thinking about what to do with these ashes. I am simply not the type to leave the urn sitting on the mantle until I die and whomever disposes of my worldly goods chucks it the garbage. I knew I would release those ashes, set them free somewhere, but where? On the dikes where he loved to swim? On the mountain trail where he loved to hike with his doggy daycare buddies and Kelly? In the pasture here, where he ran and played and then leaned against my legs as I sat on the bench at the top of the hill?

When I made the decision to move to Crofton, I found my answer. Caleb came from the Cowichan Valley SPCA, and one of the first outings I had with him was with the Wednesday Walking Group at Swallowfield. As a dog who had been abused, and then was in the shelter for many months, no doubt this taste of freedom was pure delight – especially given the river to swim in, sticks to be thrown, and other dogs to play with. And so I decided to release half his ashes at Swallowfield after I move, and the other half here in my little corner of heaven, where Caleb became part of my family and where I will be leaving a piece of my heart.

Today is exactly two years since I adopted Caleb. It seems a very fitting day to release the first half of his ashes here in the pasture, so bright with yellow flowers and sunlight. And next month, I shall release the other half at Swallowfield, where I sense his spirit each time the dogs and I walk in that beautiful place where Caleb first found his freedom.

Caleb, you are forever loved and missed.






Footnote: And as I released Caleb’s ashes at sunrise this morning, I also took a moment to honour Thomas and Lexi, two very special dogs I once knew and loved, both of whom passed away this month. I remember them with great affection, and respectfully offer my condolences to the humans who grieve their passing. We shall see them again some day, at the Rainbow Bridge.

Past, Present, Future: The universe unfolds

The Seawalk

Today is one year since my beloved Caleb went to the Rainbow Bridge. Adopted from the Cowichan Valley SPCA in May 2007, he was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma in December of that same year, and died at home in my arms on Feb 20th, 2008. He was an awesome dog, who could make the grumpiest person laugh and the darkest day bright. I miss him still.

Silly Caleb

And so, it seems fitting that on this day I also announce that I have purchased a retirement home in the very area where Caleb and I first met. We will be living just a block from the oceanfront cottage where Caleb, Charley and I stayed for a few days while we got to know each other. The dogs and I will be walking that same seawalk, going to the same off leash park and beach, hiking those same trails with many of the same people and dogs that we met on that first meet-and-greet visit and the second come-to-take-Caleb-home visit.

Hiking and swimming at Swallowfield, near Crofton.

(I think that's my friend Else's dog Archie in centre front)

Charley at Swallowfield

Charley at Osborne Bay off-leash park/beach

And it seems fitting, too, that one of my first commitments to my new community will be to sign on as a volunteer at the very shelter that housed and cared for my sweet boy for seven months before my friend Else talked me into coming to meet him.

Caleb, and Else's dog Hugo

And so, the big news to which Sadie recently alluded: my retirement is now definite, and I have found my retirement home!

A few weeks ago, I handed in notice to my employer and started the process of applying for my pension. Though I am not yet sixty, teaching is not what it used to be and my heart has not been in it for several years now. Financially, I will need to be frugal, but 18 years as a single parent taught me a lot about frugality. My father died in his 60th year, never getting to enjoy retirement. I have far too much living to do to want to work a day longer than necessary. And so this semester will be my last.

Then, just before getting hit by “the bug”, I made another flying trip over to Vancouver Island to have a second look at a house I had seen a couple of weeks earlier. And on second look, I liked it even more. I made a very low offer just to test the waters and even before I arrived back home, my realtor called with the news that my offer had been accepted with only the teeniest adjustment.

The last couple of weeks have entailed a flurry of activity as I made arrangements for home inspections, financing, title searches and insurance, mostly by email in my voiceless state. Subjects were removed, papers were signed, and I take possession on February 28th – in just one week’s time.

The home is a three bedroom rancher on a big-enough yard with a lovely old apple tree out back. I can see ocean and mountains from my yard, and can even fish from the dock just a block or so away. My home is located in the community of Crofton – population 2500, a few streets east and west, a few streets north and south, convenient enough to larger centres for shopping yet remote enough to meet my need for peace and solitude and small town life. Situated on the very picturesque Osborne Bay on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Crofton is only now just beginning to show signs of future expansion, making real estate there both affordable and a sound investment.

From my front yard to the ocean

A good omen?

And what of Martin and the piggies, you may ask? The physical and financial realities of my life had already led me to rule out purchasing acreage for my retirement years, and that is one of the reasons why I have never adopted the pigs that I foster despite loving them to bits. The piggies will go to the sanctuary as soon as Janice can prepare a place for them – unless one of my readers is interested in fostering a family of twelve adorable piggies????? You know you wanna…….

Martin, the alpaca who was abandoned on this property when just a cria, was sometimes fed by tenants and sometimes not, never provided with shelter, and seldom had any other needs taken care of. Because of my concern for his future welfare, I persuaded the landlord to sign him over to me (which he was only too happy to do) so I could ensure that Martin would never go through winters without food or shelter again. Before taking this step, I had carefully put backup plans in place for the time when, inevitably, I would leave this property. But time has a way of changing plans and relationships, and today that plan is no longer a viable option. Other potential homes also seem to have evaporated, but I am confident we will find exactly the right forever home for Martin. If you know of a place for a rather shy but rather nice alpaca to spend the rest of his days (he is about 9-10 years old now, and typically alpacas live to be about 20), please email me using the contact info at the side of this blog.

And so, in May, the dogs and cat and I shall begin the move to our new home. My neighbours here are not happy. My landlord will not be happy. The pigs and alpaca, while stressed initially, will adjust and will be happy because their needs will be carefully considered. And Charley, Sadie, Belle, Oliver, Allie and I shall be very happy.

I have always believed that things come together at the right time and in the right place, and not a moment before. Dissatisfaction with work, an excellent buyer’s market, great interest rates, and a desperate seller of a suitable home near the ocean in a community I have always liked, have come together to provide me with the makings of a new chapter to my life.

And now I know where I will be spreading Caleb’s ashes, which have stood in their urn in my office for so long. Some will stay here in the pasture where he spent each morning and evening with me, and some will go under the big old apple tree in the back yard of our new home to symbolize that he is with us still. He began his life of freedom and unconditional love in a little town called Crofton, and there his spirit shall rest.

Past affects future, and future reflects past. The universe is unfolding as it should.

The long road home

(Caleb, Charley, and - I think - Hugo)

Pawprints on the heart

Today I wept as I read the Turtle Gardens blog – Laddie, a wonderful old collie who was adopted by Kate, has passed away.

There are some dogs who, from the moment they walk into our lives, leave huge pawprints on the heart. I know Laddie did that for Kate, just as my Caleb did for me. They are our “heart dogs” and as much as we may love all our other critters, they are the ones to whom we feel the greatest connection. They are the ones who fill our hearts and souls with a love so deep that it cannot be described, it can only be experienced.

Kate and I met when I did the homecheck for the very first dog Kate applied to adopt from Turtle Gardens – a lovely little golden-coloured girl named Lucy. I knew in a matter of moments that this was going to be a wonderful home for a very lucky Turtle Gardens dog. A while later, Kate added another TG dog to her family – a little golden-coloured boy named Finn.

And then Laddie showed up on the Turtle Gardens blog. Laddie tore at my heart strings, and I kept going back to his photo, wondering.....is there room here? Can I help him? Could I make it work? And then my heart positively leapt for joy when Kate told me she was adopting him – he tore at her heart strings, his picture spoke to her, and she knew she needed to offer him a home.

And so she drove all the way from the Fraser Valley to Topley, BC, to pick up this dear old dog with the matted fur and skinny arthritic body. And from that moment on, he was “home”.

When we adopt seniors, and especially ones with health problems, we know we may only have them for a short while; sometimes they prove us wrong and live for a long, long time. When I adopted my Caleb, who was only 5 or 6 years old and appeared in excellent health, I thought I would have him for many years; yet eight months later he was taken from this earth by cancer. There are no certainties. If we listen with our hearts we know which dogs need us and just as Caleb needed me for the little time he had left, Laddie needed Kate. Kate provided him with all the love and care and warmth he could ever ask for. And just as he lived a good life for these past few months, he died a good death, in his home, in his bed, with Kate’s hand on his beautiful face. Thank you Kate for loving him.

I believe that those who have left this earth still reach out to us. I often feel Caleb’s presence near me when I am in the pasture, or wake to the sense of his big cuddly body on my bed, head on my pillow, just as he used to do in life.

I know that Kate is grieving today, and I can only glimpse how deeply she feels this loss. Kate wanted so much to see Laddie running in the fields near her home. He made it as far as the edge, but always turned back too tired to go on. One day soon, when Kate takes her “goldens” to the field, I suspect that Laddie will finally be there, running free at last. And quite possibly there will be a brindle boy named Caleb running right along with him.

Run free, Laddie, and let your heartmom know you are but a kiss away. Your spirit will always be as close as the love that lives on in her soul.

Bits and Pieces

Well, another weekend has come and gone. It was very busy and a few of my usual weekend tasks didn’t get done. With the shorter days and my paid work schedule this term, it’s unlikely the dump/recycling run will get done or the grass mowed before next weekend now.

With the fall comes the harvest, and so keeping the piggies in fruit and veggies has become a little easier. Donations of crabapples, windfall apples, spinach and lettuce that has gone to seed, beet and carrot tops, mammoth sized zucchinis etc. are starting to drift in. In addition to their cup of grain a day, piggies need lots of veggies (especially green and yellow veggies) and fruits, in a ratio of 2/3 veggies, 1/3 fruits, to keep in top shape. As access to pasture grasses diminishes, finding enough greens for the piggies becomes a challenge. Those donations make a huge difference to the budget. And it sure shows in the piggies' healthy skin, shiny eyes, and beautiful black bristles.

I am adding straw to the piggies’ bed every few days now, to keep them warm these chilly nights. Soon it will be time to scrounge for old wool blankets as well. And I need to lay in some more hay for Martin and the pigs as the pasture grasses disappear. Fortunately, a generous donation of very nice quality straw from a friend-of-the-piggies a few weeks back means I won’t have to worry about straw bedding until close to Christmas.

Erika and Rob and their dogs Tyler and Toby came out yesterday to look at the barn (well, Erika came to meet and fall in love with the piggies!!!). Rob has given me several ideas for fixing the leaky roof and for dealing with the problem of water cascading over the edge in front of the doors. Sometimes it just takes someone familiar with the industry to see something that none of us amateur handypersons see – one fix is going to be very easy (the water over the big barn door) and Rob is sending me the names of some companies where I might get some miscellaneous metal roofing at a good price. Given the “iffy” electricity in the barn, I’m also thinking of putting in a few clear sheets of that wavy plastic stuff in place of metal in a few places to give more natural light. The piggies will enjoy that too, I think.

Yesterday I also went to an Open House at my friend Deb’s. Deb is the artist who did the wonderful portrait of Caleb, and owns Cat and Mouse Designs. I picked up a great cloth bag and beverage mug there.

Deb's portrait of Caleb

My great new cloth bag!

I also bought a book called A Day by the River, written by Mavis Sutton with illustrations by Deb Strong. It is a fundraiser for Critter Care Wildlife Society, a local non-profit society dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of native mammal species who have been injured or orphaned. It is a great little book about a mama and baby bear, and I love the illustrations. Read more about it here. Readers who are interested in supporting this worthy cause can find their website here.


Belle went to the open house with me. Deb had fostered Belle when she first came into rescue, before I adopted her. One of Deb’s guests yesterday had seen Belle then, and could hardly believe this was the same dog. She had been so crippled with arthritis when first rescued, and now it is hardly noticeable. In fact, Charley thinks Belle should get down and dirty and PLAY with her. Check out this video of the dogs on my hillside, taken last night:

And now it is back to work. The pigs and alpaca are fed and watered, the dogs have had their run, and all that remains to be done is to figure out what the heck I am going to do with my students today!

If they follow me home, can I keep them?

Yesterday, I needed to make a quick stop at the local pound to drop off some raffle tickets to a volunteer. Enroute, I found a lovely creamy coloured dog wandering down the side of the road – a golden retriever/lab cross I think. I slowed down but kept driving, and she came running after the car. After a couple of blocks, I stopped and opened the door to see if she had any tags and she literally flew right into my lap and hopped into the back of the vehicle as if she belonged to me.

I took her to the pound, where she was well known – yet another owner who would rather risk his dog becoming road kill and pay big bucks to get her out of the pound than contain his precious Peaches - GRRRR. But what a lovely girl!

The volunteer was just returning from walking Roper......flip flop goes my heart.....a senior border collie who was picked up as a stray a couple of weeks ago and no one claimed. Oh.... My....doG. What a sweet, sweet, sweet dog he is and so well behaved too! And he's good with other dogs and with cats. He’s a fairly small little guy (as border collies go), probably around 10-12 years old, with a matted coat and flaky skin that suggests the lack of a healthy diet or frequent grooming. And he has the calmest, gentlest, softest eyes that plead for some lovings. I just wanted to gather him up and bring him home!

And then there was Brazil – a Caleb look alike, not quite the same as the original but with the same basic features - muscled brindle body, eyes that melt the heart, sweet disposition but full of energy too. This beautiful girl will make someone a great pet.

The young and beautiful ones I don’t worry about – they will find homes. But Roper.....a senior......not looking his best.....oh, that one just breaks my heart. I wonder if there’s room to squeeze one more little old dog into this little old house?

I really must stop dropping by shelters!

Pssstt.....Wanna win some GREAT prizes?????

In Northern BC there is one shelter, and only one shelter, to meet the physical, emotional and medical needs of the many homeless dogs in that area. Its name is Turtle Gardens and it is a registered charity. Friends of Turtle Gardens are about to launch a fundraising initiative – a raffle with awesome prizes – for a very important cause: the purchase of vehicle to facilitate the transport of dogs and supplies.

I have been struggling for several days now with how to impress upon readers the important work this shelter does and the urgency of supporting this initiative. I have decided to begin by quoting a recent letter:

Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue began on April 8, 1988 as a no-kill facility to address the real need for a safe haven for unwanted animals. There were no shelters of any kind for 250 miles – from Prince George to Terrace – 17 First nation Communities and 11 Villages and Towns. Twenty years later Turtle Gardens still stands alone. Since inception, they have adopted out over 4000 dogs; placing an average of 250 dogs per year.

Turtle Gardens began like any other shelter - with kennels. It has evolved to become a Group Foster Home and Rehabilitation Centre and, along the way, has undergone extensive renovations to ensure the comfort and safety of the dogs. Three generations of Labatte family members call Turtle Gardens their home, sharing their lives with the dogs so they will learn to be FAMILY companions.

Specializing in stray or feral dogs, many are first and second generation strays – they have never been in a building let alone a home. Turtle Gardens helps to heal their "inner puppy" and develop relationships of mutual respect with plenty of TLC. Positive reinforcement is used to help the dogs understand about learning so they can adapt to city life where doggie social skills are vital. Ninety percent of the dogs are adopted to more populated parts of BC, as there are not enough families in northern BC to accommodate the number of dogs passing through Turtle Gardens. All of the dogs are vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, and spayed or neutered. Turtle Gardens continues its renovations extending to build an adoption /training/internship/education centre and to upgrade the necessary fencing.

Realizing that the flow of homeless dogs is not slowing, Turtle Gardens has instituted a Low Cost Spay Neuter Voucher Program and has all four veterinary clinics in the local area participating. Turtle Gardens rounds out their busy repertoire by doing extensive outreach programs in schools, in hopes that the importance of spaying and neutering is impressed upon the next generation. In one day alone in the fall of 2007, Turtle Gardens took in 47 emaciated dogs from a desperate and despondent situation.

A committed group of friends and supporters of Turtle Gardens have come together to raise funds in support of these efforts. Turtle Gardens relies on donated supplies, such as hundreds of pounds of dog food, to come from the lower mainland. And in return, Turtle Gardens delivers the precious cargo of soon-to-be-loved pets to the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. To meet the growing demands of pet lovers and homeless dogs, Turtle Gardens needs to have a larger, more reliable shipment vehicle. So we are raising funds to go toward the purchase of this new vehicle.


Through the generosity of many businesses and individuals, supporters of Turtle Gardens have gathered 30 prizes worth a total of nearly $6500. Tickets will go on sale in the next week or so, and the draw day is Aug 30th.

So what can you win?

How about an all-inclusive trip for two to Puerto Vallarta (transportation from Vancouver, accommodation at the Canto Del Sol Resort, meals and taxes) for seven days? Thanks to Chris and Tomoko of www.escapes.ca for providing this grand prize.

And then Daphne at Butchart Gardens has put together a wonderful prize of a weekend in Victoria, BC with transport via Harbor Air from Vancouver, and accommodation at the Executive House hotel plus vouchers for Butchart Gardens, Imax Theatre, Royal BC Museum and more.

Then there is a package of $500 worth of gas cards, followed by a $500 Home Depot card, followed by an assortment of gift cards, a pet portrait by Deb Strong who did that great portrait of my Caleb, and tons of other things. The complete list of prizes can be found in the sidebar on the Turtle Gardens website

Tickets are $5 each, 3 for $10, or a book of 25 for $75 (why not get together with friends, family, or coworkers and buy a whole book???)

The raffle has been approved by the BC Gaming Commission. In compliance with the regulations governing raffles, please note that:

Ticket purchasers must be 19 years of age or older. Chances are one in 185 to win a prize. Actual odds depend on number of tickets sold. Problem Gambling Help Line, call 1-888-795-6111 or log onto www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca. Know your limit, play within it. BC Gaming Event number 8775.

Purchase and sale of raffle tickets via the internet is not permitted by the Criminal Code of Canada (Section 9.3, page 14 of the BC Gaming Procedure Handbook) so, unfortunately, payment cannot be accepted online via Visa or PayPal. However, internet web sites may be used to receive orders to purchase tickets, and so you can email me for tickets at this account: animalsinrescue at hotmail.com (just substitute the word “at” with the @ sign). I will announce additional venues for ticket purchases as soon as they are available.

Please support this very worthy cause and treat yourself to the chance to win some really great prizes.

Where to begin????????

What an awesome day, full of good friends, great animals, wonderful surprises. I’m going to have to use subheadings on this entry!

Five herding dogs and four animal lovers:

Today Deb and Sharon came to visit. Both are supporters of rescue, and Deb was Belle’s fostermom before I adopted her (Belle, that is, not Deb!). Deb was also the person who told me about Sadie needing a soft place to land. Sharon, a sheltie mom, fell in love with Belle when Deb was fostering her. Good thing she lives in a condo that only allows one dog or Belle might never have made it to my place! Both came bearing gifts for the dogs, cat and piggies - such spoiled critters I have! My friend Ellen also joined us for the afternoon, bearing more treats – for the humans - yum!

Deb brought her collie Riley (hmmmm…Deb, did I spell that right, or is it Rylie????) who is soooo much like Charley. Sharon brought her 13 year old deaf sheltie Crystal. And so we had a yard full of herders – three collies (or collie crosses in the case of Sadie) and two deaf senior shelties! Great fun!

The herding fivesome

Crystal

The dogs playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose'???

Charley, Riley and Belle

Belle and Crystal

Riley

Riley, Sadie and Belle

Crystal

Scotch has an adventure:

Scotch provided us with a moment of excitement. I had put the piggies in the front half of the pasture for some grass-chomping, dirt-digging recreational activity as usual. As Deb, Sharon, Ellen and I sat laughing, enjoying the dogs and each others’ company, and sipping wine and dipping Ellen’s fresh strawberries in sour cream and then in brown sugar (if you haven’t tried that tasty treat, I highly recommend it!!!!), we suddenly heard the llamas next door sounding the alarm.

As the bears are back and signs of other wildlife have surfaced, I dashed to the pasture. Martin was not making his alarm sound, but was carefully watching something moving through the long grasses at the back half of the pasture, just below the hill.

Oh oh – I noticed the x-pen that I use as a gate where the path crosses the stream was no longer standing upright. We started counting noses – er, snouties – and I quickly realized that the owner of the biggest snoutie, Scotch, was missing. Off I went, calling him…..sure enough, there he was doing his happy dance, tail wagging, mohawk high, having a great time off on an adventure of his own!

Such a good boy – when I called his name he turned and headed over to the path, and when he heard me tell him to get home he hightailed it back down the path as fast as his little legs could carry him, until he was safely back with his herd. I can see I am going to have to watch that boy – once they find a way out, nothing short of padlocks will keep them confined!

Thank goodness the neighbour’s llamas are not used to the sight of piggies in the back pasture – hopefully they won’t become used to them any time soon.


Pigs in the pasture

Two llamas piggy sitting

And I’m moved to tears:

When Ellen had asked if she could join us this afternoon, I thought it was to meet some new friends and their dogs. Unbeknownst to me, however, she had been in contact with Deb for quite some time. Deb is an artist (her work can be seen here), and Ellen had commissioned her to do a portrait of my precious Caleb who died of cancer in February. Deb added a beautiful frame and they presented it to me this afternoon. My eyes filled with tears at the beauty of the portrait, their amazing gift, and my love for my brindle boy. Deb has captured his spirit beautifully. Words cannot express how much I cherish this gift.

Caleb portrait


Then, just to top off the night....

A few weeks ago a senior collie named Rover came into the care of Turtle Gardens, the only private animal shelter in northern BC. I fretted about him, but knew I couldn't take in another. Today I got the wonderful news that Rover has an adoption pending - with a person I first met at least a couple of years ago when I did a homecheck for another dog from Turtle Gardens. This will be the third dog Kate has adopted from them - she's obviously very satisfied with Turtle Gardens and I can't think of a better home for Rover! Way to go TG, Kate and Rover!

Rover


The dogs are flaked out, my heart is full, and my soul is at peace with the world. What a marvellous day!

One year ago today

Caleb on his "Gotcha Day"

It was one year ago today that I adopted dear, sweet Caleb, my brindle boy, my pitti-lab cross who pawed his way into my heart, who snuggled on my bed, who tormented the cat and charged ahead of us all on the dikes and loved his daycare and most of all, who loved me every bit as much as I loved him.

May 24th, 2007 - Caleb's Gotcha Day. We never got to celebrate his first year with me because on December 8th, 2007 he was diagnosed with cancer and on February 20th, 2008 he left this earth.

I miss you Caleb. I hope you are having a blast at the Rainbow Bridge. Wait for me, sweet boy - someday I will see you again. You were the very best.

From Cowichan Valley SPCA, who kept him safe for seven months....


....to my car, for the long trip home....


...to claim his place in my home and my heart.

The Ebb and Flow of life

As new life emerges all around me today, with the warm sun opening blossoms everywhere I look, old life passes on. This morning I received a phone call from my friend Ellen postponing some plans we had – her parents’ dearly loved dog, Benji, was critically ill and possibly in organ failure.

Benji was adopted by Ellen’s parents when his elderly owner died about ten years ago, and quickly had them wrapped around his little paws. He was a little white fluff-ball, likely a shih tzu/llaso apso mix. In recent months, he has shown signs of Cushing’s disease. Although slowing down, Benji still appeared to be doing quite well most days.

But on last night’s walk he suddenly stopped and refused to go further. This morning he was clearly in distress and so Ellen rushed into town to help her parents take him to the vet. Sadly, his time on earth was over, and they held him in their arms while he was helped to pass.

I never met Benji, but got to know him vicariously through Ellen’s frequent stories of him. And I can only imagine the heartbreak her parents, both seniors, are feeling at his loss. Ellen and family, I am so sorry.

This is the third friend of mine who has said goodbye to a dear companion animal this week – an ironic twist of nature when so much new is springing up around us.

And that is the cycle of life – we are born, we live, we die. But our spirit lives on in the hearts of those we touched, and that enables those hearts to love still others that come after us.

I remember when Caleb was fading, how much I hoped he would live long enough to feel the warm sun on his face and smell the fresh green shoots emerge from the earth once more. It was not to be. But I do believe that spring is the best time of year to pass, because even though we are gone from our earthly place, the new life everywhere reminds those left behind that life is a continuum, the spirit is eternal, and death is just part of a greater plan.

Bella the Boxer, Run free old friend!

Until recently, I owned some recreational property where I spent many weekends and part of the summer holidays. While there, I got to know a couple with a beautiful boxer named Bella. I absolutely adored Bella and I think she really liked me too. The only time the couple and I talked to each other or saw each other was at that property, and I haven't been there for almost a year.

Day before yesterday, when I got home from work around 3:00 I took my dogs for a walk in the pasture as usual. Suddenly I thought of Bella and wondered if she had made it through the winter - last time I had seen her she was very old and had advanced Cushing's disease. I came into the house to see if I had the email address of the people. Then I got sidetracked so didn't follow up.

Yesterday I got a phonecall at work. It was Bella's mom. She tearfully told me Bella had passed away. I mentioned the coincidence that I had just been thinking of them. When had Bella passed away? She had been helped to pass at 3:00 the previous day.

Inceasingly I believe that if we allow ourselves to be open to it, those who have passed on can and do let us feel their presence. In this case, I have a feeling the coincidence of me thinking about Bella at the same time she was passing from this world was partly Caleb's doing. The last time I was at the rec property, I had just adopted Caleb and I introduced him to Bella. I suspect Bella's arrival at the Rainbow Bridge went something like this:

Bella: Hey I know you! You were loved by that funny woman at the creek!

Caleb: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's me! We met last time our hoomans got together!

Bella: I like her! She always had treats in her pocket!

Caleb: Well, c'mon then! I'll show you where I lived! You can say hello to her - she's sitting on her bench at the top of the rise. C'mon, C'mon, let's go!!!

Thanks, Caleb, for bringing her by for a fleeting visit. Run free, Bella, you were a great dog and never failed to make me smile with your silly slobbery grin. Your family will miss you terribly, but they'll see you again one day at the Rainbow Bridge.

Walkin' for Raven

Raven and Arez (used with permission)

Raven is a five year old girl (who just turned five this past weekend - Happy Birthday Raven!) living with cystic fibrosis. Raven’s mom, Zoe, is a staunch supporter of both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Bully Buddies breed rescue. In fact, Zoe is organizing a “Walkin’ for Raven: Pitbull day out” walk in Abbotsford, this Sunday April 13th, at Mill Lake Park.

What is my connection to this? Well, Zoe was also Macy's foster mom (see earlier entries this month). And Macy says she wants everyone to help Raven and help promote bully breeds. So she told me to get involved.

Bully breeds, and particularly those called pitbulls, are the media’s current “love to hate” breed. In the 1950s and 60s, it was German Shepherds who had the bad name and “everyone” feared. In the 1970s it was Doberman. In the 1980s, it was rottweillers. And now it is pitties.

There are far more animal bites and animal attacks by labs and shihtzus and other supposedly friendly, lovable breeds than by pitties. But just as happened with sheps and dobes and rotties, when you have too many ignorant people training a dog to be fierce, or breeding for size and strength and aggressiveness rather than for calm temperment, the breed gets a bad name instead of the owner. Now, people have a kneejerk reaction to the word "pitbull", and most do not even know how to recognize them – they think any dog with a particular shaped face and body is a pitbull. Try this test and see how you do. Can you pick out the pitbull?

I have met many great pitties. Caleb was a great pitty mix. So are his sisters. And on April 13th you have an opportunity to meet a bunch of great pitties – ambassadors for their breed – while doing something worthwhile for a little girl who has endured more than any one person should have to endure, and the organization which attempts to find a cure for CF.

You can enter the walk – you don’t even need to have a pitty, there is no breed-bias here. You can bring any dog as long as you observe the leashing, pooper-scooping, and dog courtesy rules. Or you can sponsor a walker. Or you can help out with a BBQ or registration or simply come out to show your support, to meet some wonderful dogs and people, and maybe donate a little to the cause.

Raven and Macy and kids with CF and pitties everywhere would like your support. For more information, check out this link or email walkinforraven@gmail.com.

Two Happy Endings!!!

Happy Ending Number One:

Today, Macy (Caleb's littermate) moved from her foster home to her forever home with Kimberly. Macy's journey has been a long one - her first owner died, the second abused and neglected the dogs (and was later found guilty in court), then she was seized by the SPCA and spent time there. She was adopted, but the adopter decided she'd rather travel and moved Macy to her parents' house. The parents decided they didn't want her and eventually she came to the attention of Bully Buddies rescue who picked her up and took her to Zoe's for foster care. And now she is on her way to Kimberly's. That's a lot of change for a dog who is only about five - and most of the changes were in the past 16 months.

But now she is has a new, carefully selected home which will be a great fit for her calm indoor but active outdoor personality.

Sam and Zoe, thank you so much for allowing me to enjoy time with sweet Macy while she waited for Kimberly to find her. Zoe, thank you for the love and great care you gave her while fostering her. Sam, thank you for having Bully Buddies rescue her and ensuring she found her very last ever – and best ever – family. And Kimberly, thank you for adopting her. I hope you will share as much love with her and have as great a time with her as I did with her brother, Caleb. And I hope she will live a long, long, long and happy life with you.

Macy, sweet girl, you are home.

Happy Ending Number Two:

Dyno, the older yellow lab from Williams Lake who bolted while visiting a home in Burnaby a week ago today has finally been caught!!!!!

He was sighted earlier today, many times, in the same general area as yesterday. A concentrated effort of Coquitlam Animal Shelter, rescuers, volunteers, family and friends managed to narrow the field and finally rounded him up safe and sound.

This country boy was so unfamiliar with the territory and with busy city streets that it could have had such a tragic ending. His guardian angels kept him safe and I am so very relieved that he will soon be back home with his mama, where he belongs.

Good boy, Dyno! Tonight you will sleep well, with a full tummy and a warm bed, and the love of humans who never gave up. Have a great life sweet dog.

You're only as old as you feel.....

.....and right now Charley (nearly 11), Sadie (8 or 9 ) and Belle (12) think they are puppies! It’s a beautiful evening; the air is crisp, the sky is blue brushed with white and steel grey clouds, the sun sinking on the horizon is once again flooding the hills with light, bringing the bare dark trees into stark relief against the sky. The fresh snow in the surrounding hills reflects back the sunset in hues of pinks and blues.

And so the dogs and I went for our third walk of the day, up to the rise at the back of the pasture. And there, all three of my supposedly-senior dogs were playing and rolling and barking and jumping and chasing and carrying on like two year olds. This was not the first time today – they had gone through the same antics when I had taken them out after work, and on the first walk this morning, too.

And just before dinner, Ellen came over (with the piggies’ weekly supply of greens – thank you, Ellen!) with her dogs Kinley and Toby. While we drank coffee in my kitchen (Ellen and I, not the dogs), Kinley grabbed a stuffed Eeyore that I had bought for Caleb some months ago. None of my dogs play with toys …..or they didn’t until they unleashed their inner pups.

Next thing we know, Sadie and Kinley are having a great game of tug with Eeyore and chasing each other around the house, swapping the toy back and forth and joyfully wrestling with each other! They didn’t stay still long enough to get much of a picture (and my house is very tiny which makes it even more difficult with five furry critters chasing around), but it sure made my heart sing to watch them!

The actual age at which a dog might be considered a senior depends on a number of factors. The rough gauge of “ one dog year equals 7 human years” works to a certain degree, but actual life expectancy varies considerably by breed and size (as well, of course, as breeding, nutrition, environment and so on). Very large breeds live on average only 7 -8 years, breeds like German shepherds about 10-12 years, small breeds often 13-16.

Sadie is a fairly large dog (and not just because she is overweight) so is likely a senior at 8 or 9, Charley and Belle certainly are seniors even though Belle is small.

But I guess no one has told my three girls that they are “old”. I only hope I can act as young as they do when I am the equivalent in dog years.

Ooooops, too late for that – I’m already over 8 in dog years. I think I’ll go play tug with Sadie and Eeyore.

Sadie and Belle at the dike

Today I arrived home from work fairly early, and quickly contacted my friend Ellen to see if she was up for a walk on the dikes in a nearby community.

Charley, who hates car rides, raced back into the house at the sight of the open car door and stubbornly refused to come, but Sadie and Belle are always up for a car ride, so off we went.

I hadn’t been to the dikes since Caleb passed away. Our last trip was in January, a short walk with an arthritic Belle and an ever-weakening Caleb. Since then, Belle’s health has drastically improved and she now shows little evidence of the arthritis and muscle wasting so apparent three months ago. Sadie, as my newest addition, had never been to the dikes as she needed to build a bond with me before venturing into new territory where reliable recall amid distractions is essential.

Today was the day to test my girls out. By the time we arrived it was starting to drizzle and was a bit colder than I anticipated, but Belle and Sadie were excited to see their friends Kinley and Toby, and off we went.

They sniffed the ground and checked out rotting fish, and Kinley (a young whippet) entertained us all by racing hither and yon – down through the reeds, up across the path, back to us, on ahead, back again……can that boy run!!!

Belle and Toby trotted along side by side, two well matched seniors out for a stroll.

And Sadie had a blast, sometimes trotting quickly with Kinley, checking out smells and interesting “things” (arrrrghhh!), sometimes walking sedately at my side, always obeying each time she was called.

We overestimated Belle’s ability a little, and by the return trip she was really dragging, and so we took turns carrying her for short distances. We joked about the new “doggy strollers” on the market and wondered what colour Belle would like. Of course, Princess Belle thinks a doggy stroller is a great idea and informed me she would like royal purple, with a nice canopy please.

I think future walks on the dike will have to alternate between long ones for Sadie and Charley, and shorter ones for Belle. However, as I now watch her Hoovering around the kitchen floor just in case I have dropped a tasty morsel somewhere, I have to conclude that she can’t be too tired from her day’s outing. I suppose the test will be how well she moves in the morning – if she can still beat me to the door, the food bowl, and the pasture gate I will conclude that her arthritis is far less bothersome than mine!

Charley and Sadie Part 2

The post below is my first attempt at posting a video on this blog. I wasn't able to upload from my computer for some reason, so did it via photobucket. I would appreciate knowing if anyone is unable to view it. (I wasn't able to add words to the post without losing the video - I am on a steep learning curve here!)

It is heartwarming to see my Charley-girl play like this. She is almost eleven; Sadie (with the red bandage on her foot - she has an owie) is about 8 or 9; and little Ms. Referee Belle is 12 - there is life in the old girls yet!

What really touches me is that this is the first time I have ever seen Charley really play! Although she was raised with a dog just slightly older than her, and later joined by the young pup Emma, she never played with them. She did play-bow to my Caleb and to Isaac (a former foster), but only in their last few days of life when they were too tired to respond. So this is very exciting to me.

I guess she has been waiting all her life for a sister the same breed as she is. If there was any doubt that I would fail fostering and end up adopting Sadie, this seals the deal.

Meeting Macy

Macy sitting proudly

I pulled into the driveway of Macy’s foster home just after 1:00. It seemed strange not to have my own dogs in the car with me, but this was to be Macy’s afternoon.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, Macy is Caleb’s littermate, taken in the same SPCA seizure and adopted well before I met Caleb. But later she was given up by her adopter and so she is now being fostered under the auspices of Bully Buddies rescue. I met Macy a week or so ago, and she is every bit as sweet as Caleb. There is something about bully and bully/mix breeds that just charms me no end and never fails to make me smile. It has something to do with that solid, serious, quiet, calm character housed in a wiggly-butt, ever-grinning, mushy, kissy, soft old lovebug of a body.

I miss my Caleb, and so Bully Buddies suggested I take Macy for outings – giving her a bit of extra exercise and attention while she waits for the right forever home to come along (or for me to decide that one more dog is not really one too many!).

Macy hopped happily into my car and off we went for an adventure. At first she peered a bit anxiously out the window but a few pieces of dried duck breast and she decided I was an okay person and this was a good place to be.

We met up with my friend Ellen and her dogs and discovered an absolutely wonderful park with tons of great trails, a beautiful creek, tall trees, little wooden bridges, rich green moss, and – best of all – NO people!!! With the exception of a dad and his kids and lab who we saw in the distance at the playground, we didn’t see a soul all afternoon – in fact, the parking lot was empty! What a great place.

Ellen with Macy, Kinley and Toby

Macy had a blast. I suspect she would have liked to run off leash, but that wasn't in the game plan. I forgot to bring my 30’ training leash, but she gamely trotted along on the 6’ leash and even managed to splash in the creek.

She’s a wonderful sweet dog who gets along with other dogs, cats, and kids. In no time at all she was practically dragging me along the trails, head high, tail wagging, nose wiggling, as happy to spend a little time with me as I was with her.

For more information on Macy and other great bully-breed dogs, check out Bully Buddies website – oh, and be sure to check out their new blog!

Happy Macy

Sadie has an owie!

Poor Sadie - she was licking her paw furiously yesterday and when I checked it, I couldn't see anything wrong with it. Some dogs will lick their paws out of anxiety or boredom. I don't think Sadie is bored here, but it is less than a month since her family gave her up so she may well be anxious and wondering where they are.

This morning she was limping and holding up her paw, so I had another look. She has a very raw spot, about the size of a penny, on her pad. I'm not sure if she chewed it during the night, or if it was some sort of blister that popped. So I wrapped it up and then she started licking the other paw!

Thanks to my online friend Nana and her dog MP, we still have some natural salve that they made for Caleb when he was licking his paws, so Sadie has just received a foot massage with the salve and is now resting. And I am off to the drug store for more vet wrap - purple, if they have it. I think Sadie would like purple.

She still ate a hearty breakfast and came on the walk in the pasture, so I don't think she has any deep-seated infection worthy of a long trip to an emergency vet. But tomorrow I will call my regular vet and get her in there - she needs a basic checkup anyway as I don't know if she received one while at the SPCA.

So, the day is fast slipping away. I spent an hour cleaning up piggy poop, another hour feeding and walking the dogs and mucking out the alpaca's pen, and this afternoon I am going over to Surrey to take Macy, Caleb's sister, out for a few hours. The bed's not made, the kitchen's not cleaned up, and of course there's always a stack of marking on my desk.

Oh...and stay tuned for information on two very important fundraisers coming up - a garage sale on March 22 to raise money for Hearts On Noses pig sanctuary, and a fundraiser on April 16 (tentatively) in which some great pitbulls will be helping raise funds for some equally great kids with cystic fibrosis. Even those far away from southwestern BC can show their support! More to follow!

Poor Sadie - no purple vet wrap so she had to settle for blue.

The Universe is unfolding as it should

I have always been a believer that things have a way of working out for the best. Sometimes when faced with a difficult decision one has to have the patience and faith to just wait a little while and the right choice will emerge. Or when something wonderful is lost, it sometimes paves the way for something equally wonderful to appear. And so it is with dogs.

I miss my Caleb. I miss him a lot. And then into my life comes Sadie. I didn't have to go looking - she needed a home and I was there. From the moment she walked in the door she belonged here.

The first sign was when the cat didn’t even make her great big saucer eyes at Sadie or arch her back and her tail, as she usually does when a newcomer invades the house. Allie just sauntered past, gave her a sniff and went right on with her business of persuading me that I am starving her. And today, for the first time EVER, I found Allie lying side by side with a dog – with Sadie. The universe is unfolding.......

I was a little anxious about taking in a dog I'd never met. When I picked her up after her transport, I was told she was “yellow flagged” for separation anxiety. So today I did a few very short departures where I left her in the house while I went out to the barn, or down the road for the mail. No problem. No barking, no whining, she just waited inside for me. Then late this afternoon I left her for over an hour. I came home, parked at the top of the drive, tiptoed to the house and peeked in the windows. There’s Charley, fast asleep on the couch. And Belle, fast asleep in one of the big dog beds. And Sadie, separation-anxiety Sadie, fast asleep on my bed. The universe is unfolding....

It is always important to me to crate train a dog so that if ever they must be confined they will consider it a “safe place” not a punishment. I start the process gradually, by feeding them right next to a crate. At each meal I move the feed dish further inside, until eventually they have to go all the way in to eat. Then I start closing the door for a few minutes at a time, and so on.

Sadie was having her third meal here this evening, so the feed bowl was just partly inside the crate – far enough that she had to put the front half of her body in to eat. She was fine with that. And half an hour later, as I was checking my email, I suddenly realized that there was a black furry beastie in the crate by my desk --- Sadie!!! She had gone right inside of her own accord and was softly snoring away. The universe is unfolding.....

I know she misses her family and wonders when they will come for her. She runs to the patio door and looks out with anticipation when a car goes by. When I go to the back door, she quickly trots down the hall, head and tail high, full of anticipation that mom and dad are here. When she looks out the door and sees no one, her tail drops and she stands on the threshold looking about with a puzzled expression.

But slowly she is realizing that this is home now. She already loves the pasture and runs to the gate when we go outside. Today she was pushing her nose into the pasture grasses trying to catch the poor little field mice – just as Charley does. I don’t think there’s any doubt that I will be failing at fostering and will adopt this girl. She was just meant to be here. The universe is unfolding.....

And that brings me to one last “the universe is unfolding” story: Two of Caleb’s littermates, also seized by the SPCA for neglect in 2006, have been returned by their adopters and are back in the rescue/shelter system once again. Two brindle girls, sweet and loving like Caleb. One in an SPCA, one in a foster home. I was already making inquiries about them when Sadie suddenly came into my life. I had already set up an appointment to meet one of them, and I kept that appointment this morning.

I was sitting on the couch in the foster’s home when Macy, Caleb’s sister, came over to me and planted herself between my legs just as Caleb did, leaning her back against me. And suddenly, she raised her head and gave me one of the most wonderful, amazing pitti-lab face-washing kisses! I totally melted! And so the dilemma: could I manage four dogs, two of which are new to the household and whose true personalities may not emerge for several months? (It takes anywhere from three to six months for their full personality to emerge when they have been through a traumatic event and rehomed).

And so I contacted Macy’s rescue and told them my dilemma. And they let me know someone else is also interested in this sweet girl. And so we shall trust providence....if she melts the other family’s hearts the way she did mine, then she should go with them. And if not, then the rescue knows I would like to try her here. If it’s meant to be, it will be.

Meanwhile, there is a lovely brindle pitti-mix girl named Edie at the Victoria SPCA still looking for her forever home. I’d love to see both girls get perfect forever homes – they have been through so much already. It’s time for their universe to unfold as it should.

And Okanagan Collie Rescue??? I think Sadie has found her forever home.

Play with me, somebody, play with me!

Charley has never been a “typical” high-energy border collie. The runt of the litter, she has always been a quiet, calm, steady girl with one exception – she gets very excited and noisy when motorcycles or heavy trucks go by. But the rest of the time? She's friendly enough, likes people, good around all species of animals, but definitely not one to engage in doggy games.

Even though Charley has virtually always had at least one other dog for company, she has seldom actually exhibited play behaviour with them – play-bowing, wrestling, chasing, tumbling. She is never aggressive to others, but simply ignores them and does her own thing - kinda like her human mom!

But every now and then, over the past year, she has suddenly had a notion that age ten is the perfect age to begin to play. First to be invited to play was Isaac, an old dog I fostered during the endstage of his life. One day as Isaac and I were slowly wending our way down the pasture trail, Charley began circling around play-bowing every few feet and barking. “Play with me, Isaac, play with me!”. Isaac had a vague memory of playtime and half-heartedly did a few play-bows and woofs before continuing the walk in his stumbling, lop-sided gait.

Then there was Caleb. Only during the last month of Caleb’s life did Charley routinely try to engage him in play as we returned from the pasture. “Play with me, Caleb, play with me!”. Caleb would give that funny little toothy grin of his and anxiously lean his big brindle body against my legs. “What’s she doin’ mom??? Why is she barking at me??”. Occasionally, very occasionally, Caleb would give chase for a moment or two.

Yesterday, it was Belle that Charley tried to entice into play. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, the air crisp with the scent of early spring. We had walked to the rise at the back of the pasture, then rested a while – Charley on the ground at my feet, me on the bench, Belle curled up on my lap. As we headed back down, Charley put on her widest grin (she is a dog who really knows how to smile!) and began play-bowing to Belle. “C’mon Belle, it’s spring, play with me!!!”

Charley pranced around, play-bowed, rushed forward then back, yipped and yapped and did all she could to engage the arthritic old lady in a game of chase. Poor Belle didn’t know what to make of it – she stood her ground, head to one side, looking up at me and asking “What the HECK is the matter with Charley?????” Then she eased back her lips and through gritted teeth issued a nervous warning “Grrrr, back off Big Dog, grrrrr.”

Today, Charley tried to entice a piglet or two into a game of chase. The piglets were out in the side/front yard once again (it has become a daily ritual), running around having a ball. Charley went up to Fizz and play-bowed. “Play with me, Fizzy, play with me!” Fizz squealed and ran around but didn’t play-bow back which confused Charley – was the piggy playing or was piggy running away?

So she tried the same thing with Whisper. “C’mon Whisper, play with me!” Whisper touched her snoutie to Charley’s crouched-down collie nose and gave a funny little “erf, erf” before calmly turning around and rooting up some nice fresh grass. "Thank you, Big Dog, but I'm busy right now. It was nice of you to ask though."

Eventually Charley, with a toss of her head and her tail, raced off whippet-like, and tore around the lawn, happy to be free, to feel the sun on her fur and the fresh air in her lungs, even if no one wanted to play with her. No sulking for this girl – she invites others to join in but if they decline then she lets her unbounded joy in life express itself anyway – a truly free spirit who lets nothing and no one drag her down.

Ah, what a way to live one’s life. It has taken me more than fifty years to learn the lesson that Charley has learned in ten – never let others’ lack of enthusiasm for an activity stop you from doing whatever you’d really love to do.

Hmmmm...... but Charley IS seventy in people years, so maybe I’m not such a slow learner after all.