Wilson

This is little Wilson, one of the Indianapolis Eleven puppies. He is being fostered by Lynn Skochdopole in Indi. Wilson likes toys.

There is so much opportunity in a puppy.

I wonder where all these little ones will go? What will they see in their lifetimes? Wilson looks wise beyond his weeks. All 9 of them!

A Wagging Tail

Scarlett is amazing. When I last saw her, I was not sure she wanted to be alive. She seemed to have lost all hope. So thin, so empty.

Scarlett has some serious mammary lumps. One was biopsied with her spay. The area became badly infected due to the mastitis in the glands. And there was uncontrolled bleeding. After the biopsy results came back that determined that her lumps were not metastatic, English Setter Rescue agreed to the needed surgery to clean out the infected area and try to stop the bleeding.

Even after surgery, her prognosis was guarded. But the antibiotics took hold. And Scarlett sprang back. Her foster Mom, Carol, has been tremendously dedicated to Scarlett's care. It has taken a great deal of effort to help Scarlett - but she is now on the road to better health.

There is an English Setter Rescue foster home waiting for her, and she has now been cleared to travel in a week. We are very proud of our leaping, tail-wagging Setter!

Merry Christmas 2009

"Behold, I Bring You Tidings of Great Joy!"

. . . and the world was forever changed. Was there, in fact, a Jubilee Year, as Isaiah prophesied? Alas, no. But for two millennia there have been Jubilee People. Those who have fed the hungry, and those who have clothed the naked. People who have cared for the dying, and people have forgiven debts against one another.

Within the tradition of Christianity, there are great scientists and philosophers, whose contributions to learning have enlightened our appreciation and wonder at the power of the Creator God. And in the core creation stories of the Hebrew Testament, we receive a clear commission to stewardship of the earth and its creatures.

Increasingly, I appreciate the fragility of the highly productive system of feeding people on which we depend. Limited reserves of accessible phosphorus, intensive fossil fuel requirement, slow but inexorable accumulation of undesirable components in the soil matrix, challenging choices about water and its management, storage and transportation requirements that have centralized vulnerability to attack by foreign agents- be they microbes or humans. It is a time of overwhelming challenge.

But on any given day, I may be able to contribute in a small way to righting a single wrong- or perhaps a consequence of a protracted societal wrong. I may be able to help one of God's creatures, with which we, as humans, have interacted to make fully dependent on us. And I may be able to extend the joy of a loving canine companion to others. Someone who is lonely may have the companionship of a beautiful English Springer Spaniel. Someone who needs a little more reason to go outdoors and walk, may have an excited Springer Spaniel prancing at the rack of leashes. Someone who believes that no one understands may have two big brown eyes gazing up at them.

And perhaps today, someone will have just a little more joy when they see a fast Springer Spaniel chase a ball across the yard and come flying back with it.

Merry Christmas!

Jelly's New Coat

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Julien

A male dog that reached the age of seven with his maleness intact is a handsome specimen, but he does not function effectively in the world.

Poor Julien has had a remarkable week. He was taken from his home to Stautzenberger College where he was locked up for four days while his gonads were removed. Then he was taken out to a trainer's where he was put through his paces and introduced to one dog after another. Next thing he knew, he was at a strange house with a Brittney Spaniel who really didn't like him at all and a mother dog who would have torn him to bits if he had walked into her room.

Luckily, the nice lady who ran the house took him with her to work the next day, and he was safe! But then she gave him to another nice lady. And she had other female dogs. Why does everyone have all these dogs?

The big yellow one was just bossy. The old one wasn't too bad. But that little white one with the black head was fast and NASTY!!

This is a lot for a 7-year old dog to digest in a few short days. No wonder poor Julien is a whiny mess.

It would have been a lot easier for Julien if he had been neutered at 6 months. If the neighbors had not bred big, mean dogs that exuded testosterone all over the neighborhood. And if his first family had been able to provide the leadership that a dog needs.

A Banner Week

There is a family for every dog! This week, little Telly Monster went to a home that is prepared to deal with Demon Possession in a Puppy. Actually, it seems that the aggressive efforts in puppy behavior modification from Day 1 in ESRA may have paid off with the Little Devil. She is being a model citizen in her new home-- to the point that they have renamed her "Bella."

It was a good call to advertise her as a Puppy With Issues. Doing so cut down on the applications from families that were not prepared to deal with a dog that will challenge you. Not all people should raise teenagers. Not all people should raise Telly, either!

Then there was Handsome Jack, the dog that everyone wanted. He brought a great number of applications into ESRA Ohio. This is a good thing because it restocks our list of Approved Adopters. But it is hard on the people who apply and do not get to adopt him. It is perplexing that a couple would apply to adopt when one is so allergic that Jack would be banned from half of the home. Hmmm.

Macy also found her new family this weekend. Macy had a very nice life with her Dad and Mom, until the child came into the picture. It's hard to understand why they could raise such a well disciplined dog and such a poorly disciplined child. Some children are a dog's worst enemy. Fortunately, ESRA was there to lift Macy out of her tormented life and into a home where she will be respected.

Little Oscar, who had no business in the Stark County Pound, also went to a Forever Family. His new family had a challenge-- this summer they had to put to sleep an ESRA dog that had become aggressive. This dog had bitten several times. It was a very sad, difficult situation. And it left scars on the hearts of the family. They needed a dog they could trust. Being neutered at a young age, Oscar is less likely to develop issues. And he really is a sweetie pie!

And finally, Chip, about whom I have posted earlier, went to his Forever Home. A couple that is just nuts about him, and about his gusto for life, has adopted him. He will have a retired Mom. And he'll have a large fenced yard to play in. Chip will be the apple of his family's eye. They like his affectionate manner, and he will be very loving to them.

And so we have much to celebrate in the placement of all of these dogs into homes that will cherish them for the rest of their days. Rescue does indeed work.

2009 Holiday Slide Show

Make a Smilebox slideshow