Why we say no

There has been much discussion lately about who deserves to be rescued and where we should be doing it. WCRR has a mandate. That mandate says we work with dogs in the shelter system in British Columbia. That is “OUR” mandate. This doesn’t mean that we don’t care about all animals everywhere. We do care, and very deeply. But because of resources our focus has to be our local dogs.
I recently received an email about a young rottie girl in California. She had been starved and neglected and was in desperate need of help. She would die if someone didn’t step forward to help. And this was an extreme case. We (along with many others) were asked if we could take her. I looked at that picture a long time and my heart broke for her. But WCRR could not help. There is several rottweilers’ right here in British Columba that need our help. How can I tell those dogs, sorry, this one’s need is greater, this one’s need has touched me more, this story is sadder. I couldn’t. Does that mean I don’t care what happened to her? Of course it doesn’t. It means that I have to take care of the problems here first. If I hadn’t stayed the course then dogs like Rhonda, Bolt, Louie, and Bella would have died. Those dogs deserved to be saved.
Do I agree with bringing dogs in from other countries to find them homes here? No. Not at all. Yes there are extreme cases. Yes there are exceptions to every rule. But for the most part, Canada or British Columbia for that matter has thousands of dogs in need. And hundreds will lose their life if homes aren’t found for them. How can I possibly agree that dogs from other countries should come here until the dogs in our own country have homes? Its not that I don’t care about the dogs in California, Maryland or Mexico. I do care. But I also care about the dogs that I am asked to help. The ones that I put my hands on. The ones whose faces I hold and promise I will do what I can to get them out of the shelter. And my heart breaks every single time I get that email that says that dog has died because no one here could or would help. So when I hear about people importing dogs from other countries on a regular basis, yes I get angry and lash out. And yes I step on toes. Am I sorry I do that. Maybe. Am I sorry I take a stand. Not in your life.
If there is a breed that you can’t find in the shelter system in BC or Canada, then perhaps go look at shelters elsewhere. If there is a dog that steals your heart, then yes, adopt that dog. But let’s not bring in truck loads of animals with no place to go and no one to take care of them and then cry because they are in desperate need.
That sweet rottie girl that needed a home. Well, she found one. She will be loved back to health. And in the country that failed her in the first place. Meanwhile I still search for the foster homes that will help WCRR pull a deserving dog from a shelter here before it loses its life.
We can't save them all, but WCRR will continue to work to save rottweilers and rottweiler crosses in British Columbia.

Success

WCRR was at the petfair in Cloverdale this past weekend and our booth was wonderful. There were a ton of people coming by, buying stuff, asking questions, giving us feedback and expressing their pleasure at finding a rescue dedicated to Rottweilers and Rottweiler crosses. Some of them expressed surprise at the range of kinds that we have helped but sometimes it’s not so much about the breed, but about who is in need.
I will confess to not doing well at organizing this fair. Actually I did very little but rather handed over the work to our wonderful board of directors. They all stepped up to the plate and made sure that this was a great success. I am proud of them and humbled by their actions. While I may be the only one of us that can handle the fur portion of the rescue, without them doing everything else, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. Thank you so very very much.
We had wonderful donations from many different areas.
Sue from Tandy Leather on King George Hwy again sent in some spectacular items for sale. This time she included belts with matching collars, collars and leashes and the most wonderful key fobs.
There were homemade Xmas decorations made by Sandy up in Smithers, B.C., a beautiful wreath by a great young lady named Bailey, bag holders and bottle covers made by a woman in Cloverdale . All great stuff donated to help the dogs in need.
There were tons of gift bags, stockings and baskets filled to the brim with dog items that were donated. Lots of times we hear about rescues not working together. And yes, sometimes there is bickering among us but most times we work together. When a local rescue received a large donation from Anipet they shared with others. We were so blessed to be part of that. Thank you so much German Shepherd Rescue for sharing.

There is no stopping the big old boy.

I really have tried hard to keep Bear from travelling up the stairs when we aren’t home. We tried putting up the x-pen in the kitchen for him, but somehow that got tossed aside. It is now quite bent. Bear is a big boy. LOL
We have tried to block him in the kitchen but he pushed aside everything we put in his way. Did I mention he is a big boy. I did try to keep him in a crate, but it’s not really big enough for him to stretch out. And besides, he bangs it around till the doors pop open. He is a big boy. So, we decided to allow him access to the whole main floor. Bear and Sashka get along quite well and we thought that would work. But he wants to go upstairs where it is dark and warm. We blocked the stairs with several types of barriers but he either knocks them over, pulls them down or pushes them aside. And to be quite frank, there isn’t much I can do about it anymore. The walls are damaged and he is upstairs where he wants to be. J Do I mind? Not much. Bear is well behaved and as long as he doesn’t make a mess, he is welcome to whatever bed he feels more comfortable in.
We are on the search for treatment that will help him with his mobility. Sometimes he is just fine (or at least appears that way). But once the excitement is over and he relaxes, you can tell he is uncomfortable. His feet drag, his movement is slow and he becomes out of breath quickly. So far we haven’t seen much improvement with the acupuncture but I don’t know if I am ready to give up on it yet. Next would be Cartrophen injections. And swimming. I bet he will love swimming.
Many people ask why we bother to do this. Surely he is an old dog and just about done with his life and wouldn’t our resources be better spent helping someone younger?? Yeah, he is older and yeah, there are young ones needing our help, but Bear isn’t “done” with life yet. There is still too much Joy in his eyes, there is still a bounce in his step once in awhile and he loves his squeaky toys and continues to play with those. So how can I stop helping him. LOL Well, of course I can’t.

Bear Updated:

What a funny boy he has become. Nothing like I had expected.
We have slowly changed his food to raw and while he isn’t thrilled with it yet, he now does have a very healthy appetite. He is even eating hard treats now, something that he had refused up until now.
Sashka and Bear have now figured out what is appropriate and what isn’t. Sashka can now make it across the room without Bear thinking he should mount her. LOL they aren’t playing together but Sashka isn’t a big fan of play. I have found her giving his old muzzle a lick or him nudging her with that huge head of his. Both these actions make me smile.
Bear’s favorite thing in the whole wide world is his toys. He does get rather upset when you put them away even thought the “toy box” is on the floor and he can get to them anytime. He would rather have them where he left them, either by one of his favorite sleeping places or on his bed. The problem is that all his favorite sleeping places are right in everyone’s path. Bear also has some very annoying habits. One of them is that when he wants to go to bed, I must go with him.
Ours is a small home and the 2 rooms upstairs are quite close together. This isn’t good enough for Mr. Bear. He would prefer that I not work on the computer at night, but rather go to bed about 7:30 pm. While I am growing to love this boy more and more, I’m not that old that I have to call it a night that early. Last night was a good example. At 7:30 pm I went upstairs to get some much needed work done on the computer. For about 5 minutes everything was fine. Bear seemed comfortable enough on the carpet. But then he started to pace. And whine. And pace more. We have been going thru this for a couple of days so I knew what was next. As I’m sitting at the computer with the mouse in my hand, this huge drooly head starts nudging me. Go away I tell him. Nope, Nudge, nudge, nudge. Enough I thought. I’m just putting you to bed and you can figure it out yourself. So I take him down a VERY short hallway to his bed in the master bedroom, get him to lie down, give him a short cuddle and its back to the computer room and my work. 2 minutes later, there he is. Nudge, nudge, nudge. NOOOOOOOOOOO I tell him, go away. This is not working well and I need to get stuff done. So back to the bedroom with him and then I close the door to the computer room, thinking that he will just have to settle down.
Roflmao. Nope, that’s not going to happen. The howling starts…… it’s loud and long and soulful. Lights in the complex start coming on, people on the street are looking at our house, other dogs in the neighborhood are joining in. I give up. Bear wins again. I go to bed at 8:15 pm. Thank god there is a TV in our bedroom.

The kindness of strangers

West Coast Rottweiler Rescue has been blessed with some wonderful supporters, both in the doggie world, and those that just believe what we are doing is wonderful. We were helped recently by German Shepherd Rescue of BC (http://www.gsrbc.com/) by a donation of lots of toys and things to sell at the Xmas Pet Fair. And then there were the wonderful folks at Maple Springs Saddlery (http://www.maplespringssaddlery.com/). Not only did they adopt one of our first dogs, they also have donated part of the proceeds of their annual used tack sale to WCRR. Never to be forgotten is Canine Harmony http://www.canineharmony.com/ and the fundraisers they have had for us. And then there are the 2 wonderful ladies at the Tandy Leather Factory on King George Hwy that donated some absolutely beautiful collars and leashes that they made especially for us.
All of these people have found a special place in my heart. Some of them I have known for years but some I had never even met and yet they found us and our webpage and much to my surprise have watched our work. Some days I think that there is no one to help us help the dogs and then I find angels have been watching.
So for those that want an update on Bear, here is it. He is a goofy boy. He’s not really healthy, is in some discomfort but is really not ready to give up yet. Bear looks like a different dog than the sad crippled old thing we brought home a week ago. Those first days worried me so much. He wouldn’t eat, could barely walk, showed very little interest in anything other than trying to mount Sashka. But a trip to the vets, a change of food, some rest and a bath and we have a new dog. Bear is thrilled to see toys lying around the house. He picks his favorite squeaky up and greets everyone at the door with it. He tried to get people to play and would rather you chase him and then of course he will try to scare you with a growl. But if you stop, he almost cries and runs back to you with the toy.
Bear I’m sure would like a home of his own. One where he could have someone to let him out often during the day as he has some bladder issues. He would need a special diet, one that is low in fat. Bear may not have years left, but he has such a joy in life that makes us smile every single day. He is affectionate, loving, easy to care for. We would be willing to have Bear go to a foster placement if the right one turned up, if not he will stay with us until the right home comes along for him. Mr. Big Bear is now safe, warm and we hope happy.

The puppies are leaving soon

So we have worked really hard to find them good homes, keep them socialized, vetted, healthy, and housetrained. And for the most part the evil ones have been doing really well. There is much praise and sweet talk going on in our back yard and the neighbors have found it very amusing. For some reason the sight of me in my housecoat, disheveled hair and slippers in the early morning or late night, saying Good Puppy, Good Pee, Good Poo, has them all in stitches. The pups will be leaving for their new homes as soon as they are altered and we can go back to looking at dogs in shelters. There has seemed to be no time to get out and about to see who needs us the most.
West Coast Rottweiler Rescue does have a senior dog in care right now by the name of Ruby. At this point I don’t think that placing Ruby in another home is in her best interest and I think that we will just keep her in the foster home as long as they will keep her. It is far too hard on these old ones to move them around. Right now Ruby is healthy enough but how long we can manage her is up to her. As with all rott’s of her age, it is a day by day thing.
We are trying to gear up for the Cloverdale Christmas Pet & Craft fair later this month. Right now we are hoping that people can help us with donations of items that we can sell or offer at prizes. Anything is good. Gift certificates are popular as are small items. Things that we can bring people to our booth for. This fair is traditionally a great fundraiser and a chance for us to get our name out there. We are still so new that many don’t know we even exist. If you can help in any way, please let us know. We can pickup items anywhere in the lower mainland area and every little bit helps.

another week

It's been a long hard week here at West Coast Rottweiler Rescue. We have 4 puppies in our care. And no they aren't Rottweilers. But they were dogs in need. They need good loving homes, with families that will always stand by them no matter what.
They are cute active, normal puppies that drive me crazy, keep me up at night and melt my old tired heart. And for the most part we have found them homes and they will leave once they are altered.
Bolt's adoption was finalized today. He is such a happy funny boy and his mom is totally taken with him. His older sister Bella, well, having Bolt around has put a spring in the old girls step. And from what we could see, Bolt is willing to bow to the queen. And that is how it should be.
Doesn't it sound like a good week? Well, as much as some of it was good, some of it just stinks. Yesterday we lost Kysha.
Kysha came to us when her owners decided to move out of province. I guess you don't want to take a 13 yr old Rottweiler to your new home. I really don't know the true answer. I think it was they said they couldn't find a place that would take her. But whatever the reason it wasn't good enough. 13 yrs old for a rottie is a very old age. Kysha deserved to be with the family that had had her for years, not with people that barely knew her.
Danielle loved having Kysha and she worked hard to make her new life as wonderful as she could. But Kysha was an old dog and old dogs will always break your heart. Her back end wouldn't work anymore, she had so much trouble getting up and then couldn't stay up. Maybe there was more that we could do, but really, who are we keeping her here for? Should we risk having her live in pain so that "we" could love her for another day, week, or month. Is that fair to the dog. Not in this case. So I stood by and watched while Danielle's heart broke again. All I could offer was a hug because there is nothing to say. At that moment, I hated what we do in rescue. I hated the decisions we have to make that really are for the original dogs owners to do. But damm it, they weren't around and while they said they were sad, they were the ones that left Kysha behind with strangers.
And I keep hearing about puppies in need on reservations. I have emails from people wanting to rehome their dogs, I have wonderful dogs sitting in rescue cause I can't help them. I'm tired

Some days rescue just doesn’t seem worth it.

There seems to be a never ending supply of dogs needing help and never enough money, resources, etc to do it all. We don’t take owner surrenders but sometimes you have to look beyond the owner to the dog. And that’s what is happening right now. We are going to take care of the dog because the owners really and truly can not.
I am tired and stressed and not really looking forward to the puppies arriving on Sunday. The responsibility of caring for them, finding them the perfect home and being able to cut thru the crap to do that boggles this old girls mind. LOL But then I remember I’m not in this alone, I have a host of people helping. Our vet Kevin Harris from Trenant Park Pet Hospital has always been kind and now has agreed to discount the cost of spaying these girls. This means I have the peace of mind of knowing that they will get the best care available and at a cost that would kill us. I have folks promising to do what they can for us and that means the world to me.
If it was only the dogs I had to deal with my little world would be pretty content. I do have the best Board of Directors supporting my decisions and a circle of friends and mentors that help guide me. Without them, I surely would be a basket case. Cause its people that drive me crazy. Those that want a puppy today and no they will not wait until they are assessed or vetted. There are those in the rescue community that have opinions about how we do things and if we don’t do them their way then it must be wrong. Then there are those rescues that need to say, “I” saved this dog and “I” saved that dog and if it wasn’t for “me”, this or that dog would be dead and” I’m better than everyone else for saving it”. And most times there are 2 sides to something, but god forbid we actually talk about that. Lets instead talk about how WE did something. It seems I get slammed if I voice my opinion, or not, so maybe for awhile I will do just that. I will let those that care (and even those that don’t) know that they aren’t the only ones in the world pissed off.

Sometimes Love isn't enough

Today was a day that every rescue dreads. It was the day that we have to put one of our dogs down. Not because they are too old or too sick or even too out of control. It was because they weren't safe.
I really wanted to believe that all Kay needed was time and love. And I thought we could give her that. But Kayla had been allowed to make decisions on her own for too long and those decisions weren't healthy ones. When Kay came to us, she had such a hard look about her. She wasn't trusting, she wasn't friendly, she wasn't afraid either. Kay wanted what she wanted and there was no changing that.
That hard untrusting look changed quickly. She became confident almost overnight and I missed the signs of trouble. When she went after Sashka, I blamed it on my not paying close enough attention to what signs I though she was giving. When she growled at people, I thought "Oh she just doesn't like them standing over her". She allowed me to do all sorts of things to her, but I realize now, they were on her terms, not mine.
Kayla I don't think ever really trusted anyone. She would allow you to pet her, she would even encourage it, but then she would growl and give people that hard stare. Not to Jim or I, but to everyone else.
I so wanted her to find that one person that would make her safe. Someone that would understand her, give her time and space and allow her to become the dog "I" wanted her to be. But as she settled more in our home, I started to see a side of Kay that worried me.
Last week Kay backed one of our board members up, growling and barking at her. All this woman was doing was showing her affection. Affection that Kay had asked for.
The next day on a walk, Kay bit someone. Again, they had been petting her, had stopped before she wanted them to, and as he tried to walk away Kay nailed him. The bite was bad enough to require 4 stitches.
I still thought that we could give Kay another chance. I booked an appointment with a behaviorist, thinking I just need some help and then I can change her behavior. That appointment was for tomorrow morning.
Friday as we were coming home from a walk Kay made another bad decision. She didn't want to come in the house. I got behind her to give her a little nudge, just as I had done many times before. Kay turned and tried to bite me. She didn't try to nip me, or just scare me, she meant to do damage.
After a talk with those that knew Kay in the shelter, her vet and Jim, we decided that Kay could never safely be homed. For whatever reason, love this time would not be enough.
One of the hardest things about rehoming a Rottweiler is that you have to be sure that whomever takes the dog can manage that dog. And that the dog will not bite unprovoked. I take the responsibility of owning this breed very seriously. Without careful management, the Rottweiler will suffer the same fate that Pit bulls suffer.
My heart is broken. I wanted so badly to do what was right for this dog and all the dogs we care for. I can't fix them all. I can't help them all. I can't change what others have done to them. I did do the only thing I knew at that point to do. That was to hold this girl in my arms while we released her.
There are going to be those that say I have no right to be rescuing these dogs. Maybe I don’t' have enough experience. Maybe I don't have the right training, or resources, or the right facilitates. But until someone else steps up to the plate to help them I will continue to bring dogs out of shelters and offer them whatever I can.
Kayla, my girl, I am so very very sorry.

Is it always about money?

I don't think that it can be when it comes to adoptions.
I recently met a man that so desperately wanted a dog to share his life with. He didn't have a fancy home, nor did he have lots of money, but he did have a heart of gold. This kind man takes a handy dart bus 5 days a week to walk dogs at his local shelter. He falls hard for all the dogs there but has an extra soft place in his heart for the big dogs. But coming up with the whole adoption fee all at once would be a hardship.

He asked about adopting several of the dogs he walked and played with. But on his fixed income paying high fees just wasn't going to happen for him. He offered to make payments on the adoption fee but was denied. And so month after month he showed up at the shelter, loving those dogs but going home to an empty basement apartment day after day after day.

And then he found us. And for awhile we thought perhaps we had found the perfect home for one of are harder to adopt dogs. But as circumstance would have it, it wasn't a match. And this mans heart was broken again.
This got me thinking about whom we adopt to. Yes we have adoption fees. And yes I believe that they are important. But I also believe that sometimes you have to look past money and look at what someone has to offer.
A couple of months ago, we were asked to take a dog from a shelter. She growled at everyone there and everyone was afraid of her. But her only problem really, was that she was so scared that she just couldn't trust. At the time, we had no space for her. And I knew that if we didn't pull her, she would lose her life. And this dog deserved a chance.

I got a call from a friend that knew someone that could take her. This woman really had nothing. She lived in a very small apartment, was unemployed and was just making ends meet. But she was willing to try to help the dog. And for me that was enough. We pulled the dog, paid her vet bills, and watched the miracle happen. This dog that growled at everyone changed. She became a happy well adjusted being again. She trusted and she loved and she was safe and she knew it.
When the young lady that took her in decided to move back to her home province, she called broken hearted because she knew that she either had to adopt this dog or give her back. But she had very little money and a long trip ahead of her. West Coast Rottweiler Rescue allowed her to take the dog and we would keep that adoption fee on file until she was able to pay it. And she did.

I know there are many that would not agree with that decision. But I have to say, no matter what happens in the future; this dog is loved and cared for. And if she needs help with medical issues, well, we will find away.

I am hoping beyond hope that the shelter that this kind man I talked about will see the light. I know they are a big organization and they have rules and protocols they must see to, but I also know that sometimes, if we look at the bigger picture, we can see that adoption fees are not the issue and the welfare of the animal is.

Someday it just doesn’t pay

To come home from holidays
We pulled in Sat night at around 9:30. It was a long trip home and I was tired and certainly wasn’t going to check the rescue email until morning. Sometimes you just need to take a break.
But I always check the home voice mail and that’s when I heard the message about the young Rottweiler that had been shot in the head in Chilliwack. My heart sunk. I knew we had to help this boy but dam it I had no space and no place to put him. But, sometimes you just have to work a little harder to get things together.
I called Trina right away and found out that this dog had been shot with buckshot, had already had some surgery but needed more and then he needed a place to go. Bolt as he was called, had been on the run long enough for the flesh around his wounds to start to rot away. His care would be expensive and the recovery would take time and a shelter was not the place for any of that to happen. I rarely send out group emails cause, well, they seldom work, but I had no other ideas late on a Sat night. So I sent out the plea for help.
Jim and I slept little that night, thinking about this poor dog. He must be afraid and in pain. Would he be the kind of dog that would never trust again? I had no idea about any of it. I hadn’t seen him yet, nor had he been assessed nor had I been able to talk to the vet caring for him. All of this was a worry, but the most worrisome of all was where could we put him?
Late Sunday afternoon, I got the call that every rescue prays for. The perfect foster home had stepped forward and offered to help. They had medical training, had owned Rottweilers and understood how afraid Bolt might be. Monday morning I was on the phone to the vet asking for information. Bolt could leave the vets office Monday evening.
I didn’t get to meet Bolt until Tues night. By then he settled in to the home and was learning about playing with other dogs. He was also learning about homes, and stairs, and love. Perhaps for the first time. I tried to do some of the usual assessment stuff but it’s hard to assess a dog when all it wants to do is give you kisses. J So we do know that Bolt is about 1 yr old and still has some growing to do. He has the most beautiful coat, both a deep dark black and a warm mahogany color. Bolt still has a full tail that wags and wags and wags. He is pretty quick to learn but will need further socialization with other dogs so that he can be taught what correct play is all about. He will need someone that is able to provide him with leadership and love, someone that will ensure that Bolt gets the training that he needs, someone that will continue to teach Bolt that not all humans are out to kill you.
To the person that used to own Bolt, shame on you. This is a wonderful young boy with a ton of potential that only needs a chance to prove himself. And to the person that shot Bolt (who knows if it’s the same person or not), shame on you. You let this boy run away and live in pain. But to all those that have helped Bolt, Thank You. We will make sure that no one ever hurts this dog again.

Kay and the bull;

I wished I had been able to take a picture but I was still sort of asleep.
I was lying in the tent trailer, just in that place between awake and asleep. I could hear Jim and Kay outside chopping wood and wandering around but I just wasn’t ready to get up to face the day yet. Until I heard Jim yell; “Kay get away from that bull”.
BULL??? I think?? What Bull??? I peek out the trailer window and there is Kay with her feet planted firmly on the ground stopping a huge bull from coming on our property. She wouldn’t come back to us until that big beast had moved on. What a good girl. Even though we had only been at camp a few days, she knew the property line and was ready to guard us against danger.
Now, the little diva dog, well, she’s not quite as smart. As I opened the trailer door, she rushed out barking. She charged up to the bull ready to take on anything until this monster lifted its head and looked at her. Poor little white dog. LOL She couldn’t get back to camp quick enough and stayed close by for the rest of the morning.
The moral of the story: If your 20 lbs of fluffy dog, leave the big bulls to the Rottweiler.

It gets harder and harder to write the blog

Its not the writing but rather the time. Working 40 +hours a week, the hour there and and the hour back, the dogs stuff, and then finding time for the spouse. All of it make for keeping the blog up to date hard. So for those that watch the blog, I apologize.

Kay has settled in nicely. but there are certain traits that make handling her somewhat worrisome.
Kay loves her food. She loves her food so much that when the food comes out, she can think of nothing else. She knows she has to sit to get her bowl, but other than that, she is impossible to train with food. I am so used to training with this method, that finding other things that motivate her is difficult. But she loves affection as so that's what we are working on.
Kay does sit nicely. She also came with the command to shake a paw. But either she doesn't know down very well or she is choosing not to do it. LOL. We are continuing to work with that one.
Kay also does not care for other dogs. Its not that she is dog aggressive, but she prefers to be the only one in your life. Her and Sashka have had a couple of instances of pushing over water dishes and food. And Sash now is cautious about how she approaches those areas of the house. But all in all things have been fine.
Kay is also wary of strangers. She will allow a quick pet but nothing more. New people must be careful of bending over her or we do see some lip lifting. This isn't out and out aggression but rather a warning to be respectful of her. But once she knows you, she is your typical rottie. she loves "her" people and is always looking for an ear scratch or a belly rub. But again, these must be limited because she is a dominate dog and will quickly start to demand attention.
The other thing that has kept us busy is the amount of emails and calls we get regarding owner surrenders. As much as we would like to help, we can't and won't. Our focus is shelter dogs. They are the ones that stand to lose if they aren't helped. but it is difficult sometimes to tell someone that we won't take their dog. I believe that most want what is best, but that is little help. And some of the dogs lately have been purebreed rottweilers coming from respectable breeders. And those breeders need to know what is happening with their dogs. I have pleaded with people to contact the dogs breeder and if they won't, then I will. sorry folks, that's just how it is.

How can she lie there looking so innocent

Kay is such a faker. She waddles when she walks. She makes like she is too big and old to jump much, but I found out tonight that Little Miss Fat Girl is a food theif.
We feed raw here. So, sometimes for the new dogs, the amount of food their getting may seem small. But we are careful about feeding and Kay is on a weight loss program. Or at least I try.
And Kay is what I lovingly refer to as very food motivated.

Tonight I made dinner so that means the loving and adoring husband cleans up afterwards. He went out right after dinner and I had to get on the computer to do some much needed stuff and Kay stayed downstairs waiting by the door (or so I thought).

When Jim came home, he asked if I had put the leftover meat away........................................... Nope, that wasn't my job, that was suppose to be his. I guess because Kay loves him so much, she thought she would help. Long story short, there is no more leftovers. Good news, she never broke a plate or made a mess or disturbed anything other than to clean that plate right up.

Bad Jim and bad Bev. Its our fault she got it. LOL but as I was looking at her with disapproval on my face and my hands on my hips, all she did was burp. When I told her how unlady like that was she burped again. My only payback will be that Jim will have to walk her in the morning and he gets to clean up her deposits.

Kay continues to show us a wonderful side. She came in with a hard look in her eyes that made me wonder. But as time goes by, that look softens, she becomes more relaxed and I think we are ready to start taking her in more public places. The sooner we know how she reacts in different settings, the sooner we can find what kind of home she needs

new dog and long day

Kay has landed on our doorstep. And what a nice girl. She's going to need some work, some weight loss and some leadership. She seems to think that her job is to bark and scare away people. But she is going to learn that "I" have that job and I won't give it up. I would prefer she took the role of lady of leisure cause it would suit her more. She's a nice middle aged girl that can live with other dogs if she has to but I'm sure would be happier on her own.

Today was the Richmond Animal Wellness Expo. Lots of people and lots of wonderful dogs. Most of them well behaved but whenever you get that many people and dogs together it can be a little tense.
One of my pet peeves has always been ex tenable leashes. Yes they are great for the dogs, way more freedom but a much bigger chance of someone getting hurt. And today was no different. Little dogs, big dogs, people shopping and not really seeing what was up at the end of the leash. Thank goodness no one got hurt, but I'm glad I didn't bring the new girl. Way too much going on and she wouldn't have taken to it all very well.
We will soon have Kay up on the website and will tell you more about her as time goes on. While she isn't ready for adoption just yet, feel free to let us know if what you are looking for is a calmer, more mature girl to curl up with at night.

Incoming

It seems like some days it just rains rottweilers. We have agreed to take in a middle aged girl from the island and there will be lots more about her later. But once we agreed to help her, I got "the" call. there is an old boy in one of the local shelters. He came in as a stray and his hold period is almost up and they are looking for a placement for him. This poor old thing has many lumps and most likely cancer. So we are asking, if you have any room, please please let us know. No dog should spend his last days in a cold kennel. It breaks my heart and so I am sending out this plea. this boy will not be for adoption, but rather is looking for palliative care. We will know more in the next couple of days when he has some of the tumors looked at, but if it is cancer, and he is as old as he seems, no extreme measure will be taken. But a warm bed and loving heart would go a long way to helping make this boys last days comfortable.
stay tuned for pictures and further updates If you can help, please please email me at wcrr.info@gmail.com
Bev

Things have been pretty quite lately

And I miss having the big dogs around. since Louie's adoption, I have been in contact with some of the shelters we work with but as of tonight, there are no dogs that need WCRR's help. That changes so very quickly.
I have been baking the worlds smelliest dog treats. The house is hot from the weather but even hotter having the oven on, and now it just plain smells. YUCK
But it is one of the many ways we try to raise some much needed funds. And to be really honest, the dogs everywhere love them.
I am going to take this slow time to remind people why WCRR does not take in owner surrenders. Our funds are low. Our mandate is rottweilers in shelters. Every single day I get an email from someone that has to get rid of their dog for one reason or another. And I tell these people no. Not because I don't care about these dogs, because I do care deeply. But these dogs have someone. The dogs in shelters don't. Yes they have the staff and the volunteers if there are any, but they have no one to speak for them directly. And if owners work hard enough I really believe they can either find a way to keep their dog or at the very least, find a suitable home.
But the dogs in shelters suffer in ways that dogs with owners don't. They get stressed because of the noise. They can start to act out and when that happens, no one can see past their behaviour. And they get sick. Often shelters can't afford to treat the dogs the way that private rescues can. So, to all the angry people out there that complain that I won't help them, I'm sorry. But the spots we have available are for those that are in danger. And to the shelters, let us know how we can help. Because we are there for the rottweilers in need.

King Louie

Thats what his new family calls him. I told them his name was screwy louie but thats not what they see in him. Louie was one of those dogs that comes into rescue that truly breaks your heart. He had parvo, he had mange, he was dehydrated, thin, scabby and smelt so bad it made you want to throw up. Louie had absolutely no training. He was mouthy, he jumped up on people and he tried to hump absolutely everyone. He was unmanagable most of the time and tried my patience to no end.He chewed and destroyed everything he came into contact with. But as has been the case so often, Louie settled down at least somewhat.Louie has been with his new family for almost 2 weeks to see how he would adjust. They have an old dog that just wasn't too sure he wanted to have that young whipper snapper on his property but Louie won him over in no time.Louie's favorite thing is to lie in the sun on the deck, watching over his domain. Good Boy Louie. Show them what you are made of.

Things going on with West Coast Rottweiler Rescue

First and most important (to us anyways) is that Louie is gone on a foster to adopt contract. Quite a lot depends on if he can win over the heart of the old dog on the property. When Sam and Louie met, Sam barked and growled at Louie while Louie just tried to lick his face. Personally I think Sam was just trying to ensure that Louie was aware of who was in charge. Be good Louie and get Sam to settle down.
We have been run off our feet lately with requests to take dogs in, requests for dogs, fundraisers, and information booths. As is usual, there isn’t enough time to get it all done. With Louie gone, I have to make a decision on which dog to bring in. And this part of rescue just sucks. Because when I say no to a dog, quite often that means the end for that animal. Not because they are bad dogs, but because they just aren’t doing well in the shelter. We so need foster homes. Without them, I have to say no far more often than I can say yes. WCRR will supply everything you need if you can supply a safe temporary home for a dog in need. It may be a puppy or youngster that ends up in a shelter because no one bothered to do any training, or it could be an older dog, one that someone just threw away because it wasn’t a puppy anymore. Sometimes the dogs are with you for only a couple of weeks, other times they may be there for a couple of months. We can never really tell and we always want to wait for the perfect home.
I am in the mist of making liver brownies again. One of our fundraisers is a raffle, and one of the prizes is liver brownies. Man oh man doe these things smell. But the dogs will do just about anything for them. If your interested in entering the raffle, please go to our website and check it out. Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. All payments can be made either in cash or by paypal. http://www.westcoastrottweilerrescue.com/

There is a reason I work with the dogs

and not with paper. Some days I really do lose my mind.

I have been wondering why there have been absolutely no applications for Louie. Yes I tell you about all the bad things that he does, but I also tell you about all the good qualities of this boy. I see no reason to lie to anyone about what kind of dog he is. He is high energy. End of story.

But..... Louie is posted on petfinder and I haven't had an application for him at all from there. So I figured I better check and make sure that everything was ok. Well it wasn't. The email address we were using was too long and it didn't work. So, if you have sent us an email about Louie and are wondering why we haven't answered, that is the reason. We didn't get it.

Louie's petfinder page has been updated once again and we now have a new WORKING email address. Please send us a note and let us know if Louie is the boy for you

Lots going on with WCRR

First of all Louie still needs a home. This boy has comes miles since coming into care. People that saw him when he first came in are always amazed at how wonderful he looks (and smells). We have found an outlet for all that puppy energy. Doggie daycare. While you have to be very careful about where your dog attends daycare, for those living in apts and townhouses, it gives the dog a chance to really let loose. So the good news is Louie is going once a week to a daycare. The bad news is he should go more LOL Or he should get to the doggie park at least once a day. This boy needs to play!

Our next big event is a chocolate and doggie treat sale. We will be in Fort Langley on Sat June 7th from 10 am to 2 pm. Drop by and see us. http://www.maplespringssaddlery.com/

July will bring the Richmond Animal Wellness Expo at Garry Point Park on July 19th. We will be there from 11 am till 3 pm. Drop by and see our booth

Louie's Report Card

Louie boarded with me for 10 days this May. He is just getting over his mange and he looked fabulous! There are just a few spots on his face where the hair is thinner, but other than that he is fuzzy and healthy!

Louie is a very active dog who loves all people; everybody is his best friend and possible playmate. Louie has some good manners when it comes to dinner time; he sits nice and proper at a distance of up to 10 feet and waits patiently for his food dish to be put down. He looks at you and doesn’t rush for the food until he is released from his “sit”. He also sits very nicely for cookies and other treats and takes them nicely from your hand without snatching or biting your hand in any way. He walks right into his crate when told to and sleeps through the night, chewing on a bone to keep himself occupied when not sleeping. He is potty trained and goes to the bathroom outside.

Louie needs a little more work on his manners as he still gets very excited and jumpy when he sees people; his love of people makes him so excited that he forgets his manners. He is still young and therefore a bit mouthy, but with some practice and training he will grow out of that shortly. It helps to give him a toy so he has something to occupy his mouth with. He may be a little too enthusiastic for young children or senior citizens and may knock them down in his excitement to see them. That could change as he grows up and learns more manners. Louie will try to learn anything you can teach him, as long as the training methods are positive and engaging. Forceful techniques will cause him to use his strong will against his trainer and find ways out of the training. Food or toy reward works very well with Louie!



Louie’s favourite game is Tug. He loves to tug on his rope while you hold the other end. It is a great stress-reliever for him and tires him out faster than other games. Due to his high energy and active nature, you must win your games of Tug with him and keep the toy after you play so that his confidence doesn’t build to a level that is beyond managing. Louie likes to play Fetch, but he doesn’t always bring the ball back. Sometimes a bird or a blade of grass will distract him and you have to go fetch the toy yourself.

Louie likes to play with other dogs, but is still learning his dog communication skills. Again, because of his enthusiastic nature, while chasing and playing with another dog, he sometimes forgets his boundaries and gets a bit too close to another dog. This causes some dogs to try to correct this behavior in him by letting him know he has over-stepped his bounds. He quickly forgives and forgets this act and continues playing like nothing has happened. A few play sessions with dogs that are patient and understanding will help him learn how to interact with other dogs without getting too excited.

Louie would do best in an active home where he could exercise his body as well as his mind. While he is still a bit clumsy because he is not fully grown yet, his mind is quite sharp and needs activity to keep him out of trouble. Left to his own devices, he makes up his own games, which generally involve the destruction of an object (usually something you don’t want him to have) to see how it works. Stimulating games such as Tug, Fetch, Find the Cookie and long walks and/or runs are a must for this active boy! He is happy wandering around the yard for a while, but craves attention and interaction. Left alone, Louie would become frustrated, lonely and destructive. He needs a loving, patient family who is committed to helping him grow up to be the balanced, well-adjusted adult dog that he almost is. He loves to see you each and every time you appear, even if you have only been out of sight for a few minutes. He loves to make you happy and he loves to make you laugh. Louie’s zest for life will make his active adoptive family very happy.

Chanone Sanders
Canine Harmony Dog Training Academy

Louie wins everyone over

Louie has spent quite a bit of time getting to know the team at our favorite vet office. First when he got out of the shelter and was so sick, then for a checkup and treatment for mange and now today again for his neuter, dewclaw removal, hernia repair chip x-rays and tattoo. Every time he goes in he makes friends. First Nadia, the newest vet at Trenant Park Pet Clinic, then our very favorite vet, Dr. Harris and of course all the tech's and staff. All of them are amazed at what a wonderfully tempered dog he is. Never a growl or a raised lip while they poke and prod and make him uncomfortable.
And today again he won over complete strangers. While walking him in the strip mall this morning a couple of the staff from a local fish store remarked about how nice he was. And after I picked him up we went by there and they were kind enough to give him some salmon treats just because he had had a hard day.
While Louie can be a handful at times and has more energy than is good for him, he loves everyone.
Now that he is ready to go, here is what the perfect family would look like. They would be people that will continue to feed him a high quality diet, take him for obedience classes and find time to exercise both that body and brain. What would be even more perfect is to find a furry friend to spend his days with. While Louie shows no aggression, he does prefer the ladies. This may change because he has now been neutered but only time will tell. He has had a couple of run in with the boys but backs down quickly when he is put in his place.
Louie needs a home of his own. He does bond very quickly and the move from foster to forever home will be stressful for him. It may even mean that the mange may come back but with the diet he is on, this should clear up quickly again.

A new picture of Louie

You must excuse the mess. This picture was taken the night before the big garage sale and the house was filled to the rafters with wonderful stuff. The sale was a huge success and we would love to thank all those that donated to it and all those that came out and supported us. All the monies raised will go to health care for our dogs, both those in foster care right now and those needing to come in.
The ever busy Mr. Louie will soon be ready to take applications for his forever home. He is due to have all his dangly bits removed and as long as the family that takes him is prepared to manage the mange I am confident he will do well. Louie has not met anyone that he doesn’t love. He still isn’t sure about the neighbor’s cat but I can’t tell if it’s because he wants to play or eat it.

Louie’s heath is steadily getting better. His mange is somewhat under control. He needs to be fed a high quality diet, preferably a raw food diet, supplements and weekly baths to keep the mange at bay. Some of his balder spots are coming back but there are a few areas that still need to heal
Louie needs an owner that can keep up with him. One that will go to obedience classes and show Louie what is expected of him. Louie does not respond well to unfair or harsh treatment and only requires fair, consistent positive leadership. He would do well with another dog to keep him out of mischief, because left to his own devices, well, he is a puppy still and gets into anything he can. We really want Louie to find his place in his own home. He has been pushed around enough and deserves the chance to bond deeply with someone he can trust.

$ 893.26

That’s what we have spent on Louie to date. That’s just what the vet bills are. Of course that doesn't cover food, dog walker, supplements, etc. Thank goodness when I got there I was told that Care Collars had sent in a donation for his vet care. http://www.carecollars.com Thank you so much Cora, without support, we could never manage to do what we do. Mangy cute bone heads just don't come cheap anymore. But this is what true rescue is all about. Getting dogs that really do need our help, making them well and whole, treating them with the best care we can provide and then finding them the absolute perfect home for their needs. And that’s what I want to provide Mr. Louie, aka Mr. Destructor, with.
My front yard looks like we are already selling stuff. Articles for the garage sale are starting to pile up. Right now I feel like I am living in a junk yard. But its all good and we will clear things up after the sale.
Louie poopie was such a gentleman at the vets. Well, other than trying to mouth everyone, he was great. That’s just his way of showing affection, but he is learning that we don't allow that sort of behaviour and if he is good, good things happen. Even our beloved vet was taken by him. If only I could talk Kevin into adopting him. But then I would have to leave town and find another vet because Kevin would find out what a goof ball this dog really is.Louie is the kind of dog that loves to play. I only wish I could video him sometimes. Watching him toss his toys in the air, or swinging his rope toy around always makes me laugh. He is a happy playful normal dog in so many ways. All he needs is time to recover from the mange and he will make someone a perfect companion.

Louie gets a new name

No pup that gets into as much as this one does deserves a name as dignified as Louie. So, I have decided to rename the little darling Mr. Destructor.

Why you may ask?? Simple. This boy loves to get into mischief.

Wednesday night: I am loading the dishwasher. The phone rings. I have to run upstairs to the computer. I'm up there maybe 5 minutes. What does Mr. Destructor do? He decides to UNLOAD the dishwasher.

Now, when I unload it, I take out a couple of dishes at a time and put them right in the cupboards. But not Mr. Destructor. Oh no. He takes out the whole rack. And drags it out of the kitchen and into the living room, all the while dragging broken dishes with him. I can only assume that he had plans to clean the dishes himself.

So, I hear all this crashing and I run downstairs to see what the devil dog is doing. And there he is sitting among the mess. I can't really yell at him because in all fairness I did leave the dishwasher door open. But I do tell him he is a bad dog.

Louie looks at me, sighs, and goes to his crate. Good thing I really like this dog.

On the up side of Louie, his training is coming along very nicely. He has learned not to pull a lot on the leash, he quickly sits (sometimes) when he is told and will now go directly to his bed to wait for dinner to be put down. He is even learning that when I say down, it means if he does it, he gets a treat. Louie really is a smart boy and will do well in obedience classes as long as you know that he is food motivated and wants to please. Using harsh corrections on this guy just doesn't work.
Whomever decides to make Louie a part of their family will be very lucky. He is a sensitive, loving dog that deserves his own home soon.

Now here are the boys

Abbotsford Animal Shelter called about 2 dogs that have been with them for far too long. These guys were found running loose again and again and then the owner never came to get them. They are a very bonded pair and should be adopted together. The rottie boy is deaf and relies on his friend to help him. If anyone is looking to add 2 dogs to their family, please please please look at these two. They are still very young and deserve a chance at a life filled with love and care. If you are the one they have been waiting for give the shelter a call at 604-856-7505

When it rains it pours

Its not been a great start to the week. I now have 3 dogs that are in urgent need of rescue. And WCRR really has no where to put them.

the first is a sweet YOUNG girl about to lose her life because she has become incontinent. Here is the email. If you can help please let us know. Onyx is far too young to be destroyed. Onyx is the dog in the background

My name is Ashley, and I need some help. I have a friend who has a Berner X (looks like a Berner x Rotti) and she needs help fast, if its possible. Here is a bit about her:Her name is Onyx she is under 2yrs old, she is the sweetest girl ever! The sad part is she was hit by a car under a year ago, it cost over $1000 in vet bills and problems with some vets who didn't want to help unless they had the money asap and just wanted to put her down. This hit had left her paralyzed from the waist down. She had no control of her back legs and had to drag her herself around to move. But now she is fully able to walk and run, but she doesn't always have the coordination and trips over her own legs every once in a while. The other sad and extremely hard part is that with the hit also did some nerve damage and she is incontinent, she is showing more progress with getting better she knows when she's going and moves to go but if she's excited and she's running some times she leaks some pee out. The new vet said this can take up to 18 months to fully heal. So now she is and has been outside the whole time as an outside dog, so she's use to it. Another problem with that is that with all the hair and her leaking that it would hold the urine and now she has an infection.

Sorry its been awhile

but things have been busy.
First of all, about our loving Louie. He is a bone head. LOL
Louie is your typical busy puppy. Yes he is almost 10 months old but I doubt if he has had any training before coming here. He can't be trusted long alone out of his crate. Paper is one of his favorite toys and he will destroy it if he gets the chance. Perhaps I should start a recycling depot here as he can shred magazines and newspapers in no time at all. And mail, well, it just doesn't stand a chance. Too bad he can't tell the difference between junk mail and that donation check.
He got to play on the weekend with other big dogs and its just what he needs. He has great manners with strange dogs and plays very well. It would be my hope that whomever adopts him gives him the chance to do this on a regular basis. Poor little Sashka just does not allow that kind of fun behaviour in her home.
I spoke to the vet about having Mr. Louie neutered and we both agree that within the next month we are going to take care of that. The mange will most likely have a breakout but because he is doing so well without any meds we will go forward. So Mr. Louie will be available soon for adoption. We will have him fixed, have those floppy rear dew claws taken care of and get him all up to date with shots and a spiffy new tattoo. All of this on top of the expensive medication and vets bills will put us in the hole financially but thats just what happens in rescue.
Donations for the garage sale are flowing in and we should have some great stuff available. This sale will hopefully help with the vet bills.
I had an interesting weekend in Victoria training for Noah's Wish. This is for preparation for any kind of disaster. I loved meeting all those new people, seeing old friends and making new ones. And what I got to learn was amazing. Being prepared for a disaster is everyones' responsibility. Having things in place for both yourself and your animals for at least 72 hours will make it possible for you to wait for help to arrive. Please please please make sure you have a disaster kit ready. If you need help finding out how to do this, then just let me know and I will be happy to help.

Bailey needs a home

Tonight I found this in my email. This sweet girl really needs a chance to shine. She needs a place to call home, and people that will value and love her. Yes she may be a diamond in the rough but she has the potential to become a star. Here is what the shelter has to say about Bailey

SPCA in Dawson Creek, BC. We are contacting you in regards to a wonderful rotti, named Bailey. She is a four years old and already spayed. One morning when we came to work she was tied to the fence of our yard with a very large tow rope and a blanket to lay on. She was very thin and had a bad infestation of tape worm. She has been with us since March 3. We managed to track down an owner thanks to a tag on her collar. However, the lady said they had given her away two years ago to some guy who owns a tow truck business. Bailey is extremely affectionate with all of the staff and volunteers here at the shelter, but she does display barrier aggression when she is in her kennel or in our yard and a stranger approaches. So far if we introduce people to her without a fence in between she is always a super happy girl! She also loves to play with other dogs, but can have issues with other females as she is a more dominant dog. We haven’t had a lot of interest in Bailey up here, and when we do it’s not the best home for her. We were hoping to get her into foster or out to a rescue that could find her the right home. Right now we don’t have any foster homes that would know how to work with her so she becomes a better trained pooch. The staff works with her(mostly myself and one other woman) every day at the shelter and she is coming along very well. So, even if we could just post her on your website that would be very much appreciated. We love Bailey and know that with the right home she’ll have the life she deserves instead of being a tow yard dog. Anything you can do to help would be terrific. Thanks for your time.

Bailey deserves a chance away from the shelter to show everyone how wonderful she can be. Please, if you can help, contact the South Peace SPCA. sp_spca@pris.bc.ca I know they would love to talk to you about her.

Louie drives Sashka crazy

I knew it would happen. I left Louie out of his crate today just to test the waters. And he didn't disappoint me at all.
Nothing serious was killed. Just one more stuffie destuffed, some mail chewed, but poor Sashka. Louie has something against her having a blanket in her crate. Leave him alone for an hour and its in the middle of the floor. We have scolded him, I have yelled at him, I have even sprayed him with a water bottle, but he insists on doing it the minute he is left alone. Sashka, the poor misunderstood diva dog has had to sleep on either the chair or the couch. Life is hard here.
Mr. Louie is proving to be a challenge getting on raw food. I know its the best option for him but he only spits it out. He does love his kibble and will eat almost any type I'm sure, but what about that raw diet that is so good for him. How can a dog from a shelter be so picky about his food.
And before anyone starts on me about how if I just don't give him anything else he will have to eat the raw, Louie is still very underweight. I can still feel his backbone and all his ribs. His little chest bones stick so far out it bothers me. So, until the evil one puts on some much needed fat, he can stay on a HIGH GRADE kibble for now.
All signs of the previous illness is now gone. He is full of piss and vinegar and wants nothing more than to play, jump on people, use his mouth to torture us and rip up any unsuspecting toys that he finds. Awww life with a puppy. Can someone please poke my eyes out next time I think this is a good idea.

How bad am I

LOL Mr. Louie has been here a whole week and I haven't posted a picture of him. Well here he is. While we are pretty sure that he is part rottie, I'm just not sure about what the other part is. And pictures, well, they don't show this wonderful boy in his best light.

These were taken just after he came to us and he still wasn't very happy. Oh my, how that has changed. Louie is a great boy, loves to play, go for long walks, and finally loves his food. Good thing too cause this boy is on several meds for all his conditions. None of the life threatening but all of them uncomfortable for him.

Louie is easy in many ways. His leash manners are coming along and he knows that he only gets fed if he sits nicely and waits for his food. He has learned the drop it command and knows that if he drops what he has, he is rewarded with something wonderful. Sometimes thats food, but other times its toys and play. All of these are things that motivate Louiel.

He has a wonderful temperment and will allow you to do most things to him without much fuss. This unfortuantely does not include bathing. And thats too bad cause he gets one once a week. Picture 2 grown adults trying to bath 50 lbs of squirming puppy, both humans covered in shampoo and drenched to the bone. But bathe him we do.

Things take a turn for the better

Louie is back home again and we don’t really have a clear idea of what is happening with him. All I know is I got to see a side of this guy that made me laugh out loud.
Last night I told a friend of mine what a calm puppy Louie is. Well, maybe he had me fooled cause this morning on our walk he forgot all his manners. When people went to pet him, he was jumping and mouthy and being a goofey boy. Just the way a 10 month old puppy would be if he had no training. LOL Guess the bone head is feeling better. Wish I was.
Vet care is pretty darn expensive. While I love our vet and yes they do give us as much of a discount as they can, between the tests and the meds, well, it just about wiped us out. But we will continue to go forward and give Louie everything that he needs. As of today he still isn’t in need of med’s for the mange, but I did notice a new small spot and we will have to keep an eye on that. It could just be the stress of being at the vets for 2 days or we may be in for a full relapse, but whatever it is we will manage.
The next fundraiser is the garage sale on April 26th. We will have all sorts of stuff there, new, used, good quality junk. And we also have home made liver brownies for sale. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn’t think that these are the best treats they have ever had. And if your training they are easy to break down to little pieces.

Louie, Louie, Louie

How you have us worried my boy. I knew something wasn't right when he started to really refuse food and then even water. Thank god we have such a wonderful vet that took him in quickly.
Dr. Nadia was very impressed with his temperament. All Louie wanted to do was climb on her lap and cuddle. But we needed to get down to the root of the problem and soon she was all business. Louie is dehydrated. He has been vomit ting and has diarrhea and just isn't his goofey self much. So this wonderful boy has found himself in a isolation kennel at the pet hospital. He is hooked up to iv's, they are going to run tests on him and find out what is going on. Hopefully we will have him home in a day or so.
I absolutely love this boy. He is so well tempered, and almost has house manners now. Other then the first night, there has been no accidents. He knows he's not to be one the furniture (yet) and Sashka has already taught him that she is the boss of everyone. Like any good young man, once she tells him off, he runs for the hills.
Louie will be with us for awhile. He can't be neutered until the mange has cleared up. And he is not for adoption until he is neutered. LOL
Louie's bills will get higher than normal but we hope our supporters will help with them. Every dog deserves the best care we can give them and we will go to the ends of the earth to manage somehow.

Mange

Not a great word. Not a word that has people running to say I want to adopt that dog, you know the yucky smelling one with very little facial fur. But underneath that crappy fur is a heart of gold. And his name is Louie.
Yes, Louie has mange. Yes, he smells. Yes, he doesn't look his best. Not on the outside. But on the inside its a whole different story. Louie seems to love all people and really would like it if they would stop on the street and pet him. But instead, most pull away once they see his disease. And that's a shame. Cause they aren't going to get it and they aren't going to give it to their pets either.
Louie came from a shelter in the Fraser Valley. For the whole hour drive he tried to climb into my lap. We drove all the way with the windows open cause he really was rank. But all he wanted to do was give sloppy kisses. I'm sorry but even I couldn't accept them.
We stopped on the way home and bought some medicated shampoo and before this poor boy even got in the house, he was subjected to a bath. It wasn't an easy task as he was so frightened but it was necessary. As long as I held his head in my hands and spoke softly in his ear he was calm enough to be hosed down. And yes, we used warm water.
He wasn't too sure about the raw food he was offered but it is the best (in our opinion) to aide him in his recovery. Even this morning he wasn't thrilled with it but at least I didn't have to hand feed it. He loves to play with his chew rope, tossing it in the air and swinging it back and forth. I know he wants to play tug, but it is too soon to play a game of that sort. First he has to learn the "drop it" command. All things in good time Mr. Louie.

WCRR at the fair

Lots of people, some great dogs and our first real outing as a rescue group. A big thanks to all our supporters for the gift baskets, cards, etc. Without your help, we couldn't have done it. While we didn't make alot of money, we did sell some great liver brownies and I'm sure those dogs will be happy with them.
We also got to meet Ben. He is a wonderful older boy that has landed with Big Heart Rescue. Now here is a dog that loves absolutely everyone. He allowed each child that stopped to pet him and some of them even got a surprize kiss. And as for that little girl that pulled his tail, well shame on her but Ben never blinked at all. He was the perfect gentleman. While Big Heart Rescue did have their own table, Ben found ours (and our liver brownies) pretty quickly and hung close to us. He is an absolute sweetheart, takes treats so gently, is good with all dogs, cats, kids, all kinds of situations and I'm sure Big Heart would like nothing better than to find him a family of his own. Go to their site and check him out. At 6 - 8 yrs of age he still has lots to offer a family and the one that adopts him will be one very lucky placement. What a gem.

Ace moves on

So we hope we have found the perfect place for Ace. He has gone out on a foster to adopt contract and last we heard was still running around having fun. Steal their hearts Ace. You deserve this home.
As Ace moves out, there is another one waiting in the wings to take his place. This is another young boy from the Chilliwack shelter. He seems like such a goofey boy, full of himself, and ready to rock and roll. But I'm thinking he will need some time with us before he is ready for adoption. This youngester has a case of Demodex mange. While its not life threatening it is painful and he will need lots of love and care and most likely medicine to help him along. Pictures of him should be posted in the next couple of days and you will no doubt fall for this boy if young goofey rotties are your thing.

Ace shows his true colours

And such wonderful colours they are.
He is a funny boy. He would really like to play with the ever dainty fluffy dog but she will have nothing to do with him. For that matter, she has had a snarl on her face since he walked in the door. And when he bugs her to much, she (all 20 lbs) sends this boy running. But Ace has found an outlet for his energy. He loves to play with balls. If you throw it, 9 times out of 10 he will bring it back. The other 1 time he usually runs around with it, throwing it in the air or dropping it on the ground so he can chase it some more. He also would like to bury it but I keep interrupting that process. There is something about all the dirt from the garden all over my patio stones that bothers me. I know, I'm picky. LOL
Ace has not had an accident either in his crate or loose in the house. He always goes to the door to let you know that he wants out. And for that matter, he rarely does his business while on leash, preferring instead to wait till he is home and then rushing outside to deposit it in the yard.
The only real issues Ace seems to have is his tendency to pull on leash. We are working on that but anyone adopting him will need to correct this. The other issue is when you first leave the house. He does bark and whine for a short time. My thoughts are that he is still worried that we are deserting him. If he has something to occupy his time with, like a fresh bone or a kong filled with something yummy, he hardly notices that you are gone.
Ace will leave for his new foster home this weekend. His spot in my home is desperately needed by another pup. This other rottie pup has mange and will need some love and attention to recover from this. Stay tuned for more updates on the dogs in care

Nothing much new today

Just some better pictures of Ace. He really is a nice boy.

Puppies Yuck

Ok Ace isn't as bad as that but he still is a puppy and needs to play play play. He is a very social dog with other dogs but is still unsure of people. If there are treats involved, well, he is the best.
We didn't crate him last night but instead attached him by long leash to the bed. Once he realized that everything was ok, he settled right down for the night.
While Ace needs some leash work, stopping and backing up when he pulls works to some degree. So far he is settling in nicely.
This dog would do best with an active family. Someone that can give him the outlet for all this energy. He has met the neighbours cat and if it would have played with him, everything would have been wonderful. His past owners say he is good with kids and I'm sure once he meets them he would be fine. He really does try very hard to be a good boy and is learning the rules of the house quickly.

Somedays I swear I have no idea what I'm doing

We have some urgency in finding either adoptive homes or at the very least foster care. Ace will be joining WCRR tomorrow. No, he's not really a rottweiler. Well maybe there is a little rottie in him but whatever. Here he comes and we will find him a great home.

From what I understand Ace is about 7 months old, house trained, lives with a small dog, is good with kids and sleeps in a crate. He will need someone to teach him basic manners so obedience will be mandatory for this boy. He is already neutered and up to date on his shot.

While I'm sure we will love having this young boy here, his spot is desperately needed for another young rottie boy that currently has mange and is in a shelter. From all accounts Ace will be an easy fit in almost any home.

Dogs dogs everywhere

And not enough foster homes.
Again I have dogs lined up to come into care but no where to place them. There are young pups and mature dogs just looking for a chance for a new life. And foster homes are the blood that makes rescue works.
A couple of the dogs needing placement are good with other dogs, kids and most likely cats. They would be the perfect house guests for a month or so.
Take Bella for example. Bella had us worried when she was in the shelter. She was growly, hard to get leashed and wouldn't let anyone brush her. She barked and scared everyone away. And because of her behaviour she wasn't getting anyone interested in taking her. Being at the shelter just make it worse.
I got to have a quick visit with Bella this afternoon in her new foster home. She is settling in really nicely. After a few walks down the street, she is managing to be around the traffic. She has found her spot at the foot of Shannons bed and stays there all night. Shannon gave her a really good brushing yesterday and Bella found the joy of toys. Those were perhaps the first time she has gotten to do those things.
Miss Bella is bonding quickly to Shannon. When I walked in she was glad to see me and even happier to see the bully stick I brought. Off she ran with it in her mouth. But every few minutes she would come back to Shannon as if to say, is this really ok? She has gotten to meet some people and found out they aren't all bad. This is a totally different dog then I saw at the shelter and this is exactly what fostering is about. Letting the dog know that it is safe and loved and that it can start to be a dog. Even if Bella isn't the right dog for Shannon, she is the perfect dog for someone. Yes she is still scared. Yes she is still unsure of her surroundings but she is coming out of her shell and we will soon see the beautiful girl that she has the ability to be.
So, if your thinking that you just might like to try this fostering thing, drop us a line. Young dogs, mature dogs, females, males, we have them waiting just for you.

Another busy day in Rescue

Little did I know when I started this just how busy I would get and just how stressful rescue was.
But today was one of those days that makes it all worth while. Big Rhonda's adoption was finalized today. Her family loves her so much. I was excited to see her again, but she only had eyes for Alison and Damon. And that is just the way its suppose to be.
Then it was off to Richmond to pickup Shannon and to get Bella sprung from the Delta Community Animal Shelter. They are a great bunch at the shelter but Bella really really needed to be out of there and in a home.
Bella really didn't want to get in the car. I'm not sure why, but she had to be pushed in. And for the whole drive, she had her head over the barrier needing reassurance that everything was going to be ok. When we finally got her back to Shannon's she was hesitant to go inside but once inside she was eager to check everything out. My last sight of her was her sitting infront of her new foster/adoptive mom begging for more attention. I'm really hoping that Bella steals Shannons heart. Shannon lost her rottie boy 4 months ago and while her heart still hurts from that, she was more then ready to open her little home and her big heart to a rottie girl in need.

WCRR meets Cookie

Have you ever seen a more worried looking dog. This is cookie. And yes she is shy and most likely worried.

Cookie has not had the best life but is currently at Richmond Animal Protection Society and is now safe. But she needs a home. She needs a home where she will be treated like family. One that will show her love, affection, and safety. One that will never tie her up outside again, one that will never hurt her again and one that will give her the time she needs to show how much love she has to give.

I got to spend a little bit of time with Cookie and she loves what she is named for. She will sit, do down, wait (only for a minute though), and shake a paw for a cookie. It didn't really matter to her if it was some dry old thing or one of the valued homemade liver brownies. Its all the same to her.

What I did see though was one scared dog. On our short walk she kept trying to dodge traffic, kept away from people and make sure that no one would go near her. Don't get me wrong, it isn't as if she was jumping out of her skin, but it was very easy to see how frightened she is.

Cookie doesn't need to come to West Coast Rottweiler Rescue. She is safe and loved there, but she does need her own place. She hasn't been socialized much so most likely she should be an only dog. Maybe with some time and work, she could come around but for now a place of her own with her own family would suit this gal just fine. If you think you could offer her all that she needs, please contact RAPS directly. I know they would love to find Cookie a warm bed away from the shelter RAPS.shelter@telus.net

Bella is now safe.

Its been a really stressful time and I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but with a little help we have found the perfect placement for this girl. I begged and pleaded and asked everyone to crosspost her story and a few people stepped up to the plate and offered to help her.
Bella will be going out on a foster to adopt placement on Sunday. Shannon is going to be her new mom and I know she will treat Bella with all the kindness and love that she needs. Many thanks go out to Trojan Rottweiler and Ann for finding Shannon for Bella. This just goes to show me that all I have to do is have faith that we can help find the right home for the right dog.

Bella, Bella, Bella

This poor girl really isn't doing well in the shelter. She needs out fast or things could go wrong for her.

Bella is a 5 - 6 yr old rottie that just needs another chance at life. The past couple of months have not been kind to this sweetie. Her and her family lost absolutely everything in a fire not long ago. As devastating as this was, it then got much worse. One of her owners had a stroke.

It became clear that there was no way for them to handle such a big girl and while they boarded her for awhile in the hopes of finding her a home, the cost just became too much and they had to surrender her to the shelter. This broke both their hearts and Bella's.

Bella is afraid. Her home and family have been taken away from her, she is in a strange place with strange dogs and strange people and she isn't sure how to handle this. And when a dog is afraid, they do growl. And that's what this girl is starting to do.

Once out of the kennel, she settles and becomes calmer but there are still things that frighten her. She doesn't like to have her collar touched, shy's away from people if they try to grab her but as most rottweilers, she is pretty food motivated and the way to her heart and head is thru her stomach. Bella will need someone that understand the breed, that is calm and gentle but firm. In short, she needs what every good rottweiler needs, love and leadership.

West Coast Rottweiler Rescue will pay for her spay, any medical needs she has, food if necessary and help with training and support.

If you can help us help this poor girl, please email us at information@westcoastrottweilerrescue.com and we will send out a foster application right away.

WCRR goes to the fair

West Coast Rottweiler Rescue is going to be at the Surrey Museum for their annual Easter Fair on March 22nd, 2008 in Cloverdale B.C. Thanks so much to TnT Shar Pei Rescue for sharing their table. http://www.tntsharpeirescue.com
While we are limited in space as to what we can show and what we can sell, I do know this. For those that love them (actually I mean those that have dogs that love them) I will be selling my almost world famous liver brownies. We will also have some brochures available about who we are and what we can do. And with any luck, I hope we can get a basket or two donated for a small raffle.
So once again, I come begging, collar in hand, for donations for a raffle basket or two. Coffees, teas, etc, always do well as do bath products and of course some stuff for the children. If anyone has any ideas for this sort of fundraising let me know. We are all still pretty new to this type of thing and can use all the suggestions and help offered.

We need an experienced foster home

WCRR has been asked to take in a 5 yr old rottie female. She is currently in a shelter here in the lower mainland. Poor Bella is frightened and not showing well in the kennel. She will need someone that has rottie experience, has the time to show her that humans will not hurt her and that we can be trusted. Bella will require a quiet home with no children, and although she has lived with another dog, can be reactive when meeting them. We have no idea how she is with cats. The foster home must be able to keep her until she settles and this may take a couple of months.
Of course WCRR will pay for any vet bills, all her food and we will be there to help you with the transition. If you can give Bella a safe place to land, please let us know as soon as possible.

Rhonda is testing out a new home

The big girl is gone on a foster to adopt contract. We are really really hoping that she plays nice with all the other dogs there cause this home is just right for her. It is the kind of home that every senior dog deserves. Filled with love, care, and in Rhonda's case, some great exercise.
Senior dogs can be hard to place only because most people are afraid of losing their heart to a dog that could leave them soon. But for those lucky people that understand the love of a senior animal, well, nothing is quite like it.
Rhonda's new home has almost no stairs, other dogs to keep her company, humans that will care for her no matter what comes along, and even horses and cats. We will know in a couple of weeks if this works out for her but until then, her foster spot must remain empty.
To her new family, I'm sorry if she gets up really early. I may have forgotten to mention that. Me, I got to sleep in today and all is good. But I do miss the old girl and once again, there is that small wound on my heart as another dog leaves this home.

Rhonda is settling in nicely

So Big Rhonda seems to be finding her place in our family. She was restless the first couple of days, not seeming to know where to be, especially at night. She would come upstairs, but then go back down. We have dog beds all over the house and it was up to her to figure out where she was most comfortable. Well, the bedroom seems to be the place. As soon as I tell her its bedtime, off she goes.
Rhonda is also starting to take her direction from Sashka. This isn't always a good thing. Sash has plenty of pretty bad habits and Rhonda (I'm assuming) figures thats how we act in this family. Case in point. Sashka is pretty reactive on leash. If she sees another dog, she can charge and bark and act like an idiot. Well, yesterday Rhonda decided thats how we do things and became an idiot like Sash. As soon as she saw the neighbours dog, she started barking and growling.
Poor Rhonda. LOL. She is so eager to please that when she is corrected she looks at you like you have broken her old heart. But this isn't who she is and I have to nip this in the bud right away. Perhaps I will have to walk the dogs separately for the next little while.
And tomorrow will be another big day for Rhonda. First thing in the morning we are off to see Dr. Harris at Trenant Park Pet Clinic for a checkup and some blood work. Then Rhonda has to help me do a homevisit for another rescue, and finally we are going to meet some new wonderful people. By the time she gets home in the evening, she will be one tired old puppy.

things we have learned about Rhonda

I got a call a couple of days ago from a nice man that knew Rhonda and what her life was like for the last 5 or so years.
Rhonda lived on a farm and her owner died of a heart attack. she hadn't always lived with him, but she had spent a good portion of her life on the same farm. As the farm changed owners, so did Rhonda. And this girl has seen it all
Rhonda has known kindness and love. She has lived inside and outside. She has known what is it to be petted and to be kicked. She has known the luxury of a bed and the hardship of sleeping outside with no shelter.
It really amazes me how after all these different kinds of treatments, Rhonda still loves people. She is eager to greet them on the street, loves to go to the local gas station for pets and treats, and even greets other dogs like old friends.
Rhonda got a much needed bath today. I don't like to push the dogs too much at first so we waited until we could get her out in the sun and hooked the hose up to the kitchen sink. I don't think many people have bathed this girl cause she kept trying to get away, but it was way over due and she was getting a good scrubbing.
It took 3 shampoo's before she was clean. It also took over an hour of just scrubbing her back legs to get all the mats out. She is now like a new shiny penny. All pretty and clean and smelling sweet.
One of the things this nice man told me about Rhonda is that she is the gentlest dog he has ever known. She wouldn't hurt any thing or anyone. And she is now coming forward to ask for attention.
When new dogs come into our home, it can be stressful for everyone. I like to try all sorts of stuff with them. Usually, I get a couple of growls or something to let me know that I have gone far enough. But Rhonda has never told me this. She will quietly let me touch all her feet, run my hands over every part of her body and clean her ears no problem. there are no issues around food, toys or anything else.
Even little Sashka is starting to look towards Rhonda with affection. As we walked this morning Sash leaned over and gave her a quick little kiss.