Deizel Slowly Settles In

Much needed rain over the weekend kept us inside for part of Saturday and Sunday.

Except if you're Shaggy-Todd.  He likes being out in just about any weather.

The only one bothered by the storms is Max. When I was sitting, he curled up under my feet or got into the tub when I wasn't.

Our newest addition Diezel is slowly setting in.  But it is having its challenges.  He is so comfortable and content outside and I think he'd stay out all day if we'd let him.

But inside it is the total opposite.  We've decided that Deizel has probably not lived inside for awhile and when he did, he was probably restricted to just the kitchen. Getting him to leave the kitchen is being met with a lot of resistance. Of course it goes without saying that we'll keep working at it and we'll figure it out together.

But if anyone has any advice on how to make the transition easier for Deizel, we're listening!  

All of us except Max -- When he's not hiding in the tub, he's busy watching television.

Deizel Arrives at Golden Pines

With the recent arrival of Max, I'd asked to not take another foster dog.  I guess that the request was forgotten about because I was asked if we would consider taking a "special" new addition.

That special new addition is named Deizel, and he arrived first thing this morning.  He's ten years old, and almost totally blind.  Given up, and I quote, "because of his family not wanting to take care of him anymore because he is blind." Sadly and unfortunately, you can't make this up, and I wouldn't call them "family" because of their excuse for not wanting to keep him.  The only good thing that I can say, is that they did one thing right, in turning him over to the rescue.

Deizel's introductions to his new pack members have gone well.  He's a nice dog, and how much he can see of what's around him, I'm not sure about.  He is of course a little confused about where he is, and what's happening to him.

So we're taking it extra slow and letting him get to know us and become familiar with his new surroundings.

I don't know what Deizel's story will be.  But I do know he's going to be okay.

Ciao Bella!

It was a day that I knew would come too soon.  As we said good-bye to Bella, someone else, was saying hello to her, and welcoming her into their home.  Bella has been adopted!  

~Bella ready for the ride to meet her forever family~

The retired couple that met her in late April were finally ready to move forward with adopting her.  There were several last minute hurdles that we had to get through with Bella.  She had a few issues with her health that required a few more tests.  But I hope (and pray) that Bella continues to have good health as she begins this new chapter in her life.

~Smiles all around~

Bella had been with us for just over a year.  But I'd felt for a long time that she should have a family all her own that she didn't have to share.

~Bella being spoiled~ 

While she may have growled at our dogs and the cats, Bella has a gentle spirit and is truly a dog with a big heart and a lot of love to give and share.  I think that living in a retirement community, with a lot of people around will give her the chance to share that love.  And at the end of the day, she has a family all her own. It could not be more perfect.  The below e-mail that I received this evening confirms those thoughts.

Hi Kim,
    We have had a wonderful day with Bella! The ride home was uneventful and, after a brief mid-day walk, we all had a short nap. Then, Bella spent the afternoon either with Dick watching TV or with me in the office. She was very content to nap with an occasional raising of her head to confirm that we were just a few feet away. After dinner, she had a walk with Dick where she met several neighbors, who all fell in love with her.Then it was back to the house where she now is lying at our feet while we are watching a PBS mystery program.   All in all, Bella's first day with us exceeded our expectations.
     She said to tell you and her four-legged friends that all is well and to be happy for her because she thinks she has found her forever home.
      Best wishes from the three of us,
          Judy


I hope for many good days like this for Bella.  I will and do miss her.  



Bella on the first day we met her.  She was tired and not feeling well. 

Fields of Gold

Another busy week is over, and we have a busy weekend ahead.

Our newest addition, Max went to the vet for an evaluation and treatment plan.  We've decided on acupuncture, cold laser therapy and medications for the first two weeks to see how it goes.

Max has settled into his new life and routine. He's a nice boy, that is affectionate, and is always willing to give you his paw, lick your hand or face, or whatever he can reach.  He is still a little growly when our dogs get to close to him.  But I'm okay with that, because the dogs seem to be okay with it.

I took Friday off of work to get a few things done.  But I ended up with a little spare time in the morning, so I packed up Sheba, picked up a good friend and we went over to Maryland to see the sunflower fields.

Most of the bigger sunflowers are past their peak blooms.

And I know they are nowhere close to the magnificent sunflower fields in France.

But I do love the golden sunflowers.

They are really beautiful and I'm glad my friend and I were able to go and see them this year.

We'll be mostly inside this weekend because of the high heat.

And tomorrow is a bittersweet day when a new chapter begins for one of our pups.  I'll tell you about it on Sunday.  Enjoy your weekend!

Max Arrives at Golden Pines!

Summertime fun and life continues to keep me busy and away from blogging. Vet visits for both Bella and Jake this week filled the precious spare time,

~Bella~

Both are doing well, and today we celebrate 164 days since Jake left the shelter where he'd been taken to be euthanized. He continues to do really well, as he and Bella are in competition for the worst ear infections.

~Jake celebrates 164 Days of Grace!~

The busy pace continued on Saturday when we welcomed a new addition....


Say hello to Max, a six year old Goldendoodle! For those of you who don't know, a Goldendoodle is a “designer dog,” or a hybrid-mix of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever.

Max was given up because his owners, a retired couple are leaving for a church mission in Ethiopia. Having a Goldendoodle, and giving up a dog to fill a mission to Ethiopia are firsts for us. And as you well know, we don't typically foster dogs that are his age. But Max is having problems with his back, and is unable to do a lot of steps, so we were asked to take him.  I have to admit, I couldn't resist that face!  

After Webster, our last dog for Lab Rescue, I'm very relieved that the intros to our crew have gone pretty well.  Max has growled at all the dogs except Todd and Charlie. He lived with "smaller dogs" so that may be why.  But I'm glad that it's getting better the more he interacts with them.

"Max keeping an eye on the fiercest dog in our house, George." 

With the intros behind us, the smile on Todd's face this evening, is mirroring the one on mine.  I think Max is going to be just fine with us. Paws crossed, just in case!

Here and Gone and Worn Out!

We had family from out-of-town visit us this past week.  

It's always great fun having family and friends come!  We enjoy using their visits as a chance to go and see a few of the sites of Washington D.C. that I never get tired of seeing.

~Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery~

~Arlington National Cemetary~

I love the late nights, and the chance to cook, bake and eat out!

~Crabcake Sandwich at Clyde's~

This visit was perfect, in that when my family left, it had me wishing they could stay a day or two longer.

~Todd and Bella~

But maybe it's just as well that they're gone....  

Because I think all of us, including Todd are feeling just a little worn out.  Is that possible for him?  

The Week in Review

This week at "Golden Pines" ....

Our regular dog-walker went on vacation and the girl who filled in on the first day, got locked out of the house just as she was getting everyone back inside. She's not sure how it happened, but she thought she heard snickering on the other side of the door.

~I'll bet Todd knows how the door suddenly closed on the dog-walker~

Our foster kitten went missing.  After a search of the entire house, top to bottom several times, including closets. he was nowhere to be found.  Just as panic had set in I was about to give up, Mo was found laying on a chair.  

For the past few weeks I've been working with Sunny to allow him to be off lead during our walks. The very first morning he was totally off of a leash and not dragging one behind him, he ran off after a rabbit.  He was so beautiful as he ran across the yard and into the woods. Because I had slow-pokes George and Jake on leads, I couldn't go after him.  All I could do was stand there and watch him disappear.  Fortunately, I also worked on Sunny's recall and he came back to me, his eyes all sparkling and happy.

Charlie is all dressed up.  He has a skin infection and is on antibiotics.  He's not loving the new look.  So I took off the shirt, and he's a little happier.

Axel, our foster boy for Lab Rescue, went to his new home on Thursday.  I'll admit, he was another dog that I was on the fence about keeping. We were all crazy about him! But a retired couple that lives on the Maryland shore offered him a chance at a good life of fun and lots of family.  The report today was that Axel had met all the grandchildren, their dogs, and he was loving being able to play in the water.  Retired Dog-Mom doesn't think that his tail has stopped wagging.

~Axel will be missed  and not forgotten!~ 

Axel's dog bed didn't have time to get cold.  On Friday we welcomed a new addition named Webster from Lab Rescue.  Just as a coincidence he came from the same shelter in West Virginia that Axel did.  But it's thought that all the changes and boarding proved to be too stressful for him, because he ended up with bloat, and had emergency surgery on Monday.

Unfortunately he wasn't getting along well with our crew.  He was very reactive around the dogs every time they came near him and it was getting worse. All the dogs just ignored him. But Lab Rescue and I agreed that it would be best if a new foster home was found for Webster.  I'm grateful that on a holiday weekend a new one was found that he could be taken to this afternoon. I felt badly that it didn't work out.  But Webster really needed a quiet place to recover from his bloat-surgery, and as an only dog in his new foster home, he'll get that chance.

~Webster, we hardly got to know him~

Through the stress of the last couple of days, I was really proud of Todd.  He's always ready to rumble but did as I asked when I told him to "go on" when Webster was barking at him -- Even though I could tell he was hesitating and having to think about it. Unlike the video below, doing exactly as he was asked, was a little un-Scottie of him!