Another Sad Rescue Ending

September 14th I made the drive to Preston County WV Animal Shelter to pick up two pregnant dogs that were part of a hoarders home where there were 70+ dogs running loose. Schipperke Mixes they called them. All the dogs looked the same and weighed between 30 - 40 lbs. It was an inbreeding frenzy. One of those dogs, Millie had already had her pups prematurely and they only lived 2 days. The other dog, Rocket was very pregnant and managed to go full term and not deliver hers until the 1st of Oct. October 1 2010, Rocket gave us 4 beautiful little babies. Three looked just like her and then there was the beautiful blond one. Two girls and two boys and they appeared to all be healthy. Since we had named the Mama, Rocket, we thought we'd name the babies AFTER rockets. So we had Atlas, Titan, Ares and Ariane. Atlas of course also carried the name Joe since our neighbor Joe Frost's birthday was the same day. He then became AJ. The first couple weeks went well and then we noticed Ariane wasn't eating and losing weight. In 4 days she was dead. She was just 4 weeks old when she left us. I thought it could be a resurface of the Giardia from earlier in the summer brought to us by the Pitbull puppy mill raid, but we were unsure. So we medicated and bottle fed to make sure the remaining three stayed healthy and continued putting on weight. Titan, AJ and Ares were quickly becoming fat little furballs. Then around week 6 Titan started getting sick, so did AJ. We were on top of it. Everything possible for two tiny little pups to keep them hydrated and thriving. AJ perked up right away, but Titan struggled and barely clung to life for the next two weeks. Sadly on the 2nd of dec at just 9 weeks old, Titan succumbed to his poor health and left us to join his sister Ariane.

Now I was really worried and pretty much took AJ and Ares off the market. I needed to know for sure they were healthy before I allowed anyone else to become attached to them. I planned on keeping them for several more weeks while we watched and medicated and fed and coddled these two surviving pups. AJ and Ares just had to make it.... They were too sweet to not survive. Fifteen weeks old, AJ went to his new home. I could finally breathe relief. He wasn't only healthy, but he was a super awesome little guy. So cute and handsome at the same time. Vaccinated and neutered and ready for his new family. Yay Atlas Joe!!

Now to find a home for Ares. Three different adoption fell through for this sweet angel and she's getting huge now. Before long she'll be adult size!!! It'll happen though.. I know it will.

So with AJ adopted and Ares advertised, I turned my focus on Mama Rocket who by this time had healed up pretty well and was ready for spaying.

Hopefully this would take the edge off her aggressive behavior. We'd noticed her mean biting episodes with a few of the other dogs. Even the Pitbulls were afraid of her. A few times I found bite marks and all were from Rocket. She wasn't exactly the friendliest to humans either, well she was with me, but they all are. I never really thought she would be capable of what was about to take place.

January 24th i took Annie and Rocket in to have them spayed.

Rocket went rabid on the veterinary staff. She had to be caught with a pole, muzzled and quickly drugged. Her behavior was so bad and SO aggressive, I made the decision before she was spayed to have her PTS. This was just a culmination of a sad chain of events caused by the irresponsible and neglectful behavior of a hoarder.

I'm sorry Rocket, but now you're with your babies and your running free and you never have to protect your food again. Be happy and free little lady.

A summary of my chaotic life since Aug 2010

A little bit of a catch up since August of 2010.

I started my own non profit.... what a fricking headache that was... O M G's!! I figured since I was doing the work I might at well make it a business. Now I'm swamped...

August brought me 28 dogs n puppies. 16 adoptions. 2 deaths.

Well, Moses didn't die this month, but his ashes returned. We did lose Emma though. (congestive heart failure) RIP girlie. She died in my arms while I held her in the waiting room of the hospital. Rocky came to us this month hairless from Mange and started his journey to recovery.... YAY! We took in Ren Fair with Jon n Steph and saw lots of Boobies!! I had 3 vehicle appts and 2 home maintenance appts. Seven Vet appts and visited Animal control a minimum of 9 times. We also had a WONDERFUL visit from Tammy n Kenny and their 4 beautiful little ladies. It was only 3 days though.... not nearly long enough in my book. That was August.

Then came Sept. Well, there was a significant carry-over between the months. On the 31st of Aug... Annies pups were born. Perhaps the most beautiful litter of blue pitties to ever breathe. The same day they arrived, so did miss Sophia with her 8 babies. Sophia only stayed here a week before she moved on to HART rescue. So,

8 dogs n pups arrive. 11 dogs adopted. 2 pups died.

Millies pups were premature and only survived 2 days. Steve was gone from the 3rd to the 16th on a business trip and while he was away I had the privilege of conducting the wedding ceremony for Katie n Jerome. My first wedding and it was beautiful. That weekend, my niece VA stayed here to watch the critters and when I returned from down county, I brought with me my grandson to stay overnight. He went back with my niece. One of our hens laid this month too... YAY!!! Fresh Eggs!!! I got to have dinner one evening with a really awesome couple, Chris n Kelley and their handsome little boy Jack. I took Mogley the Neo with me and he was a saint the whole visit. That was Sept.

Then came October My favorite House/doggie sitters came back this month, which allowed me and Steve to go to Boston for a vacay!! I had never been and I loved it there. Thanks Guys!!

8 new arrivals this month Pups n Dogs (Rocket had her babies) 4 adoptions 2 deaths.

We lost Pearl and little Ariane. RIP Ladies. Annies pups turn 8 weeks old this month and the adoption chaos has begun.

I had two vehicle inspections. 7 vet appts 4 home visits

This month I also had my 1st Foster start for me. Maja took Rocky in now that he's no longer contagious. Yay Rocky!! Rocky also got adopted this month and is super happy with his forever family. That was October.

Then Came November Wow, November........

8 new dogs 11 adoptions Only 1 death.

Poor little Titan struggle for weeks and we finally did the humane thing. He's at rest now with his sister Ariane. 16 vet visits this month. (all spay/neuters or surgery) Steve skipped outta town again for 4 days.... he should know by now that leaves me unmonitored... LOL! Two of the pit pups, Jake n Elwood returned for a Vacay. While they were here, they too visited the vet... neutering and such. Our biggest event this month was when those super doggie sitters Va, Mike n Chris came back to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and then hung out for the weekend so Steve and I could go to New Hampshire for a friends wedding. It was held at a lodge in the mountains and it snowed while we were there. Yes, there may have been a little too much drinking, but hey.....! Congrats Gabor and Anna!! I started ordering my rescue drugs in bulk this month. That was November

Then Came December...

32 pups n dogs arrived.... mostly new pups The 6, 3 day old pit pups. Queenie's 8 pups. Minnie's 3 pups. Erin's 10 pups. 1 Adoption... slow month, but a GREAT Adoption. This was Ripley!!! 12 pups died...

The 6 pitties who were left in the freezing cold in a box. We just couldn't save them. 3 of Queenie's babies and 3 of Erins. Not good. :-( We also had to put Fletch down because of his aggressive behavior.... Poor baby. It was a suck-ass human that made him that way.= Crystal also came to us this month. An all white pittie and only 30lbs. We're gonna do everything we can to save this girl. Xmas came and XMAS WENT!!!! The kids started arriving on tues and would all be with us through New Years. What wonderful chaos this would be!!! A house full of dogs n puppies n kids!!! Erin arrived emergency style on the 28th. She delivered on the 30th starting labor at 3:30 am. 14 hours of labor later I thought she was done and went to bed. Another arrived during the night. This old gal will NEVER go through this again. Fortunately for me, I have an AWESOME daughter who helped me and who also cooked dinner for everyone. I think it was my blood hands that made them want to keep me from the kitchen and that I kept threatening Placenta sausage for dinner.

Anyway.... the year ended and a new one began. Although it all sort of melted together in a chain of happy and some unfortunate events..... it's life and if I've learned anything, it's to enjoy every moment, because you NEVER know when it will be taken away from you........ and trust me, it will be taken away. That was Dec and 2010

Stay tuned for January..... it's looking pretty promising.

The sadness within and why

I really am starting to get a little burned out. Today Crystal died. She'd been on fluids in the hospital for three days. Started vomitting again and the meds weren't working. She weighed 27lbs Poor baby. I held her in my arms while her heart stopped and she left this cruel world. Another dog gone from this earth while under my watch, I realize for the past few weeks she had a great life... warm bed good food and lots of loving, but I failed her.... at least I feel like I did. I picked up Kati from BCHS (humane society) this morning. She had a single pup in the shelter that died and they asked me to help. Took her for an xray... no more pups. I tried to get her to let a few of the pups I have here now, nurse on her, but she just growled and walked away. I wanted to keep her while she mourned the loss of her baby, but her barking an howling were upsetting the other mamas in the house, so I returned her to the shelter. She'll get a dopted... she's beautiful. I drove over to BCAC (animal control) and picked up a beautiful English Bulldog. Found running about town and never claimed, the AC officers had sorta claimed her as their mascot, but I knew someone who wanted her and would give her a great home. Since it was me they let her go. Why would they trust me? All the dogs I take die. I dropped of the bulldog and headed home. I really am sad these days and can't shake it. If I could express it, I might be able to let it go, but it just hangs inside my chest like a huge lump, sucking the air and the life out of me. This evening, BCHS called again.... A 14 yr old little terrier mix was giving birth on the shelter floor. I was on my way. When I got there she was stuck trying to have the third pup. I had to assist and that pup was already dead. Numbers 4 and 5 quickly followed. I dried them off, wrapped them up and headed home with them all. The poor Mama, is so beat... I can't image what it must be like giving birth to 5 pups at the ripe old age of 70. They're all warm now and resting peacefully. I was just about to go to bed and started my normal round of puppy checks. Damn it... Erin has squashed another of her pups. She laid completely on top of him and he suffocated. This was the biggest male of the litter. How many more of her babies will die before I just quit and give her to another rescue. Tomorrow.... what will you bring me? Sadness prevails and grips my heart like a vice. Take this sorrow and cast it aside, so that joy can flood my soul. I need joy.