Ending 2009 with Ferrara's Happy Ever After

Ferrara and her new furever parents have been on a wonderful journey. We changed Ferrara’s name to Farrah, because her hair color is like Farrah Fawcette.

Six weeks prior to flying Farrah to NJ we began learning about the CP organization. Everyday we would scan through the photos of these precious little Cairns looking for a new home. Everyone has something special and wonderful about them, but we had to find the right one. The search started by looking for Cairns available in a 2 to 3 hour driving distance and then we realized it does not matter how far you have to travel, so we looked all over the country. It took 2 weeks, then my wife called me at work and said I found her. MaryFran saw Farrah’s picture and knew she was the Cairn for us and she was so right.

Farrah’s foster mom took very good care of her and did everything possible to prepare her for a forever home. We were worried about flying her from Michigan to NJ, but the Northwest cargo plane that brought her to NJ did a great job. Farrah was not air sick, just a little scared of meeting new people and seeing new places.

We fell in love with Farrah the minute we saw her. Farrah’s long wheaton hair and sparkling eyes won us over. She was a little shy and it took her a few weeks to make the full adjustment to her new parents and surroundings, but I must say she is very happy and gets all the love and affection any one could want.

We keep Farrah busy all day. MaryFran’s parents watch her until MaryFran gets home at 3:30. No matter where Farrah is when MaryFran comes home, Farrah will run full steam to reach her and give her lots of Cairn kisses.

Farrah spends a lot of time patrolling our backyard. She watches from the sliding glass door in the TV room and waits for something to move. We let her out and watch her chase all the birds and squirrels away. Farrah is not a ball player yet, but she does enjoy her walks and play time jumping from sofa to sofa and following us wherever we go.

We enjoy her and take her on errands in the car. She likes looking all around and does not miss a trick. It’s been hard to get good photos of Farrah because she does not sit still, but I have a few I think you will like. My family could not be happier having Farrah with us. She is a blessing for the whole family and we love her very much.

We did not know about Col Potter before this journey began, but we know and understand a lot about it now. God Bless all the hard working people that are so dedicated to helping these little creatures. From the initial contact, home inspection, matchmaker, and foster mom they all were terrific. We met a lot of nice people and made some new friends.

I want to say a special thank you to Susan, Farrah’s foster mom. Susan took care of every little detail to make sure Farrah would make it home safe for us. Susan has become a friend of ours and we are looking forward to seeing her soon.

Sincerely, Brian and Mary Fran

Carprofen or Rimadyl: Be Informed!

Check out:
http://www.healthyhappydogs.com/MoreOnRimadyl
http://www.cactuscanyon.com/syn-flex-flexicose-safe.htm
http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com/article-detail.php?ID=131
http://www.doglogic.com/rimadyl.htm

Go to the official us gov site http://www.fda.gov and put in rimadyl

The good alternative is to ask the vet for Tramadol.

Kayla Has A Birthday!

Hi ya all,
did u knew we habs BURTHDAY'S ? not sure watt dat iz, but i habing a fun filled day ! started dis mornin when mama says "HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLA" deze hoomans are a wittle strange, but I feel good todey. I must be spechial! we habin carrot cupcakes a latr todey, WOW
me famibly not sure when me real birth day was, so one yere ago today I was rescued from hell by CPCRN (I lubs you CP) and so my mom says it's a spechial day and it will be my SPECHIAL day. so all I gotz to say is "IT'S MY SPECHIAL BIRFDAY TODAY" YEEEEE HAWWWWW... LET DA PARTI BEGIN !
KAYLA LA LA LA ♫ ♪ ♫ ♥
and fursib Sweet Sadie Jo

Sweet William Celebrates His Gotcha Day!

December 14th was Willie's (Col.Potter's Sweet William) First Gotcha Day. Here is the update from his furever mom Carol (who is also a very busy CP volunteer!!):

Willie was one of my fosters who never left. He is a hugger, and when my Sister-in-law broke her ankle in the backyard, and the firemen and paramedics came, he wanted to get in their laps-he thought they came to see him! He sleeps under the covers and snuggles, and plays with Toddy. Beamer, unfortunately, won't give him the time of day, and that breaks his little heart.

Halle's Home on the Farm

Stan and Jan D., with their little Halle (fka Bianca).

Maggie and the Snow

Here's Jo Ann's Maggie celebrating the season. She's too cute enjoying a cozy fire after a chilly romp in the snow.

Visions of Sugarplums??

No, for Bling, 2-month-old son of Ling, who is nestled all snug in his bed, it's visions of a forever family that dance in his head.

Isn't he precious!

Look Who Came Down the Chimney!!

Sadie and Kayla did not leave poor Santa alone at first. They pulled on him! He is animated, sings and sways. It's a simple little fire place, hand made, but I LOVE it :) It was made just for Christmas, But I'm thinking... just leaving it there. AHHHHH...the simple things in life.

Lynne
Sweet Sadie Jo
Kayla la la la

Cairnadian Queenie's Heavenly Match

Yes, Genevieve is now known as "Q" - second time CP adopters decided that Genevieve would officially be named "Q". For those that remember the story,Genevieve was previously known as Queen Isabella or Queenie (nickname).

"Q" was adopted by a wonderful family who truly enjoy her. They felt that Queenie was a name she responded to and felt that"Q" fit the bill.

Furever Mom Maeva mentioned that "Q" is an absolute delight and she gets along very well with Gummy, their other CP girl. They are working on teaching "Q" some manners as she is food motivated and can hardly contain herself for a treat or dinner... like some other Cairns I know!

This is a match made in heaven!

Maggie's Monumental Day

Happy Holidays to the group! I am basically just a lurker so do not post much. I am the proud Mom of Maggie (fka Obama) and Star (fka Tick).

Maggie is a typical puppy mill momma with some of the familiar fears. She by far is not the most scarred but still her transition from the scared little dog we picked up in May 2008 to today is remarkable. She never ceases to amaze us and it has been a rewarding experience.

The most frustrating thing that we have had to deal with though is her relationship with our Marine Son. He does not visit much and he is not much of a dog person. Strange in itself as my husband and I are! We know Maggie is not comfortable with men and her response is generally just stay away but no - not with our son - instead she barks and barks and barks.

Last Christmas we were prepared with toasted hotdogs and made Patrick sit still and make her come to him to get this special treat. And it did work unbelievably well. She did calm down. Not completely but it was bearable.

Now to my news!! Patrick returned home from his deployment last night. He has not been in this house for a year. It was midnight before we got home and we had also brought our 2 year old Granddaughter home. I did not have the strength to deal with Maggie and a sleeping child so although this sounds really rude, I asked Patrick if he could just quietly sneak to the basement while Maggie was outside and we would deal with her in the morning. Quite the reception for a returning Marine but it was the middle of the night!

So this morning he quietly climbs the stairs. Yes both dogs barked but Patrick extended his hand to Maggie and she quieted. He gave her some cereal and although at first she declined, she eventually did accept. The barking was over in seconds!!

He is able to move freely and although there is still some resistance and a bark here and there, it is absolutely peaceful! Yes, this is a monumental day!! Now if we can just get Maggie to stop carrying off our Granddaughter's toys . . . . !

And as for Star, she does not like strangers. She warms up quite fast but does not jump in their arms at any point. She had her initial bark or two but she is fine. She let him throw her ball but would not take it back to him. Not yet but maybe by the end of his stay. Merry Christmas everyone!

Cindy E in Emporia, KS

Happily owned by Maggie and Star

What Vets Don't Want You to Know

Here is a link to a recent article by the "Irreverant Vet" who writes for www.PetPlace.com:
http://tinyurl.com/ouvwkl

Happy Christmas from Oyster, FKA Daiquiri

Hey Aunty Dilys and Uncle Steve


I just wanted to thank you so much for looking after me and finding me a lovely mum and dad.

Mum lets me out of the crate in the morning I have a quick jump onto the bed but can't stay long as I really have to go outside and pee. Then it's back into the house. Remember the stairs that puzzled me so, on our visit. I go up those like greased lightning now.
While I'm doing that Dad gets dressed and puts my new raincoat onto me, then I get my breakfast because as soon as I have eaten, off we go to the 'Wildwood' to take care of #2.
Gosh it's so great. Every day there are new scents and stories to sniff so I'm having a ball.

We go up to the fallen tree and then come back and go out to the cliff and I get to jump over the smaller trees and gullies so my muscles are getting stronger already and to tell the truth I think I've put on weight. OH, and my hair is getting longer as well.

I get lot's of praise when I answer to my new name and I am learning to put my bum on the floor when I hear the word 'Sit'.

On our walks, I now have a 15 foot training leash that gives me more room to explore, Dad is working at getting me to keep the leash loose and it's coming along. Most of the time I just amble along, stopping now and then to sniff the news, but every once in a while something comes over me and I make a mad dash for it. I don't know why. The nice thing is that with the long leash Dad can slow me down softly and easily and I don't come to the end with a sudden jerk that almost flips me over backwards.

I have a friend who comes to visit me and I visit him at his house. He's a black Lab, much older than me and he's very gentle.

I've also been to Vancouver already and I met anther sort of creature, which I think Mum and Dad called a cat. In fact I've met three of them now. From their strange scent, I've got a feeling that there might be one next door as I get that same scent when I'm in the back yard.

Twice we went down to the boat and that was exciting, I got to walk around and go down below. I have to have a lift up and down those stairs because they are so steep. The second time Dad started up something he called an engine. It made a bit of a racket but didn't scare me one bit.

I'm pretty sure we're off to Port Coquitlam tomorrow for something called Christmas.

Anyway I just wanted you to know how Happy I am here and I owe it all to you and your friends who rescued me and found me the best Mum and Dad in the world. I still love you Aunty Dilys and Uncle Steve and hope to see you when we return.

Love to you both,
Oyster

P.S. You know that thing that I do when I lay on my tummy and you call it 'Doing the Fog'. Dad always says I'm 'Oystering' :)))

MacGyver fka Colbert Photos

Here are photos of MacGyver, fka Colbert.
I can't thank all of you enough for allowing me to adopt this beautiful, wonderful boy.
Bringing MacGyver into my life has been one of the better decisions I have made. He is an absolute joy and we love him so much. Even though he has many (okay, a little more than many!) toys, his favorite is still the orange ruffian Marie sent with him.
He has other ruffians in different colors, but the one from his foster mom is his favorite. Thank you, Marie!

Velvet is now Riley with a whole Family

Riley fka Velvet was adopted last week - she is the one on the right with the shorter coat.

She made it to Syracuse just in time for the holidays. Cody is her big brother!

In Loving Memory of Iggster

Dear Joellyn and CPCRN:

Almost exactly four years ago, Joellyn got off the plane in DC and I met Ignatius (CPCRN name "Atticus"), nickname Iggy. I fell in love with him immediately.

I lost my precious boy on Saturday, only weeks after he started acting out and stopped eating, and only a week after the vet discovered a massive cancerous tumor that spread from his abdomen, through his diaphragm and into/around his lungs.

I am devastated to say the least, but proud that - once it was clear there was nothing the vet could do and that pain meds did not help enough - I ended his suffering. But I am selfishly wishing he was still with me - four years with my precious boy was not enough, but then again I'm sure 50 years woudldn't have been enough either.

I just wanted to let you know what a gift you gave me in Iggy. He was the best dog you could possibly imagine. I just wish he had had a longer life with me and that his life did not end in such pain. Thank you for rescuing him and fostering him. He changed my life, made me want to be a better person.

In loving memory of my Iggster, Amy in Phoenix, AZ

Tucker and Zoe Send Holiday Wishes

Hello to all my friends at CPCRN, I'm spending my 2nd Christmas in my furever home and it's a wonderful life.

Mommy's letting me and Zoe help her wrap presents. We make sure the wrapping is paper is all smoothed out by walking all over it for her. Then, we have to taste all the bows to make sure they're perfect for each gift. Mommy says we are so much help, she doesn't know what she'd do without us!

The best part of this Christmas thing, is that there are so many great smells in our kitchen. Mommy's been baking homemade treats for our doggie cousins, and of course, she's making extras for us.

And, we have a tree in our greatroom! It's beautiful with lots of lights and shiny things. I've been such a good boy and haven't touched it at all. There are lots of pretty boxes and bags under the tree, and Mommy says one of them is for ME. I can't wait to see what's inside.

Me and my new family (including the bossy sister, Zoe) wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hugs,Tucker

Santa, Please Bring Me a Squirrel!

This was a fund-raising event for the Seattle Animal Shelter... here's Ghillie (formerly Chess) asking Santa for a squirrel for Christmas! It was a year ago almost to the day that Ghillie had teeth pulled, his neutering surgery, and flea/parasite treatments. He's the gift that keeps on giving -- for me!
Merry, merry Everyone!
Donna

A Cairn Heart

Here is an update on 2 CP kids who are now fursibs - Lexie (formerly Muffet) adopted in June, and Cody (formerly Gasconade) adopted in March.

It's been a while since I've sent you some pix of Lexie. She is the cutest girl and totally at home. She and Cody are best buds and play all the time. She's not afraid of anything. She's full of herself and such a good girl. Playful, affectionate, talkative, funny. She doesn't miss a trick. Still a good eater, loves to walk and be outside, but snuggles and sleeps when she's supposed to. She's won our hearts totally.

Have happy holidays!

Susan

Maisie is Loving Life!

Maisie (fka Etheridge) is doing just great! We love her and each day she comes further out of her shell. She loves her blue chair in the front den where she can watch everything that goes by. She also still loves that pink long dog you sent with her. She carries it from place to place.

Have a wonderful holiday season and keep fostering the wonderful cairns, you obviously are terrific at it!

Nancy and Bill

Three Dog Afternoon

Hi, Just wanted to share this photo of my three boys enjoying the sun and to mention how happy we are with Connor (CP Bambi, adopted Nov 2009).

Connor has settled right in and is all Cairn! He zooms around the house and yard and does flying leaps on Brodie (CP Kaleb, adopted Sept 2008) to get him to play. Brodie is just so tolerant of all the hair pulling and leg biting I can hardly believe it.

Mr. Fergus (the Scottie) was somewhat aggressive the first week with the puppy as he established who was Alpha, but now shares his balls and invites the puppy to play.

Thank you to all the volunteers that enable so many Cairns to have Happy Holidays now and in the future!

PK - Mom to the Dogwood Cottage Boys--Fergus, Brodie, & now Connor (CP Bambi)

Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain

Emerson - "THE DOG!"

Emerson's forever dad said when he was in the dog park the other day he looked at Emerson and knew he was the dog he had been waiting for all his life.

Happy Day for Oyster fka Daiquiri!

It's me Daiquiri! Here is a picture
with me and my new family!

I am just as happy as my new
family is!

After much consideration, my new family has changed my name to Oyster!

Mom says that my coat resembles an oyster shell color and the name stuck!

Happy Forever Oyster!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Ruby a.k.a Singapore Sling!

Happy Forever Forrest!

Pictures of Forrest with his new mom & dad. Everyone looks happy!

No Place Like Home

There's No Place like Home………

 

Whether it was with the clicking of the ruby slippers, or coming-to in her bed at Auntie Em's, Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, kept saying "There’s no place like home, .  .  . there’s no place like home".*

 

Homeless Cairns, taken-in by the Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue Network, obviously cannot wear ruby red slippers, nor are they able to “click” their heels to make a wish of a furever home come true. But, we volunteers and prospective homes, can turn that wish into reality.

 

Far too many of these Cairns have been living a very bad dream, trapped in a dark twister much like the one that carried Dorothy and Toto away. Freed, at least from that nightmare, they eagerly await a wonderful forever home that lies somewhere over the rainbow. Other Cairns have been pulled from homes that they have always known, but for a variety of reasons, their families have been forced to relinquish them, no longer able to provide for them -- not the housing, or the love they deserve. They, too, are looking for a new furever home and a happy-ever-after.

 

What is a furever home? CP kids need food and shelter, but so crave a loving home, protective hands, a smile, a gentle touch. Dorothy awoke from her dream to family there to welcome her, with warm smiles, a gentle touch, and love. That's the place Dorothy called no place like home.

Where might a CP kid find home?  It could be at your house, your neighbor's house, a friend's house.  Cairns, like most terriers, are certainly not one of the more popular breeds, nor are they the best breed for many.  Colonel Potter volunteers, however, successfully match Cairns in need of homes with homes in need of Cairns.  The many, many stories, supplemented with photos on this blog, attest to the rescue's mission and success.

 

If you cannot adopt one of these loving kids, then possibly you could foster one, or become a guardian angel to one. Or help with a transport, or fundraiser.  Rescuing Cairns takes work -- and a lot of it -- time, money, dedication to the dogs, the mission, and the network of volunteers.  All of this, and love, contribute to helping more than 400 rescued Cairns find furever homes every year.

 

Dorothy and Toto had a guardian angel in Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Colonel Potter volunteers watch over our rescues so they can fall asleep dreaming of no place like home, no place like home, no place like home .  .  .  There truly is no place like home.

 

Each of us wants a home for the holidays … and forever.  Make that furever.

 

Charlene and Bill M and the T-n-T girls.....Tootsie - Tasha

- Oceanside, CA

A Senior Sweetheart!

It’s hard to believe that in just three weeks from today, it will be a year since a little red-headed Cairn came into my life, flying in-cabin with me from Pensacola , FL to my home in Oregon ’s Willamette Valley .

I worried that the relatively cold and rainy climate would be a big adjustment for her, but she has no hesitation going out in the rain – it doesn’t seem to faze her.

We took our first road trip shortly after she arrived, spending several days at the coast,
then crossing the Cascade Mountains to the east side to visit family.

Maggie is a great travelling companion. She settles right down in the car. Once in a new place, after determining there is no food to be found on the floor, she curls up in an out of the way place, usually under a table.

Maggie’s a senior at approximately 13 years, but there is still a lot of life and Cairnitude in her! She loves our twice daily walks, and barks excitedly to hurry me along if I’m being too slow getting out the door. She is very enthusiastic about car rides and if she senses we are about to go on one, she will try to hurry me along. Sometimes, while I’m getting myself together to leave the house, I go ahead and let her get in the car. Alone in the dark garage, she settles right down and waits for me.

Maggie has a history of skin problems due to allergies to wheat and corn, as well as many other environmental allergens. She gets immunotherapy injections twice a week. The hardest thing about giving her the injections is keeping her still enough; she knows afterwards she will get one of her favorite treats – freeze dried liver.

Maggie quickly and easily became an integral part of my life, one I can’t imagine without her. She brings love and joy into my life every day. If there’s a senior Cairn out there in need of a home, you could be as lucky as I’ve been. Go ahead and fill out an application right now! You could have a loyal companion to love in time for Christmas – and give the best Christmas gift ever to a Cairn in need.

Phineas Phog & His New Mom!

Hi everyone,

I've attached pictures of Phineas Phog and his new mom Marion. Phin went to his forever home this week - lucky for us, just down the street. Phin was with us for just over a couple of months, and is a lovely little boy - great energy, loves his walks, and overcame a huge uphill battle with his teeth when we got him. Thanks to Col. Potter and our local vet that donated all but a small amount of her costs, Phin had 3 dental procedures while he was with us to finish cleaning and pulling rotten and dead teeth. When we got him his breath smelled like putrid, rotten meat, and in hindsight he was probably suffering from a systemic infection as well as an infection in his mouth. What a difference in his personality once he was feeling better! Thank goodness for modern medicine and the wonders of antibiotics and anesthesia :)

Fostering was a great experience for us and we appreciate being able to have Phin for the period we had him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3sZUDj424

Cheers,
Foster mom Dina and foster dad Gene