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A day in the life of a dog rescuer...

Because I loved her!

Giggles beloved one-eyed, fat-bottomed girl whose memories will always live in my heart.

In April of 2001, I drove to Vernon to pick up a Boxer for Lone Star Boxer rescue to foster. Unfortunately, the boxer was not a boxer, but while I was there waiting for the boxer to be brought up for me to look at, a lady came in asking about a Boston in the side pens. After she left, I told Beverly the ACO that I knew a Boston rescue that might take her and would be glad to transport. So I went around to look at the dog. Here is this little girl just a yodeling and bouncing up and down on her hind legs just so happy to see me. She never did stop yodeling and dancing until she had her stroke this year. Anyway, I called and got hold of Sally in Oklahoma. Sally said she would be glad to take the dog into her program.

Giggles story before she came to me is that she was chained in the backyard. Her right eye got injured somehow and was hanging out for days before a neighbor called animal control to come help her. She was taken away from her owners due to neglect/cruelty. The shelter fixed her eye and had her up for adoption or rescue.

All I can say is before I drove the 2 and a half hours home, this little girl was mine. She was my very first Boston foster and I was a foster flunky before I ever even managed to get home from the shelter. Gareth was wrapped as soon as he met her too. She and Bruce loved each other right off the bat. We had her name right away too because she had a white smile on her side and she danced up and down with happiness and excitement just like a little girl does when she giggles. Giggles was Giggles and that was that.

I had never had a one eyed dog before. I figured it would always freak me out, but honestly after about the first week I never even noticed it that much. She could say as much with that one little eye as other dogs did with two. Her little eye gleamed with happiness, excitement and love.

Over the next 11 years, Giggles gave Gareth and I unconditional love and lots of demands to be loved. She was our neurotic, one eyed, bossy, fat bottomed girl and we loved her so. She was the queen of our household. Giggles had Gareth wrapped around her little paw. He would pick her up and carry her around like a baby. When he was sitting at the computer she was often in his lap. Where Daddy was, Giggles was, except at night and if Daddy was at work. Then she was a momma's girl.

We would go to bed and she would curl up on my left side right against me. If I rolled over away from her during the night, before I got turned over good she was slamming herself up against me so she could be touching me. Giggles was a comfort licker and that would drive some folks crazy, but... I got used to it. She would lick and lick and lick for an hour or so any part of me she could touch with her mouth. I usually let her lick my arm while we were laying down. She definately had some quirks, but they were what made her Giggles.

Giggles would stand in the chair, on the arm of the couch or on the side of the bed and her little butt would be wiggling like crazy while she was doing the happy dance and she would be yodeling for you to come pick her up and give her love. Giggles was such a happy dog, you couldn't help but smile and be happy when you were around her.

Giggles loved to chase the cats and boy you let a bedroom cat come out in the kitchen where it didn't belong and she let that cat know real quick to get back out of Giggles' Kitchen.

She was spoiled and ate people food. She loved her bacon, apples and anything that we would give her. As some folks at the Cinco de Mayo parties saw over the years, she ate what she wanted and when she wanted. Sometimes if I wasn't paying attention and had a bite up, Giggles had it. I could never get mad at her about taking advantage of the situation. Heck, you leave good smelling stuff right there, then... of course it is a Giggles snack. LOL She would pop her little self right on the table and help herself if there was a lot of food unattended at the party and no one was watching the dogs or the food. No sense wasting perfectly good food when a Giggles was more than willing to clean up the plates. She was thoughtful like that.

Another thing about Giggles is she was a clothes horse. She loved to be dressed up and would just prance around in her little clothes. Oh and if you were putting clothes or sweaters on anyone else, Gigs had best have her clothes and be dressed FIRST! If you did not dress her first, she proceeded to pull the sweater off the other dog you just dressed. Once you put her clothes on her, she was fine with the other dogs being dressed.

Giggles was good with the foster dogs too. She stuck her nose up against them and if they got after her, then I knew they weren't good with other dogs. Gigs wouldn't take any mess off any of them, but she never started anything, just did the super sniff thing she did. She knew this was her house and they were just visiting. Sides she had momma for back up.

When we went walking and had Giggles on the leash, I don't know where my Boston went, but she turned into a sled dog. I swear if I had a sleigh or buggy that we would have caromed on down the road full speed ahead. Giggles liked to go and see. We would take her riding with us in the van and she was always ready to go and always happy to be home. Giggles was happy anytime she was with us. She made us happy too just by being her silly little self. Who could not laugh at a girl who had to dig and just work that doggie bed and blanket into just the right shape. She would work that bed and blanket sometimes for 10 minutes or so getting it just right. Before plopping herself down and wiggling under the blanket to take a snooze.

Giggles also had the fastest and longest tongue in the west. That girl could clean your tonsils so fast you would never know what hit you. When she rested, her little tongue would poke out of her mouth. I always thought that was so cute. That and her giving the belly for belly rubs and wiggling around on her back waving those legs at you to make sure you saw that she really was ready for a belly rub.

As Giggles aged, she did start getting a cataract on her eye, so her vision wasn't quite as good as when she was young. She also developed a heart murmur. She lost weight and wasn't such a fat bottomed girl any longer. But she was still happy, loving and demanding. And boy howdy, could that girl run. She could outrun some of the young fosters without even thinking about it when she decided it was time for a couple of good laps around the yard cause she was so full of herself.

This past year, Giggles suffered a stroke and her heart condition worsened. We put her on meds for the heart issues. She did very well after the stroke. Giggle overcompensated for the walking issues and it looked like she was high stepping like a Tennessee Walking horse. She was still getting around well, just in a roundabout way as she circled to her right. She would eat food on the right side of her mouth as well. I started hand feeding her to make sure she got plenty to eat.

This past week Giggles got more and more disoriented, not being able to find her way back in from outside after she circled out the doggie door and walking more and more small circles. I was afraid she was gonna fall down the stairs and hurt herself.

She fell down a lot and wouldn't be able to get back up easily. But once she was up, it was endless circles in a various pattern moving her around the house. She would circle into a corner and cry because she couldn't make her body back her up to get out of the corner. She seemed happiest when being held and loved on.

Last night I knew she had about enough, she fell over and struggled to get up and just couldn't. She didn't look like her happy self. I just knew her quality of life was not what she wanted. I don't know how I know, but I knew.

So this morning, even though I really didn't want to make this decision and I knew the pain her loss was going to cause Gareth and myself, because I loved her, I had to let her go.

I will always miss her, but... she will always be with me in my heart and my memories. Giggles gave us a lot of love. She was a very special little bitty neurotic, one eyed fat bottomed girl. I will never regret loving her.

I am heartbroken over her loss, but... I had many wonderful years of laughter and love giving me lots of happy memories to hold close to my heart and I am a richer person, because I loved her!

Hugs,

Wanda Jewell

Posted by Wanda on 28 Feb 2012.

Update on my folks

Just a blurb about my folks health.

Hi all,

Everyone keeps asking about how my folks are doing. I got off the phone just a few minutes ago from talking to momma. They have been popping in and out of doctors offices and the hospital all week this week. Daddy’ is going to the heart doctor again on 2nd of August for something she couldn’t remember. His echocardiogram this week is good, but daddy is not feeling well. So they are gonna run some more tests. Will run a Sonigram and something else momma can’t remember on Thursday Daddy is gonna have a monitor on him for 24 hours too. . she said the Doctor is scratching his head and said dind’t know what was going on but he will have to figure it out. The knee doctor has put him back on rehab therapy because the heart attack put him behind on his rehab for the knee surgery he had the previous week before the heart attack. Dad got on the phone and said hi. He sounds tired.

Mom had some polyps removed this week. She still has to have exploratory surgery on that lump in her abdomen that Janice thinks is a hernia. We shall see when her surgery time comes up and when she gets test results back from the polyps. They keep changing her appointments.

Getting in to see people doctors when you are old is a pain in the butt. ? Anyway, nothing has happened so far, thank goodness, just waiting on going to the Doctors for answers.

Will drop you a line again when I know more. Thanks for all your prayers and concern for my Daddy and Momma. I sure appreciate them.

HUGS<
Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 17 Jul 2011.

Visiting my Folks

update on my human family

As some of you know my parents are getting up there in age. Their health is not the greatest. A couple of weeks ago, my father had his knee replaced on Monday then the following Saturday, he had a heart attack. My father has had previous heart issues over the past few years so we were aware that his heart is not healthy. Luckily he survived his heart attack. He was not able to do all the excercises that his knee required so he is a bit set back by that, but he is determined and will get that knee working. He is real happy with it so far as the pain he was having in his knees has gone away and he can walk without it giving away like it was.

My folks live in Tennessee so it is an 11 hour drive to get up there. I told them I would come on up to see him. My sister, mom and Dad all told me he was fine and not to leave the dogs. So I worked with my friends FOHA in the northeast to get quite a few dogs fostered and adopted up there so I could go on vacation and visit.

I took an extra day off from work on Friday the 17th so I could go and visit. I left directly from work on the 16th. I met Jeff with Alpha dog our transporter in Little Rock, Arkansas and sent 5 dogs off to the northeast. Then proceeded on to Brinkley Arkansas, got there about 2 am and was tired so I had promised Gareth if I got too tired to drive I would stay at a motel since I didn't take my boxer Teddy with me so I would be protected. So I spent the night at the Motel 6 in Brinkley. It was a fairly new hotel and pretty decent. Although $45 for 5 hours of sleep is more than I wanted to spend. But I did it. I woke up ready to go.

Anyway, drove on to the parents house in Tennessee. Then we all went to lunch and the week's visit began. My Daddy and I watched movies we rented from Blockbuster. We went out to eat. We picked blackberries from his garden. We talked. We visited with other family members who came to visit us. I enjoyed my visit, although I was really ready to come back to my bed (my mothers bed is like a ROCK and I never sleep well on her beds).

My mother actually was nice to me the whole visit and we didn't get into an argument about anything. Although she did manage to make a few digs at me about the dogs keeping me from visiting them.

Mom is not getting around well either and has to have her walker. She is sleeping a lot and on a lot of meds. I worry about her as well as Dad.

It was really hard leaving them. I had planned on coming back on Monday so I could get some things done around here that have been put off due to my not having the time to do them with working and the rescue. But departure was changed to Thursday, then Thursday came and it was put off till Friday. On Friday, I agreed to stay one more day till Saturday. On Saturday, I had to tell the folks, I have to go home today so that I have one day to wash clothes etc before I have to go to work. I didn't leave until close to noon and didn't get home until 2 oclock on Sunday morning. I was pooped.

I love my folks and it is really hard to face that they are getting old. The strong parents in my mind have been replaced by 2 frail old people who sound like my parents (no they are not pod people, LOL). My father who is the strongest man I have ever known was looking very frail. His hands shook. He is looking and acting old. My Dad worked 3 jobs most of my growing up years. I spent a lot of time with him on his side jobs, handyman, roofing, moving company and helped him with the little stuff. I couldn't go to work with him on his real job though or I would have. I learned my work ethics from him. Do the best you can, finish the job and do it right the first time. I cannot imagine my life without my Daddy in it, but... I am having to face the fact that he is mortal and I may not have him much longer. I am worried about him.

My trip was good, I got to spend time with my folks and see my neice Leslie, her baby Amber, Jack my nephew who is graduating from Police academy this week, and my Sister Janice and her husband. I miss them and Tennessee. But I love living in Texas with my husband.

I am planning on taking some time in the fall to go back for a short visit to my folks place again. I do know that a call may come in before then where I will have to drop everything and rush to Tennessee. I pray that won't happen.

Anyway, I had a great trip to visit my folks. It was nice not to have to do anything but visit.

Posted by Wanda on 27 Jun 2011.

Today I said Goodbye to a special needs foster

Old Fitzgerald has gone to the Rainbow Bridge

Today I said goodbye to Old Fitzgerald. Fitzy has been with me almost 3 years. He was a silly old man Boston who knew what he wanted and let you know all about it too. HE talked to me. Fitzy made me laugh because he was so determined to do things himself. HE would come to me to get pets and loving, but he wanted to come under his own power.

Now getting moving under his own power was a challenge for Fitzy because he had poor motor control. I do not know if he was born that way or if he had a stroke at some point in his life. He would only lay over on one side and he would wiggle and struggle to get up. When I set him up on his feet he would look at me real disgusted like “I was getting up what is your rush?” Then proceed to go about his business. Now walking was a challenge. I would tell him to come on to go to bed at night ane he would stand there a moment then rock back and forth, then take 2 steps backward. Then watch out it was full steam ahead, he would charge forward in this really weird looking rush that looked as if he was fixing to fall on his face and if he stopped too fast he did. Fitzy managed to get where Fitzy wanted to be as he was a determined old guy.

Fitzy loved to eat and he would rush from one bowl to the next as I filled them up claiming them as “His” Bowl and telling all the other dogs to back off the new food was his. He was ok if they went to a bowl he had abandoned, just didn’t want them in the newest bowl as I filled that up just for him. Fitzy always knew I would bring him treats when I was handing them out. He would so gently take them out of my hand. He was a gentle old man and always appreciated being loved and spoiled on.

Fitzy played musical beds in my bedroom and you never knew which one he would choose although in the morning he was always in Bruce’s bed right next to my bed. He had a unique way of getting in the bed as he would go next to it and then fall over on his side and use his feet to squiggle himself to the point he wanted to be. HE was funny to watch as he would decide he was chilly and would work his way under a blanket and I had best NOT pick the blankey up and cover him with it. If I did, then I got the stink eye and he would get him self out from under it and proceed to squiggle it back the way he wanted it under the covers.

This boy was quite a character. He made life interesting and made me laugh. He enjoyed his life and KNEW that he could do it, whatever it was. He was never afraid to voice his opinion if he was stuck and couldn’t get out from behind a piece of furniture, or if the other dogs were trying to push him out of his bed or if they were trying for “HIS” food bowl whichever one it was at that moment. Lately, he has been voicing his opinion quite a lot as he was getting to where he couldn’t get up as easy or get around as easy so he fussed. He was still enjoying his food and treats up until yesterday. I knew it was time. I had known it was coming for a couple of months as he started slowing down and his motor control worsened. But.. I had hoped that he would be around for a long time to come as he had gained a place in my heart even though I had never officially adopted him.

People tell me that I am strong to do what I do and they could never do what I do. I don’t’ know why because I don’t feel strong. I cry over my babies just like anyone else. Then along comes a dog like Fitzy. Honestly, I believe that those special dogs are why I do what I do. This boy would have been euthanized at the shelter if ABTR had not pulled him. Sometimes, the special needs dog I pull gets lucky and finds someone who will love them handicap and all. Fitzy didn’t get adopted or have any inquiries about adopting him. But… I knew he was special and I LOVED HIM! Fitzy gave me love and brightened my life when I got to feeling down. If he could keep on going then so could I. He was a good example for me and a reminder that if I don’t rescue the special needs dogs, then I am letting a wonderful dog who will enhance my life while I foster them down. Yes, special needs foster dogs are a lot of work, but… they are also God’s way of showing us determination, goodness, laughter, compassion and love. I wish everyone would open their hearts and homes to a special needs or older dog at least once in their lives.

My house will be quieter from now on without Fitzy to tell the other dogs off and to demand that I come and get him from behind the bed or to come and lean his face up against my leg and look at me with those big beseeching eyes so I will pet him. But… my life will not be as rich with love and laughter without him either. Fitzy will be very much missed as he was a special boy in more ways than one.

Posted by Wanda on 23 Mar 2011.

ICED IN

Texas has been hit with snow and Ice

Morning all, ?

To those people who live up north and battle this crap all the time you are probably laughing at us southerners who are having to deal with this very unusual cold weather. You have all the equipment and trained people to deal with it up there. It happens so infrequently down here that southern folks just are not prepared to deal with it. Our road and public departments just don’t have the equipment and reserves of salt etc to deal with it.

We got snow and freezing rain night before last and yesterday so there is a sheet of ice on the streets and everywhere. In my opinion, only idiots get out and drive on ice down here in Texas where most of the people don't know how to drive in the rain much less on ice. Hopefully, ya’ll don't consider me one.

I am not going to work much less drive around on it to pull dogs out of shelters. Hell, my van doors are frozen shut as I discovered when I thought I left some dog treats out there, so I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to. It is dangerous enough for us to walk out to the barn to feed the goats and the cats. They are predicting that it won't warm up enough until Friday to melt the ice. ? Arrghhh!!!

Usually in Texas it snows or ices and is melted off in a few hours or a day at most cause it gets warmer fast and we got lots of sunshine. Not this time it seems. The temperatures with the wind chill is staying in the teens and below 0 for the next few days. It is a good thing we canceled the transport for this week as we wouldn't have been able to get the dogs to Little Rock in this mess.

My electricity has gone out once already, but they got it back on fairly quickly. There are lots of folks down here that are without electric right now due to the ice and they aren't getting it back on as fast down in town. Our electric co op is real good about keeping branches trimmed down and getting out and fixing things when the electric goes out. So I am lucky that I live where I have Co Serv, even if I do bitch about the electric bill at times. ? I do have propane heat so even if the electric goes out, I will still have heat. I lived through a really bad ice storm in Tennessee and my folks were all electric and I had a wood burning stove so everyone came to my house to keep warm. I learned then you should always have a heat source that doesn't depend on electricity to keep you warm in an ice storm even as infrequently as we have them. So I had a couple of propane heaters put in here when we bought the house.

I keep getting tons of these emails from people I don't even know begging me to help dogs that are out in the weather at shelters that are miles out in the country several hours away from me. Why do people think that I can do anything about it when there is ice everywhere? I am not superwoman who can fly over this stuff and swoop in to save the day! I don't live anywhere near those shelters and why they expect me to do something they are not willing to do is beyond me. Arrrgggh. IF they are so damn concerned why don't they get out there and save the animals themselves since I am sure quite a few of them live closer than I do? People kill me expecting me to save every single dog out there and they don't do anything but send me notes asking me to help instead of volunteering to help themselves. Can you tell I am feeling a bit frustrated with pass the buck please save the dog email people right now?

PLUS I REALLY REALLY REALLY DON”T LIKE YOUNG DOGS!!! They are all going stir crazy cause they ain't going out in this mess so they are racing around the house, barking and playing and just acting like idiots. IT sounds like a herd of wild elephants is rampaging around in here. Chewing on everything too!!! ARRRGHHH!!! THEY ARE Driving me nuts I am telling you. Goofy damn young wild heathen damn dogs. So if they come to take me away to the happy home you will know why, the dogs have driven me past the deep end.

My personal dogs (even young Boxer Teddy) and the old fart dogs are happy to curl up in bed with me or next to the fireplace to keep warm. Even with the heaters up all the way it is chilly in here. I think the wind chill is minus 10 or something like that they were saying on the local channels. My computer is telling me it is 12 degrees out. I know that is nothing to some of you northerners, but for us who are used to 100 degree temps, it is freaking freezing!!! We have the heater on out in the well house to keep the pipes from freezing up out there.

I got Fido fleeces and sweaters and coats on everyone in the house to help keep them warm. I am wearing heavy duty socks, have my flannel granny gown on and flannel pajama bottoms too. Gareth has on his sweats instead of shorts for a change so you know it is cold! I got 2 Boston butt warmers sitting in the chair behind me, Teddy is leaning against my legs and old Mr. Magoo laying next to me keeping the side of my foot warm. I got independent old fart Bostons piled in the dog beds under the desk cuddled up together as close to me as they can get. Which is amazing as most of them usually like to have their own personal space. Plus the young wild heathens charging around the house are getting the evil eye when they bump into, run over or just generally disturb my old farts who are trying to hibernate. The old farts and I will be glad to get these young energetic bouncing off the walls whippersnappers out of here.

I got chili and some left over honey baked ham from Xmas that I took out of the freezer that we will be having to eat today. I may make up another stew tomorrow that I haven't tried the recipe for in the past. This is just good soup and sammich weather.

I am glad I stocked up on Dog food, goat food and people food on Sunday and Monday. ? I am set even if we can't go anywhere until Friday. Our heat is propane so we should be set as they filled us up last week.

IF I don't send any emails for a while you know the electric went out again. So if you want to check on me you will have to call my cell phone as the damn phones go out when the electric does on these newfangled damn chirping cordless phones. I miss the big loud ringing Bell phones as they never when out when the electric did.

HUGS,
Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 02 Feb 2011.

Back from Vacation

Back from vacation

I am gonna recommend this to ALL rescuers. At least once a year, you need to turn off the computer, don’t answer the phones and take a vacation from the hassles, heartaches, and headaches of rescue. You cannot save them all and if you burn out, you can’t save any.

I went on vacation Christmas eve, today is my first day back in the rescue mode. I ate, slept, watched ALL my TIVO’ed shows on the tube, cuddled with my personal dogs, listened to music and read several books. I took a nap every day whenever I felt tired and I got up and cooked a few nice meals for me and my husband. We talked and enjoyed our dogs as well as our fosters without my having to leave the house and go anywhere. Gareth went out and got milk and dog food when we ran out so I didn’t have to get out of the house at all. I did NOT do ANYTHING at all to do with rescue this past week other than cuddle and take care of fosters. I feel much better as I was getting really tired. Yes, it was selfish of me, but if I don’t take care of ME then I cannot help the dogs. You rescuers are the same way. You need to take care of you once in a while. ;)

I have about 8000 emails to go through. IF you sent me notes about dogs I am scanning looking for them. Unfortunately most folks send the dogs needing help to my personal email instead of the savingbostons@americanbostonterrierrescue.org which goes to my whole board of directors. So…. Since I don’t share my personal email with others, they were stuck in limbo for the past 10 days.

I have to go to work and I will sit down this evening and scan for dogs that I can help. ABTR is pretty full so I don’t know how many I can help, but I will do what I can. I have a few home visits to take care of so maybe I can get a few dogs out of here to make room for more. I will probably get back to you within a day or so about Bostons needing to come in. ;) Hugs,

Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 03 Jan 2011.

Holiday Greetings and Newsy letter

Hi all,

I often get newsy letters around the holidays telling me what all went on in someone’s life that year so I keep in touch with them. So… guess what folks? That is what I am doing now. But rather than sending by mail I will be posting to my blog and sending to my groups emails.

Gareth my husband has been unemployed most of the year. Money is tight for us. But… we are making it so far. I have hopes that the New Year will bring a good job his way.

I thought 2009 was a busy year for my rescue group. 2010 was more so for me. Back in August Dr. Cindy’s husband Wray was shot during a robbery at a Valero over a case of beer. The store clerk and Dr. Cindy were lucky they were not shot as well. The 21 year old man emptied his gun and shot 14 times at Wray and the folks from the store who had given chase to catch him. He hit Wray 3 times and nicked him in a couple of places. Dr. Cindy had bullets pinging around her as she ducked behind the wheels of the truck and as the store clerk was running back in the store to hide or call the police he shot the door out right next to her. They were very lucky that neither one of them were hit. Luckily one of the policemen recognized him from the store’s video footage and the man was arrested within hours of the shooting. HE is still in jail awaiting trial. We are all very thankful we did not lose our friend Wray. After Wray was shot and seriously injured leaving him with mobility issues in his hands and wrists, I went to work full time to cover his job until his surgeries are complete and his physical therapy has given him as much mobility as possible. I do not know how long I will be working, but I will be there as long as my friends need me.

I may have to cut back quite a bit on the rescue when Gareth gets a job as he has been here caring for the dogs while I am at work which has allowed me to continue helping as many dogs as I have. I don’t think I will ever quit rescue totally, but I do expect that I will be cutting back a great deal on the numbers we are able to save before too long due to my having to work and the incoming donations dropping so much. Our donations this year have dropped tremendously so I am very grateful that Heidi stepped up and worked very hard to make sure that we have fundraisers going to bring in money to help pay the dogs bills. But I can’t expect her to work that hard all the time. She does have a life! I don’t know what we would do without Heidi and her untiring drive to help the Bostons. Without funds to pay the bills, folks will just have to realize that I can’t save them all and they shouldn’t expect me to. People always send me emails asking me to help particular dogs, but then never donate anything to help us help them. If I could win the lottery, I would be a happy camper then I wouldn’t have to ask for donations, but that is not really likely to happen any time soon. We will be raising our adoption donations and starting to ask for a application donation to help try and keep our rescue afloat at the first of 2011. We do not want to go under like a lot of groups have because if we do, we will not be able help any dogs.

We had lots of dogs incoming and outgoing. I had new volunteers to help me in addition to die hard volunteers who helped to cover all the doggie saving runs that I usually make myself. They drive really long distances to bring the dogs to me at Dr. Cindy’s so I can get them vetted. They have been the best friends I could wish for during this time. Without Jim, Martha, Elaine, Donna, Leeann, Nancy, Rachel, Barbara, Micah, Tom, Linda and Fred, many of my Boston babies would have died in the shelters. I am very thankful for them and for my other rescue friends who have helped me.

I did manage to get to Tennessee to visit with my folks while my mom had some surgery in April. It was really nice visiting with my family even though we really don’t have a lot in common as far as interests any more. I am no longer the person they knew after living away from them for 14 years and trying to fit into the mold of the person they think is me was difficult for me. I love them, but they don’t really know me anymore. Strange how that happens. We do have a shared bond of love and memories.

Teddy my boxer went with me to Tennessee and he had a blast running around Daddy’s place through the woods, in the ponds and across the fields several times a day when we went on our walks. Walking across Daddy’s land with Teddy helped me to relax and I really needed it. Sometimes I don’t take enough time out to do something relaxing for me and I never get away from home unless I am running fetching dogs. I miss Tennessee, but I love Texas too. My family is in Tennessee, but most of my friends are here in Texas with a few scattered across the states. One day I am gonna travel and visit with some of my friends across the US.

I lost one of my personal Bostons this year. Momo who is one of my Boingy boys passed away suddenly at 10 years of age. I miss him. He always made me smile. He and Squeeky were always bouncing around and playing. IF you didn’t know how old they were, you would never realize they were 2 little old men running around and playing like loons. They would boing up and down on the other side of the doggie gate is how they got their nickname the Boingy boys. Sometimes they would be in sync and other times, one would be up and one would be down. Squeeky is doing alright without him, but he doesn’t play as much as he did without his brother Momo.

I also adopted a little tiny Boston girl that I named Mighty Mite. She came from an Oklahoma puppymill and is just the sweetest little thing. She does butt tuck zoomies and dances for me when I talk to her. She is bossy with the other dogs if she thinks they get too close to her momma when I am laying down and she is cuddling me. She has claimed me and that is all there is to it. She is playful and sweet and just loves to cuddle with me. Often I will wake up at night and her little head will be nestled on my shoulder and she will cuddle in closer because I woke up. She captured my heart and I couldn’t let her go to anyone but me. So I paid for all her vetting myself so there were no questions that The Mite is MINE! LOL

Giggles is slowing down, but she is still the Queen of the house. She is being spoiled royally as she is my oldest dog now that Bruce is gone these past couple of years. I hope that she lives for several more years as I am really not ready to let her go. She gets to eat what momma eats and she still sleeps with her momma curled up at night in her special place by my left side. Giggles was my first foster and I will admit I am a foster flunkie. She was my dog before we got home from our 2.5 hour drive from the shelter. She is going on I think 13 or 14 years old. I have had her over 11 years now and she was guessed at 3 years old when I got her. She is very grey, but occasionally she will decide she is still a young girl and run around like she has a rocket up her behind. It is good to see her feel that well. I love my Giggles.

I am taking vacation from December 23rd through January 3rd. I really need it as I have been working full time and still rescuing full time and I am exhausted. I plan on doing like I did last year the week between Christmas and New Years and eating, sleeping, reading my books, watching some TIVO and just flat out resting and doing nothing to do with work or rescue.

Gareth wanted to go see Narnia today, so we did. We haven’t been to a movie in ages and we both love movies, at least sci-fi/fantasy movies. Then we went to Hastings and got each other some books for Christmas. We both love to read. In my opinion, There ain’t no better present than a gift card to a bookstore.

Ain’t vacation wonderful? I thought about doing a couple of the home visits that are needed to get a couple of dogs out of here, but have decided no this is my vacation I am not gonna do it. I am always doing something besides relaxing on my vacations and after the year I have had I really need some time to chill. I am one pooped puppy. I am determined that I really am gonna take the time for ME and not run all over the place like I have a tendency to do. I am being a bit selfish aren’t I?

I may plan on taking one day and going down the DFW to do some shopping in a real mall with stores other than Wal-Mart and tractor supply. I miss shopping. I probably won’t buy much as I have very little money, but it is not the spending money, it is the walking, looking around, the smells, just relaxing, people watching, the stopping for a bite to eat when the mood strikes me that I enjoy.

Anyway, I plan on us drinking some wassail and opening all my wonderful Christmas cards we got tonight. That is like having a hundred presents to open. I love my Christmas cards that I get. I’ve got the turkey in the oven cooking. It smells good in here. Gareth is clamoring saying he is hungry and what are we gonna eat tonight. So I guess I will cut this short and I will talk to you again after the New Year. ABTR and me are officially on vacation. ?

I just want to wish you all,

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hugs,

Posted by Wanda on 24 Dec 2010.

Richardson City Wide Pet Day Event

Just some thank yous and NO TORNADOS TODAY!

Hi all,

Just wanted to tell you we had a great day for the Richardson City days today. No tornado warnings, no sudden storms dumping buckets of water on us and it was NOT so freaking hot you can’t breathe either. ? It was a bit chilly this morning but it got warmer as the day progressed.

I want to thank Martha for coming out and bringing Bongo and Diddle Hopper. Thanks for going to get lunch too. ? Also thank you Martha for the shoulder massage as my head was killing me. Thank you to Heidi’s mom for the headache pills too. Between Martha massaging my shoulders and the pills, I felt much better shortly. I had a killer headache. It started off as a sinus headache and got worse from there.

Thank You to Jim and Genevieve for coming out to help as well. I think that Jim is not gonna let his little foster Tidbit go anywhere cause folks were asking him about Tidbit today and he was saying my dog etc. But don’t’ you worry Joannie, I got the Pink Dink on hold for your approval. ?

Genevieves foster Paisley was acting queen bee today. She was snarling and snapping at dogs and it was probably cause she was on a leash trying to protect her momma. Paisley is looking good and was very happy to see us and did her little dance and popup dealy that she does.

We had a couple of approved adopters come by to look at the dogs we brought for them to see at the event to possibly adopt. Christy and her family adopted Diddle Hopper. I think that he will be very loved and happy with them. I loved their Boxers and their kids were very nice and polite and seemed to know how to be around a dog. But having 2 boxers they should. LOL. Abby from Austin came up and she is gonna foster for us while she is waiting for the right dog to come along to adopt. I met her Boston and he was a sweetheart. WE might have even picked up a few people who might foster for us as I chatted with about 3 or 4 who thought they might want to foster. ?

Teddy was a good boy, but bery vocal about not wanting to be in the crate today. I am glad I took him with me. He is one pooped puppy tonight. ? I did get some really cute little outfits for Mighty Mite today from Heidi’s beandogs Café store as well. ? The Mite is gonna be styling and a warm little girl. ? I will try and get pix maybe tomorrow. ?

We had some small donations today in the donation boxes totaling $37 and it was put into the Bruce Project fund.

Anyway, thank you to everyone that came out and helped me set up and take down. Thank you Kristi and Heidi for doing what you do so well and helping me figure that damn tent out this morning. ?

Posted by Wanda on 06 Nov 2010.

What all has been going on

Synopsis of the last couple of months

Hi all,

As you know Dr. Cindy's husband got shot 3 times while trying to stop a theif about 6 weeks ago. He is alive and doing well, but he will never have full range of movement in either hand or good rotation on his right arm. He is still under Dr.'s orders not to pick up anything over 5 lbs as he was opened up from the top of his chest down to his pubic bone while they were repairing the damage to his stomach from the bullet that went in there and bounced off his spine. I told them I would help out as long as they need me so I am working at her office until Wray can take his job back, if he can ever take his job back.

Let me tell you trying to work a normal job and do what all I do with my rescue has been more than I can handle. It is kicking my butt for sure. I am so tired that I am going to bed early at night and you know me I am a night owl.

So I have had to cut back on the number of dogs that we are able to foster. I am having to say no to some dogs. I am still way behind on descriptions and pictures on the webpages and getting back to people.

We are still taking dogs just not as many. WE will ALWAYS help our rescue partners when they ask for help on mill busts and the like.

I took the HSUS AES class and got my certificate for that. I was really dragging that weekend.

We had a event last weekend in Frisco and got deluged with rain and tornado sirens going off. That was not fun. I got very wet and cold that weekend and I think it has given me a cold cause I am not feeling well this weekend.

We have an event in Richardson next weekend and then that is the last one for the year. Thank goodness. Those are a lot of work and I don't have time to deal with it this year. :)

I am usually 100's of emails behind so if you try to contact me, it may be a few days before I get back to you.

As far as my dogs go, Squeeky is doing well and becoming more demanding of my time and attention. He is still a very boingy boy for his old age of 10. Giggles is continuing to be the bossy old lady Queen of the house and Teddy is being a typical young boxer doing boxer burns around the yard. He really doesn't like me working as he is crated when I am not home and the crate is NOT his favorite place and he tells me all about it that is for sure. But he hops up in there and has his toys and treats so he is fine. He is just fussing and telling me to hurry up and get him out of there so he can run. Goofy boxer boy. Gareth's deaf old man frenchy Butch is slowing down a lot. He has gotten to where he can't get in the car by himself and doesn't get up in the dog bed on legs so we have him some orthopedic pillows down and he is on extogesic for his arthritis. I have a feeling he will be my next old baby to pass away. But hopefully, that won't be for a while yet.

As you can see, it is just a busy time for me. I am hoping that maybe this year if I have fewer fosters, maybe I can go visit my parents around Christmas. I haven't been home for Christmas in years.

Anyway that is my update for now. I don't know when I will get a chance to update you again.

Posted by Wanda on 31 Oct 2010.

I think Fall is Finally here!

LOVE THE COOLER WEATHER!! I CAN GET STUFF DONE!!!

When it gets cool in the 70;s and 80’s like this after that long heat of the summer, I get so excited that I can work without dying of heat, I do a little here and a little there and it don’t look like I did nothing, so I am trying to remember to do one room or one project at a time.

I haven’t been able to work outside in MONTHS without nearly dying of heatstroke after a few minutes and not getting my job done before I have to stop, but I got the job done this morning!!! YEAH! I got out and picked up ALL the nasty dead and dirty toys. Gonna wash a batch of toys and have thrown away the torn up ones. I have cleaned off the deck and got all the nasty dirty dead toy stuffing from the summer raked out from under the steps, ramp and that section of concrete between the house and ramp where the wind blew it. I got it in the garbage and the concrete in that area all washed off from the dirt the dogs track up there that gets deep over the summer time when I can't get out to clean it due to the heat. They have turned my yard into a mud hole as the grass dies off from the heat and they pound it into nothing, but a big dirt patch. Then when it starts raining, MUD ON TOP OF MUD!!! Arrrgh!!! It is why my ramp has a dark streak running up the middle of it. It has stained due to the black mud we have here. But the main dog yard looks nice right now. May not in a few days after the dogs tear up the new stuff, but for now, that is one project DONE!!! And it is now off my list of to do things.

I have thrown away a bunch of dog beds that have been around WAY too long and are holey and in pieces. I am happy we got those beds from Petmate donated through the pug rescue to replace them as dog beds ain’t cheap. These petmate ones should be easy to wash hopefully. ?

I have run the duster over the fan and walls in my room. I hadn’t done that since spring and boy was there a lot of dust! I need to change and wash bedding as well. I need 3 washers to keep up with myself. LOL

Right now I am washing dog towels. I have clean clothes to fold and put away before I do get back to real hard work and get in there in the master bath and pull out all my sewing stuff and really clean the hell out of that floor where those puppies have been. I got some good germ killing stuff that smells pretty good from the janitorial supply like they sell to the hospitals.

I still have my HSUS class that will take up a whole weekend while the weather is gonna be good on the 9/10/11. Arrgh!

Anyway, lets rejoice in the cooler weather. YEAH!!! LOL I guess my break is over and I should get back to work. ?

Hugs,

Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 26 Sep 2010.

Sad day for me

One of my 10 year old Boingy Boys has passed away.

Hi all,

I just thought I would let you all know that My Momo has passed. I still can’t believe it. My boingy boy! He was out riding around with me boinging around and acting like nothing was wrong on Saturday morning and boom, he had some pain. I gave him pain meds, he acted like he felt better and was up and walking around and then boom he just passed away late last night. I had planned on bringing him in to see Dr Cindy and see if this was another flare up of the polyp in his behind like a few years ago, but he died before I could take him in. Dr. Cindy said it was probably a fast acting internal cancer, but that was just a guess if she didn’t send labs off. I elected not to spend the bux since Gareth has been out of work so long.

I am getting him creamated and he will have a nice urn like Bruce has and will sit on my mantle.

I can’t believe that he is gone. I have been upset all day.

Squeeky my other boingy boy who was Momo’s brother that has been bonded with him since birth is a bit frantic today so I am gonna give him extra attention tonight and for the rest of the week.

Thank you all for the prayers you sent up, but my boy had a place to go waiting on him. I will see my Moboy again one day. Until then I will miss his happy little boingy self every day. Hugs,

Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 07 Sep 2010.

Having babies is so educational and so much fun - NOT!!!

Mommosa had her babies night of 6/7 and 6/8 as she started at 6:30 pm on the 7th and finished up at 3:30 am on the 8th.

I hear so many times people not in rescue saying they want to let their dog have babies for educating their kids on the birthing process, or Princess just needs to have one litter etc.... WHY??? All they need to do is to get on the interenet and they can find plenty of birthing videos.

Shoot in my opinion, having babies is a nasty, disgusting business unless you are the momma who is gonna love them shriveled up little crying babies. I saw animals having babies when I was a kid and swore then I would never have any babies of my own. YUCK!!! Ruined my momma's chances of EVER having any grandkids from me.

Anyway, there are other reasons not to have a dog have babies if you are not a breeder who is breeding to meet the breed standard, better the health of the breed and have a dog with excellent temperament. Ever hear of complications? C-Sections? Dead babies? Puppies stuck in the birth canals? All sorts of nasty things can happen during birth not just all the placenta and afterbirth coming out.

Anyway, yesterday I had gotten called for jury duty, what fun! NOT! HOT! Uncomfortable chairs! Boring, since they explained every thing in baby steps and I have sat a jury more than once in the past. So finally didn't get picked and got out of there around 4:30. Did a few errands and got home about 5:30. Checked on Mommosa and she was having a baby!!! OH BOY! Just what I needed after a long hot and tiring day.

So we had a little black and white girl puppy. And then Mommosa was being a good little momma and cleaning her up. We waited and waited and waited some more. Finally around 8, I started getting worried cause no other puppy had come out and I thought maybe it was stuck in the birth canal. Mommosa didn't seem to be in any distress, but birthing babies is not on my list of things that make me calm. So I called Dr. Cindy on both office and cell numbers and left voice mails.

Then went back to check on Mommosa and she had a puppy halfway out that was cleaned off and already curled around and attached to her back teat sucking. That baby came partially out and was hungry. So I watched and waited and nothing happened. So I started getting worried again. Decided to call Dr. Shelly at home. Left a message on her voice mail. Went back in and the whole puppy was out, but it looked like her stomach was attached to the momma's vulva. Something was not right!!

Luckily the phone rings and it is Dr. Shelly. She tells me what to do with rubber gloves and sterile scissors to help the puppy. I am to put on the sterile glove, put some vaseline on it, insert my finger up the vulva and massage gently while gently pulling on the puppy. Once I get it out to where I have an inch of umbilical cord out, I am to use the sterile scissors to snip the cord and to clamp it off.

Luckily when I get back in there at 9 something Mommosa is standing up and puppy is dangling with the placenta out and drops out. the momma whips around and eats the placenta before i can get over there. It is gross and disgusting but if you want to watch a dog give birth, that is what you will see.

Well that puppy and the first puppy are both really skinny and very very pink, pinker than I have ever seen and I have seen lots of puppies and other critters being born in my lifetime since I am from a rural background. I wait some more. Wray (Dr. Cindy's husband and vet tech) calls and I tell him that one is born finally. So he says since that one is born then to see how it goes and if I need to call her to do so, otherwise bring them in in the morning for a looksee. Talking to Wray is like talking to Cindy and made me feel better about the process anyway. Most of my mommas have their puppies a lot faster than this one did.

The next one is born around 10:24 and is also a female and black with white chest. Mommosa takes care of the placenta and I change out her towels so she has clean bedding. She is dripping really nasty looking stuff, but that is normal for birthing although this is darker than I am used to seeing. And we wait some more.

Mommosa is not in any distress as i keep watching her for panting. It seems as though she is having slight contractions instead of the heavy contractions I have seen in the past and that may be why it is taking so long in between puppies. Our next black and white female baby is born at 11:45 p.m. So it still looks like she has another one in there, so I wait some more.

Finally around 3:21 she has a little black boy with white chest and some white on his paws. He is not doing real well and seems very lethargic after his long delivery. He is breathing though so there is hope for him. I get a bit of nutrical and give him a drop on his tongue. Wait a little bit and do it again about 7 times. Then he starts to liven up a little bit and I put him at Mommosa's breast and he suckles. So I decide it will probalby be an hour or so until she has another one and I sit down to read and fall asleep.

When I woke up this morning, I run check on them. Still just 5 babies, but there is greenish black discharge smeared all over and that threw me into a tizzy. The reason being is that from my experience when we have had that happen during birth before and it generally means one of the puppies died in utero and has started disentegrating and poisoning the momma. That usually means they need an immediate c section and good cleaning out with antibiotics. Needless to say, we rushed down to Dr. Cindy's office as fast as we could.

Dr. Cindy was in surgery, but she got to her as fast as she could. Dr. Cindy took an xray to verify the number of pups left and to see what she needed to do. Lucky for Mommosa, there wasn't a puppy in there. It was something to do with the placentas. She got a shot and I was told to monitor her.

When we got home Mommosa started throwing up some really nasty black green stuff. At first I thought she was pooping it because she did it on the piddle pads when I wasn't in there. Then she threw up in front of me while I was cleaning up the first urp. Lets just say... It was extremely disgusting and I wouldn't have wanted that in my stomach for sure. She threw up about 8 times until she got all that nasty afterbirth placental crap out of her tummy. Then she proceeded to lay down and snooze on and off the rest of the afternoon.

The puppies are very tiny, very skinny, very pink and not real thrifty or active. Personally I think they may be a bit premature due to the placental nastiness going on causing them to come early. Plus poor Mommosa was a rack of bones with a huge belly and still is a rack of bones without the huge belly as I have only had her a week. I did start giving her calcium suppliments and good food. Other than that little bit at the end, She had NO prenatal care that I am aware of so the puppies have started lives with a challenge already behind them. Hopefully, they will get better and when their immune systems are due to kick in around 4-6 weeks that we don't get fading puppy syndrome like we have on a few mommas that came in in as bad a shape as Mommosa did.

I am giving a drop of nutrical every hour or so to keep them pepped up. I will keep checking on Mommosa's milk to make sure that she is giving enough for them. 2 of the little girls really don't look too good. They are the runts, but not one of them are what I would call big or healthy as they are teeny tiny lil puppers.

Anyway, we now have puppies. Please pray that the little ones manage to survive their prenatal non care. Whoever dumped this little momma should be totally ashamed of themselves for the conditon this little girl was in. She is a sweet baby girl too.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I hate birthing babies, but being in rescue and taking them as they come, that is just one of the not so lovely perks of my calling.

Please folks, have your dogs spayed or neutered.

Birth is not something for the squeemish or someone who doesn't know what they are doing as if there are complications you could wait too long and your dog die on you just so you or your kids could see puppies being born that you will have to clean up their poops, get their shots, feed them, and generally make sure they go to a good home which is not always easy to do unless you are one of the people that dump their puppies on anyone they can just to get rid of them.

Don't let anyone tell you any different, PUPPIES are a HELL OF A LOT OF WORK. I don't call them poopies for nothing. They pee and poop every 15 minutes when they are this young and they don't care where they pee or poop either. They don't choose the same 15 minutes either so you are constantly cleaning. JOY!!! NOT!!!

IF you are really dying to see the miracle of birth then I suggest that you rent a video or google it or watch it on utube as I am sure they got some videos there. That way you can see it and don't have to clean up the mess as I had a washer full of bloody nasty towels to wash. AND I have 8 weeks or more of puppy DOOTY to clean up and deal with.

The miracle of birth... is not what it is cracked up to be,in my opinion.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. :)

UPDATE - 6/9/10

Hey all,

The other little female black one I was worried about has passed. Now another black and white one is looking very weak. The little male and the other black and white one are still nursing, not real active or thrifty looking, but nursing. I am still giving the drop of nutrical on the tongue every now and again to help give them energy. There is not much else I can do.

I told Dr. Cindy about it and she said she wouldn’t be surprised if they all pass because she too thinks they were premature and with the lack of prenatal care and the shape the momma was in, there is a good possibility that none will survive even with me doing my thing with the nurtrical. Cindy is more concerned about Mommosa’s welfare than the puppies, because there really isn’t much we can do for them without spending big bux just to lose them anyway. I will keep trying to save them, but there is not a lot of hope right now. :*( But I won't stop trying until the last one is gone. You never know I might save one.

So we are watching her and giving her antibiotics. She held her breakfast down I gave her this morning, but If she can’t hold food and water down, Dr. Cindy says to call her tonight to give a status report and bring her in the morning as we are gonna go ahead and spay her and put her on IVs as we don’t want to lose her too. She was trying to get Mommosa in better condition as she is thinking spaying her in the condition she is in would be too hard on her. This girl is nothing but a rack of bones. She weighed a whole 15 lbs with a bellyful of puppies. But she is oh so sweet! I am feeding her several small meals to not overtax her system.

I sure hope that I don’t loose mommosa. Please pray that the puppies don’t all die on me and that Mommosa keeps her food and water down. thanks.

Posted by Wanda on 08 Jun 2010.

Teddy is starting his Terrible Twos

Teddy is my personal Boxer. He is my protector, yet still my baby. We are still working out the rules since in Boxer age he is still a baby. When he passes the 5 year mark, Teddy will have had a good foundation to be as good a successor to my Bruce as any other Boxer could be.

I will tell you that Teddy has been an exceptionally GOOD Boxer puppy. He did well in his pet smart classes and for a boxer is very well behaved in my own opinion. He knows 4 on the floor, doesn’t use people as springboards, doesn’t hit me in the back of the knees when he is doing his Boxer burns and always wants to please his momma as well as letting me use him for a footstool. He is good about letting me say “Teddy time is over” and doesn’t keep pestering the crud out of me to play and love on him. There are just a few things that drive me nuts (like BARKING AT THE OUTSIDE CATS), but you know how that is, no boxer is perfect, not even the Bruce was and he was pretty darn perfect in my eyes. J

As you know Theodore Roosevelt aka Teddy my baby boy boxer goes with me everywhere and has since I got him just like the Bruce used to. So for his entire life he has known that he is to stay in the van when the doors are opened up unless I tell him “Teddy come”. Then he moves to wherever I am and waits right in front of me so I can attach his leash. He has ALWAYS been REAL GOOD at this particular bit of momma’s eccentric ways as well as stopping and sitting next to the gates and doors to go out so I can put on his leash.

Now granted staying in the van has its own interpretation as to whether you are a human or a Boxer. The human momma wants him to keep all his parts in the van at all times unless told otherwise. As far as Teddy is concerned as long as his body and 3 feet are in the van that doesn’t mean that a head or a paw or a busy tongue can’t be harassing and/or bopping people standing outside the van who are trying to load dogs in the crates that Teddy is standing on top of in the head. Most humans laugh and give him the attention that he is so desperately wanting and willing to push in and practically beg for. Then he has to give them enthusiastic Teddy kisses as long as they will let him. I laugh at him and tell him that ain’t staying in the van, but he says oh yes it is.

As you know the back of a mini van opens up from the bottom so you can’t see inside when you are opening it up. Keep that in mind.

Last Sunday I was meeting Martha, one of my good volunteers who fosters for me. She is fostering old man Joe Collins for me and was meeting me to pick up Black Tartan through his heartworm treatment. We met in the Denton mall parking lot near Barnes and Nobel. I parked out towards the road when the incoming traffic comes in and it was a busy section so Martha could see me easily when she got there.

So martha gets there and brings her dogs out of the car to meet Tartan and see if they will get along so she can foster him. So I am opening the back of the van and the door is swinging up and I can’t see anything. Before I get the door up more than about 1 foot, this brindle blur flies down and out past me. There were cars driving behind the van and in front of the van and to the side of the van. I Nearly had a heart attack. Teddy was zipping all over and just so proud that he got out to VISIT and RUN. Thankfully instead of the huge circles that he does at home when he gets out in the car yard after the cats, he was doing tight circles around Martha and she managed to grab him. Thank you Martha!!! Cause he sure wasn’t watching the cars coming and would have been pancaked. Thank GOD he didn’t get hit by a car, the TOOT!

Got him back in the car and gave him a REALLY good dressing down and talking to, He knows he did wrong. So now I am back to the mean momma voice saying you had better STAY in that car and you had better get back up there in the front seat NOW commands. Poor boy is gonna be so momma pecked he ain’t gonna know what to do.

He gives me these hang dog faces like I didn’t mean it momma, but this is something I really have to reinforce as jumping out of the van whenever he sees something he wants to chase/meet and greet or whatever is not something he can do willy nilly. I go too many places with him. I have to open my back door to the van so I can’t have him darting out like that and I am not gonna crate him to ride with me when Bruce rode shotgun for 14 years and thought that passenger seat was his private seat by right. Gareth always had to ride in the backseat when he went with us. LOL.

So now I have a few more grey hairs, but I do have a live Boxer boy. The terrible twos are starting and I hope that I manage to live through them. I don’t want to know what the next out of character thing he is gonna do. I love the boy that is for sure even if he is trying to scare me out of a few years of my life. ?

Posted by Wanda on 16 May 2010.

Cinco de Mayo Party is a success!

And Heidi was so worried it was gonna rain us out again!! hehehe

I am so tired, I can hardly stand it. I haven’t unloaded the van other than dogs and leftover food. I will do that tomorrow, then head back down to Nancy and PM’s to get the rest of the party stuff, Tents, benches, etc. Poor Giggles, Squeeky and Momo are exhausted. They crashed on the way home. They will sleep hard tonight. A tired dog is a GOOD dog. ?

ABTR’s Cinco de Mayo party was a success!!! We had a great turn out with Lots of new people as well as a lot of regulars. Dr. Cindy made it. The whole board of directors were there. The rain held off thank goodness. We had boxers, bostons, a beautiful grey poodle, a Bichon, a Scottie and some frenchies. The dogs all had a great time playing and the people all had a good time chatting with other Boston folks and watching the dogs interact. The FOOD was GREAT!!! We had a great set of photographers who took some awesome pictures.

Mary Leeper from Colorado brought the finished raffle quilt that has been in the works since 2004 and it is unique and there will never be another one like it. IT IS BEAUTIFUL and surpasses what I was hoping for. We got pix of that and I am not sure when Heidi will put that up on line, maybe in a month or 3. The proceeds from that quilt will go to The Bruce Project (Boston Rescue Ultimate Construction Endeavor). It won’t be a month long raffle since it took us so long to do it, probably up for raffle for 6 months to a year so it will give the word to spread about it and give everyone a chance to see it and tell their friends so we can sell a lot of tickets. Lots of people put hard work in that quilt as it is a very detailed appliqué and has many different breeds of dogs on it, Boxer, English Bulldog, French Bulldog (my Butch is the model), Boston, Pug (Micah’s Mason was the model), Dachshund, Golden Retriever, Dalmatian, Brussels Griffon, Weimeraner, Portuguese Water Dog, Springer Spaniel, Rat Terrier and Schnauzer . We were given permission to make a quilt using Maggie Walker the designers design and to add other breeds of dog blocks to it for the benefit of our rescue. It is now a king sized quilt so could be used as a king or used as a bed spread on a smaller bed. We have given Mary permission to enter the quilt in her Colorado Quilters Guild contest and if it wins a ribbon that will go to the winner of the raffle along with the quilt.

We had a great silent auction. It should knock a hole in our vet bill. Woohoo!! I am not sure what we made on it yet, but Heidi has to collect funds from the out of state folks who bid in the online auction. I only bid on one item in the silent auction and I bet that I spent more than anyone, but… I REALLY wanted that Top Hat quilt. Gareth basically gave me permission to bid up pretty high and since I did win, he is giving it to me as my 18th anniversary present early since our anniversary is this month. Can you believe anyone could stand me that many years? It amazes me too! LOL

I got 2 new dogs at the party that were brought up from Louisiana and Austin area. And believe it or not, I already got an app on one of them from one of the ladies attending the party. Hehehehe I love it when that happens. We also have a possible new volunteer who has a cute little red boston from Shreveport Louisiana and I am trying hard to talk him into adopting another one as well. LOL I chatted and talked and walked and told dogs what to do, ate, laughed, and just generally had a great doggie day. I kept getting comments they had never seen so many Bostons together.

My camera was taking pix of people as they came in so I didn’t get any of the party pix. But… everyone else did and will post to us and Eveline will get them up on the website as she gets them. The photographers took a group photo so you can see most of the folks that were there, but they changed regularly as people came and stayed for an hour and then took off, but it was constant coming and going. I loved it.

Thank you all who came to the party and bid in the online silent auction for making our Cinco de Mayo a success. ? Anyone that missed the party is still welcome to make donations to the cause using paypal or mailing a donation to our P.O. Box. The success of this party this means that ABTR can keep on doing what we do and that is rescuing Bostons. ? Thank you so much.

Now I am gonna kick off my shoes and go lay down and recuperate from all the excitement of the day with my pooped out pups. ?

Posted by Wanda on 01 May 2010.

Boring But Busy!

Just another typical day in rescue

My life is boring! Dogs, dogs, dogs!!! All I have to talk about is what I do. LOL

Anyway got up this morning at 7:30 took a shower, loaded 11 dogs and headed to the vet In Gainesville with Teddy riding shotgun as always after he jumped out of the van while I was loading a dog so he could chase the outside cats for a bit and I finally coaxed him into coming to me for a liver treat, the big turd. He had a long day too and is sacked out in his (MY) chair snoozing.

I Let the vet know that I had a transport that I didn’t know what time they were coming through so I might have to stop and head out to meet the transport. I did get most of the dogs vetted but had 3 more to do when the lady who picked up the Yorkie from the transporter who got her from the lady who pulled him for me called. So I stopped and headed down to meet her so she didn’t have to wait for me too long.

Met the lady in Denton and picked up the most matted little Yorkie guy you ever want to see. So since I was gonna take 2 of the fuzzies Mingtini and Sweet Nan over to the groomer in Lewisville to be bathed and haircuts to get their mats out, I decided that this one was in worse shape and I would substitute him for Mingtini since he wasn’t badly matted. When I got there Randy the groomer told me that he was matted so close to his skin that there might be pink patches and possible little nicks, but that he would get all the mats off him. (I BET IT TOOK HIM HOURS as this one was BAD matted). Anyway Randy said he would still groom Mingtini too so I didn’t have to drive so far to bring him back and that it would be around 5 or 6 before they were ready to go. What can I say? These fuzzies needed help and no one else was stepping up for them. Mingtini came in with a Boston and I wasn’t gonna just take the Boston and leave his buddy behind to be euthed.

So since I was in Lewisville I headed over to the screen place and put in an order for 7 screens with hardware cloth across them to keep the cats and dogs from tearing them up so fast. That way I can have more windows open while it is nice outside and save on electricity as well as keep the damn flies, wasps and other flying nasty critters out of the house.

Then I got a call Gareth’s car was ready. So I drove back home, we unloaded all the dogs that had been vetted. Loaded the hubby and took off to Gainesville to get his car. Once there a customer from the Garage stopped me and asked for my card and to see the dogs we had and she chatted a bit. I may have a possible adopter there. Chatted with Reye a bit and got the car paid for, sent Gareth off with the gas cans to get gas so he could mow some on the lawn while I continued my run.

Then I went back to the vet, got the other 3 vetted and picked up the 2 Boston girls that I put in to be spayed yesterday. Both girls are heartworm positive. Tiki Tini is older than the 3 years shelter guessed, she had some mammary tumors that Dr. Cindy found while she had her out for her spay and took care of that as well as a few skin lesions. Poor girl has a hell of a load of heartworms too from what Dr. Cindy said. I am thinking we might do the slower treatment on her. She is a precious girl and I don’t want to lose her to the treatment. My little mange baby girl Kis-Kesay is light positive, is miserable as can be from the demodex and IN HEAT no less. We will be keeping her crated for a while so she won’t be bothered by any of the neutered boys with lots of testosterone still in their system. I already have someone interested in adopting her. Our Flying Kangaroo is positive for heartworms as well and with Ottie that makes 4 that will start their heartworm treatment on Monday. She has enough immitacide to do them all thank goodness. ? ALL the other babies were heartworm negative. Yippee Skippee!!!

After all that it was getting close to 4:30 so decided since it was about an hour drive with no traffic to Lewisville, I had best get it in gear and head on back down to the groomers to pick up the 3 fluffies. Good thing I did as DFW traffic was doing its worst as usual and we were backed up through Denton. When I got back to the Groomer he told me that I needed to get the Yorkie to the vet as under all those horrible mats that we couldn’t see through, he had some open and infected wounds which he showed me under his neck and on the back of his ear. Since being home, I have washed it out with the surgical wash stuff that Dr. Cindy gave me for Nicky’s open neck wounds and started him on amoxi. I will get him into the vet in the morning.

Then when Randy brought out Sweet Nan the Lasha Apso one of his customers cooed over her and asked about possibly adopting her. She took my card and an application. Then Randy asked me if Mingtini was mine and if I was real attached to him as he would like to adopt him. So I left him a card and an application as well. ? So maybe have possible adopters there for those babies. And YEP I was considering keeping the Mingtini as mine as has everyone that has met him since we pulled him from the shelter. But this groomer is a really nice guy and it is just he and his little dog who he thinks would be good with Mingtini. Ming would get a lot of one on one time with him and could go to work with his Daddy. So… I would put my desire to keep the sweetie aside and send him home with someone who could really give him LOTS AND LOTS Of time and attention like that. ;) That is how I lose all my good favorite fosters. I think I am gonna keep them then the perfect adopter comes along and off they go to their new home and I am left here all alone (NOT! Says Teddy and the rest of the crew). LOL

DFW traffic was in full rush hour mode when I got them picked up so it took me almost 2 hours to get home. Hurry up and wait you know how that is. Anyway, got home and the babies unloaded, dogs out of crates, watered, fed, and poops picked up. I am one pooped puppy.

I need to check emails as I still have to get my day scheduled for tomorrow as I have to go to Denton and check/pull a Boston mix there, then head down to Fort Worth and pick up a Doxie there and meet a lady to hand off the little male Chihuahua I named Taco that I picked up for Hilda yesterday at the Collin County Animal Shelter in McKinney. Hilda, I had his shots, comfortis, Heartgard as well as worming done today. He is heartworm negative!

I also got a note about a dog in Ardemore OK needing help so I may have to add that to my to do tomorrow things. I wanted to concrete in my clothes line so I can have fresh smelling like when I was a kid clothes when Granny and I hung the clothes out together, but I may not have time until Sunday. I am not planning on doing any rescue running on Sunday I am staying home gosh darn it. I got things around here I need to do too> ? I still have to get my webpage updated, pix of the dogs taken and on there, descriptions done, and old dogs taken down. It is never ending. ?

Anyway, I think I have had a long enough day and I am gonna eat me some supper and go curl up in bed with MY dogs and a few fosters. ? Told you I was boring. ?

Posted by Wanda on 09 Apr 2010.

Bronson Pinchot my toothless old man Min Pin

A memory shared of my sweet old boy.

This morning my little Pinch was passed away in his bed. I knew it was coming and almost put him to sleep at the vets week before I left for Tennessee as he was losing weight, coughing like mad from his heart condition etc. and I thought he was feeling miserable cause I sure hate coughing. But he was still eating, getting around well and wanting me to love him, so…I just couldn’t do it. So we got him some more meds to help with the cough and I brought him home.

Most of you remember Bronson Pinchot the little toothless old man Min Pin I pulled from a shelter years ago in 2006 because his pathetic pix spoke to me so I posted him to my abtr list where my volunteer Stephanie in Houston said she would foster. Took me 2 weeks to get him vetted and then handed off to Stephanie. He wouldn’t eat for 5 days and had dropped weight. Seeing he was only 7 lbs, he didn’t have much to drop. Stephanie was worried about him and brought him back to me. He started eating and protecting me fiercely immediately when I got him back. This boy had bonded to me so he decided he was my dog and that was all there was to it. So he became a permanent foster.

Gareth and Pinch had a love hate relationship going. Pinch hated Gareth and was always barking at him to let momma know “that mean man is gonna get us momma, watch out for the strange man!” Gareth loved to torment him by walking toward him saying “ I’m gonna get you Pinchot, I’m gonna get you.” All the while Pinch is barking his fool head off and backing up so that dangerous man couldn’t get him. I would have to get on Gareth for messing with Pinch like that. In all the years he lived here, Pinch never did like Gareth and most dogs love GAreth cause he isn’t the typical loud male. When Gareth wasn’t home you didn’t hear a bark out of the Pinch, just when he was home and then it was nonstop barking if Pinch thought he was coming in our area.

Pinch was a sweet old man who got along well with all the dogs and cats here. He lived a long life and he was loved by me and Gareth as well. We guessed him around 10 plus years old when we got him, but he could have been older. He had heart issues and was on meds for them. He loved me dearly and was always happy to get his canned food with his kibbles and treats. I will miss the little old fart and his sweet face with that goofy tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. He was a great lil old fart who loved and protected me to his utmost. He was loyal and loving, everything a dog should be.

God speed my little Pinch. Momma will miss you.

Posted by Wanda on 07 Apr 2010.

Wanda's Trek in the SNOW

Hey all,

I am home safe and sound!! JUST TIRED AS HECK!!!

I am sure glad I left yesterday afternoon, if I had left at my normal time I would have never made the transport this morning as after dark the temps dropped and I am sure all that snow and slush turned to ice and was even more treacherous to drivers. As it was my 7 to 7.5 hour trip took me almost 12 hours. It was very nerve wracking driving in the snow and my shoulders where hunched up past my eyebrows with stress quite a few times when the truckers boxed me in and they did that quite regularly and I would have to pull over and relax and chill out for a few minutes before I could continue. There were truckers everywhere and boy did they sling the water up off the road so you couldn’t see hardly at all which was why I was stressing so much. The visibility was cruddy in the day light and got worse as it got dark. There were lots of wrecks and vehicles skidded off in the ditch both yesterday and today.

I drove about 35-50 miles an hour versus 70-75 like I normally do. Plus I stopped and topped up the tank when it got to half a tank several times so that I wouldn’t run out of gas if there was a pile up or anything and we were stopped on the road for hours. I have heard horror stories about that. I did take a box of snacks and drinks just in case too as well as dog food and water AND BLANKETS!

It was snowing its butt off all the way to Arkadelphia and then it slacked up to Malvern. Once I got to Malvern the roads were clear and the snow stopped so I ziggyied a different way over to Hilda’s in Hot Springs to pick up the dogs as it was 4 lane most of the way that way versus the 2 lane road I usually go, it is just as twisty and up and down as the other, but I had more road to slide on if I started to slide, (you know what I mean) before I hit a ditch. Clear as a bell for about 10 miles and then it started snowing again, but nothing like what I had come out of, it was easy snow. So, I got her babies last night and that rat terrier did NOT like being in the crate when MY personal dogs and I were snoozing once we hit Cracker Barrel and were waiting for the transport to get there. He barked and let me know he wanted out with everyone else, so I didn’t get much sleep after I got to Little Rock. I did get a couple of hours I think in bits and pieces. At least I wasn’t as tired as I usually am on the way home and didn’t have to stop for a snooze at the rest stop like I usually do with my 5 protectors. I did stop and potty Teddy, Harpo, Giggles, and the Boingy boys, Momo and Squeeky. They were not real thrilled about the snow up to their bellies. Poor Squeeky lifted his leg up as far as he could and just rested that foot on top of the snow while he peed. LOL Teddy didn’t have that problem. He likes snow, but his willie ain’t draggin in it either.

It was pretty clear in Arkansas until I got to Texarkana on the way back and then it looked real snow stormy in the sky the rest of the way home, but didn’t hit any snow. Lots of traffic and did hit some ice on the way home on the secondary roads to my house, but other than that the roads were clear of ice, but very wet and some slushy crap and throwing dirt on the windshield I will have to get some more wiper fluid I used so much. Everyone said the snow melted a lot today. I still have about 9-10 inches on the ground and you could tell that it had melted back from the house at the back door and the snow was wet and water was running off the roof so I wonder how much I really got while I was gone.

On the way back, I stopped and met Donna and picked up our new Collin County boy. You can’t say I don’t pack as much into a trip as I can. LOL He is BEAUTIFUL. She named him Action Jackson. A pretty very skinny brindle guy who is 2 years old. I am so tired I can’t remember if he was an owner surrender or what at the shelter. I will look it up later.

Anyway, I know a bunch of you were worried about me, so I thought I would let you know I was home safe and man oh man am I glad to be home. It is almost like I have no dogs in the house with just the 14 fosters many of whom are old farts and my personal dogs because I have had so many for so long. I am gonna enjoy it and hope they don’t start coming out of the woodwork. My Louisiana folks picked up the Hammond girl last night and she is a purebred. We will get her transported up this way next weekend and I can give you more info then on her.

I am fixing to pick up poop cause you KNOW that no one can go outside and poop in COLD white stuff that is up past their bellies. Jeez, prima donnas!!! then I will fix a bite to eat and hit the bed. HUGS,
Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 12 Feb 2010.

Happy New Year

Things are busy as ever.

Last year ended with a Bang and this year is taking off like a rocket!

Killeen, Harlingen, NRH, dogs all came in New Years Eve. Then we got notified about another mange dog needing us today, so we got Ascension Louisiana, Monroe Louisiana and Wylie Texas incoming as soon as we can arrange transport and they are available. To top that off, I had several calls on the voicemail where owners wanted to surrender their dogs. Right now ABTR is not taking owner surrenders, we are concentrating on the shelter dogs that are gonna die without us.

This year I was planning on trying to reduce the number of fosters so I could have a little bit of a breather after the year we had last year. Don’t look like that is happening any time soon. ? But I did get to stay in my house without going anywhere from the 24th until the 30th. It was heaven!!! I didn’t realize how tired I was until I stopped going. I even got to take naps with the dogs and they loved it as did I. I took one or 2 a day. I planned on not going anywhere until the 2nd, but emergencies happened as always. I really need to do that for a MONTH to recharge I think cause I am still very tired. But the dogs need me so what can I do, but grab rest when I can.

Anyway, I thought I would share that our Harlingen boy Absolute Hunk aka Lutie is in very sad shape. I would like you guys to say some prayers for him. I have been working all day on his webpage. Why that shelter did not contact a rescue sooner for him or at least take him to a vet even though they don’t have one on staff is one of life’s mysteries to me. Here is his webpage and I am telling you the photos are as bad as Nicky’s so if you have a weak stomach don’t read after about ½ way down the page cause that is where the graphic pix are at.

http://americanbostonterrierrescue.org/SpecialDogs/AbsolutHunk/Lutie.htm

This year is the year, I think that Heidi is gonna start trying to fundraise to help us build a shelter for the Bostons. That way we can help more dogs. I will work up a webpage for our plans for that when I have some time too and post it, but it may be a month or so. If any of you have any ideas on fundraising to build a shelter and about how much it costs to build one so we can set a goal, I sure would appreciate the information.

I am praying that 2010 will be a year that more people take responsibility for their pets and don’t dump them in the shelters or elsewhere. That it will be a year that more shelter dogs get good homes who love and spoil them. That it will be a year that donations flow freely so that we can get our shelter built. That it will be a year that more folks decide to volunteer to foster, transport, draw, do graphics, join the Board of directors and take some responsibility off my shoulders. And that it will be a year in which jobs start returning to the US, more people have hope and a job as well as a place to live.

Hugs,

Posted by Wanda on 02 Jan 2010.

TEDDY HAS A NEW NICKNAME!

Teddy Roosevelt earns a new nickname.

In all the excitement of meeting Margaret and Nick from Florida with some of the other ABTRfriends folks for dinner, I forgot to tell you guys this story.

Everyone knows Theodore Roosevelt aka Teddy my baby boxer boy. Although Teddy is usually known as Ted the destroyer, on Wednesday night he earned a new nickname. Ted the protector! He is gonna protect his momma, no matter what the threat if he perceives it to be one.

Setting the stage:

I am in the bathroom with Teddy, Giggles, Harpo, Squeeky and Momo and everyone else is locked out behind the doggie gate so they can see in, just not be under my wet feet when I step out of the shower. My personal dogs have to feel special you know. ? They are the only ones that can move at just the right moment as I am stepping out of the shower so I nearly break my neck to keep from stepping on them. It has been cold and we had a small warm spell up to like 50 degrees that day. I had the gas logs and other heaters working still cranked up so it was toasty warm so I could shower and not get cold. The Bostons were loving it and had promptly appropriated the towel that I lay out to step on when I get out of the shower and were laid out soaking that heat up.

I have proceeded to get undressed, don’t have my glasses on as I have taken them off so I can shower and they are in the bedroom, not the bathroom. Something hits me in the back which freaks me out as I know there aren’t any possible ghosts in my house cause this used to be a cow pasture. So I let out a screech and for those who don’t know me my normal talking volume is loud and my screech is ear splitting.

Ted jumps up in instant protection mode. Where is the threat and I will run over and bark at it acting all tough. Well I look around and don’t see anything that could have fallen on me, don’t see any plaster off the ceiling on the floor, so I decide I am imagining things or my nerves are doing strange ticks making me think something has touched me as that happens sometimes. I go ahead and hop in the shower leaving Ted on what the hell is going on mode and listening for whatever he needs to be listening for with his head cocked looking out the doorway. The Bostons are laying in front of the heater on the towel and starting to go to sleep cause that is what they do at shower time and they know Teddy is always doing something stupid that don’t rate any Boston attention when there is good snoozing to be had.

Get done with my shower and am drying off when I notice Ted poking something on the floor over next to the sink with his nose, then slapping the hell out of it with his feet. Ted is very touchy feely and uses them feet for everything so that is nothing unusual, but then he would jump backwards about a foot and then go back in and poke it with his nose and slap it with his feet again. I watched him for a minute before it hit me that he hadn’t caught a mouse cause he usually gulps them down if he catches one (YUCK!!!!) I hate it, but we have mice that come in cause we live in middle of cow pasture and I am always trapping them as I can’t use poison with the dogs and cats.

Anyway, it finally dawns on my tired brain that he ain’t playing with a mouse over there, so I go over to figure out what the hell the goofy idiot was playing with now. I figured he had managed to get something from my quilting down on the floor that he shouldn’t have like usual and it had a pin in it. Now remember I didn’t have my glasses on and I can’t see worth a crap without them and I am NEKKID from the shower.

I get over and Teddy is trying to keep his body between me and what he perceived to be a threat to me, while I was thinking that he was trying to keep me from taking his new toy away. Have you ever had a boxer keep his body between you and what he don’t want you near? Well, I can tell you it is hard to move em cause they are STRONG. But I finally get him moved back after tussling with him a minute, I loose my towel and bend down so I am close enough to see what he was messing with.

OMG!!! It is a YELLOW JACKET!!! Instant reaction is to stomp on the damn thing before it can sting me. In less than a second I am in the process of bringing my NEKKID foot down on a pissed off yellow jacket ready to sting the snot out of me before I realize that HOLY CRAP!!! I AM STOMPING A YELLOW JACKET WITH NO SHOES ON!!! Hey my fight or flight reflexes work just fine I am telling you! The old lady brain is just a little slower than natural animal instinct! Luckily the Boxer is faster than my animal instincts as he popped his paw out at the damn thing again at just the right time and I stomped on Teddy’s foot instead of the yellow jacket. Teddy didn’t even bat an eye that momma was stomping on him. He wanted to get that yeller jacket and was prepared to snag it with his foot and drag it away from the momma.

Needless to say, I didn’t try and stomp on the damn thing again cause the brain was finally working. I got my house shoe and did the tussle with Teddy again as he wasn’t gonna let me near that thing that kept stinging him. Yellow Jackets can sting over and over and over again. They don’t lose their stingers like Bees do when they sting. Finally got Teddy pushed back and I proceeded to beat that yellow jacket to death with my house shoe!!! I put in a good 20 or 30 whacks just to be sure he was dead. Never knew I was such a vicious killer bitch, now did you? Better watch out cause I am bad news!! Especially if you are a bug!!! LOL I managed to get several layers of paper towels and get the Yellow Jacket picked up and thrown away.

I had to check Teddy over, but he didn’t have any welts developing and looked and acted fine. I gave him a double dose of benydryl just in case. If the damn thing had stung me I would have had welted up reactions for weeks as I am allergic to them. Ted was not real happy that I removed his new enemy that he was pounding the crap out of and then poking with his nose to see if it was dead from his fervent boxer attacks, but once he started getting his hot dog with benydryl in it, he forgave me. Teddy is real good that way and he loves his momma even when she does crazy things.

What a brave boy!!! So as I said, Teddy has earned his new nickname of Ted the protector. I am so proud!!! LOL Good boy Teddums. That’s MY BOY!!!

Posted by Wanda on 01 Jan 2010.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

My holiday message to you!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope that everyone gets to where they need to be for Christmas and spend it happy with family and friends or alone doing what you like to do if that is your preference. May you have the best Christmas for YOU and not what anyone else thinks Christmas should be. Enjoy old traditions or make new ones. Remember that Christmas is a season of joy and be happy. Christmas is what you make of it. If you believe it is a special time of year, then it will be, no matter what happens. So believe in the Christmas spirit for it lives within you.

Yesterday and the day before when I was out running around, I wished everyone I passed a Merry Christmas with a big smile on my face. Some of the people looked very harried and like they weren’t having a good day. But you know what? EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM smiled back at me and wished me a Merry Christmas too. I know that it made me feel the season more joyfully. Sometimes we get so busy trying to do so much before Christmas that we forget to feel and share the joy of the season. I remember when I was younger folks were always wishing each other Merry Christmas. Now it seems like no one does. It is sad when this season is supposed to be a celebration of life and love that is shared. So do your part and spread a little Christmas joy by wishing someone a Merry Christmas! Share that Christmas spirit!

As most of you know, Gareth and I are separated this Christmas with him in Wisconsin and me here. But we are both joyful that he has a new job and do not regret that he is working up there. We will talk on the phone tonight and tomorrow and that will make our Christmas brighter even though we will miss each other being together for the holiday.

It is snowing here amazingly and the gas logs are blazing. The house is warm and comfortable. It is quiet as there is not much traffic out on the road. It is very peaceful with the dogs lazing around after our dashing through the snow a little while ago. Later on I will put on some Christmas carols and begin to make my Christmas dinner for tomorrow. I plan on opening all my Christmas cards that I received tonight and putting them up next to the fireplace.

In the morning I will get up and give out the big hard chewy bones that I got for each of the dogs for Christmas. It will be a crunching on new toys festival tomorrow as I have a lot of young babies who love toys and those hard chew bones. I will even hand out some stuffies and it will look like it snowed in the house as well as outside. I will also hand out more of the goodies that my friend Lisa sent for them to have for Christmas as treats.

Then I will fix a plate of food and the dogs and I will hit the bed and watch Christmas movies all day all nice and warm and snug in bed in my Christmas jammies. I know that is not a traditional Christmas, but it is one that I really enjoy.

So I leave you with this wish on Christmas Eve, I wish you all the Merriest of Christmases!!! Enjoy your Christmas and feel and share the love that is there.

Hugs,

Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 24 Dec 2009.

December 18th 2009

Just another busy day in rescue!

I didn't get everything done I wanted. There was horrible traffic EVERYWHERE ALL DAMN DAY LONG!!! GEEZ... My butt is whooped. I didn't get back home until 6:30 or so.

I got up early and got paperwork ready to take 10 dogs to the vet and Pinwinnie to the airport. AS you know the airport is 1.5 hours from me when there is traffic and soemtimest longer. I got all the dogs loaded and off to the airport we went. The girl was hateful to me at American because I didn’t have a reservation (the other girls told me not to make one as it was easier for them to input stuff rather than having to change stuff that the phone folks got wrong). Probably didn’t want to be working. I got Pinwinnie there early and called and let Tracy know she was dropped off.

Then off to North Richland Hills through the traffic to pick up the 13 year old man that the owners dumped at the shelter for the holidays because they were moving. Yea right, probably going out of town for the holidays and didn’t want to pay boarding or anything else for the dog. Bitch ain't I? He was totally freaked out at the shelter and when the other dogs started barking he started growling. I got him out and he climbed into the crate in the van without a bit of protest. He is bigger than he looks in the pix I got, but that is ok. I like them big ol boys. He had a big old 1 inch or more wide buckle collar on him that I have now taken off and put a NICE LUPINE purple swirly collar on him instead. While I was eating my sammich as soon as I got home he was sitting on my foot leaning back into me. He seems to be ok with the other dogs. Does have some hairloss going on, don't know if it is fleas, allergies, idiots who left him outside or what, but we will get that addressed.

My camera bag came in so I drove up to Flower Mound to pick it up at Wolf camera, that is the closest one to me. Now my new camera has padding!!! Traffic everywhere on the way there and out of there. Construction everywhere. Arrrghhh...

Then off to Collin County to pick up the scared boy. This boy was scared in the shelter and is a bit timid, but once home he has been very attention houndy. He is jet black with just a couple of white toes, a thin white stripe up his nose and a white strip from under his jaws down his chest on down his belly. He is gorgeous. Reminds me of Fosters that Rene adopted from me a few months back only with a kinked tail versus fosters longer tail. Gets along ok with the other dogs.

Then back to the traffic and over to Denton to pick up my crate that I had dropped True Trixie and her babies off at the vet in and to pay off that vet bill for them at Dr. Wrights.

Then remembered I put the Christmas Cards in the van and stopped at the Post Office in Valley view and I just got the stamps bought and they were closing up behind me. But.... I did get my Christmas cards in the mail TODAY!!! So I am still ahead of the game instead of mailing them out on December 24th like I have a few years when my time wasn't enough to get everything done. These cards only rode around in the van for what 3-4 days? Oh and the dogs stepped on the top of them so they are sending their Christmas greetings too if you see a dirt smudge on the envelope. Got that done.

Called Dr. Cindy and told them I wasn’t gonna be able to get there before they closed to get all done for the 10 dogs I had in the van and the 2 new ones so would have to come next week with them. But I did need some clavamox and some revolution and she put that out in our spot for me to pick up. So I drove on up to Gainesville and picked that up. Then I finally got to drive back home.

Then get everyone unloaded and check to see how everyone gets along, pick up poops, water the goats, feed the cats, you know all the normal stuff that you gotta do.

Only to have Tracy call me to let me find out that PINWINNIE was NOT on the flight. Somehow or another she missed it. ARrrgghhh.... So she is going on a later flight. I imagine that snotty girl that checked her in didn’t know what the hell she was doing and didn’t input something right. Bitchy ain't I? Anyway now I am on pins and needles hoping she gets there ok.

But... I do have another bit of good news tonight!!! Leigh Ann who is fostering 12 year old Cooper has decided that she loves him and can't bear to let him go to anyone else. So... he is gonna be her dog. Isn't it great??? Another one of my old farts is gonna have a forever home!!! Isn't that wonderful?

Please keep up those prayers for my old farts to find new homes cause they sure are working. Thank you all for your support and listening to me rant and rave about idiots dumping their old dogs etc.

OH and Spanky the old guy from NRH knows his name so he will stay Spanky. Now I just have to think of a black liquior or something to name our boy from Collin County.

I am fixing to hit the hay and start all over tomorrow. HUGS

Posted by Wanda on 18 Dec 2009.

Whew! What a Week!!!

And I am soooooo glad it is over!!!

The Trip to Nebraska on Monday and Tuesday (Thank you Nebraska BT Rescue for taking some dogs),

Vetting lots of dogs on Wednesday and out all day,

Thursday trip to Graham and keller then Gainesville to the vet and getting Gareth's car inspected and new tags,

Friday, Trip to Tyler and trying to get Gareth all ready to leave to go to Wisconsin,

and today up at 5:30 am and then off to Richardson for an all day event. My arse is dragging my tracks out!!! WHEW!!!

GOOD NEWS is my Velvet Moose, the sweetest big brindle boy you could ever meet was ADOPTED today. One of my previous adopters lost their Corey Haim/Buster to lymphoma earlier in the year and conatacted me to let me know they were ready to adopt again. I told them where we would be today and Adam the husband came by and met our Moose. You could tell he was in “LOVE”! Adam said he was gonna go get his wife (a vet who was working today) and bring her over to meet him on her lunch hour. Since they also have a cat and I knew him, I just told him to take Moose home and visit with him, see how he got along with their cat and meet his wife, then bring him back when he was done. He wasn’t gone 2 hours and he was back telling us they were in love and the boy was staying with them. I figured that when I let him take him home. LOL I am sneaky ain’t I? So that is good news.

Bad news is as late as it is and tired as I am, I still have to feed dogs and cats, clean crates and medicate everyone. So…. I won’t be on here but to send out this message.

I have something to do Sunday, but right now I am too tired to remember. BUT I DO KNOW THAT I AM SLEEPING LATE tomorrow and then starting on the pickup and rearrange everything back to my liking after I walk dogs etc that has to be done when I wake up.

Thanks to Martha, Lisa, Kristi, Jim, Janet and someone else, but I can’t remember that helped me today> I was about whipped. Thanks to Heidi for working so hard to fundraise for us as well. I handed out lots of cards and reconnected with a lot of other rescue folks I know and work with. So all in all it was a good day although yesterday morning I was of a mind to say heck I am too tired to go. LOL

Sunday - My late sleeping didn't work out as I planned. The bedroom dogs decided they had to go out and wouldn't just use the piddle pads, I have laid out for that purpose. Doggone dogs were barking and yodeling and making a racket. So I got up at 8.

The other good news I have to share with you is that Gareth (the husband) got a job finally after 6 months of unemplyment. The pay sucks and he is gonna be working in Wisconsin in the WINTER, but I am grateful that he has a job!!! YEAH!!! Please pray that it lasts for years!!!

I just thought I would jot this blog down real quick as I have lots of cleaning and stuff to do since I was gone a lot this week and you know the other half never does it the way you do it. LOL Now I am off to clean crates.

Thank you all for caring enough to read about the crazy rescue lady. :) HUGS,

Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 08 Nov 2009.

Pre-Birthday Message and Jack Daniels' Web Page

Hey all,

I got Jack Daniels page done. I will get it linked into the website and then I think I am off the computer for the night.

I was trying to get another couple of dogs descriptions done today, but this one took me a while cause I been fiddling with the doggone 3 things in a row at the top and they danced all over the place and still ain't cooperating.

So I will continue with descriptions on the new ones on Monday. The new boy we picked up today I think we will name Roswell. He is a sweet guy and gorgeous too.

Eveline HELP!!! For the life of me I can't get that doggone donate button to be at the top in a line with the other 2 logos. It is off kilter and is driving me crazy. Can you fix it for me? And tell me what I did wrong? Thanks.

OH and please don't expect me to talk to anyone tomorrow. It's my birthday, I am gonna have a don't answer the phone or go any doggone where computer free day where all I am gonna do is lay in bed and cuddle with my dogs and watch TIVO shows I've been recording and have not had time to watch. Well... I will get up to go potty and to eat the wonderful dinner that Gareth is gonna cook for me and eat the BEST MOST WONDERFUL moist toasted coconut CAKE IN THE WHOLE WORLD that Lisa made special for me and gave to me today!!! Thank you so much you know how much I love your cake, Lisa!! I stopped at the store today and they had ribeyes on sale and I got 2 small ones for $7. I know expensive, but it is my birthday and I love ribeyes. So I am gonna have grilled ribeyes, baked taters, and a salad that Gareth is gonna fix for me and then CAKE... LOTS AND LOTS OF CAKE!!! YUM YUM YUMMY IN MY TUMMY!!! LOL I will be one spoilt stuffed happy girl tomorrow!!! Hehehehe

Nite all.
HUGS
Wanda

Posted by Wanda on 10 Oct 2009.

Our annual Swelterfest

Swelterfest like all the events we have had this year unfortunately had rain on the day of the party. Since we had to reschedule from September 12th due to a deluge on that day, and the threatening rain, there were not as many attendees as usual.

I was very proud that Barbara, Barry and Laura from NTBTR showed up to help support us. Although, I was very disappointed that a lot of the ABTR regulars who are not my volunteers did not show up to support us as they had stated they would. But even without a crowd of people, we did have a crowd of dogs who were happy to run around and mingle, bark at the jackrabbit, and manage to cajole folks into giving them GOOD tidbits from the people plates.

The humans enjoyed the frozen drink machine, the food, the dogs, the other doggie people and bid in the silent auction. Our fundraising for the enourmous vet bill we have right now was not as good as we had hoped because there wasn't a good turnout of people. But Heidi had a wonderful showing of stuff all set out beautifully that we had to move into the garage to prevent damage from the rain. I am very proud of her hard work on this event as well as proud that Denise organized and let ABTR use her home and yard for this event. Thank you both very much!

I appreciated those wonderful folks that turned out and brought all the delicious food that we enjoyed. You guys are what keeps me going when we have so many incoming dogs and I feel like I am overwhelmed. With your support, I know that I am doing something worthwhile in helping these wonderful little dogs. Thank you for always being there when the dogs need you. You do NOT know how much I appreciate all of you!

View some impressions of this day in our photo album!

Posted by Wanda on 08 Oct 2009.

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