HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE DUCHESS OF DOGWOOD!!!

Pic top : Jenna (Daisy) as she looked in the Animal Control pic that broke my heart

Pic bottom:  Daisy -Duchess of Dogwood--forever Daddy's girl

It's hard to believe that it's been TWO YEARS since little Daisy came into our lives.

Daisy's story started on Face Book. She was posted as an adoptable dog who was counting down the minutes at the Animal Control. 
Now I see MANY of those furry faces every week, as I make every effort I can to share them on Facebook so that their faces are seen and their adoption chances might be improved. They ALL make an impression on my heart, and as they are laid to rest, one by one they take a chip of it away with them.
But ever so often, one of those pictures posted speaks to me in a different way. I know that if anything is going to be done--I'll have to do it myself.
I begged my Better Half to let me have her, but received a firm NO.
So I connived a different route--could we foster her????
Better Half thought it over, and finally relented.  We had fostered once before, a beautiful Border Collie named Sadie who was also a pound baby. She lived with us a little under 30 days before she went to a wonderful home. With that in mind, Better Half conceded.

We went to the Humane Society early on Saturday morning, March 27th,  and told our good friend Ginger Scott that we wanted to pull this dog from the pound and foster her thru their program. Ginger didn't stall a second, and picked up the phone and told the AC Officers that we were on our way to pick up "Jenna" which is what they were calling Daisy  at the time.

From the HS Office, we drove straight to the pound and told the officer at the desk we were there to pick up "Jenna".  He gave me a form to fill out and I went over to sit in one of the lobby seats to complete it.

Suddenly the front door opened  and a white furred, black dotted blur leap from the door, flew half way across the room, and hit me like a ton of bricks. I hardly had to time recover before my face was covered in dog spit and I could feel the urine puddling in my shoe. Before I came to the realization that this was the dog i had come to save, she jumped straight out of my lap and into Better Half's arms.

She was a four month old bag of skin and bones. You could have played her ribs like a Xylophone. But BOY did she have a lot of ENERGY!

Better Half tried not to admit it--but love was in the air . Ok--maybe it was dog farts--cuz she definitely had gas. But once this little girl had made her entrance--we were both seriously afflicted.

We named her DAISY. We both hated the name "Jenna"--and Better Half said that the black spot that covered one eye  looked like a flower. So DAISY she became.

We expected that she would be snatched right up by a wonderful family that was right for her age and her amount of energy.  But all the applications the Humane Society received were from people with toddlers and older folks who she would have exhausted in a week. I know some folks got ticked off by being told no--but that's OK.  What's the use in saving a dog from death, only to put it in a home where it will either be thought of as a pain or where the dog might even end up BACK at the pound???

So Daisy settled in at Dogwood with our other canine convicts: Lucy, Charlie, and Hines the rat terror (I mean terrier). They loved her just as much as we did --and she slid right into an informal place in our pack. Even our beloved lost Pearl, who was the only kitty at Dogwood then, gave a nod of approval.

March gave way to April, and April turned into May. Then the flood came. Everything was in such disarray that adopting a dog was the last thing on people's minds.  I told Better Half that after a little over two months with this little girl, there was no way I was going to let her go.
Better Half AGREED---and Daisy became the official DUCHESS OF DOGWOOD.

Two years later, I cannot imagine a life without her.  She still finds a way to make me laugh, and to touch my heart in so many ways.

I can't save every animal that enters the pound--no matter how hard I try to help. But I saved Daisy--and that means the world to me.

Happy Birthday my sweet innocent. Daddy loves you now and forever.

YEARLY SHOTS TURN INTO A PAIN IN THE HINES!!!

Pictured: The Rat Terror (I mean terrier) of Dogwood: Hines

Like all good parents, I love my kids and do everything I can to assure their good health and that any type of disease or illness that might threaten them will be held at bay. Even though my children are four legged, chase squirrels, and take an occasional drink from the toilet, they receive their physicals and shots yearly, and are treated with heart worm prevention, and flea and tick preventative monthly.

My oldest daughter, Alpha Dog, and Queen of the roost: Lucy, received her yearly pop in the behind and a clean bill of health in December. We had no problems, no struggles, and Lucy actually behaved herself so that it was actually a pleasant visit.

Last Saturday morning, it was Hines and Daisy's turn. Since putting these two together is as dangerous  as mixing Nitro and Gun Powder--I wasn't looking forward to this event. It's not that they fight--Lord no! They lick each other like lolly pops 24 hours a day. But Hines gets a little bit of an attitude when he goes to the vet, and Daisy gets a tad over excited.
Ok-honestly, Hines turns into a little dictator and Daisy, who is already bonkers, goes into CRAZY OVER DRIVE mode. But at Dogwood, we don't keep score on these things--we just draw another target and keep firing!

Sooooooo, anyway, added to the already dreaded situation was the fact that this would be Hines first visit to the Waverly vet.  It had taken us over three years to get him used to going to our beloved Dr. Ramey in Clarksville. She was the A#1 vet care giver to all of the Dogwood inmates for the past eight years. But with the move to Waverly, we had to decide if we would drive the hour back or dig in locally. With gas prices being what they are, we had to find a Waverly vet.

We met Dr. Linda Baty on our first visit to Eastbrook Animal Clinic.  Lucy had one of her usual bladder infections, and it just makes life easier to get her on meds than to have your head bit off because of her foul mood. Better Half and I have sung the bladder blues with Lucy 1000 times, and we pretty much know each note by heart. Dr. Baty knew the song too---and even a few verses that I had forgotten--and that proved to me that she not only knew what she was talking about--but that she gave a damn.

So far, she had met Lucy, Bart, and Sebastian. She had met Daisy earlier also (and lived to tell the tale).

And now, it was time for the good doctor to meet the rat terror (I mean terrier) of Dogwood.

To my surprise, Hines was actually cordial during his visit. I'm not sure if it was Dr. Baty's table side manner or Daisy bouncing around the room like a nerf ball on meth, but he didn't bite anybody or try to claw his way thru the door. I was quite pleased.

Until the next day.

My poor little Hines dog. He's so small, and he is so fragile. When we got up Sunday morning, his little leg swelled up and he was hobbling around like a broken wind up toy. I thought he might also have a temperature. As the day went on, he began to scream out if his little foot even touched the floor. 
Been there--done that--know what to do.

So we made an Emergency call to Dr. Baty, who met Better Half at the office within thirty minutes of our call. She gave him some meds and another shot. Better Half said Hines was so happy (or drugged) that he even gave her kisses.

Dr. Baty didn't charge us a cent. When I heard that--I was ready to give her kisses too.

So Daisy came thru with flying (literally) colors, and we had that one little bump on the butt with Hines.
Otherwise, everyone is OK.

Charlie, my special child, will be up at bat in June. And then everyone will be all happy and shot up for another year.
I have been very fortunate--two great vets in my life--six fur kids that love us as much as we love them--and minor crisises instead of fatal ones.
But one of my babies has a different opinion. He thinks the whole thing is just one big pain in the HINES.

ANIMAL WARRIORS ON THE MOVE!!!!! YOU CAN HELP!!!!!!

 Prada, who has an army of animals warriors fighting for her life

 Gilly, who is in need of help due to a broken jaw

The Pet Bed which can be purchased for the Waverly Animal Shelter

JOEY, who came to Clarksville's Animal Control with two broken front legs

and started a movement and a fund to help others

There are several efforts being made for animals that I wanted to share with you. Maybe you could help--maybe you could offer your prayer support.

A female pitbull, named PRADA, who has been sentenced to be euthanized by a Nashville city court, has raised animal warriors and tons of dollars and signatures in effort to SAVE HER LIFE!

Newschannel 5 has a UP TO DATE story about PRADA posted on their website at :
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/17144835/woman-fights-in-courts-for-dog-condemned-by-city

You can sign PRADA's petition to live at
http://www.change.org/petitions/dept-of-health-please-pardon-pitbull-prada?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall

or donate at :
http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=894&url=prada

PRADA's case is not only an effort to SAVE HER, but to RAISE AWARENESS of the misconception and misunderstood breed known as the pit bull. SAVING THIS LIFE could change the lives of all other members of the breed who have been put to death, abused, of just completely forgotten because fo WHO THEY ARE!

Nikki Anderson , an angel I happen to know on Earth, is trying to raise funds for a 8 week old rescue pup, GILLY, who came to her with a broken jaw.

She updated her Pet Assistance Network blog with the following:

Just got home from the vet with Gilley. They sedated him to do x-rays and a more thorough exam of the jaw. It is a complete break of his left mandible with the bone exposed. He was given a 2wk antibiotic injection yesterday, so hopefully that will help ward off any infection until we can raise the funds to get his jaw fixed. Not sure if it will require surgery or not. Good news is that he is eatinLOL), but until we can raise the money to get the gum sutured and his jaw set, I have to limit his mobility and access to putting things in his mouth. The vet I took him to is not setup to treat this type of injury, so I called the 2 vets they recommended already and was quoted anywhere from $500 for suture & tape muzzle, to $3000 if he needs surgery. Will be calling around to various vets to get quotes and will adjust the chipin goal accordingly. In the meantime, please keep sharing! The longer it takes to get this fixed, the greater his risk of complications setting in. Thanks so much to all who have donated, shared and prayed. He continues to need a LOT more of all 3!

Right now there is a chip in to donate towards helping this little guy being able to chew, and SMILE again.

http://petassistancenetwork.chipin.com/8-week-old-puppy-with-broken-jaw

Nikki is a good egg--and would fry, scramble, or flip to make sure an animal that she rescues will always come up SUNNY SIDE UP!  If you can help the little guy--please do so.

The Waverly Animal Shelter is currently partnered with the Animal Rescue Aid to purchase pet beds for the kennels at the shelter.  The following is an excerpt from their website explaining the bed program.

Animal Rescue Aid launched the National Pet Bed Donation Program to make it possible for shelters and rescue groups to purchase quality Pet Beds at cost (only $17.50 per Pet Bed - for medium, even large sizes!). Replacement Toppers can also be purchased for just $3.95 each! In addition, Animal Rescue Aid covers all shipping costs (in the contiguous USA) - making every, fully taxable, fund-raising dollar go even further!

Medium Pet Bed Dimensions:

Frame 36" x 28.5" / Topper 22" x 28.5"

Large Pet Bed Dimensions:

Frame 42" x 26" / Topper 34.5" x 26"
You can get to their website by clicking the link and following the instructions under "Donate a bed" http://animalrescueaid.bbnow.org/
JOEYS FUND is ALWAYS in need as it is ALWAYS BEING USED to help animal who are hurt or in need of medical care when they reach the Montgomery County Animal Control. Little JOEY came to animal control with both front legs broken--the victim of severe abuse. But the public rallied around him, and helped to pay for his legs to be made whole again---and also started a fund to help others like Joey.

This from their Facebook page, by Karen Josephson, Director at AC:
We currently have FOUR animals being treated through The Joey Fund. This photo is TASHA who had Mast Cell Cancer in her right rear leg and we had to amputate. She's great now and only 2 years old!!! I am so very thankful to all of you who give to this fund so animals who come to us injured but easily treatable can be cared for!
 
PLEASE DONATE if you can!  So many of these animals can live healthy lives if they get this one chance at a leg up.
If you send a check to us - it is Tax Deductable! Make it out to: Montgomery County Trustees 616 N. Spring Street Clarksville, TN 37043
 
FOSTERING ANIMALS takes so little effort--and you can SAVE so many lives. EVERY ORGANIZATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY has a FOSTERING program that you can apply for! By giving a dog or cat a TEMPORARY HOME--you SAVE IT'S LIFE!!! How can you argue with that???? It's either save them---or stand by and watch them die!  As a FOSTER HOME--YOU HAVE THE POWER over life and death. CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!! Volunteer as a FOSTER HOME to ANY organization!
 
AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THINGS GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD TODAY TO HELP ANIMALS!!! SOOOO MANY GOOD CAUSES that you can't think straight --right???
 
The only advice I can give is to talk to God about it--and ask him to lead you. If you can only offer prayer for these causes--PLEASE DO SO!!!! God hears us!  Miracles still happen!!! Pray not only for the money needed, but that these animals who suffer will be blessed and ADOPTED, and that the warriors that fight EVERYDAY to save them will find renewed strength and new ways to put their love and effort into SAVING LIVES!!!

THEY CANNOT DO IT ALONE!  It takes a COMMUNITY to beat sense into the village!!!!
 
PLEASE help if you can in ANY WAY!.

To Death--I am A Sore Loser

Ernest

                                                                      Peeky

                                                                                  Max

                                                                              Duchess


Death and I don't get along.  He's always stronger than me--and no matter how hard I fight him--I always end up losing.  Death isn't like fighting Chance or holding onto to HOPE. Death is the one that is just too strong to take down.

Lately Death seems to be taking more and more of my friends.

My little Duchess, who I had fallen in love with while she was living at the shelter, fell ill and died overnight--cause--parvo. She was there one minute, and gone the next--no excuse, no chance to say good bye--just gone.  I can still see her running for the piece of rope, and hear her sweet bark, telling me that she wanted a treat. But they are just ghosts of what was--Duchess is gone.

Little Peek a Choo--my old feline friend up at Cats Are Us, who passed over the Rainbow Bridge on February 24th--he lived his entire life in that shelter--he had bladder issues that no one could see past--not even me.  I always promised him that one day he would have a forever home. I lied. Everyone loved Peeky--everyone made him the promise to come back for him. No one came back for Peeky--no one gave him that chance--now it's too late.  I wanted to give him something that I couldn't--and I am heartbroken that I never tried. He was sweet as the day was long, and I mourn his loss very deeply.

Ernest---someone I pulled for and prayed for to be rescued from the Animal Control. I got my prayer answered--and again got Death's swift kick in the gutt. Ernest had only been removed from AC a few days when he fell mysteriously ill and was fighting for his life. Again I asked God to intervene, but Ernest was already spoken for. He past away last week, leaving his rescuers to grieve for the mission unfulfilled.

Little Max--the little white chinless wonder dog who was beloved to my in-laws--went to be with God last week too. Little Max was a card--cute, cuddly--loving.  He had a good long life and was treated very well. But even though we can be comforted by that thought, it is still so hard to say good bye to someone we loved so much. But little Max too, is gone, running free and painless thru the high Cotton in the Fields of the Lord forever.

So many others--so many names and faces that pass thru my life and my computer screen and my emails--everyday. Some of them I have hands on experience with. Some I simply fall in love with thru a picture. Some I cared for, or known thru rescue, looking into their eyes and seeing the light that burns to love a human and be their friend.

So many little faces that leave this Earth, and take a little bit of me with them when they go.

I don't like Death. It's a lose/lose situation.
I can fight depression.
I can resist temptation.
I can wrestle fear, and anxiety, and even stomp out anger.
But death is something  too much to bare.
The only way to deal with death, and the ones that it takes from me---

is to live with it.

THE WAVERLY ANIMAL SHELTER/HUMANE SOCIETY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

Meet Peanut--a four month old female lab currently residing at the Waverly Animal Shelter. PEANUT could use a foster home, as the shelter is currently over crowded by 36 new animals recently confiscated 

THEY ARE BURSTING AT THE SEEMS!!!!!! Please help if you can!

The Humphreys County Humane Society's ACT (Anti-Cruelty Team) has just confiscated 36 Dogs (9 Puppies, 19 Adult Females - some pregnant, 8 Adult Males) from a bad situation and are housing them at the Waverly Animal Shelter.


Foster Families for current Pets (not the newly confiscated Animals) are DESPERATELY NEEDED to make room for the 36 new Animals.

WE NEED YOUR HELPING HANDS!!

The HCHS is in DESPERATE NEED for Volunteers to help Feed Animals, Clean Kennels, and Walk Dogs for the next 2 weeks from 8 am - Noon, Monday thru Sunday.

If YOU can lend a hand, PLEASE call (931-296-7319)to join a schedule of volunteers!! PLEASE call for scheduling so that the effort can be evenly distributed to the greater good!

THIS IS A COURT CASE AND PROTOCOLS must be followed—no discussion of the case is allowed.

PLACE: the Waverly Animal Shelter

TIME: between 8 - Noon

JOB: Feed Animals, Clean Kennels, or Walk Dogs,

TO FOSTER: Call 931-296-7319 or come by the Shelter if you can Foster.

More than ever we NEED the support of our community to SAVE THE LIVES of (now rescued) Animals. PLEASE lend a hand to Save A Paw.