A Post from Poppy's Mom

I live on the coast of Mississippi, in the county where Katrina hit the hardest (yes, harder than New Orleans).  I am now classified as too old by institutions and those who do not know me.  I am 71.  I am retired from the U. S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans but work part time at a paying job and constantly doing volunteer work, especially on the computer, and especially for my high school friends (I have a blog for them) and my Franciscan friends (blog and website for them).  I also have this blog for my dogs.  Anyone looking for 50's music, try my high school blog:  http://meridianhighwildcats58.blogspot.com

I lost my husband last year along with my best friend, my daughter-in-law and one of our dogs, Juniper - four extremely important ones gone in less than six months.  I miss them all very much and am so grateful for the company and comfort of my dog family.  I have fostered once since my husband passed away but cannot do this again.  I am still trying to adjust to my new situation (I'm sure you understand) and don't think I am capable anymore of loving a foster and then letting go.  It takes being able to love lots but with a certain detachment that I no longer have.

I have four children:  3 Maltese, Tashee, Pal, and Rosie, and a Yorkie, Abby.  Rosie is a permanent foster for NCMR and is blind.  Tashee is almost 16, Pal, 14, and Rosie will be 16 this year.  Abby was adopted a couple of years ago and is estimated to be about 7.  There is great likelihood, of course, that it will not be too much longer before only Abby and I will be left.  She is my darling girl. 

Most of the seniors sleep lots and Tashee, who was the love of my life, is now distant, lost in her aging world.  She gives some kisses, sleeps nearby but no longer cuddles or wants to stay in my lap, growling often at everyone who comes near.  Pal remains adorable and affectionate, sitting in my lap right now, but is a little old man who still likes to play fetch.  Little blind Rosie must be the healthiest of them all, taking no medicine and when she is excited, jumps a couple of feet off the floor and twirls and barks.  She loves to be held and swoons and sighs with delight.  They taught me about love, and now they are teaching me about being old.  

Tashee was given to us by our groomer/breeder, and Pal was adopted from NCMR after recovering from heart worms.  I rescued Rosie and her best friend, Teddy, from the shelter.  They had been adopted but returned.  Teddy suffered with a severely collapsed trachae, loved me and Rosie with all his heart, and was young and healthy except for this one problem.  After several months, he had to be put to sleep.  Abby was rescued from a bad and neglectful situation, not receiving good medical care.  She has a mild case of heart worms and one eye that has been damaged by infections and dry eye before I adopted her.  The eye problem is being managed and has improved a little.  I pray that she will not have to have it removed one day.

All these sweet ones came into my life when I was not looking for another one - they just knocked on the door and I asked them in to love for the rest of their lives.  We all sleep together in the "big" bed.  Before I turn off the light at night, I look around at all them, and no matter what is going on, I feel grateful and believe that life is good. 

I seek to make God the center of my life, but on another and lesser level, my dog family is a center, and I have cried more for those dogs in my life - Poppy, Juniper, Teddy, Sammy, Lucy, Molly, Sophie and Nikki - who have passed away than most people family members and friends.  I know my mother understands.

My love to my little grandson, Peyton, who has blessed us all more than he will ever know. 

Love & Prayers, Ouida

 

What to Do if You Lose Your Pet: When You've Lost Your Pet: After You Adopt

What to Do if You Lose Your Pet: When You've Lost Your Pet: After You Adopt

I Am A Reputable Breeder

Jingle Bells

Georgie

A Hero Of Our Time

rescued by Northcentral Maltese Rescue Racine, WI USA

By Marie Willcox

This is no ordinary Hero.  This is Georgie boy, whose life started out in a mill.  Heavens knows how or why, but Georgie, even with no use of his little legs, was forced into breeding, his miserable start to life, like so many other dogs.  He was rescued by the Northcentral Maltese Rescue in Racine, Director Mary Palmer, and then adopted by Vicki Manker, after the veterinarian decided it was best to remove all four legs, as Georgie was manoeuvring around on his tummy due to the legs not being functional at all.    I keep asking myself, how did this sweet little guy breed,  but after seeing a little video  of him manoeuvring around at break neck speed on his tummy,  a very short time after his operation, still amazes me.  This brave little guy even gives you a smile.

It is unbelievable that, after the miserable life he started out with, he shows no animosity to anyone.  He smiles at everyone he meets,  and because he cannot  jump out of his bed when someone comes  into the house, he just grabs his squeaky in his mouth and squeaks like crazy with excitement. Everyone on the group email, cannot get enough of Georgie, because he is a unique little hero,  and nothing stops him.  He has a special place in all our hearts as well as that special place between Vicki and John Manker.  His little bed is placed between their pillows, so they can both see him at all times.  So this little guy snuggles down to sleep so easily knowing how much he is loved.

Everyone on this rescue  have fostered  and  adopted.  Mary has had over 500 if not a 1000 or more dogs  pass through her home for fostering then go on to be adopted.  

These people amaze me with the love and dedication they show and how much they give up to help save and give these little dogs a loving home.   There are some terrible stories, some so unbelievable, what some of these dear little dogs have gone through,  some terrified when they first go into foster, but by the time they are adopted the fear is going, because they have found true love and affection. 

Without the rescues God only knows what would happen to them, as many are just dumped on a road in a woods, in bins.  It makes me wonder how they can ever trust anyone again. 

Georgie is living proof  of what dedicated love and affection can do, as most would have put this little guy down and never given him the chance. 

Doctor Ray, Mary’s vet  does wonderful work on all these little rescues, and in my eyes he is a  doggy angel.    My favourite photo is of little Georgie looking up at him when Mary took him in for the first time to be checked over.  To me that looks says it all, “please Mr Ray, I am fine really, so do not put me to sleep."

We all thank him for giving Georgie his wish, and his future. 

I could write endless stories, about this wonderful group of people and all their precious little dogs they have adopted or fostered,  but why not check out the NCMR web site.  There are many small dogs looking for a loving home.  Become part of this group of caring people, who are there to help when you have a problem with your little dog.  They have endless knowledge, of most problems, and they are there for you if you lose your little dog.  They cry with you and they laugh with you. I feel so blessed to have met this group, been lucky enough to have  travelled to the USA to three of their fun raising picnics, and  come back home with cases of goodies and stories. 

Thank you North Central Maltese Rescue and thank you Mary.

If you are interested you can contact Mary Parmer by checking out the web site, also see some of the before and after photos of the rescues. 

Celebrating the  11th Year of Rescuing Maltese

http://malteserescue.homestead.com

Dedicated to NCMR

Cano

PUFF AND FLUFF - it’s a Maltese mix! A pom and a malt.  It is Cano! He is adorable. In fact, he is quite handsome and has gorgeous hair. He is my foster.  Cano was born on June 12, 2010 and is 10 pounds of zip and high energy. He loves to play and go on walks, then nap in my lap.  He is a great back warmer on cold nights. Cano is super intelligent and loves to learn, already knowing many commands such as sit, take it, turn-around, stay, and lie down.  He plays well with all the other dogs, causing all the senior dogs in our home to wake from their sleep and join the romp.  He is outgoing, has a great disposition, is very affectionate and gives many kisses. Cano is all one would ever hope for, and I love him very, very much.

Once I Was A Lonely Dog

Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or to gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you"
Was whispered in my ear.
"You'll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear."
"You will be dry, you will be warm,
you'll have enough to eat
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet."
I was afraid I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me 'bout the rescue group
And what it meant to her.
She said, "We are a circle,
A line that never ends.
And in the center there is you
protected by new friends."
"And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you've been found."
"And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star."
She said, "There is a family,
that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we'll find them,
just you wait and see."
"And then they'll join our circle
they'll help to make it grow,
so there'll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go."
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn't meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.
I knew them in a heart beat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting
for a special dog like you."
Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live
and all you've given me.
But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person
to lift them off their feet."

~Arlene Pace (September 18, 1998)

Creation Matters - Animals Matter - Dogs Matter

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Why We Have the Blessing of the Animals

“Have you ever wondered why many churches offer a special blessing for animals around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology? Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM (Holy Name Province) offers his reflections:

“People bring their pets for a blessing because they want to thank God for their non-human companions, for their friendship and beauty. But there is an even more important reason to bless animals, especially at this time of the unprecedented ecological crisis that we face. First, the blessing of animals reminds us that all creatures have been created and blessed by God. Their worth extends far beyond a mere commodity value that we humans ascribe to them. Second, the blessing of the animals offers us an opportunity to strengthen within us a sense of compassion for all God’s creatures. It can also reawaken in us our religious responsibility to protect them – much like Noah did – from a disaster.”
http://franciscanaction.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/a-franciscan-blessing/

Sophie & Nikki

The last week has been very sad. Last Sunday, on September 25, 2011, Sophie went to Rainbow Bridge. She was one of the most beautiful fosters I ever had the privilege of caring for. This sweet girl lost her vision last year and then her hearing. The last couple of weeks of her life, she was very sick, losing weight and suffering greatly. Her mom and dad had to make the most difficult decision of all and that was to decide in love and mercy to return her to the breath of God where she is well and healthy again.

Then tonight, Nikki's mom called me to say that Nikki died unexpectantly in her sleep last night, resting on a pillow in her mama’s bed, like the princess she was. Nikki also was one of the most beautiful fosters I ever had the privilege of caring for. Both these girls did not have the most loving situation in the beginning of their lives, but they were adopted into the best of all homes. God bless Nikki and Sophie, and God bless those who adopted them.

Tonight Nikki, Sophie, Juniper, Teddy, Molly, Poppy and Lucy are playing, young and well at Rainbow Bridge where my husband Tom looks after them.

Puppy Mill Awareness

Animal Rescue Corps: Bringing an End to Puppy Mills

A friend said to me this morning that “dogs are the closest things on earth that reflect the spirit of God." Yes! Dogs taught me about love – they taught me about God’s love for me – his unconditional love. It seems that only Jesus and the great people of God, such as Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, can show and teach me more about God’s love than the simple love I experience with my dogs.

This morning I read the following post on another dog rescue blog: "Your blog was beautiful! You are right...the love of animals is so humbling to me. When I look in a dog's eyes that is suffering...there is no bitterness or anger....only a deep desire to shower their love on a person who will love them back. It is an unconditional love that has tremendous capacity."

This post expresses so simply and so well the feelings of those who have known the love of a dog. It is repeated over and over by thousands and 100’s of thousands on websites, blogs and FaceBook. This is why I never want to be without a dog. This is what gave my husband so much joy and healing during his last years and what continues to give to me. This is what I saw in my dog Juniper’s eyes as I cradled him in my arms like a baby that last time. He gave me many kisses, and then I released him into the ocean of God’s love.

Little Boy and His Dog

Your Face Is Ever Before Me

I see Juniper's little face and eyes ever before me today. As I held him that last time yesterday, cradled like a baby, he looked so deep into my eyes as if he were searching the depths of my soul. He covered my face with kisses. So often, I notice that dogs look away when I look into their eyes, but Juniper stayed with me, never looking away.

He really wanted to be an only child - my child - but had to share me with other brothers and sisters and so many rescues. He was frequently aggravated with me for doing this to him.

Murphy was one of the rescues I fostered. Poor Murphy. I remember Juniper barked at Murphy constantly, and Murphy spent much of his time hidden under the bed. Both Juniper and Murphy were greatly relieved when Murphy was adopted and left for his forever home.

Tashee is Juniper's mother. They always greeted each other with a kiss as if they knew they had a special relationship. None of our other dogs do this.

I remember Poppy's excitement when we brought Juniper home. Juniper was only about two months old. Poppy stood on his hind legs and waved his front paws - what a welcome he gave to Juniper. I'm sure that yesterday Poppy was waiting at rainbow bridge with Tom to give Juniper another welcome - a welcome to eternity and forever love.

Was That An Angel?

The young pup and the older dog lay on shaded sweet grass watching the reunions. Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes a whole family would approach the rainbow bridge, be greeted by their loving pets and cross the bridge together.

The young pup playfully nipped at the older one. "Look! Something wonderful is happening!"

The older dog stood up and barked, "Quickly. Get over to the path." "But that's not my owner," whined the pup, but he did as he was told.

Thousands of pets surged forward as a figure in white walked on the path toward the bridge. As the glowing figure passed each animal, that animal bowed its head in love and respect.

The figure finally approached the bridge, and was met by a menagerie of joyous animals; together, they all walked over the bridge and disappeared.

The young pup was still in awe. "Was that an angel?" he whispered.

"No, son," the older dog replied. "That was more than an angel. That was a person who worked rescue."

- Author unknown