I am closing the blog

There simply is not enough time to keep this blog going as well as the website, the facebook page, fundraising and caring for the dogs. 
Please come to facebook and join the group.   http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/15919704537/

updates

God I wish I was better with this but I am going to be honest and tell you that I'm not going to do this perfectly.   Often you can find out info on our facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_15919704537

We do not have any adoptable dogs available right now.  What we do have is the old and sick and dying.  These are dogs that we brought into care and promised that we would make their life better for as long as they were comfortable. 
Clyde is such a funny funny boy.  He is not about to give up what he has by dying.  He eats and gets up to greet us, and sometimes even plays.  That is about all we can ask of him.  He is still strong enough to get up on the couch, he still comes to the door with toys in his mouth, and still loves Sashka.  Clydes' tail continues to wag none stop.  He may have cancer but he is certainly not giving up anytime soon.  We have him on both Tramadol and Deramex and while he is getting the maximum dose, he is still doing very well.  We see things like he is having a harder time breathing, he sleeps all the time and now shows signs of trouble getting up and this morning his poor old legs were shaking by the time we finished our 15 minute walk.  It has been a full year that this boy has graced our home and I grateful that he has stayed as long as he has.

Cola is a worry for all of us.  I have been in touch with her vet and things do not look hopeful for her.  We did a ton of testing and things have shown up that lead us to believe that Cola has cancer.  There are nodules on her spleen and in her lungs.  While they could have tried to biopsy this, because her platelets are so low the vet was worried that they would do more damage then good.  And really there is nothing to do at this stage to change anything for Cola. She is an 11 yr Rottweiler.  She is at the end of her life and anything that we would do to extend it would be selfish on our part.  Cola has had a wonderful life and has been loved for all of it.  Even when she came into our care it was because someone loved and cared enough to surrender her.  Peggy has been her caretaker since Cola arrived and I can only imagine how hard this is for her.  But I do know that Peggy has done a wonderful job of loving and caring for this old girl. 

We were contacted last week about a young boy in a shelter in the Fraser Valley.  Barley is a great dog that is in foster care but he has a lump on his foot that has shown to be cancerous.  We do not have a place for Barley to go to but the foster home is willing to look after him.  What West Coast Rottweiler Rescue is going to do is take care of his vet bills and have the lump removed.  He can then become adoptable. 

All of this is worrying.  Clydes bills are high, Cola's has come in at around $1500.00   Barley will be about $1000.00.  This will more then likely completely delete our bank account.  The board of directors istrying to raise funds.   We are having a raffle, will be going to the Blueberry Festival in Cloverdale in Aug, and needs to plan more events to raise more monies.  I am always in awe of how they all step up and do so much. 
Donations are greatfully accepted.  We do not have our charity status which makes it impossible to give out tax receipts. 

Peggy & Cola update

a couple of months ago, we were contacted by a shelter to help an 11 yr old dog by the name of Cola.  Cola had been a very loved dog but her owner was ill and could not keep her.  After the usual plea for help, a wonderful family stepped up and took Cola on as a foster dog.  Cola lives with a wonderful senior by the name of Peggy.  Peggy's daughter sent me this update

There is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow. The sun always shines on this dog, who now seems to be rather fond of the cat, loves to go for car rides for coffee and to visit her two new best friends ( golden labs, huggyslobberywiggleyfun), they play a little ball ( mostly just chewing on it!), she LOVES gardening with Mom, oh my that is awesome, likes her food just fine but is keeping a very fine slender profile, hates rain (?), loves naps and really really loves Peggy.




Ya, work is insane, I keep forgetting that God/Dog only gives us 24 hours in a day. Census season will come and go and i will be ok ok ok ok...ooops. I feel like my left ear is surgically attached to my phone, and I swear that my right hand has been stuck to the mouse for so long that I will be right-click-scroll-left-click....long after I die.


BUT, the joy over at the Hobbitt House is beyond all hope that I even imagined when I stuck my face into things and called you.


Cola is an incredible faithful friendly guardian to a wonderful woman. She truly truly stands on guard for Mom. NEVER aggressive, just gently asserting the fact that she is doing her job , she quietly lays down between anyone, even me, and Mom, dozes happily, and then gets up to escort us out the door. She is that way with all of Moms friends, and all of our neighbours who have come to meet her ( even the Saturday Morning religious travellers). Methinks that is what the grand Rottie was bred for in the first place, yes?




Cola and Mom now can have wonderful slow off-leash walks around the property, she responds right away to verbal commands. They stroll about in their yard, Cola lays in the grass and makes sure that Mom gets the spinach planted just right, they stop often so Mom can rest, and Cola just lays down beside her walker, and waits for the word to go again.




Sometimes the "young upstart " lab-cross next door tries to yap at Cola, she just turns her nose up and wanders by. Mom can go to Dr appointments in town,leaves Cola at home on the deck with gate closed and front door open of course, Cola barks a bit for a minute or 5, then wanders off to the couch for a nap time.




They go to Yahtzee date every Wednesday at Lang Bay, that is where Jesse and Keora (new bffs) live with Moms best pal Phoebe, and the dog-girls waddle about the huge grass yard, up and down on the deck, eat, nap, tug-a-ball...and sometimes pretend to chase a cat..and on Sundays Jesse and Keora come to visit at Cola's house!


AND, the biggie, Mom took Cola for a wander at the Equestrian Park ( a lovely wooded area with beautiful trails, very senior dog and person friendly) in town. Just the two of them, got in the van drove down the road with the walker and everything....I know I sound like a silly over-proud Mummie, but my dearest Peggy faces such monsterous physical pain everyday, and it will never get better, so to see her out and about and ...


Sometimes, at 10 pm, I can see their flashlight as they do their "bedtime walkabout", and often call "hello" at 8 am and they are doing the quickie morning pee..when Mom has a "bad pain day" Cola is very content to go out into the yard on her own to pee and pooh while Mom watches from the deck, and then just gently crawls back up on the couch with Peggy, and stays on watch until, well, until whenever.
I couldnt just call you to tell you how things are. I would just cry myself stupid. with all the "things" that I can do or give for my Mom, the best thing by far is the love and friendship that Cola shares with her.


My Mother is from a country of strong, noble, loyal and hardworking people, with great sense of purpose, pride in a job well done, and love of good food, good friends,...hmmmmm, Peggy's dear Rottie, Cola, (genetically) comes from the same place.

Life goes on

It doesn't matter what happens with the people, the dogs are the ones I concern myself with.  And if we all focus on that then things are good.   The petty people stuff drives me crazy.  Be an adult and move on.

Louie came to Macdonald Beach on Sunday while we promoted the Petnership Project.  http://www.petnerships.com/The-Petnership-Project   I can't speak for the rest of our board and volunteers, but I had a gas.   Imagine spending the day with people that love their animals, talking about the animals and watching the animals.  yup.  it was fun.  Poor Louie really wanted to run and play and just be free, but he is still not safe off leash and this park is not fenced.  I was not willing to allow him to get away. 
Lucy and Evony got to get together and play and be puppies.  Evony is going to stay with her foster mom cause Farrah and her pack love the little monster.  We are going back to MacDonald Beach on April 17th for another day meeting and greeting great folks and their dogs.

The following week we are suppose to be at the Tisol store in Burnaby for an adoption day.  Again, Lucy and Louie will be there to see if they can't find their new person.   And after that is the Petnership Project on April 30th and May 1st.

And then it is the Garage Sale of the Century.  Yes.  Our third annual WCRR garage sale.  For anyone that has never come, it is worth the trip out here just to see what a zoo it is.  Our board and supporters gather stuff all year long and then we sell like crazy at really low prices to what seems like hundreds of people.  Occasionally I have to be removed from the area so I don't loose my temper with that one person that has to grind the price down till I am either going to give it to them free or refuse to sell to the at any price.  (its usually the later)  This is one of the largest fundraisers we do every year.   Its not unusual for us to make a couple of grand over the weekend.  And with the bills we have had lately, we are going to need it.

And here is where I have to apologize to those that post replies on the blog.  I love to hear from all of you.  But.........  there is always someone being an idiot and now I have to approve all the posts.  If they are respectful of course they will be posted.  If you are just trying to stir the pot, well, go find another pot cause it ain't happening here.

whats been going on.

I have no way of knowing how many people got an angry email from a former supporter about my "conduct" and so I really have no other way to perhaps put a different perspective on the happenings around this expect to post it here. I am a difficult person to deal with. I make no apologies for that. I am what I am. I'm in my late 50's and I'm not likely to change a whole lot now. I let every single person that gets close to me know that I am blunt, I speak my mind and I often offend. But those that know me, know that each and every one of them also has a voice and can also be blunt right back at me. WCRR is not perfect. I am not perfect. We don't run this perfectly. I make mistakes. I am human. I really do try my best but I do know that I fail sometimes. People Lie; People change their minds, they are not always honest when you ask questions. And sometimes they go to great lengths to hide the truth. I am not always able to ensure everything is perfect because I don't always get the truth. One example is Louie. Louie is a dog we adopted out that has come back to us. "I" placed Louie. Other people were involved but ultimately it is my responsibility. And so when we found Louie on a farm being tethered, we took him right back. The people that adopted Louie did not tell us they were giving him away. It clearly stated on the contract that he needed to come back to us. But...................... that didn't happen. Within a year of hearing how much Louie loved being on the boat, he was given away to someone else. And I accept responsibility for failing to provide Louie with the perfect home. Jake is another example. We (I) placed Jake in what we thought was a great home. We provided training support, we were in contact alot, I got regular updates saying he was settling in alright. But, then I got the email asking if they could return him as he was just too much dog for them. Jake had to come back to WCRR. He had only been in that home 4 months. And again, I will take responsibility for not finding the right home. Jake soon went to the Island to what should have been his first home because they are Perfect. Jake's new owners have done absolutely everything they needed to do and he has settled in and is now a part of a family. I have never been one to run away from my part in failing. Never. But because I do own my part, I somehow expect others to own theirs. And that doesn't always happen. WCRR is growing. And we go thru growing pains just like any organization. I don't do everything right. I am awful at paperwork. Small details drive me crazy. There are many things I have to learn to do better. Many ways that we could run this better. But it won't happen overnight. Change (or at least good change) takes time. I went to see one of our adopters the other day. As Sasha the dog was coming out of the house to greet me, her owner said something that stuck with me. He said "Here is the lady that saved you". LOL That is not true. There are many involved in saving dogs. In Sasha's case, the shelter cared enough not to euth her before we could find her a place to go. People in the rescue community worked together to find her a foster home. Her foster home held her long enough for her new owners to find her. And the new owners cared enough to take her on regardless of her issues. All I really did was pay a couple of bills for her. That is how running a rescue is. There are many many many people involved in saving an animal. But the reality is, while everyone gets to share the glory, when there is a problem it is MY RESPONSIBILITY

The Good, The Bad, The Good again

First and foremost is Clyde. He is doing great and has been doing great for a while. (over a week). He went thru a period that actually made me quite nervous. He snapped a couple of time and then actually bit me, but he seems to be doing way better now. He is not the first rottie to bite me and most likely won't be the last. But he does owe me a pair of jeans.
The bad.................. I need more foster homes. We have a very sweet boy waiting patiently to come down here from Lytton. We just need a place for him to go. He is staying at Gladwin Boarding Kennels and is doing fine, but how can "I" find him that special home if I don't know all there is to know about him. And last but not least, he NEEDS to be neutered at our vets. I am so looking forward to getting my hands on this sweet looking boy.
and the good again, the puppies are all doing so well. (and they are not at my house). I am just waiting for the last bunch of pictures and I can get them all on petfinder and start the adoption process. I will be thrilled when it is done and they are settled in their home.
Ohhhh and more good. Lexi, the pups mom is in her own foster to adopt home. She can't be adopted until she is spayed and our vet wants to wait for at least 2 months after she finished weaning the babies. But Lexi has landed with some amazing people that really seem to like her. And even the resident dog Tonko seems ok with her being there. for those of you waiting for pictures, etc of the puppies, 5 of the 8 are there.

Incoming

Well if you have looked on the website you will see we have puppies. Lots and lots of puppies. And before you go and say....................... yeahhhhhhhhhhh puppies, you should know they are nothing more then screaming, pooing, peeing, chewing machines. And as of today they are less then 4 weeks old and are no where near ready for adoption. You need to know we will have to assess the pups to see what kind of homes THEY need, not what kinds of homes YOU want to give them. I had only put 1 picture on the website and already I have people applying. That's good but you have to know just because you apply does not mean you will get one. They will go according to their needs.

We also have their mother for adoption. And she is a lovely lovely girl. Lexi is pretty much a baby herself. At only a yr old she found herself pregnant and homeless. She certainly does not want to be tied down to these pups. What Lexi wants and should have is time to play and run and swim and just be a dog. But she is sticking by the pups much longer then we had thought she would. And everyday that she gives them is a good day.



Rufus the goofus is going to meet a family tomorrow. Chanone and I are beyond thrilled for this boy. He deserves a place to grow old and a family that will love him. so keep your fingers crossed for him. If all goes well, he is going to stay on a foster to adopt contract for alittle while.



There is a young male rottie in the Lytton area that was found lost or abandoned on a dirt road 18 miles from town. The wonderful people that he found were understandably nervous to find a rottweiler in their yard. If your not familiar with the breed, they can be reason to take a deep breath. And that is just what the woman that called me about him did. LOL

And because she took that chance she got to see how sweet a rottie can be. He went right to her, leaned in like they love to do and gave her a chance to touch her first Rottweiler. I will be forever grateful to this woman. She put aside everything that she thought she knew about this breed and took a chance. And because she did, this dog is safe. We are trying to find his owners, but if they don't show up he can come into our care.

Jake has done amazingly well. All the things that he did that drove others to distraction are things that Leasa and Brandon can work on. He plays hard and is having the time of his life with his girl. The two of them have similar play styles and are a good match. Because of this I have said, enough fostering, we will make the adoption final. So Jake has left our care and we wish him luck and love with the new family.

I really don't know what to say about Clyde. Today I got home and he was funny and goofey. This morning he was growly and cranky and threw up all his breakfast. He is happy some time. He is spending lots of time sleeping or resting away from us. The only thing he really is interested in is food. But he is becoming harder to handle on walks. If he sees another dog now, he becomes almost crazed and I worry about what could happen. His frustration at not getting to the other animals is getting worse. Is this his way of showing pain? Or are the meds too strong and he is anxious? We will have to make hard decisions soon.

These are very busy days in rescue but for some reason I have a lighter load then ever before. Lexi and her pups are with a new foster family, Rufus has been hanging out at Canine Harmony http://www.canineharmony.com/ and the new boy is safe where he is for now. Molly at Saints may have a family of her own. All is good at West Coast Rottweiler Rescue