Miss Alli’s Blog

Today included taking Miss Bonnibelle to the vet for her 2nd skin scrape. We said big prayers on the way that she’d have no live mites…and she had none! Yipee!!! This is wonderful news!  We will continue her medication for another 4wks, but after that we should be able to spay her and find her a fanTABulous home. She has also gained weight and is up to 16.5lbs, which was good news, as well. She’ll need just a couple more to be perfect.

All in all, doc said she looked wonderful and everyone ooooh’d and ahhhh’d over her.  She was terrified, poor thing, but she did very well and was brave for her skin scrape. Everyone was excited that she had no more mites, so they all told her how beautiful she looked!

I am still behind on updating the website, but here’s a photo of the pretty girl today at the vet (11wks after coming into rescue). Will post the many more I have soon, I promise!  Isn’t she a cutie patootie??

I’m a bit behind on the story of Mr. Jingles (surely you jest!), but Mr Jingles is a feral cat that Jonathan, the Miss Alli’s VP, has been working with for around a year. He’s a very handsome black tabby that slowly gained trust in Jonathan, and became very affectionate toward him. After a life of being a stray tomcat, it was nice to hear he’d grown so much!

Unfortunately, Jonathan found that Mr. Jingles had a swollen face that was even affecting his eye. Poor fella was obviously in much pain, so Jonathan spent 2 hours one morning trying to get him into a crate so that we could get him to the vet. He finally succeeded and rushed him to the doctor prior to squealing his tires on the way to work. A not so happy Mr. Jingles ultimately found himself in a room full of strangers and utterly terrified, literally climbing the walls. It was sad to see him so afraid, but we simply needed to take care of his abscess.

Doc treated the abscess and Mr. Jingles went home and rested in a confined area. It was difficult for him since he’d always been a tomcat, but it was necessary so his wound would heal. We all made sure he was pet daily and baby talked. We took him back for a recheck, and he did wonderfully!  He was afraid and trembled, but he did very well…we were all so impressed!  Afterward, we made him a larger area to continue his recovery, and allowed his healing time prior to his neuter. He still doesn’t think much of us, but we’ve certainly been trying.

Yesterday he was neutered, and truthfully… he wasn’t all that happy about it. He’s had a rough few weeks after an abscess, being confined, strange people, and now this neuter, but hopefully now he’ll be on the road to learning that life as a pet can be a lovely thing. It will take some work, but hopefully he’ll come around…I really feel that he will, especially because he was so loving before. Jonathan will continue to work with him, and hopefully he’ll learn to warm up to people so that we can find him a loving home. If anyone is interested in a sweet boy that could use a little extra love, just let us know! He’s awful handsome!

My sweet Arnie…

My sweet Arnie left me for the Rainbow Bridge last night. While I’d watched him closely for the past few days and had my concerns that it was near, after a vet visit showing his perky side and a moment of “chasing” a cat I felt like he was still going strong. Unfortunately, I was incorrect.

Arnie developed diarrhea and vomiting yesterday, which I assumed was from his anti-inflammatory. As a result, I gave him some medication and let him rest. He suddenly became weak, however, his temperature dropped, and his stool became straight blood. So, I rushed him to the Animal Emergency Clinic.

After an exam, the doctor felt it was HGE or Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. While this is normally treated with success, Arnie had several strong negatives working against him: Cancer, Heartworms, and his age. We discussed all of the options and talked about treatment. Unfortunately, she felt that due to his heartworms and heart disease treatment could very possibly put his heart in distress and kill him. She also didn’t know if he would be able to recover due to his illnesses, especially the cancer, and his compromised system. It was even possible that the cancer had moved to his GI tract and was perhaps a part of his current state. Every thing we talked about ended up at a dead end.

I knew in my gut what my decision needed to be. I found myself pausing, however, wondering if there was a chance that he could recover. Would I be negligent in not pursuing treatment? I pondered…then I asked myself if it was any better to put him through a rigorous and miserable treatment to just let him know that someone wanted to try for him…knowing in the end we’d most likely be in the same boat. Would that really be the kind thing to do?

My gut continued to nag me, and after a bit of tugging back and forth, I finally gave in. He was cold, in pain, his breathing was labored and he was exhausted. Both doctors at the clinic felt like it was the right decision and treatment would be risky. So, I pet his head and watched him as the doctor helped him go to sleep. As I did, I noticed that his expression didn’t change. Normally you literally watch them go to sleep…but not Arnie. Arnie’s eyes were already almost closed, and his face was already weary…nothing changed. It was then that I was reassured I’d made the right decision. His strength had left him.

Arnie is now with the others I’ve loved over the years. He has no lumps, no bumps, no arthritic or injury pain, and he can hear without trouble. The cancer is gone and his heartworms have disappeared…he’s vibrant and happy…I just know it.

When Arnie came into rescue my goal was to provide him with love and lessen his pain. Last night I found myself saying “I hope he knew how much I loved him.”  I realized, however, that he’d been following me around the house because he wanted to be close to me. You can’t ask for more love than that. So yes, I suppose I accomplished those goals.

Ultimately, I feel more at peace about Arnie than I probably ever have with a dog because I know how far he’d come in such a short 4 weeks. He’d conquered his fears, found a new life and hopefully forgotten about the past. I also knew he was in pain and wanted to be released. When I stop to think about him, I see his big, soulful eyes looking at me, and I am grateful for our time together. I’m grateful that he was able to leave this world with someone beside him who loved him and wanted him to be happy. I’m grateful I was able to give him the gift of love, a better life, and the gift of freedom.  As a result, he found peace, which allowed me to do so, as well.

If you’ll remember, when I let Rue go to the Rainbow Bridge, I was exhausted, angry and devastated due to all that we’d been through with her Megaesophagus. In my blog post I noted that when I turned on the car the radio played “Home” by Daughtry…I was certain it was Rue speaking to me. I still feel that way.

Last night, about 12:45am, I turned on the car and placed Arnie’s pawprint on the dashboard slot so it’d not risk damage. I put the car in gear to pull out and noticed the song on the radio…

It was “Home” by Daughtry.

Rest in peace my beautiful old man. Thank you for the past month.

I was sitting here at my computer, ready to write a blog post, and I stopped, stared at the laptop and said “Wait…what am I going to write??”  I was thinking…”I have so much to catch up on – must blog!!!” but I am having a difficult time remembering what I”m supposed to update you on. Oops.

So, let’s just go down the line and make it easy….

Honey:

Miss Honey has been in a frustrating battle of the bulge. She’s suffered through many bags of “R/D” (low fat/calorie, high fiber)…although she’s wolfed it down within seconds and has never complained while sitting, staring and expecting her bowl full, so perhaps it’s not exactly “suffering.” Regardless, she’s been trying her best to shed her extra weight around her midriff. Much to our dismay, she continues to waddle.

So, we made a quick trip to the vet for some treats…er…um…bloodwork to check her thyroid. She managed to hang tough during the visit, the needle poke, and the mounds of petting and smooching that smothered her, and even a low fat doggy biscuit or two…such a trooper. We learned that medication would benefit her thyroid levels, so she began her Soloxin that evening. As a result, she is now on Heartguard and Prednisone for those blasted heartworms, forced to eat “healthy” food, and is now on thyroid medication. She’s also been instructed that she can no longer did her hole in the backyard. It’s been a tough ride…but she perseveres….

Will:

Oh, Silly Willy…what am I going to do with you? Well, we’re close to making him a Sanctuary dog. He’s such an incredibly loving and sweet boy, but he has such special needs. I’d love for him to find a home of his very own, being doted on and adored, learning new tricks, as well as being more exposed to the outside world and kind people (even though he could care less about it as long as his mommy is around)…but in 3yrs his fears have interfered with his opportunities. He’s so good to us and so big hearted…hugs and kisses nonstop and happiness galore. We’ll see if in the next little bit the perfect home comes along, but if not, he’ll have a forever home with Miss Alli’s and a permanent rescue in our Sanctuary. We love him and his hundred mile an hour waggle, and without question appreciate his snuggles. He’s such an incredibly good boy…I’d love to beat the individual(s) that embedded so much fear into him.

Bonnibelle and Nadia:

I love, love, LOVE this photo because of the “You expect me to do WHAT?” look they both have mastered. Is this sass or what?? Two beautiful ladies who obviously know they’re stunning and can get their way.

Bonnibelle, as you can tell, is looking lovely! Her hair is coming in nicely and she’s as vibrant and active as a pup. She feels GREAT and isn’t afraid to pump you up so that you’ll feel as good as she does! She flies around the yard with the big dogs chasing her (I’ll post a video sometime soon), and they chase her around every nook and cranny. She LOVES it!  She is ruthless to the dogs, though, biting, climbing on, and pulling out their hair. They are most tolerant of her feisty ways (luckily), and they let her get away with mass murder. She’s a mess…a huge, cuddlebug, naughty mess! But gosh…doesn’t she deserve to be after all that she’s been through?  She does love to snuggle, though, be it with you or another dog. She’s also making progress on her separation anxiety, which is great!

I am behind on her photos for the website, but will post those as soon as I can. They include proof of her sweet, snuggly side.

Nadia is doing well, too, but I’m a bit concerned that she’s not gaining weight. We had a doctor visit, which provided us with some meds, and we’ll recheck her in about 2 1/2 weeks. If no weight gain then we’ll do some bloodwork. I’m hoping it’s minor, but please say a little prayer for her that we’ll get past this quickly and put on some much needed weight.

Fiona:

Sweet, sassy and incredibly adorable, Miss Fiona is doing great! She’s had some trouble holding her potty, however, so we took her into visit with doc, as well. She’s now on some medication and has already improved, so it was probably just some naughty bacteria making her urinate more than usual. I have to tell you that this darling girl is absolutely irresistible. She is such a happy, waggy, little princess that is a prissy little lady. I have taken a gazillion photos of her, and none of them seem to do her good looks justice. However, they’re still cute, and she always throws her head back as if she were in a modeling shoot. I will post them on the site to promote her beauty as soon as I can sit down and update it…I’m still behind on the website, but plan to get to it shortly. Miss Prissy Pants will steal someone’s heart right away, no doubt! She’s OH MY GOSH cute!!!

Shelby:

Well, this sass-a-frass has taken Bonnibelle on as her very best friend. They constantly play and wrestle, and Bonnibelle is the ONLY dog that Shelby will let near her toys, crate, etc. She is head over heels for Bonnibelle! It truly is an adorable site to see them play, cuddle and smile together.

Shelby had a BALL when it snowed. I will post a video of her playing at a later date, but she ran, and ran, and ran, and ran….she couldn’t get enough of it (Oh – it’s on Facebook if you are a Miss Alli’s Fan)! The shortest haired dog I have, yet she wants to stay out in the snow while the Pyrs want inside because they don’t want to get their feet wet. Silly doggies. I had to drag her inside, though, or she’d of charged through the snow and trekked around the yard all night!

We’ve still not been able to get her heartworm treatment started, due to the pharmaceutical company and their slow production, but hopefully we’ll be able to do it soon. She is such an incredibly wonderful and happy dog with such an enormous amount of love that she’ll be the apple of her adopter’s eye. She is truly just superb…and not to mention stunning in the looks department! So, we anxiously await the ability to do her treatment. Say a prayer that we are able to have it done soon so she can get rid of those silly worms and find her forever home.

AbraHAM:

Sweet boy…he’s had a few inquiries but no forever home as of yet. He’s come so very, very far…I’m just incredibly proud of him. He’s turned into a handsome bundle of love that dwells on your love, adores Nylabones and just likes to be near you. He enjoys good romps in the backyard, and likes to tell you about his day. He is another of the nonstop waggler boys, always wiggling that body with a smile on his face. It’s been a long haul for him, but he’s climbed mountains and turned into a wonderful boy. Not to mention…GORGEOUS.

Toffee:

Toffee…is tubby (Sorry, sweetie, but you are…).  Beautiful, though!!! Just look at that Joker grin!

The others are doing well, too. The puppies are shedding/blowing coat for the first time…my babies are growing up! Poppy and Arnie continue to trot right along. Arnie isn’t quite that active, but he seems to be holding his own. Poppy has found her voice and isn’t afraid to use it! Alli, China, Noelle and Anna are all in the tubby department, too, filling their days with a good nap and food. Preston continues to tell the cars that travel down the road that they are not welcome because he is a Great Pyrenees…a Guardian dog…Ruff!! He thinks they listen when the continue their travels. I give him that…it seems to please him.

I’m doing much better physically. Doc fixed my back, and I finally broke my fever. I still have the head and chest stuff that seems never ending, but hopefully that will soon subside. I will continue to play catch up and get the website current, as well as keep up with the posts. I actually have 4 blog posts in the making…hehe. One day I’ll actually finish them! In the meantime, feel free to follow us on Facebook and contact us with any questions!

Have a wonderful day!

I realized today, as I thought of all that I have fallen behind on, that I’ve not posted in some time. True, the computer change has been a pain in the pa-too-too, but in addition to that I’ve been in bed (shocking, isn’t it?). I’ve had what I’m guessing is, the flu turn head and chest junk…perhaps now evolving into bronchitis. Always something exciting. Who knows, but I’ll find out if the fever doesn’t go away. It’s staying at a low grade, and I’m waiting on the antibiotic to take it’s course, so perhaps tomorrow it will no longer be in existence. This is only my 3rd day on it, so we’ll give it some time to kick in. If not, I’ll see the doc (bleck…I’m so not a good patient). I also did something else to my back, yet my doc is out of town (he’s got nerve, doesn’t he?). So, I was icing and resting that for a few days before the head/chest junk took affect. Fortunately he’ll be back tomorrow, so I’ll mosey on over to have him fix me.

So, that’s the whiny reason for being so negligent on the blog posts. I’ve spent many days curled up in bed with the dogs and the Hallmark channel…and I do believe if I watch another Hallmark movie it may cause Mayhem. The dogs have been both good and naughty, but they’ve been awful snuggly. Miss Bonnibelle is the one that makes sure she’s touching me in some form or fashion.  Typically like this:

However, there are many more that opt to accompany me during my restful days of watching television. For instance, here is a sample…albeit not a perfect one, as obviously they were bored with the movie.

The others have circled the bed or enjoyed the lovely weather we’ve been having. It’s been stunning here with the sunshine and fabulous temperatures. I’ve not enjoyed it much while in bed, yet still it’s beautiful and the dogs are happy with it. I only hope it is present when I can actually meander outside myself.

So I will return and be more active in my animal blogging. We have many pictures still in need of posting and continued stories of the clan. I hope all of you are doing well and not experiencing any difficulties. If so, grab your furry friend and cuddle…it always makes it better. :0)

I’m a bit behind on posting, due to the change from one computer to another, but I had to take time to post a bit of news that I learned about Arnie.

Arnie, my sweet, little, old man…has cancer.

Monday I went into my bedroom where he was resting to brush him. He’d been sleeping, so I gently woke him up so he’d not be startled by the prongs sweeping through his coat. I said “Hi there, sweetie,” and he lifted his head to look at me. It was then that I noticed he had blood on his paws and on the floor. I dropped everything, called the animal hospital and told them I was coming in.

While in the waiting room I was chatting with another client, and Arnie was busy exploring and sniffing. I was feeling better, as I’d not seen any blood on the trip in, nor while we waiting. Suddenly the lady with whom I was talking said “Oh my…he is bleeding…everywhere….” I looked over to see decent sized drops of blood covering (seemingly) the entire floor. I panicked as we carried him into the room. All I could think about was that in the past bleeding from the mouth always proved to be a fast acting cancer in it’s eleventh hour.

Well, I was incorrect in my assumption of hemangiosarcoma. The technician came in and looked deep into his mouth as I held it open. She saw what appeared to be the source of bleeding – a tear or lump in his mouth that had burst open, probably due to his chewing. I felt instant relief…good…he’d bitten his tongue, silly boy.

I ran quickly to the rest room while she sat with him, returning to find Dr. Shrum looking at Arnie’s mouth. It was indeed a tear, but the tear was on a tumor in the back of his mouth.

Arnie has a black tongue, and apparently tumors forming on these colored tongues is known. It’s one of the few types of cancer I’ve not had to deal with throughout my years in rescue and having pets, but as soon as Dr. Shrum showed it to me…I knew.  I looked at him and said “Is that cancer?” He replied, “Yes….”

So, this sweet boy who has been through so much, who has been ferociously beaten and who is afraid of touch, is now dealing with this cruel and heartless disease that cannot be treated. I’ve just not had him long enough, it seems. I want him to feel loved and know he’s safe. A boy who’s been through so much deserves to know that he’s been adored in his lifetime.

Yet when I slow down and take a breath, I realize that within the three weeks I’ve had him, he’s grown to let me hug and kiss him. He let the vet tech hug and love on him. He lets me open his mouth to medicate him, pick him up, and gently takes treats out of my hand. He even follows me around the house, and he wants to be where I am.  Maybe he does know, and maybe, God willing, I’ve helped him to forget some of his horrific past. He’s had pain relief, a soft bed, and a lot of “I love you, sweet boy,” and I’m certain he’s never had any of those things prior. So, possibly…and I pray that it’s true…he does recognize that someone adores him. Without question, his huge eyes and soft expressions make my heart just a little bit softer.

I will keep Arnie comfortable as long as the cancer will let me, and when the time comes that it’s too difficult for him I’ll let him go. It most likely won’t be much longer, but I can still provide him with baby talk, a warm bed, and an abundance of love.  Keep the little guy in your prayers. He’s such a pillar of strength, pushing along for all of these years in a world that was unkind to him. What a darling boy…what a blessing to have in my life, even if it has only been three weeks.

I love you, old man.

I need to apologize for being behind on my website. I am in the midst of changing computers, backing up, saving this and deleting that, only to then transfer it all to another computer, all while trying to work and take care of the animals. So, it puts a dent in the day(s) to say the least. However, I will continue to do my best to work efficiently and get that thing current. Sort of defeats the purpose not to, eh?

I will, on the other hand, provide some updates for all of you on our handy little blog. Where do I begin?

FIONA:

Fiona is on her last week of heartworm treatment – yeah!! This means as of Monday, February 1, she will be released from her kennel and into the wild blue yonder of her foster home, free and able to rest her her favorite couch (she has 3 to choose from). She has been incredibly wonderful throughout the four week period. She has yet to make a sound or a complaint about staying in her kennel, and promptly goes right in after her potty break, sits down and waits for her treat. Such a well behaved little girl! We’ll get her test done to make sure the microfilaria no longer exist, and she’ll be ready for adoption! So if you are looking for a medium sized dog that without question deserves a fabulous and devoted forever home where she’ll not be beaten and slapped around (poor girl still trembles a bit at quick movements and loud noises), then be sure to let us know! She will make a fabulous companion!

Next we have NADIA:

Nadia is doing quiet well…and she’s also adorably naughty. The two things that have developed with Nadia are (1) She’s finally starting to show some weight gain! She plays so incredibly hard with her foster sisters that she’s been difficult to put weight on…however, I noticed today that she’s starting to grow a belly, so I was quite pleased. Her coat is filling out, and before too long she’ll be enormous and fluffy. She is also quite the puppy (2), despite her size…it makes it easy to forget that she’s under a year old and still a baby! Most often I find her ripping this blanket or tearing this towel, counter surfing, or running through the house with my clothes while I’m in the shower.  Nadia feels it necessary to put her stamp on everything…stamp equaling her teeth marks and ability to shred something.  She has also mastered the art of “What?” This includes a look in her eyes of sheer innocence, a slight tilt of the head, and a droopy face expressing complete bewilderment as to why in the world I’d ever tell her NO! She’s infuriatingly cute. She also wags her tail in any situation, good, bad or slightly fiendish. This little girl has character, that’s for sure! Simply irresistible!

SHELBY:

This little prissy pot ALWAYS wears this same expression – a barn door grin; Huge and always open. It’s generally followed by her tongue pasting a kiss on your face and a hug. She is one happy girl that has striking good looks to back it up. If there was ever a New York model in our rescue, Miss Shelby is the one. Her top notch class, sleek figure, shiny brindle coat, beautiful smile and long legs are what the  Wilhelmina Modeling Agency is looking for, without doubt.

Shelby had her initial work up for her heartworm treatment, and all went well. Her heart and lungs look great, bloodwork perfect, etc. They kept trying to get a urine sample from her but she insisted that hugging, kissing and snuggling was actually more fun, so they should concentrate on that instead. All Shelby wanted to do was socialize!  She is one lovey, wants to prance, pretty lady. Her charm only makes her even more gorgeous. But I digress… Her work up was a great success, however. Unfortunately, this also works against her. In a nutshell, the pharmaceutical company that produces the heartworm treatment medication (Immiticide) is behind in production, so we cannot get the medicine right away. As a result, Shelby will have to be on Heartguard for a couple of months before we can begin treatment. Sadly, this means she’ll not be able to be adopted for that much longer, but we’ll keep her safe, sound and happy in the meantime. I suppose it just means that it’s saving her for the right family. Shelby is an outstanding dog that will be a joy in her forever home.

BONNIBELLE:

How ya like them apples??  This is how Miss Bonnibelle looks currently, 6 weeks into rescue. This photo was taken at her doctor’s visit…which wore her out because it intimidates her, and she gets a wee bit frightened. She is very brave, however, and is extremely well behaved for her exams and treatments. During this visit she had another skin scrape to see where we were with the treatment of her demodectic mange. She did have one little live mite on her slide, so that just means that we’ll need to continue with her medication for another month. I’m sure at the end of the month there won’t be any live ones, and she’ll be free at last of the little varmints! As you can see, however, despite a few spots that are still in need, she has the majority of her body covered in hair! She’s simply beautiful! She is also full of herself and quite vibrant in her daily activities. Little Bonnibelle can run like lightening and tell off anyone in a skinny minute. She loves to play and has the time of her life running around the house or the backyard as fast as her little Nancy Sinatra boot legs will take her. She also loves to bite the big dogs and pretend she’s beating them up. They are kind enough to let her think she’s doing just that, lying there and accepting the abuse. She’s getting snugglier every day and slowly working past her fears of past abuse. She is a jolly, energetic little girl! (Okay, so you can’t see it in this photo…but she really is!)

ARNIE:

Arnie is doing well. He has had to battle with some serious arthritic pain, but the anti inflammatory has done wonders for him. He is much more mobile and enjoys walking around the backyard in the sunshine. He has also even tried to jump in the car! Granted, I had to help him, but his pain has lowered tremendously, giving him spunk and more energy. He’s not completely up to par, however, as he has an upper respiratory infection that we’re treating. Poor fella had a runny nose, a nasty cough, and he was lethargic. We visited doc a couple of days ago, however, and he prescribed some stronger medication. He’s already responding and no longer has that blasted snotty nose. His cough is even dying down a bit. So, before long he’ll be 100% and relaxed even more.

His fear and pain caused him to be a bit nippy at first, but he’s made a 180 degree turn around now that he’s received the pain medication. It breaks my heart to know that he walked around in such intense physical suffering for so long…Lord only knows how long. It’s such a relief to me, let alone him, to have the meds in him to lessen the agony. Since the meds he’s never been nippy, so it was obvious he was hurting. He is learning a touch can be gentle and comforting vs. hitting and fear. He still jumps, but he isn’t jumping quite as high, and we have even managed to pet him without the jerking away a few times. I’m still very angry with his previous owners, yet grateful that they were spineless enough to get rid of him so that he could find some kindness. While seeing Dr Shrum, Arnie jumped and jerked hard when Dr. Shrum slightly moved. You could see the sadness in doc’s eyes and his heart ache for Arnie. He pet him on the head, and Arnie just looked at him with those huge eyes. Our boy will learn…hopefully one day before he dies he’ll know without question that he was loved and didn’t have to be afraid. That is my goal. In the meantime he’s enjoying soft cushy beds, lots of baby talking and an overabundance of petting. Even some smoochies and a few Nylabones!

I think that is the latest and greatest. However, if I realize that I’ve inadvertently omitted something, I’ll be sure to post it right away (I need to see if I’ve posted Preston’s heartworm news, but if not, I’ll be back with it!). It’s been hectic and sometimes overwhelming these past few weeks, but we are moving right along. We have some fantastic sweeties in this rescue, and I am honored to receive their kisses and hugs. I’m a little surprised that more haven’t been adopted, but hopefully that will change in time. Quite frankly, our babies are good babies, and whoever ends up being blessed with them will be thankful that they’re a part of their lives.

I know I am.

I just had to brag a bit on my former boss and then/now veterinarian, Dr. Steve Shrum. He has received the wonderful honor of Veterinarian of the year for the State of South Carolina! I am very proud of him and think he wholeheartedly deserves the recognition and award. Go Dr. Shrum! Visit the link below to learn more.
Veterinarian of the year – Dr. Shrum!

As you know, seniors are one of my soft spots. They are so often overlooked yet have such wonderful dispositions, character and so much love to give. As I mentioned to someone earlier, it causes me pain to see them in the shelters. Naturally, any animal facing death and in a shelter is heartbreaking, and I wish it wasn’t such a tremendous problem that seems to only worsen, for the animals don’t deserve it. However, when I see a senior it tears at my heartstrings because they’ve either had a family that they loved and showed devotion, and have absolutely no clue why after all these years they are now in a terrifying jail and unwanted, or they’ve lived an entire life of misery and loneliness, most likely been taunted and mistreated, and have never known love…an entire life of no love. To die heartbroken or knowing no kindness and devotion in an entire lifetime…I cannot imagine carrying that burden.

So, when I see a senior, it makes me ache for them. As a result, I’ve had several come through the doors over time, and I currently have 3 in rescue:  Alli, Poppy and now Arnie.

Arnie was abandoned in the pound’s parking lot. When I saw his photograph, I was immediately taken by him. I picked him up Tuesday, took him straight to the doctor and learned a great deal about him in a short amount of time.

Arnie has never met a kind hand, I don’t believe, until he reached the shelter. He jerks at the faintest touch…even the leash brushing him makes him jump a mile high.  He is achy and has probably never had any pain relief, and you could see him limping on his front legs, trying to balance on his back ones, yet determined to get where he was going. His eyes are old and starting to blue, and his coat is dirty and smells of neglect. He was utterly terrified, agonized from an old injury and arthritis, and actually…a wee bit ornery and snippy.   He’s old, painful, and afraid I’m going to torture him…I can’t say that I blame him. He also has kennel cough, surely can’t feel so well, and is, of course, heartworm positive. He had an old wound under his collar that had crusted over with filth. Yet when he walked out of the shelter door, he rubbed his big head against my legs, and for some reason when we reached the vet he still walked up to me when he was afraid of the doc.

So he received some good pain meds, has started on antibiotics for his kennel cough, and has a fluffy cozy bed in his crate and in my bedroom. I’m touching him, petting him, baby talking him, and showing him affection as much as I can so that he’ll know he’s loved and safe. You can see the difference in him already…physically and even emotionally. He has followed me a bit and even started playing with me today, which was an amazing uplift! It was such a delight to see him smiling and interacting in such a way. I was even able to sneak in a kiss on the head, which he accepted…a major step for him! I hope he continues to flourish and understand that he is loved and safe.

Here is the old man and his adorable big head. He has expressive, soulful eyes, and if he ever lets me give him a bath he’ll have a beautiful coat.  He’s short and stocky, and he is simply CUTE. I can’t wait until he knows he has nothing to worry about any longer.

Oh yes – I forgot to add that he loves ear scratches and pizza bones! (crust)

Make sure to check Bonnibelle’s page to see her latest photos!

http://www.missallisrescue.org/feature1.html

With all that’s been going on lately, I’ve not had the chance to post, nor post our latest rescue (although not the latest-latest, as you’ll soon see).  Meet Miss Shelby – a stunning, affectionate, playful and very intelligent Doberman and-something-brindle mix.

Now I ask you…is this a pretty girl, or is this a pretty girl? She wears her grin twenty four hours a day…just a beautiful, long legged, hugging all of her fans, and strutting her show dog self, Miss Canine America.

Sadly, Shelby’s owner passed away, so she was brought to the shelter by another family member. I was certain she’d get out, but when her day came…there she sat, in her kennel, awaiting the dreaded needle. Well, darn it…first she looked like my Hogan with her gorgeous brindle coat and happy grin. Second, she was just cute. Third, how sad is it to lose your mother or father, the one that helped mold you into such a loving and joyful girl, and then your extended family take you to death row? It’s not sad, it’s SAD.

I went to meet her and she walked out wagging her tail, prancing, and smiling, only to follow it with kisses.  So, we walked to the reception area, waited for the paperwork, and I was bombarded with kisses and hugs, double time wagging of the tail, and I do believe dancing.

Shelby is pretty much perfect. We’re working on her socializing with some of the females, but I think she’s a bit overwhelmed. Oh yes…and we must not forget the heartworms…BUT OF COURSE she’s positive! Her treatment begins next Monday, the 25th.   Argh.

Have I mentioned that I detest mosquitoes and heartworms? In case I haven’t, I detest mosquitoes and heartworms.

She’ll make an outstanding companion for her new family. You just can’t help but fall for this girl. Can’t wait to see that smile on her face widen when she realizes she has a home of her very own…one that will make sure she never faces a sad moment again.