Off to the Vets!

I was up this morning at the usual time of about 5 o'clock. and for whatever reason the dogs didn't stir. Not even Todd. Maybe it's the darkness at that time that's keeping them from starting their day. Or maybe they just know that their breakfast won't come for a few more hours.

~Eager for breakfast!~ 

Our week ended with vet visits. On Thursday I took new girl Sophie to see Holistic Vet. Our hope is to slow down what we think is a re-growth of a tumor on Sophie's thyroid.

~Sophie at Holistic Vet~

So we have started Sophie on a special mix of chinese herbs similar to the ones that Charlie takes. Also prescribed was a medication called Doxepin for her laryngeal paralysis.

~Sophie's Chinese Herbs~

Also along with us for the ride was Tanner. Lab Rescue asked about trying him out in a "city setting" to see how he reacts to traffic and new people. I also took him to the shop where we buy our dog food, and we walked around the city center. Tanner did really well, and wasn't bothered at all by the city sounds and people. Knowing this should help broaden the pool of hopeful adopters for him. At least that's the hope and plan.

~Tanner watching the other patients at Holistic Vets Office~ 

We rounded the corner to Friday and drove the opposite direction from Holistic Vet to the office of Mobile Vet with Todd and Alf.

Both were due for yearly check ups, blood work and to update vaccines. Pending the return of the blood work, they got good reports from Mobile Vet.

~Alf and Mobile Vet~

Todd got his last distemper vaccine. He was happy to be on his way back home.

And with that, at the moment, everyone is all caught up on their needed vet care for the month of September.  Good thing, given that there are 8 days left. Where did September go?

It'll be Halloween before we know it!

~Rhett being a good sport in a Halloween Headband~

Finally it's Friday!

Finally it's Friday!  We have a lot going on behind the scenes that I won't bore you with, but its been a busy and roller coaster of a week. 

The new arrivals, Sophie and Tiggy the cat, are settling in nicely.  I grew up with siamese cats, and I've been reminded more than once this week about what unique characters they are, and Tiggy is no exception. They are a breed of cat that my Mom loved, and just about the only cat she'd let us have as kids. 

~My late brother and me, circa 1966~

Which is why my brother and I decided that having Tiggy as part of our household reminds us of her. 

I did finally catch up with the vet who has cared for Tiggy, whose real name is actually Tigger, and the lovely Sophie.  He told me that Sophie had radiation for throat cancer last year. The radiation she had did shrink the tumor. However, during an exam that Sophie had recently, her vet said a lump has appeared next to her voice box, but he can't be certain if it's the same one.  I've decided to take Sophie to see Holistic Vet next week. I hope that maybe herbs like the ones Charlie takes may help Sophe as well. 

~Sophie and Tanner - I love Sophie's white eyebrows~

Our other new arrival, Tanner was posted on the Lab Rescue (LLRCP) Facebook page today, for "Foster Friday."   I know I keep saying it, but I hope his new forever home comes forward soon.

~A Facebook collage for Tanner~

Our Friday was a quiet day. We enjoyed cooler temps and I let Todd spend most of it outside.

As for me, I spent most of my day inside catching up, and I even took a nap. I'm just so happy the busy week is over!

~Charlie!!~

The New Arrivals Settle In

A busy and hectic week ended with a trip to Lancaster Pennsylvania to see my friend who was feeling down.  I took Rhett with me and I hope our visit helped. 

~Outdoor kitty,Gino, doing kitty-yoga?~ 

Back at home, Sophie is settling in nicely and finding her place.

Yesterday, Sophie's counterpart "Tiggy" a seal point siamese, joined our household.  It's hard to say whether he's finding his way or not.  He's a cat, so he's not telling.

Tanner is all settled in and at the same time has been made available for adoption. I hope his forever family steps forward soon.  He's a really nice boy.  But he simply can't resist chasing the cats, so he'll be best suited to a home without them. And speaking of chasing, he really loves chasing tennis balls.

Its been great fun to have a dog that loves to retrieve - He even brings the ball back.  Most of the time anyway!

Finally we had an inquiry from a hopeful adopter for Ginger. The wife is very anxious to meet her, and I hope something becomes of it. Today also marks one year since Alf came to us.  It has been a full year for him, with his dental surgeries, tumor removal, and just adjusting to what I know was a new life.  But I know that at the end of this year, this affectionate boy is happy and content.

~Ginger left, Alf on the right~

Enjoy your week!

~Todd all groomed and handsome!~ 

Sophie Arrives at Golden Pines

YES, you have read that right.  In just 8 days from when we met Tanner, Sophie has arrived at Golden Pines, thanks to what I am pretty sure is the cosmos at work, and serendipity!   

Get comfy, because here's the story.... I FINALLY got around to making that grooming appointment that Todd has needed since July.  But there was a mix-up with his appointment and our new groomer (who bought the grooming salon in the spring).  So, since Todd didn't have an appointment with them, and our old groomer is now set up in her home about 30ish miles away, I called her.  I did this for two reasons.  One because I told her when she contacted me in the early part of summer that I would and second because I'd had this nagging feeling that I needed to call her. It was a feeling I just couldn't shake.

When I called our "old" groomer, Irina on Tuesday, the first thing she said, was not hello, but something like, "Hi Kim, I can't believe you are calling - I've been thinking about you.  I have a 13 year old Lab that needs a home."  What?!?!  Irina explained to me how the 90 year old owner had moved to an assisted living facility, and the son had taken Sophie and a siamese cat to the vet to be euthanized because he didn't want them. (go ahead, think it, I thought the same thing about the son too!!). The story gets a little vague here, but the vet said he'd take them both, and since Irina and the vet know each other, somehow Irina ended up with Sophie, who by the way, she has groomed her entire life. And today I took Todd and Charlie to be groomed, and met Sophie, and brought her home.

~A handsome and happy, worn out Todd on the way home~

In three words, Sophie is wonderful!  She has met our big crew with no problems whatsoever. The cats she would love to get to know, but they are having none of that.  I can only guess it's because she may be missing the cat she lived with....Irina (previous groomer) wants me to take the cat too.  We'll see.  But it has been a big day for Sophie, and she is fast asleep on a dog bed.

Welcome to Golden Pines Sophie!!

****** Arrives at Golden Pines!

You all know me too well, and are great guessers!!  YES, it was TANNER who caught my eye on the list of dogs looking for a foster home and we were asked to foster! He arrived a week ago this evening.

~Tanner's shelter photo~

Tanner was a stray from a shelter on the eastern shore of Maryland.  Found in late July, he was covered from head to toe with fleas and ticks.  He has a skin allergy caused by the fleas and is missing about half of his coat. He needs weekly baths with a medicated shampoo to soothe his skin and help it to heal. He's on several medications, which is really helping as you can see in the photos.  

~What kind eyes Tanner has & he loves to give you his paw~

Tanner is estimated to be between 8 to 10 years old. I would guess he's probably more like eight.  He has great energy, and loves attention.  He's getting along really well with all the dogs.  The cats are an irresistible curiosity for him, and so we watch him closely around them.  He doesn't chase them, he just seems very interested in whatever they are doing; which usually isn't really anything.

~Exploring our yard on his first day~

It's anyone's guess how this nice and easy going boy ended up as a stray. Tanner knows all about being in a house, he loves to sleep on the bed, and knows all about tennis balls and the kitchen. He has a tender heart and spirit, and puts his head down when we tell him "no." So, we're careful to not hurt those canine feelings in teaching him the rules of the house. Tanner was also microchipped previously, but the information was incomplete, and led nowhere.  A reminder to make sure your pets 'chip information is updated!   

We're glad Tanner is here and we are enjoying getting to know him. Soon, the rescue will make him available for adoption, and the search for his forever home will begin.

Your Guess - The New Addition Is?

Once again, I am grateful and humbled by your sharing the loss of Baloo both here and on Facebook. The sadness and being a bit on autopilot as the "what if's and maybe I should have..." have been repeating over and over in my mind for our beloved Baloo. It can be a bit consuming. And it happens every. single. time.... I will question all of it in the days ahead. It's just how I'm wired and what I do. And I do it pretty well I have to admit! But I cannot say "thank-you all" enough for your friendship and for your kind and caring comments and your support that truly makes a difference!

I never did mention it, but we were in the process of adopting Baloo. But we were never able to sign his adoption contract. Time simply ran out. However, the adoption coordinator made it official anyway, meaning that we posthumously adopted Baloo, making him ours. I thought that was such a nice gesture because it means, at least on paper, that he had found a new forever home. 


We all know, like it or not, and ready or not, life has a way of going on. Carl returned home late last evening and said this morning that it's easy to see the hole left in our household by Baloo. Each of our dogs truly have their own place.

~Alf is starting to look shaggier every day!~

Even with our bursting household, for the last few weeks for whatever reason, I felt like we were missing a dog. So much so, that more than once, I got up in the middle of the night to make sure all the dogs were inside. I'll confess that I even cruised the internet looking at dogs. Even with all that, I'd decided that I was doing it only because a friend has just gotten a new puppy. Which by the way is totally (!!!) out of the question for us. 

~Shaggy Todd will agree about our not getting a puppy!~

I kept trying to shake that feeling. Despite "that feeling" it was a bit unexpected when another foster-home-coordinator, that I never work with, asked me to consider a new addition. I was worried about Baloo, so I asked her to try and find another foster home for this particular dog. But whether we are able to foster or not for the rescue, foster homes always get a list of dogs needing a place to go, that includes their information and photos. When I'd seen the list a few days before being asked, one dog caught my eye. When I received another updated list a few days later, the same dog caught my eye again. And it was the one I was being asked to foster. So, when another foster home couldn't be found for this dog, and I was asked a 2nd time, I agreed.

Since this post is a little long (sorry about that!) I'll post the picture and ask YOU which one do you think caught my eye, and which one did we welcome this past Wednesday? I'll let you know tomorrow, who is our newest addition.

I have a feeling, you'll be able to easily guess...