Divinity's Amazing Life

Adoption Day 2009

Today is the second anniversary of my adopting Divinity.  So much has happened since we got together two years ago. The attached picture was taken by Divinity's foster mom two years ago today as we were getting to leave her house for Divinity's new home.
During our second year together, many things have happened:

• For the second time, Divinity became a WordPress Featured Blog.
• She had a custom tailored winter suit made for her.
• We had our Second Annual – Mid-Winter, Indoor Camping trip.
• Divinity celebrated her eleventh birthday.
• Divinity learned to run!
• We went camping at Glacial Lakes State Park and Sibley State Park, both in western Minnesota. We also went camping in Moose Lake State Park in northern Minnesota.
• To enjoy her travels better, I bought Divinity a Co-Pilots Seat.
• Divinity ripped a screen door to shreds trying to get at a Chipmunk. Sorry, I have no pictures of the door to show you.
• And most importantly to me, Divinity has been a special part of my life for another year.

Visit Divinity's own blog here: http://missdivinity.wordpress.com/ and read more about her wonderful life.

Laments of a Gardener (and Cairn Mom)

It's a gorgeous day here in northern NJ. No rain for a change - 70 degrees, sun. Great day to do a little pruning and planting annuals while the 4 cairns enjoy being outside.

Aside from the crater in the lawn left by Becky, the lawn is looking luscious. Well, there are those numerous but small dirt hills that seem to have popped up overnight. Hmmm...looks like ants hatching.


Oh well. On to some pruning. Go to the shed and grab the tools. Wait, Becky is doing a poop. Have to scoop that up or I'll tread on it. Have to go get the scooper. Now that's done, let me put the scooper away.

OK back to pruning. Wait, Zibby is doing a poop. Better pick that up or Becky will snack on it. Have to go get the scooper. Now that's done, better put it back or I will forget where I left it.

OK back to pruning. Do a quick cairn check. Everybody here? Good. Becky is chasing bees. Yogi and Casey are waiting for the birds to drop of that tree. Zibby is looking out the fence to see what's going on.

Back to pruning. What? ANOTHER POOP? Must have been Casey. Better get the scooper or, well, you know. Better put it back,too.

OK back to pruning. Here is Zibby coming to say hello. Wait, what? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is definitely on purpose! UGH! Back to the scooper. Yes, yes, I put it back.

OK NOW back to pruning. It's getting late already. What's that buzzing sound? What is Becky chasing now? Bees...what are all these things flying around suddenly???

Oh no...wasps...from the holes...hundreds...time for everybody to go inside and take a nap.

Liz

Peek-a-Boo Sarut Thanks You!

I’ve heard there are a lot of people who are wondering how Sarut is doing today. Is she happy?

healthy? well-cared for? LOVED?  Did the little dog in that horrific rescue photo even make it or was she kindly put out of her misery?
    Well I know alot of people couldn’t bear to look at that first photo of Sarut and, I admit, she was in terrible shape, even deemed “unadoptable.”  To me she looked gorgeous and I wanted her from the start.  I could only see what I knew she could become with the love and care she deserved; I saw my best friend in disguise.  Because she was so beautiful to me, I was afraid hoards of people would want her and I wouldn’t have a chance at adopting her.  I carried her picture with me everywhere, asking friends and family to pray for her and also to pray for my husband and I to be chosen as her family.  We knew she had very poor vision and may even have to lose her eyes, but we wanted her so much!  She was missing 22 teeth, but we were willing to do whatever it took to help her eat well.  
We rushed to fill out adoption forms, prayed, waited, paced, and went through the processes; home inspection, phone interviews, references, even some begging.  What a day it was when we received approval!  A friend was hired to fly Sarut in coach from Texas to her new home in Ohio; no cargo trip for our princess!  Little Sarut trembled all the way home but, as soon as she got inside, she knew she was home.  She knew where the water bowl was and got herself a nice, long drink.  Then she met her three dog siblings and six cat siblings.  She immediately loved them all and the feeling was mutual.  
Ever since that first night home, Sarut has been enjoying her furever home and family.  She has brought a sense of completion of our little pack and so much joy and love into our home.  To this day she has not done one thing wrong- not one!  Although her vision is poor, she is not completely blind.   The infections and ulcers in them are completely gone.   Due to malnutrition and a severe case of mange, she had thin fur and bald patches.  She now has a full coat of thick, shiny lustrous hair which she fills out rather well, as she has gained nearly ⅓ of her weight since being home.  She learned to play with toys for the first time during her second day here and also enjoys playing with the other dogs and her cats.  We did away with her crate after only a few days because it became too small right away; she had her best friend Nygel, a Mini-Schnauzer, and a three-legged cat, Amir, and Christopher, an orange Tabby, all sleeping in there with her.  With her toys and blankets in there also, it was clearly too much!  
    It is truly amazing how friendly and fearless Sarut is considering her past.  The first 6 ½ years of her life in a puppy mill were horrible.  Yet, she often has a cat eating from her bowl with her and shares her toys with everyone.  She loves to be held and kissed, isn’t afraid of anything or anyone; even likes storms!  Her tail wags constantly these days, even while she’s sleeping.  Her current activities include dive-bombing off the couch onto the large Chow sibling, tug-of-war with Nygel, napping with the cats, playing “chase” with the Greyhound, and watching T.V. with Daddy on his lap.  She really loves it when Mommy makes snacks for T.V. time and gives bellyrubs.  Racing through the yard then dipping in her pool is so refreshing on a hot day.  And oh the fancy clothes she loves dressing up in!  
     Sarut is no longer the horrible, pathetic little mill dog in that rescue picture.  She has been completely transformed and so have we.  She is a living testimony of the miracles that can occur when loving, caring people band together for a good cause.  She is so happy and spreads this joy wherever she is.  While holding her, many people claim to feel “something magical.”  We know what this is, don’t we?  This precious little princess is the best little darling in the world and we are forever grateful to Col. Potter for seeing her potential.  They saved her even though she was deemed “unadoptable.”  Not only is Princess Sarut healed, she is healing.  How tragic to have overlooked such a priceless life in this magnificent little girl!!  We cannot even imagine being without her.  So how did she turn out?  Is she loved?  Is she healthy?  What do you think?

More Sarut photos

Please "friend" Sarut Cairn Potter on Facebook and follow her wonderful life.

Duke's Tenth Birthday

I groomed Duke a little, all I did was use the Furminator (he has a very thick undercoat) and the  metal comb and I could not believe how much hair I got out of him.  At least he looks a little less like a Yak. 

Suudella is Dearly Loved by Foster and Furever Homes

While I've loved all my fosters, there have been a couple of very special ones along the way. And Suudella was one of those. She was in such sad shape when she arrived - weighed 9.8# at the shelter in Houston - had about 1/2 of her hair from untreated sarcoptic mange, her ears scarred and floppy instead of standing from years of untreated infections. And towing a 25 day old puppy that only weighed 12.5 ounces along beside her. There was a dark cloud in her eyes where the sparkle should have been - a look of despair at what the future would hold. If there ever was a dog deserving to find "the good life", she is definitely one.


We nursed her and her son Fili back to good health. She put on weight, and her hair started to come back in. She was a great mother to Fili - nursed until he decided to make the switch to big boy food a little earlier than I would have liked, and she played gently with him, teaching him how to be an independent and happy boy.


She started to trust, and her tail started to wag - and what a great wag she has - a side to side slow movement of contentment. You could cup her head in your hands and rub her muzzle and her cheeks, and she would close her eyes as if she thought she'd died and gone to Heaven. She was an easy foster as she liked to take up a quiet spot in a bed behind the chairs or under a table where she was out of the way of the rowdier ones in the pack. She got along with all the other kids here, and the only time I ever heard a negative sound out of her was when she was sleeping and another furkid would come wake her up to try taking her spot. She'd give them a sharp chirp of a warning to say LET SLEEPING DOG'S LIE! 


Not often did she bark, but when she did, it started with a funny baying like a hound dog - something she must have imitated from a dog in the mill. She's walked great on a leash, sauntering along beside you, enjoying the trip out to see new things, taking it all in stride.


Last week, Deb e-mailed me that a home in NC was interested in her, and I was anxious to talk to this home, but I was also dreading the thought of this girl leaving. This home had it's challenges as she's a senior and didn't know how to use a computer, but she's got a great neighbor/friend that coached her along, and we did a LOT of talking on the phone to help make this adoption possible. There were a couple of snafu's getting the adoption completed, but today Della flew to NC to be with her new mom Rita and dad Lenny. And I couldn't be more pleased.


Rita is originally from Great Britain, and she's been an absolute joy to work with. They lost their Toto about a month ago from heart disease at the young age of seven. They have a Cairn girl they adopted from a shelter that they've nursed thru having sarcoptic mange, and Rita wanted to help another older dog. Rita's neighbor had suggested she look online for a Cairn rescue, and that's how they found Col. Potter. When she saw Della's picture, she said that's the one. And when she read her story, she knew. Fate and Destiny surely had something to do with this. Rita put in her application, worried that someone would beat her to Della, and she's been like "someone having a new baby" ever since (that's what she told me tonight when she called).


She's checked on Della every day, looking at the website and watching my videos on youtube, with the help of her neighbor. She had her contract faxed in within hours of receiving it. She's bought a couple new dog beds, more toys, and new collars and leashes to have on hand. We've talked almost every day since the match a week ago. A couple of nights ago she called with a concerned sound to her voice. Even though we had discussed it, the horror of the thought of what type of a life Della had come from had hit her, and she asked with a shaky voice - "yours is the first home she's ever been in, isn't it?" And then we talked again about what these kids go thru in a mill, and how they are truly deserving of a life of retirement and love.


I've been in tears all week with two leaving within 24 hours, but Inky is young and I love that she went to a second time adoptive family. I hadn't realized until it was finalized that I was so attached to Della. But she showed me this week that she was ready to move on and be in a family with fewer dogs. When we went to the vet to get her health certificate, we belted her leash in the seat and let her ride where she could look out the window. And she was like a kid in a candy store, watching and absorbing everything new. At the vet's office, her tail wagging side to side never quit. She stepped right up on the scale(weighing in at NINETEEN pounds), she wagged and smiled and would have liked to have checked out every dog that came thru the lobby, but she stayed right by my side as I quietly gave her that command to stay here. I swear she smiled at everyone. And she closed her eyes and enjoyed Dr. Bouse examining her and talking to her and telling her she was a lucky dog. She didn't want to leave the exam room and put on the breaks, and I had to give her a tug and tell her it was time to go home.


When we arrived home, I put her out in the back yard to potty, and I talked across the fence to my neighbor. Della watched me as I talked, her tail wagging side to side, and then she started rolling in the grass on her back, and pulling herself across the yard on her belly, giving herself belly rubs. What a happy, silly girl.


Today, we let her ride to the airport out of her crate since she'd be in it so long, and she rode part of the time on my lap - I could feel her muscles getting shaky standing on me so finally sat her down in the van floor, and she sat the whole way on a quilt that was there between Barney's and my seat. At the airport, she never flinched once while out for her final walk before getting in her crate, and there were lots of planes taking off and delivery trucks bouncing thru the parking lot. I called Rita when we had her checked in, and she had given Chico a bath and was about to shower herself and they were going to the airport an hour before the flight was to arrive. That tickled me to hear of them prepping like they were expecting someone very important. She'd been up since 5 this morning, giddy with excitement about her new girl arriving. LOL


So when Rita called to let me know they were home and safe and how happy she is and how beautiful they think Suudella nka Molly is and how her tail is wagging side to side, I know she's where she was meant to be. Rita has fallen in love with her I think just as much as when a mother takes that first look at her newborn.


Jody the neighbor has promised that she'll take pics of Della with her new family and send them to me :-) I can't wait to put a face to Rita's voice. She told me that she wished we lived close because she'd love to come over and help with the dogs. And I believe she truly would. And I think we'd be the best of friends because she's truly a dog person.


And I'm at peace tonight, knowing my Suudella is dearly loved :-) This is what it's all about and why we foster.


Thank you to MM Deb C and to Kathy T for getting the contract done with such short notice -
Kathy H in MO

Happy Kayla La La fka Mancala

Furever Mom says:

Furever Mom says: Just thought I'd share a picture of Kayla La La fka Mancala, rescued in Dec. 2008 by CP. She adopted me Jan. 2009, Kayla La La is a very happy little girl and a joy to be around! hard to believe she was a mill girl, happy and full of life, energy and always a smile! She has a cairn sister named Sadie Jo, they ZOOM and play all day, that's their job and they do it well! LOL
Lynne, Kayla La La and Sadie Jo
MN

Cotello's New Family

Foster Mom Pam wrote: Well, my sweet Cozi didn't hardly give me a backward glance, he was too excited to jump in the car with his 3 kids and new parents. I guess anybody who would drive 6 hours one way with their kids in tow might be worthy of my little guy.

This is Brett and his family live in SC near CP Member Bonnie. He is an ED nurse at Bonnie's hospital where they met in October at a disaster drill event and when he heard Bonnie had cairns he couldn't wait to hear more! 

Bonnie says: The family had been a little while without a dog and had decided on a cairn for the breed. We talked quite a bit whenever I made my rounds and he was working in the ED and often visited the CP site. I did their HSV. He is a great guy and his wife and kids couldn't be nicer or more loving. They even wanted this little guy when they thought he might be blind in one eye. It's a wonderful lesson for his kids on rescue and a great addition to their family. We plan to have some doggy play dates.

From the photo, it looks like Cozi might already be planning some fun with his oldest sibling of the two-feet variety!

Daffodil Has A Birthday!

Our special little Daffodil is 9 years old today.  This July we will have had her for 5 years.  She is JJ's daughter and litter mate to Tulip.  So happy Birthday Tulip !  A true CP family that was rescued - thank you everyone.

 

Daffy is getting along well - new baby steps all the time - she is such a joy.  In one picture she is waiting by the fence to chase the big dogs next door and the other is treat time with sister and brother.  She does not like her picture taken!!

Marlene T.

Liberty (Kansas City), MissouriMom to CP's Daffodil (Daffy), Eden (WCK) and Holke/Scooter da man
CP's Rainbow at the Bridge running with First Cairn - Sniffer 

For Keltie He's All in the Family

Foster Mom Penny A sent us this happy ever after story:

My foster Keltie went to his forever home in the Bay Area yesterday afternoon. He will have an older Cairn sister, Annie and a 7 year old Cairn brother, Scout (CP’s Franz) as well as his mom and dad. All reports are that he had a great flight in his Sherpa and made a great impression on everyone at the airport when his dad let him out to stretch his legs. Keltie was a great little foster dog and I will miss the little trouble-maker (VBG), but I don’t think my resident furbutts feel quite the same.

I would like to thank everyone in Col. Potter who made this adoption possible and give a big shout out to our Matchmakers who are THE BEST. All of my fosters have gone to absolutely perfect homes. It makes it so much easier to let them go when you know that they will be much-loved family members and have great lives.

Attached is a picture of Keltie with new dad James, ready to start his new life as a California dog!

Penny in Kent, WA

With resident Cairns Buddy and Shasta (CP’s Shanleigh)

__._,_.___

Patti-Cake Girl Heals a Broken Heart

Following the recent and tragic loss of CP Boy Indi, Celeste opened her broken heart to CP Girl Poppy.  On her adoption day, now Patti knew right away that Celeste was her furever Mom and said: "Well finally! What took you so long, Mom!"

Foster Mom was amazed that Patti was more comfortable with Celeste than she'd been the whole 8 months in foster care!

Even better, Celeste says: I can't tell you all how much I love this little girl and how grateful I am that CP rescued her from that horrible puppymill. She is healing me after Indy's death, and even after the death of my dad.  She cracks me up because of the way she walks.  I have a crate for her, but she now sleeps with me in bed and cuddles next to me. She even gets along with the cats!

I love her so much and I think she knows it!

Celeste

Southern IL

A Poem For Adoptive Homes: Second Dog by Lee Avery

Second Dog

by Lee Avery

Sometimes I look for traits in you

Of a special dog you never knew--

A dog who loved me all his days

And understood in special ways.

But that's not fair to you, my elf,

You're not a substitute, but yourself.

You've dried the tears and eased the pain

And tugged my laughter home again.

Yet, at times, puppy, I almost start

When your eyes recall him to my heart.

You'll never lack for love, it's clear--

Because of him, you're twice as dear.

Biggie Triumphs and Now Has His Own Furever Dad!

Foster Mom says:

 

Biggie was adopted today and went to his forever home.  If no one thinks this is nothing short of a miracle, please know it is a miracle, and the people that work for our rescue are the miracle workers that made it happen.

 

Biggie was diagnosed as having a head trauma at a very young age.  He is farsighted, food aggressive, and takes Prozac to help him with stressful situations.  Life in general stresses this 2 year old little guy.  Change is unnerving to him.  He has seen many doctors, Dr. Blackman the neurologist, said that we should treat him as though he had OCD, to the extreme. 

 

Biggie has lived with us since November and grew mentally and physically.  He learned commands, learned to play, learned to trust, and life was not all that bad. 

 

But who would want a puppymill rescue that was not completely house trained, food aggressive. had a head twitch, and was scared of people?  Could there be a home that wanted a dog with this much baggage at 2 years old?  Impossible you say --, but it happened!!  Biggie found his forever home because this group does perform miracles.

 

Wes, Big's new Dad, emailed me about an hour ago.  He is a man of a few words but said, "We are home and everything is okay.  He loves it here."  And there lies the miracle.  Yes, this hard working group of matchmakers performed a miracle, a miracle of love. This could not be made possible without the love of so many for those little ones that have been discarded.

Linda
Port St. Lucie, FL

CONGRATULATIONS to BIGGIE and HIS DAD!!

Marisela Spreads Her Sunshine from Foster to Furever Home

We met Mari's new Mom in Milan, OH which is the birthplace of Thomas Edison. Mari liked the town square park because it was very convenient for her to relieve her stress there as soon as we arrived. All the humans liked the lovely architecture.

Mari's new Mom arrived with a friend to keep her company. We liked both ladies. Mari was noncomittal until I pulled out the baggie of tiny pieces of cheese and handed it over to new Mom. :) YES, this new lady was most acceptable now. LOL 


Becky, Mari's new Mom, apparently has a number of friends who are pretty much housebound and they all were excited for her to bring her new dog to visit. Becky said not so fast....Mari has to have time to settle in. Great thinking!!!

Becky called and told us all about Mari's exploration of her new home and yard. Things are going well. I'll keep praying hard that things continue that way. It was really hard to feed only three kids at dinner...house seems too quiet!!!


We miss our sunshine girl who made us smile and chuckle all the time. One of the reasons we chuckle is very evident in the first photo showing her in a donut bed that is obviously not properly flat on the floor. But she is in it!

Bonnie in OH with Cairns Gilly & Janna
and foster Corcoran aka Corky

Maggie: A Good Meal, Great Home - 3 Years of Happily Ever After!

Maggie’s road to freedom took another turn on Mother’s Day 2008.  She may not have known it yet, but she was home.    Maggie was a little nervous that day.  She laid down on a small rug and pretty much didn’t move.  She was not interested in exploring.

But when she heard her dinner being prepared, she lit up and did a little dance.  We had never seen a dog so happy to actually have food!  It literally brought tears to my eyes.  She relaxed a little more every day after that.  Guess she figured if we served food too, then maybe she would stick around.

Men have been a challenge for her.  It took almost 2 years for her to open her heart to my husband.  Today, she is pretty much a Daddy’s girl.   She still does not appreciate our son’s visits but she has learned to tolerate them better.

Our biggest concern at her adoption is how she would do with children as our Granddaughter, Lauren,  was 3 mos old.  No worries!  Maggie mothers that child and I do believe “Maggie” was Lauren’s 1^st word.  Of course that was a response to Maggie carrying off Lauren’s monkey but Lauren got her words out!

Maggie still has fears but it is amazing how relaxed this little girl has become.  And “happy tails”, let me tell you she does not stop at a simple tail wag . . . . it is more like a butt wag and the fastest tail in the land!   And for no other reason other than I walked in the room!   Maggie is a special little girl and she could not be loved more!  Thank you Colonel Potter for her freedom!

Bob & Cindy E (KS)

CP kids Maggie & Star

No Tomfoolerey Here - He's Now Tomy

Foster Mom reported:  Tomfoolery, now known as Tomy, made his final long car rides last week from IL to his new home in TN.  Tomy, who is just the sweetest most gentle guy, was adopted by a wonderful, and very sweet gal.  The two of them will have the most wonderful life together.
 
Our journey yesterday started out amidst thunderstorms and torrential downpours and we were wondering how drenched we'd all be by the time we got to our half-way meeting point, got the adoption papers signed and Tomy pottied before he started on his final journey to his new home.  Well, the sun came out and it was the most beautiful day for an adoption.
 
Tomy had no problem greeting his new mom and her first comment was about how cute he looked and how gentle he took treats.  Her biggest smile came when he was put in his new crate in the front seat of her car and he started chewing the new ball she had brought for him.  He never looked back at us and he knew that he was with his new mom.
 
Their car ride home was a very long one but I got the best report saying that he was great in the car and survived the drive like a trouper. 

Pam E
Normal, IL

Puppy Loraz Flies to Her Furever

Lori is on her way home to CO. They are probably boarding the plane right now. She will join another CP boy who was adopted last fall. Her 'mom' will be their 16 year old daughter, Abby, who thinks Lori's new name will be Olive. :-)   (I love it!)   And of course, Olive has her own hot pink sherpa to travel in! lol They were tickled that the puppy's favorite treat was goldfish crackers.   Here are a couple of pictures of Abby and her Dad.   Happy Mothers' Day to all. First adoption for the day is done. One more this afternoon. :-)   Stacey Note: Lorax is one of Aphrodite (Famous Lovers Group) puppies; The Puppies were name after Dr. Seuss characters. Mom Aphrodite now Tess was adopted on Monday and flew to her home in PA with a whole pack of cairn and cairn wannabee fursibs. It's nearly impossible to get photos of Tess, but we'll keep trying. Watch the blog for that post adoption story and updates on the other puppies.

Look Who's 1 - and A Happy Mother's Day Wish

Today was my birthday!  I got some new bones and we had company.  My
cousin, Reilly came over and he's really big.  He is a Labrador
retriever.  We played in the backyard.

A year ago today I was born in a puppy mill and spent my first 4 months
there.  Then I was rescued by Col. Potter and placed in your wonderful
foster home.  My name at that time was "American."
Soon I was placed on an airplane and flown to my forever home in New
York.  I have been very happy here, in fact just when I thought life
couldn't get any better, my mom and dad adopted my sister, Gem.  Col.
Potter sure did name me appropriately (American) as I am now living the
American dream!

Happy mother's day to all the wonderful foster mom's at Col. Potter!
Love,
Abbie

Riley fka Tramp Joins a Big Furever Family!

Hi everyone,
        We just wanted to write and thank everyone involved with Colonel Potter for helping us add an absolute doll baby to our family. Riley (CP's Tramp f.k.a Gypsy) is an absolute pleasure. We picked her up in North Carolina two weeks ago.


Special thanks to her foster mom, Barbara and to our matchmaker, Lisa. From the time we sent our application, everything was handled promptly and professionally from the Reference checks (Karen) to the HSV (Carlene and Nicole) to the contract process (Bev) and finally to our Post-Adoption Counselor, Neola. 


We wanted to pick her up during my daughter's spring break and everyone worked very hard to make that happen. We would like to thank everyone involved in saving Riley from her former life, taking such good care of her and getting her to us. She is an real sweetheart.


We got home two Mondays ago in the afternoon after a 6 hour car ride. Our almost 11 year old alpha Cairn, Mollie wasn't really happy to see her new sister. We knew she would come around because she had accepted my daughter's dog Sophie.


We followed your instructions, gating Riley in the kitchen and continuing to treat Mollie as top dog. We took turns spending time with each dog. On Friday, we felt that they were ready to meet. Riley was certainly ready to explore the rest of the house. As suggested by both Barbara and Neola, I took them for a walk together. When we came back in the house, I played ball with Mollie while Riley sat behind me and watched. Then they went for another long walk and they have been fine ever since.


It was so nice to finally be one big family. Riley started to play with her toys in private at first.  Tonight, she was actually running around the house after my younger daughter who was holding her favorite toy and tossing it. What a pleasure to see her getting so used to us. We start basic obedience next week. Riley has already picked up on some of the commands we use for Mollie. I think she will do very well (OK, as well as a Cairn can do!).

Our older daughter was home this weekend with her dog, Sophie. Riley and Sophie has fun yesterday running and chasing each other in the back yard. The three dogs also loved going for several long walks together. Riley is my shadow and she enjoys laying on my lap in the evening watching TV, something I also really enjoy. I do have to share her sometimes so Gary has his turn.


Riley has been such a wonderful addition to our family. It was love at first sight.  I just want everyone involved to know how much we appreciate what you do.

Thank you again!
Leslie, Gary and Taylor
with Cairn fursibs Mollie and Riley
and furcuzin Sophie

Silk is now officially LILY BETH!

Some of our new people may not know who Silk is.  She was rescued by Col. Potter in Oct 2009 as part of the Fabrics to Keep You Warm  group.  She came in pregnant and was put in the wonderful care of Loni D in Manassas, VA - midwife, foster mom and intakes extraordinaire.  Silk had a litter of 4 pups - .   After the puppers were adopted, Silk seemed to take a few steps back in her progress in freedom.

Then in July of 2010, foster mom Loni sent out a message to nearby CP homes asking if anyone would B&B Silk while foster family went on vacation.  This would not only save CP money, but would probably be less traumatic for her than boarding at the vet.  Our current foster was in the process of being adopted, so we volunteered to have Silk stay with us for a couple of weeks.

 

Foster dad Ed met Loni to pick up Silk and her "overnight" bag.  Before he even got home he was sending me pictures and calling her "his princess."  One down.

 

That night when it was time for bed, we all went up to the bedroom.  The doggies got their bedtime crackers.  When I told them all to "go to bed" Silk immediately bypasses her crate and jumps straight into Chewy's bed with him.  She snuggles next to him and he "shrugs" and settles in for the night.  We are in shock!!!  One more down.

 

Silk is very sweet but very, very skittish and scared.  She jumps and/or hits the ground with any sudden movement/loud noise. She HATES to be picked up and when I try to clean around her mouth and ears she kicks like a mule.   We have never had such a scared mill mama before and our household is not exactly calm & quiet, but surprisingly she is doing things that amaze FM Loni when I send her updates while she's at the beach.  She will take treats out of our hands and always wants to be with the pack - including the humans.  After some discussion, we all decide that maybe she's in a rut and the change is good for her so we agree to continue to foster her.

 

Over the next few months we adapt some to help Silk - try not to move too suddenly, etc.  We start putting her on the bed with the pack during TV time, always telling her first "I'm going to pick you up" and she starts to let us do so without thrashing or kicking.  She comes running to greet us with Chewy & Walter and after some waivering (do I dare?  should I?), more and more she starts to allow us to love on her.  Then she starts to EXPECT it and she sticks her snout under your hand if you are giving too much attention to one of the boys.  She jumps up on the couch with Ed.  She plays with toys in the middle of the night when no one is looking.  All these little steps add up, even when she takes some steps back, she is still making progress.

 

One evening Silk is on the bed with us watching TV.  Walter (our CP boy) jumps up on the bed and lands on top of her.  She snaps and growls at him (who can blame her?).  Walter puts his head down and goes to the foot of the bed.  Unbelievable!!!  Our Cujo?  The boy with the skull & crossbone bandana?  A couple of days later when it's time to "go to bed", Silk goes and jumps in bed with Walter.  They curl up together like yin & yang.  Three down and one to go.

 

Now foster mom is the only hold out. I'm reluctant for several reasons and keep weighing the pros and cons, waivering back and forth in my decision.

And then one day I'm giving Silk some loving, rubbing her ears like she likes it and she's very relaxed and I suddenly realize that SHE isn't worried about it all because SHE already thinks she is home.  While I was pacing the floor with indecision, Miss Lily Beth not only unpacked all her bags, but she also reorganized the household to her liking.

 

We are very happy that Lily Beth is now officially a part of our family.  I hope that she will continue to gain confidence and lose her fears over time and we will be there celebrating every baby step with with her.

 

Note from Angel -  I wrote this "announcement" a couple of months ago but I've waiting to get some better pictues, maybe a video, a little more grooming, and so on.  So these pictures are from last fall - hopefully I'll get some new ones some day - it's hard when she's afraid of the camera and Walter just goes bonkers.

I was completely ashamed when Amy posted an entire album of Tess on her very first day with them and thought I better post this even if it's not perfect.

Hope this link works.

 

 Lily Beth

Angel R
Burke, VA
Chewy
Walter (CP kid)

and the newly adopted Lily Beth (Daddy's princess)

Cari "Digs" Her Fur-ever Home!

A personal message from Lynn:

This is my first attempt at video. Forgive me if it's weird; I'll get better. For those of you who have followed Carthage's journey, here's the little princess she has turned into. 

When I first got Cari, the only time she showed any interest in being alive was when I let her in the backyard and she began to dig. Such joy! Flinging and digging and tugging out roots with all her heartworm-sapped strength. Aw, how could I say no? Besides, she was only supposed to live for 3 months. How much damage could a dog do in 3 months?, I asked myself. 

Well, 14 months - and flunking - later, I have bought a truck load of dirt and a stack of patio blocks to line the fence and will begin to undo the damage very soon.

See Cari digs her Fur-ever home online.

Happy Birthday to Minnie!

Hi Aunties & Uncles;

A bit late but Minnie has turned 4 years old.  She is a really good little sister to Scarlett and just the best little girl

in general.  Just a delight.  She and Izzy, our tuxedo cat who is really a dog in a kitty skin, can still manage to get

in trouble together.  What Minnie can't reach, Izzy will knock to the floor for her!  They are both the same size (14 lbs. and

run and play together often!).

We celebrated with my famous bones with yogurt, peanut butter and fruit tucked away inside. 

The picture attached is of Minnie at her Camp Bow where she

has made friends with a large Great Dane who Minnie

bosses around mercilessly!  Pretty funny as she is about 210 lbs. 

and Minnie (though she doesn't know it is 14lbs.)  

Hilarious.

Colleen

A HAPPY Happy Birthday for Lord Stanley

 

Some eight years ago I was recovering from the loss of my sweet little man Fred.  I was not looking for another dog so soon but Monika decided differently :)  She asked me to foster a little one year old boy (CP name Jimmy).  I was not so sure but agreed to pick him up on my drive back to CT from the drag races in TN.  I met Charmaine in Valley Forge, PA and I guess you could say the rest is history.  Out of the crate came a wiggling dark baby and he settled quite nicely into my arms, as if it was meant to be.  He had been dumped at an Ohio shelter and labeled a "bad dog" by a young couple who crated a one year old Cairn for 12 hours a day and expected a mild mannered dog - can you say duhhhhhhhhhhh - from what I understand, CP pulled him just before his time was up.  Now that would have been the crime of the century!

 

By the time I got home to CT I knew he was staying.  I left all my luggage in the car, put the little man down in the back yard for a quick pee and headed for my computer.  I booted up and proceeded directly to the application form.  This little wild child became Lord Stanley and today he is the most loving boy, with huge brown eyes that tell me he loves me every day.  Today he turned 9 and we celebrated with some tidbits of steak added to dinner, followed by vanilla cupcakes for everyone.  He is currently sleeping directly behind my chair,  cuddling his birthday toy ( a squeaky doughnut with pretend sprinkles on top).  How I love his gentle ways, he was so tender and understanding with the set of 9 week old puppies I fostered.  Even when they pulled his ears, his tail and even tried to bite is private parts.  He watched over them in the yard and slept by their xpen.  He has been the protector of all new fosters and most especially his sister Lily, now at the bridge.  He even takes special care of his brother Harry, who is a bit on the meek side. 

 

Just thought we could use a little good news today. 

 

Mo