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

Make a Smilebox slideshow

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

Time Flies!

It is Sunday, December 6, and Molly's pups are 4 days old!

Molly had a turbulent, complicated labor and was ultimately not able to deliver the pups. A terrified Sandy Bookman took Molly into West Park Animal Hospital for an emergency C-Section, terrified that all puppies might have been lost. In fact, four healthy puppies were delivered. Three girls and one boy. And there was great celebration!

One of the pups looks like Molly, the other three appear to be sable with white toes and white bellies and chests. They have short noses. Some have extra rear toes. We docked the tails, so as to improve their adoptability.

Molly recognized Sandy right away when she went into WPAH to visit the evening of the birth. She was a very happy dog. The next evening, mother and pups returned to the Mudpuppy Inn, to a beautifully appointed Puppy Suite. Mother Molly settled right in, and pups attached- and never seem to do anything but nurse!

The C-section was hard on Molly, and her appetite has suffered, and she has not been feeling too well, but she has been taking beautiful care of her babies. The vets and WPAH are reassuring that she is OK, and it will take some time for her to bounce back.

It will be fun to watch the little pups grow and develop-- to see what they become.

Molly Moves Fast

It is truly remarkable how fast a rescue team can move when truly motivated.

This is Molly. She was "dropped off" at a shelter in Michigan yesterday afternoon about 2 pm by a man who said "she might be pregnant." He also said that he "doesn't believe in spaying purebred dogs."

Molly is probably 4 years old. She is lovely. She is very close to having her pups. The shelter was so determined that they be safe that they contact ESRA right away. Kim Marvin, the Michigan Coordinator, appealed nationwide for help. Not every volunteer will take responsibility for whelping a litter of pups.

Ohio's Sandy Bookman said- "I will." In the long-standing tradition of great innkeepers, she agreed to find room in the Mudpuppy Inn for one more, for one about to give birth. And so Janice Scarbrough in Michigan, and other Michigan volunteers, moved Molly today to Ann Arbor.

On the first leg of her journey, Molly's mucous plug left, and Jan said a prayer and called downstream. "Let's move this transport speed up a little." Debra Westrick did not want to deliver puppies at her house this evening... so she just kept driving after picking Molly up in Ann Arbor. And she took Molly to Elyria, where Jim Kelley took Molly to Sandy's house.

Molly is now resting comfortably-- soft blankets, good food, lots of water, soft light, classical music. What more could a gal want? Did the Blessed Mother have it this good?

Not much more than 24 hours after reaching the shelter, Molly is settled into an appropriate place to give birth to her pups. And she will in fact be spayed. And her puppies will too. Amazing.

P.S. The owner dropped off Molly's AKC papers at the shelter today...

Letting Chip Go

How did I get so very attached so quickly? It has only been a week since I brought Chip home, two weeks since I pulled him out of Stautzenberger with a muzzle on his face. But we have made a long journey together. He has become a (almost) civilized dog. He knows (sort of) how to love his people in ways that they like. Chip has found being part of a household very much to his liking. He learned that there are rules, and that it helped to follow them.

Tonight we met his Permanent Foster Dad, Neil, in Akron. Chip nuzzled Neil very optimistically. And Chip and I had good snuggles. But the confused look Chip gave me as they pulled away in the car is hard to erase. I know that Chip will do well with Neil, Barb, and their dogs, Ollie and Piper. He will be an even better dog in another two weeks. But it was kind of like breaking up with your first boyfriend...

This weekend, Chip met a couple who fell in love with him and have committed to making him a permanent part of their family when they return from a long-planned trip in two weeks. So Chip actually has a Forever Home waiting for him after "finishing school" at Neil and Barb's. The couple was so impressed with Chip's good behavior!! And with his enthusiasm for people. And they very much liked how Chip listened to me when I spoke to him. "Of course," I thought, "he's figured out how to survive in this world!"

It is much quieter here now with just Jelly and Emma, who was finally enjoying wrestling with Chip. It's a little TOO quiet...

Thankful for a Second Chance, and a Third

Chip wandered into a country home, along a busy highway. He stayed there four weeks, living outside the entire time. He was not entirely welcome, but the couple did not want to send him to the county pound. They knew his chances there weren't good. So they contacted the local group of "rescue ladies," who then found ESRA. It took awhile to get Chip's tranport arranged.

Chip found the trip north to Cleveland quite stressful, and he had a rough first night in care. Then he wasn't feeling very well, and, frankly, he got kicked out of Stautzenberger College on Monday morning because he did not like being handled. He was picked up from there with the expectation that he was not a nice boy and was going to need to be euthanized.

Fortunately, he better nature started to come through. He was nice and gentle during the immunizations, and he handled the transfer to West Park Animal Hospital very well. We were able to identify some reasons that he might not be feeling well, and Chip was a very cooperative patient at West Park Animal Hospital.

When he was released, we visited a professional trainer to get a good assessment of Chip's temperament, and Chip did very, very well. Yes, he lacks manners. But he is not a bad tempered dog. It took a lot to get Chip's goat. So Chip came home to foster care.

Well, Chip is pretty "uncouth" in the house. Mouthing. Counter surfing. Jumping up. It was a very rough first day. But the second day, the bad behaviors were less, and the good behaviors were more. And on Wednesday, still more good behaviors. By Thursday, he's pretty great. Very little undesirable behavior. Sit and down pretty well mastered. Come is wonderful. Stay... that's tough. And he is a pretty nice boy on a leash.

Grandma just brought by a Senior friend- a very elderly lady who loves dogs dearly- and who wanted to meet Chip. What a test for Mr. Uncouth! But wouldn't you know- he was a Rock Star! Gentle, loving, affectionate-- kisses, not mouthing. Gave paw. What a nice dog! How did he know?

Chip has been a good lesson for me about jumping to conclusions.

Liberty

This is Little Liberty. She really is a Springer Spaniel. Life has not been easy for her. But she makes the best of it. I am delighted that she is spending the Thanksgiving Weekend with me, because I will get to know her a little bit better. Liberty may not be among us much longer. We are trying to determine whether she has mammary cancer that has spread to her lungs.

It seems that it takes very little to make Liberty happy. A safe place to sleep, a few toys. Regular meals. Riding in the front seat of the car. How hard is this?

Chip Ahoy!

What happens when a dog reaches maturity without having learned the basics of interacting politely with humans? Chip is a wiggly, smiley, cheerful fellow who does not know any better than jumping up, putting his paws on counters to see what's up there, and mouthing your hand to tell you he likes you.

At least he's not "territory marking" all over the house. Yes, it could be worse! And I have known a great many strong leash pullers. He is far from the strongest. Thankfully, he is nice to the cats. And he only whines for about 5 minutes in his crate.

He will be a pretty boy when all cleaned up- his liver has a copper gleam to it, and a lovely wave. He has a big, blocky, square head. And his full tail has a white tip on the end, which, when pointed straight up above his back waving from side to side, is a sure sign of his absolute joy.

He has four white socks, and a white ruff and mane. Yes, he is handsome. And he can be taught. There is hope. Chip will truly worship the person who teaches him how to be a Great Dog.

Jelly in the Morning

It's 4:30 am, and the sighing and groaning starts... then the wander into the bathroom for the drink of water. It's time for me to pull on my bathrobe and find my slippers, for She Who Must Be Obeyed will want out.

Can I get her outside before she wakes the house with the Happy Bark, "I'm Alive! I'm Alive! Another Day, and I'm Alive!" We go downstairs, and outside...

"Shhhh... Jelly.... the whole neighborhood doesn't need to know that you're alive..." It doesn't help. She can't hear me.

Then it's time to eat. Somehow The Servant never can get the food into the dish quite fast enough to suit Her Highness. Back outside. Just in case. And now, back to sleep.

But for me, it's time to start the day. And I wonder, who has trained whom in this relationship? Why is it that I understand what all these different barks mean? And which of us is demented...