A Photo of Connie Today

Connie fka Contralto, on the right with fursib Lexi, now enjoy the good life in Florida. Aren't they precious!!

Contralto's Pups 1st Birthday

Foster Mom Lori shared memories of a year ago and how Contralto and her Puppies are today:

Click here for photos: http://pets.webshots.com/album/574001584ZrntAB

Connie and her babies are miracles! Without CP, the pups probably would have died during birth and Connie soon after due to her severe health issues left untreated, on top of the drain of birth. All these babies living happily ever after is the reward and why we volunteer.....foster, drive, craft, fundraise, any the many many other jobs going on behind the scenes. I have had to sit on the sidelines for several months due to health issues, but I hope to once again be able to foster a mill mom and pups.

I have included pictures of Mama Contralto from her forever home, to show how beautiful and happy she looks and to compare her babies to her at their 1st year. Here are some Tidbits from the puppies forever homes...

Teddy (Gospel) - Teddy continues to be very food motivated and has perfected his begging skills. He is really a happy little guy and very active. His favorite toy is a small soft ball that was one was one of my sons baby toys. He also loves stuffed animals, but Teddy’s favorite is his big brother Boomer. They still love to play fight. Oh I almost forgot about his blanket. The one he got from his “Aunties”. He likes to get in his bed and suck on his blanket! He even kneads it with his little paws. It is very cute and he only does it with that blanket at night time.

Jazz - Regarding his toys, the small mouse you gave him is one of his favorites. He loves all toys that you squeeze and makes a sound and also the rope toy that works like dental floss. In fact I try to play a lot with him because he has so much energy that if he gets bored, he chews whatever he finds in his way, STILL WE ARE VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH JAZZ.

Truman (Hymn) - Truman is a "love machine". He doesn't like to be held, BUT he LOVES being petted and will go over on his back/side to be petted. He is very food motivated and will do about anything for it. Truman still has some fears, but he us doing well in obedience training.

Dixie (Dixieland) - Dixie is doing great. She is the sweetest thing and really is a joy. She loves everybody, especially people. She is still a little quirky, afraid of some things (especially stairs) at first but really doing great. She is in love with my neighbor, a 13 year old boy. She is crazy about him and everytime we leave the apartment she runs to his door to see if she can hear him.

WuWu (Lullaby) - WuWu is still a petite girl at just under 12 lbs. She is still a bratty puppy at almost a year old. She steals clothes off of hampers or chairs in the bedroom. She also loves to steal socks to play with. Can you say major thief! Her coordination is good on flat ground, but she has major issues with steps yet and must be lifted on or off furniture. She is an avid barker! Loves to play tug with socks or toys...growling ferociously all the while. She loves food and fingers are in danger when giving treats(we are still working on gentle and there is much improvement). Quite the opposite of the little puppy that would not eat. She loves belly rubs and attention, but is not really a lap girl. She seems to always be happy/smiling and wagging her tail.

Contralto's Journey to Forever

Connie left today to start her journey to forever home. Deb S picked her up tonight and will be flying her to FL to her new mom Linda who also adopted CP Lexington. Connie couldn't have found a more wonderful home, but it was still very hard saying good-bye to this sweet and special puppy mill mom. Even now my eyes start leaking.

A bit about Contralto and her family.........Contralto arrived here Aug. 9th very pregnant. She had eye infections, ear infections, covered in scabs with skin infection, had worms, and her blood work showed her liver levels were way off and she was anemic. This poor girl was a medical mess, yet 24 hours after arriving she gave birth to 5 puppies, who all survived. Connie tended them without hesitation, even though she had to be totally miserable. The puppies had a hard time with worms contracted from Connie which caused loose stools, and then with weaning, refusing to eat solid foods and drink water, which led to constipation. They were behind in weight and development during this time. Contralto and her puppies were the hardest mom and litter I have fostered so far. They were extremely time consuming, with Connie's baths and medications, plus trying to entice her and the puppies to eat.....preparing buffets of food in hopes something would appeal to them. It seemed like for every step forward, we took 2 steps back. Plus there were many many trips to the vet, but what was really hard was the constant worry that the kids might not make it. I had many discussions with my mentor Danielle on my concerns and what course of action we should take. Never did Danielle/Col. Potter hesitate on any vet visits, medications, blood work or special foods for this family........and Contralto and her families expenses ran into the thousands. There are rescues who don't take on the sick and old for this very reason. The adoption fees don't even begin to cover the expenses of these kids, and that is where all of you make a difference with your donations. Contralto and her foster family want to thank everyone of you for making it possible to save her and her family for life and freedom. Lori and Mike and ConnieRogers, AR

Click here to watch Connie and her puppy WuWu playing:

http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3036057840101862613TNOaDf?vhost=good-times