Helping the black and tan where we can

Are there too many

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:29:00 +0000

We have so many dogs. Maybe not by others standards, but more than we have ever had before.

The longest staying on is Sasha. What an amazing girl she has turned out to be. She really just needed someone to stand up and take a leadership role. She is loving her new foster home and they apparently really like her. She needs very little really. Some gentle walks some play time and some love. All of it easy to provide.
The most expensive of course is Sadie. I really have to get Sadie’s stuff update on the website. She has all of us kinda worried. Nothing seems to be showing up with the tests we have done on her skin. She is still itchy, is still scratching herself raw if she is allowed to. Her vet care just keeps rising and we won’t even talk about how much it costs to feed a dog raw buffalo meat. But she is so worth it. Her foster family really enjoys her personality, the fact that there are really no negative behavioral problems. I pray that the raffle brings in some much needed money. We would never allow a dog to go without because of cost, but it is still very very worrying.
Our newest one is Belle. Again an older girl. But again, so very very deserving. She was adopted from the Vancouver Animal Shelter in the spring of this year. But for reasons that I certainly don’t understand her new owners just didn’t want her any longer. Yes, without a consistent schedule, she does leak a little when she stands up. But having a couple of short extra walks a day certainly helps that. And if she needs it, there is medication that is pretty darn cheap. Her knees are shot. The ligaments are torn and really there isn’t much to do at this point other than make sure her weight stays good, her exercise is gentle and she gets regular supplements to help.
And in the wings is Herbie. Still after all these months, no decision is made on his case. He stays in limbo, not belonging to the rescue, not belonging to us, not being able to be placed in a proper forever home. Herbie has bonded so deeply with us that I fear that his heart will be broken when the time comes for him to move. He will need that very special home. One that can understand his fears and help him to adjust. He has come such a long way. He loves when we have visitors now. He loves when others stop to pet him. And he is now comfortable enough to allow people to do just that.
And then there is good and bad news. The good news is that I got to see Rhonda again. She has lost her leg to cancer but has made an amazing recovery. And what was more amazing was that she actually remembered me. When I walked into the house, she gave that whoo, whoo that said, “I remember you Treat Lady”. Ok, maybe she was just hoping for some liver brownies but whatever. I was thrilled to see her. And the bad news. WCRR is broke. When we only did one dog at a time, the money we raised was enough. But, we are now getting know, and more dogs are coming into care. But the economy is bad. People don’t have the money to donate that they used to have. We don’t owe any money, but there is very little in the bank these days. Without help from others, I’m not sure how long we can go on this way

We have been so busy

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:06:00 +0000

that there literally has been no time to post here or anywhere for that matter.
Sadie is doing well. she is still very very thin but we think its because her diet is now made up of raw buffalo. Its horribly expensive, and a very lean meat. Hence the weight problem. she is still having outbreaks but is looking amazing. Her coat is coming back and it is glossy and beautiful. A huge thank you to her foster mom for taking such good care of this dog. Baths every couple of days, the special diet, the vet visits. None of it is easy. And I am forever grateful for her and her wonderful husband stepping up to the plate for the girl.
And then there is Sasha. Her foster mom has been managing to keep Sasha and her own dogs apart. Sasha is not an easy girl to foster. the fact that she won't tolerate other pets makes it a full time job to foster her. She has been living with her foster mom for months now and I had almost given up hope of every finding just that right home. But there is a home for every dog and Sasha is meeting 2 very nice people that are looking to foster her and maybe she will win their hearts over.
Zeke has been adopted. When he went into foster care, I promised that the folks taking care of him that they could not adopt. LOL Well, I lied. Chanone and Scott fell in love with the little bugger and he is now part of their pack. And what a change he has gone thru. He is a loving happy boy that gets along with everyone. He no longer tries to bite or throw temper tantrums when he doesn't get his own way. Every puppy, especially rottweiler puppies need that structure and guideline to live by.
Herbie the love bug still lives in limbo. The court cases just keep going on and on. Its hard for all of us. He has bonded so deeply and is now so comfortable in our home that it will be hard on him to move to another place. But move he must. And I'm torn. Do I place him in another foster home or do I keep him here. The court cases may go on for another year. And who knows how it will all turn out.
There are dogs waiting in the wings to come in. It seems there are always dogs waiting. And I have to make decisions on who I can take and who I can't. Its like deciding who lives and who dies. I hate being the one to make that decision. And it doesn't help when there are other rescues emailing me saying I "should" take this dog and not that one. But they aren't the ones living in my skin. They aren't the ones that have to listen to the voice of my heart.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Its been over a month since I posted. the time has flown so quickly, the summer is over, the nights get colder and rescue continues on.
there has been alot going on in WCRR. First up is Sadie.
This girl lived with someone. They say they found her as a stray. maybe they did. Maybe they didn't. We won't ever know for sure. But Sadies CURRENT owners, the ones she lived with for over 7 months, the ones she thought she belonged to, couldn't/wouldn't take care of her. I heard about Sadie in an email way back in March of this year. Her owner called me to ask some advice. I told her what I thought might be going on, explained that we had no room in rescue for another dog but this woman swore that she already loved her and would care for her the best she could.
Then she emailed me again a few weeks later. Sadie was still very thin, wasn't eating properly and was very itchy. I explained that we still couldn't take her in but because she was a stray I would try to help with some vet bills. So I set up a time to go to Chilliwack to meet Sadie. I got there at the agreed time but no one was there. I waited outside the address she had given me for over an hour. But still no luck so home I went. The woman called again, apologized said something came up and could we try again. Yup, if the dog needs help, we are going to at least give it a try. So another appointment was made, another trip to Chilliwack and again, no one home. I admit, I was a little pee'd off. I wouldn't answer emails or phone calls. I figured the whole thing was a scam. Then in early Aug I got another email saying Sadie was now very sick and could I please help her. I had someone that lived in Chilliwack go meet her and it was heartbreaking. Sadie had lost so much of her fur, she was painfully thin, but still maintained that wonderful temperament we see in rotties. Arrangements were made for her owner to take Sadie into our vet right away. Kevin as per usual stepped up to the plate. A full exam, showed Sadie had long term skin lesions, most likely from either food or flea allergies. she was treated for fleas, given antibiotics, shampoo's and more flea meds. Another appointment was made for Sept to see if there was much improvement. But before that appointment happened, Sadies owner phoned to say she was much worse and had stopped eating. She said that she thought Sadie needed to be put down. That it wasn't fair for her to suffer like that. After much discussion with Kevin, we asked if Sadie could spend 1 night at the clinic to see if we could get her turned around again. the owner agreed and left poor Sadie with Kevin. As soon as she left Kevin got Sadie to eat some canned food and then she gobbled down a bunch of kibble. There was nothing wrong with this girls appetite.
The next day I called the woman to tell her Sadie could come home. But she said she was busy and couldn't make it that day. I thought there was something funny going on and tried to call her later. I couldn't reach her so I sent her an email. When there was no answer to the email on the second day, I tried phoning again and then tracked down her boyfriends phone number. The bottom line is this woman had gone to Las Vegas and didn't want Sadie back. How absolutely heartbreaking for this dog.
it has been a couple of weeks that Sadie has been with us. Her foster home is taking such good care of this sweet girl. She is eating, being bathed on a regular basis. She lives in a home free of fleas and is no longer full of scabs or has greasy, smelly fur. Sadie will take time to recover but she will be fine. And I know we will locate the home for her she so much deserves.
And then there is Herbie
His name used to be Surby, then the shelter called him Curby but we named him Herbie cause he's a love bug. We have been fostering for the spca while there was a cruelty case going on. I got the call today that the case has been settled and the spca now has custody of all the animals. And then I was asked if I wanted to adopt Herbie. I had always assumed that they would release him to rescue once the case was over. I would LOVE to adopt this boy. But I can't. My life isn't my own. Our lives are dedicated to West Coast Rottweiler Rescue and we can't adopt another dog without putting the whole rescue in jeopardy. There is a limit on how many dogs can live in this home. But I want Herbie to be a part of WCRR. I want us to always be there for him. I want to know where he lives, that he is happy and safe and warm and loved. I'll admit, "I" need that.
So much of our hearts are put into the dogs we house. We not only give them food and shelter we give them a piece of our souls. To do less than that would be unfair. And yes our hearts break when they leave. But while they may move on to a different location, they are always apart of our rescue. Please SPCA, let Herbie/Curby/Surby, whatever you want to call him, stay with us. please

Death row dogs and puppies

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:34:00 +0000

Sometimes they have lots in common. In the last couple of weeks we have taken in both.
I got the call about Sasha months ago. She was in a shelter but we thought she was safe. Like so many poor dogs, Sasha was going crazy in the shelter. It doesn’t matter how good the shelter is, no dog should be there for that long. Sasha started to act out and I got the call ever rescue dreads. Sasha was in desperate need of getting out of there. She had growled and snapped at people and it was decided that she could not be adopted if she was displaying those traits. I tried and tried but I couldn’t find a foster home for her. While I was in Kelowna they told me she was going to be euthanized. I sat on the steps of the Noah’s Wish shelter crying in frustration. Days later when I returned things were no better. But as sometimes happens an angel appeared. Not one with wings or a glowing face, but a tiny lady that had opened her heart to tough dogs before and was more than willing to give this girl a chance. And it was only because of other angels in the background that we found her.
Sasha has been in her foster home for awhile now and while she is still settling in, she is showing that she can be a lovable dog. She goes to people quickly for pets and is one of those rottie (crosses) that is a leaner. She would do better in a hope with no other pets but rather someone that can show leadership and fairness. Someone that loves the older ones and has some knowledge about living with this breed.
And then there was the pup. If you know me at all you know I don’t really care for pups. And this one had had the worst start of any of them. No, he wasn’t beaten, starved, or abused. But worse for him, he was allowed to act out in any way that he wanted to. No one would or could stand up to him and he had started to bite. Not your cute little puppy manner, but as a bully intent on showing the world how tough he was. Zeke was 5 months old and hell bent on gaining his desires anyway that he could. And again, another angel appeared. This time in the shape of an friend that had the training, patience and ability to show Zeke that life as a pack member instead of the head dog was a better way to live. Zeke is a work in progress. But progressing he is. And like Sasha, he needs a firm leader who will stand their ground and not allow him to fall back into his old ways.
Both these dogs have the same problem. Whoever owned them failed them. Both these dogs could have lost their lives had angels not stepped into help. Sasha only had a short while. Zeke, well he may be a puppy right now, but he is quickly growing and a dog that has no boundaries is a dangerous animal.
I will be forever in the debt of the angels that have helped us help them.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:32:00 +0000

We have a 5 yr old male staying with us. I can’t tell you about his circumstances, his name, or show you pictures cause right now, he doesn’t belong to us. But I will share what life is like with a frightened 90 lb Rottweiler.
It’s sad most days. Things that we usually take for granted scare this boy. He isn’t aggressive at all, but rather trys to run and hide. Sounds like a dishwasher or washing machine used to make him either hit the floor, or become so stressed that he would pant and pace for the longest time. Flags waving, things blowing in the wind, all of these startle and stress this boy. And he doesn’t recover quickly.
After being with us for over a month, I still can’t bath him. His fear takes over and he needs to run away. He came to us with very little training and I’m finding it hard to get him to co-operate some days. Its like the fear is a transit thing. One day he will be somewhat ok, the next he is scared out of his mind. Even simple things like opening the plastic containers for our cookies makes him run out of the room
Jim and I were doing some little reno’s in the back yard on the weekend and this poor boy couldn’t stand and watch. It’s like he has never experienced life. Hammering makes him run, cleaning house makes him want to hide, pulling weeds is enough to make him run upstairs and not want to come down again. We will most likely never know this sweet boys history. And it doesn’t really matter I guess. What matters is that he is here and safe for now. And we are going to do everything in our power to make him more confident.
He is a magnificent animal. He is loving to the point of being a pest, always wanting to have your hands on him. We have taught him that his crate is a safe place and he goes there willingly when we have to work but when we are home, he is right by our sides.
I’m hoping that soon he will become part of West Coast Rottweiler Rescue. I pray that the right family will step up for him. He needs so very much to be loved and to be made to feel safe.

No we haven’t gone away

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:35:00 +0000

We are still around and still active.

But I will say losing Bear took the wind out of my sails. And there was another loss right around the same time. Too be very honest, my heart just wasn’t into posting on the blog.
Anyways, back to the dogs. A young boy came into care the same day we lost Bear. I put out a call for a foster home and one showed up right away for him. Usually I would have preferred to have him in our home, but with everything going on, it wasn’t the right time or place.
Laurie took little Harley into her home and kept him till we found just the right placement for him. There were lots of people wanting to adopt him but he needed that special family that would give him everything he deserved. And they did show up. What a wonderful thing to place a young dog in a young family and know they will do everything they can to make him the best dog ever.
We were asked by a local shelter to take in a special case. We have done just that but until all the facts around this dog are settled, I won’t post about him. Suffice to say that the mystery man will be seen around pretty soon I hope.
Earlier this month we celebrated a very special day. Our little min am esk/pap cross turned 10 yrs old. Jim thought we should post about her because without her, there would be no Rottweiler Rescue.

Sashka came to us when she was about 1 ½. I knew nothing about rescue, I only knew that I wanted a dog and Jim said it had to be small. LOL. Sashka was advertised in the buy and sell. The ad said she was a lovely young dog with great manners, well socialized, good with kids, yada, yada, yada. The only reason they were looking for a home for her was allergies. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. The woman said she would bring the dog down on her next trip to the coast and we meet in a MacDonald’s parking lot. My first sight of Sash was her being dragged out of a crate that she had spent 10 hrs in with a very large Bassett hound. She was so very dirty and scared out of her mind. She cowered and shook and would not look at anyone. If I had been smart I would have turned around and walked away. But………………… I loaded her in the car and took her home.
Sashka was frightened by everything and everyone. She was of course, not housetrained at all. Traffic scared her, a leash was clearly not something she had ever experienced, and people made her run in the opposite direction. Strange dogs were even worse. Either she charged at them barking or she tried to run. The only way to comfort her seemed to be to sit and pet her. And only I could do that. She would not go to him willingly for almost 6 months.

Sashka could also not stand to be by herself for any length of time. I have the most wonderful neighbors but even they became tired of listening to her bark all day long. We tried more exercise but that didn’t seem to help. I took her to a daycare but she kept getting loose. She was just too fearful to be anywhere that I wasn’t. After talking to a dear friend, we decided to try fostering. We went to our local spca and told them we would like to help an older calm dog. I was very upfront with them about what I could and couldn’t manage. LOL
They first introduced us to a Dalmatian. That introduction didn’t go very well. LOL Both dogs charged at each other trying to kill one another. Next came a sweet older German shepherd cross. Nope, that didn’t go well either. Seems Sashka kept charging and barking and certainly not showing her best side. The shelter staff asked if they could try one more and I said sure. What did I have to loose.
Out came one of the largest and oldest Rottweiler’s I had ever seen. This was not a breed I knew anything about nor was it a breed I really wanted to learn about. I had bought into all the hype about how viscous they were and how they would turn on us one day. I was shaking my head no even before they got up to the playground. But Sash had a different idea. The barking and charging weren’t as intense. And this old boy just ignored her. She settled quickly and the shelter attendant convinced me we should put them in the same run.
While I watched closely, Sashka approached this old smelly boy, sniffed him quickly and walked away. He followed her, gave her one sniff and then went and lied down. Sashka went to him again and after a moment she licked his grey muzzle and lied down next to him.
And so began our journey. Old Man Luke was a wonderful example of a well tempered Rottweiler. He was patient, loving with those he knew, stoic, and a clown. We knew his age was 12 because he had been in so many shelters and we could trace his tattoo. While his journey with us only lasted about 18 months, he showed me what it was to be loved by a rottie.
Sashka is still my little princess. I love her to bits. And I will be forever grateful that she introduced me to this wonderful breed.
In honor of her 10th birthday we have decided that when people ask what breed she is we are going to tell people she is a “rare northern miniature longhaired bi-colored Rottweiler. Her heart is certainly big enough

Mr. Bear:

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:59:00 +0000

You were the saddest looking dog that I had ever seen. The shelter was no place for you and they couldn’t let you stay there. I had promised Jim at least a couple of weeks off before the next foster was to come in, but you couldn’t wait. And I couldn’t let you. So home you came with me.

Right from the start we knew our hearts were in big trouble. You didn’t care about much except food and being warm. You were hesitant to come for attention, almost as if you didn’t trust that it was all real. But once you knew it was real, you were an absolute love bug, always looking for attention, playing the clown and looking at us with such sweet old eyes.
We tried to find out exactly what was wrong with you but both Kevin and the neurologist both said that whatever it was, it most likely couldn’t be fixed. We didn’t want to keep putting you thru test after test and you weren’t in pain so we left you alone. Instead we tried to make your life as much fun as possible. It took trying a couple of things but swimming was your fav. Every week as we drove out to the pool, you would get more and more excited the closer we got.
I miss you already. I miss you welcoming me at the door with that silly dirty yellow duck, I miss stumbling over you in the kitchen at dinner time, I miss that sweet look on your face. I miss the little nibbles on my ear. I even miss having to wipe the food off your nose after you had eaten.
5 months was not long enough. Rest sweetly old man.

What a month we have had.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:20:00 +0000

First a Bear update. I really wish this boy could talk. We need to know what it is that he needs. He continues to eat well. Sometimes too well. And I’m not sure but I think that Bear and Sashka are in cahoots. Bear has started to become a thief. First it was the treats in a closet. Not once, not twice but 4 times. All the treats are in boxes hidden away but somehow he has managed to dig around till he finds them. And in the process he usually chews up something else. Then it was the bacon bits. How he managed to get them off the centre of the table is beyond me. He shouldn’t be able to reach that far. And finally, the eggs. I came home to find the destroyed egg carton and 2 tiny tiny pieces of shell. No mess from the yolk, no stickiness, just the destruction. “Someone” left the carton with 4 eggs on the kitchen counter. I tried to get Bear to take some cheese off the counter but he couldn’t reach it. So how did he get the eggs? Personally I think Sashka is helping him. So his appetite is good. But his health continues to mystify me. Some days I can get that slow old dog to actually run. But other days, it seems like he almost can’t stand. I really wish the old guy would let me know exactly what he wants. We would do almost anything to help him.

And West Coast Rottweiler Rescue welcomes in George. He is a sweet 2 yr old boy from a reserve on Vancouver Island. He is so unsure of city life. All the activity makes him kinda nervous but he is quick to recover. George is with our new foster family and they are already in love with this boy. He is very good with the resident female rottie and even plays nicely with the resident chihuahua. He has been to the local dog park and had a blast. George is paying way too much attention to the cat but is starting to learn not to chase. Our wish for George would be to find a family with another dog that will show George all he needs to know. George would be suited to an active lifestyle and even though he knows some commands, obedience classes are needed to guide him to be the best that he can be.

So that’s the good news. Now I am going to rant.

WCRR now has a policy that we will NOT take owner surrender dogs. And now it is written in stone. And here are the reasons why.
Ruby. He owners contacted us asking that we take her. I said no, I don’t have the room. After talking to them and listening to Ruby’s owner cry about how they so wanted to keep her but couldn’t find a place to live, I said I would post her on a rescue site to see if anyone else could help. And someone did. Waverlea stepped up to the plate and offered to take Ruby in until her family could change their living conditions. And WCRR agreed to help with any vet bills should we be needed. We told Ruby’s owners that we needed paperwork stating we had permission to care for her. A plan was set out, and soon folks had leads on homes for Ruby’s owners. But suddenly they wouldn’t return our calls or answer our emails. It was like they had forgotten all about this sweet old girl. Finally after several weeks I sent them an email informing them that because we had no paperwork saying we were caring for Ruby we would have to take Ruby to the spca and declare her an abandoned animal. Finally they sent us a surrender form and Ruby became a member of West Coast Rottweiler Rescue. And no sooner had that been done, then Ruby started to show signs of illness. Waverlea was wonderful and continued to care for Ruby. There really isn’t much in life that is harder than giving your heart to a dog that you know will die soon. Just a few short months after Waverlea promised to care for Ruby she had to let her go. Today our hearts break as Waverlea did the right thing and held Ruby one last time. They say that dogs live in the now and I hope that is true. I hope that Ruby didn’t remember that those other people ran away when she needed them the most. I pray that the only thing she knew was Waverlea loved her.

And then there was Bailey. Bailey was a young girl. Her owner told me that she was moving to South America and couldn’t take her girl. It was a sad sad story and again, I fell for it and tried to help. I knew of a nice man that had lost his rottie boy and was looking to bring another dog into his life. Geoff was patient and wanted to wait for just the right dog. He wasn’t up for adopting an older dog, only because his heart truly broke when he lost his boy. So this seemed like a good match. Bailey was young (3 yrs old) and her owner said there were no health problems. But there must have been something. 2 weeks after coming to Geoff and his wife, Bailey stopped eating. She was taken to the vets, tests were done, but no one could pinpoint anything. Just a short 8 weeks after stealing Geoff’s heart, Bailey started to hemorrhage and had to be put down. Again, a wonderful dog, abandoned by those she trusted and left with strangers who opened their hearts only to have it broken.

These dogs deserved to be with their families. The ones they lived with and loved for years. The ones that they trusted. But instead, both these dogs were left behind. Both with medical problems that were not disclosed.

When we started West Coast Rottweiler Rescue we decided that we would focus on shelter dogs. Those dogs that, without our help, would most likely lose their lives. Those are the ones that need our help. Dogs like Ruby and Bailey had owners. Those owners wouldn’t take their dogs to a shelter. Oh noooooooooooo, they apparently loved those dogs too much for that. But instead they dumped those dogs trusting that someone else would do the right thing. Well folks, I’m sorry but shame on you. You should have been the ones to help them. You should have been the ones to hold them as they passed. And you should have been honest with us. Next time please get yourself a stuff animal.
Rant finished

All About Bear

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:12:00 +0000

I have been remiss in updating this blog about Bear. He continues to do really well and while he isn’t getting any stronger, he doesn’t seem to be getting any weaker.
Bear loves people. And he has bonded very strongly to both Jim and I. He insists on following me everywhere and does show signs of separation anxiety when I leave. It only consists of whining for a short time but it is something to watch for.
Mr. Bear got his first visit to a dog park. For the most part it went well. When he was in the main area he greeted all the dogs well. It was only once he had been there awhile and was walking thru the trails that he ran into problems. Both times it was with young unneutered males. Perhaps he didn’t appreciate them coming up to him in such a bouncy manner. Perhaps he was tired from all the exercise (20 minutes). Perhaps he will never like unneutered males. But the dog park is not a place to bring Bear on a regular basis. He simply can not keep up to the other dogs and becomes tired quickly.
Bear’s health continues to be a mystery to us. While there are tests we could do, no matter what the results are, the outlook is dim. None of what we “think” is going on could be changed. And sedating him again worries me. He had a hard time recovering from the sedation last time we x-rayed his hips.
This boy proves time and time again that he has a wonderful temperament. With all the tests we have done, all the poking and prodding by strangers, he has always just stood by and let us do what we had to. He is great with Sashka and she is clearly taken with him. He is calm when people come over, greets them at the door and quickly settles with no problems. He certainly isn’t a guard dog but few people would chance walking in unannounced simply because of his size. Bear would do well in almost any type of home. But his new family would need to be aware of his limitations. Stairs will soon become a problem, slippery floors are a hazard for him and his weight must be watched. And Bear must be surrounded by plush squeaky toys. While he loves us, adores Sashka, really likes visitors, his favorite thing in the whole world is his toys. Bear will surround his dog bed with the toys he loves the most. He doesn’t destroy them, but rather, chews gently on them, making them his own.
We feed our animals a raw diet and because he is doing so well on this, I would like to see it continue. Bear is on supplements such as Salmon Oil and glucosamine. Treats are kept to a minimum in order to control his weight and short walks a couple of times a day is all this boy wants. As much as we love having Bear with us, he can certainly go into an adoption or foster home. If having a gentle quiet senior spending his time lying at your feet and enjoying your company is what you are looking for please let us know.

A sad anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:13:00 +0000

January 4, 2001 was the day we lost our first Rottweiler. Old Man Luke was the first Rottweiler that ever lived with us. And here is his story.
Sashka had lived with us for about 6 months. Every time we left the house, Sashka barked, howled, cried, pee’d and pooped in the house. Nothing helped her. I contacted the shelter in Delta about fostering a dog and they said, bring Sash out and let her meet a couple of the older dogs they had in care.
The first one was a Dalmatian. This guy was spun out and Sashka hated him. Then came out a shepherd. We couldn’t even get them in the same run. Then they brought out this big old Rottweiler. My first reaction was NO WAY!!!! I was scared of rotties. All I had ever heard about them was the bad stuff. They were people eaters. They would kill my little dog. Rottweilers would turn on you with no notice. They could not be trusted.
The shelter girls told me to trust them. Luke was calm and good natured. We let the dogs sniff thru the runs and for once Sashka was pretty calm. Then we put them in the runs together. After only a moment of sniffing, Luke went and lay down. Sashka went to him, gently licked his face and sat next to him. The bond was that quick. And we brought him home to foster.
Old Man Luke was 12 when we brought him home. He had been thru 5 homes that we were able to trace thru his tattoo. He certainly wasn’t the prettiest example of a Rottweiler. And he wasn’t always the nicest dog but he showed me a side of rottweilers that I had never imagined. Luke loved unconditionally. He loved Jim and I and he adored Sashka. He was protective but was willing to stand back and let us handle any situation. He was amazing with children but standoffish with adults. Some dogs he liked and some he didn’t but he was always appropriate when telling them off.
We eventually adopted Old Man Luke so we could provide the kind of care we thought he needed. Lots of love, good food and gentle exercise and he started to bloom. There was nothing he liked better than a good game of tug. And of course, food. He would eat anything anytime. There were things he didn’t like. He hated walking in the rain and would actually just lie down so you couldn’t get him to go any further unless you were turning towards home.
Luke lived with us for a year and a half before he let me know that he had had enough. On January 4, 2001, we held him gently while our vet helped him pass.
Old Man Luke taught me so much about this wonderful breed. And since that time there has never been another breed that we have wanted to share our life with. To this day, Sashka tends to dislike most dogs but bring a well mannered Rottweiler into our home and she thrives. We have always looked for the rotties that would have a hard time finding a home. The older ones, the ones with physical challenges, the ones no one wanted. Old Man Luke was the first and without him teaching me about this breed, WCRR would most likely not exist.
Run free my dear friend. We will meet again

Why training is so important.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:59:00 +0000

We all love our animals. We all trust them. We all want what is best for them. But love and trust is never enough.
Dogs are hunters. It is in their genes. Even my sweet little diva dog Sashka has the urge to hunt. Last summer when we were at the lake and sitting around the camp fire, Sashka spotted a mouse. She chased it, cornered it, and was going to kill it if I hadn’t stepped in. But Sashka and I have gone thru training and when I say “Leave It!” you better believe she understands. But like any dog, if I don’t watch she is likely to try again.
So one of our adopters called this morning quite upset. The dog she adopted had killed a chicken and she wanted to know what she could do to make sure it never happened again. Training, training, training. I can’t impress enough that ALL dogs need training. Not just one set of puppy classes, but ongoing training. They are never too young or too old. And until you can be sure that that dog is not going to harm another animal, please supervise. No. Let me rephrase that. YOU MUST SUPERVISE.
This wasn’t the dog’s fault. This was the fault of humans. When you adopt a young animal, you are getting a clean slate. YOU get to decide how that dog will live, what experiences it will have and how its life will unfold. This isn’t an undertaking that anyone should take lightly. You are responsible for a life. And when something like this happens, when a young dog kills another animal, be it a mouse, a chicken, a cat, dog or human, WE as pet owners are responsible.

Why we say no

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:43:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:22:00 +0000

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.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:03:00 +0000

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:

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:47:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:01:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:34:00 +0000

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.

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:27:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:34:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:46:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:38:00 +0000

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;

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:56:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:14:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (I have an opinion too) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:36:00 +0000

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